ArHi OS |Enough of Love

{OS:Enough of Love}

Arnav stared out of the window seeing the suburbs of Mumbai rush past.The sky had already welcomed the realm of night,of bright lights, twinkling sky and the city which never sleeps.His mind though was thinking of just one person right then,his wife.A small smile played on his face as he imagined going back in the hotel and hearing her chirpy voice asking him how the meeting was.

Arnav tried to bring Khushi on whichever business trips he went ,this gave them their own holiday and she wouldn't worry her head off about him.Distance,distance was their biggest enemy.Noise and commotion on the road ahead made him come back to his senses.

''What happened?''he asked the driver as the car came to a stop.A number of cars were halting there,an unusual sight on one of the main roads of the city.

''Don't know sahab but something is wrong''

Arnav rolled down his window and called out to a man who was practically fleeing away from the spot.The man was initially annoyed at being stopped but he replied in a hurry

''Don't you know?Terrorists have entered the Taj Palace hotel!!!The city is under attack!!''saying this he rushed off.

Arnav stared motionless as he saw people running away on the roads and cars backing off and leaving.

Taj Palace.NO!

Khushi,his Khushi.

''Sahab !Sahab!Where are you going?''Moments later the driver shouted as Arnav got out of the car and ran.Arnav didn't reply,his mind and heart racing at the thought.As he rushed on the road he jostled among people who were running in the exact opposite direction.

Sweat beads ran down his face,his loose tie lay limp against his black shirt.When he first neared the Taj Palace all his eyes could make out was huge crowds of people gathered a few metres away from the main building.Smoke slowly dissapeared into the air,rising from the dome of the magestic Taj Palace.

''Khushi...''Arnav gazed as pigeons fluttered in the black air above the hotel.He felt like this was a bad dream and he would wake up to see her sleeping next to him.She would ask him if he was fine and fire a hundred questions as to why his face was so tensed with worry.

He shut his eyes,trying to block out this nightmare but the sound of a huge blast from the hotel shook him into reality.

''Khushi!!!Khushi!!!''his voice resonated through the uncanny silence which fell upon the whole crowd.Every eye looked in terror at the spark of fire as it raced across the left wing of the hotel.Each person prayed for his or her loved one,hoping that they were safe.

Arnav tried to rush across the ring the NSG commandos had formed only to be pulled back.Never,never had Arnav Singh Raizada been so desperate in his life.Terror echoed every heart that beat in the chests of those who saw this spectacle.

''We are sorry sir,you need to hold back!!''one of the NSG men told Arnav.

He backed out,his steps almost staggering.Phone!Ofcourse he could call her!

His trembling fingers struggled against the keypad as he pressed the call button.His ears hoped to hear her voice but the cold monotone of the automated voice sent him into a deeper abyss of hopelessness.

Just then the phone rang and before someone could reply from the other side Arnav had broken down ''Di!!Khushi!!Khushi is...''

**

Anjali sat on the couch of Raizada mansion,the family members surrounding her.In the background the television was full of news channels reporting live from Mumbai.She heard her brother's sobs on the mobile,it had been a long time since she had seen him like this.Silence reigned the atmosphere,each family member remembering Khushi's smiling face.For right now,nothing counted more than knowing she was safe.

Payal stared in disbelief at the screen,the smoke bellowing out of the hotel.Her sister,Khushi was in there.And Lord knows in what state or condition.

She tried to be strong but the tears running down her cheeks failed to relent.Akash's hand pressed upon her trembling ones,reassuring her.She looked up at him in fear,fear for her only sister.

**

For a few moments after she heard a loud blast emanating from the corridors outside Khushi didn't realise what was happening.Amidst the voices of screams she opened the door of her room.People rushed past her,the pound of footsteps beating upon the dark carpet.

''What has happened?!''she asked noone in particular,her heart panicking now.

''Beta Move quickly!The hotel is under terrorist attack!''a kindly old woman informed her before leaving.

Khushi's heart struck a beat.Death-this was the first word that entered her mind right then.She could hear the eight year old in her crying for her mother and father to come back to her.We all have to die one day,its inevitable.And yet that first sting of fear leaves an imprint on your heart.

She looked left and right as the crowd of people disappeared along the bend of the corridor.Khushi went back inside and shut the door,leaning against it.Her short breaths went in sync with her racing heart.

''Stay calm Khushi stay calm''she told herself and looked around.She quickly gathered up her mobile from the table and her handbag.She took a moment to push the curtains apart and looked out of the glass window.Huge crowds of people were streaming outside,a huge gap of nothingness between them and the hotel.

She pulled out her mobile,her knees shaking as she waited for him to pick up.Arnav!her heart cried out,not knowing where he was.

Down there Arnav jostled among the people,trying to catch a glimpse of anything-anything which told him that Khushi was alive.

Evening was slowly drawing into night,ironically enough the darkness hinting the blanket of doom upon the city.Amidst the cries of civilians,the panicked voice of television reporters and organisational skills of policemen Arnav heard his mobile ring.

Even before he picked up the call he knew it was her.

''Khushi!!!Khushi are you fine?''

Tears of joy sprung in her eyes as she heard his voice.

''Arnavji I am ok''she tried to keep her voice low.

Arnav felt relief rushing in his veins,her voice felt like the soothening sounds of violins amidst the hue and cry.

''Khushi just stay calm..Nothing is going to happen to you I promise!''he reassured her,the sound of his own voice feeling hollow to himself.

''I'm not scared.I am just happy you aren't here ,you are safe atleast...'' she whispered.

''Khushi no...''his voice cracked.She knew that he would have preferred to die with her,rather than watch her dying and not do anything.

Both of them reassured each other,though from the inside both of them were equally scared.Just like probably the hundreds stranded inside,a silent sense of hope gave them strength.

''Ok Khushi if you can then try to signal somehow from your room.I can see fire engines appearing now...and don't leave the room until and unless the...''he swallowed.

"Terrorists are approaching this part.."she completed.He sighed,she had always been like that.She would always complete whatever hurt him the most.

"Yes..and Khushi?"

"Yes?"she tried to block the surge of emotions she felt right now.They both had to be strong,it was a test for them- the test of survival of love and of hope.

"Take care of yourself...I ...I promise nothing will happen to you...I won't let ...them..I will try to get to you..."his hoarse voice called out to her,the sirens blaring in the background.

"Arnavji?"She could feel his warm tears even from this distance,the pain in his voice tortured her slowly.

"Hmm?"words failed for him now.

"Hum bhi aapse I love you dammit"the impatience with which tears trickled down her cheeks was carried out to him,across the glass windows,through the dense whispers of the crowds.

And he smiled,a smile which was a mix of pain,melancholy and happiness together.

She could hear him smiling and herself blushed.They were going to get through this,she knew they would.

**

Now was the time to be quick and alert,Khushi made up her mind as she tucked the mobile into her bag.She slung the bag across one shoulder and tied the ends of her dupatta ,pulling it across her other shoulder.This was her country and she wasn't going to let a few people ruin the lives of so many.For in Khushi's mind there was no religion,no country and no boundaries for both love and hate.While love transcended across all of these,hate was the language of only a selected few.

She contemplated on how to signal to the outside world that she was alive.Before any idea could evade her mind the sound of incessant crying came across her securely locked door.

She went and placed her ear on the closed door and heard more closely.It was the crying of a child! Her immediate reaction was to open the door,but another thought struck her mind.What if ,what if they were outside?

"Khushi!Stop being so selfish!"she admonished herself "If we die then we all die.How could you choose to ignore this?What if the child is alone?"

Chanting the name of her Devi Maiyya,she unlocked the door and placed her hand on the handle.The crying was now reduced to sobs,the silence outside made her nervous.Cautiously she opened the door,arming herself with a heavy vase from the table-just in case.

Her hands trembled but she tried to keep them steady.She closed her eyes and remembered Arnav's face before stepping outside.For a few seconds Khushi thought that a fire of bullets would welcome her out in the corridor but the case was otherwise.

All she saw was a little girl of about five to six years of age sitting on the carpeted floor of the corridor and crying.Her tiny little hands brushed across her faced streaked with tears.She looked up at Khushi,the big wide eyes staring up in fright.Khushi's hand holding the vase relaxed and she rushed by the child's side.She first brushed away the hair from the little girl's face and then caressed her head.The child was scared and rushing anything would lead to deafening cries.Khushi looked across the corridors to see if the girl's parents were anywhere nearby but there was no soul in sight.

"Are you scared?"motherly affection rose up in Khushi and the girl's face relaxed,her sobs growing quieter.

"Let us go inside shall we?"Khushi spoke as if she had just invited her neighbour's daughter and was welcoming her in the house.It was far from reality but the voice was reassuring to the little girl who took up a likening for this young lady.She nodded and held onto Khushi's hand who uttered a sigh of relief and led her inside quickly.

**

"Officer!Is there any news of developments?"Arnav asked a police officer who just shook his head in despair.Arnav pulled back and stared at the red engines being led towards one of the wings of the hotel.

"Don't worry,Allah will help us."Arnav turned to see a man of the same age as him speaking to no one in particular.He didn't say anything,this was not a time to argue if God existed or not.We all have different ways of instilling faith and even Arnav Singh Raizada had failed to write his own destiny today.

They were all at the same stance as him,it was a matter of life and death.

"Your wife is inside... yes?"the man again spoke,this time directed at Arnav.Arnav nodded in reply,his throat stuck again at the thought of Khushi.

"Mine too and a little girl of six."

It was as if the two men were sharing each other's pain.They were not related,nor did they know each other.But just knowing that the person next to you was anxious as you were gave you a sense of belonging.There were people of different religions there among the crowd.Some chanting to Allah,some to Lord Rama,some believed in the Christ.But they all were strung together by one single invisible thread.

"Aatif saleem"the man extended a hand towards Arnav.

"Arnav Singh Raizada" Arnav gingerly shook his hand,not used to such warmth from a stranger.The men then went silent.

All of them crouched on the ground as the police instructed them to.Even though the crowd had been urged to leave,many refused to budge until they could see their loved ones come out safe.

Every time they heard the sound of a grenade blast all of them shook in a collective sigh of helplessness.Arnav saw the man from the corner of his eyes chanting some verses in Urdu and himself looked up at the stars.He didn't believe in God,but Khushi had made him believe in his parents.As Arnav Singh Raizada tilted his face and gazed up at the vast expanse of the sky,his eyes pleaded to the brightest star among them all.

Save her please,she has suffered a lot.She deserves to live ,if there is anyone who has been wrong then it has been me.

**

Khushi led the little girl to the couch covered in expensive holestry and made her sit down.Kneeling next to her Khushi whispered

"It's going to be all right..Shhh.."the girl's had now stopped crying and looked into Khushi's eyes.

"Amma...is in danger" she spoke for the first time.She knew she could depend on this kind lady.Khushi's eyes widened as she realised that the terrorist might be taking hostages.What if...what if the girl's mother was ...

No!She shouldn't let such thoughts come into her mind right now.

"What is your name?Where is your Amma?Did you run away?"

Realising the girl was confused,Khushi decided to ask her one question at a time.

"What is your name?I am Khushi"

"Aiyman..but Amma and Abbu call me Ayu"the girl smiled for the first time.

"Ok Aiyman..now tell me ..try to remember where Amma was when you left her?"

Aiyman teared up again,her eyes widened in fear.She was scared,Khushi thought and put her arms across the little girl.Aiyman snuggled up to her,clutching at Khushi's red dupatta and burying her face in the smooth white fabric of her kurta.

Khushi patted her head and looked up in desperation.Oh Devi Maiyya don't be so cruel on her.Don't let her go through what I did.Please keep her Amma safe!

"Aiyaman?" after a few moments Khushi spoke.

The girl raised her head.

"You are brave aren't you?Like your Amma and Abbu?"

The girl thought for a while and said "Amma always says I am a brave girl."

"Yes you are!So now Aiyman you know that Amma is in danger right?We need to be strong for her,we need to get out of here...we need to reach out to your abbu outside ok?"

The girl nodded,understanding everything.

**

Arnav looked at his mobile.Even though he had told Khushi to call him only when needed,he was desperately waiting to hear from her again.Evacuations of the hotel occupants had now started.Many of them had signalled by switching the lights in their room on and off repeatedly.Many had tried to wave and gather attention.

Fire had swept across many of the rooms on the left wing,the orange sparks reflecting in Arnav's eyes.

Just then the phone in his hand vibrated.

"Arnavji?"

"Yes Khushi!I am here! You dont't need to worry...just stay calm.The fire engines are extinguishing a fire in the other wing...just come near the window...you will soon be helped!!Are you fine?Have something to eat if you have.."

"Arnavji I am fine ,it's just that.."

"Khushi is something wrong?"Arnav had managed to gather himself up after the initial horror.Talking to the family had managed to calm him down.

Khushi eyed the girl sitting silently on the couch.

"Arnavji I have found a six year old girl crying outside in the corridor.She was alone so I took her in...but her mother is in danger..."

"Khushi..I know how you feel.."Arnav felt a slight tinge of sadness as he remembered his own mother."But you can't do anything except maybe save the girl?"

Khushi sighed and replied "Yes.I guess..I was just being naive..."

Another blast brought her back to her senses and Khushi's lips uttered a short scream in fright.

"Khushi!!! Are you ok?!!"His nerves tensed up,the seriousness of the situation coming back to him.All he wanted to do right then was just embrace her ,tell her everything was going to be right.Was it going to be?

**

There was a certain unrest among the crowd when the body of one of the terrorists fell out of one of the windows.Even the strongest among the crowd shuddered at the sight,something which wouldn't leave their memories for months.

Many felt rage at the thought of a few men empowering not just the few hundreds inside the Taj but also the whole nation.Time came to a standstill and all that matter right then was seeing their relatives family members and friends to come out safe and unharmed.

Parched throats and starved guts didn't seem to matter.It was only then that Arnav saw the glimpse of a red piece of cloth blowing in the night air out of one of the windows.

He squinted his eyes,a small spark of hope in his heart said it was Khushi.But how could he be sure?

Soon enough one of the ladders of the fire engines proceeded towards the window.Arnav willed with all his heart that it was Khushi.

Please let her be it.

When he saw the white salwar kameez and the thick black hair cascading down,he knew it was her.Joy erupted in his heart at the thought.He felt like running across the barriers and hugging her.

Even from far away,he could see her beautiful face 'amidst the rush and fury of the chaos.

"AYU!That is my AYU!"suddenly Aatif who had been quiet cried out.Arnav looked back to see a little six year old girl holding on to Khushi.

"Where is Amira?"Arnav stared at Aatif's face blinded by pain.And suddenly it clicked.

Sometimes we meet people in life at the most demanding of situations.We don't know who they are or where the come from but we understand their pain.Arnav stood their and realised what he would have felt if Khushi had not come out.He placed his hand on Aatif's shoulder and Aatif turned back.

He didn't tell him anything and yet the consolation and understanding in Arnav's eyes gave Aatif some hope.They turned back to look as the ladder descended.

**

"Khushi..."Arnav's voice cracked as he saw her finally cross the barrier of commandos and police officials.

Khushi led the little girl by her hand but as she looked up to see Arnav,her legs felt like pacing up,running.

"That is your wife?"Aatif asked,surprised.Arnav nodded at him,not knowing what to say.

"Abbu!!"suddenly the little girl cried out and left Khushi's hold,running towards Aatif.

"AYU!!"Aatif cried tears of joy and ran ahead and knelt on the ground as his daughter crashed into him arms.

Khushi looked ahead at Arnav and her own eyes felt like tearing up.Even those few minutes of terror had left an imprint on her heart.Suddenly she didn't care of the people around,she didn't care if anything mattered right then.All she knew was that she had to run,like little Aiyman had.

She ran,her red dupatta blowing against the wind.Her black hair slashing against her face as she finally crashed into Arnav.He crushed her into his embrace,his hands going through her hair,kissing he forehead to know that she was alive.

"Arnavji..." she cried,burying her head against his shirt.

He cradled her head in his palm and looked for any wounds.His trembling fingers brushed away the bangs from her forehead ,his eyes boring deep into hers.

"We did it" he spoke softly.

"Khushi didi!!"a chirpy voice called out and they parted.Khushi looked down to see Aiyman looking up at her with a smile.She knelt down and Aiyman gave her a hug.

"Thankyou" she said with a smile on her face.

"Aiyman!!"Khushi hugged her back,a small smile playing on her face.

"No Aiyman.Only Ayu for you"Aiyma pulled back and said.Khushi laughed and then looked back at the Taj Palace still billowing in smoke.How lucky they were to have been rescued,to be able to laugh or smile like this.There were many others still stranded inside and maybe Aiyman's mother was one of them.

Arnav who had stood watching this scene was now called on to by Aatif.

"Shukriya" The man said with a sad smile on his face.Arnav was astonished for a moment but smiled back.

"I will still wait for Amira to come back...though I dought that she..."he left his words unsaid.

"It will be all right"Arnav finally said.

"I hope" Aatif replied,his hand now resting on Aiyman's head who had now come back to him.

Khushi and Arnav looked at the father and daughter and realised that in the midst of all this they had formed a bond deeper than they would have formed with someone they had known all life long.

"Aatif Saleem..."Aatif extended his hand towards Arnav for one last time and after a pause "Pakistan."

"Arnav Singh Raizada"Arnav retaliated and shook his hand "India."

As Arnav and Khushi walked away ,they could see Aatif and Aiyman waving back at them while the Taj Palace stood in the background- struggling to stand strong.They walked away with the hope that everyone would get an ending as theirs.

The night sky twinkled as it always had,enveloping away the smoke still transpiring in the air.

It was time to erase boundaries because love and hate had no country or no religion.They were universal emotions.One which could destroy and the other which could heal.And yet there was a sense of hope-until there were people like Khushi or Aatif or Arnav or even Aiyman in this world.Because a single date- a 26/11 cannot destroy years of humanity,years of togetherness we have spent our lives on.

Because there is enough of love to battle the hate,

Because it is never the time to say -It's too late.

**

Happy Independence Day to both Pakistan and India!May our two countries prosper :)

I hope I haven't triggered bad memories and if I have then I am truly sorry.My intention was't that at all.I know I haven't experienced something like this so maybe the emotions might vary.But I tried to put myself in the situation.Hats off to those who survived and those who didn't may their souls rest in peace!

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