Chapter 25

"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."

Khushi lifted her head to look at Arnav ji. Her face drenched with tears, the loose tendrils kissing her face. A low whimper left her mouth. She just stared at him, not knowing what to do or say, the tears taking their reign.

Arnav's eyes burned with hot unshed tears. He looked at her, her chest heaving up and down with uncontrollable sobs. Lifting his hand, he gently tucked the damp tresses behind her ear.

"Please stop crying, Khushi. We will go back, ok? I will not force you to meet anyone, Khushi. I promise. We will live in OUR cottage, forever. We don't need anyone. Just you and me." Arnav wiped her face and took her in his arms.

"Came, we will go back." taking Khushi with him, he stood up.

Raphael too got up. As Arnav was about to pick Khushi, Raphael stopped him.

"Arnav, you go and deal with your family, I will take Khushi back." Raphael looked in Arnav's uncertain eyes.

"Khushi, came." Raphael took Khushi's hand.

But Khushi tightened her hold on Arnav, burying her face more in Arnav's chest.

Arnav smiled at her reaction and looked down at her.

"Khushi, you go with Raphael, I will be back, soon." He kissed her hair and broke the hug.

Raphael pulled Khushi to him.

"Khushi came " Raphael draped his hand over her shoulder and guided her towards his car.

Arnav saw Khushi walking away with Raphael. Composing himself,he turned around to deal with his family.

"Where is Khushi, Arnav ji?"

Arnav heard Payal shoot as soon he was in her vicinity.

"She...she left with Raphael, her Doctor" Arnav replied.

"Doctor? But..." Payal looked at him confused.

"Don't worry, he will take care of her. She wanted to...she wanted to go back. And...I am really sorry, she was not ready for this picnic but I still coaxed her to give it a try..."

"What more can we expect from you.." Payal's scorn cut him mid sentence.

Arnav looked at Payal, her eyes accusing.

"Payal, its not like that. "

Everyone looked at Payal. They really don't know how their coy Payal becomes so audacious in front of her Jethji.

"Payal, he was trying to make everything right. You can't blame him for anything and everything he does. I know Chhote has wronged Khushi is many ways but now he is trying to mend everything." It was Anjali who spoke to defend her brother.

Payal turned to look at her sister-in-law.

"I know, Di. But what to do? Its not like sun has started rising from west. He is the same man who forced my sister in sham of a marriage, who tormented her till she reached at the brink of losing her sanity. " Payal's word was cold, cold as ice. She started moving towards the car, knowing very well that the picnic was over and done. Trying to mend! Payal thought sneeringly. First this man fills his buckets with countless sins and then trying to mend everything! Payal opened the door and sat inside. She slummed in the seat, her eyes warming with tears. How to make them understand? What should she do to make them understand that she don't trust that man anymore. She don't trust him to make her sister all well, she don't trust him that he will never hurt her sister again, she don't trust him for reciprocating her sister's love, she don't trust him on anything related to Khushi.

"Chhote?" Arnav heard his Di and looked at her.

"Chhote, Payal is just worried for Khushi. Don't take her words to heart." Anjali tried to console her brother.

Arnav nodded his head.

"I know, Di."

"I think, we should leave now." Anjali said.

Arnav nodded and hugged her.

"Thanks for understanding, Di. And take care of yourself."

Anjali broke the hug and nodded at him.

Arnav saw everyone moving towards the car. As the cars drove away, he made his way towards his car.

Raphael peeked at Khushi in between driving his car. She was sitting quietly, just gazing outside.

"Khushi?" Raphael called her.

Khushi turned her head to look at Raphael.

Raphael smiled at her.

"Khushi, will you came with me, to my home?" Raphael asked.

"Your home?" Khushi asked, confused.

"Yes. My home. I also have a house or do you think I am homeless?" Raphael laughed.

Khushi stared at him, not knowing what to say on that, she just nodded her head.

Raphael smiled at her and took a turn leading to his home.

Khushi leaned more towards the window as the beautiful house came in her vicinity.

The car came to a screeching stop in front of the house. Exiting the car, he came towards Khushi.

"Khushi came" opening the door, he forwarded his hand.

Khushi looked at the extended hand and placed her hand in his.

Smiling, Raphael pulled her to stand on her feet.

Raphael pushed the door and entered his house with Khushi beside him.

Khushi took in the beautiful surrounding. The house was beautifully furnished. Elegant chandeliers hanging from the roof, the big windows providing the serene greenery view surrounding the house.

"You liked it Khushi?" Raphael asked.

Khushi took a break from her exploration and turned to look at Raphael.

"Your house is so beautiful and...and so ...so big."Khushi replied.

Raphael smiled.

"Thank you"

"You live here alone?" Khushi asked, her brow frowned.

"Yes. I live here alone" Raphael replied.

Khushi looked at him belittled.

"What?! You live here alone? Aren't you...aren't you..."

"Aren't I what, Khushi?" Raphael looked at Khushi confused.

"Aren't you ...aren't you afraid?" Khushi asked. The mere thought of someone living alone in this giant house making her gulp in fear.

Raphael laughed at her.

"Afraid?" Raphael walked towards Khushi and throwing his hand over her shoulder, he started leading her towards the stairs. "What make you think that I will be afraid?" Raphael tilted his head to look at Khushi.

"I mean...I ...how can you live here all alone?...hum toh apne kamre me bhi akele nahi reh sakte...I don't like living alone...I am too afraid..."

"No. I am not afraid. I lost my Father when I was 16 and than my mother by 22 and since then I live alone. My father was Spanish and my Mom was an Indian. Till 16 I lived in Spain but after I lost my Dad in a car accident, my Mother had no reason left to live their. My parent's marriage was a love marriage. They were so much in love that you can feel their love for eachother. My Dad was a really romantic man, and everything in Spain reminded Mom of Dad. She was really devastated after we lost Dad. But she struggled to be strong for me. But I knew it was really difficult for her to live there, where everything reminded her of Dad. So after completing my school that year, I suggested Mom that we should shift from there. And as she was Indian and had few relatives in Delhi, she wanted to shift here. And so we came here. But since then, Mom's health started deteriorating. She use to really miss Dad. She started feeling depressed, it was like...like she had nothing left to look ahead. I think I was the only thread that was holding her..." Raphael's sudden pause made Khushi look at him. She lifted her damp eyes to look in his eyes, brimming with tears. Khushi's eyes fell on his adam's apple, which was moving up and down rapidly, giving away his struggle to speak.

Khushi looked at the big balcony in front of her and her eyes fell on the big swing there with fluffy pillow seat. She caught Raphael's hand and led him towards the swing. Making him seat on the swing, she sat beside him.

"It's ok. I am your friend, right? You can share anything with me. It will help you feel better." Khushi ran her assuring hand on his shoulder.

Raphael lifted his head to look at Khushi. His lips broke into a smile at the role reversal.

Khushi smiled seeing his smile.

"I ...I know she loved me...but I think not more than Dad. And as day passed, I saw her slowly slowly drifting away from me. She use to smile, a smile which never reached her eyes. She use to joke, not because she wanted to, but because she felt she needed to, for my sake. She...she was never the Mom I knew...she became someone else. A kind of a fake person...but I respected her for that ...because I knew whatever she was doing she was doing for me. But there was so much a person can do. And one day when...when I was in college...I...I got a call that she had a heart stroke...and...and few days after that I lost my Mom too. At that time I didn't knew what to feel...I mean...should I be happy that Mom was free from that fake life she was living or...or should I cry for my loss..." Raphael stopped, the lump in his throat making it difficult to continue.

Khushi looked at him as a pearl rolled down his cheek. Her hand immediately roused to wipe the tear away.

"Don't cry. You should be happy that your parents are together now and looking after you. Every night they shine in the sky above, looking after you, showering their blessing on you. They are not present here physically with you but still they are there for you. just like my Amma and Babuji. " Khushi smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.

Raphael looked down at Khushi confused.

"What?"

Khushi titled her head to look at him.

"Yes. Stars. Don't you know? When someone leaves us, they became stars. My Amma Babuji have and also Arnav ji's Mumma. Your Parents have also become stars." Khushi looked out through the window. "It's still bright outside, just wait for the night and I will introduce you to my Amma and Babuji. And then we will search or your Dad and Mom, ok? "

Raphael can only stare at her innocent face and equally innocent words. He rested his forehead against her.

"I love you." Raphael tried to express his gratitude in his three words.

Khushi smiled at him.

"Came, you will be hungry. I don't know if I have something but lets see" Raphael got up and pulled Khushi with him.

As they were about to cross the balcony threshold, Raphael's cell came alive. Taking the phone out he looked at the caller id.

"Hello Arnav..."

"Raphael were are you guys, I just got home and you guys are not here." came Arnav's immediate query.

"Relax Arnav. We are at my place. I am texting you the address, you can come there, ok?" after a uncertain yes from Arnav, Raphael disconnected the call.

"It was Arnav. I think he reached home and not finding you there he panicked" Raphael explained.

Khushi nodded at him and they went downstairs.

"See. I had told you. I don't have anything." Raphael turned towards Khushi with a somber face.

"Don't worry. You have wheat flour?" Khushi asked.

Raphael nodded.

"You have oil?"

Raphael again nodded.

"You have any vegetable?"

"Yes Khushi I have. Now what?" Raphael asked tiered.

"Then don't worry, I will make the dinner." Khushi gave a small smile.

"No need Khushi, I will order something..."

"No! Please don't order anything. Please?" Khushi shrieked.

Raphael chuckled and nodded his head.

"Ok! As you wish." Smiling he exited the kitchen.

Raphael was seated on the sofa in the hall when he saw Khushi coming out of the kitchen with a bowl in her hand. He got up to help her.

As Khushi kept the last bowl on the dinning table, she heard the door bell ring.

"That will be your husband" Khushi heard Raphael from behind.

Khushi walked towards the door.

"Khushi? Are you ok?" Arnav cupped her face. And without waiting for her reply he hugged her. "I am sorry, Khushi. You were not ready for the picnic and still I forced you in. I am so sorry, I promise to never force you in anything. Please forgive me. I am sorry. Please don't go back...don't leave me...you know I can't live without you, you know that right?" breaking the hug, he cupped her face. "khushi, I promise. Don't think that I will leave you, I can never. We can live in the cottage as long as you want. If you want us to live there forever then we will. I have no problem. Are you getting me, love?" Arnav desperately demanded an answer.

Khushi looked at him, his panicked features, his brow frowned in tension. She lifted her hand to rest on his cheek.

"I am fine, Arnav ji. It's ok, you don't need to apologize. And I...I will try to ... to...I mean...mean...you can meet ...meet your Di...But...but I..."

Arnav looked at Khushi confused. He don't know what he was expecting from her but certainly no this.

"Khushi, its ok. I will...I will not ask you to meet anyone, as long as you don't want to. I promise. ..."

Khushi nodded her head and caught his hand which was on her cheek.

"Came, I have made Dinner. " she took him towards the dinning table.

Arnav followed her, all confused.

"Sit, Arnav ji. I will bring the plates" Khushi left for kitchen.

Arnav looked at Raphael who was seated beside him, busy with his phone.

"What did you do with her?" Arnav directed towards Raphael.

Raphael's finger halted on his phone's screen. He lifted his head to look at Arnav.

"What?" Raphael asked.

"I mean what did you do with her? I thought she will be...I mean I thought I will have to start from where we had begun, I thought all that progress we made with her has gone down the drain...but she...she looks.."

"Normal?" Raphael supplied.

"Yes Arnav, you did a great job in trying to drag us to the start but this time I have managed but don't repeat it next time. I really don't have much sad stories to feed her." Raphael replied.

"What? What are you telling?"

"Ok! See, I am not fluent in Hindi, but still I will try, ok? Let me try?"

"What?"

"Ahemmm" ignoring Arnav's what' , Raphael cleared his throat.

"Zamaane mein bohot gham hai, tumhara phir bhi kam hai...Hmm...it was something like this, I guess, I don't know..."

"What? Raphael what are you telling? I am not getting a thing you are telling."

"Tch, Arnav. Ok, let me try again. What do you feel when you see a poor child begging at signal?" Raphael asked Arnav.

Arnav looked at Raphael, not knowing were the conversation was going.

"You feel sad,pity, sympathy for the child, right?" Raphael asked.

Arnav nodded.

"But what I want to point here is, till your mind grabs something else, all you can thing of is that poor child, who needs to beg for his living, right? That poor child's misery forces you to come out of your misery and ponder over his. Your all problems lay forgotten for the time being. That moment forces you to think, are you really allowed to complain about your life? If yes than what that boy should do? Suddenly your problems seems so small in front of that boy that you feel so meager for complaining about your life. And the change you see in Khushi is because of the same feeling. You know she values her family very much, the most painful thing for her is to lose her family. And by telling her that I have no family left has done the thing here. My sad story has occupied her mind for the time being. She isn't thinking about her problems now, I can bet on that. She knows , after everything, still she has her family with her, to love her, to support her, but I have no one in my life. For her my problem is bigger than hers, my story is sadder than hers. And that had made her forget her problems." Raphael looked at Arnav and smiled.

"Don't confuse yourself, Arnav. This thing comes with years of experience. I am a Doctor you see, I know how to deal with my patients, though, I have not lied to Khushi. All I said to her was nothing but truth." Raphael smiled.

Arnav was only able to nod his head.

Khushi came out with the plates and placed it on the dinning table. Taking the bowl, she served the sabzi and puri she had made.

"We can help ourself Khushi. You sit and eat" Raphael caught her hand and made her sit beside him.

Khushi nodded her head.

"You liked it?" Khushi looked at Raphael.

"It's the tastiest meal I have had it ages" Raphael complimented earning a beautiful smile in return.

Arnav's lips broke into a smile seeing her smiling.

It was after the dinner. The three were seated in the living area. Arnav looked at Khushi who was talking with Raphael.

"Khushi? I think we should leave.." Arnav suggested.

Khushi looked at Arnav ji and then at Raphael.

"Hmmm...Arnav ji...can you wait please?" Khushi asked.

Arnav smiled and nodded.

Khushi got up from the couch and extended her hand towards Raphael.

"Come.." Khushi took his hand and started towards the stairs.

Arnav looked at the retreating form of Khushi and Raphael and got up from the couch. He followed them.

Khushi took him to the balcony. She took Raphael towards the end of balcony from where they can have the full view of the dark night.

"You see that two stars together? Twinkling the brightest?" Khushi pointed towards the sky, her face adorning the soft smile.

Raphael followed her direction, his eyes landing on the two stars. Looking at Khushi, he nodded his head.

"That's my Amma and Babuji" Khushi's smile widened.

"Amma, Babuji, he is my friend? He is my Angel, I know you both have sent him to help me, right?" Khushi chattered with her parents.

Raphael smiled at her childishness.

"Khushi, you said you will help me in finding my parents." Raphael reminded her.

"Ha, yes! Wait!.." Khushi roamed her eyes in the open sky, searching for two stars together.

"There!" Khushi pointed in the south direction.

"You see that two stars? See they are together, they are your Mom and Dad"

Raphael again followed her direction. The tears in his eyes blurring his vision.

"See they started twinkling more. They are telling us hi" Khushi enthusiastically waved her hand at the stars. "Say hello to them" Khushi caught his hand and waved at them.

Raphael lifted his other hand to his cheek, wiping the tears that have spilled without his permission.

Smiling, Khushi looked at Raphael. Her smile dropped as she took in his face.

"Don't cry, your parents will not like it. They will think you are not happy." Khushi wiped his tears.

Raphael looked at Khushi. Swallowing the big lump in his throat, he hugged Khushi.

"Thank you. Thank you so much, Khushi. I met my parents today because you, thank you so much."

Khushi ran her soothing hand on his back.

"You believe me?" Khushi asked after few minutes of soothing silence.

Breaking the hug, he looked at Khushi.

"What?" Raphael looked down at her confused.

"You believe that they are your parents?" Khushi asked softly.

"My heart believes you" Raphael replied. "My heart believes those two stars are my parents, looking down at me. My heart believes you, Khushi.."

Khushi smiled at him.

"Thank you. Now let me introduce you to Mamma. You see that star there, its Mamma, Arnav ji's Amma." Khushi pointed her finger at the shining star. "I talk to her, about me, about Arnav ji, I also complain about Arnav ji. She is very sweet, she doesn't mind, infact she shines even more, as if agreeing with me" Khushi giggled.

Arnav stood at the threshold, listening to everything Khushi was telling. He fought to keep the tears at bay, his throat hurting painfully. He looked at the sky when she pointed at his mother. Complains about him? Arnav chuckled. Only she can do such things. Pushing himself off the leaning position, he moved towards them.

"Khushi?" Arnav called, startling both.

Khushi turned to look at him.

"Khushi, we should leave now, it's getting late" Arnav said.

Khushi nodded her head and looked at Raphael.

"You will be alright, na? If you feel sad then you can talk with your parents. They will be always there to help you feel better, ok?" Khushi asked innocently.

Raphael nodded his head, not trusting his voice.

Khushi smiled and standing on her toes, she kissed his forehead.

"Bye.." Khushi waved at Raphael and moved towards Arnav ji.

Raphael waved back.

"Chaalein Arnav ji?" Khushi stood in front of him.

Arnav smiled at her and took her hand in his.

"Khushi?" Arnav called her as they made their way towards the door.

"What Arnav ji?" Khushi asked.

"You know, you are mother hen.." Arnav chuckled.

"Mother hen? What's that Arnav ji?" Khushi looked at Arnav ji, confused.

Arnav shook his head at her, smiling.

"Nothing..." Arnav replied to her innocent query and opened the car door for her.

Settling themselves inside the car, they both drove back to their home.