#3 ArShi FF: Lost Memories*EPILOGUE*pg67*29/09 - Page 15

Khushi tried to remember the boat accident in her dream. But Arnav's voice brought her back.

Arnav: My Papa and your Appa were best friends, since childhood. It was time when Dadaji left everything of his in Lucknow and came to Coimbatore in search of Job. All Dadaji knew was only the textile mill work as Dadaji's family once owned a textile mill in Lucknow. But in family problem, that Mill's ownership was taken from Dadaji and he had to come to Coimbatore. This place was known as Manchester of India due to its textile Production. So it was not tough for him to get a job here. Dadaji's colleague's son was your Appa. But there was a fire accident in the mill which took the life of many workers including your Dada Dadi. So Dadaji took Appa with him. That is how Papa and Appa came under single roof.

Khushi: Appa was an orphan too! But Amma...

Arnav: Yes.. Your amma was no different! They were college mates. With the little money Dadaji saved from his work and with Dadi's little gold Dadaji brought sarees and started selling them in streets. Dadaji was very good businessman. Soon he started earning good and slowly he set up a mill here. It was just a start. Soon Papa and Appa returned from studies. They were sent to Ooty boarding to be kept away from all these. But they were sons who knew what it was to earn to live. Mainly Appa. He joined Dadaji's mill as worker and started earning part time along with his higher studies in Coimbatore College. Seeing him Papa too did the same. He was always proud of his friend.

Khushi: He never lived off anyone! But..

Arnav: Your Appa was a proud man. He never wanted to burden anyone. Life taught him so much!

Khushi: Life does teach us many things.

Arnav: Hmm... Your Amma, Anju Athai and my Maa and your Mami, were friends. But your mami suddenly dropped college as she got married

Khushi(gasped): Mama?

Arnav: Obviously! Then our Mothers met their respective partners and with Dada Dadi's permission, they were happily married and that is how we come into picture. I was born a year earlier to you, exactly a year! And that is when our fathers planned to get into the business. They were working hard to build their empire from the small mill Dadaji had developed. My birth if gave a way to this, your birth brought success in their path.

Khushi: ME?

Arnav: YES you! You were their lucky charm. On the day you were born, they both got a very big deal that changed their life. And from there, there was no seeing back. They were just climbing on and on.. 9 years! It took them to build their empire and earn so much property but most importantly the respect as businessmen. Amidst all these, you became my everything and I was the same for you.

Khushi gasped!

Arnav: Yes. We were so close that you were very much sure that, after growing big, you said that only you can marry me! And when you realized that there was so much time for it, you wanted to marry me then and there! When you were 8!

Arnav chuckled while Khushi was at state of shock! Not even in her faintest part of brain, she could see these images of childhood!

Arnav: But when our father's announced that we will be married in future in front of Devi Maiyya in Kanyakumari, no one expected their life could be ended so brutally! While enjoying a boat ride, due to a whole in the boat, it started sinking and with the single life jacket left, they secured me and through me they saved you!

SAVE MY GUDIYA ARN...

The call clearly rang in her head now! So that woman was her Amma, the others who were drowning next to her were her father and Arnav's parents. But..

Khushi: But mama said Aran..

Arnav(gritting teeth): Have you ever seen that idiot lifting at least a finger for you that he will get into such deep water to save your life risking his?

Khushi: But Mama said...

Arnav: IT WAS A LIE.. A WHITE LIE!

Khushi flinched at this sudden outburst. She looked at him with her wide eyes shining with fear. Arnav had to pull all of his energy to control him. Slowly he put his hand around her as they sat on the bed!

Arnav: Sorry!

Khushi: Why would Mama lie? And how did he suddenly come into this picture?

She asked slowly.

Arnav: Your Amma, Anjali Rajan and Mama Daksha Rajan are siblings. How much your Amma was innocent and polite and good, your mama was cunning. He somehow got your Amma's share of property and then never cared for her. And Your Mami's parents stopped her studies and got her married to him which we all got to know later. Anju athai was no less than orphan, no parents and her elder brother ditched her for property. And she met Rajiv Uncle and married him going against her brother, your mama which made him disown her completely!

Khushi: This... this.. cannot be true!

Arnav: It is.. and Later when he came to know the vast property, he used his wife, your Mami to gain his sister's trust back! He did that too! But he was completely planning something else and their death only paved him an easy path! He thought so..

Khushi: No..

Arnav: YES! But our father's did something that kept his hands tied till now! They made a will which said that once you are of age, and once you get married, your properties will be transferred to your husband. They made this will thinking that I will marry you. But this accident turned everything upside down and when you were in hospital with no blood relation other than us to claim you, your Mama took advantage of this and took you away from us! That night when I dropped you home in Mumbai, the pic you saw in my mobile was our pic. Don't you feel the familiarity of faces Khushi?

He poured out everything finishing in a question looking at her with hope! Khushi's mind tried recalling the pic she saw and fought to sense the familiarity of the kids face. She always thought that the boy was familiar to her. But she never knew that there could be such a story behind this. But why wasn't she able to remember her face distinctly? Her Amma's face? WHY NOT? And her Mama..

Her Mama's story and here Arnav's story were totally contrast! She did not know whom to believe and whom not to. And as usual her brain tried inclining to the trouble less side. She could not ignore her Mama who brought up for nearly 17 years listening to Arnav, nor she can let her trust on Arnav down AGAIN!

Her mind went blank and her head was spinning! Arnav saw this and immediately held her in his arms close to him. He rubbed her back with one hand and cupped her cheek with other making her look at him.

Arnav: Khushi.. Kuku! Look at me. See.. This is why I said NO to this! Khushi... Khushi.. KUKU.. TALK TO ME DAMMIT!

Khushi looked into his eyes. All she saw was anxiousness at her not responding, care and unadulterated LOVE for her shining his chocolate orbs. Slowly her hand made to his cheek. Looking at his face,

Khushi: Annu.. I am feeling sleepy.. Will you take me to our room and sing for me?

Arnav: Khushi?

Khushi: I am just tired. I need time to process all these! Just sing to me and help me sleep Please?

Arnav obliged to his Kuku. He hummed as he carried her to their room up.

Kannava illai kattra

kannava nee katra

Are you a dream or breeze?

Kaiyil midhakum kanava nee.. Kai kal mulaitha katra nee

Are you a dream that floats in my hands, Are you air with arms and legs

Kaiyil yendhiyum kanakkavilaiye. Nurayal seidha silaya nee

You dont feel heavy when I carry you in my hands.. Are you a statue made out of bubbles

Ipadi unnai yendhi konde indira logam poi vidava

Can I carry you like this to Indralog(heaven)

Idayil koncham vali eduthalum, Chandiran tharayil pai idava

Even if it pains midway, can I lay a mat on floor of the moon

He settled on the bed in their bedroom and sat with his back on the headboard and Khushi in his lap. Her head was resting near his heart. He slowly caressed her forehead, eyes, cheek.

Nilavil porulgal edai izhakkum, Neerilum porul edai izhakkum, Kadhalil kooda edai izhakkum, indru kanden adiye adhai Kandu kondein adiye

Things loose weight in Moon, things loose weight in water, it also looses weight even in love - I found it today dear, I realised it dear.

Kadhal thaimai rendu mattum baram enbadhai ariyadhu, un palingu mugathai parthu kondal pasiyo valiyo theriyadhu

Love and motherhood do not know any weight / pain, when I look at your beautiful face, I feel no hunger or thirst.

A lone tear made way from Khushi's closed eye to her cheek. Arnav wiped it away with his thumb as he hummed..

Unnai mattum sumandhu nadandhal uyaram dhooram theriyadhu

When I carry you I dont realise any height or distance

Unthan mel oru poo vizhundhal ennal thanga mudiyadhu

I cannot bear even if a flower falls on you

Now a lone tear made way out of Arnav's eye and before it could fall on sleeping Khushi and disturb her, he wiped it away and bend kissing Khushi on her forehead with feather touch. Hiding her face in crook and holding her safely away from every harm he closed his eyes drifting to a slumber.