Arhi FF:Mirage #2 Next thread link on Pg 151 - Page 56

It was well past midnight now. Except for the occasional barks of the dogs, there was absolute silence surrounding Laxmi Nagar. Every inhabitant of the colony was in deep slumber except for that one soul that was mourning for her terrible loss. Khushi lay huddled in one corner of her living room, staring blankly at the door of her Buaji's room.

If it was any other night, she would have definitely heard loud snores from that room. There wasn't a count of how many times she had prayed for the irritating and deafening noise to stop so that she could have her peaceful sleep. But today, she just wished she could hear it once more.

Alas, it was too late. Buaji was gone. Forever.

Arnav stood leaning on the wall beside her, silently observing her. From the time, she had returned back from the hospital, she hadn't uttered a word. She had simply gone and sat on the floor, lost in her own world. He had tried talking to her, but she seemed to have muted out the voices around her. After vain attempts, he had given up and not knowing what else to do, he had simply stood beside her.

He had decided to stay back at her house because he knew she needed him. But he didn't have any idea of how he could lessen her pain.

When he had lost his mother, he had taken years to come out of that grief. It had been a lone battle, with no one to console him and no shoulder to lean onto. And then, he had entered this world of his and that world had taught him not to feel any remorse, pain or guilt for someone dying in front of you, because the world didn't give a damn about anyone. It was selfish, cold and brutal. And there was no place for emotions. Since that day, he hadn't felt any emotion when he saw someone dying.

But today, he felt something.

Something that he had felt when his mother had died.

He could feel Khushi's loss and pain. And this was frustrating him because it meant he had to deal with those emotions that he had locked up and buried years ago. He wanted to stop this feeling. He couldn't see the pain in her eyes. He didn't know what to do to make her happy.

In short, he felt helpless. And helplessness meant weakness for him.

The vibration in his pant pocket brought him out from his reverie. He looked at his cellphone to see that it was Aman calling him. Glancing once at Khushi's face, he moved away towards the other end of the room, before receiving the call.

"Bhai?"

"What happened, Aman?"

"Just wanted to check if you were alright, since you didn't come home. I thought you said that you would return back tonight?"

"I was caught up with some important work. I won't be coming home tonight. Maybe tomorrow."

"Oh! Ok, then." Aman said and disconnected the call.

Arnav turned around to face Khushi. He couldn't bear to see her like this. Lifeless, lost and miserable. He walked towards her and crouched beside her.

"Khushi, you need to sleep. You are tired after all the travelling. Come with me." He said and offered his hand. But just like the past few hours, she didn't seem to hear him. Letting out a sigh, he firmly held her shoulders and straightened her up and he lifted her in his arms and carried her to her bedroom, placing her on her bed. She just lay like a corpse, not exhibiting any signs of the life within her.

He carefully pulled over the blanket over her body and slid in, beside her, pulling her tightly towards him, letting her know that she wasn't alone in this.

As he stared at the neon stars on her ceiling that were glowing in the darkness, he realised how the equations had changed in one night.

I'll take care of her. I promise.

His own words reverberated in his mind. Those were the same words he had once said to Khushi's Buaji. That day, when he had promised that he would take care of her for their night out at the theatre, he didn't know that his promise would last for their lifetime. He had just said it casually.

But now, he knew the gravity of that promise.

An entire lifetime of love, happiness, security, selflessness, hope, understanding and trust for each other. Even though he hadn't asked, but Khushi had given him everything in this one month. Everything, beyond what he imagined was possible.

But did he do the same to her?

Could he live up to his own expectations? Did she really deserve him?

o0o

"He said he had some important work. He is not going to return home tonight."

"But I want that file. Otherwise, you know the consequences that will follow."

"I know it very well." He barked frustrated and disconnected the call. At that very minute, he felt like hauling his phone across the room and shattering it into a million pieces. But he knew that anger was not the solution to the mess he was in. He had to plan every step carefully. Otherwise, everything would be jeopardized. Lives would be lost.

Of his precious loved ones. And he couldn't let that happen. He had tried everything. But that B*stard was always one step ahead of him. Helplessness engulfed him and he stared right across the room, at the door.

He had to choose. Him or them. Either way he was going to lose.

Closing his eyes, he silently began to chant the Hanuman Chalisa, praying for the Gods to grant him strength and wisdom to make the right choice.

When he had first reached the railway station, deciding to run away from his home, he had chanted that same Hanuman Chalisa and stepped into that train which brought him to Delhi 10 years ago. He had left behind every known face to him and moved into a sea of strangers. Stepping out into the unknown city, he had met that one soul who had entered his life, as if Hanuman himself had sent him to his help. From that day, he had considered him as his brother. The reason for all happiness in his life today.

And now, he couldn't choose him.

o0o

Hari Kashyap walked into his study room and sat on his favourite wicker chair, his one hand holding a cup of coffee while the other pushed aside the papers on the table to retrieve the television remote. Scanning the channel for any stock market changes, he opened his Iphone to check for his appointments for today. Just then he remembered about his appointment with the Finance Ministry tomorrow morning.

He put down the coffee cup immediately and went to the file rack where he remembered placing the file last time. Scanning through the files, he realised that it was missing.

"Where did I keep that file?" he wondered, opening every file and rechecking it to make sure he hadn't missed it out. "I'm sure it was kept here." He muttered to himself. After thoroughly searching the files for ten minutes, he realised that it was indeed missing.

There was no way anyone could have taken the file coz the entry to his study room was completely restricted and only he knew the security code to enter this room.

Then where did it go?

Maybe he had left it in his office, he convinced himself. Just when he was busy contemplating on where he could have kept the file, he heard someone knocking at his door. Getting up from his chair, he walked towards the door to open it, revealing his teary eyed daughter in front of him.

"What happened, Princess? Why are you crying?" he asked alarmed as Lavanya flung into his arms and started sobbing uncontrollably.

"Dad, Khushi's Buaji passed away." She managed to say in between her incessant weeping. Lavanya knew what her best friend was going through. She had been with her the last time something tragic like this had happened to her. She had seen how hard it had been for Khushi to overcome her loss. And she had clearly known the importance of Buaji in Khushi's life.

"Oh God!" he exclaimed out in shock. Even though he wasn't that close to that lady, he had known her since the time Khushi and Lavanya were best friends. He had even communicated with her several times. But most of all, he had considered Khushi like his own daughter. And to see you dear one's loss was heart wrenching.

"Don't worry Baby. Now stop crying. If you are weak like this, who will support Khushi then? Your best friend needs you. Now let's go to her house immediately." He said walking out of the room, putting aside everything else in his mind.

o0o

The news of Buaji's death had spread like wildfire. After the body was brought back home from the hospital the next morning, so many people had flocked into Khushi's house to pay their last respects. Relatives that didn't exist and neighbours who never spoke till now, had all arrived.

After the first few arrivals, Arnav had quietly noticed how everyone had gathered around Khushi, bombarding her with questions after questions. She had only answered a few of them, after which she couldn't bear to utter a word. And Arnav knew this was just a beginning.

He knew that she needed him the most at this hour. But he feared that those people would bombard her with more questions about him and his relationship with her. In order to avoid any unnecessary ugly scenes, he decided to slip out of the house.

He noticed Khushi walking to the washroom. Grabbing the opportunity for a lone conversation with her, he pulled her aside.

"Khushi," he called out, but she refused to meet his eyes, "I don't think it is appropriate for me to stay here as they don't know who I am. I'm very sorry but I need to go. Please try to understand." He pleaded, holding her face, kissing her lightly on her forehead, before he walked out through the backdoor, lest any gossipmonger notice him. He didn't know whether she heard him. She was still not reacting like yesterday night. But he hoped she would forgive him for this.

Afterall, he had no choice. He had to do this for her sake.

But most importantly for their sake coz he knew Lavanya would definitely arrive to console her best friend and if she saw him, he would be in big trouble.

o0o

After the last rites were conducted, Lavanya had decided that Khushi would come along with her to her house as she didn't want her to live alone. Khushi had silently nodded, still unaware of what exactly was happening to her. All she had heard were women weeping around her.

But she couldn't understand why. When Buaji was alive, not one of those so called relatives had bothered to turn up to ask about their well being. And now when she was gone, everybody had turned up, singing praises about what a good woman she had been. They hadn't bothered when the widowed woman had struggled to raise her orphaned niece with her meagre pension income. They hadn't bothered to ask if they needed any help. They didn't bother then, so why did they bother now?

Anger stemmed inside her, a frustrated fury that threatened to consume her.

Nobody knew what she was going through. Buaji had been like a mother to her. There were so many times when she had wished to lead her life all alone, without having to account every detail of her life to Buaji. She had disagreed and fought with her so many times. But then, at the end of the day, when she felt like talking to someone, someone who would understand her, someone in front of whom she didn't have to pretend to be nice, Buaji was always there for her.

She couldn't deny. If Khushi Gupta was a strong independent girl, it was only because of Buaji who had taught her about the hardships of life at an early age and guided her on how to conquer the impossible.

And then, she had done something she should have never done. Something she could never forgive herself for.

She had lied.

And to make it even more worse, it was the last memory of her and Buaji.

It made her sick to the core. She felt her stomach twist and repulse with that thought. And the next thing she knew, she felt like her whole insides would come out through her mouth as nausea hit her system.

"Khushi!" Lavanya screamed out in horror as she saw her best friend puke on the floor and collapse down. "Dad! Call the doctor!" she shouted out, as the servants in her house rushed to help her out.

o0o

"There is nothing to worry about. It looks like the shock of her Buaji's death was too much for her body to handle. I have given her sedatives and anti depressants. Let her sleep for some time. Her body will automatically recover after some much needed rest. And please take care of her diet. See that she eats well. If there is anything else, call me." The Doctor said and got up to take leave of the Kashyaps.

"Thank you Doctor. We will take good care of her." Hari Kashyap assured the doctor and led him to the door.

Lavanya sat beside her friend, who was now sleeping on her bed. She saw how Khushi's face had grown paler and weary since the last time she had seen her.

She wondered why her friend had to suffer so much. How could God be so cruel to snatch away all her loved ones leaving her all alone? But then, life was never fair to anyone. Maybe not even to the good people like Khushi.

"Lavanya." She heard her father call out to her in a soft voice, lest he disturb Khushi's sleep. "Don't disturb her. Let's go downstairs." He said while Lavanya followed her father.

"Dad," she asked deeply contemplating while climbing downstairs. "What will happen to Khushi now? I mean where will she stay? Is she going to stay all alone in her house?"

"I don't know. She can stay here with us if she wants to. But then, we must allow her to decide. What if she doesn't want to stay with us? We must remember that she would be more comfortable staying in her own house. We can discuss with her about it when she wakes up. I've got to go now. Got some important work. If there is any emergency, call me."

"Thanks Dad." She said, grateful for having such an understanding parent who never refused her anything. Yes, maybe Khushi could stay with her in her house. That way she wouldn't feel lonely and she could take care of her.

o0o

Akash sat in his room going through one of his patient's file, trying to figure out the best option for treatment. But he couldn't focus on his work. His mind was still on Khushi. He had seen her at the funeral today. She had looked distraught, too shocked to react in any way and his heart went out for her.

A girl, so lively and cheerful could succumb to such a painful reality was too hard for him to accept. With the little that he had known about her, she had managed to make his mundane life so colourful with her bubbling energy and enthusiasm.

And now, all he wanted was to see her happy, just like before.

He would do anything for it, even if it meant he had to fight against his friend. She didn't deserve him. Not a criminal, who earned his living by killing people.

But then something else bothered him. What if Khushi had already known everything about him and still accepted Arnav in her life? Then, did he have any right to interfere in her life?

He couldn't just sit like that and let her life be destroyed. He had to do something. And soon.

CHAPTER 29