Aditya,
Anjali, Payal, Lavanya and NK drove out to have dinner. They had a
silent dinner, discussing only about Arnav and Khushi, their love and
how much they had suffered because of all the misunderstanding.
Anjali had grown a little tense, owing to her guilt that she was
somehow responsible for all this. After all, Shyam, her husband had
been the root cause for this mess and she had blindly lsat back.
Aditya silently held her hand under the table, letting her know his
presense, somehow managing to erase Anjali's disgust that had taken
over her, when she thought of her ex-husband. Anjali would be ever
grateful to him for providing her the silent support, when she needed
it the most.
As
Payal saw Anjali and Aditya have a conversation just through their
eyes, as if they had loved and understood each other forever, and NK
and Lavanya look at each other and smile shyly, she remembered her
husband. Missing him, she excused herself and called him up,
explaining everything that had happened in London. And when she said
she missed him, he replied, "Its impossible for me to come over,
Payal. Waise, from where I see, Khushi can be healed only by bhai.
Why don't you all return? And if Khushi isn't willing to return, bhai
can always stay back in London."
"You're
right... Let me ask Aditya. We'll return depending on what he says.
Okay?" Payal replied, and chuckled when her husband started to
complain that he missed his wife. She consoled him, with her
never-ending patience, telling that she'd be there very soon.
Joining
her companions, she asked Aditya whether she could leave London.
Aditya was surprised at her question. "I thought you'd like to
spend sometime with your sister." Aditya exclaimed, wondering if
the protective elder sister that he had seen in Payal was a facade.
Payal smiled as she replied with confidence, "And I will. Once
my younger sister learns to cope with life, with the help of
Jethji... Come to think of that, there's actually no need for Di and
NK to stay back too. From where I stand there's nothing else we
can do."
Aditya
stopped his hand midway to his mouth, and turned to Anjali. Did Payal
mean that Anjali should leave too?! Of course he could go with her.
But Khushi? He didn't want to leave her alone. At least not yet. And
judging Khushi's early reaction to Arnav, he was sure that Khushi
wouldn't like to go back to India along with Arnav and family. Anjali
saw the wistful look on Aditya's face and turned to Payal. "Payal.
I don't think Khushi would want to come back with us. And we can't
force her to do it. Obviously, chotey won't be leaving her side, and
I can't leave chotey alone. I know you miss Akash. You may go as soon
as possible." Anjali answered in a firm voice.
Payal
smiled and understood that Anjali didn't have a mind to leave Aditya
alone too, as she looked at his face gain a joyous grin. "Ji Di.
. . Par usse pehle, hum Khushi se ek baar baat karna chahte hai. . .
. . Without her fainting, that is!" Payal smiled affectionately,
as she remembered her sister. Aditya got into business mode then.
"Yes. We'll do it tomorrow." He said nodding at her.
o0o0o0o0o0o
Khushi
woke up with a heavy, but warm feeling on her chest. She looked at a
strong arm, wrapped possessively around her, and she knew that it
could only be her husband's. A smile spread on her lips as she turned
to look at him sleeping peacefully next to her. She brushed away the
cowlick of his hair off his forehead.
But
even as her smile had started, it came to an end. She found herself
lifting his arm off herself, not so gently. Arnav, who had woke up
when her small hand had ever so gently touched his forehead, now
opened his eyes to stare at Khushi trying to shove him away.
"Where
do you think you're going?" Arnav murmured with a calm so rarely
found in him, it managed to take Khushi by surprise. "I. . . .
Leave me. . . . ." Khushi muttered as she started to wriggle out
expecting him to tighten his grip. But Khushi was in for another
shock, when he removed his hand suddenly and considered her with the
smallest of smile on his face.
Khushi
stared at him uncertainly for a few seconds, her eyes darting between
him and the door which provided a safe exit, away from him, which she
eventually chose.
After
having a quick wash, she turned on the radio, her best friend these
days, turning up the volume so that she didn't have to listen to
Arnav when he spoke, and started pulling stuff out for breakfast.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn676-fLq7I[/YOUTUBE]
He
had followed her out of the room, and his eyes followed each of her
movement. She was singing along, completely ignoring him, and at one
point he couldn't take this any longer and turned the radio off.
Turning
to the radio when it suddenly stopped, she saw Arnav fold his arms
after turning off the radio. She was about to protest, and a little
too violently, when Arnav closed the distance between them with two
long strides and stood directly in front of her. Removing a speck of
flour off Khushi's cheek, he said "I'm here, Khushi. Talk to
me."
"Umm.
. . I shall stop being subtle and break the fact down to you. I DON'T
WANT
TO TALK TO YOU. Leave me alone." Khushi said in a voice dripping
with sarcasm. Arnav smiled as if she had proclaimed her undying love
for him and replied, "Highly unlikely to happen, Khushi. You'd
ALWAYS find ME with you." He stressed on the "me"
part, willing her to understand and accept the fact that he would
never be leaving her side. At least not anymore. Khushi gave out a
derisive snort, and questioned, "Listen to yourself!! Do you
even REALIZE how FAKE
you're sounding right now?!"
Arnav
had just opened his mouth to explain that it was all in the past,
when Khushi held her stomach, going pale all of a sudden. Not giving
a chance to Arnav, to even ask her what was wrong, she ran to the
kitchen sink, and retched.
Arnav
had immediately understood what was happening. He was going to be a
father, after all! And his pregnant wife was suffering a bout of
morning sickness! He got into business mode, gathering Khushi's hair
in one of his hands, while he used his other hand to touch her sweaty
forehead. She tried to push him away with her one hand, as the other
gripped the sink counter in a vice grip. But as expected by her, it
didn't had any effect on him and his concern for her.
After
rinsing her mouth, Khushi leaned on Arnav, too weak to even think and
stop herself from touching him in anyway. But now that she was picked
up into the safety of his arms, her hand rested on the strong column
of his neck, as the other went around his shoulder. She laid her head
on his chest and listened to his frantic heartbeat for a while,
before she pulled back and looked at his face which managed to show
nothing on it. She inquired if he was alright. In return to that
question, Arnav looked at her drily, shaking his head in
disappointment.
"Really
-- Khushi? YOU are asking ME, that?!" he questioned back as he
gently laid her down on the bed, where they had slept the previous
night. Khushi considered him with weary eyes, noticing how much he
was talking today. Maybe not too much, but
it was too much for him!
Commenting, "You're talking too much today.", she kept her
gaze on him, waiting for an explanation.
Arnav
stopped amidst spreading the duvet on Khushi, his eyes gaining a
distant look. "This was how I used to talk. I had just stopped
it in between. And you got me back to normal." Arnav explained,
shrugging, as he tucked her in. It was clear from his actions that
come what may, he wouldn't be leaving her side. And if she had any
doubts in this regard, they were cleared when he laid himself down
beside her, a hand on her belly.
Khushi
really wanted to push his hand away. But she felt this warm feeling
spread all over her. The return of Arnav into her life had made her
immediately forget the past and hold onto him greedily. But she still
wasn't ready to show him how much of a necessity he was for her.
To
live.
To
survive.
So
she looked up at the ceiling with cold eyes, which Arnav completely
missed, as he skimmed his nose across the alabaster skin on her
cheek, murmuring how much he loved and missed her. Khushi's eyes
welled up and she accused him of lying so blatantly, with a choked
voice.
"Khushi!
I love you more than my life, love. You may not believe me now, and I
am to blame myself for that. But. . . ." Arnav, for the first
time, was opening up to his wife, when he was stopped by a knock at
he door. He frowned and sighed in irritation, before pressing his
lips to her cheek, making her lean towards his lips, and muttered,
"We shall talk. Later."
Arnav
opened the door, to be greeted by a huge smile from Payal. He gave a
perfunctory nod, feeling weighed down by Khushi's reaction to him.
Such a reaction from her brother-in-law, who had strived so hard to
make their relationship at least civil, if not cordial, brought down
Payal's smile by a notch. Feeling concerned, she questioned him with
her eyes, as to what worried him. He simply spared a glance in
Khushi's direction, and Payal nodded in understanding. Khushi, got up
to see who was at the door.
Aditya,
standing behind Payal now, greeted Arnav loudly, making Khushi run
out and greet both Payal and Aditya so heartily that it made Arnav
envious. He knew that the derisive treatment that he was being
subjected to, by Khushi, was undubitably earned by him. But he was,
after all, a human. Greed and want came without a glitch. Aditya
pulled Khushi and sat her down on the couch, seating himself next to
her, and waited for the emotional exchange between the sisters,
leading to a lot many tears being shed by each, to ebb.
As
they finally cleared their throats, Payal hugged her sister and
whispered in her ear, "Promise me two things, Khushi. . .
."
"Anything,
Jiji"
"One.
Let him help you. He loves you too much for his own good. Accept his
love. Will you?"
"I'll
try my level best, Jiji"
"Two.
Come home soon, Khushi. You have no idea how much we all missed you.
. . Especially him! Its a surprise that he didn't turn into a
deranged lunatic!"
"You
mean he didn't turn into me??"
"Khushi!
There's nothing wrong with you! Had I been in your place I'd probably
not have lived this long. But PLEASE, PLEASE don't cut him out."
Khushi
pulled back and lowered her gaze to their intertwined fingers. A sad
smile spread on her face as she replied, "Cutting him out is
something which isn't under my control Jiji. . . I just wish I could
do it, though. . . . Would have saved me lots of trouble!"
Payal
felt lot better when she saw that Khushi wasn't in denial, trying to
foolishly decline the love she had for Arnav. Things would get
better. Definitely!
"I
have to leave today, Khushi. Ab jaldi ghar aajao. Aur waise bhi, aisi
situation pe, hum bhi tumhaara khayaal rakhna chahte hai!" Payal
said, giving her a knowing grin, which went completely lost on
Khushi, who wondered what that was all about.
"Bilkul!!"
Anjali's voice was heard, as she entered the living room, a tray
laden with tea cups for all of them in her hands. Aditya immediately
got to her, and the couple shared a loving smile, which Khushi didn't
miss for once. Her eyes went wide in surprise, and immediately
sought Arnav's to confirm her doubts.
'Is
this really happening??'
Arnav
nodded once, minutely, having a silent conversation with his wife
amidst all the others gathered there.
Khushi
seemed even more surprised with it.
'And
you're okay with it?!!!'
The
reply for this, from her dear husband, was a devil-may-care shrug.
Khushi's
expression, now changed into a very earnest searching.
'Who
are you? And what have you done to my husband?!'
Arnav
grinned widely at her, knocking the daylights off her with it, and
managing to steal her breath away. Yet again. . . . . . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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