Posted:
Once Upon A Christmas.
Of love, Landour and letting go...
NOTE: This is based on the characters of my FF, A Late Spring but can be read alone too..:) Link to ALS can be found in my index( Just Jenny...at the bottom of each post of mine..)
PART ONE:
It was late in the night and turning the key in the lock, Arnav opened the front door to let himself in. A sweet, invigorating, pine smell wafted out from the freshly cut and yet to be decorated 'Christmas Tree', mounted at the far end of the foyer and made him flare his nostrils appreciatively. The foyer was dim lit by a single lamp on the console table and as he locked the door behind him, very faint notes of a Christmas carol floated down the stairs and cheerfully surrounded him.
Then how the reindeers loved him,
And shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,
You'll go down in history...
You'll go down in history...
You'll go down in history...
You'll go down in history...
The song was playing in Janice's room on her old-fashioned, stereo turntable system, which she absolutely refused to be parted with, turning a deaf ear to Arnav and Khushi's repeated offers to buy a more modern gizmo.
"Music coming out from a stereo has more soul, you see", she would say by way of explanation, determinedly ignoring the 'look' in her grandson's eyes, when she said that.
The old stereo's needle getting stuck over the revolving LP records with irritating frequency never seemed to overty bother her either.
But, quite expectedly, it always drove Arnav crazy.
"You'll go down in history...", announced the stereo politely for the nth time, making Arnav exhale sharply in annoyance.
Striding upstairs, he reached Janice's room and after perfunctorily knocking at her door, walked in. He already knew, she had drifted off to sleep, with the music still on.
"Like always", the subtle flicker in Arnav's eyes said.
After taking care of the matter, he was about to leave, when his gaze fell on his grandmother's sleeping form. With her head propped up by two soft pillows, she snored softly, reading glasses crookedly perched on her nose and an open photo album resting face down on her chest.
With his eyes softening, he padded over to her. Gently removing her glasses, he put them carefully on the bedside table and then prying the album free from her fingers, picked it up. As he shut it, he tried his best but was unable to avoid catching a glimpse of the picture.
Picture of Grandpa with his arm around a beautiful young girl with laughing caramel eyes...
His mom.
Abruptly he got up and turning his back to her, to her pictures, to her memories, walked out of the room. Even after all these years, those memories still had the power to hurt him and bracing himself, he successfully forbade his mind to dwell on them. Walking towards his room, he struggled to shake off a vague disquietude in his heart, which almost felt like guilt.
As he reached the door to his room, a sudden thought broke through the hovering cloud of gloom and ended up dispelling it completely. Tomorrow was the 20th and on the 21st, he and Khushi were supposed to leave for Landour for a long awaited two day getaway, that would include attendance of the Woodstock reunion. An event he wasn't very keen on but had agreed to, just for Khushi. The rest of the family was then to join them in Landour on the 23rd for the holidays.
His pleasant reverie was broken by the muted sounds of an irritatingly familiar piano music, coming from their room. With an almost imperceptible eye roll, he loosened his tie and sighed in that long suffering way, husbands are wont to from time to time. Especially in face of things they perceive to be unbelievably ridiculous, such as their wives' inexplicable, almost insane obsession with a show, which, in their opinion is nothing short of a 'frivolous piece of crap'.
Khushi was sitting on the bed, legs tucked comfortably under her and eyes fixed dreamily on the ipad screen in rapt attention.
Unnoticed, Arnav padded quietly across the family room carpet and came to stand beside her...
Glancing at the screen, silent laughter shook his chest and he said with deliberate suddenness, "Still rubbing away...are they?
Caught unaware, Khushi started in surprise like a shy colt and the ipad leaped out from her hands in a comical, twirly manner.
"You scared me, Arnav..", she protested with her heart pounding.
Turning the ipad off, she uncurled and slowly got out of bed to face her husband, who was chuckling softly, caramel eyes dancing with wicked humor.
Grinning back at him a tad sheepishly because being repeatedly caught watching scenes from a show that had ended and ended ingloriously, well over a year ago was admittedly embarrassing. Quite out of sync with the mature, intelligent, sensible image, she liked to portray to all and sundry.
To hide her embarrassment, she threw her arms around him and comfortably tucked her head under his chin, lips pressed against the silken fabric of his tie.
"It's NOT rub-away, it's rabba ve, which means...Oh God...", came her muffled voice. Then for no particular rhyme or reason, she was reminded of an obscure and particularly ridiculous nursery rhyme.
"Rub a dub dub, three men in a tub.."
While she giggled a little at the hair-raising mental picture, this line suddenly evoked, Arnav asked rhetorically, in a matter of fact voice, "Of course with all that rubbing-away going on, the 'Oh God' moment can't be far behind, can it now?
"Stop...", protested Khushi, her body shaking with suppressed laughter.
"Men's minds are ill equipped to appreciate the depth, the merits of a sublime show like 'Pyar ka Naam", she said pompously, shooting him a mock serious glance at the same time.
Before he could reply, she added quite inconsequentially, "And who the heck says 'Oh God' at that 'moment'?.
Air-quoting the 'moment'.
"I think you do sometimes...", came his teasing reply.
"No, I DON'T", replied Khushi, dancing hazel eyes locking with glinting molten caramel.
"And you most certainly don't either", she continued, calling to mind his impressive repertoire of unmentionable words, he seemed to keep specifically reserved for the said 'moments'.
Grinning shamelessly, her husband drew her soft, pliant body flush against him and said, "Well, we can easily find out..".
"True that, but I already know.", said Khushi smilingly, as she removed his tie.
As he released her to divest himself of his coat, Khushi asked, "Do you want me to bring your dinner upstairs?
Few moments later, clad in his night clothes, Mr. Foster sat on the plush rug in front of their bed, eyes glued to the TV screen in front. He was watching the highlights of a football match, while eating dinner. Sitting next to him, with her head resting on his shoulder, Khushi stifled a yawn.
"It's such a stupid, boring game...", she murmured sleepily, an utterance that bordered on the sacrilegious in Arnav's opinion.
"Better than that show of yours", he countered loftily.
Not getting a reply, he smiled down at her and asked, "But I'm really curious. What makes you like that show so much?
"It has it's merits..", Khushi smiled back.
"Like what?, he asked in a soft, encouraging tone.
Khushi sighed and a dreamy look entered her lovely hazel eyes...
"It's hard to explain", she frowned, thinking hard.
"Their love is so pure...so ethereal...they are so different, yet so perfect for each other...", she said finally with a far-away expression in her lovely hazel eyes.
"Yeah, pure and ethereal love involves staring nonstop at each other and for ridiculous lengths of time", said Arnav in his best sarcastic voice.
"It's downright creepy...".
Khushi looked up at him and sighed, "It's not quite as long as it seems. It's like time slows down each time they gaze into each others for thay can feel this connection between them. They're like soul mates trying to recognize each other".
She was dead serious.
Really.
Gazing at her earnest face, Arnav's eyes became suffused with a priceless, "you can't be serious" look, which quickly gave way to a 'this is some hilarious shit' one.
With laughter rumbling deep in his chest, Arnav gave in to unadulterated mirth for quite a while.
"You are cute", he said after he sobered up, pressing his lips against her cheek.
"Did you just make fun of me, Mr. Foster? Fine, you have been indefinitely put on the naughty list..", said Khushi in a miffed voice.
With his eyes aglow with pure devilry, Arnav stood up and bent down to effortlessly pick her up in one easy swoop.
"Does being on the naughty list mean I'm allowed to do naughty things to you?, he queried, laying her down on the bed.
As he joined her on the bed, pinning her body partially with his weight, Khushi replied sweetly, "No dear, it means no gift for Christmas...".
"Ah...you know I don't care for gifts. How does that song you like a lot go...yeah...all I want for Christmas is you...", said Arnav with his eyes smoldering in a most beguiling fashion.
As Khushi tried hard to suppress a smile, Arnav added triumphantly, "And you're already mine..".
Lips pursed and eyes twinkling, Khushi interrupted him, "You didn't let me finish. No gift and no 'you know what' for the rest of the year...".
Mr. Foster allowed himself to look suitably shaken at this dry weather forecast, causing Khushi to break out in uncontrollable giggles .
"I can still forgive you, if you agree to do something for me..", she said in between giggles.
"What?, asked her husband, a tad warily.
"Watch 'Pyar Ka Naam' with me ".
"Fine", he gave in with bad grace...
"But first real pyar, then reel pyar...".
"Deal".
And soon, a resigned looking Arnav was sitting up in bed, next to his wife, who looked visibly excited at the prospect of finally getting a chance to make Arnav realize the awesomeness that this show was.
Propped up on a cushion and lying strategically between them, Khushi's ipad played the world famous 'Almost Kiss' scene that was reputed to never fail in reducing dedicated fangirls to a piles of mush. Not even after countless, repeated watching.
Mr. Foster, however, showed no signs of being reduced to a pile of mush. A half smile played on his lips that ranged anywhere from being barely indulgent to frankly scornful, while his brow cocked eloquently from time to time...
Khushi glanced at him expectantly, waiting eagerly for some kind of feedback..
Not wanting to disappoint her, Mr. Foster uttered the first thing that came to his mind.
"Hmm..Nice, sexy feet..", he drawled lazily, smiling at her in an indulgent fashion.
A very unsatisfactory response.
Khushi's face fell a little even as a window popped up in her mind carrying a reminder to set up a pedicure appointment.
"Thoda dard hoga...", proclaimed the brooding hero, with the damsel's pretty foot poised sexily on his knee.
Arnav was totally unprepared for what came next...
As the brooding hero suddenly grasped the damsel's foot and twisted it firmly to one side and then, the other, Mr. Foster could not hold back his true feelings any longer..
"Are you fu*****g kidding me? What the hell was that?, he said, a bewildered look in his eyes.
"He is trying to fix her ankle sprain...", supplied his wife lamely..
With his expressive eyes and his eloquent right brow doing all the talking, Mr. Foster turned the bedside lamp off and retired for the night.
Next evening while Khushi packed, she was subjected to almost never-ending interrogation from highly suspicious looking Sofia, Emma and Aiden.
"But why do you and daddy have to go alone ?
"Why can't we come with you too?
"What will you two do there?"
"You'll be so bored without us..".
With commendable patience, Khushi reassured that even though they will miss them a lot, it was absolutely necessary for them to go alone first and take care of some important 'things'.
"What kind of things?, asked Aiden, his hazel eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Khushi said, "Like getting the house ready for Christmas..".
As they looked slightly mollified at that, Khushi orchestrated a swift change of topic.
"Aren't you supposed to be getting your Christmas cards ready? Brandon was willing to help you if you went to him before his match starts at nine. And it's almost your bed time too..".
Gazing at their retreating back, Khushi tried her hardest to shake off a vague sense of anxiety, it was the first time they were leaving the kids alone with Janice for so long.
"Only two days, actually", she thought, as she walked over to Janice's room.
Arnav was working late again, in an attempt to tie off some loose ends before leaving for a much needed vacation.
Janice was sitting in a comfortable arm-chair, reading a book and she looked up with a smile, watching Khushi enter. Just by glancing at her expression, she fathomed what was coming. Before Khushi could utter a word, she spoke out with her eyes twinkling amusedly, "We are all going to be fine, Khushi, in fact we'll have a gala time. You are worrying too much, dear...".
Smiling back at her, Khushi relaxed visibly.
"I guess, I am..", she said with a rueful grin, flopping down on the side of bed.
Seeing the photo album, still kept on the bedside table, she picked it up.
"Can I look at it?
As Janice assented with a nod, Khushi turned the frayed at the corners front cover carrying a display of vintage floral sketches to reveal the very first page.
A studio portait of a man, woman and a smiling young girl..
Recognizing a much younger Janice at once, a delighted smile lit up Khushi's features.
"Oh...you were so beautiful...".
"I mean, still are..", she corrected herself hastily, causing Janice to chuckle amusedly.
"And this must be Grandpa...and this...".
Quite abruptly she paused in mid sentence, and gazed at her features, which were so uncannily familiar.
Especially her eyes.
Totally unexpectedly, a sudden surge of myriad emotions in her heart caught her unaware and Khushi was surprised to find her eyes getting moist.
With a hand on her back, Janice rose from her chair with difficulty and came to sit beside her.
"Tina...", she whispered...
They were both sat quietly for a while, gazing at the picture together.
"I have never seen her picture before or his dad's either", said Khushi.
"Arnav wants it this way, he doesn't want to be reminded of his past, his childhood, even his parents..", said Janice, her eyes dull with the kind of raw pain that can only come from having encountered the only irreplaceable loss in life. Loss of a loved one.
With her throat aching, Khushi turned the pages to see more pictures. Birthdays, graduations, vacations...Christmases...
And wedding.
Khushi held her breath for a fraction of a second as she turned a page to unexpectly come across a picture of Arnav's mom and dad, resplendent in wedding fineries. She hadn't really expected Arnav's dad's picture in Janice's album and she glanced up at her, her eyes filled with barely concealed surprise.
"You are surprised to see Arnav's father's picture", Janice stated the obvious in a curiously flat voice.
As Khushi nodded confusedly, Janice was silent for a while. Staring outside the window for a few moments, she struggled to gather her thoughts together.
"There was a time, when my hatred for him was so intense that barely a day would pass without my heart cursing his soul. Years went by and soon this hatred grew to a point, where it completely overtook my life, my existence. I used to read about forgiveness and think of it as an entity that a mere human like me would never be capable of. They say it's much easier to forgive an enemy than a friend and there has never been a truer saying. It was harder for me to forgive Tom because there was a time, when I had really loved him".
"Loved him like a son..".
Hearing the almost inaudible crack in Janice's voice, Khushi's eyes welled up and picking up her hand from her lap she grasped it tightly in both of hers.
Immersed in their conversation, none of them had heard the quiet knock at the door or seen it open just a little in a hesitant manner..
"Then one day, I don't know how or why, I realized something that changed my whole life or rather how I looked at it. There was no dramatic epiphany, no significant moment of self realization that I could put my finger on, but one fine day, it just came to me. I realized the importance of forgiving, of letting go..".
"Wasn't it hard?, Khushi whispered.
"It ceased to be when I realized I was doing it more for myself than anyone else. It was like all these years I had carried this extra weight on my shoulders and the moment I forgave, I felt so light. And free. It didn't make any different to the past, which remains something I have to contend with all my life, but it did make a difference, a positive difference to the future. Gradually, I even found it within myself to view the whole situation with compassion, I would look at this wedding picture and remember the persons they were then...Just two good people, giddily in love with each other".
"What went wrong...?, Khushi asked with a wave of melancholy assailing her heart.
"A lot of things", answered Janice wearily, "I have long stopped passing judgement on anyone, that's what God is for. But I do know for a fact that there was never anyone else in Tina's life, she would have told me, if there was. It was a love that had gone horribly, horribly wrong and that was how it was meant to be, all we can do now is to pray for their peace...".
With these words echoing in her heart and the album clasped in her hand, Khushi walked back to her room. Upon entering it, she found Arnav's laptop bag on the recliner and the french windows slightly ajar. In the dim light of the terrace facing the sea, she could see standing with his back to her, hands resting on the railings.
And she knew.
Without the need of any external facts to support her belief, without him needing to utter a single word, without him saying a single thought out loud...
He heard the whole conversation...
Walking up to him, she slid her arms around his body to encompass him in a warm embrace.
Turning around within the circle of her arms, he peered at her face in the dim light of the terrace...and her warm hazel eyes, moist with love and compassion communicated with his turbulent caramel ones, rendering words superfluous.
Instinctively, she cupped his face with both of her hands..
"You look just like your mom, but your smile is like your dad's.".
His body tensed for a split second before visibly relaxing and she could sense a change, a shift in him..
Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her in a sudden, tight hug and sighing in contentment, both of them closed their eyes.
After a while, a sudden chorus of 'eews' erupting right in front of them made them pull apart in alarm.
Emma, Sofia and Aiden stood with their little hands covering their eyes and 'eews' spouting incessantly from their mouths.
'Are you two done kissing?, Sofia asked, causing their dad's eyes to widen and look questioningly at their mother.
"T.V", answered Khushi with a sigh, before turning her attention to her brood.
"You all are being very silly, we were just hugging...", she chided while, leading them inside..
Almost at once, they pounced on the photo album kept on the bedside table, followed closely by a barrage of questions.
"Whose pictures are these?
"Who's this?
Before, Khushi could say anything, Arnav took the album from their hands..
"Let me tell you", he said, sitting down on the green recliner.
With the children flanking him on either side, he opened the album...
PART TWO( Concluding) https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3860586/once-upon-a-christmas-arshi-ts-two-shot-completed?pn=14
Jhanak
Shiv Shakti
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