A THING CALLED LOVE
12
LOVE IS A GAME WE ALL PLAY
SOME WIN
SOME LOSE
AND SOME BETRAY
BUT, LOVE IS THE GAME, WE ALL PLAY
( 20 minutes later)
Waiter:
SIR! Here is the bill.
Arnav looks at it and says:
I think you made a mistake. Most of the food that we had is not listed.
Check again.
Waiter:
Sir ! Madam paid her portion in cash. Here is the change.
Arnav
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
In the next moment, Khushi returns, the redness gone from her face, she seems flushed and pale.
Arnav is confused.
Something is not right.
Her total behavior changed abruptly
Her smile is lost and her cheerful eyes became dark and dimmed.
She is sweating and seems much palpitated.
She is walking very slowly.
Is that tear in her eyes?
Khushi comes back and takes her seat.
Khushi:
Umm..Arnav ji!
If you don't mind, I really wanted to pay for your food. But I did not have the cash with me. I just had much to bear most of my expenses.
Umm''Please, listen to me.
And let me finish.
Kindly do not get upset.
Umm'I came here, to this restaurant, because I thought you needed a good meal. And naniji once said, you like Dosa a lot. So I came.
It wasn't actually for me.
I know I ate like a maniac, I was hungry, but I was in tension'so I'
Actually I came to give. I mean:
I want to give you this back.
Please open the box after I go.
Arnav perplexed:
Arnav:
Khushi!
What are you saying?
Khushi:
Arnav ji ! I beg you, please, let me finish.
I am in the verge of breaking apart, so please let me finish what I want to say, or else I will regret for the rest of mylife.
Arnav is speechless.
This bubbly, beautiful, mesmerizing thing was flying like a butterfly, now she is down as a wet sparrow.
All life has been sucked out of her.
She seems to be in tremendous pain.
Her smile has vanished and her gestures have changed.
So was she acting and putting up a show this whole time: just to make me come here and have food?
What does she want to give me?
Arnav keeps on thinking.
Khushi:
" I came to Australia, just for you.
YES
it's true.
I had to return you this box and its belonging.
I am going back in 1-2 days.
I took 5 lacs from Di and Aman Ji, it got me the return ticket and enough to get me hotel for 3-4 days max.
And its already been 2 days here. You got my land papers nah? Please sell the land and it will get you the 5 lacs.
( seeing Arnav opening his mouth to reply: she puts her palm up and blocks him)
Arnav JI!
Please do not speak.
Let me finish.
I took the money and got the ticket.
I contacted NK Ji, cause I knew he stayed in Sydney.
I sneaked into mamiji's room to get his address and phone number, didn't get much time, so tore her diary page off.
I know mamiji will notice this and blame me or jiji, So I am clearing the fact.
I did not steal her jewelry or money.
( She stops him again)
I need to complete what I came to say.
Please do not ask me any more questions.
I am leaving very soon.
And please do not ask me
WHERE ?
WHEN ?
WHAT ?
What my plans are?
Cause I will NOT TELL YOU.
I will leave this box here and walk away.
Please also do not try to stop me or make a scene here.
I do not have any more energy remaining in me to deal with any more drama.
( Khushi clings onto the table corner , holding the wood for support. She is shaking slightly out of emotional out burst)
I HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
I TRIED TELLING YOU A MILLION TIMES.
BUT NEVER GOT THE COURAGE OR OPPORTUNITY.
I was always afraid that you will hurt my sister and ruin her marriage."
Arnav shaken up, his face as pale as snow, just utters with great effort:
Arnav:
Khushi !
What are you saying?
Leave?
What do you mean?
Khushi!
I would have never let anything bad happen to Payal or Akash.
I was the one to help then in the first place right?
I made mamiji agree. So I would have never make any effort to break them.
I know I threatened you and the whole marriage.
I CAN EXPLAIN'please give me an opportunity.
You are making a huge mistake.
Listen to me.
( Khushi snaps up )
Khushi
"STOP
ARNAVJI !
Please for heaven's sake, DO NOT lie.
You made the divorce papers in an hour for them remember?
Even you forced Akash Ji to sign it.
Then I drowned those in the pool, you said you will make again?
And now you say, you never meant it?
I had to marry you for 6 months. And not say a word.
Remember?
STOP please.
I just cannot deal with any more lies.
I PROMISE I WILL MAKE IT AS SHORT AS POSSBILE.
JUST BEAR WITH WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
PLEASE."
Khushi is trembling with rage.
She tightly grabs on to the table and balances herself.
Arnav has never seen her this way. He dealt with her anger, craziness, pain, her pushing him away and more, but never like this.
There was something else in her eyes, he never saw.
Arnav was just numb.
He couldn't believe, after last night, all the talks and her being so nice, how can she just change?
He thinks: What have I made her into? The girl is changed.
She is composed and calm. Every word is well thought of and arranged. She is serious and she means business.
The pain I have caused, have turned her into this.
LIKE ME
And I can never forgive myself for this.
Khushi:
"Arnav Ji!
I do not care about my sister's marriage or anything else. She is well settled and Akash ji loves her unconditionally.
And you , yourself just admitted that my sister is good.
I believe he will not do anything hasty, even if you compel him.
Last time, I was naive; I thought you will make him do it.
But now I understand their seriousness and love.
ANOTHER THING
You always said that, you wanted to save someone, and someone's life, cause I threatened it.
Maybe you were right.
I was the cause.
May be not actively.
BUT YES.
Passively.
I did a lot of thinking after you left me in your house all alone, to deal with everyone. You left me in all alone to rot.
RIGHT?
YOU WANTED ME TO SUFFER ALONE AND FACE EVERYONE, EXPLAINING THE WHOLE DILEMA.
RIGHT?
THE REASON BEHIND EVERYTHING:
The same stupid thing, I could have realized before, you told me hints. But I was so occupied in trying to win your acceptance that I did not rest and think it clearly.
The clues were in front of me, but the idiot, dumb, fool I am, I did not connect the dots. Anyways,
ARNAV ji!
Please listen very carefully; you need to worry about not DI, but for your jijaji.
SHYAM.
I do not want to go into details.
I feel repulsive.
HE IS NOT A GOOD MAN
You should be very watchful about him.
HE IS NOT RIGHT FOR DI."
The last words from KHUSHI, shakes ARNAV's world upside down.
She knew?
She could sense it and hence she did not say a word?
She went through my hatred, even knowing that I was wrong and she had no hand in the matter?
ARNAV feels a sharp blow on his soul, as if someone just grabbed his heart and wrenched it out of his chest.
She came all this way to prove her innocence?
She came to me, to look at me in the eyes and confess her virtue?
She came all this way to make me protect DI, even knowing that for DI, I married her and treated her with repugnance?
Stress?
Coping up?
She knows that I left her all laone before the time completion of 6 months.
Left her for the
THE LAST 10 DAYS OF 6 MONTH
So this is what she was talking about?
Feeding me deceivingly, so my body doesn't act up?
She pressured me to eat and take medicine, only that I can bear the blow?
But did she think even one, that these words and her truth will rip off my heart into pieces?
How will she manage my soul acting up?
How will she glue back my existence that she is shattering now.?
What about that?
Khushi and Arnav both were about to say something, but stops suddenly as the waiter comes:
"Mrs Raizada, you cab is here.
I gave him your hotel address and explained him where it is. He will take you there.
Also I have explained that you will not speak when you get into the car and he is to drive as soon as you enter.
The fare will cover the amount you said, you have. Do not worry.
But if you are falling short on cash, we can pay the fare. Or put in on Mr. Raizada's account.
You are our treasured guest.
Not every day Mr Raizada comes here with his beautiful wife."
The waiter smiles courteously.
Khushi looks up and says in a trembling voice:
"Thank you a lot.
I am coming.
Tell him to start the engine.
And it's Miss Gupta.
Not Mrs Raizada.
I am Mr Raizada's brother's relative.
Nothing else.
And you need not pay.
I can pay for my own expenses.
I do not need any charity from anyone."
The waiter is startled.
He walks away.
ARNAV has turned into a curved stone.
LIFELESS
NUMB
FROZEN
He just cannot believe what is going on.
HE SEATS ON THE CHAIR LIKE A motionless CORPSE.
Never, never in his life has he felt so out of place.
Khushi has this entire thing planned to the finest detail.
She made the effort of getting money, repaying the money with her own land that is the last thing her parents left her, made the ticket, booked hotel, she came here, came to my hotel, hunted me down in a new city, in a new state, in a new continent, she acted all normal, and I never got a hint of what is concluding this evening.
ARNAV is
Unresponsive
Anesthetized
Silent
Khushi:
"Arnav Ji!
I am leaving this box here. You know the content of it, because you yourself bought it.
I have no use of this anymore.
There is the 300 rupess I owned.
I never repaid in spite of having money, because I felt it had a relation between us.
But, now umm'...anyways.
You take care of yourself. And please be very happy with Lavanya Ji !
I saw the news. You two really look good together.
I lied to you earlier,
The second picture I mentioned , I saw was the one where you were kissing her in front of her house, after spending the night with her.
She looked awesome in her night cloths.
You two loved each other before and you two are a very good match.
Educated, affluent and up to date.
(Khushi could barely speak, each word coming out of her mouth was making her shudder)
Now I will get up and leave.
AND I BEG YOU !
I BEG YOU !
Please do not make a scene.
Let me leave in silence.
I do not want more tension .
( Khushi almost jumps up, leaving the box of churis neatly wrapped in a non see through paper.
She rushes to the door, not looking back even for a fraction.)
Khushi is running away.
Each second she gets farther away from Arnav.
The pallu drifts on the floor.
Bangles crinkle .
The sound of her payal keeps on getting fader.
Arnav is struck by lightning. His world has shattered yet once more.
He can't breathe, he can't thing coherently.
Reality seems to be a thing of the past.
His head spins.
Mouth becomes dry
What just happened?
How did it happen?
And how could I not sense anything before?
He slowly turns his head towards the running flash of pink fuming away
the last faded rhythm of her dangling anklets wake him up.
ARNAV jumps back, pushing the chair behind,
The flower arrangements land on the floor.
Water splashes.
Food scattered on the ground and on the next table.
He kicks the table away
Two waiters with food drops on the floor by his thrust
The music stops
The chattering halts
RUNNING BEHIND HER, HE GRABS HER FROM BACK.
Thrashes her arm back to his and turns her around as a bolt of lightning.
ARNAV shouts:
STOP
STAY
Even after the violent intrusion: Khushi remains totally sound and silent.
( She looks up at him and the words that come out next from her mouth
bashes up his heart, tears his soul into a million specs )
unmanageable pain
detest
razor sharp stabbings : marks his SOUL
FOREVER.
Khushi:
"Arnav Ji! I just requested you for the very last time, to keep it civilized.
And you had to blow away my last wish aswell."
Arnav shudders
His iron grip melts into liquid.
He gradually lets her go of her arm.
All the people near by, the restaurant guests are standing on their feet, trying to get a quick peek at the famous Arnav Sing Raizada: the business Tycoon, the self made millionaire.
Waiters and the manager frantically try to control the situation and make the guests head back to their tables.
KHUSHI steps away step after step.
She looks around:
Arnav Ji!
I cannot
STOP OR STAY
! YOU LEFT NO SCOPE !
Running away, she shivers and quivers all the way up to the cab.
Violent sobs silence her.
She slams on the seat.
She collapses on the leather as a wet leaf.
Holds on to the seat as prisoner waiting for death.
A Sobbing and almost screaming cry comes out''out of pain.
The driver drives away '''''''''''''''..
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