Arnav kicked open his bedroom doors and walked straight in, carrying Khushi's fragile form in his arms. He walked towards the bed and bent down before placing her onto the bed gently. Arnav was about to go and get a jug or something when her face caught his eye. He slowly moved closer to the bed to examine her more closely, she looked at peace unlike the time when he's with her or when she's awake. She had a serene expression on her face, as if she was free of all the worries and her daily life. Arnav's gaze moved towards her eyes and he noticed a strand of lying carelessly over her face, he gently placed his hand on her cheek before swiping the strand of hair aside to unblock his view. He would have continued if the his phone hadn't started ringing right at that moment. He checked the caller and wasn't surprised to see his Di calling. He swiped his thumb across the screen and put the phone to his ear.
"Yes Di?" He questioned.
"Chotey, how's Khushiji? Do you know we are all so worried!! Why didn't you inform us before? We're coming home right now with the Guptas!!" Anjali said it all in one breath. There was clear worry and panic in her voice. Arnav sighed knowing that his Di was right, Khushi was their family so they were bound to get worried. Though he didn't want this night to turn out disastrous for his guests but he couldn't do anything, his guests were probably closer to his wife than he was.
"Fine Di, you guys can come but don't panic...I'll call the doctor right away" Saying that Arnav disconnected the call and dialed their family doctor's number. His gaze wandered off to Khushi again, she was still calmly lying unconscious on the bed, totally oblivious to the worry and panic the other family members were facing. Arnav didn't know why, but he liked it like this. Arnav was brought out of his reverie by the voice on the other end.
"Oh hello Mrs. Sharma" Arnav greeted her back.
"Yes please, could you come here for a while? Actually, my wife has fainted...yup please, that would be nice. See you in twenty minutes then. Okay, Thank you" Arnav disconnected the call and pushed the phone back in his trouser pockets. He then looked around the room for a jug of water or something like that. On finding none, Arnav walked out of the room and down the stairs, skipping two at a time. He filled a glass with water from the kitchen sink and was about to run back upstairs when the doorbell rang. It must be them, Arnav concluded and changed his route and walk towards the door instead.
As soon as he opened the door, he was taken aback by the two Gupta ladies at the front, barging into the house with his Di, Mami, Mama and Nani just behind them. They all had panic stricken faces. Akash and NK walked in at the end; their faces also spelled out W.O.R.R.Y.
"Damadji, where is Khushi betiya?" Garima asked in worry. Arnav was about to tell all of them to calm down and take a breath but then looking at their worried faces which were all turned his way, he decided to ease their tension by just letting them meet Khushi.
"She's in my room..." Arnav started but didn't need to say anything as the herd then rushed towards the staircase. Arnav slowly followed behind, not really wanting to be a part of the family drama that was about to take place upstairs but he was still worried about Khushi so he speeded up his pace and started climbing the stairs to go up to his room.
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Arnav pushed the already opened doors even wider to come in and just as he had expected all the ladies were sitting around Khushi's unconscious form on the bed and the Akash, NK and Mamaji were standing around the bed looking at Khushi with qual worry and curiosity as the women. Payal was rubbing Khushi's hand while Garima talking to her with tears streaming down her face, in a way, all this was justified and that moment, Arnav felt like a jerk for not being able to protect HIS WIFE fully even from a next up bast*rd.
He silently made his way through his family and stopped just beside Khushi. He dipped his hand in the glass of water he was holding and sprinkled a little on Khushi's face. On not receiving any response from Khushi, Arnav bent down a little in concern and sprinkled some more water on her face.
Khushi shifted a little uncomfortably, she could feel something cold being sprinkled on her face but she her eyes refused to open up. They felt so heavy and her bones just couldn't be bothered to move. She felt exhausted but then reluctantly opened her eyes as she felt that cold thing being sprinkled on her again. Khushi opened her eyes a little just to close them again quickly because of the sharp light that hit her eyes as soon as she opened. She tried opening her eyes again but this time slower than before, trying to adjust to the light. Khushi frowned at seeing all the family huddled around her with concerned faces, that's when whatever happened at the restaurant came rushing back to her. She immediately looked around to make sure she was safe at home and not with that lowly pervert but sighed when she realized she was indeed at home, in her room. Khushi suddenly jumped back a little in the bed when she felt to warm hands gently hold her shoulders and help her up, helping and reassuring her at the same time. She didn't even need to look up; she already knew it was that one person, her husband, Arnav.
"Khushi betiya are you okay? What happened there? How did you faint?" Nani shot her questions right away but stopped when Khushi gave her a confused look. Khushi's brain was taking time to register the things going around her and Arnav understood that. Arnav indicated everyone to ask their questions in the morning to which everyone nodded in understanding.
"NK!! Could you please get a glass of water for Khushi" Arnav asked NK as he saw Khushi struggling to get her voice out. NK nodded and ran out of the room.
"Khushi...tu theek hai na?" Payal asked in concern, moving forward towards her and cupping her face from the side. Khushi just nodded in reply, her throat felt dry. After Payal was done with the rest of her questions, Garima moved forward and hugged Khushi tightly, keeping her close to which Khushi responded weakly as well. A knock on the door broke their moment and all of them turned towards the interrupter.
"Mrs. Sharma's here" NK guided the doctor through the door and towards the bed, Garima moved aside to let the doctor sit next to Khushi. NK handed Khushi the glass of water he was holding and she gulped it down in a quick sip. Mrs. Sharma put her briefcase on the bed beside her and got the first-aid kit out. She gently started wiping the blood off Khushi's forehead first and then checked her blood pressure.
"She's totally alright except that her blood pressure is a little low, did she have food?" Mrs. Sharma asked, packing her equipment.
"Umm...no" Arnav answered.
"Well then it's nothing healthy food and plenty of rest can't cure" Mrs. Sharma gave Khushi a big smile and took their leave.
"I'll just drop Mrs. Sharma till the door" Anjali walked out with the doctor, followed by Nani.
"Umm...Bitwa, we'll be leaving as well" Garima spoke out, feeling weird to stay at her daughters in-laws for so long. She gave Khushi a final hug and walked out of the door with Payal.
"Umm...I'll just go and drop them off. It won't be good for or at our part to let them go home alone at night" Akash hurried behind them after receiving a nod from Arnav. Gradually everyone left, retiring to their rooms, calling it a night.
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Arnav closed the doors just after his Di left, he turned around to look at Khushi sitting on the bed and eating the food Di had brought for her. Arnav passed the bed, going towards the closet to get his night clothes out, keeping his eyes at Khushi all the while.
Khushi silently ate the food, feeling his eyes on her. She didn't know why she had relaxed when she had bumped into him, was it because she felt safe...No! It was just because he's my husband and I was sure he would protect me, Khushi's mind concluded. Why were you so sure he would protect you? The more mature part of her questioned her trying to make her see sense but Khushi ignored it. Well that's because he's my husband, he would be held responsible by the family if HE let anything happen to me when he's around, Khushi fought that other part with another lame reason, not seeing any other reason and not wanting to acknowledge the reasons her heart was suggesting.
Khushi was brought out of her reverie by the bathroom door opening. She gently put the tray away on the side table and got up, walked up to the closet and pulled out her pink Shalwaar-Kameez from the rack.
After a few minutes, Arnav walked into the room with his file which he had left in the living room before leaving for the disastrous dinner. He was shocked to see Khushi setting the couch with a pillow and a duvet. This woman wasn't possibly gonna sleep on the couch in this condition.
"What are you doing?" Arnav questioned her with a raised eyebrow.
"Setting the couch" Khushi replied giving a duh' look...to herself only, off course.
"No, you sleep on the bed, I'll take the couch" Arnav replied sternly, walking up to the bed to get his own pillow.
"No thanks, you don't have to take pity on me"
"I'm not taking pity" Arnav snapped with a hint of anger in his voice. What the hell is wrong with her?! I am just trying to be nice and she's...urgh!! "Just sleep on the bed and stop arguing! Don't create a scene!" Arnav added with frustration.
"I'm not creating a scene and I'm not sleeping on the bed" Why should she let him control her?
"Don't make me call Di, everyone in the house is already worried. And you should know that I won't hesitate to call your family either" Arnav warned her. Khushi looked down and bit her lips, he was right. She did need rest AND he wouldn't hesitate to call her family, she knew that much about him. He can do anything to get what he wants.
Khushi silently walked to the bed, collecting her stuff from the couch before that. Arnav silently walked to the couch, collecting his stuff from the bed before that.
"And you're not going to work tomorrow" Arnav said once he setteled on the couch after switching off the lights.
"I'm sorry, WHAT?!?! You can't decide what I do or don't!!" Khushi lashed out at him.
"I didn't, the doctor did" Arnav answered back calmly.
"It's my first day" Khushi tried fighting back with whatever reason she could gather.
"I'll handle it" Arnav spoke and then turned his back towards her, though it wasn't like she could see him in the dark before either.
Khushi sighed and turned to her right. Off course, he could handle it! He was Arnav Singh Raizada!
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Sooo? Did you like the mega update?
Do tell me..š okay...bubbye
Veggie
Financial markets and global economy
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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