Lingering hints of a time she had tried desperately to hold onto was now bringing her out of her paradise. She held on, tighter, to prevent herself from having to leave. She didn't want to leave. Her current calm was pleasing. She was caged in protection, away from anything that could harm her, right where she belonged.
Khushi's eyes slowly opened and took in her surroundings. She was caged in protection indeed. Arnav's arms had wrapped around her body, holding her to him. His head was buried into the top of her head and the soft fall of his breath disrupted the otherwise silent surrounding every few seconds. It was too dark for it be really day, but she knew it was the early hours of the morning. She couldn't - shouldn't- move.
Lifting her head ever so slightly, Khushi traced his face with her eyes.
The cheekbones, sharp and dominating. The lips, relaxed from their usually firm set. The hair, free from the constraints of gel. The beauty that was his face, far from everything she had named Laad Governor. It was very much Arnav at this moment. Very much the man she had hopelessly fell in love with.
She had done that. Fallen in love with him. She had become the daredevil of all times and fallen in love with Arnav Singh Raizada. After all this time, she stayed in the pit that she had fallen into. There were so many chances, so many ladders, that were offered to her so that she could climb out. They came first in the form of Shiv, then Monisha and Rohan, yet again with Rekha, and Mahesh. They were all there to help her out of the pit of love for Arnav Singh Raizada she had fallen into. So what held her back?
It was herself.
She didn't want to climb out. She had gotten used to being there, in the state of hopeless love. But why was she there alone? Hadn't he fallen too? Hadn't he, in the four months they spend together, felt something? Of course he had. But he had climbed out the first chance he got.
And it all made clear sense. Love made men vulnerable, it gave them a weakness, it gave them something that they couldn't go against. Arnav Singh Raizada was neither vulnerable, nor weak. He was an established man, in terms of business and emotions. Love had scared the living soul out of him. He was not used to feeling so out of control. So when a little rope was extended into the pit, he had grabbed at it. Unknowingly, unconciously.
Khushi had accepted this. It had taken time, but time was all she had in the past year. She had known their love wouldn't be easy. So Khushi held on. She stayed in the pit she had fallen into, all though she was alone there, she stayed. And that's where Mahesh didn't understand her. That's where Monisha and Rohan had lost her. And that's where Rekha had slowly started to understand her.
Arnav knew this too, in a way. He had promised her to the best of his extend. He had told her he would never be Shaitan, but had warned her he would be far from a Rajkumar. He would only be himself. He can only be himself.
But didn't he see? That was her Rajkumar! HE in his purest form was her Rajkumar. So of course, like most woman, Khushi had felt the urge to drag him back into the pit she was alone in. But she had resisted.
That's why she had left him. That's why she had threatened him from ever trying to meet or contact her. That's why when Shiv came along, she had kept to herself. Because Arnav had to fall in love. Not be dragged in. He had to get used to feeling vulnerable, sometimes weak, for the sake of her.
Until now.
Now she was vulnerable, she was weak, everything was against her. And not in a good way. He couldn't -shouldn't- fall in love with her. She had stayed away for the sake of Shiv. Now she was back for the sake of Shiv. So she had to leave as soon as possible too. Stay away from him.
Hadn't she tried? Hadn't Devi Maiya had a good laugh at her life? Weren't the weavers of fate tired for her? Hadn't she tried to make her hate him? Didn't she tell him she wanted to leave? Then why? Why did he hold on to her? Why now?
She needed for him to let go. Now was not the time to hold on. Yet he held on. Almost like he had fallen into the pit he once ran away from. So here he was, lying next to her, wrapping his arms around her in a cage like restraint. Never letting her go.
So she stayed still. For him, she laid unmoving. Only looking at the face that was the sake her being. In this moment, everything was perfect. If only Shiv were here too. then she wouldn't mind, right at this moment, leaving forever.
Khushi squeezed her eyes shut.
---
Arnav woke up in the peace he had only read about. He woke up in the peace he had only dreamed off. He woke up in the peace that was only his.
Because not everybody woke up cradling an angel.
Khushi lay next to him, her body still tight in his grasp, her face pale, but breathing steady. Arnav frowned as he slowly moved her out of his arms, her absence already bothering him. Her face was too pale to be considered healthy. He had to get her some consultation. He also needed to talk.
He had to talk to her.
Trying not to wake her, he moved away from the bed, towards the bathroom. He had today to be with her. If she would listen, he had forever.
---
Payal rocked the body of the sleeping infant slowly. Shiv had noted the absence of his mother, waking her throughout the night. Akash had tried to help, but a mother needed its child. Shiv had finally fallen to the grasp of fatigue and fallen asleep in the wee hours of the morning.
She slowly opened the door of Arnav's room, wondering if Khushi was still there. Sure enough, Khushi lay sleeping, and she could hear the shower water indicating Arnav in the bathroom. Careful not to wake her sister, Payal slowly placed Shiv into the crook between Khushi's body and arm. And she watched as Khushi unconsciously wrapped an arm around her infant, ever the mother bear.
Smiling, Payal left the room.
---
Arnav noticed Shiv right before he was walking out, giving Khushi a parting look. When had the little one ended up here? Payal must have brought him in. Khushi's arm was wrapped around her infant protectively, and the little one snuggled comfortably into her warmth. Some may have called the moment picture perfect. And that is probably why Arnav absentmindedly pulled out his phone and captured the moment.
Then he slowly made his way to mother and child. Leaning down, he stroked the face of his son, and planted a kiss on the cheek that was visible, the rest of his body snuggled into Khushi. Arnav then brushed away a stray lock of hair bothering Khushi's cheek and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, careful not to wake her.
----
Mahesh sat up on the lounger he had fallen asleep on. Stretching tiredly, he looked at the file that lay open on the ground.
Khushi's file.
Khushi Kumari Gupta; 22; Congenital Heart Disease
Transplant Required; Donor Unavailable.
Mahesh read the second sentence over and over again. Transplant Required; Donor Unavailable. Breathing in slowly, he stood and walked towards the window, the morning sun warming him.
Transplant Required; Donor Unavailable.
Sighing, he picked up his phone. The phone was answered on the third ring, as per always. The voice on the other line, breathed life into him, bringing him out of his emotional tangle. But not for long.
"Good morning, Mahesh." The voice whispered.
"Rekha." He sighed, closing his eyes.
"I love you too." She whispered before muffling her giggles.
Mahesh smiled. "I love you."
"Then please be honest with Khushi." Was her quiet reply.
"Rekha, you can't-"
"It's my life!"
"No it's not! Not anymore!"
"Mahesh..."
"I'm sorry. I'm just... I can't Rekha, I can't." His voice broke, emotion crackling through.
"Shh, Mahesh, please don't." Her own voice broke. Staggering in a deep breathe, she spoke again, more confidently. "You don't have to tell her the details. Just the basics."
"Rekha-"
"My decision has been made, Mahesh." She spoke slowly, enunciating each word.
Mahesh shut his eyes, refusing to let anymore emotions to shake him.
"Please get her to Mumbai as soon as possible." She whispered, the reality finally dawning on her.
Arnav and Khushi's Story
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
In Lamhon Ke Daaman Mein : An OS/ Interlude to Consequences
His breathe. Warm and intoxicating, it fell along the valley of her neck, giving its own kiss to sooth her burning skin before his lips came lighting the exact spot back on fire.
Her breath. Ragged and enchanting, lured him down further, though he had wanted to respect her wishes about waiting till marriage. No he couldn't stop, not now. They were married, for all her cared. Bound together by strings of faith if not by the strings of the mangalsutra he had tied around her neck.
It was all material promises anyway. The ring, the mehendi, the sindoor, the mangalsutra. They meant nothing for him. He had already made her his, and she had already made him her's. He had promised her everything, especially more than anything that seven pheres would offer her. He had made her his in all ways which mattered to him. If not by the bonds of the Gods she believed in, they had united by bonds of love in which she - and now he- believed in.
That was all that was necessary. She was all that was necessary.
Her fingers curled around the sweater he wore, the sudden feeling of desire scaring her. Yet she wanted it. She wanted to take the risk, plunge into the ecstasy it offered, and lose herself to him. Not that she hadn't already, yet somehow every moment she spend with him gave him more of her. And he unknowingly took, feeding on the love she radiated, so she held her stance.
Moving her body up slowly, she kissed him on the cheek. Slow and lingering, she let herself enjoy the sensations that shook her to her core. He had given her so much, she had to return something. Mustering everything she had, her lips moved down to the ones they so desperately wished to meet. He made no move, held steady and let her make the decision. The confidence evaded her and she hid into the comforts of his chest, hiding herself.
Yet the fire had been lighted and the flames were only being fed. In a matter of minutes, they were back where they started. Drinking in each other's breaths as they moved closer and closer. He wanted all of her. She wanted all of him.
His hand moved slowly, snaking a blazing trail along her bare back. His fingers connected with her dori and he pulled it, slowly, letting her know what was waiting. The flames had consumed them, charring any thoughts of the virtues she so dearly held onto.
She brought herself as close as she could, her eyes resting on his lips in anticipation. He had to take the lead now and he so gladly did. Never breaking the gaze he moved in, decreasing the inches that kept them apart for so long.
The most beautiful things in life were not seen, but felt.
And he reached the oasis he so desperately seeked. She fell into the ecstasy of the feelings that only he could conjure. Their lips met, greeting each other with the warmth and affection only lovers shared.
They were lovers indeed. Bound by everything they held dear. She thanked her Devi for him, she thanked the weavers of faith. He thanked his Devi, the one that had so readily fought to be with him. He would worship her tonight, every night. For once in his life, he had found someone to have faith in.
As the fire turned into inferno, all coherent thoughts leaving them both, they functioned only on the raw sense of passion. As his hands removed everything that hid her from him, no objection or signs of hesitation visible from her side, she let herself receive what he had to offer. They both took as much as the other gave.
For in the folds of the moments that followed, only the intimacy of star crossed lovers resonated. The radiance of their affection, charring everything in its path.
Her breath. Ragged and enchanting, lured him down further, though he had wanted to respect her wishes about waiting till marriage. No he couldn't stop, not now. They were married, for all her cared. Bound together by strings of faith if not by the strings of the mangalsutra he had tied around her neck.
It was all material promises anyway. The ring, the mehendi, the sindoor, the mangalsutra. They meant nothing for him. He had already made her his, and she had already made him her's. He had promised her everything, especially more than anything that seven pheres would offer her. He had made her his in all ways which mattered to him. If not by the bonds of the Gods she believed in, they had united by bonds of love in which she - and now he- believed in.
That was all that was necessary. She was all that was necessary.
Her fingers curled around the sweater he wore, the sudden feeling of desire scaring her. Yet she wanted it. She wanted to take the risk, plunge into the ecstasy it offered, and lose herself to him. Not that she hadn't already, yet somehow every moment she spend with him gave him more of her. And he unknowingly took, feeding on the love she radiated, so she held her stance.
Moving her body up slowly, she kissed him on the cheek. Slow and lingering, she let herself enjoy the sensations that shook her to her core. He had given her so much, she had to return something. Mustering everything she had, her lips moved down to the ones they so desperately wished to meet. He made no move, held steady and let her make the decision. The confidence evaded her and she hid into the comforts of his chest, hiding herself.
Yet the fire had been lighted and the flames were only being fed. In a matter of minutes, they were back where they started. Drinking in each other's breaths as they moved closer and closer. He wanted all of her. She wanted all of him.
His hand moved slowly, snaking a blazing trail along her bare back. His fingers connected with her dori and he pulled it, slowly, letting her know what was waiting. The flames had consumed them, charring any thoughts of the virtues she so dearly held onto.
She brought herself as close as she could, her eyes resting on his lips in anticipation. He had to take the lead now and he so gladly did. Never breaking the gaze he moved in, decreasing the inches that kept them apart for so long.
The most beautiful things in life were not seen, but felt.
And he reached the oasis he so desperately seeked. She fell into the ecstasy of the feelings that only he could conjure. Their lips met, greeting each other with the warmth and affection only lovers shared.
They were lovers indeed. Bound by everything they held dear. She thanked her Devi for him, she thanked the weavers of faith. He thanked his Devi, the one that had so readily fought to be with him. He would worship her tonight, every night. For once in his life, he had found someone to have faith in.
As the fire turned into inferno, all coherent thoughts leaving them both, they functioned only on the raw sense of passion. As his hands removed everything that hid her from him, no objection or signs of hesitation visible from her side, she let herself receive what he had to offer. They both took as much as the other gave.
For in the folds of the moments that followed, only the intimacy of star crossed lovers resonated. The radiance of their affection, charring everything in its path.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Chapter 20: War
"I have a few questions." The fast moving figure stopped in his tracks and he turned, slowly.
Lunch had been quiet. Mahesh had opted to eat upstairs in the room- Arnav's, he had learned- in which Khushi slept. She had awakened briefly to inhale her food and medicines and then had returned to her land of oblivion: sleeping. After that, he had met a few members of the family, including the infamous Shyam, and then spent some time with Shiv. He had passed on dinner and now after midnight, he had walked down to wait for the man he hadn't seen since the morning.
"Welcome to the club." Was Arnav's only response. Mahesh couldn't quite measure him nor decipher him. He momentarily zoned out as a memory lingered.
***
"So how did you figure him out? Solve the puzzle?"
"My husband is not a man to be measured, Mahesh." Khushi said, avoiding the question.
"You're interesting, you know?"
"Why do you say so?" She looked up to meet his eyes.
"You said your 'husband is' not was..." He watched her face as she processed what he had stated.
Nothing but the tick of the clock on the wall of the room spoke as Khushi remained fixed in her position, her eyes distant.
"Because he is." Was the silent reply that came from her side of the room after nearly three minutes. "He still is."
***
"I guess we have that in common, don't we?" Mahesh asked, standing to face Arnav Singh Raizada in all his angry young man glory.
"What's the need for us to find anything in common?" Arnav's reply was curt, slightly annoyed even.
"Similarities are what binds people together. It lays the basic foundation for understanding between people." Mahesh said coolly.
Arnav paused. Summing up the man before him, he spoke again. "I must say, your theory is flawed. Differences bind people just as strongly... sometimes more strongly than their similarities."
Mahesh smiled. "I guess that explains the case between you and Khushi, right? The case where differences overpower similarities to create some kind of unbreakable, everlasting bond?"
"Why are we having this conversation, Mahesh?"
"Khushi always strikes a cord with you doesn't it?" Mahesh said suddenly too calm for his own liking.
"That's not an answer to my question..."
"If I'm not mistaken, I too am overdue on an answer." Mahesh replied, facing Arnav and crossing his arms across his chest.
Arnav was composed. He tucked his hands into his pockets and faced Mahesh with a slight tilt to his head.
"Where's Khushi?" Arnav asked, knowing the answer to his question beforehand.
"Oh, so you care now? It didn't seem like it when you ran out the road this morning."
Arnav gritted his teeth. "I've always cared." His voice was low, a warning to Mahesh to not push it.
Little did Arnav Singh Raizada know, Mahesh was a daredevil. "Right... Was that before or after you forced her to leave the house? Oh yes, lets not forget she was pregnant!" Mahesh's tone was sarcastic, mocking the faults on Arnav's side.
"I asked her to come back! She didn't and I had to give up." Arnav's voice shot up two octaves before he squeezed his eyes shirt and clenched his fists in pockets.
"Ahh yes. The great Arnav Singh Raizada gave up without a fight." Mahesh slurred his words, teasing Arnav in ways he wasn't used to.
"I pleaded. Then she threatened me using the my only weakness: herself. I had to give up, do you understand? I had to!" Arnav's gaze bore into him, emotions that only a man who had been in similar circumstances could understand.
Mahesh's defiance slowly ebbed away. He dropped his hands and turned slowly away when Arnav's voice stopped him.
"You don't know anything. She may have told you everything, but you know nothing." Arnav's voice was slow, understanding one daresay. Almost as if he was compassionate towards Mahesh for not making sense of how they functioned..
"And here we are again, Raizada. This time I should welcome you into the club." Mahesh turned fully in the opposite direction, his back to Arnav. "Even you know nothing."
---
Arnav watched the retreating body of the man had suddenly earned respect for. Not many came and gave Arnav a fight worth fighting. And Mahesh knew how to fight. Suave in his manner, one except his opponent would never guess his defiance. Arnav shifted his head up before turning and heading in the direction of Khushi's room. He missed his wife and son.
---
Mahesh sat in the one of the many chairs that were placed in the room he was offered. Arnav was a tough shell to crack. No actually he wasn't a shell, but more a force field. A membrane even. He wasn't supposed to crack him, but gain an entry in.
He leaned forward and rested his forehead on his fingertips. Wrong again. He didn't need to gain an entry. No, Khushi had done that. Arnav wasn't Mahesh's force field to defy, but rather his force field to comprehend. Arnav's biggest problem wasn't that he held so much away from other people, Mahesh concluded, it was that he unknowingly held much away from himself too.
Mahesh sighed as he settled back into the chair. If anything was obvious, it was Arnav's love for Khushi. How the two worked would be something that Mahesh would never understand. Something he could do, however, was lead Arnav to the facts before him that he had overlooked.
But how would he do it...?
How did he tell him this? How did he tell this man that the woman he had been fighting for, for so long was losing her fight against fate? How did he tell a man to prepare for being the loser again in this game of life?
No, but Arnav Singh Raizada wouldn't go without a fight. He would wage a war. But would he wage war against the right enemy? There was no polite manners in the way Arnav regarded Mahesh and Mahesh knew that Arnav was once again misunderstanding. He had misunderstood Mahesh's role in the play. How was he going to do this without the help of Khushi?
Mahesh sighed. This was going to be a long night...
---
Arnav walked to the crib to find it empty. Looking around, he saw the bed was empty too. Panic rose in him and a familiar feeling unrest settled in his chest as he walked out of the room. Khushi couldn't have left.. Again? No... Arnav quickened his pace and almost banged into the sleepy figure of Payal in the hallway.
"Arnav-ji?"
"Payal! Where's Khushi? Shiv?" His voice was poorly hiding the panic.
Payal scrunched her eyes momentarily and relaxed them as a slow smile played on her lips. "Relax, Shiv is sleeping with Akashji and I today. And Khushi is where you left her this morning." Giving a parting smile, Payal continued on her way to her room. Arnav then noticed the bottle of milk in her hand and let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
It would be inappropriate to bug Payal now to see Shiv. Arnav smiled, almost victoriously, as he registered the latter part of Payal's message. Khushi was where he left her this morning, eh? He walked to his room with a new purpose in his movement.
Arnav opened the door to his room silently, not wanting to disturb the angel that was curled up on the side of his bed. Shutting the door, he turned to face the angel. His angel.
The full light of the moon from the poolside bathed the room in enough light for him to see her glowing complexion. Their conversation the past night, which had bothered him all day, lost all importance as it evaporated from his thoughts. She was confused. He would make her see sense. He wasn't letting her go this time.
Moving to his bathroom, Arnav dressed and showered for bed. Ever so silently, he moved under the covers and next to Khushi. He moved closer, gently scooping her up onto his chest. Obviously lost in the land of sleep, Khushi welcomed the warmth of Arnav's body and snuggled in, not forgetting to grab a fistful of his shirt in her hand.
Nirvana, at last. Arnav smiled. He was rejoined with his soul, free of hurt, free of suffering. Burying his nose into the tangled net of her hair, Arnav breathed in, rejoicing.
Khushi snuggled in deeper, her face tilting up and the bridge of her nose buried into the space where Arnav's neck and collarbone met. Arnav clutched her closer, her waist seeming smaller and more fragile in his grasp.
She wouldn't be pleased when she woke up, he knew. Or would she be? Would this remind her of the reason she came back? Would she care to give him, yet again, another chance? Arnav held her closer. Now wasn't the time to think of tomorrow. He had spent too much of his life looking forward or dwelling on the past, but never quite living in the moment. This was his time to live, because for once, his present was perfect and uninterrupted.
It had been a long year for them both. However this... This was nirvana indeed.
Suddenly, his path was clear. No doubts, no questions. Whoever this Mahesh was, he had to go. He wouldn't go without a fight, Arnav knew. They never did. But Arnav Singh Raizada was ready to wage war against anyone or anything that would take Khushi away from him.
Little did Arnav Singh Raizada know, Mahesh was hardly worthy of the blame.
Lunch had been quiet. Mahesh had opted to eat upstairs in the room- Arnav's, he had learned- in which Khushi slept. She had awakened briefly to inhale her food and medicines and then had returned to her land of oblivion: sleeping. After that, he had met a few members of the family, including the infamous Shyam, and then spent some time with Shiv. He had passed on dinner and now after midnight, he had walked down to wait for the man he hadn't seen since the morning.
"Welcome to the club." Was Arnav's only response. Mahesh couldn't quite measure him nor decipher him. He momentarily zoned out as a memory lingered.
***
"So how did you figure him out? Solve the puzzle?"
"My husband is not a man to be measured, Mahesh." Khushi said, avoiding the question.
"You're interesting, you know?"
"Why do you say so?" She looked up to meet his eyes.
"You said your 'husband is' not was..." He watched her face as she processed what he had stated.
Nothing but the tick of the clock on the wall of the room spoke as Khushi remained fixed in her position, her eyes distant.
"Because he is." Was the silent reply that came from her side of the room after nearly three minutes. "He still is."
***
"I guess we have that in common, don't we?" Mahesh asked, standing to face Arnav Singh Raizada in all his angry young man glory.
"What's the need for us to find anything in common?" Arnav's reply was curt, slightly annoyed even.
"Similarities are what binds people together. It lays the basic foundation for understanding between people." Mahesh said coolly.
Arnav paused. Summing up the man before him, he spoke again. "I must say, your theory is flawed. Differences bind people just as strongly... sometimes more strongly than their similarities."
Mahesh smiled. "I guess that explains the case between you and Khushi, right? The case where differences overpower similarities to create some kind of unbreakable, everlasting bond?"
"Why are we having this conversation, Mahesh?"
"Khushi always strikes a cord with you doesn't it?" Mahesh said suddenly too calm for his own liking.
"That's not an answer to my question..."
"If I'm not mistaken, I too am overdue on an answer." Mahesh replied, facing Arnav and crossing his arms across his chest.
Arnav was composed. He tucked his hands into his pockets and faced Mahesh with a slight tilt to his head.
"Where's Khushi?" Arnav asked, knowing the answer to his question beforehand.
"Oh, so you care now? It didn't seem like it when you ran out the road this morning."
Arnav gritted his teeth. "I've always cared." His voice was low, a warning to Mahesh to not push it.
Little did Arnav Singh Raizada know, Mahesh was a daredevil. "Right... Was that before or after you forced her to leave the house? Oh yes, lets not forget she was pregnant!" Mahesh's tone was sarcastic, mocking the faults on Arnav's side.
"I asked her to come back! She didn't and I had to give up." Arnav's voice shot up two octaves before he squeezed his eyes shirt and clenched his fists in pockets.
"Ahh yes. The great Arnav Singh Raizada gave up without a fight." Mahesh slurred his words, teasing Arnav in ways he wasn't used to.
"I pleaded. Then she threatened me using the my only weakness: herself. I had to give up, do you understand? I had to!" Arnav's gaze bore into him, emotions that only a man who had been in similar circumstances could understand.
Mahesh's defiance slowly ebbed away. He dropped his hands and turned slowly away when Arnav's voice stopped him.
"You don't know anything. She may have told you everything, but you know nothing." Arnav's voice was slow, understanding one daresay. Almost as if he was compassionate towards Mahesh for not making sense of how they functioned..
"And here we are again, Raizada. This time I should welcome you into the club." Mahesh turned fully in the opposite direction, his back to Arnav. "Even you know nothing."
---
Arnav watched the retreating body of the man had suddenly earned respect for. Not many came and gave Arnav a fight worth fighting. And Mahesh knew how to fight. Suave in his manner, one except his opponent would never guess his defiance. Arnav shifted his head up before turning and heading in the direction of Khushi's room. He missed his wife and son.
---
Mahesh sat in the one of the many chairs that were placed in the room he was offered. Arnav was a tough shell to crack. No actually he wasn't a shell, but more a force field. A membrane even. He wasn't supposed to crack him, but gain an entry in.
He leaned forward and rested his forehead on his fingertips. Wrong again. He didn't need to gain an entry. No, Khushi had done that. Arnav wasn't Mahesh's force field to defy, but rather his force field to comprehend. Arnav's biggest problem wasn't that he held so much away from other people, Mahesh concluded, it was that he unknowingly held much away from himself too.
Mahesh sighed as he settled back into the chair. If anything was obvious, it was Arnav's love for Khushi. How the two worked would be something that Mahesh would never understand. Something he could do, however, was lead Arnav to the facts before him that he had overlooked.
But how would he do it...?
How did he tell him this? How did he tell this man that the woman he had been fighting for, for so long was losing her fight against fate? How did he tell a man to prepare for being the loser again in this game of life?
No, but Arnav Singh Raizada wouldn't go without a fight. He would wage a war. But would he wage war against the right enemy? There was no polite manners in the way Arnav regarded Mahesh and Mahesh knew that Arnav was once again misunderstanding. He had misunderstood Mahesh's role in the play. How was he going to do this without the help of Khushi?
Mahesh sighed. This was going to be a long night...
---
Arnav walked to the crib to find it empty. Looking around, he saw the bed was empty too. Panic rose in him and a familiar feeling unrest settled in his chest as he walked out of the room. Khushi couldn't have left.. Again? No... Arnav quickened his pace and almost banged into the sleepy figure of Payal in the hallway.
"Arnav-ji?"
"Payal! Where's Khushi? Shiv?" His voice was poorly hiding the panic.
Payal scrunched her eyes momentarily and relaxed them as a slow smile played on her lips. "Relax, Shiv is sleeping with Akashji and I today. And Khushi is where you left her this morning." Giving a parting smile, Payal continued on her way to her room. Arnav then noticed the bottle of milk in her hand and let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
It would be inappropriate to bug Payal now to see Shiv. Arnav smiled, almost victoriously, as he registered the latter part of Payal's message. Khushi was where he left her this morning, eh? He walked to his room with a new purpose in his movement.
Arnav opened the door to his room silently, not wanting to disturb the angel that was curled up on the side of his bed. Shutting the door, he turned to face the angel. His angel.
The full light of the moon from the poolside bathed the room in enough light for him to see her glowing complexion. Their conversation the past night, which had bothered him all day, lost all importance as it evaporated from his thoughts. She was confused. He would make her see sense. He wasn't letting her go this time.
Moving to his bathroom, Arnav dressed and showered for bed. Ever so silently, he moved under the covers and next to Khushi. He moved closer, gently scooping her up onto his chest. Obviously lost in the land of sleep, Khushi welcomed the warmth of Arnav's body and snuggled in, not forgetting to grab a fistful of his shirt in her hand.
Nirvana, at last. Arnav smiled. He was rejoined with his soul, free of hurt, free of suffering. Burying his nose into the tangled net of her hair, Arnav breathed in, rejoicing.
Khushi snuggled in deeper, her face tilting up and the bridge of her nose buried into the space where Arnav's neck and collarbone met. Arnav clutched her closer, her waist seeming smaller and more fragile in his grasp.
She wouldn't be pleased when she woke up, he knew. Or would she be? Would this remind her of the reason she came back? Would she care to give him, yet again, another chance? Arnav held her closer. Now wasn't the time to think of tomorrow. He had spent too much of his life looking forward or dwelling on the past, but never quite living in the moment. This was his time to live, because for once, his present was perfect and uninterrupted.
It had been a long year for them both. However this... This was nirvana indeed.
Suddenly, his path was clear. No doubts, no questions. Whoever this Mahesh was, he had to go. He wouldn't go without a fight, Arnav knew. They never did. But Arnav Singh Raizada was ready to wage war against anyone or anything that would take Khushi away from him.
Little did Arnav Singh Raizada know, Mahesh was hardly worthy of the blame.
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