Cherished Wounds ( Updated Ch 14 ) Pg 140 22/06 - Page 33

😔 😒

Aakash had expected anyone. But not her face when the creaking door to the pink ramshackle house opened. Soft tendrils of deep black hovering on the sides of her face. He took in the sight of her dusky skin, till his eyes finally found hers. He felt as if he was staring into a pair of stone-cold hazel orbs, till the slightest glimmer of recognition passed through them. Then, as it sunk into her own mind as to the fact that the man who she had loved almost her whole life was after so many years, standing in front of her, not in Lucknow, in Kashmir. And before the illusion she thought, would disappear, she let go off the crutches, and as her legs faltered, she let herself fall towards the man in front of her, clutching him for dear life, not wanting to let go, ever.

He held on to her firmly, breathing in the scent of fresh jasmine, burying his face into her hair. After a few minutes like that, his eyes finally fell on the crutches. As if one a queue, Payal, moved away from him, her hand still clutching his own firmly. With one hand placed on her waist, Aakash picked up one of the crutches and she took hold of it. Picking up the other, he finally spoke.

'How?'

---

The rest of the journey was overwhelmed by silence. Khushi looked straight ahead and Arnav, sometimes at the road, sometimes at her. She was worried, he knew that. But he didn't know what he could do change that. After about twenty minutes, she finally spoke, her voice not giving away the inner turmoil.

'Stop here.'

'But this is not the place where Aakash asked us to come.'

'I know. Just give me a minute please.'

He watched her get out of the jeep and head towards the row of black and grey cement and bricks.. They had been houses yesterday, he thought grimly. She stood there in front of a particular fence. It had probably been a garden, now reduced to a few rows of burnt wood. After about two minutes, she came back. He didn't miss the sadness lurking at edges of her moist eyes.

This time she didn't look ahead, but simply down at her hands. Looking at the winding grey line ahead him and taking a glance at Khushi every now and then, he could make out that she was crying.

---

'How?'

'How come..You are here?'

'Khushi sent me''

'Khushi? She'where is she?'

'On her way here, I think. Payal, how did this''

'You should come inside, it is freezing cold outside.'

---

Khushi looked outside into the sky; the blue was slowly starting to turn into a beautiful yellow, another ending to yet another day. She felt sudden movement beside her, as Arnav turned and picket up one of the thin grey blankets from behind the jeep that were to be distributed to the victims and gently placed it on her lap.

'Cover yourself. You are shivering.'

She failed to understand this man, Khushi thought, wrapping the blanket around her still wet kurta. He said he didn't care, but he had a terrible way of showing it. And if he did care, he was doing an even more pathetic job to mask it. As her thoughts drifted towards Payal, she couldn't stop a fresh batch of stinging hot tears to fall down her face. The jeep suddenly halted. She looked to her side finding Arnav's eyes boring into hers. Pointing towards a small street stall that had a hatched roof of twigs and plastic sheets as the walls, he said.

'Go wash your face there. You don't want your father and your sister to see you like this.'

'Well, that is if they are still alive.'

She spoke those words in between the tears that continued to spill and her fingers trying and failing to wipe them away. She didn't argue, but opened the door to her side and was about to get out when she felt a tug at her wrist. She turned and looked at his face. His eyes had a sense of understanding that she had never seen before. Khushi kept looking at his face, whilst he took out his handkerchief from his pocket and gently placed it into the very hand he held on to. With the piece of soft white cotton between his and her hands, he spoke in a tone that could melt the hardest of rocks.

'Khushi, your father and sister are all right. It will be okay. Promise.'

That moment, she could have died a thousand deaths and felt no pain, no fear, and her small hands in his, his eyes holding hers. She finally averted her gaze, nodded at him, and taking his handkerchief went towards the stall.

---

'Namaste uncle.'

Shashi gave Aakash a small smile and asked him to sit.

'How is my daughter doing up there?'

'Khushi is doing just fine uncle. How did'Payal?'

After looking into the kitchen and finally sure that Payal was busy there, he finally talked about the misfortunate incident.

'She was returning the school she taught in, when a car suddenly hit her, and then''

'Treatment'?'

'Beta, Khushi is trying to save up the money for that, but our financial conditions have limited us to only the pair of crutches.'

Aakash nodded. It still hadn't dawned on him that how the girl, who he had fallen in love with, years ago, in Lucknow would meet such a fate. The last memory he had of her lively self still ached his heart.

He brushed his lips across hers. Landed a gentle peck on her lips, waiting for her to respond.

'Is this right Aakash?'

'What is right jaan?'

'This. Us. What we are doing right now?'

He cupped Payal's face and looking into her eyes, spoke.

'It couldn't be more right. I could search every corner of this universe, and not find someone like you. You are that girl who someday, I dream of marrying.'

She slid his hands from her cheeks and took a step backwards. Looking into Aakash's slightly surprised face she said.

'I can't.'

'Can't what Payal?'

'Can't marry you.'

'Jaan it will be sometime in the future. Not right now.'

'No, you don't understand. I can't marry you, ever.'

'Because'?'

'Bauji has already fixed me up with one of his friend's son.'

'And you don't mind? You will base your life upon the choices your father made for you?'

'Yes Aakash. I will. Because, he is my father. He knows what is best for me. What would make me happy.'

'And what about me jaan? I don't make you happy?'

'I love you. But I can't go against his decision. I can't.'

Aakash looked at her beautiful face, know streaming with tears. He felt an unusual wave of fury crash into him.

'I love you Aakash. Always will. But it is time for you to go.'

'You never loved me. Never.'

Those were the last words he had spoken to her in the past five years. Not a phone-call, or a letter, no words, just deafening silence.

---

Khushi came out of the stall feeling a little calm. Maybe it was the chilling cold water that seemed to have magically washed away the exhaustion, or maybe Arnav's words. Staring blankly at his handkerchief for half a second, she walked towards the jeep, only to see him walking towards her.

'Let's sit here for some time and then leave.'

They sat across each other, a small wooden table separating them. A tiny boy, decked up in layers of sweaters and ear muffs came towards them.

'Haan saab?'

'Chai.'

Within a minute, the little boy came up with two glasses of steaming tea. As they sat sipping the hot liquid, Khushi felt well, almost immediately, feeling her insides warm up. Arnav looked at points, behind her, beside her, desperately trying to not look at her. Suddenly she found him looking straight at him.

'Could I have another glass?'

A small lopsided smile found its way to his lips as he shouted something over to the boy sitting inside the stall. Khushi stared at him for a long time, before the glass game and couldn't help but notice, how his eyes, or rather his whole face lit up, when he smile. She also didn't miss the fact that this was the first time, she had seen him smiling.

---

The second the door opened, Khushi hugged Payal, tending her senseless.

'Khushi''

'Jiji, tum theek ho?'

Before Payal could reply, Khushi backed away and dropping a kiss on her sister's cheek, and scrutinizing her from head to toe, finally satisfied that she was okay, stormed into the house. A highly bemused Arnav was asked to come in by Payal.

'Bauji''

'Khushi one day you are going to kill me with one of your hugs.'

'How come you guys are here at Buaji's place?'

'I had taken Payal for her check-up when the riots began. The house'was already burnt up when we returned.'

---

Aakash went up to stand next to Arnav, as they continued to watch the animated conversation going on between the two girls and their father.

'She is beautiful, no?'

'Who?'

'Payal.'

'You know her?'

'Fell for her. During the brief stay in Lucknow.'

'Oh..'

Those few lines of conversation he had with Aakash, made Arnav see Khushi in a whole new light then on.

---

'Sir, you and your daughter should come and stay in Kashmir, with Khushi. Payal's treatment can be taken care of in the Base Hospital. We have some excellent surgeons there.'

'No, no beta. How could we possibly'unnecessary burden''

'No sir. Khushi is doing what she can for this state, for the country. We can do a little to show our gratitude.'

After finally coaxing Shashi to agree, he looked straight at the floor not wanting to look at the eyes of either Khushi or Aakash. But if he had chosen to look into Khushi's eyes, he would have seen a look that screamed respect, and probably a little love.

But Arnav had done this for both of them. Aakash was one man who deserved all the happiness in the world. And he felt privileged to be the one to give it to him. And that day when Khushi had hugged him, the broken look he had seen in her eyes made him feel uneasy. But all these reasons lurked at the back of his mind, on the surface; he blanketed it with the cover of duty.

'I'll send a jeep to pick you up tomorrow morning.'

---

They drove back in silence. Aakash still hung up in between remembering the Payal he once knew and the one he had met today. Arnav looking at the road and sometimes stealing glances at the rearview mirror to see if Khushi was okay. Khushi on the other hand, looked at the passing snow-capped mountains that they were leaving behind them, her heart feeling light for the first time since she had come to Kashmir. As she looked into the grey skies, her mind replayed the images of his lips coasting over hers and she couldn't help but think that maybe the dark valley of Kashmir, still held a little beauty, a little hope.

---

It was almost night, when they reached Kashmir. Khushi got out of the jeep and was about to enter the small cottage that Azaan had allotted to her. She heard a familiar pair of footsteps behind her, causing her to turn around.

'Khushi, I'll go myself to pick them up in the morning.'

She simply nodded, staring into the eyes that held mesmerizing intensity, a blazing passion.

She sensed slight movement, as he came closer, and closer still.

A breath apart.

And then the memories of the way he had accidentally hurt her, the ruthless words he had spoken to her, came back raging Arnav's mind. And that moment he realized that if there was any hope for her and him, they needed a fresh, a new start. Taking a step back, he gave a curt nod to her and walked back towards the jeep.

---

*Edited

My first reaction to the first part was a small but prominent "Oh" and then followed by a heartbreak...Payal and Akash are in love and got separated and now this...I feel so sad but I am with Arnav, they have been given a second chance. :)

Coming to ArHi, beautiful! The tenderness in their relationship lies in a beautiful bond with the awkwardness and the confusion and the deep care...its exquisite.

And the last line gives me hope for them too. Now that he knows Akash loves Payal, he has to realize his folly and make it up to her...

Stunning update. :)

-- Edited --

Frankly, I'm not that good enough in putting my words together to make a beautiful sentence to say how the update was! All I felt was shock and budding love..!

Cute little eye locks means lot to me than the original romance! And this had it as a reason for consoling and convincing!

Oh.My.God! Payal and Aakash had a past! The way they talked to each other.. "How, how come.." Perfect way to start! After all they are meeting after years, they need reasons!

A fresh start! Arnav decided on that! I understand how light he would be feeling now after Aakash blurted out the truth!

Mask of Duty.. Arnav wouldn't change! and budge to accept his feelings! 😉

Nice update dear!

Thanks for the PM Sona!

Very touching update...arnav is so amazing here so caring and sweet! and akash and payal that was surprising..

I like the last part where he holds back even if he has the urge...

why is it that I always feel ur updates are too short and I wanna read more and more? lol...no worries, guess i am too greedy!!

Thanks for the pm

new day new start