Dusty Haven#2 - AP & Epi 10/30/'13 - Page 44

Chapter 26 - Loose Ends ...

The afternoon had settled into a somnolent haze. The excitement of the past day had left the town of Yerba coming down from an adrenaline high and feeling emotionally exhausted.

Nanny and Khushi stood on the steps watching as NK, Akash and Arnav ride up. Nanny's face was white and drawn. The twins stood holding on to Khushi's skirts, their thumbs in their mouth as they stared wide-eyed at their uncles and foreman.

Khushi could feel her heart thumping as her eyes met Arnav's. The strain of the past day was visible in the white lines around her mouth. He looked straight at her. As always they could read each other's questions as they

Are you okay? His eyes asked.

Are you? She replied. You're hurt. She swallowed hard.

Hush. It's nothing, he assured her, with a slow shake of his head.

Nanny came down slowly from the steps. She looked older, her face more lined, her eyes dark and shadowed. Her heart was broken and every small broken piece was reflected on her face.

'Arnav?' she asked, as soon as he was near. NK and Akash stood behind him, ready to help as he walked up the steps. She put her arms around her grandson.

He put his one good arm around her and clung to her. The grandmother who had taken care of him, now he sought solace in her arms once more, his eyes closed, tears finally seeping through his lids. His grandmother wiped her eyes, and then pulled back.

'Arnav, what happened to you? And to Shyam?' she asked the last hesitantly.

'Let's go inside, Nanny,' Akash replied instead. 'Then we can talk.'

'Hey squirts,' Arnav crouched down on his haunches, smiling at his two nephews.

'What happened, uncle?' Drew asked.

'I got hurt a little,' he answered.

'Does it hurt?' Dev poked at the sling.

'A little,' he winced. 'But I'll be okay soon.' He lifted his eyes to Khushi, noticing the tears glittering on her lashes. A tight band around his chest tightened. It had been there when he'd seen her standing on the steps, waiting for him. Without a shred doubt in his mind, he knew this was what he wanted for the rest of his life. To be able to come home to Khushi every day, as she waited for him with their children clinging to her skirts. But now was not the time to tell her that.

'Let's get you to bed, then,' Khushi answered tautly.

He raised an eyebrow at that, questioning her. Her eyes widened as she realized just what he was insinuating as he said, 'I'd really like that.'

It wasn't until he was settled in his room, that Arnav finally asked the question that had been uppermost in his mind. 'Where's Sis?'

'In her room,' Nanny replied softly.

Arnav nodded. 'I should go see her,' he moved to get out of bed.

Akash stopped him. 'Not right away, Arnav,' he said. 'You need to be in bed and let me check that dressing of yours.'

Arnav grumbled something under his breath about stubborn ... something ... doctors. Akash ignored him and started taking off his shirt. Khushi blushed and left the room.

Akash finished checking on the dressing and then opened the door. Anjali stood outside. 'Sis, come on in. I just finished checking his dressing,' Akash held the door open.

She stepped in and turned towards him. 'Can you leave me with Arnav for a while?' she asked softly.

'Sure,' he nodded and stepped out, shutting the door behind him.

Anjali walked to the bed and sat on the side. She smiled softly at Arnav, and slowly reached out a hand, stroking the hair away from where it flopped on his forehead. Her eyes searched his as she softly brushed her hand over his shoulder.

'Does it hurt?' she asked, echoing her son.

Arnav's lips quirked in a smile. 'A little,' he gave the same reply.

She drew a deep breath and asked. 'Is he dead?' He nodded slowly, unsure where she was going with this. She linked her fingers with his and frowned, puzzled. 'I didn't believe you and Khushi, when you told me about Shyam. But I guess I should now.'

'He confessed to it, sis,' Arnav wondered how he was going to tell her Shyam's message. He bit his lip and then shook his head. ' He asked me to tell you.' He stopped. She looked up sharply. 'He loved you. That's why he tried to save my life. Because he loved you.' He looked intently at her, raising his hand to cup her cheek and turn her around to face him. 'He tried to redeem himself, sis. But the price was too high.'

She kept her eyes lowered, and nodded her head. He sat up and put his arm around her, her head coming to rest on his shoulder. He closed his eyes, his insides splintering, as she once more gave way to grief over a lost one. His cheek against her head, he held his sister, until she had cried herself out.

****

'I think we should let Arnav rest now,' Akash said.

They had all gathered in Arnav's room - the entire family, along with Khushi. NK had taken off to get some much needed rest.

'Yes, come on, all of you,' Nanny said shooing the kids who'd been perched on Arnav's bed. Even Anjali had stayed back, smiling and laughing through the pain in her eyes.

Khushi turned to go, and then felt something tug at her skirt. She turned around. 'Let me go!' she started to exclaim as she met his laughing eyes.

The others all went out with Nanny closing the door behind them. 'They need the time together,' she pursed her lips at Akash's raised eyebrows

'Everybody loves bro,' Akash muttered turning away to go to his room.

Inside the room, Khushi turned to Arnav with her mouth turned into the 'O' he adored. Yes, he adored Khushi Kumari Gupta and damned if he was going to let anyone tell him otherwise.

'Sit down, Khushi,' he smirked up at her.

'You should rest,' she said, reluctantly sitting back on the bed.

He raised his hand and gently ran the back of his fingers along her cheek, before hooking his fingers behind her neck and bringing her down to him. But he didn't pull her all the way down.

Her eyes rounded as she looked at him. And then his lips. His eyes narrowed, intensified. 'Kiss me, shi'aad', he ordered softly.

'Gladly, shikaa,' she whispered back, a shy smile curling her lips.

Her lips were soft, softer than the down pillow his head rested on. Her soft hands ran lightly over the lawn shirt covering his chest. His lips trailed across her jaw to her temple, before he drew back. Her eyes were closed, fingers curled in his shirt. He could feel her heart pounding against his rib cage. He traced his hand across the curves of her back. He followed her lips with his, pouring out his heart for her to feel.

She held nothing back, not anymore. They'd come a long way. He'd killed her nemesis. He was her knight in shining armour. She could deny him nothing.

With a deep sigh, he let her go again.

'I need to go home,' she whispered as she licked her lips.

'You are home,' he contradicted dropping a quick kiss on her chin.

'No, I mean Box-Lightning. I should go back there,' she sat up, straightening her skirt.

'Shi'aad, your home is where I am,' he declared, albeit a bit arrogantly.

She grinned at him and stood up, evading his restraining hold. 'Box-Lightning is my home.'

'For now,' he nodded judiciously. 'Once we're married, this will be your home.'

'Married?!' she exclaimed. 'Arnav, you presume a lot.'

'Really?' he raised an eyebrow, a smirk lifting the corner of his luscious lips. 'Why do you think Nanny left you here with me? It's completely improper for you to be alone with me in my bedroom. Khushi, you're basically ruined!' he exclaimed in mock horror.

'Hah!' she lifted her nose in the air. 'Nothing of the sort,' she swirled her skirt around. 'I'm fully chaperoned. Your grandmamma and sister are here, anyways.'

He laughed softly at that and said, 'do you know what I've been calling you?'

She turned at the door, looking at him over her shoulder. 'Shi'aad? What does it mean?' Curiosity finally got the better of her.

'My wife,' he answered quietly.

She spun around, the laugh on her lips dying as she saw him watching her intently.

'And shikaa?' she asked - not quite wanting to know, as a rosy hue covered her cheeks, and guessing what it meant.

'Husband,' he replied confirming what little doubt she had.

With a shake of her head, she opened the door, turned and ran out of the room.

Nanny watched her flying down the stairs, and looked at Arnav's door curiously. She went in to see him lying there, staring dreamily up at the ceiling.

'Arnav,' she sat on the bed next to him.

'Nanny,' he leaned into her hand as she stroked his forehead. 'What is it?'

'Why did Khushi run out like that?' She asked with a merry smile on her lips.

He shrugged as much as he was able to, with his wounded shoulder. 'Ask her,' he grinned.

'And why do you call her shi'aad?' she inquired, finally asking the question that had long been on the tip of her tongue. In a way, she even dreaded the answer!

Coming on the heels of his conversation with Khushi, Arnav was surprised and it showed on his face. He took a moment to gather his thoughts and then turned to her and said, 'Nanny, you've always told us that we'd know the day we found that one person in our lives we were meant to be with. The day I met Khushi, I knew she was meant for me. From that day on, she has been my woman.'

'Does she know what shi'aad and shikaa mean?' Nanny asked gently, completely satisfied with his answer.

He nodded. 'That's why she ran. She just found out.'

Nanny laughed gently. 'And does she call you shikaa for the same reason?' He nodded. 'I couldn't have picked better for you myself,' she said. For a moment, she remembered the owl's poem. Yes, her deer and eagle had found each other as had her horse and her swan. Only her Anjali was left alone.

She hoped not for long. She had noticed many moons ago how NK looked at her. Perhaps someday Anjali would realize that the man who could make her happy was right here, waiting for her. Patiently waiting for her to see him for the man he was.

She looked down and saw that Arnav had fallen asleep. Tucking the covers around him, she bent and kissed his head, softly closing the door as she left his room.

****

The Guptas came to Circle-R the next day along with Happy and Abeja.

Sitting in the living room, Nanny finally told them about Anjali's story - and Rudi's and Donny's. Garima and Abeja wiped their eyes, their hearts going out to Anjali and her two little ones.

Shashi looked at Garima, she looked as stunned as he felt.

'That is why Arnav wanted Box-Lighting?' Shashi asked. 'He wanted Drew and Dev to have what should have been theirs.'

Nanny nodded. 'But we are glad that you have it. At least it is in good hands.'

'And Arnav's help has been very welcome,' acknowledged Shashi. 'If it hadn't been for him, we might not have been able to stand on our feet.' He paused for a moment and then added, 'I wish he had told me,' in a low voice.

'It does not matter, Mr. Gupta. At least we have you as neighbours, and nothing could make us happier,' Nanny assured him.

'There is something you should know,' Shashi shared a look with Garima and she nodded slightly

He took a deep breath. 'We should have told you this earlier. But we didn't know how to tell you. Especially with Shyam betrothed to Anjali.'

Nani gave him an encouraging smile. 'Tell me, Mr. Gupta,' she requested.

'Two years ago, as you know Khushi saw Donny murdered. At the time, she didn't know who she had seen. Neither did we. We left our home and traveled, moving around for two years until finally the lawyers found us. We were afraid that Shyam would find Khushi.' The rest was left unsaid, understood.

'Lawyers?' Nanny was puzzled.

'Rudi's lawyers. Rudi and I are cousins on my mother's side. We barely kept in touch, barely met each other. But we were all we had as family. I think after Donny died, given that Rudi ... was disappointed that his grandchildren did not stay with him, he changed his will. He made me the sole heir of Box-Lightning. But when we heard he and Donny had both been killed, we decided not to mention our relationship with anyone. Which is why we said we'd bought the ranch.'

He hung his head, embarrassed that so much could have been solved much earlier had he mentioned their relationship with Rudi. 'We were only protecting our daughter.'

Happy placed a hand on his shoulder, and he took a shuddering breath.

He gave a mirthless chuckle. 'We walked right into Shyam's backyard.' He didn't raise his head.

'The ranch should go to Drew and Dev. It belongs to them. Their birthright,' he whispered after a long silence.

Nanny was quiet for a long time. The Gupta family had been entwined in this whole mess much before they had even showed up in Texas. They deserved a place to spend the evening of their lives. Their daughters, God willing, would be married to the Raizada boys. There was no point in changing the status quo now.

'Mr.Gupta,' she finally said, her mind clearing of all the noise in it. 'Rudi gave Box-Lightning to you. It belongs to you now. There is but something I would ask of you.'

'Anything,' Garima said eagerly.

'I want your two daughters for my children,' Nanny smiled radiantly. 'That is, if they are willing to marry the Raizada boys.'

Abeja muttered, 'Gracias Dios!'

Garima's eyes shone with happy tears. 'There is nothing we would want more,' she exclaimed.

Happy nodded happily.

****