Arshi FF: The Broken Hearts#2 NEW LINK ADDED pg 153 - Page 41

thanks for pm 😊

Its awesome,plot,characters ,setting,dialogues,feelings,gestures everything seems amazing.You are a wonderful writer.I always admire the serenity which is always present in your ffs as it works as a soft background music.The relationship of Arnav and Khushi is so beautiful.I started reading this ff and i couldn't stop myself till chap 13 and then there was "set us free",what a choice of words to break up.Further twists and turns are intriguing too.

Brilliant job ,i must say.

Waiting for the next UD.

Take care.

Chapter 16

Arnav went home to take a quick shower and return to the hospital as soon as possible. He gazed around the hall area, it was empty however his Dadi was sitting in the Puja room. He thanked his stars for saving him from the endless questions that would be thrown at him if Dadi wasn't busy offering her prayers. Before she spotted him, he raced up the stairs to reach his bedroom. However he stopped outside the guest room that was next to his room.
He went inside and allowed his eyes to run around. It was no longer a guest room. It would now be Khushi and Sia's room. They would be staying here.
On one shelf there were Sia's stuff toys. Then there was her crib close to the bed, however he wondered how long would she sleep in that crib? The way she crawled and jumped all the time, he felt that it would be better if she slept next to Khushi.
He still couldn't believe that both of them would be here , in his house! The feeling was exhilarating and worrisome at the same time.
It would be tough for all of them to adjust to this change in their environments and lives. However he hoped that both Khushi and Sia felt comfortable here. He peered at the plain white walls , perhaps he should get them painted into pink. He remembered Khushi's room, it had pink walls. His lips stretched thinking about it. Mostly all girls like pink, so he hoped that like her mother, Sia would also wish to be in a pink room.
The bed was big enough to accommodate Khushi with Sia, in case they both wished to sleep together. Khushi had stars hanging from her bed as they reminded her of her late parents..did she still prefer her bed to be that way? Maybe ( though now she had forgotten everyone but still he could get them arranged if they would help her in sleeping peacefully.)
What else? Yeah bedsheets. These printed ones could be replaced with the ones that had Mickey mouse and Donald duck. Khushi was so innocent and child like. He smiled at that cute memory. In fact now he could also have other cartoon characters on the walls. Surely Sia would enjoy them.
He turned around to leave when he noticed the cupboard slightly open. He went to shut it properly when his gaze fell on the suits hanging in it. They were Khushi's clothes and it surprised him. Mostly all the suits and saris were of pastel colors...just two or three were of dark colors but otherwise her whole wardrobe was quite dull and inexpensive. He scrunched his eyes, she never liked pastel colors then why did she start wearing them? He recalled her telling him once that bright colors made her feel happy, then why didn't she wear them more often?
Along with other changes, he would also order some bright colored suits for her..He didn't wish to see him in these dull and boring clothes. Yes he would do that..but hang on, seeing those beautiful and bright clothes, wouldn't she question him that could she really afford such an expensive wardrobe?
Damm, he shut the cupboard in annoyance. Today he had the money to shower on her but he couldn't. But he vowed to himself that slowly he would bring back all the lost colors in her life!
" chotte." He looked over his shoulder, Dadi was standing behind him. He squeezed his eyes shut before turning around to face her.
" so, finally you get the time to come home?" She had that stern look on her face.
" I was busy."
" in a meeting..or, " her eyes moved around the room. " somewhere else?"
" Dadi, my friend met with a serious accident." It was pointless to lie more, she knew he was in the hospital.
She tilted her head to the left and pursed her lips, expecting him to continue.
" she needed me and she still needs me."
" but why are you bringing her in this house?"
" because she's not in a state to be left alone...she's suffering from memory loss, her husband is no more and she has a daughter to take care." He told her everything, hoping that she'd understand.
However the way she shook her head and crossed her arms before her chest, he knew she hadn't understood and it would take a lot to convince her.
Arnav braced himself for yet another argument with his Dadi.
" if she's sick, then she should be in the hospital, not here. And if she can't take care of her daughter then leave her in some orphanage."
Arnav gritted his teeth. " I told you about her medical condition, still you want me to leave her alone? And how can I separate a child from her mother? That's sinful! Can't even think about doing that."
She wasn't liking the way her grandson was standing against her and that too for some random friend. In all these years he hadn't changed. He would argue with her and let outsiders take advantage of him.
" what about her family, why don't they come forward and take her responsibility?"
" she's an orphan."
" wonderful! First she ate her parents then her husband and now she has her eyes set on you."
" please Dadi, I won't hear a word against Khushi!" Arnav curled his fingers to control his rage.
" chotte, are you blind? Can't you see how unfortunate and inauspicious that woman is? I won't let her in."
" life has been cruel to her and I can't blame her for that. Khushi and her daughter are coming here and that's final." This was the end of the discussion.
He walked off but he'd only reached the door when he had to stop.
" what will the society say, have you ever though about it?"
Arnav peered at Dadi and threw her a questioning look. What about the society?
" she's a widow, for heaven's sake and she has a child..you live here alone and she'll be staying here with you in the same house..the thought even disgusts me," she cringed at her own words. " what a shameless woman!"
Arnav clenched his jaws and wrinkled his nose. " Enough Dadi, don't make it sound so obscene and vulgar! I'm only helping her out, there's nothing more to it." Dadi opened her mouth to say more but Arnav didn't let her. " Yes, she's lost her husband but that's not her fault and what people think or have to say, do you think I care?"
Dadi glared right back at Arnav, she was so miffed with him. " Instead of mourning over her husband, she's planning to trap you, can't you see?"
Arnav shook his head in disbelief. " she doesn't remember anything. She doesn't even know that she was married, that her husband died and she has a daughter...her memory is blank. In such a case how can you expect her to cry over her dead husband?" Arnav gazed at his Dadi, who had also lost her husband when she was young, so did she keep mourning over him? Did she not forget her painful past and move ahead in life? Now if he reminded her of all that then that would be rude and disrespectful. But then being a woman why couldn't she understand Khushi's plight? Why was she being so cold and insensitive?
" and one more thing, the idea of bringing her home was mine not hers."
Dadi turned her face and looked away. " Arnav if she comes in, I leave this house. Then don't expect me to come back from Kolkata...ever."
Arnav sighed and closed his eyes. Why the hell was she making all this so difficult for him?
He swallowed the knot of frustration down his throat. " staying or leaving, is your call.. I won't interfere but Khushi is going nowhere."
Dadi pressed her lips firmly and shot him a furious look before leaving the room...and the house.

*********************************************************

Khushi silently watched Sia, sitting on the floor, playing with the dolls. With a comb in her hand, Sia one by one brushed the hair of her dolls then showed it to Khushi who grinned and clapped for her then turned her neck to show the dolls to Arnav who smiled broadly at her. Seeing their smiling faces Sia herself giggled and clapped for herself.
Khushi moved to look at Arnav who was working on his laptop. Everyday he would be here with Sia and work from here. He didn't go to office and went home only to shower , he even slept in the hospital lounge. Ever since she had opened her eyes, she'd found him by her side all the time. Even if he went away for sometime he'd make sure that his secretary, aman was here .
How could someone care for his employee so much? After all she was just Sia's nanny but he never made her feel like that. As much as Sia was important for her, so was she.
She observed how his eyes were glued to the screen, since evening he was working on something only he knew what but she could see how focused he was toward his work. He hardly spoke to her just quietly sipped on to his black coffee and pressed the keys of his laptop.
Khushi rested her head on the pillow and exhaled deeply. She felt guilty that because of her Arnav was ignoring his work, wasn't able to rest properly and Sia too couldn't seek her full attention and Arnav had to hire a nurse for her..Instead of taking care of Sia, she was being taken care of. Both Arnav and Sia were getting hassled because of her and she only wished that she could get rid of this hospital as soon as possible.
She was busy dwelling over her thoughts when Sia threw a ball and it rolled under the table. Sia crawled and went under the table to get it. Khushi winced as Sia was about to hit her head. " Sia!" She called out. Arnav rushed and covered her head with one hand and with the other he slowly dragged her out.
" careful shona." Then bent down more to retrieve the ball.
Khushi sighed in relief, she was glad that Sia didn't hurt herself at the same time Arnav's alertness and swiftness surprised her. She thought that he was too engrossed in his work to notice what Sia was doing but she was wrong. Sia's smallest of movement was watched over by him and it pleased her.
Fearing that Sia would again throw the ball here and there, Arnav cleverly hid the ball in his pocket and passed on a balloon to Sia. She was more than delighted to play with it. Arnav kissed her temple and went back to his laptop. Then raised his head and glanced at Khushi.
" it's time for you to have your medicines."
Arnav pointed at his watch to draw her attention, why was she having that lost expression on her face?
" huh..yeah."
Khushi who was secretly admiring him averted her gaze. Then took a moment to clear her mind.
She wrinkled her face as she peered down at the tablets in her hand. They were so bitter. But she couldn't avoid them, if she wished to get out of this hospital, breathe in fresh air instead of one filled with the smell of antiseptics then she had swallow down these tablets.
" chee.." She muttered after wiping her face with the back of her hand.
" have these." She looked up at Arnav who was standing with an opened box of chocolates that he'd bought for Sia.
Khushi glanced at the chocolates, then at Arnav and then at Sia who was looking back at her with a serious face. God this was so embarrassing, he was making her look like a child who had to be cheered up with sweets after getting injected/ vaccinated.
Khushi shook her head. " no thanks..it's alright."
Arnav's lips curved from the corners. " don't worry. I'm sure Sia won't mind sharing these with you." He peered down at Sia and asked, " isn't it Sia?"
Sia who definitely didn't understand a word still flashed him a wide grin.
" see, Sia has also given her consent." Khushi pressed her lips together to stifle her smile and wordlessly took a small piece of chocolate. Shaking his head in a slow motion, Arnav smiled inwardly while keeping the chocolates back. Some things don't change.
Sia who was chasing the bouncing balloon, finally managed to grab it and threw it in Khushi's direction. Khushi leaned forward to catch it then gave it back to Sia who giggled and bounced on her hips in excitement. Khushi didn't know why but Sia's smiling face filled her heart with joy. Playing with her and having her around gave her immense happiness.
" your questions make no sense. Figure it out then mail me the designs. I don't have time for stupid questions."

Startled by Arnav's angry voice, the balloon slipped from Khushi's hands and landed near his feet. Sia hurriedly went for the balloon and threw it on Arnav. Khushi squeezed her eyes shut when the balloon hit Arnav's face.
" Sia, wanna play with me? Okay..give me high five."
Khushi slowly opened one eye and later both when she saw Arnav sitting down on the mat and throwing the balloon high up in the air.
Khushi gaped at him. He was so unpredictable! One moment he was firing someone over the phone and the next moment he was all smiles, as if nothing had happened.
A while later, Sia rubbed her eyes. " I think she's.."
" sleepy." Arnav completed Khushi's sentence.
" but she hasn't eaten anything."
Arnav nodded and pressed the call button.
" one bowl of porridge." He told the nurse.
When the nurse returned she tried feeding Sia but Sia wouldn't let her. She would turn her face away or push the spoon back. Seeing her getting cranky Arnav suggested, " come Sia, I'll feed you." And took the bowl from the nurse.
" Arnav ji even you've had nothing besides that black coffee. You must be hungry too. I'll handle Sia." She spread her arms and called. " come here Sia."
Sia looked between Arnav and Khushi, both were gazing at her expectantly. Her eyes finally settled on her mother and Arnav knew that she had chosen Khushi over him and why not, after all Khushi was her world and he was still trying to make a tiny little place for himself in their world. Arnav smiled to himself as he happily carried Sia to Khushi and handed her the bowl.
As Khushi fed Sia she felt an unknown pleasure and satisfaction as if the food went inside her stomach instead of Sia's. She was just her nanny but still she felt so bonded to Sia, even Sia seemed more comfortable with her than with Arnav. Not that she didn't like being with him, she demanded his attention as well but still she'd be more eager to be with Khushi than Arnav. Even Khushi's heart would swell up with joy, whenever Sia would laugh heartedly, jump in her arms and hugged her with all her strength. What kind of a relationship was this, that seemed so close and endearing? Even though Khushi failed to remember Sia still she didn't look unfamiliar on the contrary seemed special...very special!
Sia yawned and her eyelids shut on their own. Khushi kept the bowl on the table and wrapped Sia close to her chest. She patted her back gently and lulled Sia to sleep who snuggled closer.
Khushi turned her neck to glance at Arnav. He was again working on his laptop. There were certain questions running in her mind and only he could give her the answers.
" Arnav ji, can I ask you something?" Arnav looked up from his laptop and nodded, giving her the consent to go on.
" how long have I been with Sia?"
Arnav pursed his lips. " it's been a while."
" I have been hospitalized for long and I'm not hundred percent fit to take care of her then why didn't you hire a new governess? Why are you investing your time and money on me?" Her eyes moved around the room as she continued. " I doubt I can pay for my medical expenses..so why are you sticking up with me? Why didn't you leave me on my own?"
Her last words had literally stabbed him in the stomach. He had made the horrendous mistake of leaving her once. He wouldn't do that again.
The fury in his eyes, scared her as he glared hard at her. Were her questions unreasonable? Was she rude with her words?
" do you see how cheerful Sia is with you? That joy in her eyes, that sheer bliss on her face..don't you notice all that instead of the expensive hospital bed and the medical treatment?"
Khushi's eyes slowly started to fill up, she dropped her gaze and in that moment Arnav seriously wished to kick himself.
He was mad at himself for deserting Khushi in the past. The guilt and the regret twisted his gut. He hated himself and felt awful. But in all this why was he being rude to her? It had been his fault. She didn't even remember how heartless he had been to her.
Arnav closed his eyes to calm himself.
" see Khushi I'm only trying to tell you that Sia is extremely attached to you and I can't even think of separating you from her. As far as hospital expenses are concerned, my company pays medical dues of all its employees. So don't think I'm doing any kind of favor on you, it's part of the contract."
Khushi pushed back her tears and glanced down at Sia who was sleeping peacefully in her arms. What Arnav said made sense to her. He had not given up on her because of Sia.
" Arnav ji how did this accident happen?"
Arnav's eyes stilled on the screen before him. Now what was he supposed to tell her, that the driver who happened to be her husband smashed his car into his and died!
" I don't about that...all I know is that it was a serious accident and the passersby brought you here."
Khushi blinked her eyes. " hmm..then how did you know I was in the hospital?"
God this was getting so complicated. " Khushi, why don't you stop thinking about the accident? The doctors have said, you're not supposed to stress yourself..so relax."
There was a knock at the door and Arnav was glad that someone interrupted this question and answer session.
Aman came in with a file.
" Sorry to bother you sir, but these documents require your signatures."
Arnav nodded and took the file to go through the papers.
" anything else?" Arnav asked as he signed the documents.
" actually..sir.." Aman hesitated .

Arnav looked up. " what?"

" sir...Mrs. Raizada had called up."

Thanks for reading

Rose

Finally started reading it...rather then glancing every time you update...I am silly because I get too attached to the characters (well that's more to do with your writing) ...so I was dreading what nasty things did ASR do...but good he didn't do anything nasty...it's better to let go rather than sticking back and getting bitter...

I am proud of him,that he found a way to take care of khushi and Sia and also didn't hurt khushi's self respect...hopefully khushi will understand and forgive him...

I feel sad for khushi though...life had been really cruel to her...

Dadi !!!!!!

When will our society stop and think before they blame a woman for everything nasty 😡...that too dadi is also a woman!!!!!!

Hummm...Mrs Raizada...I is it dadi or ASR's forgotten wife😲

please update soon