Chapter 1
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me.
P S A L M 2 3 : 4
It's so silly how insignificant these words have become today. "I love you. Forever." Used so very often yet mean so little. Forever is such a long time. And very few have it in them to love. Love for so long and love so unconditionally. But she did. Human beings are essentially selfish. We love, live, laugh, cry. All for ourselves. Even the most unselfish act is accompanied by the need to feel good about oneself. Don't deny it. And to love someone wholly without asking in return is a sacrifice we're incapable of. It means to accept, worship and revere someone else more than yourself. We can't. But she does.
This is her story. Khushi's story. And perhaps along the way' you'll realise that some of this, is your story too. That maybe, her heart's first beats were yours. That you've shed the same tears she has. Or maybe, you've laughed her laugh. And if you're lucky, you once loved like her
She waited. Peeking through the heavy, musty curtains. She waited. Any minute now. He would drive past, with the windows down. And she would catch a glimpse of that face. The man who filled her dreams and held her heart. That's all she needed. Just a glimpse. So she waited. Like every other day for the past 10 years.
Khushi had been all but an awkward fourteen year- old when she lost her heart to the landlord's son. Arnav Singh Raizada. The tall gangly boy with the solemn face and laughing eyes. It was the summer Khushi's mother had died. She often found solace in her favourite hiding place, the lone spot behind the huge banyan tree in the gardens. They say few moments can change a person's life forever. One such afternoon changed hers.
She sobbed quietly. Knowing no amount of tears would bring mamma back. And yet she sobbed with childish grief that could not be reasoned with. A voice broke through her haze of tears.
"You're the accountant's daughter." Arnav spoke with all the arrongance and curiosity of a sixteen year-old.
Khushi raised her head to look at the intruder. She knew him of course. Papa had told her to stay away from 'Bade Sahib's' children. Anjali and Arnav. They were not her playmates nor her companions and she must always be polite to them. Papa had told her so. She was not to trouble them. And she truly wasn't. He was troubling her.
With tears still in her eyes, she answered him with a nod.
"Khushi?" he prodded.
Another nod.
"I'm Arnav." He declared.
"Why are you crying like a girl?" came the next question.
Khushi, now exasperated replied "I am a girl! And I miss my mamma. She's left me all alone. I miss her. But she's gone and-and-and there's no one to take care of me." She finished rather childishly.
"Is that all? I bet your mamma misses you too. And she didn't leave you alone. She left your papa, Anjali Di and me with you. I promise that Bruno and I will take care of you.
Khushi looked doubtfully at the big brown dog (who was chasing his tail at this precise moment) and then back at Arnav. He held out his hand. His laughing gaze met her tearstained eyes as he said with innocent conviction "I promise."
In that moment Khushi placed all of her tender heart and hand in his, before walking into the bright sunshine.
To be Continued.
Chapter 2- page 3.
Author's note- page 4
Chapter 3- page 5.
Chapter 4- page 6
Chapter 5- page 9.
Author's note: page 11
Chapter 6- page 12.
Chapter 7- page 15.
Ending- page 17
Alternate Ending- page 19
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