Chapter 75
Finding Khushi
Part 19
Section 4
Arnav looked at Khushi's pensive face as he drove her home.
"Kya hua, Khushi?", he asked.
"Just tired.", Khushi said, a smile on her lips.
He brought the car to a stop in front of her house.
"Are you sure you are alright, Khushi?", he asked, releasing the door lock.
"Ji.", she whispered. "I need to go in." She made to unlock her door. She needed to get into the house fast, before the flood of tears broke the weak dam of her control holding it back.
Arnav caught hold of her arm.
"Khushi, you enjoyed the party, didn't you?", he asked. "Our dance'"
"Ji. It is just that'.. just that I am not used to staying up so late'.", her voice trailed away, tired of finding excuses.
Arnav smiled, his eyes twinkling naughtily. He leaned close to her and whispered in her ear, "Get used to it, Khushi. Don't think I will let you sleep after we are married."
Khushi paled further, if that were possible. The gulf between them, between knowledge and ignorance, widened. Lisaji's malicious face seemed to be laughing at her...
Khushi pushed open her door, and leaped out of it. Hiding her face from Arnav, she ran up the steps to Buaji's door, took the key from its hiding place, and opened the door with shaking fingers and moist eyes.
Arnav watched her do her vanishing act, and felt a smile bloom on his face. It felt so good to tease her! the smile slowly vanished. Why was she so silent? So.. so sad? So defeated in her posture?
Buaji waddled into Khushi's bedroom at 10 in the morning. She was still asleep, curled up in her blanket. Only the top of her head was visible.
"Hai Re Nandkisore! Still asleep! He Titliyaa! What is the use of welcoming a new year in at night when you are not awake to enjoy the first day of new year in the morning, hein?", she asked.
Khushi lay motionless under the blanket.
Her mobile rang.
"O Sanka Devi! Your phoone is crying early in the morning! Feed it something!", Buaji teased her.
But Khushi was asleep.
"She is Kumbhkarna's sister, Nandkisore, not Payaliyya's!", Buaji grumbled as she picked up the phone.
'Arnavji', the display read.
"So this owl has woken up early!", Buaji commented as she answered the call. "Arnav Babua, your roop ki rani is snoring away in her kambal. I will call her...", Buaji pulled the blanket off.
Khushi shivered, curling up like a foetus.
Buaji frowned. She touched Khushi's cheek to wake her up, and jumped back in shock.
"She has fever, Nandkisore!", Buaji gasped. "Garima, bring a basin of water and a towel. Titliyaa has fever."
"Buaji..!", Arnav's voice was faint.
"Oh.. Arnav babua, Khussi has fever...", Buaji started.
"I will come over now with a doctor.", Arnav declared before cutting the call.
Khushi felt someone poke her with a needle, but she was too tired to react. She just winced and continued sleeping. She did not see the man with anxious eyes hovering over her, adjusting the blanket around her, wiping her face and neck with a towel dipped in cold water...
She woke up in the evening. She opened heavy eyelids to see Arnavji sitting by her, looking at her, holding her hand. She looked away. It hurt to look at him.
What was he doing here?, she frowned.
She looked around. It was evening, and she was in her bedroom. He should be in his office...
She parted her lips to ask him, but her questions remained unvoiced. Her mouth felt dry and her tongue thick.
"Khushi...", Arnav whispered in relief. "How do you feel now?" His palm cupped her face, and he bent to drop a kiss on her forehead.
The fever was gone for the present, but her limbs felt heavy, as though concrete blocks were tied to them.
"Bathroom...", Khushi whispered. "Please call Amma.."
"I will help you.", Arnav offered.
Khushi tried to push his hands away, but she was too weak. And her head hurt. A night of crying had left her bleary-eyed, and the fever was not helping any.
He helped her sit up, supporting her shoulders so that she could rise and lean against him. He held her for a moment, her heart beating against his, taking comfort from the strong beat, and then he stood up.
He scooped her up in his arms and carried her out of the bedroom to the bathroom.
Buaji & Amma, cooking a light meal for Khushi and dinner for Arnav, stared at the sight with wide eyes.
He set her down near the bathroom door, and made to help her inside.
"I will manage.", she whispered. If only he would go home and leave her alone!
Arnav let go of her reluctantly.
Khushi wobbled into the bathroom, holding on to the door handle and the walls.
Arnav waited outside.
Khushi came out after freshening up to see Arnavji leaning against the wall. He quickly scooped her up and carried her to her bed. He settled her in her bed, and wrapped the blanket around her.
"Khushi, how do you feel now?", he asked.
"Better.", she said, hoping to send him on his way.
Arnav sat down by her.
"What are you doing here, Arnavji?", she asked.
"Where else should I be, Khushi, when you are sick?", he asked frowning.
"At the office.", Khushi whispered, feeling sleep overtake her. She struggled to keep her eyes open.
"The office can go to hell.", muttered Arnav, dropping a kiss on her cheek.
"Don't let Amanji hear you say so. He will die of shock.", she whispered.
Arnav smiled, and lifted her hand for a kiss.
It took three days before Khushi could leave her bed and hope not to fall down in a heap. Arnav came early every morning and stayed till late, sitting by her bed, working on his laptop, his eyes lingering on her sleeping face, pale and wan from her illness.
On the fourth day, she was up and sitting at the dining table when he came in the morning. Buaji was trying to force a glass of milk with turmeric in it down her throat.
"Hum kahe det he, Sanka Devi, dooth piyo. Nahin to maar khaogii!", Buaji threatened, standing over her.
"Buaji! I don't want milk...", Khushi whined.
"I will give it to her, Buaji!", Arnav said as he slid in to the seat next to Khushi.
Buaji, Amma, & Babuji smiled in relief at seeing him.
Khushi sighed. Arnavji was going nowhere. The faster she was out of this house, the better it would be for her peace of mind. She needed to think. About Arnavji, about herself, about their future... But how could she think when every time she opened her eyes, Arnavji was sitting by her?
Arnav lifted the glass to her lips.
Khushi glared at him, and was about to refuse when she saw that he was dressed in formal clothes. He Devi Maiyya! Thank you!, she said in her mind. He was going to the office. Finally.
And he would go faster if she drank the milk quickly. To everyone's shock and Arnav's amusement, Khushi grabbed the glass from his hand and gulped it down in one breath.
"Hai Re Nandkisore! What is wrong with this girl?", exclaimed Buaji.
"She cares for Arnav Babua so much, Jiji!", Garima gushed, smiling at Buaji.
Khushi shot daggers at her mother and a smiling Arnav Babua, but wisely kept her tongue firmly in her mouth, under the painful hold of her teeth.
"You are going to the office, babua?", asked Buaji.
"Ji.", said Arnav.
"Good, good. You have been sitting by Sanka Devi for the past 3 days. It is a miracle that you are not sick, Nandkisore!", Buaji said. "The new year hasn't been good for Titliyaa...", Buaji frowned. "She is never sick... How come she caught fever at the party...? Bitwaa, did she eat or drink something...?"
"No, Buaji. We were all together all the time.", Arnav reassured her. Looking at a silent Khushi, he added, "She was silent towards the end of the party. I asked her what was wrong, but..."
Buaji & Amma nodded. All looked at Khushi, waiting for an explanation.
"I..I need to sleep...", Khushi muttered. She got up to leave the table.
"Khushi...", Arnav called.
"I am OK, Arnavji. Let me sleep for a while.", she almost pleaded.
Arnav nodded.
Link to next Thread:
Your reaction
Nice
Awesome
Loved
LOL
OMG
Cry
Continue Reading next part >
Comments (0)