A Day Out 14

He is determined. He will send her off to Europe and then hunt down the creep. He does not want to scare her with the rage he feels toward him . He is still thinking about how to tackle this situation when he hears the knock .

ASR :" come in." he thunders . He is tired. It's exhausting to see her sad. More exhausting than fighting a lost battle.

Maggy :" good evening. " she says knowing its far from it. Both of their face is dead.

Khushi looks at her fearing one word from her and she will loose . Maggy comes to her and pulls her in bear hug. giving her assurance that all will be taken care without saying a single word . They don't exchange any more pleasantry . She opens the bottle and fill two glasses. Seeing this exchange ASR feels out of place and leave the room telling his Di not to disturb them.

It's been hour but they hadn't bring the matter on hand to spotlight.They both gaze out of balcony . They both wait for other to address the pink eliphant in the room.

Khushi :" when are you leaving for Europe ?" it's always easy to talk about other then ourself . She can see Maggy is trying very hard to contain her interrogation nature.

Maggy :" I can postpone you know ?" she doesn't want to leave her best friend in needs. She can go after thing will get better for khushi.

Khushi :" nah . You carry on. I will be fine." she says even she doesn't know if she would be fine for a while after this. God she can really use friend right now but doesn't want Maggy to cancel her plan .

Maggy :" I think you need change . Want to join me ?" she is hopefull may be change of place and little time alone will put things in perspective .

Khushi :" are you sure ? Let me tell you I am not good company right now ." she doesn't want to ruin her best friend vacation by her sullen mood.and she doesn't want to pretend everything is fine.

Maggy :" yes . I want you to came with me. I will talk to him , and arrange the tickets for us." she is happy that she is ready to come with her without making her beg.

ASR :" No ! She won't travel in coach. I will book ticket for you both in first class." he can see both of them starteled and surprise face.

They didn't hear him coming in or listening to them . He wasn't eavesdropping . It's his room damn it . He can see khushi really want to run from this burden , well he wouldn't say no to her. If that is what she want a time away from him he will give her . Even if it would kill him to not see her for three weeks but she really need break from all this and he needs clear and worry free head to put things in order.

Maggy : "Okay . Whatever you say as long as she comes with me . it's hot over their so you need to get some sun friendly cloth. I will ..." she has cut off by Khushis voice.

Khushi :" remember I am coming as your friend not client. I will take care of it." she need to make herself clear or else her all time will go in shopping here and there .

Maggy :" okay. I think I should leave. " it's nine and she needs to do wind up her office work she doesnt want to cut her vacation short because of any lacking.

ASR :" cancel your hotel reservation . I will book flight , hotel and car with driver. You will receive mail with detail by tomorrow latest." he wants to make it good vacation for her. Away from all this. He knows she would love Florence.he just hope he could go with her. But he is sure as hell that she will go with anybody but him .

He goes to bedside drover and pick up the envelope . It's her credit card. It's been sitting there since it arrived right after he opened a account for her . He had transferred good amount . It's just storing in her account she will need this activated if she wants anything. He makes a call and activate it. He will get all the info about the use of this card on his and her cell . She just have to put security code and conform that she had used it every-time she use it.

ASR :" keep this with you. Its different kind of card. Make one purchase so you will know the way it works. " saying that he gives her the notebook. She doesn't protest she opens the window and make purchase from Guess finding a beautiful dress which comes with pumps and accessory . She get delivery in two days. God bless DHL. Her cell pings indicating she has massage asking her to type her four digit security code. he gives her security code to enter . His cell rings indicating that her transection is done. Wow she did like a dress. His cell shows amount and he make note to himself that he need to trippel the amount he put in her account. Even she can't believe she spent this much that too in dollars. he can afford it she feels good about it and realize that she has come long way : making Jalebis to shopping spree. Atleast no one would get alert by this Other than him of course.

He has called agent to take care of her passport and visa. It's night but as always no one deny's him anything .Next day flies away in blur. They are having dinner . first time she is down to have dinner with family after that epic party .Everybody is there other then Mamaji and Shyam. She wonders where he went and what pills he make her wife swallow . Pathetic .

She breaks the news to everyone that she going with Maggy . They try to interrogate her but he cut them of saying he made arrangement and she will be back in three weeks. his throat close with sinking feeling that this is going to be torturous time of his life . They have been together for so long he doesn't know how to function without her. but he try to control his feelings. Nani and Di is happy about her outing . Payal worries that she will be alone in strange country.

Khushi just want to answer that she is all alone even in crowd but hold her tongue. She can see she is too much engrossed in her Akashji to notice anything.Just three days is left until her flight take off for Europe . She is taking only one bag that's it .whatever she needs she can buy from there.

Di :" Khushiji if you are leaving in three days why don't you spend time with us ? Watch T V ?" Anjali ask her. She just want to lighten Khushis mood .

Nani :" Anjali why don't you get our family album . Payal's and Akash's marriage album ?"she wanted to see the DVD but thought better of it atleast with album they can switch to other if it's too disturbing for them.

Di :" good idea ." she looks at Payal and she stand up to get it .she looks at khushi who is lost in her world .

Nani :" Anjali where has Damadji disappeared ? I have not seen him since the party . " she ask with concerns lacing her tone .

Hearing this ASR sees red . He so wants to murder this basterd . Jijaji or not .but it's good that Nani had brought subject . the soon he knows about his whereas about soon he can burn him alive .

Khushi is having different reaction . Why Anjali is so dense when it comes to him ?How come she never question him about his ever growing absence ? Only Anjali is responsible for all this f**k up .

Di :" Naniji he has gone to out of town. He will be back when his work over but we don't know how long it will take ."

Khushi thinks "Of course you don't know." ASR to is thinking same . He is going to hunt him down.Payal comes with album and everybody is exited to see it . Though they have already seen it before .ASR comes and seat by her knowing its all going downhill .he doesn't like the idea of seeing marriage album. It's bad enough between without all this intrusion. He can picture her pain crumbled face while watching all those fhotos . They did not have anything what normal couple have simple thing like some trimklet of their time togather or photos or dvd . Now he understand how deep it cut her loosing all this . Simple thing . Normal thing . He has snatched away everything from her and he will regret this till his last breath. But right now she needs him near by him . He will stay with her and endur the pain she feels. Now he too longs for it .

Payal put album on the coffee table . Everybody is gathered by table making oval shape . Mamiji as always talking about how wonderful and young she looks even though she is the grooms mom . Her attire is better then bride .

Akash and Payal is googly eye remembering the day and all. Nani and Anjali is discussing the quality of photograph and the way all played out as they wanted . The guest were so happy and all the important people sharing their happiness .

There is two album one with the huldi and Mehandi ceremony and other with wedding. Khushi is having Mehandi ceremony album . Her hand automatically goes to the photograph where Arnav wiped off his face with her Dupatta . The way he left her speechless . Few page and comes the photo where they all are standing and she is making him confess that he bought the bangles for her putting her hand in front of his face. She doesn't even realize when her hand touches his face on photo and tears are streaming down on her chick . She wipes them before anybody sees it.

Mamiji :" oh look here no phati saree I mean Khushi bitiya . It's fera time and she goes missing ." she looks at her accusingly . Everybody knows what she is trying to say but seeing ASR murderous glare no one try to continue the conversation sure Mamiji try to have .

Khushi remembers the time when he cornered her and demand her to marry him for six month . He did not give her reason or choice just ultimatum that if she would not marry him he will not let Payal 's marriage take place . The way he twisted and crushed her wrist to her back . Gritting his teeth he spit venom in her face . The way he make her helpless . Which should have been their greatest joy binding ties to each other become her greatest nightmare . A long one that too.

She sees the way Payal is looking at Akash and long for that moment . They exchange the garland and all the ritual take place it's like she is reliving it . A big punch in gut. Her heart ache for the life she wanted , the marriage she wanted. The happiness the blessing but all was blown like puff of smoke . Akash and Payal entering the house . The way Akash lift her adorably not burden. Not the way ASR lift her like he wants to throw her in dark abyss. Akash is looking at her like he wants to hold her his whole life .

ASR is looking at her ever present face . Emotion flying across it fleetingly but still he can read them . There is only word : pain , agony . She is reliving all the dark memory he had given her . The hostility , vengeance . She took it and it's gonna blow in his face after all this time .

She sees all the gift her Di got . The proud face of her Amma and Babuji . Buaji's happiness . It's all so surreal . And then she knows that she never had a luck to enjoy all this happiness . She wasn't that lucky that she could dream of having a marriage . How can she forget her fate and dream about having a wedding like her Di ?

No ! She won't think like this . It will kill her Babuji if she ever utter those words. She was orphan and it wasn't like she wan not going to have wedding it was all this lard governor fault that she was stripped away from that happiness. She squeezes her eyes shut and take deep breath .

He is been holding her other hand for comfort . She is not aware of that . They have been doing this for long to feel awkward but when she closes her eyes and fist her hand he hiss with the pain . It's like his finger got crushed . But pain is welcomed he can live with it . He sees her face and it's breaking his heart. He sees the girl who has been like butterfly turned into picture of pain. She was Full of colors and happiness . Wherever she went made people laugh and happy but he had caged her in painful marriage . He can't live with himself knowing this . Yes he wants her with all his heart . Yes he can not live without her but if this what she wants ; OUT ! Out From this marriage he will give her . He might not be able to live or breath without her but he would not suffocate her . this has to end .

ASR :" let's go up ." he lift her and take her to upstairs . Everyone gapping at them like they are eighth wonder of this world .

She doesn't protest . She is happy for her sister that she got all the best thing in her life . Loving husband , lavish wedding . But she can't tolerate if it's thrown in her face . No she is just human . It's hurt to see that happiness and love radiating from them . The glowing face and shy glances .He enters room and put her on couch. Closing the door to their room he sit by her .

ASR :" are you coming back ?"' he wants to give her choice .

She is looking at him trying to decifer the meaning of his words .

ASR :" do you want out of this marriage ? I can't see you like this . Dying inside . I can not live without you but if it's killing you to be with me in same house you can choose other option . I promise I will not bother you . I will stay away from you .even if it would kill me to do it I would do that for you ." he put his face in her lap and start crying hugging her hips . He cried the way cried when he found his mom dead , the day he seen Her with Shyam.

Khushi :" don't cry ! Please don't give me more pain . I can not see you broken . You have to stay strong. That is how I see you . Determined ,strong and if needed ruthless . Please don't break my scene for you . " she runs her finger in his hair . They were always gelled but now days he just leave them unattended . The way he lost all his hard edges. She had turned him soft . But she knows she can't have him vunrable . This world is too cruel for soft hearted people . It's not his scene . He function better when he is in control. He has become like this seeing her in pain and might be afraid that she would leave him .

Khushi :" hadn't I told you that I would never leave you ? Do you not trust me ? "She ask him cradling his face and lifting it up so she can read it . The complex work of his brain . Fight between heart and brain . Yeah that is her husband .

ASR :" I do ! Oh god I trust you more then myself . But I know I have f**ked up big time . And you and I both know that knowing myself I will f**k up again . I will understand if you want to kill me or more deadly scene leave me .Today was nothing compare to what we will face because of my stupidity . It will be like this . Whenever time present Mamiji won't shut up no matter how much I threaten her . How long will it be until your armor break and you shatter in million pieces ?" he is desperate for her assurance . To hear that no matter what she will stay beside him.

Khushi :" as long as you are there to put me back and hold me I don't care about anything ." she press her forehead to his leaning down into him. His scent intoxicating her . The way she longs to cradle his face into her chest and murmure sweet I love you .

ASR :" really ? Are you sure ? May be I won't be strong enough to give you choice next time ." he says looking into her eyes making sure she understand the weight of his word and it's given that he is dead serious about his word like heart attack .

She read all the emotion she wants to see there. He is afraid of her reaction about photos and Mamijis remark . He cares about her . loves her . Loves her the way that he would set her free if that is what she wants . Like she can live without his arrogant ass . Man . But she doesn't say all this things out loud . not now let him suffer some more . She just need to assure him that no matter what she would not leave him.Not if she has any say in it .

Khushi :" yes I am sure. I am here for whole life." saying that she stands up. She wants to kiss him she can see the longing in his eyes . He is begging her but she can't . The way she can't live without him same way she is not ready to forgive him . Not yet .

She changed into comfy nighty. She is reading the book when she hears the rustling outside of her room . She opens the door and see restless Payal.

Payal :" are you okay ? You did not look well downstairs " she had seen the way her face was torn while she saw all the photos .

Khushi :" I am fine ." she does not want to elaborate . It's all in past .she goes to her bed and ask her to sit.Payal is sitting by the foot of the bed. Taking Khushis both hands in her she looks at her in eyes.

Payal :" you know if you were forthcoming about you and Arnavji's feelings we could have had wedding together." she tells her . she feels horrible saying it but she has to make her see that she failed .

Khushi just ground her teeth . She is exhausted . Her mind is dead and heart is numb feeling all the pain.ASR was in the bathroom but he had heard enough . He does not want anyone to interrogate his wife . Sister or not no one is allowed to give her pain .

ASR :" Payal , she is tired .please keep this in mind . I do not want to hear all this again . What is done is done. Let it be buried in past . I don't want her to see upset because of some stupid things." he can see the apprehension on her face .

Payal :" okay . I will keep in mind . Good night ." she can feel tension between them . It's better to leave them alone .

Khushi just stare out of the window looking at moon shining through cloud . Just like her life clouded by so many sorrow but still good because he is with her. Such a irony the reason of her sorrow is the reason of her existence .She can see from her peripheral vision that he is still in the same room . This is first . Usually he goes to study or working on his notebook on the couch . he is still in doghouse .She has not asked him to come to bed. She so wants to tangle herself into him but not when her heart is crying . She has missed out on best experience of her life because he did not asked her out loud about the misunderstanding . It would have been so much more better if he could have just little faith in her . If he could have understand the feelings she harbour for him . Why is he so dense ? He is top bussiness man but when it comes to her he is biggest fool on this earth . Why ? Oh why ? Why does she have to fall for emotionally impotent ASR ???