Part 34:

After spending some good moments with all, Khushi felt relaxed. She enjoyed their company.

"Thank you so much Bhai... thanks for being with me... I was just... leave it. Bhai you didn't say who that man is? Do you know him? Did you see him before? I don't understand the thing when he said that I fooled him, I insulted him. I couldn't recognise his voice also. He played some voice, with the words that he wants to say. Who is that man Bhai?" asked Khushi.

Aman sighed deeply before saying the name of the person, who attacked Khushi.

"Don't panic Choti... it's Rahul..." said Anjali.

"WHAT?!"

"Shh... Relax... yes he is Rahul whom you bet to bring hell out his life."

"Rahul? How is he now? Is he fine?" panicked Khushi

"What's the need to know about his welfare? Why are you interested? Do you forget what he did to you? Just shut your blabbering and take rest. No need to think about all these. Me and Aman will see and check with that idiot" almost barked Arnav with irritation.

"Why are you getting angry on me now? What did I do? I didn't bother you about this, then why are you shouting at me? I tried my level best to take care of myself. I did what I can do at the most. I didn't expect you to come there. It's not my fault and I never asked you help. Don't even dare to shout at me" Khushi retorted back with anger and tear filled eyes.

Everybody including Arnav looked at her shocked. Shock will be the understatement of Arnav's state. He couldn't understand what to say. He can see the hurt and pain in her eyes along with anger and tears.

"Khushi..."

"You don't dare to talk with me. I don't want to talk with you... Bhai tell him to stop..."

"But Choti... what's wrong? Why don't you want to talk with him? What did he do?" asked Anjali.

"Di... I don't want to trouble anybody. If building any friendship with me will bother anybody, then I don't want to force them. Whoever it may be, I will try to be stay away from them. I don't want to make anybody uncomfortable with my friendship. Sorry if I hurt you..."

"But Choti..."

"Bhai... please... I do not want to talk about this. I just..."

She stopped saying further after seeing nurse entering inside the room.

"What happened? Why are you crying? Don't you know you got hurt on your head? This is not good if you stress yourself. Just take rest... at least for today. Tomorrow onwards you can do your routine work... but not crying... ok..." she turned to Aman and said "And here are her medicines... please make sure she takes these"

"I will make sure, she will take these medicines" Arnav came front to assure nurse

"I think you really love your sister and brother... Don't worry, they will be fine..."

"Sister and brother? How dare you?" shouted Arnav

If we say Aman, Anjali and Akash shocked with nurse's words, and then it surely will lesser than Arnav and Khushi...

"Sister and brother?" muttered Khushi in non-audible voice. But she kept quite to continue to check Lad Governor's reaction.

"What's there to dare? You only said that man in ICU is your brother and she tried to stop her brother... then they both are your brother and sister, right? Then why are you shouting at me?" said nurse.

Both Aman and Anjali held their laugh... Arnav left a frustrated sigh...

"I will bring the medicine" saying this he went out.

"What's wrong with him?" asked nurse

"Leave him... can you please tell me that how Rahul is?" asked Khushi.

"Nothing to worry... just some scratches and mild fractures... He fainted with a hit on his head. He will be ok in some time. And you can take him after he gains conscious – may be tomorrow. And also you can take your sister. Please complete the discharge formalities at the reception. She will be fine..."

"Thank you... we will take care of her"

"What's wrong with Arnav Ji? Why was he behaving like that?" asked Khushi after nurse left the room

"Nothing Khushi Ji... leave it... first you tell me, why aren't you wanted to talk with Bhai...? What he did?"

Khushi face fell immediately. "Nothing Akash Ji... I felt bad when he said..." she paused and continued again "But he is right at his place... I shouldn't depend on him... I could not and I should not bother him for anything. And I will not... I just thought that I am his friend... but maybe he is not ready for that. It is ok... no problem... I will take care of that, and will never make him uncomfortable..."

"Hey... Choti... it is not like that... he is just trying to say that..." Khushi interrupted Aman from saying further.

"No Bhai... I knew what he is trying to say... Please can we change the topic? I don't want to talk about this. Please"

"Ok" nodded Aman.

After talking with each other for some time, Aman went to reception to complete the discharge papers.

"Choti... I think it is better if you stay at our home for few days. After you feel safe and sound, you can go to your hostel. But for now it will be good if you stay with us" said Anjali.

"No Di... I will stay in hostel only. You don't worry..."

"But Choti..."

"No Bhai... I will be fine in hostel. No need to worry about me. I think it will take time for Rahul to attack me again, as he is in hospital now and I think it will take some time for him to recover from this state. You don't worry Di... I will be fine" assured Khushi.

Nodding their heads, they left hospital to drop Khushi at her hostel.

After that they left the hospital and dropped Khushi at her hostel. She bid bye to everyone and went inside but not before looking at Arnav, who is watching her intently. He is not sure, whether she smiled at him or he imagined it. He sighed deeply and drove his car to their home.

"Oh... crap..."

"What's happened Bhai?"

"Nothing Akash... I forgot to give Khushi her medicines... it's ok no problem. You guys carry on... I will go and give it to her" said Arnav not letting them to doubt him that he did it intentionally. Of course it's an intentional act.

"Take care Chote... Don't be angry on her. She is upset now. And drive slow..."

"Sure Di... I will take care..." he smiled at his sister as assuring her and left to Khushi's hostel.

**************************************************

'It's really difficult to avoid that Lad Governor. I don't know how I would do this. Whenever I see him, I found him looking at me with a very serious expression. I don't know why he always in anger. Whatever... I won't talk with him. Devi Mayya... please be with me. I know Devi Mayya... I know why he said those words... I can understand. But... I don't know why... his words hurting me... I'm not angry with what he said. I'm sad with how he said. I can't take his words when he said – 'I can't be with you all the time.' What's the need to utter those words Devi Mayya... he can say in any other way, right? Then? I want to spend my life with him Devi Mayya... I don't want to be far from him. It hurts me...'

A lone tear dropped from her eyes followed by a small sobs. After coming from hospital, she sat on the bench which is in the corner of the garden of her hostel. She sat there for long. Her trance broke with her mobile ring. Without seeing the name she answered reluctantly.

"Where the hell are you?"

She is taken aback from the sudden shout from other side of the call. She frown her eyebrows and checked the call. 'Arnav Ji' she rolled her eyes and guessed what will be the reason for this sudden shout.

"What happened now?"

"I'm asking where the hell you are."

"Hmm... where will I be? In hostel" she said in non interested tone.

"Don't lie to me Khushi... you are not in hostel. Tell me where you are?"

"What? Oh God... I can't believe this. Arnav Ji I'm in hostel only. Where will I go at this time and that too in this condition? Why are you shouting at me?"

"KHUSHI... don't test my patience... tell me where are you?"

"Arey... what's wrong with you Arnav Ji...? Why can't you believe me? I'm at hostel only" she said irritatingly.

"If you are in hostel then why did your warden said you are not in hostel?"

"What? Why did she say that?"

Sighing deeply Arnav said in a frustrated tone "Khushi if you are in hostel, can you come out for once? I need to give you your tablets."

"You are here? Ok... I am coming wait"

He is pacing up down in front of building. He turned back sensing her presence. When see her, he sensed something wrong. She is like, she is in some pain. And he can see her limping slightly. Before he asks her what's wrong, he saw her about to fall on the ground with the pain. He immediately ran to her, and caught her before falling. He straightened her in comfortable position and asked

"Are you ok, Khushi? What happened?"

"Nothing Arnav Ji... morning my ankle got sprained. When I was in hospital I didn't get any pain. But now it's paining. Leave it... what are you doing here?"

"I came here to give you, your tablets. I forgot to give it before. Here take" he handed over the medicines.

"Thanks"

"Ah... Umm... Khushi..."

"Ji"

"How are you?"

"What?"

"I just want to ask... I mean to confirm... I mean I wanted to know... whether everything is fine with you or not... I... I..."

"I'm fine Arnav Ji... you no need to worry about it... I can take care of myself"

He can see pain on her face. He can see moist in her eyes. He also can see her not meeting her eyes with him. So he said

"Khushi look at me..."

"I... I... I have to go... bye Arnav Ji... good night..."

"Khushi look at me..." he can see her avoiding him. But she didn't see at his eyes yet. He held her hand before she walks away.

"Why are you avoiding me?"

"No... I'm not"

"We both know that you are avoiding me. You are not taking my calls. You are not looking into my eyes. You are not ready to talk with me, why Khushi?"

"Nothing like that Arnav Ji... I need to go now... please haath chodiye..." said Khushi looking here and there, but not him.

"Without getting my answer I won't leave you"

"Chodiye hume" she tried to free her hand. But he is way stronger than her.

"Don't try Khushi... warna I won't..."

"What will you do? Haa... what will you do? Will you shout at me again? Or leave me and go? Haa tell me..." she pushed him back releasing her hand from him. In this process she trembled little bit. Before she slips her leg, Arnav held her tightly.

"Careful damn it..."

She again pushed him and said "No need to worry about me. I can take care of myself. You can go from here. Thanks for medicines"

Anger rose in his mind with her push. "Yeah... I can see how much you can take care. If we didn't come at the right time in the morning, you could have gone to hospital by your own. If I didn't catch you now, you would have hurt your ankle more. Stop being a stubborn kid Khushi. You can't take care of yourself without our help. At least you can't even take your medicines by yourself and you are saying here you can take care... how funny" he said sarcastically.

"Did I ask you to come for my help? Did I ask you to admit me in hospital? Did I ask you to bring medicine for me? Did I ask you to catch me before I fall? NO, right? Then why are you doing all these? Let me do it for myself... I HAVE to learn how to take care of myself. Because nobody will be with me in future, right? Please leave me for myself. I will learn all the things what YOU want me to do... Apko hamare liye pareshan hone ki koi zaroorat nahi hain. Just leave me alone," crying out her pain, she shouted at him. Before he says anything, she went inside crying with the pain in her heart and ankle. She didn't turn back to see at him not even once.

He stood there for some time, thinking what was happened few seconds before. He looked at her retreating figure. He waited for her to turn back and see him, which never happened. He knew why she behaved like that. 'I am sorry Khushi... I didn't mean to hurt you' he thought. Sighing deeply he went to his car to leave his home, hoping for a hopeful tomorrow.

**************************************************

Arnav is the first person to come to college. 'Today at any cost I will say sorry to her. I have to pacify her. I can't stay numb when she is avoiding me. I can't take this' – this is the first thought got in his mind when he woke up in the morning. So, he decided.

When he reached the college he searched for her. He searched her in her classroom, library and canteen, everywhere. He searched all the places, where the possibilities are for her to go. But he didn't find her anywhere. He knew she will come to college at correct time. She is not the person to come late. He is little bit curious now to know the reasons for her to coming late. He waited for some more minutes and decided to call her. Before he takes out his mobile from his pocket, his mobile started to ring. When he checked the mobile screen it showed 'Aman'. He immediately answered the call

"Where are you Arnav?"

"I'm in the college. Why? What's happened?"

"College? This early?"

"Yeah... Umm... you know... I want to say sorry to Khushi. That's why I came little early today."

"Not little early Arnav. You went to college too early. It's still 8 am in the morning. Khushi will come to college at 8.45 AM. I don't understand why you don't see the time whenever you want to talk with Khushi. What's the hurry in there? You are unbelievable Arnav."

"Yeah... I just realised now. Can I call Khushi to come little early?"

"As if she agree immediately. Arnav she is upset with you... don't use any indirect methods to solve your misunderstandings. You have to face directly. Then only you will fully understand opposite person. By seeing their facial expressions only we can find out how much serious they are. So, wait for her and talk. All the best... we are leaving in few minutes. Bye"

"Bye. See you soon" with that they kept the call. Arnav is very thankful to Aman. Whenever he is in confusion and need, Aman is the person who helps him without any thought. He thanked him mentally.

He waited for Khushi in canteen. When he saw her coming from the gate, he felt like his heart filled with enormous relaxation. He is very restless till now from yesterday's argument with her. He knew he loves her, but he never thought her presence will give this much solace for him. He smiled to himself and went out to meet his Angel.

He almost ran to her. He suddenly stood before her making her step back in fear.

"Hi Khushi... good morning..." he greeted her with a smile

She looked at him confusedly. 'Why is he smiling like... like a crazy man? I mean like... like... mad person. Why is he looking like so excited?' thought Khushi.

"Good Morning Arnav Ji."

"Khushi... Are you fine?"

"Yeah I'm fine. Ok Arnav Ji... I have to leave now. Bye" she about to go but was stopped by him

"Umm... Khushi I need to talk to you. It's really important. Please. We will sit in canteen and talk. Come."

'I didn't say any yes to talk. Then how can he say we will sit in canteen and talk?' thought Khushi and said to him "No Arnav Ji... sorry... now I need to go to library. I..." she again was stopped, but, not by Arnav this time. For his irritation it is Lavanya.

"Oh My God... Khushi... how are you? Yesterday Bhai said everything. How are you feeling now? OMG... Khushi you are hurt"

Khushi relieved with Lavanya's entry. Soon all the others joined them, making Arnav more restless.

Everybody asked Khushi, how she is feeling. Khushi assured everyone that she is fine. Everybody went to canteen, as there is a time for classes to start. Arnav couldn't believe Khushi coming to canteen. He couldn't believe that Khushi is this much avoiding him. He felt tug in his heart. He tried to control his anger and emotions. Before, he knows what he is saying, the damage was done and the words slipped his mouth, "Khushi I think you need to go to library. Why are you here still? You said you really need to go... then what happened? Do you need anyone's permission? Are you scared to go alone? Or are you waiting for someone to come, maybe Rahul?" he asked Khushi, a bit rudely.

Everyone shocked at his words.

"ARNAV..." shouted Aman.

"I'm going now" said Khushi with fallen face.

"Yeah I can see that" Arnav said sarcastically.

Khushi ran from there holding her books.

"What's wrong with you Chote? How can you bring Rahul's topic now?"

"Bhai can't you see how scared she was yesterday? She almost crossed the death door. I didn't expect this Bhai" said Akash.

Then only Arnav got his senses back. He repeated his words mentally. He didn't want to hurt Khushi. But when he noticed her not giving any importance to him, when he felt like he is not special from others to her; and when he noticed that she was avoiding him, he just carried away with his anger. He looked at everybody, watching at him with different expressions. Before he could say he heard Aman saying...

"He lost his mind Anjali. Leave it. He never changes" with that Aman went inside to Khushi.

Arnav ran after Aman.

"Aman... listen Aman... I'm sorry ok... I didn't mean to hurt her. I just carried away with my anger. I couldn't take her ignorance. When I asked her to come to canteen for a little talk, she refused. But she came to canteen with you guys. I couldn't take that. That's why I was angry... sorry..."

"If you want to have Khushi with you... you need to control your anger Arnav."

"Ok... I will try... but please... don't be angry on me. I already facing problem with that crazy girl. Please don't join with her. Ok now I'm leaving to her, to ask forgiveness. And please you guys don't interfere. Let me do my things peacefully. You have to take care of that crazy people. Ok... bye... don't disturb me" saying this Arnav ran to library, where Khushi went hopefully.

"What? Unbelievable" Aman left to canteen smiling to control their crazy people.

*****************************************

He searched for her in library. After searching in all sections, he found her in the corner of the shelves looking for some books. He went to her and stood at her back. Leaning little towards her ear, almost touching her back with his front he whispered "Khushi"

...to be continued