Chapter 24
Sia gripped Khushi's fingers firmly as she slowly started to move her feet.
" look Arnav ji, she's walking." Khushi was surprised and elated at the same time. She couldn't stop smiling as Sia swayed at every step but still didn't wish to stop.
" slowly shona." Arnav said while capturing this beautiful moment in his cell phone. But was she listening? No. She was so delighted and excited that she didn't wish to slow down or take a breather. Her eyes were twinkling and she couldn't stop herself from grinning ear to ear.
" this is just amazing..to see your child walking for the first time. And the way she's holding my fingers with complete trust that I won't let her fall is so heart warming." Said Khushi.
" absolutely." Absent mindedly Khushi had called Sia as her child, it pleased Arnav.
" but she isn't stopping. And look at her face, isn't she looking mischievous? Naughty girl." It seemed as if Sia wished to walk the whole house in one day.
Arnav smiled at Sia's enthusiasm. " tomorrow we'll get her a walker. That will be best for her."
" I agree." Khushi lifted Sia and sat her on the bed. " enough Sia, now it's lunch time."
Khushi turned to get her curd and rice but naughty Sia, held Khushi's dupatta to stop her.
And then what she did, surprised both Arnav and Khushi.
" maaa." She called out.
Khushi's ears shot up and Arnav was stunned.
" did she say something?" Khushi asked in disbelief. Her eyes moved from Arnav to Sia. She stared down at Sia, not being able to believe her ears.
" Sia?" Khushi called.
" maa." She repeated, this time opening her mouth wide, leaving no room for doubt.
Khushi felt her throat go dry and a heavy lump formed within her. She dropped herself on the bed and gaped at Sia.
" Sia." This time she could only manage to whisper.
" Maa." However Sia was louder than before.
Tears trickled down Khushi's cheeks as she peered up at Arnav who himself was going through similar emotions. He pushed back his tears and slowly nodded his head.
" Sia..maasi" she had hoped that whenever Sia would start speaking, she'd would call her maasi.
Sia clapped her hands and repeated. " maa."
" maasi." Khushi tried to get her to say maasi.
" maa." She remained firm on her word.
" let it be Khushi, maa sounds wonderful." She was actually Sia's mother then why would Sia call her maasi. Children are innocent...they can't lie.
Khushi wiped her wet cheeks with the back of her hands and smiled broadly. The happiness that she was feeling couldn't be expressed in words. She pulled Sia in her arms and kissed her.
She once again glanced at Arnav. " this is too good to be true." Arnav was more than delighted to see Khushi so happy. She totally deserved this joy.
" Sia..paa." She pointed at Arnav. If she could say maa, then she could also call him paa.
Sia raised her head and looked at Arnav, yeah he was her paa, she knew that...so she simply smiled at him.
" Paaa." Khushi urged Sia to call him. Even Arnav peered down at Sia with bated breath..would she say that word. He knew he wasn't her father...he wasn't even worthy to father, Khushi's child..but still his heart wanted to hear it..just once.
" Sia say paa" Khushi tried again. Sia turned her neck, looked at Khushi, smiled and opened her mouth.
Arnav stared at her open mouth and waited..and prayed.
" maa."
Khushi sighed in disappointment and Arnav smiled to hide his sorrow. Maybe he was hoping for too much.
" I'm sorry Arnav ji." She knew how eager he must be to hear Sia call him paa.
" it's okay Khushi. Don't force her."
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Arnav took out his business card and credit card to make payment for the walker. The salesman threw a wary look at Khushi. He couldn't forget how last time she had bargained with him.
" relax, I'm not going to ask for your house. Just five percent discount." Khushi said while crossing her arms before her chest.
" sure ma'am. Five percent is fine." The salesman heaved a sigh of relief. And Arnav raised an eyebrow, Khushi wasn't bargaining that was quite surprising. " Khushi, are you okay?" He teased her.
" of course Arnav ji. And I know why you're looking at me like that. Today he didn't overcharge, so I didn't argue with him." She cleared her stand.
Arnav smiled as they left the shop.
" now what?" He asked.
" hi Arnav!" Before Khushi could reply, Aakash and Payal bumped into them.
" hey Aakash, what's going on?"
" we came to buy shoes for divya." Payal replied, instead of Aakash, that surprised Arnav and Payal's polite tone, surprised him even more.
Arnav nodded at Payal. " Sia has started walking, so we thought of getting her a walker."
" that's great Khushi." Payal smiled at her friend.
" I know. Now she doesn't wish to crawl..She only wants to walk." Khushi playfully pulled Sia's cheek.
Sia grinned and tugged at Arnav's collar before pointing at an ice cream parlor.
" Khushi, I'll get her an ice cream, meanwhile do you have anything else to do?"
Khushi showed him shopping bags. " these dresses are small for Sia, I need to get them exchanged."
" the kid's showroom is on the third floor. I can buy shoes for divya and you can get this stuff exchanged." Payal suggested.
Khushi readily agreed. " we won't take long."
" take your time. Aakash and I can quickly grab some coffee."
After getting Sia her favorite strawberry ice cream, Arnav and Aakash sat in a cafeteria.
" two black coffees." Arnav ordered.
" it's good to see you relaxed." Commented Aakash.
" yeah Lavanya's chapter is finally over..so I can breathe peacefully."
Both of them were chatting when suddenly they heard loud sirens. A mechanical voice came over the loudspeakers, warning that this was a fire alarm and telling everyone to exit the mall. And the next moment there was lot of shouting and people rushing toward the doors.
Arnav and Aakash ran up to find Khushi and Payal. The elevators had been shut down, so they took the stairs. There was complete chaos as people were coming from and going in all directions. Seeing all this, Sia began to panic and started crying. Arnav patted her back to quieten her. " its okay shona."
Pushing through the crowds they somehow reached the third floor.
" PAYAL!" Aakash shouted on spotting her.
" where's Khushi?" Arnav asked loudly on finding her missing.
Payal coughed as smoke bellowed from the overhead vents. " Five minutes back she was with me..but now I can't see her."
" damn it." Arnav cursed. Where the hell was she? He frantically looked around. Why did he not accompany her?
Khushi pushed blindly into the swelling crowd that grew more wild to get away. Where was Payal? She tried to look for her but couldn't find her. She hoped and prayed that Payal was safe. Khushi reached the ground floor and glanced at the cafeteria where Arnav and Aakash were supposed to be sitting. Maybe like her even Payal had succeeded to come down. However from a distance she failed to spot anyone.
Fire was spreading around and Arnav, Sia, Aakash and Payal were nowhere to be seen. A lick of fear slithered up her spine. She was all alone in this mad crowd..Where was Arnav?
She decided to search for them in the cafeteria. But when she went close, the crowd only thickened. She struggled to stay on her feet but hits came from every side.
Someone pushed Khushi, knocking her forward into cafeteria that was now on fire. There was still scope of her coming out but the thought of Arnav and Sia forced her to look for them in cafeteria. Her terrified gaze searched for them everywhere but didn't succeed to find them.
" Arnav ji." She screamed.
The flames were going high and the thick smoke was making it difficult to breathe.
" Arnav ji...Sia." She called out again but there was no response.
She turned around to move out but the exit gate was completely on fire. She was trapped. Panic crawled all over her like biting ants. Her eyes became heavy and she thought she would die. Her legs gave in and was about to drop on the floor when a strong pair of arms grabbed her.
" Khushi..Khushi." Arnav called her.
She opened her eyes and relief swept over her on seeing him. She grasped a fistful of his jacket, hanging on to him for more than the steadying effect he was having on her senses .
" Arnav ji." He was her safety.
He straightened her and held her by the shoulders. " what the hell are you doing here?" He was extremely furious. Though for a moment he was very relieved to catch the sight of her but soon his anger overpowered his relief.
" I came here looking for you and Sia..where's she?"
" Sia is fine with Payal but you never cease to amaze me..this whole place is burning..people are running out for their lives and what are you doing? Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
She opened her mouth to defend herself, like him even she was concerned about him but before she could say that, he dragged her with him to the back door from where he had entered.
But unfortunately now, even that exit was caught up in flames. Payal and Aakash standing out got tensed.
" Arnav ...Khushi." they both screamed. How were they supposed to get them out? They only hoped and prayed that the fire brigade reached the spot as soon as possible.
Arnav took out his jacket and gave it to Khushi.
" wear this!" He ordered.
" but.."
Arnav's glare silenced her. The moment her arms slid inside the jacket, Arnav gave her a hard push from behind. Khushi literally flew over the flames and landed out of the cafeteria.
" Khushi." Both Payal and Aakash rushed to her side but Khushi turned her neck to look back at Arnav, he was still stuck in the fire. Sia couldn't stop wailing at the sight of Arnav. With her little fingers she gestured him to come out.
"ARNAV JIII." khushi shouted, tears streamed down her face. What had he done? He was completely surrounded by rising flames. She tried to reach out to him but Payal pulled her back.
" Khushi stop!"
How could she stop here and watch him dying?
" Arnav Ji.." She yelled again when she spotted a pillar behind Arnav dropping.
But it was too late for Arnav to react, the pillar crashed on the glass door and fell on him.
" ARNAV!" Aakash and Payal screamed together seeing Arnav lay under the pillar with broken glasses piercing his back.
Khushi stood there numb, staring down at Arnav, who's eyes slowly fell shut after seeing both Khushi and Sia safe.
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" Khushi, have some water." Payal offered her the glass but Khushi didn't even turn to look at her. Her eyes were fixed on the hospital room window where Arnav was being treated.
The firemen had arrived just in time to extinguish the fire and drag Arnav out of it. The scene had been so horrible and terrifying that it refused to get out of Khushi's mind. She didn't know how to react, what to say..She had turned into a stone.
" I'm worried for Khushi." Payal told her husband who was holding a sleeping Sia in her arms. The poor child had cried her lungs out, before exhaustion took over, forcing her to close her watery eyes.
" after knowing that Arnav is doing fine, she'll be okay . Give her some time." Aakash tried to calm his wife.
Just then the doctor came out.
" we have taken out all the glass pieces but the cuts and the burns are deep. They will take time to heal. We shall keep Mr. Raizada under observation. Most probably tomorrow, he shall be discharged." The doctor handed Aakash a prescription. " please get these medicines arranged." Aakash nodded.
" doctor, can I have a word with you regarding Arnav?" Payal asked.
" sure. Come to my cabin."
Aakash left to fetch the medicines and Payal went away to talk about Arnav. Khushi was still standing outside, Arnav's room. She had heard what the doctor had said but his words failed to stir her.
The nurse leaving the room, noticed Khushi. She looked so distraught.
" ma'am, you may see him, if you wish to."
Khushi slowly blinked her eyes and gazed at the nurse. Then wordlessly moved into the room. Every step felt heavy and labored. Even her heart beat was slower than normal.
Arnav lay on his stomach. He was still unconscious. And his back was full of cuts and burnt marks.
Automatically moisture started to fill in Khushi's eyes. The heart that was slowly ceasing to beat, started vibrating inside her chest. The body that was turning lifeless, slowly began to move. The mouth that hadn't spoken a word for long, finally opened as her hand lifted to caress his sleeping face.
" why?" She whispered through her tears that were now cascading down her face.
One word, that raised many questions and demanded lot of answers.
Why did he risk his life for her? Why didn't he care about himself? Why did he push her out of the flames and stay behind to get burnt ?
And lastly, why didn't he for once think that if God forbid something happened to him, how would she survive...without him?
Khushi ran her fingers through his hair and turned around to leave when Arnav caught her wrist, startling her. She looked back, his eyes were shut and his fingers curled around her wrist.
" Khushi.. don't go..please forgive me." Once again he was apologizing in his sleep.
Aakash and Payal who were standing out of the room, closely watched their silent interaction.
" you still think, it's guilt and not love?" Aakash peered down and asked Payal.
Payal took her time to swallow the lump inside her throat and shook her head.
" it's Love!"
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