Part 9 - Shattered!Khushi was on the on-call bed, resting her tired legs. These 30 hour shifts really drained her out. It was almost midnight when her phone rang. She wondered who it was and fished it out of the pocket of her scrubs. 'A' flashed on her screen and Khushi's stomach flipped! It had been sooo long since she saw that name on her screen. She picked it up.
'Hello? Arnav?'
Arnav gripped his cell phone and closed his eyes. Her voice felt like cool breeze on a hot summer night. He was calling her after so long. It felt weird.
'Hello? You there?'
'Khushi!'
Khushi was taken aback. His voice sounded so husky and her name had never sounded so good. There was no friendly 'Hey Khush' or 'Hey paagal' or 'Yo Khush! Wassup?'. This was different. There was a longing in his voice that pulled at Khushi's heart strings.
'Did I call you at a bad time Khush? Were you busy?'
Khushi composed herself by taking a deep breath. 'No Arnav. I was resting. This is a good time. Tell me'
'Resting? Why? What's wrong? Are you sick?'
'No! I'm fine. It's just that I'm on a 30-hr shift and we often sleep or just lie down in the nights in the on-call room during these shifts. If we're needed, a nurse will page us. It's the only way we can get through such long hours'
'Oh geez! I remember you were always dreading this! I know how much you love sleeping. But it gets better when you're a Resident, right?'
'I've gotten used to functioning on very li'l sleep these days. There are a lot of things in life you have to come to terms with Arnav. But yeah, 6 more months of this and then my shifts will be cut down to 16 hours when I become a Resident'
Arnav heard the hidden meaning of her words and also felt the sadness in her voice. It pinched his heart and he realized just how much he had to make up to her.'I...uh...just called to confirm about next weekend'
'Oh! Didn't Di confirm it? She booked my ticket ages ago. Haven't you already booked me a room at the Mandarin with the others?'
'Ah...uh...yeah...yes! I have! But I...I mean...I wanted to confirm it myself once. Just wanted to make sure you got everything squared away at the hospital'
'Oh ok! Yeah! Everything's fine Arnav. Turns out, I'm not on call next weekend anyway. So it's cool. And I've managed to take Monday off too'
'That's awesome Khushi! Looks like you can do with a break. It'll be fun!'
'Yes! I hope I can unwind a li'l. So are you all set?'
'I am! Looking forward to coming home. But I'll miss Harvard though. This has been an amazing experience. And Boston is great! Ah...Khush...thanks for making it'
'Oh please don't mention it. I'm glad I'm coming Arnav. Ok, I'll see you next weekend then'
'Ok! Khush? I wanted to ask you...you're ok with me coming home, right?'
Khushi wasn't expecting him to ask her that. 'Of course Arnav! And why shouldn't I be? Where else will you go? This is your home! Who am I to tell you to come or not to come?'
'You know that's not what I meant! I mean, are you...I mean...are we going to be ok?'
Khushi sighed. 'I don't know Arnav, honestly! Let's take each day as it comes ok? Look! It's not as if we'll be seeing much of each other anyway. I'll be busy with the hospital and you'll be busy with your new office. So...anyway, good night Arnav! See you soon'
'Good night Khush. Bye!'
Arnav hung up and thought about what Khushi said. It was a different matter that he didn't agree with what she said.
'Oh we'll be seeing a lot of each other Khushi...I'll make sure of that! Arnav Singh Raizada always gets what he wants! And this is my life we're talking about...you can bet that I'll be bringing my A game!'
Arnav slept peacefully after a long time...with a smile on his face!
'*'*'*'*'
1 week later
Boston, Massachusetts'Payal? Did we get all the bags?' Akash asked her.
'Yes! I think Shyam Jiju is still waiting for his. But other than that, we've got everything'
Finally they all made their way out of Logan Airport towards their hotel downtown. They were all waiting in the lobby while Akash and Shyam were checking them in. Anjali turned to the whole group and saw that Khushi was lost somewhere and was awfully silent. It was so unlike her not to be blabbering away.
'Khushi? Where are you lost?'
'Nothing Di. Just looking around at the hotel. It's nice, isn't it?'
'Yeah, it is! Have you decided what to wear for the commencement?'
'Ah...about that! I'm still not sure I should even be attending Di. I mean, wouldn't Akash or Shyam Jiju want to attend? They're after all family!'
'Don't worry too much Khushi. There are plenty of events for everyone to attend. This is what Arnav wants. I guess he told you that too. I know this is a dream come true for him and I also know that you were always there with him whenever he spoke about Harvard. So let's not argue anymore. Ok?'
Khushi smiled. Di was right. This was as much a dream come true for her as it was for Arnav. 'Ok Di' she said.
Anjali smiled at her. She looked at Payal and rolled her eyes. Khushi didn't notice this li'l exchange. They all went to their respective suites to freshen up before a late dinner.
Khushi had just gotten out of the shower when she heard a knock on her door. When she opened it, Arnav stood there, leaning against the frame, hands folded across his chest and a smile on his face. Khushi's breath hitched when she looked at him. He looked dashing in his blue jeans and black polo t-shirt. He stepped past her into the suite.
'Arnav! What are you doing here?'
He came forward and enveloped her in a big warm hug. He rested his chin on her head and smelt her hair and sighed!
'Hi Khush! Aah...it's so good to see you. I missed you! How are you? How was your trip? Did you like your suite? Do you need anything? Hmm...did I tell you how much I missed you?'
Khushi forgot where she was or how she was supposed to react. All she felt were his arms around her and the warm snugly feeling. She sighed!
'Hmm...Arnav!'
There was so much love in the way she said his name that Arnav shivered with pleasure. He felt like he was in heaven. He placed a gentle kiss on her temple and said 'Khush, I want to talk to you'
Before Khushi could say anything, the phone in the room rang. She snapped out of her trance and sprang back from Arnav's embrace embarrassed. She looked down at the ground as the phone continued ringing. She went and picked it up. It was Payal asking her if she was ready for dinner.
Khushi turned to Arnav and said, 'That was Jiji. They're all waiting in the lobby'.
Arnav's irritation was apparent. 'Ok, let's go! We'll talk once we get back'
'*'*'*'*'
Dinner was a merry and loud affair. Khushi noticed that Arnav looked happy. He was smiling at everyone and kept stealing glances at her. She wondered for the umpteenth time what he wanted to talk to her about. Suddenly she realized that her appetite was gone. She was just pushing her food on the plate. Arnav noticed this and smiled inwardly. She was definitely affected by him...no doubt about that. Now if only he played his cards well and at the right moments, he could get what he wanted easily...her! Arnav rubbed his hands together gleefully and looked around only to catch his Di staring at him.'What are you smiling about Arnav? Hume bhi tho batao'
'Ah...nothing Di! Just happy you're all here' Arnav somehow managed to escape.
'*'*'*'*'
After dinner, everyone said good night and retired to their respective suites. Arnav held Khushi's hand and took her out of the hotel.
'Where are we going Arnav? You know I'm kinda tired. Can we please go back in?'
'Just for a li'l while Khushi. Let's just take a walk to Harvard Square. It'll be beautiful tonight. You can have ice cream and we can listen to some live music. I want to talk to you too'
Khushi just nodded her head and fell into an easy step with him. Arnav moved closer to her and held her hand. Khushi looked up at him, but he was looking ahead and walking. She tried to pry her hands from his, but he tightened his grip and looked at her sternly.
'What do you want to talk about Arnav?'
'Ah...I...I was wondering if you'd come with me tomorrow? There are 2 events I need to attend tomorrow. One is the Dean's Breakfast. It's at his home. The second one is a luncheon for the Baker Scholars. I want to take you Khush'
'Baker Scholar? Congratulations Arnav! That's a really big achievement!' Khushi smiled one of her genuine smiles.
'Thanks'
'Is this like you're bringing a date?'
'I don't know about what others might call it. But I just want to share it with you. And if it is, would it be so bad?'
'I'm sorry Arnav. As it is, I'm attending your commencement with Di while no one else is. I can't go to these other events too with you. I'm just
not ready for all this. I'm finding all this a li'l too overwhelming if you ask me. I...I need space! You're crowding me Arnav! Please, just back off some. This hugging me...holding my hand...acting as if we're a couple...just what are you trying to do? I told you this before! I just can't do this! I can't put myself out there for you to trample my heart all over again' Khushi had tears in her eyes as she said it.
Arnav looked at her for a few seconds. 'So what are you saying? That you don't want to be with me? Give us another chance? Give me a chance to redeem myself? Are you telling me that you don't see the change in me? What Khush?'
'Look Arnav, can we not do this now? I want to go back to the hotel. I finished an entire shift and came to the airport directly. I'm bushed!'
'Fine! Then get this! I'm not going to any event either! Have it your way. There! We're almost right in front of the hotel. You can go in. I'll wait here till you are inside the door and head back to my apartment. Good night Khushi' saying this, Arnav let go of Khushi's hand and stood there angrily.
'Arnav! Don't be stubborn. Why can't you go with someone else?'
Arnav grabbed Khushi's arms tightly 'Because I want to go with you dammit!! Don't you get that?' he screamed.
Khushi flinched at his tight grip on her arms. 'Arnav! You're hurting me!'
'And what about the hurt I'm going through? You fling a 'I love you' on me out of the blue and oh! that too at a time when I was drunk and then you run away for 2 years! Now you don't even want to give me a chance. You knew I didn't believe in all this love and commitment crap! And yet, you expected me to just accept what you said instantly? What did you think my reaction would be Khush? Tell me? You know me more than anyone...even Di! How'd you think I would react? You didn't even give me time to get sober and process my thoughts!''Enough!! I didn't expect anything from you then and I'm not expecting anything from you now! This whole trip was a mistake...talking to you was a mistake! Good night Arnav!'
'Fine! Have it your way! And you know what?! I'm DONE!! Don't expect me to grovel anymore! I'm Arnav Singh Raizada! And I don't give a shit about you anymore. I'm done with your games. What are trying to do? Playing hard to get? Trying for some sort of revenge? Well! You won! I'll be the one walking away this time. You find yourself a nice doctor and be happy! Have a nice life Khushi Kumari Gupta!'
Arnav strode off in the opposite direction, leaving Khushi crying bitterly. She felt like it was happening all over again. Was he right? Was she being too hard on him? On them? Was she ready to get into something without knowing exactly where their future is headed? Sheer exhaustion took over Khushi and made her brain all fuzzy. She'd been up for almost 40 hours now and she felt dizzy. But more than that, she felt empty! She sighed, wiped her tears and dragged her tired body towards the hotel.
And so, there lay two hearts, in the middle of a Boston downtown street...shattered!
**********
Part - 9 Extension below
Edited by limoncello - 12 years ago
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