sorry mariam, for once i had to rework..which i rarely have to do..but something had not felt right and there is another namesake of yours..Nagz..who is my sounding board and i thrashed it out...
hope you all like the effort
Chapter 28
Khushi had felt her hand in his as she had come to and knew that he was there. Somehow she knew his touch. She knew he had been there all the time. She had tried to speak but at first the only sounds that came were a mumble. She had then heard him say, Khushi with a longing in his voice and she knew he would always bring her out from the depth of despair with just calling her name. She opened her eyes as instructed and looked into the darkness that pooled around them but she knew exactly where he was, she tried to move but her arms were hurting. She had then said, "Sab andhera hai'" and he had sounded pained at her inability to see, little knowing that he was the only light she needed to see.
He pulled her into his arms, moving onto her bed in one swift movement and gave her a bear hug. She hugged him back even it hurt to put her arms around him. Just when she was about to sink into him totally, he pulled back holding her shoulders and asked in a strained voice,
"Khushi'tumhein kuch dikhayee nahi de raha?"
"Nahin'meine kaha sab andhera hai' kya baj raha hai?" Khushi explained though her voice was getting stronger by the minute.
"What?" Arnav snapped getting up. Khushi sank back onto the pillows as her support suddenly seemed to be gone.
"Kya hua? tum uth kyon gaye?"
"Tumhein dikhayee deta hai?" He asked incredulously with anger lacing his voice. He then switched on the light and glared at her.
"Haan? Kyon tumhein laga mein andhi ho gayee hoon?" she asked perplexed at what had gotten into Arnav suddenly.
"Just shut up," He growled bending over her.
"Arnav tum theek ho? Why are you so angry at me? What did I do?" Khushi tried again though she was finding the whole situation beyond comprehension. The last thing she remembered was tumbling down stairs and now here she was all pins and needles and all this man could do was glare at her?
He then came even closer and said, "Ye tum mujhe pooch rahi ho? Pehle tum do kadam theek se chal nahi sakti, jab se mili ho, hamesha girti rehti ho aur ab pooch rahi ho tumne kya kiya hai? Tum jaan na chahti ho tumne kya kiya hai?" his voice had taken a belligerent quality and Khushi had cowered back into the pillows to keep herself safe from his uncalled for anger.
"Tumhein pata hai' what you did'what you'made me go through..you'you'" Arnav started only to halt as he saw her eyes well up with tears and he pulled back, straightened and ran frustrated hands through his hair.
He turned around to find Payal and Aakash inside the room glaring at him. He had done it. He had now done the unthinkable, he saw the accusing eyes of theirs tell him.
Payal ran up to Khushi and hug her as she said, "Tum theek ho' hum sab itne pareshaan the. Kya hua Khushi'tum kaise gir gayee'?"
Khushi looked at Arnav over her shoulder and met his eyes which were now unfathomable. This man was totally beyond her she wondered as she pulled out of the hug and told her sister, "Woh pata nahin mein ek second seedhi uttar rahi thi aur somehow mere pairon tale se jaise zameen khisak gayeee ho'" And she again looked at Arnav whose eyes revealed that he too recalled the moment that they had shared.
"Jiji, sab dard kar raha hai'." Khushi finally said now totally exhausted. Arnav sprang into action and rang the bell to call the nurse. He then got some water for her and handed her the glass. As the nurse came in he told her what to do as if she did not know her job. It took a doctor on duty to get him out of the room.
Payal had then asked Aakash to take the distraught Arnav home now that Khushi had regained her consciousness and get some sleep as there was a wedding happening. Arnav ready to oppose the idea was halted by Aakash when he said, "Arnav Payal theek keh rahi hai. Hum chalte hain, Khushi is better now. I am sure Payal can call us if there is something needed."
Arnav left reluctantly torn between the need to be with her and the anger that brewed in him at the scare she gave him. He was silent all the way home and made an excuse to Aakash about being tired before he retired to his room.
He knew he was to face Nani and was ready for her. He showered and went downstairs. He went to the study so that he could catch up with mails as he knew he was not going to sleep anyway worried about Khushi the way he was. He was lost in his work when couple of hours later he heard the door open. He looked thinking it must be Nani, when he saw Lavanya walk in.
Surprised to find her here he asked, "Lavanya, you here? Everything alright?"
"Hi Arnav. How is Khushi?" Lavanya asked without preamble and saw the half smile that was forming fade.
"She is better. But tum batao, what brings you here?" Arnav evaded talking about her much.
"Arnav' what happened last night'what was all that about?" Lavanaya questioned.
"What do you mean, you were there'you saw'Khushi fell' what are you trying to say?" Arnav asked with incredulity that she had not seen what had happened.
"Tum kya kar rahe ho'" Lavanya questioned further without answering his questions.
"Mein kya kar raha hoon? What do you mean? Lavanya are you alright?" Arnav was wondering if Lavanya had lost her mind.
"Mein toh theek hoon. Par kya ye tum jo kar rahe ho woh theek hai? ye shaadi, kya ye theek hai? tum nahi dekh rahe ho jo mein dekh rahi hoon?" She quizzed him further.
Arnav spread his hands out in disbelief.
"See? What do you see? What do i not see? Wait a minute what do you mean about the wedding? ARe you trying to say'" Arnav tried to figure out the puzzle Lavanya was throwing at him.
"Haan Arnav, mein ye shaadi todne aaye hoon. Waise bhi hamari shaadi, ek dikhawa hi toh hai. A marriage of convenience and I dont know why you are denying your feelings for her. Why you cannot see that she loves you too. You might enjoy being obtuse but I am not going to be party to this charade anymore. I dont think we should marry and I have come to give you back the ring which should ideally be on Khushi's finger anyway." She explained patiently.
"What rubbish' you are talking nonsense, there is nothing between us'" Arnav denied vehmently
"You might want to behave like an ostrich. Well, suit yourself but i am not going to be part of this. what you do is non of my business, but I know what i saw. I saw a man in love, a man demented in his fear of losing his beloved. Did you hear yourself Arnav. Did you realise what you said was admittance to your feelings? Did you realise that Arnav who prided himself on being in control has lost it and was a man who was scared at seeing her hurt and possibly lost to him? Did you see all that? If not, then see it. Don't kid yourself Arnav, you love that girl. Moreover you are in love with her?"
"Lavanya!" Arnav stopped her militantly.
But Lavanya just removed the ring and also an envelop and added, "Arnav, its for the best. I am also resigning. Good luck. Dont let your ego come in the way of your happiness."
And with that she opened the door of the study to find Nani standing there. Wishing her a greeting, Lavanya left.
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
35