Smitar's OS:Knowing Khushi#2 Part 13 (Last) Pg 63 - Page 55

beautiful story.. thank you, smita!

Beautiful ending- I am so happy Arnav will make Khushi his and keep her from going to Lucknow!!

read the whole story once again

aww...
i read it in one go and i want to read it all over again..

its sweet and beautiful..
really love the light hearted moments...

buaji and kushi are hilarious,
while arnav, behind all that anger, is also a teaser and a flirt!


a big tks to smitar and rulama for a wonderful update.

wow..it was super...
but the end came so soon...
this ff is short n sweet

Wow, Smi and Rash!!
That was a roller-coaster ride... A perfectly enjoyable one, of course!!

Thanks for all the PMs... Knowing Khushi... Wahh wahh!! :D

i read all the stuff in one go.. ur amazing yar.. seriously don stop witing.. someday this is gnna make u go far!!! very nice... well written!!😛👏

damn I so late for the 2nd thread I was wondering why the story was not moving...

Continued from page 63...

Click here to go to page 63 77718830

The next morning all the members of the family saw a silent and brooding Arnav, staring at his black coffee with scrunched up brows at breakfast. Anjali, Mami, Nani and Akash had become anxious witnessing this side of Arnav. When Mami asked him, "Kaa hua, Arnav Bitwaa?" he just shrugged saying nothing. Nani's query whether he was going to his office early got just a yes without actually him paying much attention. He was distracted.

"If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry"

~ Dalai Lama XIV

Akash who wondered whether there was any unscheduled meeting and asked Arnav about it,

"Bhai, is there some meeting...? Something urgent? Shall I come with you?" When Arnav said that he would manage, Akash voiced out, "Bhai, you look tired. Didn't you sleep last night?" Saying that he was fine, Arnav just got up and left the table.

"If the problem can be solved why worry? If the problem cannot be solved worrying will do you no good"

~ Santideva

Anjali, Nani and Mami were stupefied seeing his breakfast untouched. NK came there with a stumped expression. Scratching his head while pondering over Arnav's behavior he said aloud, what has overcome Nannav? He had wished him and he was not even responding. Hearing this Anjali asked Akash, was there any problem at the office. When Akash told her that there was nothing of that sort, a worried Nani wondered why was her Chotey so worried then?

"People gather bundles of sticks to build bridges they never cross"

When Khushi entered his office building through the main door, she saw Arnav observing her from his 'glass cage'. Arnav observed that she was pale faced, her usual ebullience was missing. He felt a lump clog down his throat, his chest constricted in pain making it difficult for him to draw breath!

"The unending paradox is that we do learn through pain"

~ Madeleine L'Engle

Khushi steady gait faltered. Their tickets to Lucknow had been booked for the day after and she realized that today was... the last time that she would be meeting him!

Arnav saw Khushi who would normally climb the steps in a jiffy to be with him was dragging her feet towards him. Her full moon smile was missing. Her pallor, her vivacity was missing.

Khushi felt a weight descend upon her chest making it difficult to breathe. She was finding it difficult even to look at him. Her thoughts were whirling around her. She would be going to Lucknow and he would be living in Delhi. They would never meet again. His happy life without her in it was torturing her.

"Love looks forward, hate looks back, anxiety has eyes all over its head"

~ Mignon McLaughlin,

The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960

Arnav's thoughts too were no different from hers. He was thinking how his life in Delhi without her presence would be? He knew it would be lusterless, holding no meaning for him. He would exist for the sake of existence only. It would be like a barren desert for him with no end. His life would not have any tangible focus. For him each day would be a drag and would just love the nights to last forever with her in his dreams. The pain he felt being away from her was so immense and intense that it made him shut his eyes.

"There are ships sailing to many ports, but not a single one goes where life is not painful"

~ Fernando Pessoa, The Book of Disquiet

Slowly with heavy steps she started to cover the distance.

"A journey of a single mile begins with a single step" ~ Confucious

She kept on giving herself the pep talk. Blinking her tears that kept on pooling in her eyes she said to herself, "Khushi, don't cry. No, no, don't cry. You are here to get his photo. Take it and leave. Don't cry. And don't forget to smile at him. Or he will wonder what is wrong with you."

"But smiles and tears are so alike with me, they are neither of them confined to any particular feelings: I often cry when I am happy, and smile when I am sad"

~Anne Bronte, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Arnav, though appeared calm, was all nerves inside. He was wondering, What was his position in her thoughts? Would she miss him? Did she have any tender feelings for him? Or was he just a friend that she happened to meet under dire circumstance and the one she could wave goodbye to? These questions were howling for answers inside him. They were creating havoc. He felt that her life was full. Her Amma & Babuji, her Buaji, her Jiji, hundreds of friends including Mittu the parrot, the sabziwala, Happyji the mechanic... She had the ability to turn every acquaintance into a friend. But... but he was alone... He had no one. Only her. Would she leave him behind and go to Lucknow? He was filled with anguish having to face life without her presence by his side!

"I realize, for the first time, how very lonely I've been in the arena. How comforting the presence of another human being can be"

~ Suzanne Collins,

The Hunger Games

Khushi, pausing on the steps, drew in a much needed breath to brace herself. She invoked her Devi Maiyya's name and sought her blessings. She sought courage. "He Devi Maiyya, give me courage. Don't let me cry. Remember what I told you at the temple today morning. I need courage. Courage. It will take only a few moments. A few moments of courage. I can cry after I reach home."

"A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for"

~ William G.T. Shedd

Khushi was always a happy soul. She was happy not because she had everything she wanted but she wanted everything she had and valued it very much. Her contentment rose with this knowledge and it was her positive attitude that helped her tide over all the life's tribulations! He wondered, whether her life without him would be the same? Will she be able to live without seeing him? Will she forget him once back in Lucknow? Forget that she once knew a man, no, a lion in a glass cage named Arnav Singh Raizada?, were the thoughts that had him twisted in agony.

"Grief has limits, whereas apprehension has none. For we grieve only for what we know has happened, but we fear all that possibly may happen"

~ Pliny the Younger

Mustering all her courage, she climbed the stairs and stood in front of him at his door. His intense scrutiny noted the dark circles under her eyes, the slight quiver in her lips trying its utmost to paste on, a smile, her fingers clenched together gripping her sling bag... Stretching out her hands with a ghost of a smile on her lips, she asked for his picture. Her eyes that were always calm and shining bright were serious, bruised and strained. Seeing her Arnav smiled with difficulty.

"He who fears he shall suffer, already suffers what he fears" ~ Montaigne, Essays, 1588

When he asked her to enter, controlling herself with great difficulty, keeping her smile intact with a deep indrawn breath she complied with his request and held out her hand. He asked her whether she was in a hurry. Won't she take a seat and spare some time to be with him as it might be the last time they meet. He watched her muscles work up as she went to her usual seat. Sitting in his chair he looked at her memorizing her every feature and drinking in her beauty while storing it in his memory bank.

"True beauty springs from the heart and dwells in the eyes"

~ Judith McNaught

His question as to their day of departure had her answer that it was scheduled for the day after, and ask once again for his picture. He said that he would give her and probed whether she would be happy in Lucknow. His eyes didn't miss, even her single subtle nuance. He saw her flinch at his query and putting up a brave front and a stiff cheesy smile before saying that she would be happy. She countered him as to why should she be unhappy.

"The happy have whole days,

and those they choose.

The unhappy have but hours,

and those they lose"

~ Colley Cibber

His reply that he has no idea and inviting her to share the reason had her stumped! Khushi is not one to be speechless for long. Gathering her wits together, she told him, "I have lots of friends... neighbours... chacha... chachi..." And countered with, "You will be happy here?" Arnav not wanting the topic to be directed towards his feelings told her that they were talking about her not him. As she was nervous, Khushi under the pretext of giving in, cleverly began talking about him only. She said with a smile for his benefit, "Of course you will be happy. Why should you be unhappy? You have your Di, Nani, Mami, two bhais, your work... Soon Anjaliji will be alright, and all your worries will vanish..."

"When people say they are happy for you it may mean they are sad for themselves"

~ Josephine Humphreys,

The Fireman's Fair

Arnav who had thought she would open up was really surprised. Hearing what she had to say about him and seeing her subtle nuances he asked her "Really?". Khushi exercising control over her quivering lips, emphatically told him, "Really. And... and you will forget that you ever met me. A few years later, you won't even recognize me if you see me... Not that I will see you. How can I see you if I am in Lucknow and you are in Delhi? It is not like you will be coming to buy ber in the sabzi mandi near my house..." Though her words were cutting and bleeding her inside she smiled and continued, "If someone asks you if you know a Khushi Kumari Gupta, you will scrunch your forehead and say, "Khushi Kumari Gupta? The name seems familiar, but I can't quite get the face."" Her perfect imitation showed him how much she had observed him in a short span of time. Her act that would have made him smile any other day had him gulp today. He realized that instead of talking her feelings she was talking about his and thereby avoiding it. He now knew that not being able to see each other was affecting her too just like him. One another thing he also realized was she would not burden others with her feelings but would always be there to assuage others.

Consoling herself as well as him, she told him that forgetting the face happens. In fact forgetfulness is a blessing in disguise. It would help them erase all the bad memories associated with Shyam and her. Then she held out her hand for his picture once again.

"There's a lot of magic between you two, ain't no denying that. And magic makes forgettin' hard."

~ Nicholas Sparks, The Best of Me

Continued in the next post.Scroll down please