Chapter 50 – Always
I loved you then.
And I love you now.
I always have.
And I always will
Today, tomorrow, forever and beyond
Until the end of time
Theres only one thing that I know will be the same inmy being
No matter where I go, or where I am
And I know that you already know this,but its for meto say and for you to know again
That – I will always Love you!
………………………………
Khushi fluttered her eyes open ,and her hand oninstinct went to her head as she rubbed her temple, and her eyes fell onto Arhaan,who had her hand in his,and he was sitting on the ground with his head bentover by her side.
And she looked around, she was, where everArhaan had got her, she wasn’t home,and she remembered how him finding her inthe middle of the night had sent her into a panic mode and she had fainted.Andshe didn’t move a inch because her movement might just wake him up and she hadno idea as to why he had brought her here, why was he after her?? What did hewant??
She was sure that he wouldn’t hurt her, but stillshe had to be careful here, and tried to reach out to her back pocket for herphone, because she had no idea what the time was, how long had she beensleeping, here in Arhaans room.She was sure everyone would be freaking out,especially Arnav, he would have probably banged his fist into the wall azillion times already.
But she couldn’t find her phone in the backpocket and she groaned, ofcourse Arhaan had her phone,and right then she sawhim turn his face to her side in his sleep,and she didn’t know what was it thatstopped all her worry with that one look.The look he had on his face as he heldon to her hand and slept with his eyes closed,there was something about itwhich greatly pained her,something was majorly wrong here, something shecouldn’t understand, and right then she saw a trail of blood leave his nose, inhis sleep ,and she immediately picked up the tissue from the bed side to wipeit, why was his nose bleeding in his sleep??
Arhaan stirred as he felt a hand on him, and heopened to see the sight of holding a tissue up against his nose and hestraightened up holding the tissue with his hand settling the bleeding away andhe spoke softly – “ im sorry to scare you if I did, that was the last thing Iwanted, I just needed to talk to you, that’s why I came to find you, and youfainted, that’s why I got you here, the nurse gave you a injection to let yousleep for a while, that’s why youv been here, I don’t want to risk your health,youv only just recently recovered…”
Khushi flinched at the hint of the memory butshe didn’t know why she didn’t feel fear anymore, there was anything but fearin that moment and she took a deep breathe as she asked – “ you have myphone??and are you not well?? Why was your nose bleeding in your sleep??”
Arhaan looked at her in awe, there was genuineconcern in her eyes as she asked him that last bit, she was one of a kind, shehad been his angel ,she had saved him from his hell – “ yes I have your phone,I could get it if you want, but Khushi, I want us to talk first for a while alone??If that’s ok with you??”
Khushi took a deep breathe as she spoke – “wellI did tell you that I want nothing to do with you anymore, but now that youvcome all this way, ok…I will hear you out, but promise me once you are done, Ileave, and you don’t come my way again..ok??”
Arhaan gave her a sad smile – “ I wish I couldpromise you that, but I cant..”
Khushi – “ what do you mean you can’t??”
Arhaan sighed – “ I cant promise that I will notcome your way again..i just want you to hear me out first..please??”
Khushi felt panic set in again as she tried toget off the bed,and go to the door and Arhaan caught hold of her hand to stopher as he asked softly – “ are you scared of me?? Really are you?? “
There was something in his voice that stopped herfrom trying to run away and she looked at him as she spoke, honestly – “ no, Iam not scared of you Arhaan, I know this is Arhaan in front of me and not thecriminal Farhaan…but then you aren’t letting me go, and its making me nervous…”
Arhaan gestured her to join him on the circulartable in the room and he sat on the chair, and caught hold of his laptop bagfrom the table and he spoke – “ join me here?? Will you please??”
Khushi nodded as she gathered all her courageand walked up to sit in front of him and she asked again – “ why are youhere??”
Arhaan looked at her as he spoke softly – “because I needed to look at you and feel what iv been longing to feel for along time now, you are the only one who can make me feel that way…”
Khushi – “ feel what??”
Arhaan sighed – “ feel as if im home, as ifthere really is someone who will understand me in this moment and more thanthat help me…”
Khushi looked at him in distress, she didn’tknow what to make of the situation as she asked – “ you want me to help you??You are asking me to help you after everything that happened??”
Arhaan nodded as he spoke taking a deep breathe– “and I know you will…”
Khushi – “excuse me??? That’s for me to decide…”
And right then, there was a knock on the doorand Arhaan called out to the person to stay out but she spoke from the door – “im sorry, but your phones been constantly pinging, so is hers…”
Arhaan took a deep breathe as he walked to thedoor, and took his phone from his assistant and closed the door behind him as hewalked to Khushi taking a look at his phone as he spoke – “ its zoya, shesmessaging me to ask if I have you with me..”
Khushi’s eyes widened in shock as the worrydawned in her head – “Everyone must be worried the hell out of their minds…canyou please message her back that I am ok??”
Arhaan nodded, it wasn’t his intention to makeeveryone go beserk with worry and panic. He wasn’t here to harm anyone.
Khushi asked – “ you will message her right?”
Arhaan – “ I will, I just will…”
Khushi asked on reflex, the question that was onher mind – “ your uncle Mehmet, does he know you are here?? Did he sendyou??are you trying to fool him again??”
Arhaan looked at her for a quick second toanswer her, right when his nose started to bleed again and he immediately tooka tissue again to help himself as he heard Khushi ask him – “whats wrong withyou?”
Arhaan looked at her as he spoke taking a deepbreathe – “ you don’t have to worry about my uncle anymore, he will never comeafter you..”
Khushi – “ are you sure??”
Arhaan – “ yes, because he is dead, and so iskhala…im orphaned Khushi, once again im left all alone…”
Khushi felt her eyes widen in shock as she asked– “ what??? How???”
Arhaan sighed – “we were in an accident a monthago, a car accident, they both died on the spot…didn’t make it…”
That wretched pained look on his face, painedher, and she spoke softly – “ I don’t know if I can say this about Mehmet, butfor khala definetly, im sorry…I really am…”,and she paused for a second as sheasked – “were you hurt much?? Is that why your nose is bleeding over and overagain..”
Arhaan nodded solemly as he walked close uptoher and held her hand in his, she tried to pull it away , and he let her as hesat dejected on the table and looked into her eyes as he let out the truth thathe had come to tell her about in the first place – “ that’s why im here Khushi,I had to find you, I had to see you, I had to feel something in here again…”,hesaid pointing to the middle of his chest and he let out – “so that I canfinally die in peace…”
Khushi looked at him shocked too shocked to moveas she asked shaken by what she had just heard – “ you what?? What did you justsay??”
Arhaan sighed – “ im dying Khushi, I don’t havea lot of time on my hands…”
………………………….
Khushi stood hazed, too shaken in the moment as shetook in everything Arhaan now told her and she picked up his medical reportsfrom the table in the front that he had now laid down in front of her and shelooked at everything carefully, this was not fabricated surely, this and thelook on Arhaans face, his constant bleeding from the nose in the moment, theemotion that was in his eyes in the moment, shook her being, she didn’t knowhow to react to what was being told her and in that moment in the painful moment,all she could remember was the fact that the person standing in front of herwas Arhaan who had been her friend, who had stood by her in one of the mostdifficult phases of her life,and a tear fell her eye as she kept the reportsback on the table as she whispered – “ you are dying…you are going to die…whyyyydidn’t you undergo surgery Arhaan when the doctors asked you too, there was achance wasn’t there??”
Arhaan sat down on the chair in front of her ashe took her hand in his, which she did not pull away and he spoke – “no, the chanceswere more that id die on the operation table, and even if I did survive it, idbe neurologically damaged for life, I don’t want that for myself Khushi, idrather die…”,and he paused as he continued softly – “ I knew it, I knew theminute id had that impact on my head in the accident, I could sense that somethingwas very wrong with me as they wheeled me to the hospital in the ambulance, andthe MRI confirmed the anerusym in my brain, it was a difficult moment Khushi,id just been informed that Mehmet uncle and khala were dead, and I had no onenext to kin left, so the doctors had no choice but to talk to me about mymedical condition, and so as I took it all in, I understood there were two choicesI had in front of me, either I take the risk of the brain surgery and probablyend up dying on the table or surviving as neurologically damaged, or I couldjust ask them to give me medicines to help me keep my symptoms in control for awhile and that would buy me time, give me atleast some more time to live lifeas I normally would, and in my heart I knew the choice I had to make…”,and hepaused as his phone started to ping again and again.
Arhaan looked at Khushi as he spoke – “ its Zoya…imsorry I forgot to message her…ill just tell her you are ok, first..”
Khushi nodded in silence.
…………………………………
Anjali looked at the worried and panickedexpressions on every ones face in the room,as they all waited in anticipationfor Zoya to tell them that Arhaan had replied to her messages.
Her husband sat next to her , his hand firmly byher shoulder to support her, a worried payal..sitting next to her on the otherside.Zoya had been forced to sit on the stool by Asad a couple of seconds agoas she had been pacing around restlessly with her crutch, that she had almosttripped twice in the process and Asad literally picked her up and made her siton the stool as he asked her to just keep messaging Arhaan again, and then hejoined Akash and Abir as they both tried to control Arnav, as he turnedeverything upside down in the living room, in rage, frustration and fear.
Arnav kicked the only side table that was left standingin the living room, upside down in pure fear as he felt Akash, Abir and Asad holdhim and he stopped, only because the three of their’s grip together on him wasa force he couldn’t fight in the moment for he felt drained of everything inthat moment,and he sat on the floor against the wall as he asked Zoya acrossthe room – “ please tell me he replied..”
Zoya looked at the helplessness on everyonesface and tears fell her own eyes as she spoke – “ no bhai…”,and she saw Asadscream in fury as well,as Arnav and Asad exchanged a look and they were both ontheir feet as they spoke in unison – “ that’s it, we are done waiting…”
Asad nodded – “ im going to look for her, and I willfind her…”
Arnav – “ and I will kill Arhaan…I swear I will…”
And right then Zoyas phone beeped and she pickedit up as she screamed – “ wait…he messaged…”
Arnav and Asad were by her side in a jiff as Zoyahanded them the phone,and they read the message from Arhaan on the chat.
Arhaan : Yes, zoya.Khushi is with me.Please don’tworry, ask Arnav and Asad and your family not to worry.I am not going to harm Khushi,you know I love her more than my very own life.
Arnav’s blood boiled as he read that but he alsofelt relieved and he heard Asad speak – “message him back…”
Zoya nodded and she wrote – “ I want to speak toKhushi.Please make me speak to her..”
And they waited for a reply, and right then herphone beeped.
Arhaan : Ok.
And seconds later, her phone buzzed, and Arnavspoke – “put in out on speaker..please…”,and Zoya nodded as she did it and theyheard Arhaans voice through the speaker as he spoke – “ Zoya, everything isalright, don’t worry…”
Before Zoya could speak anything Arnav roared – “howdare you?? How dare you take Khushi, I will kill you this time around, I wontlet Khushi stop me…”
Asad was next – “ you bloody coward, how dareyou walk in out of nowhere in the middle of the night and take her with you…andyou ask us not to worry…you are a murderer dammit..”
They all heard Arhaan sigh as he spoke – “ well Ididn’t want to take her with me, all I wanted to do was talk to her..but shefainted…”
Arnav felt his heart grip in fear as he heardthat, he knew this wasn’t good for Khushi and he asked – “ she whattttt??? Khushi..isshe fine?? What have you done to her…answer me dammit, answer me now, where isKhushi….”
And right then they heard Khushi’s voice throughthe phone – “ Arnav….bhaijaan…”,and Arnav felt relief wash over his nerves ashe jumped up taking the phone in his hands – “ are you ok?? Please tell me youare ok, Khushi..please…where are you??”
They heard her speak – “ Arnav..im ok…I really am,bhaijaan don’t worry, Zoya don’t feel guilty about this ok, it isn’t yourfault, it was something that was to happen anyway…”
Zoya immediately spoke through her tears – “what do you mean??and why do you sound like as if youv been crying….khushi..whatswrong??has he done anything to harm you??”
They all heard Khushi sob as she spoke – “ no,im ok…and I will be with you all soon, I promise…”,and she paused as she spoke –“ I love you Arnav…”,and the line went blank.
Arnav felt confusion take over his mind as helooked at everyone around in the room as he asked – “did anyone of youunderstand what this was about??”
And right then Zoyas phone beeped.It was Arhaan,as he messaged – Khushi is safe.Dont worry.Just give me some time,please.
…………….
Khushi wiped her tears as she gestured forArhaan to continue with their conversation as she asked softly – “ how muchtime do you have??”
Arhaan sighed as he admitted honestly – “depending on the size of the bulge it had resulted in, they gave me about amonth to deceide whether I wanted surgery or not, I mean the medicines and thedrugs have helped me manage my symptons..for I needed to be up and about forwhat I wanted to do…”
Khushi did the calculation in her head as sheasked – “ but a month is over already isn’t it??so are you at risk of theaneurysm rupturing any moment now??? Arhaan, are you crazy?? What have you beendoing all this while????”
Arhaan sighed as he sat in front of her on hisknees and looked at her – “ iv done exactly what I wanted to Khushi…”,and hetook out some additional papers from his bag as he spoke handing it to her – “ivspent the last month winding up my work, my businesses and accumulated andtransferred all the wealth I have had earned all this while…”,and he paused ashe saw Khushi’s eyes widen in shock as she asked reading the papers – “ and youwant to give it all to me?? What makes you think I will accept this…??i don’t wantanything Arhaan, I can’t…I can’t…”
Arhaan gestured for her to turn the page as hespoke – “ you are the only one I want to leave all of it too, but I also knewthat you wouldn’t accept it, iv known you haven’t i?? and that’s why ivtransferred everything into a trust, a trust that will focus on charity, andall I want from you is to accept to be the trustee and the guardian of it, that’sall…I have set up the entire team, I have done it all…but all I need from you afterim gone is to just oversee once in a while that the proceeds from the trust aregoing for the purpose they should, in the right hands, helping people in the needof it…please Khushi, you are the only one i can trust with this…you are the onlyone I could turn to for help here, for I know you have it in your heart to dothis, to help me help people after im gone…all my life iv just burned in thehell of hatred and revenge, that I want to make amends to save my soul ,atleast I want to try…but I don’t have time…but I know you can help me Khushi…youwill help me Khushi?? So that atleast I can die in peace???”
Khushi read everything in the papers and shelooked at him as she asked – “ this is what you really want??”
Arhaan nodded solemly – “ yes, I really want this,think of this as my last wish maybe?? Please accept this??
Khushi looked at his face as she spoke softly – “I cannot accept this without knowing what Arnav, bhaijaan and Zoya feel aboutthis, will you take me to them please??”
Arhaan sighed – “ they wont let you…I know theywont, Arnav would never…nor would Asad…they hate me…”
Khushi spoke, with tears in their eyes – “ I willtalk to them, I think they will have it in their hearts to let go of all thehate for a man who is at their doorstep for his one last wish…”
Arhaan looked at her confused – “ I don’t knowKhushi..”
Khushi – “ you might just feel better if youapologize to all of them in person, like for real this time around, face toface, no facades whatsoever…only the truth and a genuine apology for everything…??”
Arhaan sighed as he nodded in agreement, hell hewould do anything Khushi asked him too in that moment, and he spoke – “if that’swhat you want…ok, ill take you there…”
Khushi nodded as she gestured him to walk outthe door and she whispered softly – “im sorry that it has all come to this…Ireally am…”
Arhaan looked back at her for a second and hesighed, falling in love with this woman all over again – “ and im sorry too..imsorry for everything, I really am, for everything in the past, and foreverything that you have had to go through because of me…I need to know youforgive me Khushi…”
Khushi looked at him as she spoke honestly – “ Iknow you are sorry and I do..i forgive you Arhaan…”,and she paused as she spoke– “ its time you felt the power of forgiveness too…ask them for it from yourheart, and you will feel a peace within…”
Arhaan made his way down the stairs as he pausedand he looked at her – “ thank you for guiding me Khushi…”,and he saw her nodin silence,and so he walked out silently as he gestured for his assistant andnurse to join them.
……………………………………………………………………..
Khushi looked at Arhaan as she stepped out thecar – “ I will talk to them first, and then call you in..??”
Arhaan – “ no, I will come in with you, it doesn’tmatter…”,and he looked at his assistant and nurse – “ you wouldn’t mind waitinghere for a while would you?? I will call you when its time and you can come inwith all the documents…”
They nodded.
Khushi sighed as she walked to the door, and theminute she knocked on it, it opened in a jiffy and she was pulled in , into acrushing hug by Arnav, as he held her close as he spoke – “Khushi, thank god…thankgod….”,and he kissed her forehead and then her cheeks as he kissed steppingback to examine her as he asked – “are you hurt anywhere??are you ok??”
Khushi hugged him as she spoke – “ im ok..ireally am…”,and she heard Arnav ask in fury – “where is he…I swear..i will…”,andbefore he could complete the sentence Arhaan stepped into the frame in front ofhim , standing behind Khushi as he spoke – “ you want to kill me…I know…”
Everyone had gathered behind Arnav as he hadhugged Khushi to himself, Zoya and Asad finally taking a breathe of relief ,andright then they saw Arnav look at Khushi in shock as he asked her – “ why is hehere????”
Asad broke through everyone as he walked up toKhushi as he saw the stunned expression on Arnavs face as he asked – “Khushi..answer us, why is he here…did you get him here with you??”
Khushi looked at the stunned faces of everyone, speciallythe shaken face of Arnav as she spoke – “ he needs to talk…and we need to lethim…”
Arnav stood too shocked as he looked at Khushiwho had tears in her eyes, and he couldn’t understand why was she doing this,why was she standing with the man who had killed his father,destroyed their families,Khushialmost died because of his uncle, and yet she was expecting them to let him inand she actually expected them to listen to them??
Arnav looked at her as he spoke, the shock inhis voice – “ you want me to let him in??”
Khushi – “ yes I do..”
Arnav – “whats wrong with you??”, and he lookedat Arhaan with rage as he almost punched him, and Khushi caught his hand midair – “ I will kill him, don’t stop me Khushi, please..how dare he come back intoour lives…”
Khushi held on to Arnav’s hand and she steppedcloser into him as she kissed his hand and she spoke – “ please listen to me, don’tbe angry…please…”
Arnav felt her touch soothe his anger but he didn’tknow what was up with Khushi, she was being so strange in that moment, it scaredhim and he stood silent, everyone stood silent as they watched Khushi take adeep breathe as she looked into his eyes – “ you don’t need to kill him Arnav,hes dying anyway…”
That news shocked the hell out of everyone as stoodstunned as Arnav , Asad and Zoya asked in unison – “ whatttttt?????”
Arhaan took a deep breathe as he finally spoke –“ I don’t have much time left, and all I want to do is talk to all of you, askforgiveness for all my sins, and maybe you all have it in your heart to forgivea dying man…”
Anjali di stepped in from behind as she put eachof her hand on Asad and Arnav’s shoulder, gesturing them to let Arhaan in, andthey both looked at each other and nodded, and Arnav caught hold of Khushishand as he pulled her behind him, he now understood the reason she stood soshaken, his Khushi was an angel , too kind , in this moment it didn’t matter toher that this man had been a criminal in the past, and he couldn’t really beangry at her for this, and so he just held her hand and walked in with everyoneas they all gathered in the kitchen aisle, because the living room had alreadybeen turned into a big mess.
……………………….
Arhaan saw that everyone stood in front of himwaiting to speak, Asad, Zoya, Arnav , Khushi, and four other family members ofthe Raizadas and the man whom he had bumped into at the restaurant. He took adeep breathe as he spoke, he wasn’t afraid to admit his sins any longer, norwas he afraid to ask for forgiveness, Khushi had given him the strength too facethis moment, and he would face – “ I am sorry for taking Khushi with me, I didn’twant to, but she saw me and she went into a panic mode, and before I knew itshe had fainted, and I know that she had only just recovered, so I had my nurselook in and give her an injection to assure that she was ok…and then ofcourse Iwanted to talk to her about this situation , as in my situation…”
Asad tapped his feet on the floor in nervousnessas he asked – “ you came here alone??”
Arnav – “ your filth of a uncle?? Where is he??”
Arhaan – “ dead..hes dead, so is khala, we werein an accident a month go, they didn’t make it, I had a severe head injury onimpact and I have a brain aneurysym..its going to burst sooner or later…”
Anjali asked – “ surgery??”
Arhaan – “ chances are that I would have died onthe table, or survive it and be neurologically damaged for life, no, I don’t wantthat for myself, id rather die,and I needed some time to actually do what I wantedto do, so…it’s a choice I don’t regret…”
Zoya looked at the stunned silent faces ofeveryone in the room, and Khushi holding arnavs hand as she stood next to himtears falling her cheeks and she asked – “ what do you want??”
Arhaan looked at everyone as he spoke withregret in his voice – “ I want to apologize, I just want to say, that I amsorry, I truly am, for being the criminal that I was a decade ago, I cannotwash the stains of blood that leave their marks on my hands,Im sorry, forNajma, Im sorry for your father, Arnav, I didn’t want to kill anyone, themoment had got heated and I just fired the shot to scare everyone, but I wasyoung and shaken in the moment that I misfired and it hit her, and the rest justfollowed…Im sorry for leaving behind a misunderstanding that destroyed bothyour families, im just sorry for everything, I just hope you all have it in yourhearts to forgive me, itll help me die peacefully maybe??”
Anjali could sense the genuineity in his voiceand she finally spoke – “ its not easy for us to forget what happened…we alllived with the consequences for so so long, but…”
Zoya stepped in – “ but now, holding onto this hatredfor you is not going to help any of us”
Arnav looked at Asad and Asad looked at him, thetwo of them didn’t know how to react, what could they say?
Arhaan looked at everyone and then finally walkedupto Khushi as he spoke softly standing right in front of her – “ you wereright Khushi…I feel light..i don’t know if I have forgiveness yet, but I feelas if a lot of weight has been lifted off my shoulders….and now I just need youto agree…”
Arnav looked at him and then at Khushi – “ agreeto what??”
Arhaan sighed as he looked at everyone – “ I havespent the last month winding up everything,and accumulating my wealth and I wantedto leave it all to Khushi, but Iv known her well, I knew she would never accept…soI made a trust that will only be engaged in doing charity for people in need,and I just want Khushi to be the trustee and step in once in a while tooverlook that the proceeds are going to their rightful place, she is the onlyone whom I can trust with this, she is the only one who will understand me, andhelp me in a moment like this…but she wanted to know what you all felt aboutthis especially Arnav, you, Asad and Zoya…”
Arnav exchanged a look with Asad and therealisation dawned on him again as he asked, already knowing the answer within –“you really love Khushi…you really do”
Arhaan sighed as he spoke, not afraid to admitthe truth any longer – “ yes I do..i always did and I always will, until mylast breathe…”,and he took the silence of Arnav asad and Zoya positively as hespoke looking at Khushi with so much emotion that tears left his eyes – “ Iwould wish for you to start with building a place for the children of all ageswith troubled childhoods, unhappy homes, make a home for them Khushi, will youplease?? For I know from experience how poisonous an unhappy, negative envioronment,can be…let them receive love, let them receive counselling, guidance, make aplace these troubled kids can call home and look at for guidance in troubledtimes…I didn’t have this in my Life Khushi, and I wished someone out there hadreached out to help me, had I known that I could ask for help at the right time…..do this for me Khushi, please???? Like I mentioned I have set up everything, theteams are ready, all I need is for you to agree to step in as the guardian of thetrust and sign the papers so that the work can begin…”, and with that he calledhis assistant to come in with all documents and papers,and his medical reports.
And they did, and he gestured his assistant tocirculate every paper around,and he watched and waited in silence as everyoneread it one by one.
……………………..
Khushi looked at Arnav as she watched hand overthe final paper back to Arhaan and she took him by the hand aside as she spoke –“ I will not sign it, if you don’t want me too…im sorry, I really am, I didn’t wantthis, but, I couldn’t have it in my heart to…hes dying…he really doesn’t havetime….”
Arnav understood the gravity of the situationand Khushi’s love had healed his heart with time and he hugged her to himselfas he spoke – “ he wants to redeem himself I know,and I am with you no matterwhat decision you take, the choice of whether you want to accept this or not,lies with you…”
Khushi – “ will you help me figure this out, I meanI don’t know what this exactly means..”
Arnav nodded with sincerity – “ofcourse, imalways with you, at every step…so whatever you want…I do have it in my heart tolet go of the pain of the past..”
Asad stepped in to them as he spoke nodding – “andwe could start with some forgiveness…”
Zoya joined in – “its time we let it all go, itstime we all did, dad and abbu both would have wanted this off us..im sure..”
Khushi pulled the three of them into a hug asshe whispered – “ thank you…”,and with that she walked towards Arhaan as she said– “ where do I sign???”
Arhaan felt relief wash over his being, as hepulled her in for hug on reflex – “ thank you khushi, thank you for helping me…imso happy that I have no regrets anymore, I can die in peace, I can finallyclose my eyes in peace…”.Khushi immediately pulled out of his embrace as she spoke– “im only doing this for I know a lot of good can come from this, yourintention is good and no matter what the past everyone deserves a chance toredeem themselves…”
Khushi looked back at Arnav as she held out ahand to him – “come with me please?”
Arnav nodded as he joined Khushi and sat next toher as Arhaan let his assistant join him as explained to her what all wasneeded from her.
………………………………..
Just as Khushi had finished signing the papers,Arhaan spoke – “ there you go, Sia will be in constant touch with you…she isvery efficient…”, and just as he had finished his nose started to bleed again, and Khushi gestured the nurse tocome in and look at him as she said – “ do something? It’s the fourth or thefifth time iv seen this..”
The nurse and Sia looked at her in shock andturned to Arhaan – “ why didn’t you tell us?? You know what this means??”
Khushi clutched Arnavs hand as she looked atthem confused – “ what do you mean???”
The Nurse – “ this is fatal, could be a sign ofinternal bleeding….”
Sia – “ the doctors told him not to do any airtravel, but he wouldn’t listen, the air pressure must have impacted the arterythat has weakened, oh my god , Sir, we need to get you to the hospital…now..”,and she looked at Khushi helplessly – “ tell him, he will listen to you…”
Khushi looked at Arhaan shocked – “why didn’t youtell me this was what this meant, its been bleeding like this for hours now…”,andtears left her eyes as she looked at Arnav and he held her hand signalling herthat he was with her in this moment and she spoke – “ you knew, you knew, andyou didn’t tell me…”
Arhaan sighed as he held her hand – “ the onlysole purpose that was left in my life was to find you, see you, have you talkto me, and convince you to help me…that’s all…I was in the middle of having allof that Khushi, I was not going to trade that moment for anything…”
Khushi looked at him – “ have you lost your mind??”,and she looked at Zoya – “Zoya, call Dr Satish ask him where can we take him atthis time??if theres anyway we can help??”
Shyam looked at Asad , arnav , zoya and Khushias he finally spoke – “ get him in the car already…we cant wait to call theambulance”,and they all watched Arhaan feel dizzy as he stood up on hisfeet,and Arnav took the wheel of Arhaans car and Asad next to him and Khushisat behind in the middle,as Sia and the nurse sat in the back seat, and Shyamand Akash helped Arhaan in , in the middle seat as they spoke – “we will seeyou at the hospital , ok Abir is getting us…”
Asad received Zoyas message for the location ofthe hospital and he gestured Arnav to start driving, and Arnav saw Arhaan placehis head into Khushi’s lap as closed his eyes for a second and then asked – “is it ok if I keep my heard here?? Its spinning, and im in a lot of pain…”
Khushi looked at Arnav and through the reviewmirror she could see him signal him to not worry about him right now and she spoke– “ ofcourse, Arhaan…”,and she paused as she spoke softly – “ you will be ok,you will be, we are just getting you to the hospital…”,she didn’t know what elseto say to the man who was nearing his death in her arms.
Arhaan opened his eyes fighting his pain as helooked at Khushi and the tears on her face, he didn’t deserve this happiness,but life was finally being kind to him in these last moments, he was going todie in the arms of the woman he always loved, and so he spoke softly – “I wouldn’thave wanted to go any other way Khushi, I just want you to know, im at peacenow, and I am sorry, once again for everything,thank you for everything,thankyou for letting me expeirnce a emotion that I thought I would never feel again…”,andjust as he finished saying that felt his head starting to explode, and his nosestarted to bleed proufusely as he heard the Nurse and Sia say in worry – “please drive fast, please…”
Arnav drove as fast as he could and a fewseconds later they pulled in, in front of the ememrgency unit and before theyknew it, the paramedics and the doctors pulled Arhaan out of the car into the stretcherand wheeled him in, and Khushi felt his hold on her hand , amongst all this, ashe didn’t leave her hand,as they wheeled him in, he was conscious still,and shespoke walking next to him – “it will be ok, you will be ok…”
But Arhaan knew it, this was it, he knew he wasdying in this very moment, and just like that every happy moment he had spentwith Khushi revolve din front of his eyes and he fought his pain as he finallyspoke – “ I love you Khushi, I always have, and know that I did love you tillmy very last breathe….”,and with that the paramedics finally broke his hold onKhushi’s hand and took him in through the doors,leaving a very shaken Khushistanding behind.
Arnav pulled Khushi into a hug as she broke downin his arms and the rest of his family members joined them one by one.
They all stood solemnly, no one had expected thisto happen.
Anjali looked around at the solemn faces ofeveryone, and Khushi sobbed into Arnavs arms and Zoya sobbed into Asad’s, andshe knew this all had come to a full circle, for in this one moment when theyhad all gotten together to help Arhaan as he was dying, she had known no matterhow much he had hurt them in the past, no matter his crimes, she knew in eachof their hearts today, in this very moment, they had finally let that hatred go,they had all set Arhaan free, just like they had also set themselves free inthe process.
Khushi held on to Arnav as she continued to cryas she spoke – “ I didn’t know, I didn’t know or I would have rushed him hereearlier..he didn’t tell me…”
Arnav hugged her as he spoke, his very own voicepoignant – “ its not your fault Khushi, its not…”
And right then the doors opened, and Khushi knewby the look on the doctors face what was it that he had been sent to say tothem, but in her gut she already knew.
Arhaan was gone.
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Destiny felt her own voice shake as she spoke – “sad,that it had to come to this, but…”
Fate nodded – “but that was his fate…”
Destiny – “he’s at peace now, he couldn’t havechosen a better way to go though, those last moments with Khushi meanteverything to him…”
Fate nodded – “ I know what you mean, hes finallyat peace, so much suffering, he really was living his own hell…hes in a betterplace…”
Destiny sighed, as she looked around – “ Loveand Hate have been missing for a while no, haven’t they? They weren’t eventhere at the party yesterday…”
Fate grinned – “ yeah, I know..what if they haveeloped together?? Don’t I always say the two of them something brewing betweeneach other…maybe they have eloped befor Time gets his hands on them..”
Destiny rolled her eyes at Fate – “ you find it amusingdon’t you??”
Fate grinned – “ ofcourse, let them live themoment na, just let them be…”
Destiny smiled,as she returned her attention toher work in hand, ofcourse she was going to let them be, because no one elseknew that Love and Hate’s story was also a tale, which Time, himself had askedher to write.
For Time would need this connection between Hateand Love every now and then, to help him with the curious cases of the mortals.
Too bad though, that it was a secret she was ameant to keep till the end of time.
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Ok guys, I really wanted this part to stand out on its own, as it felt right that I give Arhaan his moments.
I will be giving an Always – part 2,and then theEpilogue!
Thank you for all the love, and support to mywork.
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