Some things are inevitable, completely unavoidable...
"Di, mein Lavanya se shaadi karne ke liye taiyaar hoon"
Khushi felt as if someone has slapped her, hard! Her lungs refused to draw another breath. She just stood there, looking into his hard eyes as everyone congratulated him, hugged him, feeling numb. How can he? After whatever transpired between them not so long ago, how can he do this to her? Her chest tightened painfully, it felt like she was dying. The pain was unbearable.
"Chamkili , you heard what ASR said? He is ready for the marriage. OMG chamkili, can you believe that?"
Lavanya's cheerful voice reached her. She lifted her eyes to look at the two people who stood in front of her. She had no idea when they came to stand in front of her.
"Chamkili, aren't you happy??" Lavanya asked, hugging Arnav's arm, unable to contain her happiness. "Congratulate us!"
Arnav just stared at the girl in front of him, the same girl whom he had tried to kiss a moment ago. If not for Aman's call, he would have kissed her. How can he loose his control so easily? How can he allow desire overpower all his senses? He looked at the vision in red. How dare she do this to him? How can she have such effect on him? He won't allow it. He won't!
"Chamkili?"
Khushi tore her gaze from his hard rock like eyes and looked at Lavanya, trying her best to hold back her tears. All she wants to do was, hide into her bed and weep, weep till this unbearable pain leaves her. She doesn't want to cry here, she won't show her pain to this man. She won't!
"Lavanya ji ... hum ...hum ..." Hey Devi Maiya. How can she congratulate Lavanya ji when even the thought of her with Arnav ji twists sharp daggers in her heart?
As if Devi Maiya has taken some mercy on her devotee, the hall suddenly boomed with music.
"Wow! Chamkili, come let us dance. Such a happy day, come let us celebrate" Lavanya left ASR's arm and took Khushi's hand in her.
"Lavanya ji, no ...I .."
"Oh come on Chamkili! I want to celebrate, I want to dance, and there's no fun dancing without you. Come. And don't worry about ASR , he won't mind at all. This is diwali, we are allowed to have some fun." She dragged Khushi to the center of the hall.
Making her stand beside her, she winked at Khushi.
Khushi tried to smile at her friend, but all in vain. She looked ahead, her eyes instantly colliding with his. And then everything around her faded, everything but the pain she was living. She no longer wanted to hide her pain from him. She wants to show him the pain he has caused her. She wants him to know how much hurt she is. She wants him to live the same pain she is living.
She held his gaze, determined.
Leja leja re mehki raat mein churake saare rang leja
She extended her hand, her eyes at him. She twisted her wrist carelessly, waving off.
Raati raati main bheegun saath mein tu aisi mulakaat deja
She twirled once and looked at him, her hips swaying to left.
Leja leja re mehki raat mein churake saare rang leja.
Aati raati main bheegun saath mein tu aisi mulakaat deja
Her eyes never left his, wanting him to see the hurt floating there.
And he saw it. Something sharp twisting in his heart, robbing him of his breath.
Ni muiye maila mann mera, kya karna aisa rang gora, jo piya na rijhaye
She touched her cheeks, her arms, and then crossing her arms against her chest, she waved off. Her hips swaying from left to right.
Ni muiye mann maila, mann maila kya karna, hai aisa .
Na bhaye piya ko, tann gora kya karna, hai aisa.
Leja leja, churake saare rang leja.
Raati raati main bheegun saath mein tu aisi mulakaat leja
leja leja leja leja re leja leja haan re
Her eyes filled with tears, her throat hurt. And she did not try to hide her tears this time. She let him see the raw pain. She crossed her arms against her chest and closed her eyes, her hips moving with the music.
Chahoon paas paas aana, koi dhoondh ke bahana, tumhe apna maana
She opened her eyes, looking around, and then again fixing her gaze at him.
Chahe ruthe ye jamana, chahe maare jag taana, tumko hai pana
Arnav just couldn't take his eyes off her. He stood numb, just feeling everything she was making him feel.
Ni muiye saari raaton ki, kahani koi to hogi
She drowned herself in the music, dancing her heart out, her every gesture telling a story of its own.
Hoo ni muiye haay.
Ni muiye hoti hai, kucch batein hoti hai, raaton mein.
Jo jaage hai jogi ya taare jage hai, raaton mein
Leja leja re mehki raat mein churake saare rang leja
Raati raati main bheegun
Leja leja aa re
She stopped, her breathing ragged. Not for once her eyes had left his gaze. She was feeling a myriad of emotions -- hurt, anger and sadness. She wants to go to him and pound her fist against his chest, demanding answers for every time he had hurt her, every taunt he had hurled at her. She want to hurt him the same way he had hurt her, and yet, at the same time, she wants him to sooth her every pain.
Not trusting herself anymore, she wiped the tears that rolled down her cheek and ran towards the poolside.
Arnav entered the poolside, still not over the sight he had just witnessed. He don't know what to feel anymore. Just a moment ago, he was consumed with fury, wanting to burn the whole world down. A chit of a girl had made him lose his control. And he was angry. So angry that he was ready to do anything to show her that she means nothing to him. But now ... now as the anger had left him, he don't know what to feel. What to feel at the blatant display of raw pain and hurt.
His train of thoughts came to a halt as he heard some voices. He looked around. Khushi sat in one corner, her knees drawn to her chest and face buried between them. She was sobbing. He immediately strode towards her.
"Khushi"
Khushi's head jerked up. She stared his frowning face for few seconds before a fury like never before took over her. She wiped her cheeks roughly and stood up.
"Khushi what.." He lifted his hand to touch her cheek.
She jerked his hand away.
"Do not Khushi' me. Don't you ever touch me!" She shouted, her eyes emitting fire. "I am nothing to you! So what are you doing here? Go away! Just go away! Don't you ever come close to me. Don't you ever try to talk to me. I am nothing to you. I mean nothing to you. Didn't you say that? And to prove that, you just went ahead with announcing your marriage. Congratulations Mr Raizada! May you lead a happy married life. My work is done. I am out of your life now." Her throat hurt with all the shouting, but she continued, "You know what? You mean nothing to me! Nothing!! Nothing!!!" She breathed hard. The tears flowed down freely, drenching her face. As all the emotions choked her throat once again, robbing her of her ability to speak, she turned and ran away, as fast as her trembling legs allowed her.
He stood there for long minute, just staring in the direction she had ran. She doesn't want to see him ever? She doesn't want him to touch her ever? He means nothing to her? -- All the times he was the one who hurled at her when she had made him bare all his emotions in front of her...
Slowly, very slowly, his lips lifted into a wicked smile. Tomorrow. He promised himself. Tomorrow she will be right back where she belongs - In his arms.
comment:
p_commentcount