Chapter 19

rulama

@rulama

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

RECALLING ARNAV

Part 10

Section 1

"Amma, where is Jiji's Jetji?" asked Khushi, as the family gathered around the breakfast table.

Garima looked at all the pale faces around the table and said, "He went out, Khussi. You serve the food."

"He has shakkar ki bimari and he is missing breakfast," Khushi muttered to herself, frowning.

Buaji looked at Garima and sighed.

Arnav drove back in a daze, his head filled with conflicting thoughts, his heart heavy.

His father had been a scoundrel of the first order. Blessed with a gem of a wife he didn't deserve, wealth he hadn't earned, two children he hadn't valued, Arvind Mallik had proceeded on his merry way, wreaking havoc in the lives of many.

He slammed on the brakes.

Garimaji had not visited Sheesh Mahal, especially not on the evening of Di's wedding. It had been a dancer named Sunehri. His Mama had seen Sunehri with Papa.

Maybe... maybe she had been in his arms... Arnav rested his forehead on the steering wheel.

The fight between his parents had been on account of Sunehri. His mother had never known that his father had gotten himself engaged to Garimaji. His Mama had killed herself on knowing the real face of her husband, suspecting that he was involved with Sunehri.

His mother had paid for his father's sins. Di and he had paid for them. Nani had paid for them. Garimaji too had paid for them. Not once, but twice. Once she had been cheated by his father; years later his father's son had broken her heart.

Khushi... His heart wept. She had known nothing. She had done nothing. Her misfortune had been that she had fallen in love with a man who let his temper rule him, his prejudice dictate his actions... a weakling... a coward... a man with a mind so filled with darkness and bitterness that he had not even stopped to ask Garimaji for an explanation before pushing Khushi out of his life.

He owed the Guptas, especially Garimaji and Khushi. He owed them big. How could he make up to them for the humiliation and heartbreak they had suffered?

He slowly drove back to Gomti Sadan and parked in the courtyard. He sat in the car, his head against the head rest, his eyes closed.

Sensing some movement, he opened his eyes to see Khushi standing at the window, peering in to it. He looked in to her concerned eyes.

She motioned him to alight from the vehicle.

Arnav opened the door and stepped out, standing on legs that were not too steady. His eyes traced the lovely curves of her face, lingering on the concern in her eyes.

Khushi caught hold of his arm as he swayed.

"I knew it. Your shakkar has become low because you went for a sair of Lucknow city in the morning without having your breakfast," Khushi chided. "What is so captivating in the city that you are willing to neglect your health to see it?" she asked, frowning.

"Khushi..." Arnav whispered, leaning against the car for support.

Khushi placed her hands on the car by his sides, covering him, trying to stop him from falling.

"Khushi... I am sorry..."

She pressed herself against him, trying to keep him standing.

"Khushi... I am so sorry..."

Images flashed through her head. Arnavji swaying and collapsing on the floor. Jalebi. Someone was giving him jalebi, pushing it in to his mouth...

"Khushi... forgive me..."

He was standing against a grill and someone was keeping him standing with his or her arms around him...

The pictures of the past merged with the pictures of the present, all of them swirling in her poor head.

"Buaji!" Khushi screamed.

Buaji dropped the thali of rice she had been cleaning for lunch and ran out.

The Raizadas and the Guptas who had followed her came to a halt at the sight before their eyes.

Arnav was leaning against the car, his head back, his eyes closed. Khushi was lying on him, trying to hold him up.

"His shakkar is down. Jiji, get some sugar from the kitchen!" Khushi shouted.

Payal ran for the sugar.

Akash, NK & Mamaji freed Arnav from Khushi's death grip and helped him in to the house. Under Khushi's supervision and the weepy concern of the Raizada ladies, Payal gave him sugar. Buaji forced breakfast down his throat and Khushi forced him to drink the sweet tea that Garima had made.

Soon, he recovered.

The Guptas and the Raizadas looked at each other.

From the paleness of Arnav's face and the deep grooves etched on the sides of his nose, it was clear that he had gotten the answers and that they were unpleasant, unpalatable. But how could they ask him when Khuhsi was around?

"Khussi Didi?" came Munna's call. "Aren't we opening shop today?"

"Yes," Khushi replied unwillingly, her eyes still on her Jiji's Jetji's grave face.

"Banke Lalji will come at 12 for his halwa," Krishna reminded her.

Khushi nodded, her eyes still on Arnav's face.

"Titliyaa, you go, Nandkisore. We are all here to take care of Arnav bitwaa. Jao, dukaan sambhalo, Sanka Devi," Buaji almost pushed her out of the house.

"Aap theek ho?" Khushi asked Arnav, wanting to hear the answer from his lips.

"I am fine. I will see you for lunch, Khushi," his husky voice was filled with agony.

Khushi nodded and left reluctantly, turning to look at him a couple of times before exiting the room.