Chapter 2
"Yeah Di?" Arnav said into his bluetooth.
As he heard her, his frown grew intense. He looked at the clock; it was few minutes past 5. "Di, we can wait for a bit right?"
His sister grew annoyed. Finally he agreed to look for her, but muttered Khushi does not deserve someone like Di...
He grabbed his coat and car keys and sped away to look for her. Where should he start? First, he would ask at RM, he decided. He drove hard, feeling annoyed. Khushi Kumari Gupta...You know how to perk people don't you?
-At RM-
Anjali was worried and extremely annoyed at Chhotey's attitude. Khushiji's words to herself were still ringing in her mind. What the hell was going on? She heard the door bang open. "HARI PRAKASH!"
Anjali sighed, and went downstairs.
"Do you have any idea where Khushi is?"
"No Bhaiyya, I-" Arnav went straight to his room, past his Di and threw open the doors. He wanted to scream! Where the hell was Khushi! He heard a bleat behind him and groaned. Who had let that pesky goat inside? He turned around to find Lakshmi gnawing at something red, her front limbs were on the bed. "HARI PRAKASH!" Arnav yelled.
HP came running. "Ji Bhaiyya?"
"Take this goat away from here!" As HP bent to pick her up, Arnav saw the red thing fall from her mouth; it was an idol of Khushi's Devi Maiyya. What was it doing outside? Then ASR decided that Khushi would have gone to the temple.
Muttering under his breath, he stormed out of the room to get his car. As he was about to leave, he heard, "Chhotey?"
He turned around. "Yeah Di?" He saw a lunch box in her hand and rolled his eyes. "Di, I had my lunch."
"It's not for you Chhotey. Its for Khushiji." Anjali said coldly. She was staring at her brother, trying to understand all that she had gathered in the last few hours.
His eyes widened. "Why? She must have had her lunch."
Anjali began getting annoyed. "Chhotey, she has been gone since morning. She did not go to Buaji's house. I am sure she hasn't eaten anything."
He drove insanely fast to the temple. He called Khushi, but her phone was switched off. "GAH!" he said exasperated. He climbed the stairs and into the temple. His eyes searched for her, and he found her. She was sitting by a white pillar, staring at the Goddess' idol, her mobile clutched in her hand.
Khushi did not talk to her Devi Maiyya as she usually did. She stared...Just stared unseeingly. Why was this happening...? She closed her eyes, a tear pouring out of her eye. She wiped it quickly. Just then, she felt a strong arm grabbing her hand and forcefully pulling her. "Where the hell were you?" His familiar voice yelled at her. A voice, hearing which her heart would have fluttered a few days back. "At the temple." She replied.
Arnav glared at her. "WHY didn't you go to your house!"
Her head shot up, and he saw pain and anger in her eyes; but only for an instant. Next second, the depth of her eyes was gone; shallow and unreadable. "I could not face them." She said.
Arnav was a little taken aback. He had expected her to snap back at him, and remind him about yesterday. He overcame his shock, and said sternly, "You should not have lied to Di."
"I am sorry. It won't happen next time." She said, a little frown on her face; he felt her tugging at her arm. He realized he was gripping her arm, and let go. He could see the blood flowing back, and her skin turned an angry red.
"Next time, you will inform at home when and if you are going to be late." He told her.
"Ji." She said emotionlessly.
"Now come. I will take you home." He said.
"Ji." she said, and followed him. What the HELL! Since when did Khushi Kumari Gupta start answering in monosyllables?
They walked down to the SUV quietly. Khushi got in without a word, strapped her belt. SHe leaned against the window and closed her eyes. Arnav tried to ignore the morose look on her face; its all drama...He told himself.
The silence was beginning to unnerve Arnav. Especially Khushi's silence. He asked her whether she had eaten anything; he knew the answer, but just wanted her to talk. "No." She replied, and went back to her quiet self...CORRECTION...quiet NEW self...
He stopped the car and got out the lunch box. "Eat this. He said."
Khushi looked at him. "I am not hungry."
"Khushi, Di made this." He said.
"I don't want to eat." She said.
His anger rose. "Eat this dammit or I'll-"
Khushi suddenly bent and grabbed the lunch box. "Or else you'll break Jiji's marriage...I know," she murmured.
"EXCUSE ME?" Arnav asked. HE was shocked at her behaviour. She ignored him.
He watched as she quickly stuffed some pieces of roti into her mouth and gulped it down with water. She closed the lunchbox, and handed it back to him; returning to lean on the window.
Arnav watched her silently; Khushi Kumari Gupta had never EVER gulped down food without tasting it. Feeling a little anxious, he drove the car.
After driving for sometime, he noticed the speed with which he was driving; Khushi should have been freaked out! He slowed down immediately, and stole a glance at Khushi. She was just staring unfocussedly on the road. Her eyes had a glassy look.
He said nothing, and kept his eyes on the road, trying to ignore her... trying not to remember how she had been just a few days back... bubbly and talkative... the blush that crept on her face when he was near her... He wondered now, whether he had been wrong... NO! I AM NOT WRONG! I SAW WITH MY OWN EYES WHAT HAD HAPPENED... He felt frustrated. The car screeched to halt. Khushi did not even flinch. He looked at her, anger building inside him; HOW LONG WAS THE DRAMA GOING TO ON!
Thats it. "Khushi, get out." Khushi looked at him. Without a word, she unbuckled her belt, opened the door and got out. She adjusted her saree, smoothed her hair and began walking towards RM. Arnav stared at her, completely taken aback. He had expected a "Kyun? Hum ktun uthrein? Ab kya kiya humne?" {Why? WHy should I get down? What did I do now?}
He got out of the car, not knowing whether to feel anxious or angry. He grabbed Khushi's hand from behind. "Khushi Kumari Gupta. WHAT do you think YOU ARE DOING!"
She looked at him; still not emotion playing on her face. "What you told me to."
"GET IN THE FREAKIN' CAR KHUSHI!" He yelled at her, She closed her eyes, sighing. And simply walked back to the car; Arnav followed.
Khushi was trying to buckle her belt, and doing so slowly. An annoyed Arnav reached across her, and pulled the belt hard, grazing Khushi just where she had had angry red marks having slept on the floor against the poolside. She whimpered lightly, but said nothing else. She felt a warm sensation on her neck, and knew it had gotten cut; but she said nothing. Arnav ignored her whimper and drove back home.
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Edited by Dynamix215 - 12 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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