Cherished Wounds ( Updated Ch 14 ) Pg 140 22/06 - Page 25

Weeks later, the valley was flooded with riots. Just post-independence and the impending India-Pakistan partition had taken its toll not only on Kashmir but Jammu too. Whatever inhabitation had been left after the War seemed to be fast evaporating into bloodshed and emptiness.

As Azaan's words echoed in her ears, she felt a sudden fear grip her, forcing her to drop her walls of fake courage.

'Major, could I accompany the team from the hospital that is being sent to Jammu tomorrow-?'

'Doctor, I understand it has been your home for the past few years?"

'Yes. And I think it will only be proper that I tend to the people there.'

'Very well. Tomorrow, Arnav and you guys will leave, precisely at dawn.'

Aakash was a very observant man. He had seen the fear that had gripped Khushi's face on hearing Arnav's father talk about the riots that had broke out in Jammu. He had also not missed the very prominent worried, concerned look that hovered on Arnav's face as he saw Khushi close his eyes, trying to get a hold on her raging heart.

---

The sunlight was attempting to break through from behind the clouds and through the mountains, giving its way to a golden hue washing over the chrome yellow sky. The snow over the distant mountains was now gleaming bright terracotta.

As Khushi and Aakash stood on the balcony looking out into the scenic image in front of them, silence lingered. Terrifying, but calming nonetheless.

'My Babuji and Payal stay in Jammu.'

'Payal…?'

'My sister. You know Aakash, she can't walk, I mean…'

Aakash saw her finally breakdown, as she looked away to the other side, not wanting to show him or the world, how scared she was. He wanted to know more about her sister, but knew better than to prod the matter further. He walked back into the hospital floor, leaving Khushi alone, thinking she would need her time.

But, she didn't want to be alone. She wanted someone to hold her, wipe away her tears and tell her everything would be alright. And the man standing in the dark shadows behind the doors that opened to the balcony knew that way too well. Having witnessed the whole exchange between Aakash and her, Arnav mentally wanted to slap Aakash for leaving her stranded there.

He slowly opened the doors, in muffled footsteps, and waited for her to turn around. But she looked straight ahead, sobbing silently, but uncontrollably into her hands that barely covered her face, not noticing his presence. Hesitantly, with shaky hands he put his right hand gently over her shoulders, but what came next, he had not been prepared for that.

She threw her arms around his waist, not bothering to look up at his face, holding him so tightly that he had almost stumbled backwards for a second. He felt them. Hot, streams of water searing into his chest through his threadbare shirt. They stood there for how long, no one could count exactly, and she kept muttering words that he couldn't comprehend. He simple stood there, feeling helpless, inhaling the soft scent her hair emanated, lavender he thought. He wanted to hold her back, provide assurance, but he didn't know how. As the evening winds hit her, she shivered, just a little, but enough to summon his arms to wrap her in his embrace.

And then she felt it. A blanket of protection, hope and warmth enveloped her. And between her sobs, she slowly felt the scent of musk and wood wafted into her senses. As her hands moved upwards his back of their own accord, she realized it was not Aakash. Could it be him? She knew that familiar touch, his intoxicating scent. And then his words a few days back came rushing back to the recesses of her mind. And she was about to move away, when the warm hands behind her back moved up gently, stroking her hair, and she felt the soft pressure of his lips on her hair. And that was her undoing. She didn't want to move, not an inch and stay there forever, in his arms, at home.

---

As another wave of air washed over the one whole figure on the balcony, Arnav opened his eyes, and felt as he had been awakened from a long peaceful sleep. Gently, Khushi moved about of his embrace and almost abruptly, turned around; not daring to glance at his face looked straight ahead into the sky. She was surprised, that the warmth the man she had started to almost despise, had successfully stopped her tears, without attempting to wipe them away. Had overshadowed her fear with a sense of security, calm.

Arnav not trusting himself to speak, as the sudden loss of warmth engulfed him, he swiftly turned and exited through the doors of the balcony, gazing down at the mist area over his shirt, inhaling the still lingering scent of lavender,

Khushi had turned over to say a few words of gratitude, but even before she had, she knew he was gone. A shiver ran down her spine, as she saw the empty spot in front of her but she couldn't explain why.

---

Arnav and a few other soldiers loaded the back of the jeep with food-packets, medical supplies, water bottles and flasks of steaming cocoa. He looked over at Khushi and Aakash, coming out of the hospital, immersed in a deep conversation. And as if she knew that he had been looking at her, her face turned towards his, her eyes expressing gratitude, but he turned away trying to concentrate on piling up the supplies, pretending and failing to appear unaffected. But only his mind could estimate, how his heart was plummeting, the very moment, she had looked up at him.

---

The journey down Jammu had been an extremely silent one. Arnav driving, Aakash sitting next to him and Khushi sitting behind them as the jeep moved smoothly down the winding roads. The wind initially was pleasantly cold, but probably an hour later, a mild snowfall began. They were almost near Jammu, when the roads slowly started brimming up with fresh snow, slowing down the jeep's speed.

Arnav carefully stole glances at the rearview mirror trying to catch a glimpse of her face. What bothered him was how painstakingly innocent she looked, smiling softly as the snow dropped onto her head, making its way down her nose. He almost felt vulnerable, as a drop of white made its way into her lips. Then she turned suddenly, looking right into the very black eyes that were staring into hers through the small mirror. He saw her shiver slightly, and turned around impulsively, looking at her, and then pointing at one of the metal flasks lying beside her and saying in a soft, yet determined tone.

'Drink it up. You are shivering.'

---

It was eight in the morning, but Jammu seemed eerily quiet, and harshly cold. Maybe because of the snow, Khushi thought, but her heart knew better than to believe her logical mind.

The three of them parted at a certain part of the town.

Aakash headed off towards the main city after taking Khushi's house address. They had argued for about fifteen minutes, as she wanted to go into the city, but she finally saw reason in Aakash's thoughts, heading off towards the slightly rural area, a batch of villages in the middle of the Resham Forests, as he had told her the village inhabitants were mostly women and children, and her presence there would be more comforting to them. Arnav was long gone towards the Army Headquarters of Jammu, even before Aakash and Khushi had started bickering.

---

Aakash made his way through the excessive rubble and piles of broken bricks dissected the road towards the address Khushi had given him. His head was throbbing with worry, pain as he couldn't figure out how he would face her if something happened to her family. He immediately shoved away those thoughts taking a long sip of the slightly warm water.

---

After discussing the conditions of the city, the prevention measures against the riots and offering condolences in a very emotionless, ruthless manner, to the Jammu Chief, Arnav made his way towards the forests to talk to Aakash, assuming Khushi would have headed out to the city.

---

Meanwhile, Khushi was pleasantly relieved to see that the villages were much less harmed by the riots. Having distributing medicines for fevers and food-poisoning, and the food packets they had got from Kashmir, she headed back towards the jeep feeling content with herself

---

Arnav had merely entered the forest, when he received a phone call from Aakash, and then he saw her fall.

---

Khushi felt the water seep down her soft mauve kurta, into her body, chilling her to the core. And the harsh, bellowing wind was not helping. She cursed herself for her clumsy ways as she had landed herself into an ice-cold steam while walking towards the outskirts of the forest. She tried to get up, but her face softly landed back against one of the rocks supporting her upper body. But she haplessly slid down deeper into the water, creating ripples near her feet that had gone numb. Her body felt paralyzed, benumbed due to the freezing cold waves that batted against her skin. She had merely let her eyes droop, when she felt a pair of very familiar hands grab her waist by sheer force and she felt herself being pulled upwards, before she landed on wet sand, her body flush against Arnav's.

---

She didn't move against his chest, she didn't have the will, or the energy to do so. She merely tried to take in all the oxygen she could to get her lungs back to life. Arnav's hand was placed firmly on her waist, trying to steady her staggering stance. They held on to each other for a long time. Khushi kept taking in strong gulps of air, which she later realized was infused with his intoxicating woodsy scent. She felt his ragged breathing over her neck. It was a tingling sensation, yet it warmed her insides effectively. Then he whispered into her ears, in that very position, her head padded over his chest, their bodies molded together.

'You have a very strange habit of falling around everywhere, don't you?'

He felt her move away slightly, looking into his eyes. His hand still placed firmly over her waist, even though she had moved apart, lest she stumbled again. Khushi saw his eyes scrutinize her face, a slight hint of mischief in his eyes, seconds before in was completely enveloped with concern.

'Are you okay?'

She nodded.

---

They stood there for a few moments before Arnav finally chose to break the pleasant silence hovering around them.

'Aakash called.'

Khushi saw it in his eyes, even before he spoke. A sense of worry, apprehension and probably a tinge of sadness in those eyes that spoke volumes to her at that very moment.

'Take me home, will you?'

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