Dil Se Dil Tak
Chapter 36
PART 1
*****************************************
When your heart has started liking for someone, you even tend to forgive their mistakes soon, but again its’ hard to accept and put in words. Why it’s always being so difficult? Why can’t we easily convince ourselves that we are falling in love?.So there is always some kind of cosmic force in nature which comes as obstacle for our running mind. For Khushi?, she was time and again convincing herself that all attraction is just a fan love of her and that she is bound to marry Aman, and that’s her life is all about. But for Arnav,? It was always his love for class, his society people and coming to terms what is heart is preaching, was still a far end of the ocean.
They were poles apart in their thinking and in their status.Their view of seeing the people and the world was different, yet there was something in Khushi, which has again made impossible for Arnav to easily ignore her, as he would often do with any other women he has met. Was it for her fearless counter arguments with him or her open discussions? , If there was any other women who had committed fake act infront of him, he would have never seen the person again, but there she was ,who has dared to put her views and was subsiding his ideology. Though she was not successfully in making him understand that white lies are sometimes necessary, but her own analogy of explaining why she did and simply admitting it back has somewhere cooled down his nerves. Or else, anyone dare to pull Mr Raijyada’s earphone? And Arnav could just keep quiet?, but was there any chance of simply leaving the damm place in his ASR style? Oh!, NO. , not when you are at the height of 38000 feet above sea level..:), not even meekc hance of fusing from the situation and from her!” .
“How could dad be so careless to replace? .or was it done purposefully? But why?”He looked at his music player and muttered in disbelief.
“You have also turned schiziophrenic?” Khushi asked curving her brows, and using the same alien word of his.
“Iam not talking to myself”
“Oh what a pleasure to discuss with me!” She replied giving broad smile and continued “hmmm..why would he exchange.? Btw I did not know, Manohar sir is fan of old hindi songs. He is the coolest person I have seen for the position he is.”
“God knows!, He has become too cool now days” he muttered under his breath. He wrapped the player in its safe box and was placing inside his mini designer cross bag which he pulled back from the cabinet when he heard khushi requesting.
“May I use, if you don’t mind?, looks like it has good collection of my fav Rafi and Kishore”
Arnav tugged it back seeing her infectious request and handed over to her.
“Shall I ask you something? , why don’t you like them?”
“Who?”
“Kishore and Rafi”
This women gonna split my head today and damm I don’t have any linctuses or may be I will split hers by the end of the night!
“I don’t know”
“please ek baar sun lijiye..you need to listen with full feeling.. “
“NOOOOO”
“plzzz…If you don’t like, I bet, I will do whatever you say”
“Ahhh.. now that’s interesting take? Kuch bhi karogi?”
“hmm. First you listen”, “Wait, what if you like, ?”
“Then I will do what you say”
“Pakka?” she jumped excitedly..”I can ask anything?”
“hmm,, but you will lose”
“Let see, and iam sure you won’t lie, so I would trust you” khsuhi quickly went through playlist randomly, ”this song is ok ok, this doesn’t suit, this is bit very emotional, thisis sad, …
“ok..listen to this...its .lyrics,music and voice”
“aap ke haseen rukh pai..aaj naya noor hai,
Mera dil machal gaya to mera kya kasoor hai..
Aap ki nigah nai kaha to kuch jarur hai..mera dil machal gaya to mera kya kasoor hai”
3.5 minutes over. He pulled off his earplugs..
“How was it? i knew you would like”
“NO”
“Seriously.? .how can you say that after listening almost till end”
“ I was thinking something good will come , but it failed to impress me”
“Mr raijyada. I am sure, pretty sure, you have just spoken a white Lie..See this is white Lie”
“Shutup. You have lost it,,.n now you gonna do, what I would say..”
Khushi curved her face in sadness and disappointment.
“Shut your mouth till we reach to Beijing. Can you do that?”
“Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh”
5mins over-
“but what’s pbm with old songs? ..I mean see, u are an artist, and working in bollywood, .so you should be knowing our history in music..I mean it helps you grow better right”…
“Iam not a musician to worry about the history of music”
“Old hindi songs will be still enacted in films and serials right.Without the feeling, without listening how can you act?”
“How do you know I have acted on the one?”
“Wo, actually Mr Raijyada , After our third meet, remember the hotel one? I did actually out of curiosity searched about you.” Correction for the slip of tongue,white Lie continued---
“Nice to know!” he said mockingly
Khushi smiled proudly “And you see, with that inquisitiveness I watched your song which has crossed million views. That was one old hindi Song!, , “ She paused and continued -and I must say, The chemistry between you and Lavanya was very good!, specially the one where you held her waist and pulled lavanya..it was superb”
“Not bad Miss Gupta, kaafi observe kiya hai”
“mmmmm..wo it was my favourite song na..so it just came out naturally to watch till the end” she hesitated and looked other side. “lie lie lie,why it is so difficult to tell him”
“Oh I see” he replied and pressed for the hostress call for water when he looked in disbelief towards khushi for what she popped next,
“Mr Raijayda , are the rumours true that you and lavanya broke up?”
“Why?”
“I mean, it was making some headlines quiet few days before in times paper, I was like , oh you were a couple and then again breakup thing!, ”
“Yeah.”
“Why ? Didn’t you love her?”
“No”
“But she was your GF from long time right?”
“So?”
“I mean, is it so easy to forget your love?”
“I don’t believe in all this Love stuff, our frequency did not match any further, and it was best for us to separate”
“Just like that? So easily?”
“You are crossing your Limits Miss Gupta.” His tone agitated.
“Oh. I am sorry. I was casually asking. I always wonder about celebrities link ups and break ups !..How easy it is for them to switch so easily?
“Don’t assume, what is shown and written out, reality is far different!“
“It is natural, public believes what is shown by media” She replied instantly
“I always wonder why people think and invest soo much time in others,when their own individual love lives are messed up, with pretty white Lies. !?”He back fired in equal speed.A dragger shot in deed by our Arnav,!.
“Yes you are right! You see,common people have a broad heart to think about everyone” , She replied in infuriating tone and before she could continue more of her speech,airhostess came to serve water to Arnav, when khushi asked in irked way“Where is my veg sandwichr?”
“2 min Mam”. Came the reply
“If iam not wrong, you had enough dinner today to at least survive for2-3 days!” He asked seeing her eating, as if she did not ate for many days.
“Any problem? AAp nazar mat lagayi. I am sure my stomach will get upset”
“Please bring her one more platter!”
“They are offering free , why should not I enjoy business class facilities.? .U know paisa wasool”
“pcccchhh…Middle class mentality”
“I don’t mind, and I don’t care. As I said, I love my class. Thanks for reminding”
“Kewl!”
Both turned away
10mins passed in silence. Arnav immersed himself in reading a Vogue Maz, but he did feel the silence engulfing between them. She was yes, trying to avoid looking at him. Muttering something under her breath time to time and Arnav did not miss to see how she has turned fractious.
“Look’s like , my brain will not split today!. Good 15min silence!”
But, sometime silence bothers and that was what happening for Arnav, but how can he initiate the conversion back? Too much already spoken again, both occasionally looked at each other with little glances, yet no one initiated the talk. It was getting tough for both of them swiftly. Dead silence is pinching.
****************************************************************************
INDIA
Seeing her falling unconsciousness, karan withered for a while.Hey,he tried to tap her cheek slowly with slight hesitation, but she did not even wake up. He held her back in her hard shoulders comfortably. He looked towards police station and wanted to call back someone from station to check, but he knew they would take to some government hospital or may be not at this odd hour. He dropped the idea and slowly opened the door of the car and made her to sit inside. He carefully rested her head in support. He sat at other end of backseat and made a call to his doctor.
“Dr Mishra, I cannot trust anyone other than you. I know it’s late, but this is something I cannot speak over phone”
Mishra , then advised him to come to his private hospital. Karan then instructed his driver to take to the hospital
The hospital staff carried sheetal , and was being taken to the Dr Mishra’s chamber. Karan was devasted seeing her lie in that stage. He was now sure, that she is innocent and has been victim of cruel act and then he felt ashamed of himself for part of the same crime he was part of, knowingly or unknowingly being getting drunk, he had forced himself on her.
When Dr Mishra arrived, Karan explained in short about how she fell suddenly unconsciousness, he avoided to tell about his act. When doctor started the primary observation, he could sense something was not right. He turned to face karan and spoke in affirmative tone.
“Karan,you know right, hiding from your doctor is not advisable.“ he spoke checking sheetal’s eyesight.
Karan hesisiated for a while, and then replied feeling bit uncomfortable.
“Doctor, she was abducted; I mean she was just rescued from police team.And I think she is a rape victim. What happened Dr Mishra, do tell me first is she ok? “
“hmm make sense now, you see I could sense the presence of strange chemicals in her mouth. There are white traces..I could only think of MANDRAX”
“Drug?”
“A strange drug, which when given in small proportion tend to control your body. The body gets active to this drug and start acting passively. The person brain shuts off temporarily off his past memories and will be active to present commands. You see that’s why this drug is boon in prostitution and other forceful sexual act. Iam still amazed if it’s still used so frequently, it was banned long before in India.
“Loss of memory? So she does not remember now anything of her past?”
“It all depends how much doses her body has already consumed. If it’s beyond the margin, I am afraid, the recovery won’t be soon. The body has to get adjusted to its old state. Karan was shocked and equally distressed.
“Doctor, anything else I need to worry? “
“Not until, we meet Dr Teena-Gynaecologist”
“Gynaecologist?..oh.. ok..” Karan was confused initially, and then soon he understood the implication of his words. “Right!, how can he forget all these. Much needed in sexual cases”
“Don’t worry, I will talk to her. You are never sure of anything in such cases Karan. “ Mishra looked towards Sheetal . I have temporary given her antibiotics, her body needs rest. We will start with blood tests and few other tests tomorrow morning”.
Sheetal was then later shifted to special ward.
Karan was clueless seeing her, how should he handle, he did not expect all these afterall . He thought she should be like any other women,normal. He would soon apologize and leave his guilt off and send her back to her home safely. But his karma is not done yet.
Where the hell is life taking me? Why me? He cursed himself,he can’t run away from the situation. He has already done once,, but not this time. He saw Sheetal and spoke mentally..”I am sorry, I will try to help you and do my best” He briefly stared at her again and again looking at her tired face.. The road and journey was indeed tough for him. She should get recovered soon, how should I do and take care without even knowing anything about her.
“Kaun ho tum, kaha se ho, koi to apna hoga tumhara.. Please get well soon”
************************************************************************
BEIJING
It was now more than a normal journey till they reached Beijing airport. Khushi did not expect that vehicle will come from hotel itself to pick up. She was enjoying all the luxury of travelling with Arnav. But why so much facility for her, was it because of Arnav, or was it because she was going for business meet? Why same airport taxi booked for them? Strange.What if I reject, and book my own? But it’s already late to think khushi!.
“Mr Raijyada,?” She asked soon after sitting in car, first to break the silence,
“Yes?”
“Don’t you think, your company is doing cost cutting?”
He freaked is eyebrows in surprise.
” I mean sending in same vehicle! Why can’t they arrange two.” She replied
“I am surprise infact, why the pervils of all luxurious of Arnav Singh Raijyada is equally been shared to Khushi kumari gupta, a mere employee?!”, He replied irking her even more.
“Yeah, honestly true!. I will check with Admin going back!, hope they won’t cut anything extra from my salary. Thanks!”
Arnav enjoyed her irritating tone now, hell; she looks even cute when she is angry.
10 mins passed, Arnav opened the small cooler compartment to grab a beer from it when he was jumped with khushi’s loud accent.
“What are you doing.?”
“Drink! You want one?”
“How can you have alcohol Mr raijyada like this”
“This is beer!. “
“But alcohol na?”
“Just 4.5% of alcohol”
“4.5% to hai na?. What if you get drunk!?
“No one is called drunk if you have one!” He opened the lid and started to drink, when khushi turned her face to overlook from windows, suddenly remembering kishore words. “Don’t trust actors or any celebrities. Be careful”
That was one hell surprise for him, he has grown up in an environment where boozing is common and what the hell, every other person on this planet drink!
Seeing her turning away, he initiated the discussion this time.“Don’t say me, you haven’t even tasted any alcohol in your life?”
She noded a no clearly.
“Are you kidding?” As he asked, she turned to face him and replied sharply.
“It may be very common to you, but our family is conservative, traditional and I even did not dare to try it once. she paused and again continued this time in soft tone-“Although many times my friends have invited me for night clubs, for alcohol party, in pubs, but I have never ever, Why should I do something which would hurt my family sentiments and belief they have on me ”
“But what is the problem anyone can have taking alcohol? is going tonight club a sin? See that’s where I don’t like attitude of middle class people. Why you want to stress yourself thinking what others think of you? Why you have to allow someone else to frame rules for you? It is your life , live the way you want to…do what your heart feels..Thats’y I get irritate when I see the people framing so much convention..Like you pressurize yourself, show to world that you don’t like but you feel jealous of high society people who are partying or anyone who enjoy the privilege.Tell me, your mind never wished for it? “
“I don’t know”
Before she could answer anything more, the car stopped and driver mentioned that they have reached the hotel. After doing the respective formalities of checkins, they move to respective rooms. Arnav freshened upgoing inside his luxury suite. He wants everything to be perfect. If he is travelling- from hotel, to food, facility of gym have to be pre-booked . He never liked to compromise his lifestyle, but for Khushi, it was more than a dream come true coming inside the suite. “Wao”she could just mutter seeing it. After freshening up quickly, she opened her laptop to cross check for tomorrow presentation.Night always gave her serenity to prepare herself. But she started feeling sleepy. She went near the table and put the songs from the player at intermediate volume. She then opened the chips packet and started crunching to avoid sleep for few more minutes. She placed back her laptop onside table, entered the password and then bang! Blank Screen!.
She tried to force restart, checked the battery, But alas, her laptop did not start. Tension surfaced.
“Devi mayya… ab ise kya hua..? Backup bhi nahi liya tha. . Sometiimes,meri khushi aapko dekhi nahi jaati”. If in Shanghai, would have atleast taken kishore help or have arranged any spare laptop. But what now!!. The pressure was mounting. It was past 1 am.In despair she started to walk from one end of the room to another.
Arnav after freshening up changed his clothes. He needed good night sleep and some drink was mandatory for that, and also toavoid the dream which he often gets about his mother. He went to pick the beer bottle from the adjacent table when he heard the knock on the door. Surprisingly at that clock of hour, he peeped to find a tensed khushi clutching her hands.
*****************************
PART 1 end
456