Arnav glanced around the cozy room waiting for the counselor to come. The plan was already set for discussions and he knew there was going to be a slight battle for this. He couldn't blame her, after all it was an unexpected offer. His eyes traveled towards the clock; it was already 5:00 pm in the evening. Where was she? 1 hour has already passed and it was already late. One of his biggest pet peeves was when people weren't on time. The action really pissed him off, but he knew the waiting was worth it. Gradually his eyes closed to take a short nap and his mind flashed back to the moment it all began...
Driving through the streets of Delhi was worse than tackling bulls in a Rodeo. The busy roads never seemed to be at peace. Every crook and corner was filled some sort of activity. It was like no other day for Arnav. He was rushing home as usual in his white SUV, honking away at any obstacle that came his way.
'Go home, eat, shower, work on the project... then what else.' He muttered to himself, listing exactly what he needed to do. Even at home he wasn't at peace. Life seemed to always slip by him with himself deep under work. Work was essential he always told himself. His beliefs were simple; work hard and be successful. After losing everything in his life that was what captured him to back to this world. While his thoughts were causing chaos to his mind, his eyes caught the sight of a young girl signalling him to stop the vehicle. Arnav pushed the brakes with sudden force and the SUV came to an erupt halt. Anger built at the pit of his stomach. Furiously clipping his seat belt off, Arnav opened the car door and slammed it shut.
The sight he saw caught him off guard. There stood a young girl, beautiful he might add, around the age of 16, with a lifeless cat in her arms. She was dressed in a light blue salwar, blue bangles on her wrist, and her long, black, hair was braided at the side. Her creamy skin glowed under the hot sun, and her brown doe eyes were full of tears. Seeing the tears cascade down her fair face, twisted something in his gut, which he couldn't understand. But as a ruthless man he decided to ignore it.
"Sir... could you please help me?" She asked him in a cracked whisper. The tone of her voice implied that she has been crying for quite a while. Once again his gut twitched at the thought.
"What kind of help? And why are you holding a lifeless cat?" He asked her in his presentable husky voice. His tone sounded a bit rough, but Arnav couldn't help it. He was a busy man and getting disturbed by little girls wasn't on his check list.
He saw her twirl her shawl, probably nervous at his rude tone towards her. Then she looked down at her cat and looked back at him. Arnav knew that was her way of saying that the cat was dead. Although Arnav still couldn't understand what he could do about it.
"So your cat is dead. What do you want me to do? Look girl, I have work to do, places to be. I don't have time for this."
His eyes caught the sight of her licking her pink luscious lips. Desires he never expected in his life aroused at the pit of his gut. Mentally he jumped at the new born feelings. All he could think was, 'either this girl was doing something to him or he has officially lost it.' He chose to go with the second thought.
"Sir please, please help me. I swear I won't bother you ever again. Just take me to the cemetery down by the lake..."
He looked at her bewildered. Arnav couldn't believe what he was hearing. Did this girl want to bury the cat at an actual cemetery? He was seriously hoping she was joking because that sounded absolutely nonsense to him.
"Are you planning to bury your cat?"
She nodded, her tears a little drier now.
"Yes sir. You see my mama and dada were buried there. And Tuba, my cat was like my family too. So I thought to bury him there with my parents. Then he won't be alone. Isn't that brilliant? Also when I feel lonely I can go talk to them all at once." She replied to him as if what she was saying was the most normal thing to do.
Arnav kept staring at her to make sure she hasn't grown 2 heads. He wondered if she has escaped from a mental hospital.
"Are you mad?! Who in the bloody world wants to bury a cat in an actual cemetery? And also normal people bury dead animals in their yard. Wouldn't that be much easier?"
Her cute lips pouted and a frown appeared on her face. Even then she looked adorable he thought. Arnav mentally slapped himself for having such a thought. The girl was crazy he reminded himself.
"You think I am mad aren't you. Weren't you listening sir? My parents are there and I can't go to separate burial sites all the time. Also Tuba will be lonely! I don't want that for him."
Frustrated at the mad hatter in front of him, Arnav closed his eyes to take a moment. Finally after arguing with himself for a quite a bit, Arnav nodded his head, signalling her to get in to the car. A wide smile appeared on her childish, but beautiful face and she excitedly got in.
Shaking his head at her madness, he got in the car and they drove to the lake, where the cemetery was located.
***
"Here it is!" She said excitedly, smiling away at the destination they have arrived to. Arnav rolled his eyes at her actions and bought the car to a stop in front of the cemetery gates. She got off the car in a hurry and ran inside to the cemetery. She halted in front of two grave stones, which were by the side of the lake. Flowers were surrounded all around the 2 grave stones. He guessed it was all her work.
"You're weird." Arnav commented as he followed her. She shrugged her shoulders at the comment and replied back.
"I know sir, but I have heard it all before."
"Yeah? Well few seconds ago you were crying over your dead cat, but now you are smiling away."
She cuddled the cat closer and smiled slightly. Arnav gulped seeing her white teeth flash at him. Such childish purity was stored in her. It was almost too hard to believe.
"Tuba is going to be with my parents soon. So why would I be sad sir? Anyways isn't life about smiling through the tears and moving on?"
"I..." Arnav couldn't reply back. All he could do was stare at her brown eyes and process what she said. Before he knew what was happening she pushed the cat towards him and asked him to hold it. At first his reaction was to yell at her for even thinking of making him do such a deed, but seeing her puppy dog pout, he gave in.
Clueless to his staring, she grabbed a shovel from the storehouse built in the cemetery and began to dig. Mesmerized by her actions Arnav stood silently observing her hard work. After a few minutes of digging the hole he saw her smile gleefully. Probably happy with the result of the hole. She got up from the ground and gently took the cat to her arms, and placed him in the hole. A single tear dropped from her eye to the soil and she sat there quietly for a few minutes. Subconsciously without thinking he placed his hand on her shoulder to comfort her and she softly said her goodbyes.
"Goodbye Tuba. I hope you will be happy with mama and dada. Don't trouble them too much okay? Be good and I will come to visit you every day." She turned her towards the 2 grave stones and spoke to them as well.
"Dada, Mama, take care of Tuba for me okay? I love you all."
Hearing her innocent goodbyes Arnav felt his heart collapse. Never in his life has he ever witnessed such a beautiful, pure moment. She was certainly one of a kind... A few moments of staring in to the lake she got up to face him. Her brown eyes were now slightly red from all the crying.
"Thank you for bringing me here sir."
Arnav numbly nodded.
"You're welcome. Do you need a ride back home?"
She shook her head in denial.
"No sir, my home isn't that far. I can walk."
Arnav looked at her bewildered.
"Excuse me? You asked me for a ride to the cemetery, but to go back home you can walk? Why couldn't you walk here before?"
She shrugged as if it was all obvious.
"How can I carry a fat cat and walk sir? That's heavy." She turned towards the cat's grave and spoke again,' no offence Tuba, but you do eat a lot."
His jaw slightly dropped at her and he set it in anger. This random, weird, girl just wasted all of his time for no bloody reason?! Oh how he was going to tell her off now!
"You littl-"
"Oh no! I completely forgot! Today is Nikil's 3rd birthday! I have to rush home. It was nice speaking with you sir and thanks for the ride!" She hurriedly said and ran fast out of the cemetery. Arnav stood there standing completely confused at what just happened. At moment all his mind could think was, 'I was fooled by a crazy cat girl..'
***
Arnav slowly opened his eyes, now aware of his surroundings. Those memories were still fresh in his mind. Up to this day their first meeting never failed to make him smile... He couldn't believe that after 2 years they were finally going to meet again. The door suddenly opened and a lady, around 60 walked in and right behind her, there she stood... His crazy cat girl.
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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