A/n: I'm sorry I've taken this long to update but I had a little trouble with the conflicting emotions after watching Arhi this week; I needed breathing time, kind of. Here you go, the tenth chapter! Hope you all like it!
A little request: Guys, could you please, please give me a buddy request? I'm a mess at maintaining a PM list and I don't want to leave anyone out. This will make things easier for everyone; it isn't compulsary or anything, just a request.
Chapter 10: A Note From A Star
"Di, I'm leaving," Arnav said from his seat on the driver's side and before Anjali could object, the glass windows pulled up and he was gone. Khushi stood at the bottom step wondering what had made him act so abrupt. What did you expect? A teary farewell? Khushi asked herself as she stepped inside. As she had thought, Mamiji was missing and Akash still remaining in London, Nani and Mamaji alone were there to welcome her. Both of them seemed pleased to see her in the house, relieving Khushi a bit; she had been afraid that they'd think she was imposing.
"I knew I would see Khushi soon," Nani told as she blessed Khushi; Mamaji smiled at her welcomingly. Her luggage sent up to her room already, Khushi had to sit with the family and talk for a bit. It wouldn't have been so bad if she hadn't been holding onto a secret; these were people she had come to like over the days. But the fear that she might let something slip constantly made her on edge.
The only one who noticed this was Shyam, but he could do nothing to assure her, since Khushi refused to even look at him. When Anjali stood to go look about lunch, Khushi excused herself and went with Anjali in the pretense of helping her. Her days passed much in the same way; before, she had been bored at her own home and now, she was stuck at Shantivan. She had offered to do and completed every kind of work she could do at the mansion like house.
As evening approached, she began getting nervous and wished direly for the boring afternoon to return. When Anjali mentioned that Arnav would be back soon, she felt herself jump though she didn't know why she was being so silly. She had met him so many times before, in the same house, how different could this time be?
But then, she had been his employee; now, she was a guest. Worse, she was a relative. Instead of making her feel better, the thought made her more anxious about it. But thankfully, dinner passed without Arnav's arrival. Khushi, who had been holding onto her breath, relaxed a little.
After dinner, during the entirety of which she had been subjected to cold looks from Mamiji, Khushi returned to the drawing room, not feeling sleepy at all. She used to sit on the bench outside Buaji's home and watch the stars but there was no bench here; and no chance for her to see the stars.
She closed her eyes and rested her head against the headrest, missing the sight of the night sky. Anjali happened to be passing by then and placed a hand on her shoulder to wake her up. "Khushi? Do you want me to show you your room? You seem sleepy."
"No Anjaliji. I was just' thinking," Khushi managed at last, smiling. Anjali nodded, used to having her concern dismissed.
"I'm going to the poolside; would you like to come?" An idea occurring to her, Khushi nodded. As they were passing through Arnav's room, Anjali said, "Chote asked me to keep the doors leading to them through his room open. Its an easier route but he hates having the doors open; don't know why he said that way, especially now." Khushi helped Anjali climb down the steps that lead from Arnav's room to the pool. The other way was through the garden and then they'd have to go around the house to the French windows and walk back towards the pool. Through Arnav's room was definitely easier.
Khushi nodded; it was just as well that he asked Anjali to do so. This was the only way she knew to the poolside and that was the only place she could see the stars from' a sudden thought occurred to her making Khushi stop. Could he have done it for her? Dismissing the thought as too imaginative, Khushi followed Anjali to the poolside. Taking a seat, they enjoyed the companionable silence. A star falling caught their eyes and both of them looked at each other and smiled before they closed their eyes to wish.
When they opened their eyes and looked at each other, Khushi averted her eyes. She had lost her marbles, finally. Why else would her dream recur when she was wide awake? Maybe because she was at the place where the dream had occurred; though Khushi knew that was no reason.
"I do hope my wish comes true, Khushi," Anjali spoke in a whisper and Khushi smiled, nodding. Just being able to see the stars had calmed her down. She felt as if she was back with her parents.
"Do you like the stars, Khushi?" Anjali's question made her smile and she narrated her belief to Anjali.
"I sure hope my Amma is above there, too. Though if I said this to Arnav, he'd probably tell me something about stars being suns with different planets circling them," Anjali shook her head in disappointment. Khushi barely stopped herself from blurting out how he had listened to her earnestly when she had said the same to him.
"He doesn't believe in these things," Khushi replied wisely, but Anjali shook her head.
"It doesn't fit with the way he wants to show himself; he thinks these beliefs will make him weak. Why else would Chote, who used to be such a believer as even I wasn't, turn this way?" Anjali's voice was verging on tears and Khushi tried to comfort her, though she was a little shaken herself. So he hadn't always been like this?
Of course, Khushi had guessed that his parents' death might have changed a few of his views, but this much? He must have loved them a lot she thought; and it wasn't difficult to believe, privy as she was to his relationship with Anjali.
Excusing herself after sometime, Khushi returned to her room, which was in the same corridor as Arnav's so she didn't have much trouble finding her way. As she entered the dark room, her heart began beating fast. She had always feared the dark, so far as she could remember. And she'd have to sleep alone too, she thought, her heart beating thrice as fast.
The door closed behind her of its own accord and Khushi turned towards the bed in the middle of the room' and almost screamed. For, sitting at the centre of it was a form. She could see its silhouette clearly; wondering how she was able to see in the dark, Khushi then realized that there was a dim light in the room even after the door was closed and the windows were closed. Looking around, she spotted the source of the light.
She had heard of fluorescent paints that gave off light but she had always thought it would be a glaring yellowish green. The glow from the ceiling of the room was a soothing blue, making her feel as if she was right under the sky rather than in a room. But the figure on the bed still scared her.
Walking towards the wall carefully, Khushi switched on the light and almost screamed once again. For, sitting on the bed was a life size teddy bear. Khushi had no idea how it had come to be here but the doll seemed to be inviting her to cuddle it and Khushi's face broke out into a wide smile as she skipped to the bed.
It was only when her head hit something did she notice that the stars she had hung on her bed back at home was here too. Smiling in delight, she directed her attention to the teddybear. It held a note between his hands. Khushi took it and gingerly opened it.
Sleep well was all was written on it but something made Khushi jump around and laugh like silly; she even hugged the teddy bear in her happiness. When she was done with her jubilant expression of delight, curiosity picked at her to know how and when all this had happened. Before she had come here? Possibly.
There was no doubt in her mind as to who had done all this; there was only one person, who wasn't her family, who knew her this well. Still, having questions to answer, Khushi walked out of her room, careful not to disturb anyone. The door to Arnav's room remained open, telling her that he still hadn't returned. No matter, she told herself. It wasn't him she was searching for now.
"Om Prakashji!" she called when she spotted him. He turned and gave her a broad smile; Om Prakashji had always seemed to have a soft spot for her. Something she intended to exploit to her advantage right now.
"Khushiji? Is there something you wanted?" he asked, a little frown marring his face making Khushi wonder what Arnav had told him. Deciding to act as if she knew about everything beforehand, she said, "No, no. Its just that I wanted to know when the stars and the paint and the'" Khushi hesitated, wondering how to mention the huge teddy bear.
"Oh, those! Arnavji ordered for the painting to be done as soon as Anjaliji decided to bring you here, Khushiji. And the stars were there when I went into the room so I don't know. The doll arrived today morning when Anjali Di had gone to your house," Om Prakash recited, clearing Khushi's doubts.
"Thanks, Om Prakashji," she said and giving him a brief smile, returned to her room. More than when she had left, entering the room and observing the changes made for her held more significance for her now. Khushi switched off the light she had left on and observed as the pale blue lit the room. It was calming, she thought; she'd never panic in such serene surroundings. Walking to the bed, she held the stars hanging from the bedposts, observing how they glinted in the dim light; quite like real stars. He must have hung them himself Khushi thought, the realization making her feel like busting into song for some reason. She lay on the bed; reading and re-reading the two words he had written in his precise yet elegant handwriting. After seeing it on so many official papers, she knew his writing well.
Turning to her sole company, she wondered if the smile on her face was wider than the smile on its face. Hugging onto it, Khushi sighed contently as she drifted into sleep, her dreams pleasant and happy.
XXX
Arnav Singh Raizada was the most elusive person in history Khushi thought frustrated as another of her attempts to confront him went waste. She had woken up earlier than normal every day the past week in hopes of meeting him and thanking him for all that he had done for her. He had told her that he'd take care of her and he had; and it fell to Khushi's shoulders to hunt him down and thank him. Seeing the empty chair at the table, Khushi barely stopped herself from pouting.
Walking down quickly, she joined the rest of the family for breakfast; it had quickly become a routine for her and except for the occasional sharp words from Mamiji, she was enjoying her stay here very much. She stayed away from Shyam as much as she gelled with Anjali. Nani, who found something to compliment her on everyday was becoming someone Khushi respected and admired day by day. Even Mamaji was becoming a familiar figure in her life, with his ever silent presence.
"Khushi, today is an important day in the house; we're doing Kanya Pooja today," Nani informed her and Khushi nodded. Anjali had told her about it the day before during their usual poolside chat, something that Khushi had initiated in hopes of meeting with Arnav.
"Yes, Nani," Khuhsi replied and the rest of the breakfast went past smoothly, as did the rest of the day with the Pooja going over without a hitch. Whenever there was a problem, Khushi intervened and gave her suggestions and thankfully, Nani was generous enough to accept her words.
It was in the early evening that Anjali told Khushi, "Chote doesn't even know we do these Pooja; he doesn't much like kids. Thankfully, every year he gets some work by chance and will be unable to return home soon. If he gets to know about it, he'll get really angry."
Just then, Om Prakash returned, carrying a lunch bag in his hand, "What happened, Om Prakashji? Didn't you send the lunch?"
"I kept it in the car as usual, Didi but the driver has disappeared," Om Prakash replied, concerned.
"Hey Bhagwan! I gave him the day off and completely forgot! Chote will be hungry; we should get this to him somehow'"
"I'll take an Auto, Anjaliji," Khushi offered and Anjali agreed without question, the only thought on her mind being Arnav's meal. Khushi started off, rather pleased with herself; now he couldn't avoid her!
XXX
The office was deserted when she entered it; the employees had by then left and Khushi wondered why Arnav himself hadn't returned home. Probably had some teleconference she told herself with a roll of her eyes as she climbed the stairs to his office; one that brought back too many memories; both good and bad. Swallowing the emotions rising in her, Khushi knocked on the door, though she could see him seated inside in front of his laptop.
When there was no answer even after she had knocked thrice, Khushi entered the room step by step, careful not to disturb him; still, there was no reaction from him. She was standing in front of him before she noticed that he was slumped.
"Arnavji? Arnavji did you fall asleep?" Khushi placed a hand on his shoulder and he began sliding down.
"Arnavji?" Khushi's voice filled with panic as she looked at a pale white faced Arnav; he was unconscious. Khushi wondered how long he had been this way and what had caused it. She knew he had taken breakfast so it couldn't be from exhaustion.
The cup on the table catching her eye, Khushi lifted it to her lips and took a sip of the coffee. Who added this much sugar to the coffee? Khushi wondered, realizing the reason for Arnav's fainting. Along with it came a sense of fear and immobilizing panic. She stood there for a moment, observing his fainted face. A jolt of fear reviving her, she stepped into action quickly and went down to get some water.
The office's water supply seemed to have been exhausted. She knew there was a purifier in the store room but it would be closed now too. Khushi returned to Arnav's cabin, helpless. The least I could do is make him comfortable she thought and putting it into action, drew up one of the couches from outside. It was a grueling and stressful task but she managed.
Lifting Arnav was trickier since he was unconscious; she almost let him fall a few times, only catching him in the last minute. She made him lie on the couch and thankfully, he opened his eyes an inch. She could see his confusion on seeing her but he seemed to maintain his sense even then.
"Arnavji, do you know where I can get you some water?" she asked urgently and Arnav tilted his head towards his laptop bag. Of course, Khushi slapped herself on the forehead as she went and rummaged in his bag for a water bottle. She flicked a few droplets of it on his face which seemed to bring him around a little more.
Seeing that he recognized her, she asked, "Is there any medicine I could give you to lower your sugar level?"
"In' In the top shelf," Arnav gasped as he replied. Khushi rushed to the table and retrieved the packet of medicines and gave it to him. As soon as he had swallowed the medicine, Arnav fell back onto the couch, but now she knew he was merely exhausted and not faint.
She took his cellphone and began looking for the Doctor's number. She found one saying 'Nani's Doctor'. Recalling Anjali saying that the same one treated Arnav, she called him. After she was done, Khushi made yet another call, "Di?"
A/n: I hope you guys liked this chapter; I hope there weren't any inconsistencies? I'm going to try to make this as canon as possible so it'll follow the original serial, like in a parallel track. I didn't confuse anyone, did I?
Precap:
"I will not let you go anywhere, Chote!" Anjali spoke in a firm voice; a voice Arnav knew he couldn't cross. Seeing the disheveled state of him made Anjali melt. In a voice that was pleading, she said, "Chote, I can't take risks with your health; I can't keep wondering if you're okay and if your Secretary remembered to give you sugarfree coffee or not'"
"What do you want me to do, Di?"
"Find someone I approve of."
Arnav, frustrated with his Di's words, looked( more like glared) at the source of this problem. She just had to go and call her and make her panic, hadn't she?
A strange light glowed in his eyes as the idea occurred to him, "Will Khushi do, Di?" he asked, looking straight at her.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
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