ArShi FF : I AM WITH YOU -Chapter 11 Pg127 & TEASER Pg137 (Feb 4) - Page 55

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CHAPTER 7

Khushi woke up as the bright sunlight made its way to her eyes. She looked around and wondered where she was. And then she remembered all that had happened the day before. She had not had such a peaceful sleep in years... She was home afterall! She got up and tying her hair into a bun, walked towards her bag. She checked the time on the wall-clock. It was 8:15 a.m.

Khushi was feeling very hungry. She had not eaten anything since last afternoon. Khushi just cleaned the common washroom and basin quickly. She didn't have the patience to clean the whole house right now. She got ready and decided to go out and eat something first. As Khushi opened the door to leave, she saw an envelope lying at the door step. "What's this?" she thought as she picked it up. There was no stamp on the envelope. That meant it was left at the door by someone personally. Khushi looked around to see whether there was anyone around, but there wasn't. The envelope was blank. Khushi looked inside to find a letter. She unfolded it in anticipation. Yes! It was from Arnav!

Khushi

Hope you are fine. Take care of yourself. Don't worry about Shashi uncle. He is perfectly fine. I will see you soon.

P.S. Trust me, I am with you

Khushi couldn't understand what was going on. Arnav's letter? Why is he doing this? Why is he not coming to meet me? And who dropped this envelope here? Several thoughts were revolving in Khushi's mind. But somewhere her heart told her to have faith. Khushi remembered that someone was near her window last night but the person was gone before Khushi could know who it was. "Arnav? Was he here?" thought Khushi. "Or was it someone else?"

"Arnav!" shouted Khushi. "If you are here, please come to me!" she said as tears filled her eyes. "Stop doing this to me... Please!"

Neither there was any reply nor was there any movement anywhere. Khushi closed her eyes taking in a deep breath. She calmed herself down. She went in and kept the envelope and letter on the table. Something struck her mind and she ran toward the window from outside. She could see some fresh footprints on the soil. She knelt down and found some burnt cigarette butts. Were they lying there last night too? She couldn't remember. Khushi examined the back side of the bungalow. She found similar cigarette butts near the back gate too. Khushi couldn't make out anything at the moment. She just cleaned the area throwing the pieces in the dustbin.

*****

Khushi left confirming she had locked the door properly. She wondered who the person was as she walked towards the nearby restaurant. And where was Arnav? Khushi knew very well that Arnav didn't smoke. Or maybe he has started smoking now... But if he was here, why would he write letters? He would have surely come and met me. And if it wasn't Arnav, who is giving me these letters? Khushi stopped suddenly as she realised something. "Oh my God!" she exclaimed and ran back towards her home. She quickly unlocked the door and ran towards the table to grab the letter. Observing the letter she said, "I should have noticed it before!" She hurried towards her bag and took out the letter she had "supposedly" received from Arnav in the train. Comparing both the letters, Khushi said in shock, "This is not Arnav's writing! I know his writing very well! Arnav hasn't written these letters!"

Khushi couldn't understand anything. What exactly was happening? She was very sure that Arnav had not written those letters. Then who was doing it? And why? Where was Arnav? But those words, Khushi felt, were of Arnav. His "Trust me, I am with you" were the words said only for Khushi. Those words could not be known to anyone else. Those were Arnav's and those were special. Did he make someone else write those letters? But why??

Khushi couldn't wait more. She had to speak to Arnav. She grabbed her phone which was switched-off. "Oh no!" she exclaimed as she realised that she should get a new sim card first. Khushi took out the old sim card from the phone, broke it and threw it away. She had a lot of things to do. Khushi left the place taking the copies of ID proofs and passport size photographs with her for getting a new sim card.

*****

Khushi inserted the new sim card into her phone but she had to wait for another two days before it was activated. She hurried to a nearby telephone booth and tried to call Arnav several times. But the number wasn't reachable. Khushi hung up the receiver in disappointment. She then called Lavanya.

"Hello?" said Lavanya.

"Hello Lavanya, Khushi here!"

There was no reply for a while. Khushi could feel Lavanya walking rapidly somewhere. "Khushi how are you?" Lavanya spoke in a very low voice, almost a whisper.

"I am fine... But why are you speaking like this? What's happening?" said Khushi.

"A lot's going on here... Ajinkya Kaka has lodged a missing report for you at the police station... Is this your new number, Khushi?"

"No... I am calling from a booth right now. My new number will activate day after" replied Khushi, worried about the missing report.

"I can't speak more Khushi... It is very risky right now... You take care and do let me know your number. And yes, don't call me... I will call you when no one's around... And now that Arnav's with you, there's nothing to worry!"

Khushi wanted to speak more, she wanted to tell Lavanya that something was amiss and that Arnav's wasn't with her, atleast not physically. But Lavanya cut the line in hurry. Khushi could hear Ajinkya's voice in the background. She could feel his anger and restlessness. She just hoped that Lavanya didn't get into any trouble because of her.

*****

Khushi went to have tea and breakfast in a restaurant. She was lost into her own thoughts. She didn't know where Arnav was, and there the police were searching for her. While eating, Khushi glanced at the newspaper that a man on the next table was reading. Khushi couldn't believe what she saw. She was shocked. She just grabbed the newspaper from the person's hands saying, "Sorry uncle, just one minute... It's urgent... Please"

As Khushi read through the news, she felt weak in her knees. Her breath uneven, her hands trembling, her eyes wet, her heart pounding. She read through the new again... "Arnav Singh Raizada, the younger son of Mr. Amar Singh Raizada (owner of Raizada and Sons) met with a major accident yesterday in Mumbai at around 6:30 pm. He was immediately taken to Lilavati Hospital but his condition was critical as per the sources. His family was..." Khushi couldn't read more. She dropped down the paper and left the place at once. She didn't know where she was going. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She kept walking aimlessly. Finally she stopped at a lonely place. She just sat down on a rock. "Why are you doing this to me!" she asked looking up at the sky. "Why do you always keep me alone!!! Why!" She sat silently for a while. She then wiped her tears. "Please don't do anything to Arnav... Please!" she prayed.

Now Khushi began thinking... Arnav met with an accident yesterday just before I boarded the train. Then who gave me the envelope? And today's letter? Who is doing this? And for what? Arnav sending letters is just impossible! Oh god! What's all this? Khushi realised one more thing. Lavanya was totally unaware of Arnav's accident. She was busy in handling Ajinkya there. And now that she had told Khushi not to call her, Khushi was in a fix. She was worried for Arnav. But neither could she go back to Mumbai to see him, nor could she tell Lavanya to do so. She could do nothing but wait... and hope!

*****

He opened his eyes with great difficulty. The sudden brightness in front of his eyes was troubling him. But he still managed to look around. His head was heavy. He could hear beeping sounds from the machines kept near the bed he was lying on. The saline water was slowly dripping into his body. Where was he? Then he recalled the accident he had met with last evening. "Khushi!" he exclaimed weakly as he tried to get up. Two persons hurried towards him and forced him to lie on the bed.

Amar looked at his son. Though tears filled his eyes, his lips curved into a smile seeing Arnav conscious. Amar sat beside Arnav holding his hand. "How are you feeling now?" he asked.

"Papa" said Arnav, "I must go! Khushi must be waiting for me... I had promised to go with her, but I..."

"That's not important right now, Arnav... What is important is you and your health!" said Amar, not very happy about what Arnav was saying.

Arnav turned to his mother, Veena, and said, "Ma... Please, tell Papa that I must go! Khushi needs me, Ma!"

Amar was not ready to listen to Arnav. But Arnav was adamant. Finally, after discussing with the doctors, it was decided that Arnav would be shifted to Pune and all the medical treatment will be given to him at home.

Arnav's phone was crushed during the accident. While travelling to Pune in the ambulance, Arnav tried to call Khushi from Amar's phone but he couldn't connect to her. He just restlessly whispered, "Don't worry Khushi, I will be there soon... Trust me, I am with you!"

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