Among all these chaos, there were 2 people who were more distressed. Pratap and Devyani.
Pratap: Devyani ji! Hamari baat suniye.
Devyani: Kys sune? You never have hid anything from me. But for nearly a decade you have kept such a big news from me? Our Pari was in Asylum, Akshita bitiya has gone through so much, you kept visiting them frequently. And I come to know it now? When everyone are in this condition? If you have told me earlier, we could have done something to get Akshita out of his chains, we could have applied for Pari's custody. But no! You trusted that vile snake to take care of both and now see what has happened to them. Kyu pratap ji? Akhir kyu?
Pratap hung his head not having answers to his wife's questions.
Pratap: That time I did not want to put you through all this when I knew you were already in distress after death of our kids. And Akshita bitiya made me give my word that none of this will come out unless she wants to. I did not want to risk anything Devyani ji. I am sorry. I just thought about everyone's welfare.
Devyani could not take her husband's defeated voice even when she was so angry at him. She understood well about his intentions. Nearly 35+years of being married to him, she knew him too well. She rushed to him and made him look straight.
Devyani: I understand Pratap ji! But I just can't take it. Why it should happen to them. Always? Chote is looking like there is no life in him. Akshita has turned into living corpse. The only good thing that happened is Aran has released himself off his father's clutches and has agreed to get treatment in rehabilitation. But poor him, he had to see his maniac father hitting his mother with the gun barrel!
Pratap cupped her cheeks. Both pair of eyes had tears.
Pratap: Nothing comes without a price Devyani ji. Aran has learnt his lesson. Nothing will happen to Pari. Once she is ok, our Chote will get well soon on his own. As for Akshita bitiya, she has endured hell for a long time. She needs time to come to terms with her freedom and her husband being sent to asylum.
That time they heard Arnav's Yell. Both of them ran to his room only to see him hugging Khushi trying to wake her calling her name while his tears were pouring.
Devyani: Chote! What happened?
Arnav looked upto her and cried more.
Arnav: Dadi! Look at her. She called me and then she just went still. Ask her to wake up na Dadi. Ask my Kuku to wake up Dadi.
Devyani looked at her grandson and then to her husband helplessly. Pratap came and ruffled Arnav's hair as he made a call to the doctor who was kept standby in Shantibhavan in the guest quarters.
Pratap: Chote! Relax. If you lose your patience, what will happen to Pari? You will have to stay calm and strong for her. Let the doctor come.
As if on the cue, the doctor came and got the details from Arnav and Pratap. He immediately checked her vitals that were being monitored and went into deep thoughts making Arnav more impatient.
Arnav: WHAT ARE YOU THINKING! TELL OUT LOUD!
Doctor: You said she called for you?
Arnav: Yes! How many times will you ask the same?
Doctor: You were also about to drown with that bullet injury right?
Arnav: YES! YOU WERE THE ONE TO TREAT ME! THEN...
Doctor: Relax...
Pratap: Chote! Let him speak.
He said trying to calm Arnav while Devyani rubbed his arm and back reassuringly. Arnav sighed.
Doctor: I am not expert in human psychology. So I can only guess. Though you were about to drown, you said that to cops that at the neck of the moment, your friend Mr. Bhatnagar came with the coastal guards to save you and Mrs. Raizada who was nearly drowning.
Arnav: hmm.
Doctor: Are you sure that she did not witness you drowning, I mean getting hurt and going into the water before you came back gasping for the coastal men to reach for you?
Arnav frowned. After the bullet hit him, everything for few seconds went blank before he found himself sinking. But at last he did manage to come out only to see Khushi sinking after her frantic attempt to swim. It was the strength of a sinking man that possessed him that moment and made him save Khushi and himself till Aman came with the coastal guys ship.
All these details were running like a thriller movie in Arnav's brain. Only when the doctor asked him again did he respond.
Arnav: I don't know. When the bullet hit me, I could not swim long. Tired may be. So i started sinking. I did know anything. But once I surface, Khushi was already drowning!
Doctor: Hmm! If I am guessing right, she saw going inside the water and thought that you drowned. She never knew that you surfaced nor that you are alive. She is holding back from responding thinking that you are not here to hold her. From what I heard and I see, I think that she is willing to let herself go thinking that YOU ARE DEAD! She is thinking that her reason to live is no more. Like I said, talk to her. Let your voice reach her. Give her the reason to live. She will get out of this quickly. Whatever you saw was just her pressure shoot up. She is asleep now. Just one step before comatose. Before it is too late, make her get up. And You are her medicine ASR!
He patted Arnav's shoulder and went out asking his nurse to note Khushi's vital. Arnav stood there looking at Khushi! Khushi loved him so much that thinking he is dead, she is not responding to treatment. Oh What he will not do to get her back.
He went and sat near Khushi on their bed. Slowly he caressed her head, tucked the rowdy fringe of hair, caressed her soft cheeks. As words failed him, he tried to make her realize with his touch. He wiped the tears under her eyelids with his thumb and forgot his own tears. By this time, the elders silently went out leaving the young ones to take care of it on their own.
Arnav: Khushi.. Khushi.. wake up Kuku.
He called with his voice dripping every drop of love he held for her. He held her hand and kept her palm on his cheeks that were unshaven for days now.
Since, she has woken up now from being unconscious, the doctor had removed her IV and said that it will not be necessary until she will go comatose. And Arnav was determined to get her awake by then.
Arnav: Khushi! Kuku! You never say No to Annu right? Then how come you are not even responding to me? Open your eyes damn it! How dare you ignore ASR eh! I said Wake up Damn it.
But Khushi lay limp. He was not able to take it anymore. He moved out to the poolside and then to his basement room to his piano. But he failed to see the light movements of her hands and flicker beneath her closed lashes.
Down, Arnav kept playing pouring his everything in music through his fingers. But the music lay soul less since his soul was there in bed unresponsive. His eyes were red due to tears and never once did his hands stop nor did his heart stop calling for her.
Suddenly, he registered the faint call, just a little more than a whisper. His fingers stopped, he just stood up and went through the door to the stairs that is where he saw.. Khushi.
Trying to walk on her unsteady weak legs, her eyes kept on wandering until, they narrowed and focussed on him. That was it. With one more step she came to him and sagged on him with her hands holding her with strength that was not to be found in her till now.
Khushi: Arnav! Oh Arnav! Take me with you.
Her hands went upto his wound in his arms. That is when he understood that she was actually there. He tried to stifle his wince as she touched the wound. But she was so attuned to him that she even knew the breath he took. So it was so easy for her to know that he was hurt.
Khushi: Ram Ram! You are hurt! Oh Arnav! I thought.. I thought..
That's it. He carried her to their room in the basement and made her lie on the bed there and he sat next to her as close as possible with her hands in his and his other hand around her.
Arnav: I am fine. It was you who scared us for 2 days you know?
Khushi: Its been 2 days?
Arnav: Yes! Its been 2 damn days. How could you Kuku? If something happens to you..
Khushi: Shh! I am here. You are fine. That is all matters to me.
Arnav: When you don't know to swim properly, who asked you to jump damn it.
Khushi remembering herself standing in a sinking boat looking at a sinking Arnav, chuckled now.
Arnav: what is so funny?
Khushi: I was already standing on a boat that was sinking. So what difference does that make if I stood there or jump into water to look for a chance to save you?
Arnav: It would have made a difference when the coastal guards would have arrived. But you Kuku had to jump! I would have managed somehow.
Khushi: It is easy to say that now we are all safe and sound. At that moment.. it was something that came to my mind.
Arnav: Yeah right! Bevkuf larki!
Khushi glared at him. Her pale face now had a little color. She pushed him with all strength she had.
Arnav: Where are you going?
Khushi: I am going to dadu and damu.. At least they won't call me bevkuf.. not when I just now woke up.
Arnav: As if I am letting you out! Who asked you to come down. And how did you get up first? And you were stuck up to so many machines.
Khushi: You called me!
She said simply. Arnav frowned.. He was playing his piano. When did he..?
Khushi: I heard you call me. I don't know. For a moment I was feeling like snuggled and next moment, the warmth went missing and all I could feel was your call. Something in your voice.. Next moment, I was up and heard you playing piano. I wanted to come to you. The way you were playing.. It was like.. crying.. not loud.. but inside, I don't know. I just wanted to come to you. See that you were fine. I came! When I want to see you, nothing can stop me. Neither those machines, nor anything else.
She said with so much determination. Arnav was speechless. She, who just woke up, put all his agony and feelings into words, just like that. Not only that, she managed to find him. Overwhelmed by emotion, he softly placed his lips on hers. Letting it just rest there, letting himself feel her presence, feel her being live. But he soon broke apart much to Khushi's disapproval. Cupping her cheeks he looked into her eyes lovingly.
Arnav: Now come on.. I will take you up. You can rest there. Then I will call the doctor. He can check you..
Arnav was about to get up when Khushi tugged his sleeves. Arnav looked up at her.
Khushi: Stay here for sometime. Just play and hum for me.
Arnav was about to protest when Khushi looked up at him with those hazel eyes of hers. So vulnerable, so frightened, so doubtful, yet so full of love. How can he say no after looking into his Kuku's eyes?
Khushi: Please Annu. Just play.
Arnav made her sit with pillows to support her back and went to the piano. This time he played the same music. But what was missing last time, filled the tune this time. The music was so full of soul and love.
Why not, when his love of life was very much alive and sitting with him asking him to play for her to enjoy.
By the time, he ended the notes, Khushi was asleep. This time, so peacefully. Smiling, Arnav carried her up to their room and made her sleep on the bed.
Please listen to the song being played to have the essence of the update and depth of emotion..
Music from movie RAJA RANI
Track name: A love for life!
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