Part 9 :: Day 3[Part 3]

Arnav entered the cottage with Khushi, his hand in Khushi's. He stopped at the threshold, titling his head towards Khushi he smiled at her. He saw her looking inside, trying to take in the surrounding with her dimly enthusiastic eyes. And he was also too keen to saw their secret heaven to Khushi.

He bend little and coiling his hand under her knees, he picked her in his arms, startling Khushi.

"Grahpravesh? Right?" smiling at her he crossed the threshold, marking the beginning of their new life.

Khushi's eyes roamed around. Arnav took her in the living room which consists of a small fireplace, a small cozy sofa and a open kitchen with a small wooden dining table.

Arnav stood in the middle of the room and let Khushi stand on her feet.

"This is my Mumma's cottage, Khushi. Whenever we use to come Delhi to visit Nani, we use to come here to spend our vacation"

Khushi looked around noticing every little detail. She liked the small kitchen, it was so unlike the big one in Raizada Mansion. The small dining table only adequate for four. Everything was so unlike the strong Arnav Singh Raizada she was conversant with.

Arnav looked at Khushi, observing everything silently. Misunderstanding her silence, he moved in front of her.

"Khushi, if you didn't like this place then we can move.."

"No"

Arnav looked at Khushi.

"I...I like this place. It' s very nice" Khushi passed a hesitant smile at him.

Arnav looked at her. The Khushi he knew would have talked nineteen to dozen, explaining every detail of the cottage. But there she stood, trying to smile at him, answering his every question in monosyllable. What will it take to bring that old Khushi back? He is ready to give everything and anything. And in return he just want his old Khushi back.

Arnav moved towards Khushi and took her hand in his.

"Let me show you the bedroom. Its upstairs" Arnav pointed at the narrow stairs going up.

Khushi allowed him to take her wherever he wants. He took her upstairs. Pushing the wooden door open, he took Khushi inside. And again the bedroom was nothing like the one in RM. A wooden bed with fluffy mattress, not as big as the one in RM but as per her liking. And an attached balcony enclosed with glass windows from all sides

"I like this room.." Khushi said without asking. And seeing a blur glimpse of an old Khushi, Arnav smiled at her but before he can say anything, his phone came alive.

" Yes, Doctor?" Arnav said in the phone.

"Morning Mr.Raizada. I hope you have not forgotten that today I have a session with Khushi. I will be there in an hour" Raphael informed.

"I remember Dr. But you can't go to Raizada Mansion, I will give you a new address, you can come there" Arnav replied.

Raphael's face cringed in confusion but he kept the questions for later.

"Ok, Mr.Raizada"

Arnav kept the phone in his trouser and turned around to see Khushi, who was looking at him.

"Who was there?"Khushi asked.

"Doc...I mean my friend, Raphael." Arnav replied.

"Is he coming here?" Khushi asked.

Arnav nodded at Khushi and saw her smile. And he can't help but feel jealous, jealous of that Doctor who is capable of bringing that smile on his Khushi's face.

"Khushi, you freshen up. I will bring the bags from the car" Arnav said to Khushi and getting a nod from her, he exited the room.

...

Arnav and Khushi were seated in the living room. Khushi was examining the paintings and vases placed there and Arnav was with his Laptop when they heard the door bell ring.

Arnav was about to get up but stopped as he saw Khushi on her way to open the door.

"Oh, hello sweetheart. How are you?" Raphael asked flicking Khushi's nose with his finger.

"I fine, how are you?" Khushi asked smiling.

"Ah, what do you think? How do I look? I am perfectly fine" he winked at Khushi.

Arnav looked at the duo, with his jaw set and palms fisted in ball. How dare he call his Khushi sweetheart?

"Can I get a glass of water, Khushi?"

Khushi nodded at Raphael and turned to go in kitchen.

Raphael saw Khushi leaving and he immediately went towards Arnav.

"Mr. Raizada, what are you guys doing here? Why did you left your house?" Raphael asked to Arnav.

Arnav glared at him but nevertheless, he replied.

"Khushi asked for this.She wants me to leave my sister and I can't deny her, so we came here to live" Arnav replied coldly.

"And why is that?" Raphael asked but before Arnav can reply to that Khushi came back.

"Water.." Khushi forwarded the glass of water.

Raphael took the glass from Khushi, smiling at her.

"Thank you, Khushi"

Rahpael handed the glass back to Khushi.

"So Khushi, can I have a walk with you?" Raphael asked forwarding his hand at Khushi.

Arnav's head snapped at Raphael. He was about to protest but seeing Khushi placing her hand in Raphael's, he stopped. He closed his eyes. He need to control himself.

"Mr.Raizada, don't worry, we will be around and be back quick." Raphael said to Arnav and started moving towards the door with Khushi.

And soon as the door closed, Arnav's hand caught a vase, ready to flunk it but the smile which Khushi had while observing this vase stopped him. He kept the vase back to it's palce and slummed on the sofa.

He can't do anything other then wait!

...

"So Khushi, I heard you two moved out. Can I ask you why?" Raphael asked while walking inside the woods and felt Khushi's hold tighten.

"It's ok, Khushi. If you don't want to share then it's ok.." he don't want to make her uncomfortable otherwise all the progress he has made till now will be doomed.

They walked in a comfortable silence, not speaking anything , just gazing at the woods passing by and after few minutes of silence Raphael heard Khushi speak.

"He loves only his Di.." Raphael turned his head to his left to look at Khushi. Her head down but as he looked at her she lifted her head to look at him, her pained eyes colliding with his. He kept his assuring hand around her shoulder.

"It's ok Khushi. You can tell me anything, you know right?" Raphael gave her a reassuring smile.

Khushi nodded at him.

Raphael took her towards a small stone bench and made her seat there. Sitting beside her, he looked at her, expecting her to speak something. And he was not disappointed.

"Arnav ji,...he...he married me for his Di...He thought...thought...he thought I am having an affair with his Jijaji...I wasn't ...I...believe me...I wasn't...Shyam ji lied to me...I wasn't at fault...please belive me...I..."

Raphael took her in his arms, patting her head.

"I believe you, Khushi. I do, ok? Relax, I do..." Raphael assured her. How can anyone not believe her? But certainly Mr.Raizada is an exception.

"He thought I am having...having an affair with Shyam ji and he blackmailed me to marry him...for...for six months...I hate him...because of him Amma slapped me...but he...he did nothing...I hate him...but...but I love him...I ...I ...I don't know...I don't know what I feel...I...will you help me?" Khushi lifted her head to look at Raphael.

Raphael looked at the lost soul in front of him. A sudden lump heightened in his throat. This is the very reason he treats his every patient just that, a patient and nothing else. He don't want to get emotionally attached with anyone. This is his job and he wants to treat it like one. But there is something about the girl seating in front of him that he can't help but feel her agony, feel the emotional clamp. And with the hope and faith she was looking at him, he can do nothing but nod his head at her.

Khushi smiled at him through her tears.

"Thank you...tell me...tell me what should I do.." Khushi asked him, her head resting on his shoulder.

Raphael smiled at her. What does she thinks? That he is some God, who has a solution to every problem? But the feeling of being trustworthy felt good. God or no God, he will try his best to help her.

"First tell me what you want? You want him or not, you love him or not?" Raphael asked.

"I...don't know...I want him...I love him...but not the one whom I have seen after the marriage...I want the Arnav ji, who use to shout at me, push me away from him, blame me for everything wrong happening in this world...but...but he never meant anything...I had seen in his eyes, he use to call me gold digger but his eyes use to tell something else...he never meant anything he accused me of...but that day...that day on terrace...he meant it...he meant it...he thinks I am a characterless girl and he meant it...I hate him for that... but now..now...now he says he is sorry...but what if ...what if he again becomes the Arnav ji I had seen in this three months...what if he again starts accusing me for his Di's loss?...I..."

"And you think that by asking him to leave his Di, he will never go back to becoming the Arnav ji you hate?"

Khushi lifted her head from his shoulder to look at Raphael.

"I...I...I don't know...he said that he only loves his Di...so...so how can he love me if his Di is with him...he will again become that Arnav ji if he is with his Di...She will take him away from me...she will..."

Raphael saw her panicking. He immediately brought her close.

"Shh...it's ok, Khushi...I understand...I understand what you and why you did...but can I tell you something?"

Khushi nodded her head.

"Try to trust him. I am sure he will not let you down this time. Just give him a chance, will you?" Raphael asked. He may hate what her husband did to her but this is not about Mr.Raizada. It's about her, Khushi. He can see how much she loves him and his work is to make everything better not worse.

Khushi processed Raphael's every word and after waiting for few seconds she nodded at him.

"OK.." Khushi whispered as she again rested her head on his shoulder, closing her tired eyes.

...

His restlessness was growing every passing second. It's been so long and they are not back yet. Should he go out or wait? Tired of pacing the length and breadth of the room, he slummed on the sofa, his fist clenching and unclenching at his sides. But he got up again. What are they doing for so long? Unable to relax himself any more, he moved towards exit.

Arnav entered the woods after searching for them at the other places. Venturing more inside the woods, he saw Raphael and Khushi seated on the stone bench, Khushi's head on his shoulder and Raphael's hand around her shoulder. Clenching his teeth, he was beside Raphael in no time and took Khushi in his arms.

"Wow...Don't shout Mr.Raizada, Khushi is asleep. What have I done to earn that glare?" Raphael passed a teasing smile.

"You.."

"No No Mr.Raizada. Cool down...I have no such feelings for your wife. She is like my..." Raphael paused for a moment before continuing again "hmm...like my friend, sister, daughter. Pick whichever word you liked. Because they are just that, words. Mere words. It's the feeling and emotions you share with the person hold meaning, not the name which you give to that relationship."

Arnav stood there, not knowing what to say at that. So he just ignored that and turned around.

"Mr.Raizada, we need to talk" Raphael stopped him.

"Let me take Khushi back home, you wait here I will be back" Arnav replied without turning.

Raphael shook his head at the retreating back of Mr.Raizada. Stubborn stubborn man! Khushi is a fool to fall in love with him. But now the damage is done and he is here to repair it!

Precap----

A song in precap, hope you like it! Song from movie- silsila, sung by Amitabh Bachchan, a little rough voice😆, yet beautiful, and if you have not seen the balcony, then do have a look😉

Youtube Link---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTG6-ksj7lI

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=CTG6-ksj7lI[/YOUTUBE]

So, How was it? Do share your views :)

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shona_arhilover2014-03-02 09:49:01