A THING CALLED LOVE :(1-39)PART49 IN NEW THREAD - Page 20

A THING CALLED LOVE

8

Khushi paces AWAY a bit and then halts.

She turns around to see the gazing Arnav collapse a bit more, seeing the growing distance between them. He kneels down in front of the couch on which she was sitting.

Khushi smiles at him and begins:

"Arnav ji!

Do you like this saree?

I had to change, since my other saree was in your grip.

( Arnav detects her intention of changing the topic .

He is surprised at her light gestures)

Khushi:

"I will have to admit that, your work out at the Gym and running every morning is paying off ( smile)

I tried but couldn't get your grip off my saree easily. You are pretty strong even when you sleep.

You tore my saree in two places. My safety pin also got broken ."

(Hearing her voice, seeing her safe and sound and in his bedroom his heart fills with ease.

He feels reassured and comforted knowing that she is with him and he hasn't lost her, yet.

But hearing her act all normal : New thoughts start to stir up his troubled mind.

Khushi:

"ARnav Ji! Look nah!

I am looking pretty or not?

I got the saree especially for Australia trip.

It's my first time out of the country, you know. So did a bit of shopping.

The blouse neck is a bit too big, the tailor was so annoyed when I told him this.

But he was kind enough to make it in 2 hour notice.

I will alter it when I go'

( Khushi halts abruptly from saying 'when I go back, but Arnav understands . He looks up at her.

With a huge effort, he raises his sight and looks at her properly.

MY DEAR GOD !!!

She is pretty !!

She is the most pretty thing I have even seen. ARNAV talks to himself.

Khushi is wearing a baby pink chiffon saree, with three deep pink butterfly prints on her anchal. Tiny aqua dots circling the butterfly wings. The chiffon is swinging gently in the breeze.

A deep aqua blouse.

Deep , low cut neck line.

Pink and blue churis on her arms.

A big stone ear ring with dangling pink stones.

A silver pair of sandals.

Two silver payals.

Arnav feasts on her like a thirsty man : left in the desert for a month without water.

He stares and stares at her some more.

Looking at his gaze, Khushi breaks his trance :

"What?

Why are you looking at me like that?

I said, nah? This is a nice color."

Arnav is brought back to reality yet once more:

"Khushi !

"You ok?

Did I hurt you?

Your bangles broke. Did I cut you?

Should I call the doctor?

And last night did I?"

Khushi starts to laugh out loud , hearing of the word: "doctor"

"UFFo ! no Arnav ji! I am not hurt.

( she stealthily tugs her anchal on her waist, where the finger marks got darker.)

" I am fine.

Arnav ji!

You already asked me more than a hundred questions.

I will answer to each one. I promise.

But first go to the bathroom, wash yourself up and change your cloths.

( Looking at his eyes, Khushi continues)

"Arnav Ji! Yes. I am real.

I am here, with you in your hotel room. And I am standing in front of you.

Ok?

I am not a ghost.

( she smiles and winks her left eye)

Now please go and put some clothes on.

I have left fresh shirt and pants in the bathroom.

How long will you stay without clothes? LoL'

And I need to eat.

So please go NOW!

I need to eat. I am dying out of hunger."

Arnav cannot believe his ears.

With the occurrences of last night, with all that took place,

what in the earth is she thinking of?

And what I just did to her, how can she keep her cool?

Hungry?

Food?

Cloths?

What ?

Seeing Arnav's stunned reaction, Khushi starts her second round:

"I haven't eaten since yesterday morning. I looked around your kitchenette.

Your room has micro oven, stove, water boiler, coffee maker, fridge and what not.

And two bedrooms? Why would you need two bedrooms for a single man?

My God ! the bathroom is the size of my Buaji's living room. And the tub ! 5 people can swim at once.

I can't believe you will rent such a beautiful place?

How much is the rent?

Back home, you had a pool all to yourself, and here you have the entire ocean.

Not bad!! Arnav ji! Not bad!

Oh ! also 10 towels , all white in every size. Why will 1 person need 10 different towels?

Anyways'

BUT I have one issue, rather one complain:

Your freeze only had fruits, diet coke, water and juices.

What Arnav Ji !

You rent such an expensive place? But they give you no food?

No cookies, No sweets.

I need a good meal.

Do you think these people will have Indian food?

I do not want wet pasta or sandwiches.

And no pizza.

I feel like having a Dosa.

Ummm''. may be Masala Dosa and coconut chutney.

Sambar !!

Idli!!

Do you think they will have lassi ?

I want a big, mango lassi."

Arnav now lost his mind completely.

He slumps even lower on the floor and looks even more confused.

Only a girl as crazy as her, like her can think of food in this dire situation.

He keeps staring with a million questions.

Arnav:

"Khushi ! What are you saying?

Dosa?

Lassi?

What?"

Khushi wrinkles her face and says

"Please Arnav JI!

Go , change.

I do not want to wait anymore."

A reluctant Arnav, stays dazed and baffled.

Arnav gets up and looks at her with wonder.

There is no point in talking to her now; she won't make any sense,

Insane . lunatic !!

He then goes to the bathroom as told without a word.

Khushi speaks from his back.

" Arnav ji!

See on the left table I have kept your stuff."

(15 minutes later )

Hearing Arnav come out of the shower, Khushi makes her voice higher and speaks

"Nothing happened.

I mean last night, nothing happened.

You were drenched in blood from the cut and mud all over.

I cleaned your wounds last night, so I took off your shirt.

Do not mind, I did not look at your body..'(soft smile)

I did not notice your six packs'..I did not notice your small cut on the left rib''..I did not touch your arm where there is a dark mark . ( soft smile again) and I did not brush over the place where you have a red bruise on your abs.

( brief pause)

Umm'.I called the cleaning lady, whom I had great difficulty speaking.

She doesn't understand English that well and I do not speak English very fluently or Pilipino.

But she cleans very well. I offered to help. But she said NO.

She vacuumed and cleaned. I watched.

Amazing work. Amazing cleaning supplies. Might get some of those wet wipe things.

The doctor was good though. He was funny and pretty direct. He asked me if I was "KHUSHI?"

I was totally surprised at him calling me out.

He said he has to tell me many stories about you. I wonder what they might be.

I told the lobby people to call him. The Doctor came and gave you saline. He told you to go see him as soon as possible.

You woke up for a second as he was injecting you.

Then you slept again."

She continues:

"Arnav ji !

Regarding last night:

I was by your side.

I did not leave you for a single second.

I know, you held me back, grabbed my saree and folded it on your palm to stop me from going away.

I understand.

You ..I'..I mean,

WE

did not do anything last night.

Nothing happened. So please do not worry."

Arnav just couldn't take it anymore.

He was emotionally wasted.

At least hearing the word " WE" in the last sentence and knowing that he did not mess up, he felt a slight fraction of relief.

Arnav changed and got fresh

( During changing cloths and listening to Khushi's nonstop chatter : Arnav's mood and temper simmers down.)

He is now genuinely mystified.

He concentrates on each word that is coming from behind the door.

He stands behind the door of the locked bathroom all dresses up, only to hear her speak.

Khushi goes on'.

"Uffo 'I don't want to wait.

Arnav Ji ! you are taking more time than me.

You guys have it so easy, a shirt, a pair of pants, some gel, pull the hair upwards towards the sky to make it stand and then mess the hair and done !

No make up, no hairdo. Just imagine how much effort we have to give?

Please get ready soon, I am hungry.

Sambar and Idli , Coconut chutney, Raita, Vada,

What will you have?

Dosa?

or maybe sandwich for you.

You can have anything you want ok?

I am going to have a big masala one with onions and two samosas .

Or Dahi vada.

May be some gajar ka halwa !

OK?

Ummm " DOSA !"

.

Arnav jolts out loud hearing "Dosa" again.

A tiny fraction of smile comes to life.

He whispers alone :

"Khushi !!

Tum Bohat Ajib Houn."

A THING CALLED LOVE

9

LOCATION: AUSTRALIA

(ARNAV'S WASHROOM)

Arnav as an obedient child, listened to Khushi and got ready.

He wore a light blue polo shirt and dark Khakis.

He looked at his reflection in the mirror.

What am I doing? What is she doing?

Did she lose her mind over the signing the divorce papers?

Did I lose my mind seeing her here?

I need to talk to her and clear up the air. She is acting so normal, as if nothing has happened. Everything is normal between us and we are a happy couple.

Maybe she bumped her head and lost her MIND. With her, I will really be not surprised if that happened.

Arnav involuntarily smiles at his own thoughts.

BUT

The very next moment a sharp pain forces in.

His treatment, Khushi leaving, singing the divorce, staying missing for 2 days. All pour in at a time.

The pain is too much to bear, too much to handle.

NO

I cannot bear this now.

There are a million questions that demands answer.

BUT

How can I ask her all these, when she is clearly trying to avoid the questions?

Not now

I do not think this is the perfect time.

I will ask, but when its time.

At least not tonight .

Let me see her, adore her and see what she is up to.

She must have an agenda and there must be a reason for her to come all the way up to here.

She must be in pretty serious situation and state of mind to muster the courage of leaving India all by herself for the first time and travelling for 19 hours and more all by herself.

I guess I will never fully understand what she is made of!

And she will never know, this single quality of hers drives me insane, insane of knowing her even more.

Arnav remembers about the letter that Khushi posted to him.

KHUSHI LOVES ME. I KNOW THAT FOR SURE.

BUT DOES SHE STILL FEEL THE SAME WAY?

But is LOVE enough to make her forget what I did to her?

Can it make her forget my brutality?

The torments?

KNOCK !!! KNOCK!!

Khushi: ( knocks at the bathroom door)

" Arnav JI !!

Are you feeling ok?

It has been a long time, is your head spinning again?

The doctor said it might be a bit dizzy due to the exhaustion.

But if you are feeling ok, then please so come quick.

I am starving!

Let's go out and get something.

If they cannot make it here, let's go somewhere they can'please.

Should I call the lobby people and ask about food?

Its ok if you do not want Indian food, I can eat anything now.

I saw some micro oven popcorn, what is it?

Should I try making it?

I am HUNGRY."

No matter how weird this situation might be, no matter how different the condition could be:

Arnav gives his mind some rest and just focuses on the PRESENT.

Khushi is standing for me, outside the door.

And she is hungry.

That's all what matters now.

I will have to feed her.

She speaks incoherently all times, and in a hungry stomach she will be out of her mind completely.

Arnav comes out and gets his phone.

"Mr Mehta!

Yes'its me. Yes I am fine. Yes doctor came. I will talk to him soon.

Anyways, Where is the best place to get DOSA?"

DOSA Mr Mehta'..

YES you heard it right !

YOU know DOSA?

The south Indian food: the wrapped big yellowish lentil thing, crispy and light, with potatoes inside?

Where do you get the best ones here in Sydney?

I want the address in a second...

Mr Mehta! Speak up .

Yes Dosa !! Damn it!

Why are you speechless?

Speak up.

Hmm. Ok.

Ok.

Tell the driver the address and I am coming down with Khushi in 5 minutes.

WHAT?

Yes you heard right.

YES its'Khushi Bhabi !

Whay the hell are you asking, who Khushi?

What do you have to do with it?"

( talking over the phone, Arnav takes a look at her expression and see her squint

Khushi looks at Arnav blankly and then makes a face.

A bit annoyed at his rudeness over the phone)

Arnav:

"Umm Mr Mehta ! Sorry.

I mean that'.I am 'just'umm..please get me the address and send the car soon. Ok.

I will hang up now.

You have a good night.

Thanks

Ok BYE."

(Khushi hides her smile from Arnav seeing him become polite at her single squint )

blink!

Khushi and Arnav are in the car.

Arnav filled with million of reasons to solve.

Khushi filled with million of reasons to unsolve.