Strange K i n d n e s s
As the dark night enveloped the city he finally closed his laptop shut and made an exit from AR Corp.
He got into his SUV and drove off, away from the hustles bustles of the city, as the cool winds brushed off his cheeks, playing with his hair and often with his loose collar from which the tie hung low, top two buttons undone and sleeves rolled up as he turned the steering wheel in the direction of the shore.
Not that he was depressed or anything, but he often came to this place for solace and much needed peace and calm that his extremely busy life won't allow him otherwise.
Parking his car far from the shore he took off his shoes, shoved the socks in them. Throwing them below the dashboard he walked towards the lonely shore line as the waves danced back and forth creating an unfamiliar feeling of peace.
He kept walking, in his own trance when soon his reverie was broken by the small figure sitting on the sands.
Her head was buried in her knees that reached her face. Her arms were tightly wrapped around her bent knees and jet black hair flew aimlessly in every direction.
She continued to sob when she heard a familiar whisper coming from nearby.
"kia hua?"
She looked up shocked to find him sitting there by her side, his hands interlinked above his knees as he sat there on the sand comfortably.
She looked away wiping here tears lest he sees her in this miserable state.
"come on tell me" he said not firmly but his voice which sounded more like a demand.
She didn't really want to share her problems with him, it was normally him who shared his problems with her, and all of a sudden she landed into this situation…it felt weird.
"how are you?" she tried to divert his attention.
"don't change the topic tell me what happened?"
He didn't like the fact that she didn't tell him, despite being the only one to hear his problems. True they were strangers when they had first met, at the same place at the same time out of coincidence, but over time they had become friends, maybe much more than that? Otherwise how would she always be here when he wanted her too, despite not having any other technological connection? No phone numbers, no addresses, no emails were exchanged and yet they had that one connection above all, perhaps a soul to soul connection, if it existed.
No he didn't think of her as any other girl, or someone who he would fall in love with or marry eventually. It's just that she held a special place in his heart, more than friends and maybe more than love.
He respected her, beyond words, and it ached his heart that that is not how everyone around her thought about her.
But she was a fighter, she was strong. Her crying means something drastic had happened. And he had to know. If she could lift off his share of pains why cant he. He has the right to and he knew that she won't admit but she needed someone to share her part of the pain too and he would make sure he did that.
He was thankful to her, for all those nights where she listened to his problems despite not knowing him enough in the early days, heck she doesn't even know his name and always gave him a shoulder to cry on, her life stories to laugh at.
He wanted to be her support, not to return the favor but he knew what it felt like, and maybe her case was worse, knowing the type of society they lived in. They wouldn't accept her for who she was but tried to mould her into this materialistic society and its values that they very fondly defended.
Her outstanding courage and spirit had astonished him at first and he considered himself lucky to have come across such a personality.
After making circular patterns in the sand quietly for a good ten minutes, she looked up at him, her eyes directly gazing at his awaiting ones.
He squeezed her hand in assurance and a silent promise blinking his eyes that he won't judge her like others, but will listen quietly and will only offer comfort.
"so you know how I visit the orphanage and all" tears started making their way down her already strained cheeks again, her eyeliner and mascara slightly smudged from all the crying, her multiple piercing on her right ear shinning under the moonlight.
"hmm" he listened with his undivided attention.
"you know that boy Parth I always talk about" her voice growing hoarse by each passing minute.
Parth.
He instantly knew where this was going, a sensitive and a heartbreaking matter it indeed seemed like.
"you know how he's so cute and adorable right" she said as if stating a very serious matter, which made him smile at her innocence and the love she held for that particular child.
"and im really attached to him and he likes me too, and since I m moving into to my own place I wanted to adopt him.." her voice trailed off as she began to narrate the series of events.
Her respect in his heart grew ten folds just hearing that, and his mind began to question the society for their behavior towards her. Why her? She never deserved what she was put through.
"and..." he wanted her to complete her story, he wanted to know more so he could help in any way possible.
"but…they think a girl like me can never raise a child properly and I will probably make him like me…and let alone that they think this is very shameful of me to adopt a child while Im single…and even if I wasn't single they have a problem because he is not blood related" she cried harder this time, in front of him, letting her emotions lose she cried.
He placed his arm around her shoulder taking in the smell of her strong perfume, that she said only he liked, and that's why she wore it all the time.
"ssh rona band karo, we will find a way out don't worry" he said as he took out his handkerchief and placed it in her hands.
"kia karoon main ab? If Parth doesn't have a problem, the orphanage doesn't why do these people do? I can't...live without him"
She cried unable to stop the flow while clutching at his handkerchief harder in anguish.
"ok first of all stop crying, aur maine kaha na we will find a way, this is as big of my problem as its yours ok"
He tried to soothe her.
For the first time she felt like she had a family too whom she could depend on, a family who cares for her.
She smiled through her tears and turned to face him.
"thank you" wiping her tears she said as she saw a ray of hope.
She didn't know who he was, where he came from what status he held, all she knew was if this man said something he will do it. He just had that kind of assurity in his voice, that kind of power which would imply his strength.
"really?...you are thanking me? I haven't even done anything yet" he rolled his eyes at her in an effort of lighting up the atmosphere.
"batao na phir, what am I supposed to do"
She really loved this child didn't she, he smiled at the thought and her thoughtfulness for that stranger's child who had made his place in her heart and who liked her and accepted her for who she was.
Knowingly unknowingly he got attached to Parth too, was it the things she told him about him, the innocent face in the picture she showed him or the fact that he respected his favorite stranger like he did, he didn't know.
After hours of discussion, planning and pacifying they came to solution and finally felt the contentment the two lost souls have been searching.
"will you marry me?" he asked her offering her the Kit Kat that he found in his pocket.
Accepting the chocolate she smiled lightly as the last tears gathered on her lashes jumped on the sand.
Breaking two of the bars for herself and the other two for him, they celebrated the journey of a new life, not by throwing a party at a grand venue but with relishing the sweetness and crunchiness that their relationship had formed over the months.
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So this OS is a result of my recent experiences plus I've been wanting to write something like this on Arnav and Khushi from a while.
People who are different and appear different are not necessarily accepted in our society and are most of the times not treated with respect, I'm not saying this goes for everyone but I've seen people making comments about others whose dressing and appearance doesn't appeal them.
This one is dedicated to all those people out there who are not appreciated enough just because of a bunch of nonsensical societal values.
Thanks for reading😳
PMs Later
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