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CHAPTER 15 (ARNAV)
Khushi wasn't there in the room when I woke up.
Assuming she was in the kitchen, I freshened up and went near the pool to water my plants.
I heard the soft tinkling of my Khushi's anklets as she came in the room; but I dint go in. I waited for her to come outside.
I was waiting for quite some time. This wasn't right...something was wrong...
She would never leave without seeing me.
Suddenly, I heard the table scrape as if somebody had pushed it...and moments later, I heard my coffee mug tilt and fall...
I ran inside and saw the hot, steaming coffee all over Khushi's foot!!!...and she wasn't moving...
WHY WAS SHE NOT MOVING????
"Khushi?" I called her, I couldn't see her face, and her back was towards me.
She did not move, she didn't react...she didn't move even an inch.
I panicked,"KHUSHI?!"
I grabbed her from behind and turned her to face me.
I felt my knees buckle when I saw her face. It was...BLANK.
I made her sit on the bed, ran to the bathroom, got a cold wet towel and wiped the coffee on her foot, all the while talking to her-
"Khushi! Ye kya kiya? Dekh ke chal nahi sakti...?tum kya soch rahi thi? Itni garam coffee gira di khud pe?"
"jal raha hai?", i asked as i dabbed the wound, kneeling down in front of her.
NO ANSWER.
I looked up at her blank face and cupped it.
I shook her gently,"khushi...?please...", i whispered.
Slowly her eyes came into focus and met mine.
There was an unreadable expression in her eyes.
"kya hua?", i asked softly.
Her full body was still, but her hands quivered slightly as i asked the question...
Her fist was holding some card...
I slowly tried to free it from her hand, but she resisted.
I looked in her eyes, held them with my gaze, took the card and read it-
Humari taraf se aapke liye ek chota tofa...
Aap kitni bhi koshish karle, par aapki narazgi humse chup nahi sakti...
Humein pata hai ki vo aapko chain se jine nahi dega...
Par hum jaldi vaapas aa rahe hai, sab theek hoga...
Akhir use "DHANYAVAAD" bhi to kehena hai!
Aaj hum dono saath hai, toh sirf usi ki vajah se...
pyaar
A hundred emotions flooded through me, out of which 3 were distinctly recognisable...
Remorse, anger, and guilt.
"hariprakash!", i shouted...
When no one answered,"HARIPRAKASH??!!!", i yelled again.
"ji Arnav baba?", he came in shivering.
Ye phool kisne bheje?", i asked through gritted teeth, trying to control my voice.
"vo...Arnav bab...vo...hum-", he stammered.
"kisne?", i threatened.
"Sapna Flowers se koi aya tha...unhone kaha ye Khushi bhabi ke liye hai...humein to koi card bhi nahi dikha...humne socha-"
I flashed my hand up to stop him.
"fek do.", i ordered.
"aur ye saaf kar dena.", i indicated to the coffee.
He immediately got to work.
I sat next to Khushi, maintaining safe distance between us.
I waited for Hariprakash to finish cleaning. He closed the door and left.
"i'm sorry...", i whispered.
From the corner of my eye, i saw her snap up.
In all this time, this was her first reaction.
I continued without looking at her, concentrating on my fingers, fumbling with the stupid card.
"aise phir kabhi nahi hoga...mein hone nahi dunga. Ye sab meri vajah se hua hai...i'll take care of it..."
I paused and cleared my throat. My vision blurred, my eyes were stinging as they became moist.
"he's right...i'm not good enough for you...you shouldn't be with me...meine tumhari zindagi barbaad kar di hai...i don't desrve you-"
Khushi stopped me with her fingers on my lips.
I looked at her. Silent tears were flowing down her cheeks.
She flung her arms around me, hid her face in my neck and started crying.
I didn't hug her back...there was too much guilt and i couldn't get myself to face her.
I slowly took her hands and kept them in her lap."shh...khushi...bas...", i whispered as i wiped her tears.
Both of us sat there for a very long time.
I don't know for how long...
She was looking at me, and i was looking at my hands.
After sometime, i asked her,"Khushi? Ek baat puchu?"
She didn't answer, but kept looking at me expectantly.
"what did he mean? Meine...? tum dono ko...?",i couldn't continue further.
"us fashion show ke baad, jab sab samachar walon ne humari tasveerein TV pe dikhai, to kuch gundo ne humein pareshaan kiya...", she answered unwillingly, and then paused.
"tab Shyamji ne humein bachaya.",she completed in a soft whisper.
A wave of guilt drowned me...
I shut my eyes and cursed myself...
I had thought that she had started it...
But it was me all along...
I had ruined her life...
Di's life...
How could he ever forgive himself?
The answer was easy...NEVER.
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