Chapter 24

"Khushi?" Arnav called her as he saw her chopping the vegetables for afternoon meal. He stood there leaning on the further end of the kitchen slab, seeing his wife cooking after so long.

Khushi's hand halted as she lifted her head to acknowledge his call.

"Ji? Aap ko kuch chahiye? Lunch will be ready in few minutes." Khushi replied, a small smile playing on her lips as she again resumed her work.

Arnav sighed contently. Atleast she is opening up little bit. Arnav chuckled softly. Just one word and she is ready with three sentence. Yes! She is coming back. But his mind again fled to the conversation he had had with Raphael. If he wants his old Khushi back, the same old one without any changes, than he need to do something. Khushi isn't capable of hating anyone, that's what Raphael told and he knows that too. Its just her fear speaking and he needs to do something to vanish that fear.

Arnav pushed himself straight and took small steps towards his wife. Sliding his hand on her stomach he nuzzled her neck, earning a sudden jump from his wife. Arnav smiled as he heard her uneven breathing and kept his chin on her shoulder.

"Khushi?" he called for the second time.

Khushi can only hummm in reply.

"What are you doing?" Arnav asked sliding her hair on one shoulder and kissing her neck, now free from any obstruction.

"Mak...making lunch..." Khushi stated the obvious, her hands holding the knife, trembling, making her difficult to work. Khushi closed her eyes as she felt him leave several kisses from her neck to her cheek.

"Don't make..." Arnav whispered, his hands sliding up from her stomach.

"Huhh?" Khushi tried to tilt her head to look at him. Not make lunch? Than what are they going to eat? She don't want that mild restaurant food he is making her have this days, she is bored of that now. "I don't want to eat restaurants food, Arnav ji. It will not take much time, I am almost done and..."

"Let's go out..." Arnav cut her mid sentence and turned her around in his arms.

Khushi stared at him.

"Go out?"

"Yes. Go out. For picnic?" Arnav suggested.

"Picnic?" Khushi looked confused.

"Yes. Picnic. With everyone. With you Amma, Babuji, Buaji...and ...and with my family..." Arnav smiled and tightened his hold on her waist as he felt her go stiff at the mention of his family.

"Every...everyone?...but..."

Arnav stopped her by kissing her lips.

"Yes. Everyone...We will come back here...no one will force you to stay back...or return home..." Arnav looked at her uncertain eyes. Sighing, he touched his forehead with hers. "I love you Khushi.." he kissed her cheek, confessing his love.

Khushi opened her eyes to look at his face, his eyes closed. Leaning forward she pecked his lips.

"Ok.."

Arnav opened his eyes, staring in her beautiful hazel.

"Yes?" Arnav asked to confirm, little uncertain.

"Yes." Khushi confirmed, smiling slightly.

Arnav picked her up, twirling her round.

"Arnav ji, no! Hume chakkar aate hain...no please..." but Arnav twirled her few times, before keeping her down.

Khushi slummed against his broad chest , her head spinning.

"Khushi?"

"Humara sir ghum raha hai..." Khushi mumbled supporting herself against his chest.

Arnav chuckled and hugged her tight.

"Don't worry, I am there to hold you in case you fall." He kissed her hair.

"You were always there..." Khushi mumbled, remembering all the time he was there to break her fall.

They stayed like that for few minutes before Arnav broke the hug.

"Khushi, I will go and call home, to let them know about the picnic. I will call your home too" Arnav smiled.

Khushi tried to give a smile in return.

Arnav saw her hesitancy but he let it go for now. He will have to do this whether she likes it or not. May be seeing everyone around her she may like being with them.

"Khushi? You want to call Raphael? To join us?" Arnav asked and saw a beautiful smile instantly creeping on her lips.

But today he didn't felt jealous.

"But I don't have his number" Khushi's sad tone reached his ears as he looked at her.

Arnav smiled and took out his cell from his pocket.

"I have." Arnav held out his phone for Khushi.

Khushi smiled at him gratefully and took his cell from his hand.

Raphael was about to pick his intercom to call his assistant when he was stopped as his cell came alive. Dipping his hand in his trouser's pocket he removed his cell.

"Hello." Raphael said in the phone.

"Namaste..." Raphael smiled as he heard that voice. Who else greets him with Namaste?

"Hello, sweetheart. How are you?" Raphael asked.

"How did you know it is me?"Raphael heard her confused voice.

"That's a secret" Raphael whispered. "I won't tell you" he continued in the low voice.

Khushi giggled at his childishness.

"Ok, don't tell me. I haven't called you to know your secret.." Khushi replied.

"Accha, than what is that you have called me for?" Raphael asked.

"I called you to invite for a picnic."

"Picnic?"

"Yes. Family picnic" Khushi replied.

Raphael's ears perked up at that. Family picnic?

"Khushi? What are you telling?" Raphael asked confused.

"Yes. We all are going out for a picnic. And I want you to come" Khushi smiled.

Raphael heard what Khushi said and than looked at the list in front of him, his all appointments pending.

"Hmmm...Khushi...sweetheart I would have loved to accompany you...but you see I have some work commitments... "

Khushi heard Raphael and bow her head down guiltily.

"I am so sorry...You have your work and I always bug you...I am really sorry..."

"Khushi, no need to feel guilty, sweetheart. And you don't bug me. I love your company, and I would have joined you guys too if had not so many pending appointment" Raphael tried to take away the guilt. "But give me the venue, I will try to finish my work soon and join you guys later. Is that ok with you?"

Khushi smiled.

"Yes. And its ok if you don't have time. I understand"

"As I said, I love the time I spend with you. And I would hate to miss any opportunity to be with you, so I will wrap my work soon and join you. Ok?"

"Ok?" Khushi smiled and disconnected the call.

Arnav's car came to a stop and Khushi's gaze moved out, the greenery spread to no end. Numerous tall oak trees stood proud not allowing the raging sun to burn the delicate grass. Khushi smiled, there are woods behind their cottage too but the trees there are not huge enough to block the sun rays from touching the earth. This place was good, providing cool air in this humid day.

Arnav stepped out of the car and went across to open the door for Khushi. He extended his hand which Khushi took gladly.

"The place is beautiful, isn't Khushi?" Arnav asked as he shut the door closed.

Khushi smiled and nodded her head.

Arnav was about to open his mouth to brief her about the place when they heard another car coming to a screeching stop. He turned around to see two cars parked few feet away from them.

He saw everyone coming out of the car. He moved his eyes towards Khushi to gauge her reaction, she smiled, her eyes fixed on her Babu ji.

Khushi saw her Amma, wheeling her Babuji towards her. She immediately ran towards him. Kneeling in front of him, she threw her arms around her Babuji.

"Babuji, how are you. I missed you so much." Khushi broke the hug, looking at her Babuji.

Her Babuji nodded his head, conveying how much he had missed her.

Khushi smiled and got up to hug her Amma and Buaji.

"Khushi? Kaisi ho bitiya? Her Amma asked.

"Hum Acche hain Amma" Khushi replied smiling.

"Khushi?" Khushi heard the voice and looked behind her Amma. Her smile widened and she ran towards her Jiji.

"Jiji, I missed you so much. I am so happy to see you all again." Khushi gave her sister a bone crushing hug.

Payal smiled as her eyes brimmed with tears. She ran her fingers in Khushi's hair.

"I missed you too, Khushi. I love you.." Payal whispered breaking the hug.

"Chalo chalo, bhe are here phor picnic kauna bharat milap dekhne thode hi aaye hain. Hello hi bye bye." Mami ji swayed towards them adjusting her feathery round hat.

Payal smiled at her Mother-in-law and took the mat from her hand.

"Khushi, come" Arnav said.

Khushi turned around to look at Arnav ji, smiling she went toward him.

"Thank you, Arnav ji. I am so happy to see everyone." Khushi side hugged him, hanging on his right arm.

Arnav smiled looking at her happy face. As she kept her head on his shoulder, Arnav looked back. He looked at the second car and than saw the door open. He felt his eyes sting with tears as he saw his Di after so long.

Anjali was looking at Khushi, her happiness as she mingled with everyone. And not wanting to ruin her happiness she stayed in the car till he saw Khushi turn back and walk along with her Chhote. Pushing the door open, she got out of the car only to look straight in her Chhote's eyes. The pain in his eyes was so palpable that she can sense it even from that afar. She smiled at him, trying to assure him.

Arnav saw his Di smiling at him. He tried to swallow the lump and smiled back at her. The two important ladies for whom he can even die are suffering just because of him. He averted his eyes unable to take it. He needs to meet her.

"Khushi? You sit here, I will be just back, ok?" Arnav gestured towards the mat.

Khushi opened her mouth to ask something but was interrupted by her sister.

"Ha Khushi, come. I have so many things to talk about. Come here..." Payal caught her hand and dragged Khushi with her.

Arnav saw Khushi leaving with her sister and he immediately turned back. He saw his Di still standing near the car. Without waiting for a second, he ran towards her.

Anjali's lips broke into one of her beautiful smile as she saw her brother coming towards her.

Arnav engulfed his sister into a hug, kissing her hair.

"I missed you so much Di...so much...Aap kaise ho?..."

Anjali's eyes brimmed with tears as she felt the pain in his voice. He loves her. She knows that. And she also knows its isn't easy for him to stay away from her. To her surprise,she had managed well. But hearing her brother, she can sense his pain.

"Chhote, I am fine, ok? And everything will be alright soon...believe me." she replied running her fingers in his hair.

Arnav broke the hug and looked at his sister's smiling face. And than his gaze moved to her slightly swollen belly.

"How is the baby, Di. Is he doing well? Are you going for your regular check ups? Are you following your diet? Dammit, I should have called to ask that, to remind you. But all this..."

Anjali kept her palm on his lips to stop him.

"Bas bas Chhote. I am perfectly fine. Akash reminds me about my check ups and even takes me there. Payal takes care of my diets so much that sometimes I am fed up of her" Anjali giggled.

Arnav smiled.

"How is Khushi doing?" Anjali asked after few seconds of silence.

Arnav looked at his Di.

"She...she opening up little bit Di...she...she is fine with me...but her fear...for which only I am responsible... That fear isn't leaving her...and I don't know what to do to vanish her fears..." Arnav lifted his hand to cup her cheek. "Di she doesn't hates you...it's just her fear...its her fear making her do all this...please don't think that she hates you.." Arnav's eyes pleaded.

Anjali smiled and kept her hand on Arnav's.

"I know Chhote. I know Khushi, she can't hate anyone. I know its her fear. You don't worry about me. You just take care of her, I am all fine and very much capable of taking care of myself. You take care of yourself and your Khushi, ok? Don't worry about me. I have everyone." Anjali assured her worried Chhote.

"Now you should go. Khushi will be waiting for you" Anjali said and steeped away from him.

But Arnav caught her hand, not allowing her to go.

"It's high time she faces her fear Di. I don't want to nurture her fear, I want to uproot it" Arnav tightened his hold and took a step forward but felt his Di's reluctant.

"Di?"

"No Chhote, she will panic seeing me. I don't want that. If she wants me to stay away they be it. I don't want to..."

"No, Di. Nothing will happen.Come..." He pulled her with him.

Arnav and Anjali halted as they neared the family. He saw Khushi, her back facing him. He looked at his Di and gestured her to stay there and he moved towards Khushi.

Arnav went and sat beside Khushi.

Khushi looked at her right and smiled at Arnav ji.

Arnav caught her hand and turned her to face him.

"Khushi, someone is waiting to meet you.." Arnav said softly.

Khushi frowned at him. Waiting? Everyone is here than who is waiting.

"See there.." Arnav lifted his hand to point.

Khushi followed Arnav ji' hand.

Her hold on Arnav tightened. Arnav looked at her and pressed her hand.

"Khushi, Di wants to meet you.." Arnav said softly.

Khushi averted her eyes and tried to pull her hand from Arnav but he held it.

"Khushi,...Khushi look at me..." He urged her.

Khushi's gaze remained down.

"Khushi, please..." Arnav requested.

"Khushi, you love me, right?" Arnav asked.

Khushi nodded her head, still looking down.

"Than look at me, look in my eyes Khushi" Arnav whispered.

Khushi lifted her head to look at him.

"Look in my eyes, Khushi. Tell me what can you see there. Tell me" Arnav cupped her face, looking straight in her eyes.

"Arnav ji...My...My Arnav ji..." Khushi replied, her eyes staring in his.

"Do you think I can ever stop loving you? Look in my eyes and answer, Khushi." Arnav kept his gaze locked with her.

Khushi looked in his eyes, pooled with only love...love for her. He loves her, she knows that. She had always known that and may be this is the reason she had fallen in love with him despite of his all harsh words and pushing.

Arnav stared in her eyes, his heart thudding inside his chest, waiting for an answer and than he saw her shaking her head.

"No...you...you love me...I know..." Khushi answered.

"Can I ever leave you? Can I, Khushi? Answer me..." Arnav's voice turning authoritative.

Khushi looked in her eyes. The conversation she had with Raphael played in her head. He can never leave me. Never.

Khushi shook her head. "No..." Khushi replied.

"Than leave your fear, Khushi. Leave it. No one can separate us. Di doesn't want to take me away from you. She doesn't, Khushi. She loves you, she loves me. And she knows we love eachother, she can never do anything to separate us. Khushi, do you...do you think, Di can ever do such things? Ask your heart, Khushi. Ask him. What does he say? Is he telling that Di is a threat...that she can do anything to separate us?" Arnav asked her desperately, desperately wanting her to leave her fear and accept his Di.

Khushi listened to Arnav ji. Yes! Di can never do that. But...but what about Arnav ji? He loves Di...what if...what if again there's any misunderstanding? What if tomorrow he again thinks that she is behind his Di's happiness? What will he do than? He will again shout at her, flunk hurtful words at her, cutting her heart into slices. What if he again leaves her? Isnt't it better to stay away from such situation? If she will stay away from his Di than he will never accuse her of anything, he will never misunderstand her, than...than he will always remain her Arnav ji.

Khushi again succumbed herself to her fear. Her heart isn't allowing her to kill that fear. She can't trust Arnav ji for not misunderstanding her again, she can't trust his love for his Di for never coming in between them, she can't turst herself for never standing in between him and his love for his Di. And she can't trust him to choose her over his Di.

Her hand slipped way from Arnav's hold and she got up.

Arnav saw Khushi thinking minutely. A girl who never thinks for a second before doing or speaking anything was thinking so keenly. He saw hundred of emotions playing on her face. And then like fistful of sand, her hand slipped away from his hold.

"Khushi?" he looked at her confused.

"I...I want to go back..." she looked at Anjali, standing away from them. Averting her eyes from her, she ran in the opposite direction.

"KHUSHI!!" Arnav shouted at her running form. But she was no where stopping.

Everyone looked at Khushi and than at Arnav.

"Arnav bitwa, bhat happened? Why Khushi bitiya go gone went?" Mami ji looked at her Arnav bitwa, confused.

Anjali limped towards Arnav.

"Chhote, what happened? Why did Khushi ran? What did you tell her?" Anjali kept her hand on his shoulder.

Arnav looked at his Di and then in the direction Khushi had ran. Without replying to her he ran from there.

Khushi ran, her breathing heavy. She don't want to listen anything. She is happy with her Arnav ji. Than why he is forcing her to go back where there is only heartbreak, only tears, only pain. She don't want to go back. She will not go!

Khushi ran, she ran till her legs hurt. She wasn't aware where was she going, but she ran, wanting to go away from every pain.

Raphael has just parked his car and entered the woods, meandering his eyes to locate the Raizadas, when he saw someone running. He removed his aviators to get a better view and than he saw who it was. He ran towards her.

"Khushi!" he shouted at her to stop but she still ran.

Running towards her, he caught her hand stopping her sprint.

"Khushi what happened, sweetheart. Why are you running?" Raphael asked concerned.

Khushi lifted her teary eyes to look at him. Her body wracked violently as uncontrollable sobs left her body.

Raphael hugged her, his T-shirt soaking her every tears.\

"Khushi, what happened? Did anybody tell you something? Why are you crying, dear. Stop it. Talk to me, I will help you. Will take away every pain, you trust me, right? Tell me what happened?" Raphael rubbed her back, whispering his comfort to her.

"No...no one can help me...no one...I am a mess...a nuisance...I don't know who I am...what I want...I don't know if I want to become my old self or live like this...What is wrong with me...I always wanted everyone around me to be happy...But ended up hurting them...I never wanted that to happen...if they are hurting because of me than it's better to stay away from them...what if...what if I again end up hurting everyone?...I don't want that...and I too don't want another heartbreak...I will die this time...I ...I...Will...will all this stop if I die...will ..."

Raphael tightened his hold on her as he felt his eyes stinging with tears.

"Shhh...stop crying Khushi...stop...you are just confused...We need to talk...death is never a solution, sweetheart...just keep this in mind...death is never a solution, its only ends everything...it ends everything you might have had with your family, with your friends...with your loved ones...it just ends up everything...are you understanding?" Raphael looked down at Khushi.

But she just sobbed, not caring to reply.

Raphael picked her in his arms and sat under a huge tree, taking Khushi on his lap.

"Shhh...keep quite...we will talk it out, ok?...you like talking to me, right?...we will talk everything and anything you want to talk...don't stress yourself...don't worry, ok?" Raphael whispered his assuring words to her.

Arnav ran in the woods frantically searching Khushi. He called her but got no reply.

"Khushi!!!" Arnav shouted. He should have followed her immediately. He cursed himself.

"Khushi!!"

His steps came to an immediate halt as he saw the scene in front of him. Even from this far he can see her body trembling violently. He moved towards them.

Raphael tried to shush Khushi, patting her back but his hand halted as he saw the legs coming to stop beside him. He lifted his head to look at Arnav.

Arnav slummed beside them, the tears making their way. He drew his knees close to his chest, hiding his face between his folded knees.

Raphael closed his eyes as he rested his head against the tree, too tiered. If this is where love brings you to, than he was glad that this uncurreable disease has not sting him yet.

"Khushi please stop it. You are making everyone worry, is this what you want?"

But Khushi buried her face more into his neck, her sobs nowhere near stopping.

Raphael looked at Arnav, lifting his hand he kept on his shoulder.

"Arnav, stop it. You need to be strong for both of you. Come on guys, you both are making me feel like a bloody babysitter trying to shush two crying babies. I am a psychiatrist for crying out loud!" Raphael let out exasperated.

Arnav lifted his head, his face damp. He looked at the sobbing Khushi on Raphael's lap. Extending his hand, he took Khushi in his arms.

"Khushi, keep quite, please. I had promised you that no one will force you to do anything. Not even me. I will do what you say. Please stop crying." Arnav whispered softly.

"I...I want to live alone...I want to go back...I don't want to live with anyone...I want to be alone...If you don't want to live with me than you can too leave me...I will not say anything..." Khushi managed between her sobbing. Her heart ached as she suggested him to leave her but she don't want to hurt anyone anymore. If he is happy living with his Di than she don't want him to suffer because of her.

Arnav tightened his hold on her as he buried his face in her hair.

"How many times to tell you, love? How many times? I can't live without you. Go anywhere you want, but you can't stop me from following you. I will be there with you, hamesha."

"Hamesha" he promised.

So? Long time right? Thats what I felt. Hope you like the update. Do leave your comments. In this tiring exam season your comments are my only solace and your beautiful comments motivate me enough to take out time from this tight schedule to sit and type something.

So don't forget to comment.

Loved every comment but hadn't "liked", but have read it and loved it. 😊

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