Chapter 5(a):
"Get up Khushi, it's already sevenā¦" Payal came into the room and found Khushi's bed empty. It was made neatly as if she never slept. Khushi had completely stopped talking in the house after what had happened on Friday morning. It was already Monday and Khushi had probably spoken fifteen sentences at the most.
It wasn't the first time her aunt had exploded. Each time the topic of her failed wedding was mentioned, her parents' mood turned sad while her aunt's turned sour. However after about twelve hours of brewing in sadness and anger everyone in the house became okay and things went back to being normal ā Khushi being her own hyper energetic self, her parents somber and her aunt, less grumpy.
"Are you leaving already?" Payal asked Khushi who was picking an apple from fruit basket. Khushi nodded wordlessly. The early morning din that was signature of the household was absent that morning.
Silence noosed everyone's neck that morning.
*****
He saw her standing in front of the elevator, head down. He wanted to get a two hour head start and so he had decided to come in early. He had also hoped that he could drop by Khushi's office in morning and take her for a cup of coffee. He was surprised to see her that early. She was unusually still which was very odd compared to her regular whimsical self. He quickened his pace and stood next to her. She didn't notice his presence but the stillness about her was disappeared. She was tapping her right foot slowly.
"Hello," he said. There was no response from her; just rhythmic tapping of foot and staring at floor. "Hello." He said again, raising his voice a bit. She looked up from floor and turned her neck towards him. She smiled and nodded. She turned back at elevator when its doors opened.
"I am sorry I couldn't meet you on Friday" Arnav said hitting the buttons. There was again no response from her. "Khushi," he called her out again. She looked at him with a questioning glance and he repeated his apology. She held his gaze for a moment and shrugged and went back to gazing the floor.
"Can I make up for that missed coffee today?" He asked hesitating.
"Why?" She asked her first word of the day.
"Because I missed our meeting on Friday," he replied.
"Why?" Two on two made her blue.
"I got busy in my work and lost track of time," he said looking at her.
"Why?" Three for three would make her free?
"Because I had a deadline and everything apart from work escaped my mind," he said not knowing where this was going.
"Why?" She asked finally looked at him. Would four on four make her a bore?
"I don't get distracted when I am concentrating on work," he said picking out the second part of his previous answer. He still had no idea where this was going.
"Why?" She now crossed her hands on her chest and furrowed her eyebrows. But six on six put her in a fix.
"I have good concentration?" He asked more than answered. Elevator doors opened then motioning arrival of her floor.
"Why?" Seven on seven got her close to her pseudo haven. She pressed the button to close elevator doors and waited for a response.
"I don't know." He said. Before she could reply, he added. "I am sorry that I didn't even call you to cancel the appointment. I am sorry that I forgot. I amā¦sorry." His apology was sincere without any malcontent.
He stepped out of the elevator and waited for her to say something.
"I want to take you somewhere today evening," she said halting the closing elevator door.
"Where?" He asked, his curiosity taking over momentarily.
"It's a place where different worlds meet for a cup of coffee." She said and let the elevator doors close.
Arnav stood there in surprise watching the steel doors wondering what she meant.
To be continued.
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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