ArHi OS: Finding Khushi/Happiness

24 days ago

HeavenlyBliss

@heavenlybliss

It took one moment to lose her. Sixty seconds of anger…and she was gone.

“What happened next?” The old man sitting next to me asks while we are sitting at the train station, waiting for the next train to Delhi.

I turn towards him with tears in my eyes, “She told me that she hates me. She told me that she would never come back.”

“Don’t worry, my friend. At least you know she has gone to Delhi, where her sister lives. She must be safe there. Go and find her. My blessings are with you.” He pats my back as I board the train.

Why didn’t I trust her? I feel like such a fool. She kept telling me that I was misinterpreting the situation. I look at the bag once again which is sitting in my lap. I should have thought with a calm mind before yelling at her and asking her to leave the house. I asked her to leave the house. Our own house. How could I? How will I even fix this mistake of mine?

I open the zipper and take out a bundle of photographs, all of the same guy. I have never seen this man in my life. “Khushi and Shivaay” it says at the back of each photograph, with hearts around it. In Khushi’s handwriting.

“He was my ex before I met you! I haven’t seen him since! I have nothing to do with him now, I swear!” Her words ring in my ears. I hide my face in my hands. How long left until I reach Delhi and find her? I need to apologise.

—

I am jolted awake after what seems like hours. I didn’t even realise when I fell asleep. Delhi is here! Finally!

I jump out of the train as soon as the doors open as if I am running for my life. Which I kind of am, if you look at it that way. Khushi is my life. How could I break her heart?

I step inside a cab as I take out the address of Khushi’s sister’s house from my pocket. Praying and hoping I will find Khushi there. It is the last place where she could be.

When I reach the address, I knock on the door. It takes a while for Payal to open the door.

“Arnav!!! What a pleasant surprise!” She exclaims. “Did you bring Khushi along too? I miss her so much!” My face falls immediately. This means Khushi hasn’t come here either.

I walk inside gloomily, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Payal and her husband, Akash. “What’s wrong Arnav? Is Khushi alright?” They both bombard me with concerned questions - but my mind is elsewhere - Khushi….where is Khushi….

I tell them everything that has transpired in the last few hours, speaking my heart out, expecting them to blast at me for my foolishness, so I am surprised when Payal smiles. “You’re not angry at me for what I did with your sister?”

“Everyone makes mistakes during a fit of rage, Arnav. What matters is that you realized you were wrong and are trying to make up for it.”

“Thank you for understanding me, but now I don’t know where to find her!”

“Follow your heart Arnav, it will definitely lead you to her. She can’t stay away from you for too long.”

She can’t stay away from you for too long…The words replay in my head….

I get up to leave, dejected, thinking where to go, where to search for her, how can I find her in such a big city… I lift the bag onto my shoulder.

“What’s so special about this bag? Why are you carrying Khushi’s Zouk bag?” Payal teases as I blush.

“This is the bag that separated us, and this is the bag that will bring us back together.”

“How?” Payal is curious.

“You will see.” I tell her, as I wave goodbye to her and Akash.

—

The journey back home feels long and tiresome. I don’t sleep this time. I spend the journey writing an apology to her. Asking for forgiveness and expressing my undying love to her.

Just as I reach home, I am pleasantly surprised with the aroma that welcomes me. It’s the aroma of Khushi’s favourite sweets - jalebi. I know what it means when she makes jalebi. She must be very, very upset. Is it safe to go inside? I wonder.

“Khushi…Khushi….” I walk towards the kitchen where she is standing with her back towards me.

“Don’t you dare step forward!” She turns around, pointing a fork at me.

“Khushi, please hear me out…drop that….” I duck my head as she throws a pan at me.

“Don’t. Come. Near. My. Jalebis.” She yells. “How dare you come between me and my jalebis! This is my ME time!”

I stare at her with my mouth wide open. Is this really happening? What the?

“But I thought you were mad at me…I told you to leave….That’s why you left and went to Delhi…I searched for you everywhere to bring you back…”

“Ji nahi, why would I go all the way to Delhi to get jalebis? I went to the market to buy these…” she babbles while stuffing her mouth with three more jalebis.

“So you’re not angry?” I ask, relieved.

“OF COURSE I AM! THAT’S WHY I AM EATING THESE!” She stuffs some more in her mouth and storms to the bedroom as I follow behind.

I try to sit next to her as she picks up the bag, opening it and emptying its contents onto the bed.

“Khushi, listen…”

“No, you listen to me Mr Arnav Singh Raizada…” She only uses my full name when she is angry with me. More like infuriated. “This guy!” She points at the photographs of ‘Shivaay’ as I have come to know his name is, “was my ex! I have nothing to do with him now! And my only mistake was that I left the photographs in this bag….on our bed….because I was gathering all the old things from my cupboard to throw away. My only mistake was that I hadn’t thrown away Shivaay’s belongings for so many years because I didn’t have the heart to look at his memories. And when I finally gather up the courage….You misunderstood me.” She bawls.

“Sshhhh….I understand…You don’t need to explain,” I comfort her. “It was just an impulsive moment of rage. I felt insecure. I can't bear sharing your heart with any other guy, Khushi. Or for that matter, I can’t even bear you thinking about another man. But I can make one promise to you….”

“What is that?” She sniffs.

“Just like every other fight we have had in the last five years of our marriage, this fight will also make our love stronger. I promise to trust you completely from now on, and never doubt you no matter what happens.”

“You promise?”

“Mm-hmmm….And there is something else for you too…”

“What?”

I pick up a piece of paper which had fallen out of the bag and hand it to her. It’s the apology letter I wrote to her on the train. In all the commotion, she hadn’t even noticed it while yelling at me and throwing things around.

She displays a mixture of emotions on her face while reading it - smiling, crying, laughing, sniffing. It makes me laugh just watching her changing expressions. Then I flip the piece of paper around to a report.

“A pregnancy report? Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada? That’s me! I’m pregnant?” She screams. “Oh my God! How? I mean, how do you know?”

I smile sheepishly. “You always complain about cramps when your period starts. I realized I haven’t heard you complaining since the last six weeks, which means you haven’t had your period. I didn’t want to get you excited without any confirmation. So I took you for a blood test last week and asked the doctor not to tell you what it’s for until the report comes out. I got the report this morning, I wanted to give you a surprise so I decided to hide it from you in your cupboard. Then I saw this bag and the rest is history…” I bow my head shamefully. “Sorry for ruining your surprise.”

“I’m sorry too!” Khushi squeals, jumping into my arms.

We both carry the bag outside together to throw away its contents of old memories. Out of our house, out of our minds, out of our lives.

It’s time to make new memories. Time to find new happiness. Time to welcome a new baby.