Arshi FF: Entwined(T2)-- Completed! - Page 44

Entwined:

Chapter-33(Part 1)

Next day

The morning hours of the following day have seen Arnav hopped out of the rented guest house, along the pavement, with his coat trailing behind him, the sun trying to peep out in the distant from above the nearby hills and the weather seemed temperature constantly being low.

He ran across the small cross-over right into the inn which they had visited the night before, opening the door in quick movements, only to find it completely empty.

"Can I help you?" He heard a woman voice strong Irish accent evident alerting him, as he peeped inside to find the source of voice, right when a middle aged woman walked out of an internal door looking like she was in the middle of some early morning cleaning.

"Uh, Hi, I guess I left my phone last night..."

"Here?"

"Yes, I've the bill, we were sitting right there..." he pointed to the corner table, beside the empty fireplace.

"Oh, if it isn't stolen..."

"No, It isn't, I can still call my phone...'

"Well then, it should be with our night-shift manager, he would usually keep such forgotten stuff in his locker"

"Oh! Okay then, I think I'll come in the evening..." He said turning around to leave.

"I'm afraid that wouldn't be of any use..."

"What do you mean?" Arnav asked stopping right at the door, holding it half open.

"Neil is on leave for a couple of days, he had gone out of the city, so.."

Damn! He cursed his eyes zoning out thoughtfully, as he released an exasperated sigh. The woman observed him for a brief moment before walking towards him. "I get it, it must be really important, yeah?"

"Don't worry young man, if it is with him, it wouldn't be lost, as soon as he would come, I'll let him know, just leave your address here, I'll get my boy drop at your place..."

Arnav looked on stumped at the generosity of the woman. Small little gestures, definitely reflects the hospitality of the small town-place. He smiled in gratitude writing down his address in a piece of paper before handing it to her. "Thank you so much!"

As soon as he was out of the small pub, he walked straight to the nearby mobile store, purchased a random phone and quickly dialed his sister's number, the only number he had ever tried to memorize. It was only his fifth call in a row that Anjali had attended, causing his impatience to increase every passing second.

"God! Anjali, it need not be a stalker fan always to call you at this hour of the morning even!! At least you could see the international number, argh!" he snapped as soon as her he heard her pick up without giving her chance to speak.

"Arnav!! Oh my god!! Arnav!!! Finally you decided to call!! Oh I've missed you so much!!"

"Are you crying?" he asked with his annoyed tone.

"NO I'm not!!!" came here quick defensive reply.

"Why do you sound so hoarse? Whatever, Where is your husband?"

"It's my hormones alright? Stop mocking me! How are you?? When are you coming home, oh Arnav I'm so sorry for whatever happened, are you still mad at me?"

"About what?" he asked impatiently.

"huh?"

"Whatever, look Anjali I really don't have time for this, where's your husband?"

"That's like second time you are asking for him, what's up with you two ganging against me?"

"Anjali! I asked you a question, answer me dammit!"

"I don't know, he had been in Mumbai for the past 3 days, he said something important, oh he has gotten so busy, and it's completely ruining my holiday time! I don't know what I am doing all alone in the supposed family holiday, without you and him even... that reminds me I'm heading back to Delhi next week, any plans of coming?"

"What happened to his phone?" he asked after waiting for her to pause, at the same time hearing her speak, in her usual chirpy way, it really warmed his heart in some weird way, which he surely wouldn't tell her, anyway.

He heard Anjali sigh in that disappointed way and he could even imagine her little pout just as a smirk made its way onto his lips. "The last time he spoke to me, he said he is visiting some highly secured place and phone would be off, or something like that..."

"Does he speak to you in night?"

"What kind of personal stupid question is that??"

"Just answer me!"

"Just two days ago and he said he will meet me directly the 31^st night and not to worry about him until then.."

Arnav sighed, not being able to figure out anything. What's going on with Shyam?

"Alright then.."

"Okay..." He heard his sister say her disappointed bored tone, quite reflecting through her words. Just as he was about to ponder over what can he say to make her feel better, his eyes landed on a mannequin glaring back at him from a small store opposite to him and his gaze lingered over the white georgette dress a moment longer than needed.

"Okay, since you sound adoringly disappointed..."

"---Did you just say adoring?"

"Whatever, I'm gonna ask you something and you will not act dramatic..."

"okay...'

"Uh, does white suit her?"

"Her?? Who her?"

Just as Arnav rolled his eyes giving up the idea of even seeking Anjali's help, she screamed yet again, proving his thoughts, and he only rolled his eyes again. Moments of excitement later, she composed herself and spoke in her firm, precise manner. "She will look exquisite..."

"I really want to meet her properly, I've been such a bitch, I dint get a proper chance to know her Arnav"

"Okay, thank you, I gotto go now, you take care of the monster inside you, and just so you know, I keep track of your complete medical records, so don't do anything stupid, you're being watched..."

"I know, you're watching and I love you"

"Geez!! How can you guys say it so easily?"

There was a sudden moment of silence after he uttered that in his usual flow and regretted almost immediately, and just when he expected his sister to freak out and make it even more hyper, he heard her sigh all too calmly. "As simple as I-L-O-V-E-Y-O-U" She spelled out casually.

"And that sounds too small..." he voiced out his concern, probably first ever time, even to his own self.

"Aha! So make it sound big..."

"How?"

"With promises?"

"What kind of promises Di?" he asked exasperated about the riddles in which she was talking.

"Promises that can convey about the time you want to be with her... You know? A promise for a day, for a week, for a month, a few years... Or even more? It's for you to decide by the way...it can get as long as a lifetime, just to keep you informed..."

"You know what? I really gotto run, stop acting intelligent which you aren't, yeah? Now listen to this---- Give Jiju my number the next time he calls, I lost my phone..."

"-------------How???"

"It's not important, what's important is that you give him my number and get him call me as soon as possible; Am I being clear Anjali? Are you following me??"

"Stop treating me as dumb!"

"-------And by the way, I'm coming home next week, with her, make the arrangements" with that he pressed the end button on his new phone without giving any further chance for his sister to scream in excitement.

But what she said continued to repeat itself in his mind all the while...

As he walked into the store standing at the opposite end of the road; as he observed the same mannequin closely; as he ordered the dress almost instinctively as if in some possessed daze...

And even as he paid for the dress, her words continue to take the shape of a ring that caught his attention, staring back at him from the glass-showcase beside the billing counter...

"Can I see that?" he asked surprising his own self, his mind completely being possessed by a new found determination, or rather surfaced realizations...

As the shop-keeper handed him the small metal piece, his fingers curled up the metal circle that ended at the center, holding a exquisite blue diamond, simplicity yet elegance of the design completely intriguing him. The reflection of pale blue from the jewel catching him off the guard, as it instinctively reminded him of a certain someone walking in her trade mark shorts and tee, along the blue sea-bed below the bright sunny Goa blue sky, and the weird resemblance just made him whack his mind not being able to believe his own self.

"You would never let go off me, will you?"

Her voice called out to him, as she stared at the ring in his hand.

""Promises that can convey about the time you want to be with her"

And just like that he instantly knew, what he had to do, to assure her of everything she had been silently asking him, with unvoiced hope, and if not for anything else, he wanted to do it, for his own sanity. For, if little love confessions seemed too small for the mighty ASR brain to voice them out, he had to do it in the big way, as big as a lifetime promise, and may be then his words wouldn't fall short anymore...

Or so he hoped.

And thus the ring was treasured inside his pocket, quite nervously, much to his very own annoyance.

Not that he was being oblivious of everything else, but his plan was simple. It definitely seemed like Shyam has got something worth it this time. Once they had some information, they could proceed legally and end whatever had been following her for once and for all. She need not know anything, it isn't important, the stress wasn't needed. Khushi need not have to go through anything anymore to confess to anyone, let alone him and he doesn't want to know about anything anymore. Not after he had literally seen what a little memory could do to her.

Nothing at all mattered. Neither her past, nor her suffering; coz all he wanted was a future with her, everything else, would dissipate eventually, with time. He would make sure of it. With this decision settling in, he could definitely find his mind at peace, for now.

Chapter-33(Part 2)

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