ArShi SS: Reversed Ch.16 B updated, page 22, 12/11 - Page 9

She saw him then, sleeping uncomfortably on a couch that doesn't have enough room for his frame. She made a mental note to replace the couch with a bigger one. His arm thrown across his closed eyes in annoyance as the morning played peek-a-boo with her soft grey curtains. She had a vision of herself drawing the curtains to let him sleep in for a while longer. Steal few minutes of peace, for him. Because she knew sleep is the only cocoon, against existence.

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He woke from a fitful sleep with distant clanking of coffee mugs and stainless steel spoons. The freshly brewed coffee further disoriented his senses. Where is he? Anjali doesn't like coffee? Who is making coffee? May be today they will have coffee instead of the indispensable morning tea.

Khushi walked in before he could dwell on his confusions. Oh!

"Coffee?" She kept his mug on the table before he could form a reply.

"This is not going to be a routine. But today I have some boundaries to set before we go on with our lives. First, outside the four walls of my apartment, we are a happily married couple. And I already made it clear where you stand in this relationship inside this house. Second, we have taken leave for two days. Third, no one, I repeat no one is going to be privy to the knowledge of a six months contract that stands between us. And last, you will leave this house after six months and we will no longer be husband and wife. This was the last thing because I don't have to remind you about our nuptial agreement, I hope?

"Six months? Small mercies do exist in your manual of ruining lives. Doesn't it?"

"And the boundaries are non-negotiable." She continued without acknowledging his remark.

"Khushi! Just tell me why?"

"Because in the matter of ruining lives your name comes first in the list. And you are a deceitful piece of shit who needs to be put in his place." She said as if quoting statistics in a presentation.

"Khushi! Enough. I am leaving this house. I have had enough. If you are so full of yourself to even tell me the reason for this mockery of a marriage I do not care for your reasons and neither your threats. I am walking out of this."

"Okay! But before you go say good bye to everything you have ever achieved in your pathetic years you call a life."

"Well! You can try and stop me but Khushi you know as well as I do, you can't change lives according to how you please. You are not God."

"Well your God is dead and he left this world to the devils. And you know what they call me! And excuse me, I have to make a call."

"Hello, Dr. Gardner. How are you?... Yes I am good, I am good... I know it's been hard for you, flying in and out of the country. ... Yes I know but I think we can arrange something else for Anjal..."

"Khushi, stop! Khushi please!"

"Hold on a sec, Dr." She turned to face Arnav

"I won't leave and I agree to all your terms, boundaries whatever you call it. Just.. just don't do this." The defeat in his voice made her wish she didn't have to do this. Didn't have to do anything they have done to each other.

Khushi went back to her phone without sparing a second glance to Arnav.

"Yes. Mr. Gardner. I am sorry. Actually we did try to arrange something else for Anjali but you see no one else is capable for a surgery as complex as this. Besides you are the only one I trust. It's just that we have to delay the surgery for six months. Anjali is not in a state to go through it right now... Yes actually a tragedy has befallen her... family ... No, nothing major just family dispute. I hope you know what to do... Thank you so much Dr. I owe you one."

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