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CHAPTER 6
Karan and Lavanya decided to leave from Khushi's home. As they walked past Ajinkya's room, they heard him speak to himself. "First Shashi went missing... It has been three months now... I am not able to find him... And now this Khushi ran away! Shashi! You and your daughter have caused me a lot of trouble!! I won't leave you both! Just let me find you... And then you both are finished!"
Lavanya and Karan exchanged glances and left at once.
"Any message from Khushi?" asked Karan as he drove to drop Lavanya home.
"Nope..." replied Lavanya, "Not yet... But she will call soon..." She looked at Karan and said, "Your parents must be really upset that Khushi ran away, right? What are you going to tell them?"
"Yes, they are a bit shocked actually... I don't know how, but I will handle them... Don't worry... I will tell them everything at the right time, not now..." replied Karan.
*****
Khushi wondered where her Papa was. But somewhere she knew that he was alright and safe for now. After all, Arnav was there with them, always! Khushi remembered days from the past...
*Flashback*
Khushi always shared a very strong friendship with Lavanya and Arnav. She had not one but two best friends! It was a very pure friendship... No hard feelings, no feeling jealous, no complaints... The three were together till they completed their engineering from the same college, though their branches were different. Arnav's family had shifted to Pune but Arnav stayed till he completed his graduation. Later Arnav went to pursue his MBA and Khushi and Lavanya joined their jobs. Arnav had his family business to join. His father, Amar Singh Raizada, had his name among the leading businessmen currently in the western region of India. "Raizada and Sons" had become a well-known brand now.
The college days were some of the best days in Khushi's life. She got to know Arnav and Lavanya more. Lavanya was like a sister to Khushi. And Arnav... he was a very special friend, whom Khushi trusted the most, on whom she could depend for almost anything and everything, who she knew would always be there whenever she needed him. Arnav always chose Lavanya when he wanted to tease or make fun of or for just passing the time or chatting... But when it came to serious discussions, sharing some personal issues, taking important decisions, venting out about something... it was always Khushi for him. And Khushi liked that. She liked to see that Arnav trusted her.
When Khushi came to know the truth about Ajinkya, she was shattered. She had hardly come out of the shock of Garima's death and Shashi's memory loss, when she had to face another grave truth. The only thing that came to her mind at the moment was 'Arnav'. She called him immediately.
"Hi Khushi... Calling at this time? No office today?" he asked receiving the call.
"Arnav..." said Khushi, crying. She didn't know what to tell him and from where to begin.
Arnav was worried listening to Khushi's voice. "What happened Khushi? Tell me... Is everything alright? It doesn't seem so..." But Khushi was so shocked that she couldn't speak anything. "Khushi?! Are you there?" asked Arnav checking whether the call was still on. He heard Khushi's sobs. "Khushi... Please say something! I am tensed now..."
"Please come here Arnav... I need you!" said Khushi, crying.
"Trust me, I am with you" said Arnav. "Will you first tell me what has happened? How will I know if you don't tell me anything Khushi..."
"I just want to hug you... I want a tight hug! I just want to hold you and cry... Cry till I am left with no life!"
Now Arnav was more worried. "What are you saying Khushi! Okay, listen to me... I will leave immediately from Pune and be there in another three and half hours, okay?" Khushi didn't say anything. "OKAY??" Arnav asked again.
"Please come soon..." said Khushi through her tears.
"Yes... But till then, you need to be strong... Take care, Khushi... And I will stay in touch even when I am on my way, ok?"
Arnav left from Pune immediately.
Khushi had a decision to make. Well, she had already decided what to do, she needed to act now. And that she had to do before Ajinkya returned from wherever he had gone. She unlocked the door and entered her home. She tried to comfort Shashi who was scared and in shock. Khushi quickly packed Shashi's clothes in a bag and left with Shashi.
Arnav was constantly in contact with Khushi to check whether she was alright. He met her at the decided place. He was confused to see her with Shashi and a bag in hand. Khushi told him everything. Arnav was as shocked as Khushi was. Khushi hugged him. "I didn't know what to do, Arnav! I just needed you to be with me... I am sorry I called you here without giving you any time but..."
Arnav carressed Khushi gently, "Khushi... Whom will you call if not me... You did the right thing! See, I am here now... No need to worry..."
"Arnav, I don't want Papa to stay here any more... I can't see him suffer like this... I don't know where he will go, but I just don't want him to stay here... So I packed his things... And... I don't know... I just..." Khushi couldn't stop the tears flowing down her cheeks.
"Khushi... Relax!" said Arnav trying to calm Khushi down. "Look, I am here now, ain't I? There's nothing to worry..." He thought for a while and said, "I will take Shashi uncle with me to Pune"
"But... Where will you keep him? I mean... where will he stay?" Khushi asked, without much thought.
"Leave that to me, Khushi... Just remember that he will be safe, okay?" said Arnav without thinking further. Khushi nodded. She thought this was the best thing to do right now. There was not much time to think.
Looking at Shashi, Khushi said, "Papa... This is Arnav, my best friend. He will take you to some place safe. Okay?"
Shashi looked at Arnav doubtfully. Though Shashi and Arnav had known each other very well, Shashi didn't remember anything. "I am not going with anyone! Everyone is bad in this world! I don't want to..."
"Papa, Arnav is a very nice person. I know him very well, Papa. Please, listen to me. Do you want to stay with Ajinkya Kaka?" Shashi nodded in 'no'. "Then go with Arnav... Please?"
Arnav assured Shashi that he was safe and there won't be any trouble. After a lot of efforts, Khushi and Arnav were finally able to convince Shashi.
"You must leave now, Arnav" said Khushi.
"Khushi, you should also come with us... Staying here isn't safe for you any more" suggested Arnav.
"I know, Arnav... But I have to settle things at office. I can't just leave. I will have to serve a notice period of three months after I resign. I will resign tomorrow itself" said Khushi calculating everything in her mind.
"Are you sure you will stay here?" asked Arnav, concerned. Khushi nodded. "Okay... Be safe! Ofcourse we will be in touch constantly. Don't hesitate to call me any time you need, okay?"
"If that was the case, I wouldn't have called you today, Arnav... Thank you so much for being there, always..." replied Khushi.
"Ah... Stop being formal, Khushi! I will always be there for you" said Arnav with an assuring smile.
Khushi's eyes watered as Arnav and Shashi were leaving for Pune. Arnav gently placed his hand on Khushi's shoulder. Pressing a little, he said, "Trust me, I am with you!"
Those words of Arnav always gave Khushi a unique strength. She felt positive every time he said those.
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But where is Papa? wondered Khushi. Arnav might have kept him at some good place. Some good old-age home may be... Arnav never told Khushi about it. He always used to say "Trust me" and Khushi knew her Papa was safe because Arnav was there to take care of him. But where was Arnav?
*****
Khushi suddenly heard some noise near one of the windows. She looked in that direction and saw a shadow. Someone was standing there. Khushi went there to open the window and peeped out. "Who is it?!!" she asked. But she got no reply. Khushi could sense some movement near the window. She quickly went out and hurried towards the outside of the window to see who it was. She could hear footsteps moving away from the bungalow towards the back gate. Khushi followed the sound but by the time she reached the back gate through the garden, the person was gone... Who was it?
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It was late already. Khushi was exhausted. A lot had happened since morning...her engagement preparations and then her running away and travelling to Pune. She was tired. She removed the cover they had put on the sofa and just fell over it. She was asleep in no time. She had no idea about the shadow in the window. Someone was watching her...
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Edited by ..optimist.. - 8 years ago
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