I've been stuck on chapter 28 and it took me a while to get over itđ. Then all hell broke loose in AD and then COVID happened which made things worse. So thankful and appreciate of your updates week after week which brings cheer during these difficult times! It is something that we all are looking forward to in these challenging times.
Jumping right into the chapter - my favorite and the sweetest part is Arnav's dinner delight for Khushi. Though there was some disappointment as to Khushi's eating choices, Arnav's attempts in making Khushi happy was pricelessđ.
The little talk at the balcony about Khushi's mom though brief was heartwarming. Arnav is like a best buddy we all wish to have. The one who knows your heart but is wise enough to know when to push and when to let it be. Yet still be there for you with the gentlest yet powerful gestures.
And you hit the bull's eye with the work-life balance part. It is very important to not bring your work home or vice versa.
All in all another great chapter and love what is cooking here đ.
Hello!
Hope all of you are staying safe and healthy, sending you all lots of strength and love to get through these times đ¤
Thank you for the lovely comments to the last chapter, I devoured them all â¤ď¸
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The content of this story belongs strictly to the author, -Archi-. Any unwarranted use/copy of it is not encouraged and is strictly prohibited.
Chapter Forty
Known
Khushi rummaged through her wardrobe, utterly perplexed on what to pack. It was a late Thursday evening and she was due to leave for Nainital the very next day. Thanks to her demanding shifts at the hospital, she had left her packing to the last minute and now, she was paying dearly for it.
âDinner is ready!â Arnav called.
Khushi sighed.
âWhatâs wrong?â
She looked up to find him standing at the door of their bedroom, throwing a skeptical and not to mention, puzzled look at the mess.
âIâm packing,â she groaned in answer.
âYou sure you arenât just throwing things around? Why does it look like a tornado has been through here?â
âVery funny⌠I donât like packing.â
âNo one likes packing⌠besides what could you possibly need for a medical trip that requires this much damage?â
âI will put everything back in order,â she grumbled, slumping down on the bed, tired. âStop worrying.â
Arnav carefully walked inside, artfully making sure he wasnât stepping on something before sitting down beside her.
âWill you save me the trouble of figuring out whatâs wrong and just tell me?â
âNothing is wrong⌠I justâŚâ she trailed off not knowing what to say.
âDonât want to go?â
Khushiâs head hung in shame. He was right, of course, like always. Although the medical camp was a source of excitement in the hospital, for Khushi it seemed nothing more than an inconvenience. She had to reschedule all of her appointments for the next three days, work extra hours drawing up treatment plans for patients currently admitted âincluding Adya, who was still on life support with a steady heartbeatâ and Khushi didnât even want to think about the amount of work that will be waiting for her when she comes back.
Besides, what was even the point of this trip? A fancy acknowledgment on her CV if and ever she decides to find a job elsewhere? What was Dr. Awasti thinking before enlisting her?
âI think,â Arnav finally said. âYou have starting anxiety.â
âI have what?â
âYou are comfortable here and to leave everything and go is⌠not optimal.â
Khushi snorted. âVery nice Chef Raizada⌠you can get a psychology degree with that analysis.â
He held up his hands as though not to be blamed. âHey, Iâm just learning from the best.â
Khushi smirked. âThanks for flattering me⌠but I donât have starting anxiety. In fact, for the first time ever, Iâm not anxious at all.â
He was stumped. âThen what is it?â
She looked out of the glass wall, leading out into the balcony. It was another peaceful night in Delhi. Not even a speck of rain was in sight.
âIâm happy hereâŚâ she admitted slowly. âAnd to know that no matter what happens in Nainital, I wonât be as happy⌠is not very comforting.â
If Arnav was surprised with that confession, he didnât let it show. Instead he asked humorously, âDo I get credit for your happiness?â
He did, more than he could ever guess. But that was meant to be her little secret.
âDonât flatter yourself,â she answered.
He chuckled. âYou know what I will take credit for, however, Dr. Gupta?â
âWhat?â
âFor taming your nerdiness⌠I thought you would be jumping with joy at the thought of a medical camp, thinking about all the awesome medical marvels you will be a part of, planning for all the ways you can show off your amazing skills⌠and here you are, sulking about having to work during a weekend.â
âYour humor is wearing off on me,â she answered drily, although she was amused just the same. âI donât show off.â
âNow you are being funny.â
Khushi rolled her eyes and stood up. âCan I get back to work now? The bus will be there at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning.â
âBus? Arenât you taking a flight?â
âHow rich do you think the hospital is?â she retorted sarcastically.
âWell seeing that I pay the bills, itâs definitely rich enough to send you on a flight.â
âApparently not. They booked a bus for all ten of us⌠plus we have medical equipment and supplies to take with us as well. Flight is just not practical.â
Arnav sighed. âI guess you are right⌠but itâs such a waste of time.â
âReally?â Khushi asked, surprised. âMost of the doctors are excited about the extra six hours of sleep they are going to get.â
He grinned. âFair enough⌠so are you going to have dinner or not?â
âLet me just finish up here. You go ahead if youâre hungry.â
âNo, itâs fine, I will wait,â he answered, standing up to leave. âBy the way, Nainital is cold this time of the year. You should pack warmly.â
Khushi nodded. âNoted, thanks.â
Flashing her a kind smile, he was almost out of the door when he paused and said, âI may not be a doctor, but Iâm pretty sure what you are having is fear of the unknown⌠except, itâs not really fear of the unknown, itâs the fear of giving up the known. But the way I see it, in a couple of hours, the unknown will become the known and then maybe, you will not want to come back.â
* * *
âGood morning,â Ved greeted chirpily as he climbed onboard the Volvo coach, hired to transport them from Delhi to Nainital.
Khushi, who had been picked up a few minutes ago from her apartment after bidding Arnav âstill half asleepâ goodbye, grimaced. Although she was still quite weary about the trip, she knew it was better than to brood. Three days would fly by in an instant, and before she realized it, she would be back in the penthouse, eating another one of Arnavâs delicious meals.
At least thatâs what she told herself.
âYouâre quite cheerful this morning,â Ved commented, taking a seat beside her.
Khushi shrugged. âItâs Friday,â she muttered, looking out of the tinted windows. The sun was finally beginning to rise, steadily covering the empty streets in dewy auburn light.
âYes, and we are going to Nainitalââ
âFor workââ
âOkay, who are you and what have you done with my Khushi?â
Khushi snorted. âIâm not yours.â
âBut Iâm yours to annoy for the next three days.â
She sighed. Ved was easy to get along with; perhaps thatâs why they were friends. He looked past her awkwardness âand sometimes cold behaviorâ and pretended like it was nothing. She was grateful for it on most days, no doubt, but on days like this, she wished he would leave her alone.
Luckily, Ved took the hint and didnât speak much for the rest of the ride. Khushi felt her eyes drooping as the bus climbed onto the highway and the last thing she watched before she drifted off into a dreamless sleep was the city buildings dissolve into plain open grounds.
When her eyes opened next, Khushi was stunned.
The bus had pulled up in front of a medium sized cottage, nestled picturesquely in between a canopy of trees at least a hundred years old. Tall hills surrounded them, covered exquisitely in greenery, while birds chirped happily amongst themselves, unperturbed by the human intrusion.
But none of this matched what stood on their left. About thirty feet from the cottage, the ground dipped out of sight into what appeared like a valley. All Khushi could make out on the other side were mountains in the far distance, their tips covered in fog while the sun danced in and out of white clouds. It was breathtaking.
âItâs beautiful isnât it,â murmured Ved.
Khushi âwho had almost forgotten she wasnât aloneâ turned to find him also looking out of the window in awe.
âIt is,â she replied.
If Arnav had been there, however, it would have been perfect.
âOkay everyone,â Dr. Chandra âtheir supervisor for the tripâ called once everyone had disembarked the bus and gathered around him for instructions.
âThis is our lodging for the next three days,â he explained. âThere are five bedrooms, two people to each room. You can take your pickâ please do not fight over it and make me assign you to rooms.â
Everyone laughed.
âWe will be working out of a community center not too far from here. So, once everyone is freshened up and had lunch âdonât worry, the guesthouse is providing us with mealsâ we will head down and start setting up. Any questions?â
Surveen, a first-year resident like Khushi, spoke. âWhat kind of cases are we expecting sir? Dr. Awasti said you will brief us on the way.â
Dr. Chandra smiled. âYouâre her intern Iâm assuming?â
Surveen nodded. Khushi didnât understand why that point was of any importance.
âAs much as Divya likes to keep you guys on your toes, the truth is, this trip is not a rescue mission. We come here once a year to look after the locals, to make sure they are getting the right vitamins and prescriptions. We donât stay here long enough to actually treat complicated cases.â
âSo we are looking at malnutrition then?â Surveen asked.
âMostly,â Dr. Chandra replied. âThe locals cannot afford health care; their lives are mostly depended on the tourism industry âwhich is why we are staying in this guesthouse. The more business we can give them, the better.â
Surveen sighed, slightly crestfallen. She, like most of the group, was expecting to find rare and mostly unheard medical cases.
âThe trip is important,â Dr. Chandra stressed not missing the disappointment in everyoneâs eyes. âBecause it gives you an opportunity to practice caring for people outside of a hospital setting, where all of the equipment is readily available to you. And if you master this skill, of being resourceful and quick witted, then you can join the doctors that actually go out into the mountains and other rural areas for months at a time to help the people there. Understood?â
The group nodded in unison.
âOkay then, letâs meet back here in an hour. Lunch is being served in the dining hall.â
Khushi was just about to collect her small carry on suitcase and head inside, when Ved stepped in front and easily picked it up while balancing his own.
âYou donât have to,â she said politely. âMy suitcase isnât heavy, I can carryââ
âNot a chance. Iâm a gentleman and you know it.â
Khushi grinned and together they walked into the guesthouse.
It was as beautiful inside as it was outside. The cottage was decorated in rustic tones with maroon colored carpets, wooden panels and ivory couches. Windows were erected all around the ground floor, letting the afternoon sun glimmer brightly indoors.
âWanna share a room?â Ved asked.
Khushi gaped. Was he serious?
He chuckled. âRelax. Just kidding.â
She let out a silent sigh of relief. Sharing the room with Arnav was one thing; there was no choice there âalthough now, she didnât mind it one bitâ but voluntarily sharing a room with Ved was out of question. Luckily, Surveen offered to be her roommate and together, the two of them picked a room in the far corner of the second floor, overlooking the valley.
An hour later, Khushi along with the rest of the doctors set out to the community center. They followed a dwindling road down the hill to a decent sized building, where they arranged their equipment, setting up tables, drawing partitions and readying medicine.
The first visitors âa group of middle-aged ladiesâ came a little before sunset, explaining that most of the locals were at work and that they would come in for a check-up once their shifts ended.
There was no free time left after that.
By sunset, the community center was so crowded with people that Khushi didnât even have time to sit down. It was only as she dragged herself back up the hill to the guesthouse along with the rest of the crew that she realized how cold and dark it had become. She shivered unexpectedly, regretting leaving behind her sweater in the guesthouse. So much for Arnavâs advice to pack warmly.
âOh crap,â Khushi muttered, recalling with a jolt that she didnât message him all day.
Arnavâs text was already waiting for her by the time she pulled out her phone.
Too busy to message me, huh? :( I see how it isâŚ
She grinned, typing her reply while her feet kept blindly moving forward.
Sorry sorry⌠got caught up with things here. Nainital is beautiful, you should come visit.
His answer was almost instantaneous. Had he been staring at his phone, waiting for her reply?
I wonât say âtold you soââŚ
And yet, you areâŚ
Hehe⌠fine, I will say it then: you were fearing this trip for no reason Dr. Gupta.
True, but my point still stands.
Which is?
I would be far happier in the apartment right now, eating your food than freezing to death here having nothing but kichidi for comfort.
Freezing to death? Didnât you pack warm clothes? I TOLD you it will be coldâŚ
You did and I packed a sweater. I will be okay⌠did you have dinner?
Try to stay indoors as much as you can. A sick doctor is not helpful to anyone.
Khushi sighed, deciding not to argue. It wasnât her fault that the temperature dropped so suddenly. It wasnât nearly this cold in the afternoon.
Okay, I will be careful. So what exciting things have you planned for the weekend? You have the apartment all to yourself!
Yes, very exciting things. Hold your heart while I explainâŚ
Khushi chuckled, waiting.
Firstly, I bought myself a very exquisite bottle of wine that I intend to finish while going through numerous files my secretary was kind enough to send home.
Secondly, I have an empty fridge that needs restocking before you come back home, possibly ravenous (wouldnât blame you â kichidi SUCKS).
Thirdly, Lavu being⌠well, Lavu, needs my assistance in matters best known to her. So, I shall be dropping by her house at some point on Sunday.
Lastly, I will be desperately missing some nerdy company, so Iâm planning to drown my sorrows in Netflix and cupcakes.
Khushi couldnât hold her laughter in. He was a complete item, this Arnav. How could anyone be so perfectly amusing? Giggling to herself, she answered:
You better save me some of those cupcakes.
Of course⌠I hope your camp is much more exciting than my plans.
Once again, you overestimate doctorsâŚ
âOw!â
Khushi unseeingly collided with a hard chest before unceremoniously falling backwards. She closed her eyes in fright, when two strong arms slipped around her waist, holding her in place.
âCareful,â murmured Ved. âGosh youâre freezing Khushi, are you okay?â
She opened her eyes in guilt, meeting Vedâs dark brown ones looming far too close for comfort. She straightened up instantly, cautiously taking a step back to put some space in between them.
âSorry,â she said, tucking her phone back into her purse. âIâm okay, are we almost at the guesthouse? Iâm hungry.â
Ved nodded. âYeah, almost⌠everyone is already there actually. I was worried you got lost or something⌠so I came back looking for you.â
Khushi was touched. âYou are too nice,â she commented, walking once again. âI was just texting my family⌠this is my first camp, so theyâre a little worried.â
Ved matched her steps. âOh⌠how come you never told me about your family?â
She bit her lip, almost slapping her forehead for not seeing this coming. âThere is nothing to say⌠you already know about my mother.â
âYes,â he replied. âBut what about the rest?â
âWhat about them?â she answered rhetorically. Luckily, they had reached the clearing where their cottage stood. âI have an older brother, heâs into business like my father⌠he got married last year actually.â
âReally? I always assumed you were the eldest in your family.â
âWhy?â
âYou have that independent and protective vibe that most elder siblings have.â
âAre you the eldest in your family?â
Ved shook his head. âNope. Only child.â
âLucky you.â
âYouâre joking right? It was boring as hell! I begged my parents to have a second child, but my mother flat out refused.â
âWhy?â
âShe used to have a busy job, soââ
He broke off upon catching sight of the darkened appearance of the guesthouse. Many of their colleagues were slowly stumbling out, carrying blankets and pillows.
âWhatâs going on?â Ved murmured before running off to find out.
To Khushiâs bad luck, there was a power outage in the area, which meant the guesthouse was completely out of electricity, including heating. Taking advantage of the situation, the doctors had decided to spend the night around a bonfire and Khushi had no choice but to follow. She didnât see how else she would be able to keep herself warm.
So a few minutes later, after finishing dinner, Khushi sat huddled next to Ved in a circle, wearing two sweaters and wrapped up in a woolen blanket. A fire crackled briskly in between all of them, keeping her face flush and protected against the cold air.
âSo, what were you saying before?â Ved asked.
âNothing.â
âNo, you were saying something about your family?â
âOh. Just that I have a brother and that youâre an only child.â
Ved laughed. âThanks for reminding me. So⌠youâre close to your brother. Thatâs it? There is no one else?â
âWhat, you need me to write out my whole family tree or something?â
âI was just curious,â he answered sheepishly. âI mean⌠you and me spend so much time together and we donât know much about the other.â
âI know you like your coffee black.â
âAnd you like it with milk⌠thatâs not very informative.â
âOh, but it is,â Khushi replied with a smirk. âIt tells me how much you detest carbs and sugar.â
Ved gestured to his well-toned torso, which even through the many layers he was covered in, still looked nicely shaped. âThis comes with a price!â
âIâm sure Keerthi is mighty impressed,â Khushi answered rolling her eyes. âHow is she by the way? She hasnât stopped by the hospital recently.â
Ved turned his gazed away upon the mention of his girlfriend. âSheâs good⌠busy with work.â
Khushi frowned. âIs something wrong with the two of you?â
âNope, itâs fine,â he said, smiling for her benefit.
Khushi let it go, knowing that he would talk to her when he was ready. She hated being nosy.
âSo, what is it that you want to know about me?â Khushi finally asked. She had no reason to hide anymore. Ved was a good friend and most importantly, had earned her trust.
He smiled. âNothing of importance really⌠I just found it weird that you never talk about your family. Youâre quite a private person⌠so I always wondered is it because you arenât close with your family or you just donât like talking about them?â
âBoth.â
âThatâs a bummer.â
You have no idea. âI was close to my mother,â she said out loud, however. âBut after her accident, it was just me.â
And perhaps, now Arnav.
Khushi subconsciously picked up her phone at that and saw a good night message âalong with a reminder to keep warmâ from the man himself, blinking comfortingly on the screen. She vaguely wondered how he would react upon finding out that there was no power in the guesthouse.
âNo boyfriend?â
Khushi was startled to hear that question. She gazed shrewdly at Ved, before saying, âYou were dying to ask me that, werenât you?â
He smiled, apologetic. âSorry,â he mumbled. âI just canât imagine you single⌠but you never talk about a boyfriend.â
âWhy canât I be single?â
Ved was aghast. âHow can you be single? Youâre beautiful⌠kind⌠smart⌠there is no way you donât have a special someone!â
Khushi was âquite honestlyâ flattered. She never viewed herself as beautiful per say. From a very young age she sold herself as intelligent, which was perhaps why she did show off once in a while about being a doctor or why she enjoyed Arnav calling her âDr. Geniusâ. However, to hear that she was âprettyâ, was something altogether new and not to mention, satisfying.
âWell, I donât have a special someone,â she finally said. âSorry to disappoint.â
âPlease, all the men in the word should be apologizing, not you⌠Did no one ask you out? Like even in college?â
Khushi shook her head in negative. âI guess I never had time⌠my father didnât want me to be a doctor. So I used to spend all my energy into studying. There was no room for distractions.â
âAnd now?â
Arnavâs face unwillingly flickered into view. She knew it was silly to think of him. His heart had been taken, long before she even came into the picture. And perhaps, his heart would always belong with someone else. Everyone, of course, expected them to miraculously fall in love, to make their phony marriage a real one, but Khushi knew it wasnât possible. There were just too many burdens involved.
Arnav and she were fated to be like the two tracks of a railroad, always together, but never uniting.
And she didnât know what else to do other than to accept it. How could she ever risk what they had now for the mere possibility of something better?
âYour silence tells me thereâs already a distraction,â Ved murmured.
Khushi took a deep breath. âThere isnât.â
âWould you like one?â
She chuckled. âHonestly, no⌠My life used to be very complicated Ved. Now that itâs finally settling down into something I can enjoy, Iâd rather it not be upturned. Relationships are messy.â
âThe good ones arenât.â
Khushi snorted. âThe good ones most definitely are. How else can you be sure itâs what you really want?â
âSo you would pick a painful, turbulent relationship over a peaceful and easy one?â
âNo,â she replied indignantly. âI would pick a relationship that gives me peace despite being painful and turbulent.â
Ved almost seemed impressed. âYou think very deep.â
She grinned. âWhy, thank you. But Iâm just a girl who knows what she wants, thatâs all.â
âAnd what is that exactly? What do you want? A nice house, an understanding husband, two kids and perhaps a dog?â
âSo clichÊ⌠be original Ved.â
He took his time to answer. âItâs what I would want,â he admitted looking straight ahead at the valley, now completely submerged in darkness.
Khushi pondered that. It was surprisingly to hear that he wanted something so simple; nothing about Ved spelled simple. She knew many girls in the hospital crushed on him, often being carried away with his good looks and talkative nature. Most of them would probably be a little disheartened to know that what he wanted was not an epic romance.
But what about her? Would she want the same? If her father was out of the picture and her marriage with Arnav wasnât a contract, would she be looking to settle down and have a family of her own?
Perhaps.
But something about that image, about being a happy wife in a perfect household with an ideal husband, just didnât click. No, instead what came to Khushiâs mind when she thought about her âhappily ever afterâ was more or less what she had now.
So, all she said in answer to Vedâs questions was, âI think I already have what I want.â
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Poor Khushi doesn't know what's coming for her đ
As always, please like & comment!
AD is currently a mess for me (in addition to this covid madness!) so please be patient with me. I try to update a minimum of once per week - I'm trying to update more frequently, but I can't make any promises yet.
Love you all,
Archi
Taken
*Edited*
Yay, thank you for this lovely update. First things first. They need to miss each other and I think this will help. Especially with Vee trying his best to get into Khushi's life. She imagining/thinking about Arnav when Ved talking about Boyfriend/ happily ever after definitely says a lot.
Now, hoping the fire is at an equal shade the other side. Wait till he gets to know Ved is behind Khushi. Green monster will come running.
This medical camp , Khushi being in Nainital and Arnav there reminds of a Tamil film and I can't help but, feel the connection :P Alaipayuthey! (Saathiya in hindi I guess)
Is there a way our hero boy comes to Nainital? ;)
Cheers
Edited by TwilightStar_JP - 3 years agoI think, no, I know that Ved has fallen for Khushi and its messing with his present girlfriend........ I wish Khushi had shared about Arnav, if she trusts him so much......
So whats with the mention of cold and them being stranded without a heater....... will Khushi fall sick and Arnav will run to be with her ? that will be little filmy but perfect for the truth to come out to ved......
Taken
*Edited*
Yay, thank you for this lovely update. First things first. They need to miss each other and I think this will help. Especially with Vee trying his best to get into Khushi's life. She imagining/thinking about Arnav when Ved talking about Boyfriend/ happily ever after definitely says a lot.
Now, hoping the fire is at an equal shade the other side. Wait till he gets to know Ved is behind Khushi. Green monster will come running.
This medical camp , Khushi being in Nainital and Arnav there reminds of a Tamil film and I can't help but, feel the connection :P Alaipayuthey! (Saathiya in hindi I guess)
Is there a way our hero boy comes to Nainital? ;)
Cheers
Cheers
Nainital sounds so beautiful!!
Loved the text convo between Arnav and Khushi. Heâs able to make her laugh even with them being miles away. Unknowingly, she has started associating him as her family. Because she feels safe and happy in his presence. And I think Arnav has started to feel safe and himself in Khushiâs presence too.
I just realized, Ved has to be the first guy to ever compliment Khushi on her beauty. Not Arnav. And this whole getting to know of her family (clearly trying to see if sheâs single or not) while he has a gf (wether on good terms or not) didnât quiet sit well lol. I kinda wished Khushi told him about Arnav too but then again what is she going to say? Yeah Iâm married to a Raizada but my last name is listed as Gupta? Will make it messy for her. And she knows Arnav will understand. I mean, sheâs quiet right when it comes to Arnav not feeling anything for her yet, given that he was already deeply in love with someone else. Iâm soooo curious as to when Arnav will feel the first beat of love in his heart for Khushi. I donât want it to happen just yet. They still have a long way to go. But still. This is interesting. Khushi has never been in love or in a relationship before. Sheâs definitely starting to feel something for Arnav though and this is a beautiful process to go through with her :).
I liked the caring side of Arnav. Really curious to how he will react to Ved or how he will even come to find out about him haha.
Really liked the following quote:
âI would pick a relationship that gives me peace despite being painful and turbulent.â
As always, your updates always cheer me up.
Continue soon and stay safe!
Bizzy
I love this Arnav! He might not be the most sorted person but he is an absolute sweety :)
I am slightly upset with Khushi right now...why is she hiding her marital status from Ved? I can imagine her not wanting people to know who she is married to. Keeping that bit secret is okay, but this....
Has Ved broken up with his girlfriend? If yes, is Khushi the reason? I have a strong hunch that he is interested Dr. Gupta ;)
Edited by v5a1s6 - 3 years ago