Arshi FF: LIFE TOGETHER CHAPTER 12A uploaded on 10/04/17 - Page 2

Chapter 2A link updated see page 2

CHAPTER 2A

ARNAV and KUSHI's Troubled past

Arnav's...POV

Purvi Chauhan lost her life this day three years ago leaving me with a life of "if onlys".

FLASH BACK...

I, Arnav Singh Raizada was from one of the affluent and influential families of Nagpur. We were a large joint family with my nani, parents (Padma and Atul Raizada) sister Anjali, Chacha-Chachi ( their son Vinay and daughter Ritu) and mausa - mausi. For me, those were the most beautiful moment of life with each day filled with festive, fun and love.

Prakash Chauhan (Purvi's dad) moved with his family to Nagpur and became our neighbours. Since Purvi was a only child of the Chuahan's, she spent most of her time with the Raizadas. She was six years younger to me and was serene, angelic and delectable. They spent six years in Nagpur when the chauhans and Raizadas became integrated. During this period for a sixteen year old Purvi, myself at 22 year old was eternal love. For me, she was that buddy who swore unquestionable loyalty. When Purvi was 16 years the Chauhans moved back to Mumbai but by then both our families has an intangible realtionship.

Disaster struck...

When I was 16 years old my mother was diagnosed with cancer. Several doctors were consulted but no vain. The entire family was traumatized and I was devastated as she was the essence of the family. The same year, my Dad remarried Rani, the nurse who cared for my mom hoping that she would fill the void. Later on, Rani's family came and stayed with us and slowly things turned sour. My father's dad controlled the family and my dad found solace in alcoholism . I saw my father crumble in front of me and finally he succumbed to alcoholism and we were desolate. I always wondered why my dad had not divorce his second wife when he noticed her true nature. As I became older and wiser, I realized that getting into a wrong relationship takes a fractional time but getting out of it may take a life time or as in the case of my dad may not happen during one's life time

So it is critical for a person to think hard and analyze before making new relationships.

After my father's demise, we were out of the Raizada house and we barely survived on my mother's legacy. Prakash Uncle (Purvi's father) asked us to move to Mumbai and there I joined for fashion design course in the evening and worked in the night. The entire family bonded during the trying times and the Chauhans became a constant entity of our life. Slowly I started free lancing my design through my small fashion house " Emerald" - my mom's favourite colour

During our stay in Mumbai, Purvi became special in my life. Her demeanour and beauty captivated me and I had no hesitation to spend the rest of my life with her. Her innocence, selflessness, least regard for monetary gains fascinated me. We started seeing each other and they were beautiful memories for me. Our was fixed for the following year as I was a just 24 year old and Purvi had to finish her education.

During the same time Anjali Di met Shyam Jha, a hard working engineer from a modest back ground. Di fell hard for him and married him within six months. The family was elated as things were turning good after a period of pain and sorrow. Her life became a classic "marry in haste and repent in leisure". Shyam Jha moved into our house and slowly Purvi started to withdraw herself and reduced her visits to the Raizada's. My business was on the flight andI became very busy to address the turmoil in Purvi's life. I never realized the trauma she was in and never thought that she would keep things from me . I failed to save Purvi because I wasn't sensitive to the turmoil in her life. This regret stayed with me even after three years. Even now, I wish that I had enquired to her about her with drawl symptoms. May be if I had questioned her enough, spent enough time with her, infused enough confidence in her , she probably would have opened to me about her troubles and she would be alive today.

A major upheaval happened in our lives when Di's marriage ended in less than 6 months . This time the disaster was more profound as both Di and Purvi's life was ruined , the two most important people in my life.

It was this day three years earlier, my wedding day and Purvi had died in his arms. In my other arms was a devastated pregnant Di feeling as guilty as myself that somewhere we had ruined an innocent soul.

The incident ruined Arnav Singh Raizada forever, he was now a broken soul with no desire o repair it. For him, family is a bond that should never be broken. His life is now to protect his family... primarily his helpless sister and his nephew, Sharath . Newer relationships are to be treaded with utmost cynicism. Wealth brings wrong company into one's life and one has to be careful with mercenaries. In his life he has seen several people stalking for money, his step mom, her relatives, Shyam Jha and am sure there are many such vultures out there. He needs to protect his family from such people as he had failed to do so with his Di.

One day... may be he will find peace and happiness.

amazing update

CHAPTER 2B

Kushi's ...POV.

A second year medical student ... Hoping to become a paediatrician. I have a brother, Akash Gupta and a BFF Raghav Joseph . They are my two angels, my guiding light, who have been my life's only constant factor, protecting me from harsh realities of life.

Money ... regard or disregard it ? Mercenary... am I or am I not ???? For someone who does not have money it is an important commodity. Not only does it get physical things but can also brings respect, dignity and identity to one's life. Bhai, Raghu and myself have been insulted big time Not because we were stupid... Not because we were bad...Not because we weren't honest but because we were poor. Three orphans, all alone who invariably ate only one meal a day with the boys always saving the bigger portion for me... If I can get away, I would con every other rich person out of their money. I am not joking I am truly serious! But... The money no longer holds any value, as you have lived without it all your life. We never had money to buy anything than a couple of meals and after one point money became just a factor in our lives. 10 rupees = 2 rotis, 20 rupees = 4 rotis, that's all it meant a factor equated with food.

I have seen Bhai struggle with two jobs a day to meet our needs but never compromising on the values of life. Even out of sheer human frailties did he ever earn wrong money. I always wonder how he managed to maintain his strong values ... may be from his parents before fate took them brutally away from him. My experience has shown me that lack of wealth puts you at a disadvantage against some one who has bountiful of it. We carry the scars inflicted by others because we didn't have money.

Hence, I prefer to stay away from the rich. We do not even speak the same language!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coming to me, I am a true bred orphan, I never saw my mother. I never saw my mom, never had a conversation with her. She deserted me the same day that I was born . She probably trusted Bhai so much that she entrusted me with him and left. So, Bhai ensured that he put in all those values into my head. And now, even when I am in agony with anger about life, I am unable to cross those values. Bhai dreams of me becoming a doctor my dream is that Raghu should become a doctor. Raghu is a true genius and one day he will save many lives. And here we are on our way to become doctors... all this is built on the sacrifices , hard work and effort of my Bhai. We never went to big schools, went to government schools. When other's went on to achieve their dreams, we went to achieve other's dreams, myself to follow my Bhai's dreams, Raghu to follow my dream and my brother to follow the dreams of his values. My dream is that my Bhai should get everything he wishes. So at this point in my life, I can assure that there is nothing lacking in my life except this smouldering anger which tends to erupt, like today, the day I was born , 22 years ago.

I don't even relate to the word being "missed". Sometimes... wonder, if we disappear would anyone miss us. Probably not.. it is terrifying to be alone. I have panic attacks when Bhai and Raghu don't take my calls. So no matter where they are, they always receive my call, at least message me.

In spite of my baggage, my life is beautiful full of love, thanks to the people in my life. Nothing bogs me down... What if I don't have parents... I have beautiful people in my life. I am certain there are people who do not have anyone, never been loved. So I am blessed !

But sometimes I am disenchanted from the world as I feel today.

"Duniya hum ko Dhiya kya,

Duniya se humne liya kya

Hum Sabh ke parva kare kyon

Sabh ne humarae liye kiya kya"

Translate

" What has this world given us,

What have we taken from this world,

Why should we care about this society?

When the society has not cared for us?"

I am not bitter, I am an extremely happy person as long as I have my small world. I refuse to let anyone enter this world.

So it is critical for a person to think hard and analyze before making new relationships.

I have shared my deepest secrets but people around me knows as a cheerful and fun loving person. I don't need anyone's sympathy as it becomes tiresome .

Hope one day some thing happens, and my opinion changes and some one says that :

"My worth is in what I am and not in what I have"...

For a writer especially during the first time , it is a very insecure feeling and in two minds whether to continue or not.

The updates were very interesting as in both Pov Past of Arshi is revealed .

All Hyperlinks working. They are Page 1 of the post

CHAPTER 3 : Kushi meets Arnav

This day was disturbing for Arnav ... he lost Purvi

This day was disturbing for Kushi ... It was the day her mom died and she was born.

Kushi had a restless night with various thoughts hounding her. Next morning, she hugged her brother and moved for her daily jogging. She jogged towards Asma beach. She usually went there when she was disturbed. It was completely inhabited with very few people who strayed there. It was still dark and the place looked unsafe but the mental state that she was in, nobody can even dare to come near her. She could kill an army!! She sat on one of the rocks and looked out at the sea and pondered about her life. This particular day disturbed her every year, her birth date and the day her mom died. She sat alone, closes her eyes and started to imagine about her mother. She pitied herself for not been given an opportunity to look at her mom. At least , Bhai has seen his mom but I do not even have a picture of her. Literally her mom is just a figment of her imagination. In her mind, over the years she had developed an image of her mother, very pretty, soft and serene . When she closed her eyes, she could be with her, talk to her, have fun with her. Subconsciously, her image of her mother was exact opposite to what she was in life She closed her eyes with a smile on her face dreaming about her mom. The moon was still glowing on her face which was etched with serene contentment.

Arnav visited temple on this day for the last three years since the time Purvi left him. Purvi wanted him to accompany her to the temple but he had always refused . So every year the day he lost her , he would go to the temple, so as to pleases her memories. He had a restless night and so left home at 4.30 am . Since it was too early to visit the temple, he drove to one of the deserted beach of Mumbai. This beach has been his solace for the last three years. So he drove to the uninhabited Asma beach far away from the city. He move to one of the rocks and today he was thinking of Sharoo, his nephew, Di's son. After Purvi left him , Sharoo was his life line. He had been strong for Di as she moved into depression over her choice of life partner and also the guilt of Purvi's death. She blamed herself that if she had not married Shyam, Purvi would have been alive. So during Di's pregnancy and when Sharoo was born he took care of him. So he and Sharoo were inseparable. Now, Shyam was back in their lives fighting custody for Sharoo. Arnav offered him a decent sum of money but he was extorting money . He had to protect his nephew's life ...get his custody at any cost. He wanted to make sure that Sharoo legally belonged to him and the family. After that he knew how to handle Shyam Jha . Before that he didn't want to jeopardize Sharoo's life.

He closed his eyes and tried to find peace... he could vision Purvi , her smile and the days of peace and happiness before disaster struck. He and his Di had seen so much pain in life, they lost so much. Now, Sharoo' future his eyed glistened, his shoulders shuddered and his eyes became moist.

Kushi was enjoying her private time with her mom and a sudden movement startled her. She came out of her dreams and abruptly turned around. The beach was isolated and no matter how brave she felt, she shivered in fear. She could end up dying there and nobody would even know. Nobody knows about her hide out, not even Raghu. With trepidation, Kushi turned and her eyes then clashed into a deep honey brown eyes. Kushi was stunned by the angst etched on the face of the stranger. She was shaken by the pain in his eyes and did not know how to react , so she hesitantly smiled as if to reassure him.

Arnav was pained about his past, the loss of his mom, the deceit that his father suffered, his Di's failed marriage, death of Purvi, and above all the future of Sharoo. He would be devastated if he looses custody of Sharoo to Shyam. He felt like screaming agonizingly and he tried to control his angst and opened his eyes to look into the eyes of a smiling girl. He was confused to see her there and was confused to see her smiling at him. He was initially startled and then angry because when he was in agony, someone was so happy and smiling. It was inexplicably illogical but that was how he felt. It would have been fine if she had turned away but the girl deepened her smile and moved towards him. He had tears in his eyes and he did not want anyone to witness his pain and sorrow. He felt that the situation was getting out of control and at that moment irrationally and illogically he hated that girl for intruding his privacy.

Kushi has always been uncomfortable with strangers and very slowly warmed to new people. But today when she looked at those pain ridden eyes, she instinctively wanted to reassure him. With a smile on her face she moved forward to comfort him. Her legs seemed to have a life of their own as she moved across to him. The tears on his face hurt her deeply and she wanted to ease the pain with soothing smile and words. But in an instant his eyes hardened to cold and bitter anger and rejection. His stance was full of rage and Kushi froze at the spot as fear rushed into her. She was unable to comprehend the situation and was poised to run. He pushed his hand on his face and in a flash rushed out. Kushi was startled by the incident that had transpired between herself and the stranger. She turned towards the ocean to compose herself. She half turned to look at the stranger who had intruded her privacy. She saw the stranger rushing to his luxury car parked near the drive way to the beach.

Kushi smiled and she now understood the stranger's behavior and arrogance. She looked down at her faded T-shirt and her old track suit. Why would a wealthy man like him take sympathy from a waif. Poor guy ! He probably lost a deal and was shedding tears over it. Her smile widened and she started laughing loudly.

Arnav rushed to his car and leaned on it and resisted the urge to turn back and look at the girl who caught him at a weak moment. Without looking back , he started car and moved out. After driving silently for some time, he abruptly stopped the car thinking of the incident on the rocks. In his entire adulthood, he had never let anyone witness his pain or weakness, not when his mom died, not when Purvi died, not when Di's marriage collapsed. So what happened today... why did fate put him in such a situation. His pain was witnessed by a complete stranger and she dared to console him . He vented his anger on the girl for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Arnav always retreated to the same beach spot but he had never seen her earlier . He wondered what she was doing there at that time in the darkness. He had not seen any other vehicle which meant that she had walked through those unsafe streets to reach the rocks. From her attire it looked she was a student ... may be she was waiting for her boy friend or may be she was into drugs. No matter what her reasons were for being there, she had no business to intrude into somebody's privacy. He composed himself, putting the incident behind him and drove the car to the temple.