Chapter 4
Part 4
'Sambhal kar chalna, yeh dil hote hain naadan, dil se dekhiye Humari Daastan'
As they stepped outside, Khushi turned around to lock the door behind them. Whilst her back was turned, Arnav scoured the balcony to ensure there was no one there to torment them further. As Arnav once again thought back to those low lifes who had pushed and taunted Khushi, his fists clenched automatically and his heartbeats quickened. However, the sound of Khushi's bangles as she finished locking the door pulled him from his anger and he reminded himself that he could not retaliate in front of Khushi.
'Chaliye.' Khushi smiled at Arnav and they both made their way across the balcony and down the chawl steps.
As they descened the stairs, Arnav tightened his grip on Khushi's hand as well as bringing his arm behind her to provide her with some extra support. At this action, a small smile graced Khushi's lips and she shook her head and turned to Arnav,
'Hum neeche utar sakthe hain Arnav. Deewar ka sahara lekar upar neeche karte rahe hain hum. Poori zindagi jab aise jeeni padhti hai toh phir insaan bhoj na bane ke liye cheezon ka sahara le leta hai.'
By now they had reached the bottom of the steps and Arnav had removed his arm from behind Khushi but still held her hand in a firm grip. Just as Khushi took a step towards the car, she felt herself being hindered by the fact that Arnav had not moved. Confused, Khushi turned back to face Arnav and saw that he had a somewhat hurt and angered expression on his face. Khushi furrowed her eyebrows but before she could ask Arnav anything, he began to speak.
'Tumnhe aisa kyun kaha?' He asked bluntly. His monotonic voice revealing nothing about his emotions.
Khushi grew even more perplexed by his question,
'Kya kaha humnein?' she asked in return.
'Sawal ka jawab sawal nahi hota Khushi. Tumne aisa kyun kaha?' Arnav's expression grew sterner.
However Khushi remained baffled. She racked her mind to try and think what she may have said that seemed to offend Arnav so much. When her mind came up blank she shrugged her shoulders at Arnav,
'Humein nahi pata Arnav. Ab chodiye aur chaliye Maa raah dekhti hongi.'
Khushi tried to pull Arnav towards the car but his strong grip meant she remained rooted to the same spot. By now Khushi was growing slightly irritated and she turned to look at Arnav. Irritation clear on her face.
'Tumne yeh kyun kaha ki tum bhoj ho?' Arnav asked Khushi in a tone that portrayed hurt, annoyance and anger.
Realisation came over Khushi's face as she remembered her earlier statement. At the time she had not even realised that Arnav would take her words to heart.
'Arnav, aap humari baat ka-' Khushi tried to explain but Arnav interrupted her,
'Bachpan se leke aaj tak tumhe maine humesha apni samjha hai. Tumhe apni zimedaari samjha hai. Humesha tum par apna haq samjha hai maine - bina yeh parbah kiye ke aur log kya sochte hain. Aur ab tak mujhe bhi yahi lagta tha ki tum bhi mujhe utna hi apna samajhti ho, lekin aaj pata chala ki mujhe kitna paraiya samjhti ho tum.'
Khushi was taken aback by Arnav's word. She had not the faintest idea that her statment would hurt Arnav so deeply and evoke such an intense emotional response from him. His words had touched her heart and she looked down as shame filled her.
'I'm sorry.' She mumbled.
'Kya?' Arnav exclaimed.
'Humne kaha ki-'
'Mujhe pata hai tumne kya kaha.' Arnav explained before continuing,
'Aur phir kabhi aisa kaha na toh tum dekh lena.'
'Lekin humaari baaton se aapko bura laga Arnav.' Khushi said.
'Mujhe bura is baat ka laga ke tumne apne aap ko bhoj kaha. Tumhe main apni zimedaari samajhta hun Khushi - koi bhoj nahi samjhi. Aur haan phir yeh kaha na ke cheezon ke sahara zindagi mein aage bhadna parta hai toh tumhari kasam itna gussa karoonga na. Tumhara sahara banne ka haq sirf aur sirf mera hai. Mujhe apna farz aur kisi ke saath nahi baatna - deewaron se bhi nahi.'
With these heart warming words, Arnav took Khushi towards the car whilst Khushi just stared at him dumb founded. She had no idea what she had done in some past life of hers' to have been fortunate enough to have someone like Arnav in her life now.
As Arnav made Khushi sit in the car and then got in himself as Kaka began driving. Khushi continued to stare at Arnav. Seeing this Arnav smiled a cheeky smile and turned to Khushi and said,
'Aaj suraj ulti disha se utha hai kya?' he teased.
'Kya matlab?' asked Khushi.
'Aaj memsaab bina maange hi apni sone sone mukhde ka deedar de rahi hain.'
Khushi blushed profusley after hearing Arnav's reply causing Arnav and Kaka to erupt into a fit of laughter. Khushi once again tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked out of the window in an attempt to hide her embarrasment.
'Arre Baba yeh toh kuch bhi nahin. Pichle theen saalon se toh bitiya apki tasveer ko hi deedar kara rahi hain aur baatein bhi usi se kar rahi hain.' Kaka joined in the teasing.
'Accha?' said Arnav,
'Phone kya udgaye the ki memsaab humari tasveer se baatein karthi thi. Kyun Khushi jab baat karne ka mann karta tha toh mujhe phone kyun nahi kar leti thi? Aur vaise - jo phone maine tumhare liye bheja tha voh hai kahan?'
Khushi immediately tensed up. She was beginning to realise just how difficult it was going to be to hide her terrible financial condition from Arnav. As Khushi raided her brain trying to find a plausible excuse, Kaka's voice brought her from her thoughts.
'Voh phone bitiya ko mila ho tab hi hoga na Baba.'
Khushi immediately looked up at Kaka and subtly shook her head. She knew that Kaka was aware of the ruthless way in which Mami would treat Khushi but she never thought that he would tell Arnav about it.
'Kya matlab Kaka?' now it was Arnav's turn to be confused.
By now they had reached Sheesh Mahal - the home where both Arnav and Khushi had pretty much grown up in together. As a sweet smile graced both Khushi and Arnav's lips at the sight of the one place that they could truly call home, Kaka's expression grew stern as well as somewhat sad as he mumbled to himself,
'Matlab tum apni Mami se poochna Baba.'
The sight of his home after three long years meant that Arnav forgot Kaka's earlier statement. He stepped out of the car and went to help Khushi out too. As they both walked towards the mahal, both Khushi and Arnav stopped as Arnav let his eyes take in the sight of his home for as long as his heart wished.
____________________________________________________________________
Here's part 4 my lovlies!!
Enjoy and don't forget to leave your comments!
Love Always
Tina
XX
Your reaction
Nice
Awesome
Loved
LOL
OMG
Cry
Continue Reading next part >
Comments (0)