#2 ArShi FF - I AM WITH YOU || Ch 24 on Pg 115 [Sep 3] - Page 59

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CHAPTER 22

Arnav noticed that Khushi was avoiding him. He couldn't understand the reason. She came to his room to replace the old flowers in the vase with the new ones. Arnav was expecting her to sit beside him as she usually did. But she just turned to leave without even looking at him. Arnav felt bad. As Khushi reached the door, Arnav called out to her.

"Khushi?" he said in a questioning tone, as if to ask why she was doing this.

Khushi turned. "Arey Arnav, you woke up?" she said pretending that she hadn't noticed it earlier. "Good Morning!" she wished standing at her place.

Arnav wanted her to come back and spend some time with him. But instead, Khushi left saying she had to go help Veena in preparing breakfast. Arnav could see something was wrong but he decided to ignore it.

Khushi always had breakfast with Arnav in his room. But today she told the maid Sita to take breakfast to Arnav. Arnav was surprised. "Why didn't Khushi come today?" he wondered. The nurse too noticed that Khushi was avoiding Arnav for some reason.

Arnav didn't feel like eating. But he had to as he had to take medicines. It was Khushi who saw to it everyday that Arnav took his medicines properly. But today, she wasn't here. The nurse handed over the medicines and a glass of water to Arnav. She could clearly see how much Arnav was missing Khushi. Even she was surprised to see the sudden change in Khushi's behaviour.

Arnav took the medicines silently and gulped down the water. He saw Khushi walking past his room. "Khushi!" he called out to her. Arnav waited for a while but she didn't return. Arnav became upset. He leaned back on the wall and closed his eyes remembering her. He opened his eyes to the sound of light footsteps, and there she was standing at the door. She just couldn't leave ignoring his call. She had to come.

Arnav's eyes gleamed seeing Khushi. The nurse too was happy. Arnav was waiting for Khushi to say something. She just came in and picked up Arnav's plate and glass. Arnav was about to hold her hand but she moved away. Without looking at Arnav, she said "Take rest" and turned to leave.

Arnav wanted her to stay. Why is she avoiding me? His mind was racing through ideas to stop her from leaving. He somehow got hold of the words to say... "Won't you ask whether I had my breakfast? You left me alone today" he said.

Khushi stopped at her place listening to this. You left me alone today... These words pinched her heart. She clinched the plate in her hands tighter as she shut her eyes for a moment. Without facing Arnav, she said, "I can see that you have eaten..." she said pretending to be normal. "You need to take rest now" she said and began walking.

Arnav could not believe that she was walking away without a proper conversation. She didn't even look at me. What's wrong with her? "Won't you ask me whether I took my medicines?" he asked, his eyes pleading her to stay back.

Arnav's question touched Khushi's heart. Tears filled her eyes. She still had her back towards Arnav. To hide her sadness, she gave out a little laugh and said, "When Neeta ji is there to take care of you, there's no reason to worry, right Neeta ji?" she said referring to the nurse. Neeta remained silent knowing not what to say. Arnav was stunned at Khushi's reply. Before he could say anything more, Khushi hurried out of the room.

Arnav just stared at the door feeling dejected. Why is she suddenly treating me like this? Did I do something wrong? Did I hurt her unknowingly? No, I don't think so. Then what happened so suddenly that she is avoiding me? Is it because of the kiss? Yes, the kiss! Only that can be the reason! I shouldn't have taken that step so early. But I couldn't hold myself back, she was right there, how could I not kiss her! May be she is nervous because of the kiss. So what if she didn't stop me, I should have known. Damn! I need to talk to her... Apologize to her may be...

Arnav got up to go and talk to Khushi but he lost his balance and fell back to the bed. The nurse, Neeta, quickly supported him and forced him to lay back saying, "You need rest right now!"

"But I need to..."

"You can talk to her later" said Neeta interrupting him.

Arnav was surprised to see that Neeta knew what he was about to say. She nodded at Arnav with a smile to assure him that she was right. Arnav lay on the bed silently, still not able to believe Khushi's changed behaviour.

Coming out from Arnav's room Khushi stood next to the door pressing her back against the wall. Arnav's plate and glass still in her hands, she just closed her eyes tight to let the tears that filled them flow. Why is all this happening? Oh God! Help me! Please help me get over all this... Please make me strong. Give me strength to face my fate! Khushi took in a deep breath. She wiped off her tears and walked to the kitchen to keep the plate and glass.

*****

Ajinkya and Inspector Deshmukh were discussing about Khushi's case.

"So you think Khushi is in Mumbai?" asked the inspector.

"Think?" said Ajinkya, "I KNOW it!!" he said it with utter confidence. "Arnav himself said it not knowing that I was on the line, and not Khushi"

Ajinkya and inspector Deshmukh had no idea that they were secretly being overheard by Karan and Lavanya.

"She is in Mumbai?" said Lavanya, shocked.

Karan immediately placed his palm on her mouth. "Shhh..." he told her to be quiet. They heard Ajinkya receiving call from the two men in Pune whom he had told to keep an eye on Khushi's home. They heard him speak over the phone...

"Yes, tell me... Any special news?" Ajinkya asked over the phone and waited for the reply. He was surprised hearing the reply. "What?! 2-3 men entered the bungalow? That too through the windows?" he looked at Inspector Deshmukh to make sure he was listening. "Who were they?" he asked over the phone, "Are you sure Khushi or Shashi weren't among them?" he waited for his man to speak. "What?!" he was shocked. "They were searching for something? But what? Did you see them taking anything when they left?... What do you mean 'don't know'? Keep an eye and keep informing me!" he scolded and disconnected the call.

Inspector Deshmukh was staring at Ajinkya with a questioning gaze. Ajinkya told him that some men had got into the house and were searching for something. Ajinkya's men had no idea what the intruders were searching for and whether or not they got it.

"They can't be Khushi's or Shashi's men... They got in through the windows to steal something. Who were these men?" said Ajinkya thoughtfully.

Karan and Lavanya were shocked to hear this. They wanted to hear more, but just then they heard someone coming towards the place they were hiding. They had to move out.

As they were returning to Lavanya's home, Lavanya was about to call Arnav but Karan stopped her.

"No! Don't!" he said holding her hand to stop her from dialling the number. Lavanya was confused. Karan looked around and said, "Lavanya, they released us from the police custody... but I am sure they did this on purpose. I am sure we are under their surveillance. And our mobile phones are being tracked. We need to be very careful"

Lavanya agreed and kept her phone back into her pocket. "But what now? Is Khushi really in Mumbai? And who were those men?"

"Even I can't guess, Lavanya... There's something more behind all that's happening... Something that we don't know..."

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