Arnav looked desolately at Pari's unconscious form. He paced from left to right. Then he walks closer to the wondow and gazes out at the ecstatic beauty surrounding the hospital. There was a small duck pond and some patients were trying to throw food to the hungry ducklings. A couple of patients were accompanied by the nurses while others were escorted by their family members. So peaceful, calm and serene. So soothing to look at.
But Arnav Singh Raizada was feeling ANYTHING BUT calm.
There was a battle raging inside him. A battle against his heart and mind, against love and reason, against ASR and Arnav, against a lover and a businessman. One wanted to keep Pari and woo her until she fell in love, whilst the other wanted nothing to do with love. ASR does not do love. To give her up or to fight for her?
Arnav: Rahul? *just saying that name left a particular distaste lingering on his tongue.*...Pari and...and..
He gave up.
Making up his mind, he took determined steps away from his life, his happiness, HIS Pari. (sad Rabba vey).
************************
He walked into the hall and bumped right into Aakash. Aakash was carrying an overnight bag.
Aakash: Bhai...I got you some clothes from home...why don't you shower and change?...you got blood smeared on your shirt.
Arnav looks at his shirt shocked and then remembers it was Pari's blood that had transfered to his clothes when he was carrying her last night.
Arnav (asks expectantly): Aakash?
Aakash: Yes Bhai...your laptop, mobile and medications are also in that bag.
Arnav nodded and moved off to a nearby room to get cleaned. His brother understood him so well. He didn't have to say anything at all, he thought and smiled indulgently. As soon as he stepped out of the shower, clean and refreshed, he picked up his phone and called Aman's number. He barked a series of orders down the line at Aman.
ASR: 30 minutes Aman...I want all the details in 30 minutes or you can get yourself another job...clear?
Aman: Yes ASR *he gulped*.(Aman thinking: Thats a lot of work for just 30minutes!!!)
Arnav then got ready and headed out to check on his Di and other family members.
*************************
As Arnav approached Anjali's room (with a determined look on his face), Dr Steve McCoy stopped him just outside the door.
Dr Steve: Arnav, I know that you do not know me as well as Pari and her family does, BUT still, I am going to say this. Please do not give ANY kind of bad news to your sister. I don't think she will be able to take it. The sleeping drugs didn't have a life threatening effect on the fetus, but still it is at a critical stage. I don't think your sister will be able to take any kind of shocks given her condition. Otherwise, she might loose the baby and...your sister may slip into depression, or may even ...die...
Arnav (worried tone): Is she alright now? (Remembers what Dida told him about his mother slipping into depression after her miscarriage)
Dr Steve: Yes she is but she is crying ceaselessly since she woke up. (hearing this, Arnav dashed into the room)
Arnav (walked to sit next to her): Di?...Di...please Di, don't cry. Everything is alright...please...I can not bear to see you cry...please stop crying, are you feeling ok? Di, are you in any pain?
Anjali(sobbing): nahee...hum theek hain...hum mein kyun koi kuch bata nahee raha?...chotey...kya hua?...hum yahan pe kaisey...aur Woh kaha hai? Nurse ne bataya ki poori family admitted hai...kya hua? *then looking at Arnav's bandaged hand*....chotey yeh kya?...tumhey chot kaisey lagi?...tum theek to ho?
Arnav: Kuch nahee hua Di...Several thieves broke into our house,...they released chloroform gas in the house, but since Khushi was out in the garden, she didnot get affected by it. When she came in, she bumped into one of the thieves. One of the thieves tried to force himself on her...
Anjali: *gasps*...Khushiji theek toh hai na, chotey?
Arnav: Yes She is Di, I came at the right moment...I bashed the thieves for touching her, I wanted to kill him Di...how dare he...He
Anjali: He? Do we know him?..
Arnav: No Di...It was some stranger...but I have handed him over to the authorities...
Anjali: Where is he?...I want to slap that beast of a man too?...how dare he?...If you want to steal things...fine steal them...but you shouldn't play with a woman's honour...ugghh!!!...some of these man...
Arnav(surprised): Di??...you speaking of violence?...you?
Anjali: huh??... naa?...patah nahi kaisey?...must be the hormones...
Arnav: ok Di...you rest now...I will go check on everyone...ok?
Anjali: Chotey?...Woh?...Woh kaisey hai?
Arnav: What?...Oh Jejaji...He is fine...actually something important came up so he had to go away for a while...he said it was some very important clients...so it will take him a couple of months to negotiate through the deals...and he especially asked me and Aakash to take care of you...so please don't stress...Otherwise I will have to stress Jejaji, ok?
Anjali: oh ok baba...ok...you're very bossy Chotey...but still...aww sho cute...
*******************************.
Arnav slowly closed the door to Anjali's room and stepped out. Dr Steve was waiting for him outside the door.
Dr Steve: Arnav, There's something very important I have to discuss with you. Please come with me.
An hour later Arnav, Naani and Dida marched out of Dr Steve McCoy's temporarily assigned room. Arnav did not look too happy with whatever transpired in the doctor's office.
Arnav: But Naani...
Naani (cutting off Arnav before he could even begin arguing): Bas Chotey!!!...Ab aap wohi keejeye jo hum ney kaha hai? Samjhe aap?
Arnav: Jee Naani. (he turns his bluetooth on and rings for Aman) Aman, I am going to send you an email which will be labelled "ASR H&R"...make sure you follow each of the directions there, and arrange everything accordingly, and ASAP, ok?
Aman: YES ASR...
Arnav: Aman, That report which I asked for?...
Aman: Sir, I have e-mailed that report to your personal e-mail address, and sir, regarding this new e-mail which you will send me, will it be for the AR Designs..?
Arnav: You will know it when you receive it...and Aman...
Aman: Yes ASR
Arnav: Thanks...*and then disconnects the call*
Aman: *speechless* Did ASR just say "THANKS"...I must have lost it!!!...okay Aman, time for you to resign and join the mental asylum...ASR never says "thanks" to anyone...I am hearing things!!!...I think after I finish the workload for today, I am going to apply for a sick leave, I am coming down with a fever...I am sure...ASR and "Thanks" ???
********************
The sun sailed across the horizon, it seemed to be in a hurry today, or maybe thats what it looked like to someone who was dreading the moment when the day will come to end. Someone named, Arnav.
Arnav sat in the chair next to Pari's bed. Waiting for Dida to come. Dreading the moment when he will have to tell Dida his decision. He had made up his mind. He was NOT going to fight for Pari. He was going to walk out of her life, but he would ask her to stay as his pretend wife, just until his Di delivered her baby. Afterall, the doctor did say that she was at a critical stage of pregnancy. He was sure Pari would help him out, either that or he could pay for her help. Whichever way it went, he was sure he was going to get atleast another 3 months with Pari and in those 3 months he will make enough memories to last him his lifetime without Pari.
So decision made. All the plans for his future already made in his mind. Now he waited. Waited for Pari's eyes to open.
And hope against hope that maybe,...just maybe... it will be Khushi who will wake up...
Dida stepped into the room with Payal. She saw Arnav's face and knew instantly what was to come. She smiled. Why? Only she knew.
Arnav: Dida, I have descided...
Dida: I can see...If thats how you wish it to be...but think again beta...
Arnav: Dida, I have made up my mind. I can't. I can't do this to Pari. If its Pari who wakes up, please take her away with you...she deserves better...
...but if you could just convince Pari to stay at my home, pretending to be Khushi, as my wife...just until Di has her baby...then I have no problems relieving her of the promises made to my mom by her mother...
As if right on cue, Pari opened her eyes. She looked around her, gauging her surrounding. She saw a tall, handsome hunk of a man standing next to her bedside. My, my, he is a sight for sore eyes...Pari thought naughtily. Then she saw Dida, and reality came crashing in. If Dida is here then Rahul should be here too. Where is he? ,she thought.
Pari: Rahul?...Dida where is Rahul? Didn't he come with you?...why am I in a hospital?...Oouch!!!...and why does my shoulders and back feel so painful...whats happening?
Just then, the door flung open, and a 5"8 guy, ruggedly handsome man stepped in.
Rahul: Pari, my darling!!! OMG...what happened to you sweetcheeks?...what happened?...I came as soon as I found out...and straight from the airport...here I am...for my baby doll...
Pari: Rahul!!!...OMG...I...did you just say you just came from the airport?...helloo I am in a hospital!!!...you should have been by side even before I opened my eyes...now c'mon and give me a hug...
Rahul approached Khushi's bedside, he hugged her tightly.
Dida: Payal bitiya, do you know which way leads to Anjali bitiya's room?...can you help me? Pari, beti we will talk later.
Payal: Jee Dadi...(Payal *thinking* : Dadi knows her way around the whole world...so if she is pretending...and then she didnot look surprised at all seeing Rahul barge in..she must have cooked up something...and she left Bhai in there too...well...)
Payal and Dida leave the room, closing the door behind them. Arnav clenched his hand as he watched Pari being hugged by Rahul.
Pari (pouted): what only hugs?
Rahul: No way...several kisses are on the way with interest too...
And saying that, Rahul's mouth inched closer to Pari's luscious lips...
Pre Cap:
Is ASR just going to step aside and let another creep take over Pari's life?...Is Pari going to help ASR in putting up the pretend marriage for another 3 months?...will Rahul let her?...Has ASR really given up on love?...
Comments and bashing can start now...hope you all like it...and thank you, thank you to all those people who commented. Thank you very much, its because of your encouragement that I am continuing to write, otherwise, I would have stopped writing it. And thank you for pressing "Like" too...it all counts...but comments are the best...atleast that way I know if the story is interesting and being enjoyed...thank you. And please don't forget to comment again.
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