From the author's desk: Back from vacation- yeah I know this update is long due... herez the update and thanks to all of you who have been patient enough and stuck with the story until this point- you all have been wonderful readers- thanks for all the feedbacks!
For people who are complaining it is a short update, I have a good news, Lookout for a second update todayđ
Happy reading!
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part 61:
The air was filled with tension as Gayathri approached Arnav. While the elder pair of eyes was overwhelmed with warmth and
kindness, the younger ones were glaring at the other pair, overcome with hurt of yester years of suffering.
Kushi slid her hand on top of Arnav's clenched ones, but she realised that he didnt relax it like he normally did to her touch. She
murmered softly to him to relax as Sid placed himself in a position to act if necessary, as he watched Arnav with a curious expression on his face.
Gayathri maa stopped a few feet away from Arnav, her kind eyes smiling at Arnav and then at Kushi.
"Hi Kushi, hi ASR" La greeted them as she also sensed the tension in the air.
But Arnav and Gayathri had eyes on eachother.
"I never thought I would get to meet you in a situation like this Arnav- but I am happy we are meeting at last" Gayathri took the initiative to strike up a conversation. But Arnav didnt respond back to her. He looked at her steadily and may be he half nodded at her as he awkwardly looked away.
Gayathri didnt feel hurt by his irresponsive attitude
" you resemble your father so much! " She said softly smiling at him as she looked all over his face lovingly.
But Arnav didnt smile back at her as he looked back at her.There was too much hurt in there to let everything go easily and on top of that, an instant rage shot up as he heard her comment about his features. She, his father's mistress, had the audacity to remark about his resemblence to his father- her lover. As the thoughts left a very taste on his mouth, he looked away from her feeling disgusted.
Kushi tried to ease the tension as she attempted to smile at Gayathri
"Gayathri Maa, I didnt think I would meet you and Dadi here... "
"Kushi! " Gayathri called out with affection as she held out both her hands for her
As Kushi attempted to reciprocate the affection back to gayathri and put forward her foot, Arnav immediately put his hand on hers stopping her from crossing him towards gayathri, his eyes steadily glaring at Gayathri.
All reasons for the visit lost, Kushi and Dadi looked uneasy as Sid and La exchanges glances.
There was an uneasy silence where the small group looked at eachother, not knowing what to say. Kushi tried again to make it seem less awkward... She started another conversation as she forced a smile at Gayathri, who looked a little hurt by Arnav's actions.
"When did you both reach here? you should have come home" Kushi told them both. Gayathri who had gone quiet because of the cold attitude of Arnav made an effort to smile.
"We reached today morning only Kushi, Sid didnt tell us too... we came to know yesterday night only" Gayathri spoke out grateful that the topic atleast changed.
"I sensed something should be wrong because, Shyam didnt call and talk to me- He knew I will find out if ever tried to talk to me-
So after intense grilling from Gayathri's side, Sid finally spilled the beans yesterday night" Dadi told her
"hmm.. enough of defaming me- I was only trying to be a good friend" Sid told them.
"Yeah- only you would rate this as being good" Kushi teased him.
" Little Arush is always in our minds.. How is he doing?" Gayathri asked as Arnav gritted his teeth. Surely she had met his son.. how could Kushi behave so friendly with this lady?
"He is getting naughtier by the day" Kushi told her "wait till you meet him- You both will be coming home after this wont you? "
Kushi's question went unanswered for a while as Gayathri sharply looked at Dadi and then at Arnav before she turned and smiled at Kushi..
"Maaji would come for sure...- I have a little other work to be taken care of here... I am not sure Kushi... but I will try " She said politely
Arnav impatiently shifted his legs as he looked around, He wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. It was as if he was living the nightmares of the past again- How much ever, his logical mind tried to give the lady before him the benefit of doubt, he was not able to overcome the thought that this lady had wronged his mother- she was the reason for his and his sister's horrid childhood. How dare she addressed his Dadi as Maaji? How can Dadi let her address her the same way his mom did?
As the uneasy silence settled in again, Kushi looked at Sid and La asking them silently to help her out with another conversation as she for the first time in years didnt know how to start another conversation. Sid and La who had decently stayed out of most of family conversation nodded at her.
"Whats on your face Kushi? something bit you?" Sid asked abruptly as Kushi stared at him, kicking herself for asking him to start a topic in the first place. He grinned at her enjoying her discomfort.
"Haan yes.. What happened to your face Kushi?" Dadi asked kushi as she touched Kushi's marks on her face as Sid's question conveniently dragged all of their attention to her hickies on her face and neck.
Already being embarrassed in front of the family in the morning, (though none of them asked her what it was, they had only exchanged smirkes as they looked at her for the first time in the morning) Kushi grew cherry red again.
"Hmm.. May be Makeup kit allergy" La told them in a teasing tone.
"Hmm.. yeah- Arnav's new line of cosmetics products isn't ?- seems that it needs a little bit of fine tuning- gives allergy to all the testers" Sid commented suggestively
"Allergy? make up kit? " Dadi asked as she looked bewildered not getting the teasing tones of La and Sid, La continued...
"Yeah, the last time Sid tried it- he got an allergy too"
"You tried the same makeup kit?" dadi asked Sid getting more confused
"Anything for a friend Dadi" Sid said smiling coyly at Arnav " I tried a hand moisturizer... and this time I think Kushi tried out a Lip care product- isnt it kushi?"
Kushi reddened more as if it was even possible- Not able to meet anyone's eyes, she squeezed Arnav's hand silently begging him to put a stop to this merciless teasing. Arnav who was in no mood to be teased in the first place at a situation like this, was only happy to cut him short.
"Its 15 mins past 10 already, We should get going and meet Shyam" , Arnav told them all curtly
"oh yeah, He is in the ICU ward over there" Sid told as he moved towards the other side of the corridor, leading the way.
****
There was an increased aura of antiseptic severity as they approached the ICU corridor and they could see the buzz of activity as nurses dressed in Blue skirts and white stockings walked around from one place to another with increased tempo.
Sid crossed a few of the ICU wards and stopped at one door, pausing to turn back to his companions he directly looked at Arnav- his previous teasing manner totally replaced by a serious outlook.
"Kushi might need little assitance when she sees Shyam. Stay close to her" he murmered to him as he gestured La to stay close to Dadi. La nodded at him as he turned back, opened the door and stood aside to let them all in first.
To be continued ...
Edited by abavi - 12 years ago
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