She didn't know what made her stop but the figure walking towards her was scaring her. No, she was not scared that he might be a murderer and kill her but the sudden increase in her heartbeat was freaking her out. She could feel her breathing increase with every step he took towards her.
When he was standing right in front of her, she suddenly felt her heart stop and her breathing shallow. She was terrified. This has never happened before.
She had just taken a few steps away from him when she heard him talk,
"Hello Khushi." And that had done it. She was petrified.
How did he know her name? Was he some psycho stalker? Was he really going to kill her?
She thought of running away when he spoke again,
"No, I am not a murderer. I wont kill you. I know you since the past two years. I was the chief guest at your college fest. Arnav Singh Raizada. Remember me?"
Now what the hell is this? Does he know how to read minds as well? Perfect, this is absolutely perfect.' She thought to herself.
"No, I cannot read minds but your face is telling me what you're thinking. You've got quite an expressive face." He smiled at her which made her frown go deeper.
"If you could excuse me please. I'm getting late." She said, intending to escape.
"I could leave you home, if you don't mind, that is."
"No thank you, I think I can manage myself."
She had just started walking when she saw a shadow behind her and she knew who it was. What he wanted from her was unknown to her. She was not comfortable with being stalked, if that was what you could call it but she kept walking, not wanting to give any attention to the psychopath.
Her entire life she had been a quiet, shy girl who didn't have many friends. Infact, now that she thought of it, the only friend she had ever had was her books. She, being an orphan, had always wanted to study well and become something in her life. She wanted to get out of the orphanage and see the world, explore it.
This was the time she was taken up by the Gupta's. She was 12 years old when one fine morning she got to know that she was to be taken to her new home. She had been excited, ofcourse. She thought she would finally get to live her dreams but that never happened.
Initially, she was treated with utmost care and love. She was given everything she never even asked for but as we know, every good thing has an end to it as well. So did hers, the day when her foster parents gave birth to their child, her younger sister.
That had been the last day of peace in her life. After that day, she had become as good as an orphan again.
No, she had never complained. She had anyway been used to living without her parents so she had stopped caring. It hurt, beyond words but she had cornered all those thoughts and started working towards her dream, again.
But it happened again, everything ruined once again. Her father had suffered a heart attack making her the sole earner. She had to leave her studies mid way to get herself a full time job.
That was the end of her dreams.
She was brought out of her thoughts when she saw herself in front of her house. She knew he was still behind her and so giving him one final look, she turned around and left.
******
It had been a week since he had approached her. She had seen him everyday, silently walking behind her but had paid no heed. She had started to get accustomed to their silent encounters and looked forward to them.
She liked having someone beside her, looking out for her but she knew that once he got to know about her illness, he would go away. But isn't that what she wanted? Make him go far away? Then why did it hurt so much to even think about the same?
She was taking orders on the other side of the counter when she heard the bell on the door ringing, indicating a new customer's entry.
She looked up to be thoroughly surprised to see Arnav. He had always made it a point to not enter the caf but today, he had even done that.
She felt her insides burning with rage. What was with the guy? Why could he not leave her alone?
She was going to yell at him but remembering her surroundings, she asked a friend to take over her work for a while as she went around the counter and sat on the table he was already seated on.
He looked at her, surprised that she had come to him when she spoke,
"What do you want? Why don't you understand that you and I can never be together?"
"But why can't we? Is there something wrong with me that you would not even give me a chance?" he asked, slightly irritated by her constant denial to accept him.
"There is nothing wrong with you. The problem is in me. I don't have a future and with me, you wont have one either. Please go away. I am begging you, go away before both our hearts break." She said as the first drop of tear fell from her eye.
"Tell me what it is and I promise to take it away. Just tell me whats keeping you away from me. Please." He said in an equally miserable tone.
This was the end of her patience. She got up, making the chair fall behind her with a thud as she banged her hand on the table and yelled.
"GO AWAY. YOU AND I CAN NEVER BE TOGETHER. WILL YOU ACCEPT ME IF I TOLD YOU I HAVE BLOOD CANCER? TELL ME, WILL YOU? WHAT IS MY FUTURE? DEATH. I AM GOING TO DIE, GET THAT? I am going to die." And she broke down. She fell on the floor, tears streaming down her cheeks.
He saw her, his heart breaking with every tear that left her eye. Slowly walking towards her, he kneeled down beside her and kept a hand on her shoulder as she immediately hugged him with all her strength. He hugged her, gently helping her up from the floor and walking her out of the caf.
He took her to a park near by and found a bench for them. Seating her down, he sat down beside her as she leaned into his form. Warping his arms around her waist, he pulled her closer as they sat there in silence for some time.
"Go away. You and I can never be together." She repeated for the nth time.
"I will, but not without you. Khushi, I loved you when I didn't know about your illness and I still love you after knowing it. My love for you doesn't come with a conditions apply' tag. I want you in my life, even now and will want you forever." He spoke softly.
"But why? I am going to die. You can get so many girls on your one steer. Then why me?" she asked, her big hazel eyes looking up at him with innocent hope.
"Because I love you, not them." Was all he said.
"What about when I die?" she enquired again.
"I'm going to follow you, I promise." He sealed it as his lips descended on hers.
*****
They had planned on getting married only after they would get to know each other properly. Khushi's constant fear of death and leaving him made her postpone their marriage, hoping he would not have to be stuck to her after she died.
Arnav had eventually found out her reason of not wanting to get married and so had made sure he got her married to him soon.
And so here they were, 3 months later, getting married.
*****
2 years later...
Arnav was standing on the door of their room, looking at Khushi sleeping peacefully. Wires attached to her every part of the body. She feared sleeping, scared that she might not wake up again but he had made sure to be around all the time, assuring her that nothing would happen to her.
She had become very weak in the past year. Her face had started to look old with wrinkles on her face. Her eyes had become puffy with dark circles beneath them. She had lost loads of weight, making her look nothing less than a stick.
He hated to see her suffering this way. The doctors had said that she didn't have much time. He had not told her this news, sure that she would get more depressed than she already was.
He was brought of his thoughts as he saw her breathing deepen. She was moving face, trying to breathe as blood flowed from her mouth. The next minute he reached her, holding her hand tightly as she saw him for a moment before her eyes closed.
And he knew, this was it. She was gone. Not a word said by both, nothing. She left.
****
3 days later, after finishing all her final rituals, he drove aimlessly in the middle of the night.
There was no one on the road, not a man or even an empty car. Reaching the middle of a bridge, he got off the car and walked.
Reaching the sides, he looked down into the ocean. It was quiet as he climbed up the bridge and said,
"I would follow you, I had promised."
-------------------------------------------------------------
Authors Note:
Hi everyone. So, this is it. I know some of you expected this, while some didnt. All I can say is that I hope you liked what I brought for you. I am extremely sorry for the delay.
Please do hit the like button and leave comments.😊
Hindi TV Shows
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
44