Chapter 28 : Role Reversal
Khushi sat in office working on a project. She couldn't concentrate on it. When she left home, Arnav was sleeping. She didn't know whether her decision to give him an ultimatum was correct. She didn't know if Arnav would talk to her again. Her heart cried as she imagined her life without him. It was impossible. Her life would be incomplete. She won't be able to survive. She tried to think positive. She took a deep breath and checked her phone. No calls. No texts. Khushi decided to call home. "I have to give him space." She said cutting the line. "He will call. He will want this child. I know him. He won't shut us out again." She tried to console herself. She called the one person other than Arnav who she could talk to.
"Hi!" he said. "NK, I told him." She said getting straight to the point. "And?" he asked. "I--I didn't exactly--erm-- give him a chance to say anything. I was so furious. I just-- I just gave him an ultimatum." She gulped. "WHAT?" NK said completely shocked, "What did you say?" "I told him that he has until tonight to tell me if he wants this child and if he's willing to try again. I also told him I would divorce him if he doesn't want the child." "Khushi, are you sure it's a good idea to push him to a corner?" NK asked. "It could turn out either way. I am not sure. That's why I called you." "Khushi, all I can say is all the best. But even if he says otherwise, try and understand, maybe there is still hope. Don't lose hope." He said. "NK if he doesn't--"Khushi, don't lose hope." NK said. "If he doesn't then--"shh" he said as he heard her sob on the phone. "I don't think I can survive without him. He's my life." Khushi said. "You have another life in your stomach Khushi, think about that. Try and be positive, be happy, smile, everything will be okay!" he said. "I am sure you mean everything to him also. So take a deep breathe and relax." "NK, thank you so much. You have been my pillar of support in these past few months. I don't think I would have been able to manage without your support. Thank you so much!" "What are friends for Khushi?" he said with a smile. "Take care, and if you need anything, you know my number!" he said. "Bye," she said.
NK sat in his restaurant and sighed. He felt sad for Khushi. When he had met her, she had passion, she loved what she did and today, the same girl was stuck up in files and deals, fighting with life everyday to get her old one back. He remembered how his wife's death had ruined everything. He had lost everything except his daughter. He had been heart broken and wasn't able to handle it at that time. It was his mother who had explained to him that Sahana was his responsibility and that his wife would want him to take very good care of their angel. NK still wasn't over it but he couldn't be so expressive with Sahana in her life. It would affect her and he could never let that happen. Life had been rough for him but for his daughter he could handle worse. All he cared about was Sahana's health and her future. He knew how hard it was to spend life alone and he wished with all his heart that Khushi didn't have to go through that. She deserved better. He was scared for her but he also knew the amount of strength she had bottled up within her. She would be able to handle it way better that he had. He knew Khushi would fight for her child. He wished she didn't have to but somewhere deep down he was scared too.
Khushi waited for Arnav to call all day. She had 4 consecutive meetings but she kept her phone with her at all times. She just needed to hear his answer. Her heart was thudding loudly in her chest and she could just think of the worst-case scenario. It was already 8pm and Arnav still hadn't called. "Ma'am," Mr. Sinha said. "We need to have a staff meeting right away. Some employees are not happy. They are provoking the others to leave their jobs or rebel." "Rebel against what?" "Pardon me ma'am, but they want a raise and there is a rumour that you will shut the company down. They also have a problem with--"me." She completed. Mr. Sinha looked at the floor. "Okay, call for a staff meeting, I'll speak with them. Just send out the message that this company isn't closing, not as long as I'm in charge." She said with authority.
She didn't blame the workers for having a problem with her. She was not even half as experienced as them. She looked at her phone one last time. No calls. No texts. "I think I got your answer Arnav." She told herself. Tears formed in her eyes but she fought them. She couldn't cry yet. She knew her days here were numbered, what was the point of having a meeting anymore? She was just disheartened. She didn't want to go home. She couldn't get herself to go home because then it would all be real. She would have to leave him. She would have to look at him while he told her he wanted a divorce one more time. She decided to have the meeting anyway. The meeting began at 9pm and Khushi switched her phone off. This meeting was important.
11:30 pm she came out of the meeting. Her body was sore from all the work. She just wanted sleep. She was hungry. She switched her phone on. 25 missed calls, 19 from Arnav and 6 from NK. She thought he would be asleep by now. She finished some paperwork and sat down in silence for 15 minutes. Her body needed rest. All the workers started to leave. Khushi had been able to convince them that the company wasn't shutting down and that they would have a new head in a few days, Khushi would resign. Khushi sat in the car and the driver took him home.
12:00 am Khushi opened the door with her key and entered the house. The lights were off. Khushi went to the dining area to get something to eat. She was surprised to see the whole table lighted with candles, which had almost completely melted. She turned around so see Arnav behind her on his wheelchair. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he scolded. Khushi was still in shock. "You're awake?" she asked. "Yes, I was waiting for you," Arnav said. "OH. I was busy in a meeting so--"You could have called Khushi." Arnav said with a small grin. Khushi wondered why he was smiling. "You knew you had a meeting right? You knew you would be late? You could have texted or even asked your secretary to inform me!" he said mimicking Khushi. Khushi started to laugh and so did Arnav. By this time she had understood that he was just repeating everything she had said to him when he had come late the very first day. "I've missed that laugh of yours!" Arnav said getting emotional. Khushi stopped laughing, "I've missed you!" she said with tears in her eyes. She kneeled down near him and hugged him. It was the same feeling - the feeling of coming home. His arms were cut out perfectly for her and that moment was so peaceful that all pains and aches were forgotten.
"Dinner?" he asked still repeating Khushi's words from the other night. "Yes please." Khushi said remembering what Arnav had said. "You can go freshen up, I'll set the table," Arnav said mimicking Khushi. "Can you get it up to my-oops-our room?" Khushi said playing Arnav. They both sat down at the table laughing. Khushi had to reheat the food. Arnav smiled watching Khushi gulp the food down her throat. She was definitely starving. Arnav started to eat too. It felt complete again. There was improvement. He wants the baby! He has given our marriage another chance! He is willing to try again. Oh Lord, thank you. Thank you for another chance. I won't let this one pass. We will get through it this time. We have to. Khushi thought. Khushi had laughed after so long. They sat there looking at each other for a long time. Arnav had missed her smile. "Khushi, I am very sorry!" he said holding her hand. "Arnav please. Don't say that. It wasn't your fault!" she said. "It was! It was my confidence issue. I never really believed I could walk again!" he said. "Arnav--"Khushi please let me speak today, I have been keeping you out for so long! I wanted to tell you so many things." He said. Khushi had tears in her eyes. "Khushi I really want to tell you that I am very proud of you! You have handled everything single-handedly without expecting anything out of me. You have stood so strong at the time when I was weak. You didn't lose hope when I had lost it all. You were the only one who had faith." He said. "Arnav, I had faith because you were with me. You were there. We will get through this. This time you will walk. We can do it!" She said. Arnav smiled too. His pain was lesser now. Everything subsided in front of her beautiful smile.
"I'm sure now you know why I worked late?" he asked. Khushi smiled apologetically. "Yes, I used to wonder how you did it! Day in and day out dealing with those people, working on deals and the worst - paperwork, which never seems to end!" Khushi said exasperated. "You don't need to do this Khushi. It's my company and I will run it. I know you hate it. You've never been interested! Don't do it. Start a restaurant, go do cooking classes, enjoy life!" he said holding her hand. Even though she never complained Arnav knew what she wanted, he knew her aspirations and he didn't want to pressurize her into handling his business! "Arnav it's okay. Anyway, it's just for sometime now, you'll be joining office really soon so then I'll probably join NK!" she said smiling. "Oh yes!" Arnav said, "That reminds me, I had called him up too when your phone was off. You should call him back tomorrow." "OH. No wonder there were missed calls." "He was the one who went to office and told me that you were in a meeting! I was getting seriously worried." He said. "Oh." "He really cares for you!" Arnav said. "You've made a friend here!" Arnav added. "Yes, I have."
"Khushi," Arnav said as he lay next to her. "I can't live without you." He said softly. Khushi shut her eyes. She felt the same way. She held his hand in hers and squeezed it. "You will never have to!" she said. "I will be able to walk this time na?" he asked. "I will make sure you do. I promise. No mistakes this time. We will do it." She said. Arnav held her hand and shut his eyes. She lay in his arms all night thinking about the day he had tried to walk again.
Flashback
Khushi had made all the arrangements. Everything was ready. The physiotherapist was here and everything was set. Arnav was scared. He didn't know if he would succeed but the only thing that was helping him go on was Khushi. The therapist helped him move his legs a couple of times before they started. There was slight pain but it was manageable. Everything was set. There was tension in the air. Everyone's eyes were fixed on Arnav. Even the servants had stopped by to watch. Khushi held his hand as Arnav got up. He was standing. His pale face had just regained colour. He was standing. The doctor cheered and Khushi let out a cry of joy. Arnav smiled.
End
Khushi shut her eyes as tears escaped. After that what happened was something no one could have predicted. It had all happened so fast that Khushi had lost hope too. The awkwardness was slowly fading away. It was all going to be all right. Maybe not like before, maybe even better than before. Who knew?
Flashback
Everyone was looking at Arnav who was just about to take his first step. Arnav had looked at Khushi. She had tears in her eyes. His nervousness overtook him and his heart beat increased. He wasn't sure anymore. Arnav lifted his leg to take one step and then *THUD* he was on the ground. "OUCH!" Arnav screamed in agony. "Arnav!" Khushi exclaimed kneeling by him. "I think the nerve just tore." Arnav squealed in pain. The ambulance was called. Arnav was taken to the hospital. The pain was so uncontrollable that it made him unconscious.
The doctors had taken him in again and cut him open. 3 hours later they came outside and told Khushi that the nerve had started to tear. They had stitched it but the therapy would have to come to a stand still now. The doctors told Khushi that they tried to make him walk too soon. The nerve hadn't healed completely. If they had waited a little longer, a week more, then maybe Arnav would have been able to take those steps. His feet were strong enough. It was that moment when Khushi had lost all hopes. She had accepted the fact that Arnav wouldn't be able to walk ever again. She had promised never to make him feel incompetent. Arnav himself was very disturbed when he had heard the news and it was then that he had shut Khushi out. He didn't want her to suffer. He couldn't watch her cry any more. He wanted to see her happy or he didn't want to see her. He wanted her to go away and live her life. Live a proper life with a proper man.
End
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Hi guys, I hope you enjoyed the update :) I am really trying hard to NOT make it sad. ATM my life is sort of depressing so when I sit to write anything it becomes depressing 😆
Anyway, I am planning to bring in some fun into the updates and this will be one of the LAST sad ones! So now the ENTIRE truth is out of what happened in those 6 months. Now is there any confusion? Any Questions?
Do PM me or post here 😳
P.S. I will try and update faster! 😉
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