Chapter 2
Six years later...
Arnav watched the plane touchdown at Indira Gandhi International airport in Delhi and felt a little lurch in his heart. Six years, it had been six long years since he had left and he hadn't been back home even once during the intervening years. His parents along with Dadi and Anjali had visited twice and Dadi had even stayed with him for a couple of months. But he had never been back...hadn't felt the need to until he had decided it was time for him to move back to India.
The quietness of his demeanor belied the excitement thrumming through him and he wondered how different every familiar thing was going to be to him. Would they be different because the eyes viewing them had gained the patina of experience or would they have truly changed in the six years? He couldn't wait to find out.
After his Masters, he had joined a leading tech company and in a very short time had climbed up the ladder due to his hard work, an aptitude for all things technical and a natural ability to lead. They had been shocked when he had sent in his resignation and had even offered him the option of working from home majority of the time with a visit to their facility in Bangalore occasionally. But, he had been firm in his decision and had explained to them that he needed to do this because there was no other way he could ever completely focus on his baby, the company he had started with his best friend and now his would be brother-in-law, Vikas.
Ultimately they had let him go and had assured him that they would have his job waiting for him if he ever wanted to join them back within the year. He doubted if he would though...this was what he wanted, what he had been working towards.
*
It was over ten O'Clock in the morning by the time he woke up, the time difference playing havoc with his internal clock. Cajoling a cup of coffee from his mom and armed with his iPad, he walked into the balcony intent on catching up with the news from the world. It was not until his eyes fell on the black and white railings did he feel a swift, sharp pain in the region of his heart that left him gasping for breath.
"Khushi... the softly uttered name was swallowed up by the gentle breeze that blew across his face.
In the intervening years, that night had taken on a fantastical quality and initially he had intentionally brought the event to mind during every moment he could spare and had dissected it, wondering whether if he had reacted differently, or said something not quite so harsh, would the events that followed it been different? During quite a few short lonely hours, long after midnight, just before the first rays of the sun touched the sky, he had lain in bed and had dared to dream of a life where he had taken up on her offer and had dragged her off to the nearest temple. He would imagine the shock on the faces of his parents and hers and would allow himself a little wry smile before reality came crashing in. When the loneliness seeped into his soul and the pain became unbearable, he had decided to push her thoughts to the deepest recesses of his mind and vowed not to think about her ever again. And, he had succeeded, to an extent, till today.
He had always wondered why she had agreed to get married. He had been so sure that she would have found a way to get out of the quandary she had been in, after all rebelling against the dictates of her parents and thumbing her nose at societal rules was something she had excelled in. She had been only nineteen for God's sake! He had been shocked out of his wits when he came down to breakfast one morning and heard his ma rave about what a ravishing bride she had made. It had been in that moment when his entire being froze and his spirit had felt as though it had been engulfed in flames, that he had realized that what he had thought was hate was, in reality, something quite the opposite.
Forcing his suddenly still heart to resume beating, he sat and focused on catching up with the news and current affairs around the world. If his eyes veered to the deserted balcony opposite, he refused to acknowledge it.
*
Arunima Raizada looked at her son with love and pride that only a parent is capable of, shining in her eyes. How she had missed him. No amount of advancements in technology could ever replace seeing her boy in front of her, she thought, her heart filling up with happiness.
She silently walked to his side and ran her hand gently down his head only to see him starting out of his thoughts.
"What happened? Where are you lost? "
"Nothing ma...just catching up, " he replied his gaze sliding away from hers.
Arunima knew her son well enough to know that he wasn't being entirely truthful. A thought at the back of her mind niggled but she decided to let it pass for the time being. She had something important to discuss with him there was no point in getting into futile discussions.
"Arnav, do you remember what I told you the last time I called you? she asked. Without waiting for a response despite the slight stiffening of his body, she continued
"Arnav, it's time that you got married. Now that Anju's marriage is fixed, it's time for you to settle down too. You have known Lavanya for years now and we think she'll be perfect for you.
"But ma... before he could voice his objection, she replied
"Shh...no one is forcing you to do anything. Just promise me you will think about it? "
Letting his nod satisfy her for now, she cupped his cheek
"Okay, now, come down for lunch.
As he got up, she cheekily added
"Lavanya is here too and you can have a nice time catching up! before sauntering out of the balcony.
Groaning out loud, Arnav followed his mother half amused and half annoyed by her persistence.
*
Seating himself between his dadi and Anjali, while his dad sat next to dadi on the other side. Lavanya was placed to him while his mom was seated beside her. He looked at Lavanya and saw the carmine hue in her cheeks deepen. The sudden feeling of something tightening had him pulling his collar away from his neck.
"Uh..oh, the heat's getting to my poor baba. said dadi slapping his dad lightly on his arm.
" I told you to install centralized air conditioning here too..just the way baba had in his apartment. And, he is used to much cooler temperatures!
"Arrey ma!! He will get used to all this again!! Yahi ka hai woh!! " his dad said rubbing his arm.
"Now that your ladla is here, your son has become good for nothing?! "
"Haan...haan...you will understand when you have grandchildren replied his dadi winking at Arnav.
"I am fine dadi " he said giving his dadi a smile that reached his eyes and lit his face. How he had missed this banter. Till he came back home he hadn't realized how much he had missed being here with his family.
"So, now, what's the plan for today? Are you planning on going out today? Meeting old friends? asked his dad.
"I was planning to go to the office, meet Vikki and then thought both of us would hang out with a couple of other guys later. "
"Aw!! Bhai...I thought we would spend time together today. See, even Lavanya is here complained Anjali
"Sorry Anju, maybe tomorrow? " he said trying to get out of the predicament without hurting anyone's feelings. Not wanting to hear any more complaints, ignoring his mother's annoyed look, he asked his dad
" Why papa? You had some work with me? "
"No..no...I was just planning on heading out to the office. At the snort heard from his mom, his dad hastened to explain
"Arey, I have a hearing coming up. A very important case!
"Yes...yes... the only son returns from the US and you rush off to work...what is the need to work like this? You can think of retiring at least now, haina?
Naveen Raizada was a well-known criminal lawyer whose partnership firm handled primarily civil and criminal cases. He currently had five juniors working under him and had to field off applications from freshers passing out of law college all the time. It was his perpetual complaint that neither of his children had decided to follow in his footsteps.
"What important case? Every case is important for you! " it was said with such exasperation in the voice that Arnav couldn't help but chuckle along.
"It is true, papa, you should think about slowing down now. " he said.
"I have no hopes of papa ever slowing down!
"Bah!! Slow down...slow down...who wants to slow down? I will die fighting cases! " his dad replied, his words immediately drowned by a chorus of voices showing the displeasure at his words and his dadi exclaiming
"Mare tere dushman!!
"Acha! Acha!! Anyways...this case is... his dad sighed and for a moment seemed to be at loss for words.
"It's not my case...I am just helping a friend...helping him fight for a girl who faced grave injustice.
Arnav felt a chill run up his spine. He felt as though his dad was trying to convey something to him but failed to come up with any kind of explanation. A sense of missing something stayed with him throughout lunch even as the topics veered from his dad's profession to his to current world affairs and ending with Anjali's marriage. It stayed with him as he drove to the building where his office was located, through the ride up to his floor. It stayed with him as he paused for a minute outside the glass doors, admiring the golden letters that said Arvik solutions' written in an arc.
It was not until he went inside did the feeling magically disappear, to be replaced by a strange expectation. It was almost as though he was on the precipice of something, just a step forward and he would fall.
He heard her before he saw her, the laugh ringing through the breadth of the office. A bevy of people surrounded her, each face sporting a huge smile, basking in the warmth she exuded. Her radiance had nothing to do with the sunny yellow sleeveless top she wore over white cotton capris and everything to do with the name she bore.
His heart came to a stop and then galloped as though he were running. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to feel at that moment. Euphoria or despair, happiness or anger, he wasn't sure what he felt except a need to see her up close. To make sure it was indeed her. If this was indeed Providence then was he truly blessed?
He cleared his throat twice but that seemed to have no effect on the group. Finally, with the impatience that had been gnawing him reflecting in his voice, he bellowed
"What the hell is happening here?!
" Arey?! Arnav!!! When did you get here? You should have called me! Come on in! " Vikas's exuberant voice was not enough to grab his attention that seemed to have been effortlessly held by wide green eyes with brown flecks in them. How had he ever thought they were something as drab as brown? They seemed to be more green now with bits of sun drops shimmering in their depths. He saw the shock in them change and a veil come down as her lips stretched in a smile that did not exactly reach her eyes.
"Hi, Arnav " her silky voice broke the spell that had held him entrapped.
"Guys, this is Arnav, our boss...the man who is the brain behind Animagic. Everyone, conference room 'New Delhi' in fifteen. Come on man, let me show you around! " said Vikas as he caught hold of Arnav's hand and dragged him off to show him around. As he was about to leave the room, he turned once to catch one last glimpse and saw sit down on her chair and her smile at something the girl standing next to her said. He turned back and headed out of the room, the restlessness he hadn't known he had been feeling giving way to a sense of peace. Had he turned to look at her just a moment later, he would have seen her press her fist to her chest as though that could prevent her racing heart from bursting out of her chest.
*
Khushi had known she would see him sometime, after all, she knew he was one of the owners. But, she hadn't been prepared to see him so soon. He still had the ability to steal her breath without doing anything. The familiar feeling of trying to measure up but found woefully lacking crept up her spine and she struggled to hold it in check. Her smile became just a little bit brighter and the laugh a little bit louder. Fifteen minutes later, she found herself seated in the large conference room with its orange interspersed with stripes of white, walls. Trying to hide the nervousness behind her open laptop screen, she focused on the program she had been trying to troubleshoot.
"Khushi, I can't believe you are still trying to troubleshoot this?! You've already found the major issue, yaar! Come on, take a break at least now! said Rithvik, closing her laptop lid after pushing her fingers off the laptop. Laughing at his antics, Khushi gave him a friendly push and tried opening her laptop lid again which was closed before it could open even halfway. Holding him off with one hand, she tried opening the laptop with the other without any success. Soon it became a game with the others in the room egging them on. Amidst the laughter and the cheers, they missed the door opening and the figure that stood there rooted to the spot.
Arnav had been looking forward to meeting up with the team...at least that was what he had told himself as he had walked through the office space, answering Vikas in monosyllables. He didn't know what he had been expecting when he opened the door to the conference room, but it was definitely not what he saw. He blinked his eyes, trying to believe the scene in front of him even as the laugh swirled around him and grabbed him by his throat. Something uncomfortable lodged itself in his chest and a leaden feeling that had nothing to do with jet lag filled his stomach.
"Come on people!! What's happening here? Take your seats, everyone! Vikas's voice brought him out of his stupor and he went in, determined to show how unaffected he was. He barely glanced at her as he introduced himself and spoke about the dreams and aspirations he had for his baby.
Khushi looked at the people seated around her and marveled at the way they seemed to be hanging on to every word he uttered. He had them all ensorcelled, the conviction in his words captivating them and making them believe in the power of hard work. He left no room for self-doubts. Hearing him felt strangely cathartic to Khushi, who had, in his own words, not spoken to him more than ten times in their entire lives. She had no idea why she had done what she had six years back, but she had never thought too deeply about her actions, always preferring to act without thinking too much about possible outcomes. Maybe that was why she was in the predicament she was in, she thought, a cloud passing through her naturally sunny disposition. But soon, her complacent nature asserted itself as she put the past down to water under the bridge. With resolve firming, she decided that she was here to work and work she would. When her work was exemplary, there could be no cause for complaint from him now, could it?
She couldn't have been more wrong. The next couple of weeks saw Arnav pick on Khushi for every small thing. He had issues with her attire calling her out for wearing something that was either too short or too tight. When she laughed with her team members, she was labeled too friendly and when she toned it down, he called her stuck-up. The constant altercations were beginning to take a toll on her already delicate health and she felt close to tears constantly. The only consolation he gave her was to always complain without anyone else present.
Their uneasy equation was not lost on the rest of the team and everyone had started behaving warily whenever the two of them were in the same room. They were at loss to explain why Arnav who was, in reality, a great boss to work for, picked constantly on Khushi. Some of them had even ventured to voice their disapproval to Arnav directly but that only made him react more adversely. Vikas had even warned to lay off' Khushi in quite not so polite words. This further enraged Arnav who had by now started questioning his own sanity. Needed answers to questions like why she had gotten married when she did and where was her husband now, but unable to open a personal topic with her left him reeling and off balance. He hated that everyone seemed to be her friend and found every man's gaze on her, offensive. So much that he found even Vikas's behavior with her, creepy. He was aghast at the thoughts that seemed to fill his mind constantly, urging him to behave like the very devil himself. But, unable to curb the reactions she evoked in him, he spewed out venom knowing somewhere deep inside he was making a colossal mistake.
*
It was a meeting which required the presence of Khushi, Vikas, Rithvik and himself. Arnav had decided that he would not react to anything he saw or heard from her today. Just before entering the room, Vikas pulled him aside and said
"Don't push Khushi. She is already in a very fragile state of mind today. So please, just lay off...even if her work is not up to par, please cut her some slack "
The last was added as an afterthought since the more Arnav pushed her, the more mistakes she seemed to make. Arnav had resolved to be his normal self around her. Not too friendly but not behave like a moron either but all his good intentions flew out of the window as soon as Vikas opened his mouth. The green-eyed monster that seemed to be sitting on his shoulders constantly made its presence felt as soon as he saw the gaze that lit up as she smiled at Vikas turn wary as she favored him with a smile that resembled a grimace.
"Do you even know what you are speaking about ?! " his bellow was loud enough to make her cringe.
"That is why women who went and got themselves married instead of completing their studies and making something of themselves, should be at home catering to the whims of their husbands instead of coming out to work! he continued uncaring of the others in the room for the very first time.
"I did complete my degree...af..after marriage and I did courses in Animation from a reputed institute " he saw her blink to keep the tears at bay.
"Then I don't know what you learned because it definitely wasn't coding!! Why don't you do us all a favor and make samosas for your husband?! Or is your cooking on par with your coding?!
"She is separated from her husband, " said Rithvik without the chirpiness he usually displayed.
"Arnav " in a tone that was an unmistakable warning, Vikas tried to stop Arnav, but like an unstoppable train, he continued
"Separated? Why? He didn't allow you to party into the night? Didn't he like your boyfriend's coming home all the time? " Arnav didn't know what goaded him, but the words just wouldn't stop.
"No, he and his family killed my three unborn babies without my knowledge because they were girls " she said in a loud clear voice, her eyes holding defiance and disdain. Then her hand rose over her still flat tummy, in a protective gesture as old as time itself "Whether this one is a boy or a girl, I want this one to be alive. I want to save its life the quaver in her voice displayed her inner turmoil.
" And my life " the last was said on a sob and she rushed out of the room, needing privacy to give into the tears that she had kept at bay with sheer will.
Mouth agape, he stood rooted to the spot trying to comprehend what he had heard. The defiance and disdain in her eyes had incinerated him. He knew he had to make amends and yet he was unable to move even an inch.
***
Teaser for Chapter 3
Khushi sank down the bathroom floor giving in to the tears and silent sobs that wracked her slender body. Pamela and Simran who had been the bathroom as Khushi came rushing in surrounded her, alarmed at her state as they saw her sink down to the bathroom floor. Their combined "Khushi what happened? " went unanswered as Khushi barely heard them, so caught up she was, in what had just passed between her and Arnav. She did not remember anyone else being in the room nor did it seem to matter in that moment.
He still hated her...she still disgusted him was all that she could think about.
She stiffened as she heard a cold
"Get out! " delivered in a tone that brooked no argument.
"But...but...this is the ladies room... said Pamela in quavery voice
"Get the hell out! " was the reply that came with just enough of a threat in it to hasten them towards the door.
She was still silent as she felt him sink down to the bathroom floor. Nothing but her occasional sniffles were the only sounds between them as he struggled to digest what he had been just told and wondered from where he should start. God! He had been such a righteous prick! How could he even begin to explain what he felt when he saw her? He needed to grovel and he would. He would do whatever it took.
Softly, for the very first time in their checkered history, he let what he truly felt resonate in his voice as he said
"Khushi, I'm so sorry!
...
Note:
I will try to get the update out soonish...and my Holding It Together, readers - the update will be out Tuesday Aug 29.
Pooja had asked why I named this story Chrysalis. Chrysalis, as I'm sure many of you already know, is the pupa stage of a butterfly. Merriam-Websters defines a Chrysalis as
Definition of chrysalis
play\kri-sa-l-dz\ or
chrysalises
1a : a pupa of a butterfly; broadly : an insect pupab : the hardened outer protective layer of a pupa
2: a protecting covering : a sheltered state or stage of being or growth
My reason for naming this story Chrysalis is the fact that the main protagonist in my story has an outer-shell, which is difficult to break through, hiding his inner self and softer emotions. Arnav's shell is his rigidity initially and his anger when he meets Khushi again. It is this shell that needs to be broken, no matter how hard it is to do, for him to fulfill his destiny and live life as it needs to be lived. Plus I really liked the word :)
Thank you all for the likes and comments. I cherish each comment and it does inspire me to update faster.
To read the update in a better format, please click on the blog link in my signature.
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