[MEMBERSONLY][NOCOPY]****
DISCLAIMER Character names belong to 4Lion's Production excluding characters that aren't associated with the show. All storylines, plots, quotes, dialogues, etc belong to me unless separate disclaimers are provided when necessary. Do not copy and post anywhere without my consent. All rights reserved. ****

The cool water pooled in his palms before he splashed it across his face, in an attempt to calm his nerves.

He left the tap running as he braced himself against the sink as he stared unseeingly into the mirror before him, his eyes glazed over.

Arnav took a shuddering breath, the chill of the air conditioned bathroom sweeping through him despite the three layers of clothing.

His eyes refocused taking in his bruised and beaten face, there was a deep cut above his left eye, the doctors had told him he would need stitches and that it would leave a scar.

The scar would mar his acutely handsome face, but it didn't matter.

Not when his wife, his Khushi, was fighting for her life down the hall. Not when he was the reason she was lying there, completely lifeless, at this moment.

His eyes remained focused in the mirror, but the image in it changed.

He saw a woman, laying in the colorless hospital room, hooked up to various machines that were trying to keep her alive as she continued to fight. Her ashen face, sunken in, splattered with bruises and cuts, a thick bandage wrapped around her head. She was dressed in some sickly hospital gown.

This wasn't his Khushi, it couldn't be.

Because his Khushi was full of life and color, always spreading her smiles. His Khushi can't lay lifeless on some hospital bed like that.

Just then the doctor's multiple reassurances resounded in his mind, ""We're trying our best, Mr. Raizada." "Don't lose hope." "She was lucky to even have survived the crash.""

An inexplicable rage overcame Arnav suddenly as he punched the mirror with a roar, shattering the image of Khushi in that hospital bed.

Whirling around he kicked aside the trash can, leaving a dent it. He tore the paper towel dispenser off the wall and hurled it against the opposite wall.

He walked over and kicked one of the bathroom stall doors with such vigour that it almost fell off its hinges.

Falling back against the wall next to it, Arnav sank to the floor, unshed tears burned his eyes till they finally spilled over.

"I'm sorry, Khushi." He held his head in his hands. "I'm so damn sorry."

Only the Gods he didn't believe in knew how long he sat on the cold bathroom floor as silent tears made their way down his cheeks, staining them.

And only the Gods he didn't believe in knew how he was able to pull himself together and drag himself out of there, back to Khushi's room.

He froze in front of the door, peering in through the small window with bloodshot eyes, screaming with the pain he felt at seeing her in that condition.

Slowly, ever-so quietly he made his way inside. He let his feet drag him to the metal stool that stood next to the hospital bed.

Taking his place next to the bed, Arnav grabbed a hold of Khushi's left hand while being mindful of the IV tube attached to her hand.

He held her hand with both of his, bringing it up to his lips as he placed a long, chaste kiss on the back of her hand. His eyes fell on the still glittering, simple diamond ring adorning her ring finger as if it were telling him to hold on.

He lifted his gaze to her pale face, eyeing each bruise, each cut that he was responsible for while another part of his brain remembered another face, a bright, smiling face with two sparkling green eyes that held the utmost love only for him.

****

Arnav lifted his eight year old niece into his arms and out of the car and carried her into Dreamer's Dance Academy, the cursive lettered board read above the building next to them.

"I'm looking for a Ms. K--"

"Down the hall, last room to your right." The receptionist told him before he could even finish, a silly smile playing at her lips.

Confused, he asked, "How do you know who I'm asking for? You didn't even let me begin, let alone finish!"

"They all come looking for the same person and I'm sure you're no different. You're looking for Khushi Kumari Gupta, right?" The receptionist winked.

"Yes, but--" Arnav begun only to be cut off again. "Look Mister, it's time for my lunch break I'll be going." Glancing at the young girl in his arms, she added, "At least you were smart enough to bring one along."

"What the--!" Arnav muttered, his irritation growing.

"Remember, last room to your right!" The receptionist called over her shoulder as she walked off.

"Unbelievable." Arnav shook his head, smiled at his niece, Sapna, and went in the direction told to him.

As he neared the end of the hall the lyrics of some bollywood song reached his ears paired with the constant jingling of something... Anklets? Bangles?

The door had been left open, but Arnav stood frozen at the entrance.

Everything faded to the background when he eyes fell on the figure in blue as it twirled around. Her long mahogany hair missed his face by inches as she twirled several more times before returning to the center.

She paused mid-twirl as her hand came up to cover her face, revealing only her twinkling green eyes. Slowly spreading her arms out and away from her pace, she took her last position as the songs last beats were swallowed by the applause from everyone present in the rehearsal hall.

Smiling, she thanked everyone as Arnav stepped forward almost as if he was in some sort of trance. Standing right behind Khushi he whispered, "Beautiful..."

"Huh?" Khushi turned around, "Oh, hello! Can I help you?"

"Uh, I'm here for my niece's first dance class. The receptionist directed me this way. I'm looking for a Ms. Khushi Kumari Gupta?" Arnav answered, unsure for the first time in his life.

"Well then you've found her!" Khushi smiled, holding on her hand, "I'm Khushi. Nice to meet you."

Taking her hand he responded, "Arnav. Arnav Singh Raizada."

****

*Few months later*

"That's it for today's class!" Khushi announced and all the children ran out together at once.

Smiling to herself, Khushi dropped her dupatta on the ground, hit play and assumed position. She had only completed the first few steps when a sudden cough caught her attention.

Turning around she found Arnav leaning against the doorway. Collecting her dupatta, Khushi walked over to him and greeted, "Hi, Arnav! What brings you here?"

"I just came to ask you about--" Arnav began, but it seemed that everyone around them had a habit of cutting him off.

"About Spana, right? Sapna has been doing extraordinarily well in class, she's caught up with the rest of the students." Khushi told Arnav happily, who smiled back.

"Well she does have an amazing teacher." Arnav pointed out, making Khushi giggle.

"No, no." Khushi denied while pulling her hair back into a ponytail. "It's all her, afterall she's the one who works so hard."

Reaching up, Arnav placed his hands on top of hers. "Leave it."

"Arnav... You?" Khushi mumbled. "Woh... Um... Sapna is playing with the other children outside..."

"Shhh." Arnav hushed her, placing his finger on her lips. "Khushi... Do you know why I've been dropping and picking Sapna up for the past three months?"

Khushi hesitantly shook her head no, her wide eyes questioning him. "Because you're here."

"To see me? What do you mean to see me?!" Khushi questioned, shocked by his words.

"Honestly... I don't know, Khushi." Arnav ran a hand through his hair, tousling it. "All I know is that from the first time I saw you I just can't stop thinking about you."

Khushi opened and closed her mouth a few times, the words dying on her lips. So stepping forward, Arnav took a hold of her hand and asked, "Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?"

Arnav hadn't realized that he was holding his breath till hers let it out as Khushi smiled slightly and nodded shyly.

****

*Two years later*

"It's been two years since we started seeing each other, four months since we've gotten married and that man still doesn't show up on time to pick me up!" Khushi ranted angrily to herself as she was the last person left as she waited outside the dance academy for her husband to pick her up like always.

"Is someone waiting for me?" The husky voice called out and Khushi turned around to find Arnav leaning against his car door, she hadn't noticed him pull up.

"HMPH!" Khushi stomped her foot and started to walk off.

Arnav instantly caught up and fell into to step next to her. "Baby, are we going for a midnight walk?"

Khushi just shot him a fierce glare and Arnav resented, "Ok ok. I'm sorry, jaan. I'll take whatever punishment you give me, just get in the car. Please?"

Coming to a stop, she whipped her head around to him before turning around completely and walking back to the car and seating herself while Arnav watched with a sigh.

He saw how she turned her head away as he seated himself and realized that this was his punishment. Not talking to him.

"By not talking your only punishing yourself, Khushi." Arnav chuckled as he pulled onto the road, but stopped the second he saw her eyes flash.

Glancing at her, he tried again, "I said, I'm sorry. Please talk to me... You know how much silence bothers me ever since you came into my life. Please, jaan, please talk to me."

By now Arnav was looking right at Khushi, who slowly looked up at him. She stared at him for a while before she opened her mouth to speak, but her gaze suddenly flickered forward and she screamed, "ARNAV! TRUCK!"

Arnav reflexively veered the car's direction, turning the steering wheel aggressively, but it was too late.

Their car collided head on with the side of the truck, throwing the both of them forward. Arnav tried reaching out for Khushi as he heard her piercing scream, but before his hand reached her's everything went black.

****

Arnav's eyes shot open, blinking against the harsh hospital lights as he came out of the darkness from his memories. Rubbing a hand across his tired face, he tried pushing away those horrid memories that reminded him why they were here in the first place.

Tears burned in his eyes as he thought of the danger he had put his wife, his Khushi in. He cursed himself internally, he was the reason that the girl who brought life to everything including him was now lying lifelessly on this damned hospital bed.

But before Arnav could curse himself anymore, the hand held in his twitched. He was instantly standing, stroking her hair as he willed her to open her eyes, to look at him.

And in that next second, her eyes fluttered open and the moment they rested on him they sparkled with the uncontained love and pride they always held when she looked at him, even now.

"Khushi, I... I'm so so sorry..." Arnav almost sobbed as he leaned his forehead against hers. He only looked up when he felt her right hand wipe away the lone tear that had escaped from his cheek. "I... I... I don't know what... If I didn't have you... I--"

"Shhh-hh." Khushi spoke softly, a smile gracing her lips even with her voice cracking in between. "I know."

****

NOTE

Flashbacks in Italics.

Not going to say much today... Just hope you enjoyed this OS. :)

Once again this OS was inspired by a song and that song is 'If I Didn't Have You' by Thompson Square(below). And I am absolutely in love with this song<3

Read, Like, and Comment! :)

New Readers Please Buddy for Updates.

For my other works - INDEX

If I Didn't Have You - Thompson Square

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNX3y4S_jKU[/YOUTUBE]

Titaliya_AP2013-12-24 23:28:57