Part 23 More Special than anyone

"Yeah... girls cry only for those close to their heart," Ratna said and went to the kitchen, leaving stunning Arnav.

CLOSE TO HEART? Was he close to Khushi's heart? That too, next to his mother? He raised his brows getting amazed.

Arnav followed Ratna to the kitchen.

"She must be guilty," said Arnav.

"Who?" Ratna asked.

"Khushi..."

"For what?"

"Didn't you say a girl cries only for her close-to-heart persons?"

"Yeah..."

"She might have cried out of guilty for not waking me up. Nothing more than that" he said.

"Then why did she say NOTHING SHOULD HAPPEN TO YOU?"

"Maybe, out of respect..."

"Mmmm... let me check." Ratna walked out, taking a bowl.

"How will you check, Mom?" he followed her again to the dining.

"I have to think about it"

They saw Khushi coming with Anjali. Arnav sat in the dining.

"Are you alright, Khushi?" Ratna intentionally asked while serving breakfast to Arnav.

"What happened to her?" Anjali asked frowning.

"She cried for our Chotte" Ratna said.

"For Chotte? What happened to him?" Anjali panicked.

"I fell down from the couch Di," he said making a sad face.

"How?"

"In my sleep..."

"You and falling down from the couch in your sleep? I believed" Anjali teased.

"Khushi is not as understanding as you, Anju. That's why she cried" Ratna smiled.

"But, what's there to cry? And why did Chotte sleep on the couch?" Anjali asked.

"Khushi slept on the couch, listening to our talks last night. Chotte also slept in the living room not wanting to leave her alone. But, she went to your room, in the mid-night, leaving Chotte here, without waking him up. So, he played with her. He said he fallen down from the couch and his leg was twisted only because Khushi left him here"

"Oh..."

"So, she cried..."

"Is it Khushi?"

Khushi was silent.

"Chotte, because of you, she cried... why did you make her cry? Stop playing with her this way" Anjali said.

"Di, does anyone cry for the simple thing?" Arnav asked with his lopsided smile.

"Haan, Khushi, is not it a simple thing?" Anjali asked.

"She cries thinking about her mother and also cries thinking about Chotte's little injury. She is so sensitive" Ratna said.

Arnav was constantly gazing at Khushi.

"Tell us, Khushi, why did you cry?" Ratna asked.

"Haan, Chotte is not a kid who could not bear a slight pain..." Anjali said.

"But, pain is the same for everyone..." Khushi said feeling sad.

They spared a glance.

"I have fallen down from the bed once and my wrist got twisted. I suffered in pain for one week... I thought he will also suffer as I did" Khushi said with regret.

Arnav rolled his eyes. So, she should have cried out guilty. He thought.

"Khushi, look at his face. Do you think he will suffer in the slight pain for one week?" Anjali laughed and Ratna joined.

Arnav also smiled.

"He will also suffer if he gets injured because he is not a robot but a human" Khushi said miserably. The trio looked at her smilingly.

"Ok, we agree, your Arnavji also suffers if he gets injured but he is a strong man. He doesn't show off his pain." Anjali said.

"Yes, Khushi. Don't trust him if he hisses in pain" Ratna said.

"He usually does that only to cheat on us or to get our attention," Anjali said.

"Will you stop it, guys? Why are you manipulating a good girl with a wicked thought?" Arnav laughed.

"Wicked and we?" Anjali looked at Ratna.

"We just said what you usually do," Ratna said.

"No need... she, herself will understand me... you just stop brainwashing her," Arnav said.

Ratna and Anjali spared a glance smilingly.

"We are going to the temple on Sunday," Ratna said.

"On Sunday? Ok, I will be with Khushi at home. You go" Arnav said.

Khushi stopped eating and looked at him.

"Khushi also will come with us," Anjali said.

"But, Khushi said she should not go to the temple..." Arnav said.

"We are going to the temple only for Khushi," Ratna said.

Khushi frowned, parting her lips.

"Means?"

"To do the final ritual for her father," Ratna said.

Khushi gulped down in overwhelming sensation.

"Oh... do you want me to do the required arrangements?" Arnav asked.

"No... I already had a talk with the Pandit last evening. He will look after the arrangements"

Arnav nodded ok. He gestured to Ratna to look at Khushi who was drawing patterns on the plate.

"Khushi..." she called her.

Khushi looked at her, slightly raising her eyelash. They saw her eyes teary. Anjali touched her shoulder.

"Thank you, Amma" she choked.

"Relax, Khushi beta..."

"Is it necessary to cry for everything?" Arnav asked seriously.

"Chotte, everyone will cry if they get emotional. Didn't you cry yesterday?" Anjali cornered Arnav.

"I cried for my mother getting emotional after many years"

"Like the same, she also became emotional," Anjali said.

"If she cries when she gets emotional, why did she cry when I said I fell down from the couch?" Arnav asked reading Khushi's expression.

"She might have felt guilty," Ratna said.

"No, Amma. I didn't cry out of guilt because I didn't make him fall down. I felt bad about his pain" Khushi said in a thin tone.

"Khushi, you cried for your mother... then, for your father... and also for Chotte? Doesn't it sound crazy?" Ratna asked intentionally, looking at Arnav who also became curious.

"I owe to cry for him for my whole life, Amma because I respect him more than I respect my parents," she said.

The trio was looking at her adorably with a slight smile.

"More than your parents? Why?" Ratna asked.

"Khushi... think once... your father treated you like a princess. Your mother lived for you. She admired you even though you teased her. Still, do you think, Chotte is more special than them?" Anjali asked.

She nodded yes.

"They are my parents. Every parent has the responsibility to protect their children. It's their duty but Arnavji doesn't have such responsibility yet he is protecting me. Is not he more special than my parents?"

Arnav spilled a lopsided smile with pride. Anjali's next stance vanished his smile.

"I hope your husband will not get jealous, seeing your respect for Chotte"

Arnav looked at Khushi panicking. What her answer will be?

"I will make him understand Arnavji," Khushi said innocently.

Arnav gulped hard. Don't know why, he didn't like HUSBAND talk and definitely not Khushi's answer to it.

Ratna and Anjali spared an unbelievable glance, seeing his changed expression.

"I'm going..." Arnav left RM.

..............

Sinha's Mahal

Simran was on call.

"Listen to me... his name is Vijay Singh. He is a financier and very famous in the area. Anyone will tell you about his whereabouts if you enquire about him in that area"

"Ok, madam"

"I want you to find him as soon as possible. No one should know about it. be careful"

"Don't worry, madam. I will maintain the secrecy"

"That's good. Just let him know Khushi's whereabouts. He will take care of the rest."

"Done"

She disconnected the call with satisfaction.

*I didn't even ready to give up on my brother when he loved Anjali. Then how could I give up on you, Arnav? You meant for me. You have to be with me. I will never let you go away from me. I won't be sitting quietly until I throw that woman out of your life for whom you throw me out of your house. You can send me out of your house but not from your life. You have no choice other than to accept me because I'm your destiny. Wait and see, how I'm going to make it possible. You will get to know my ability and also the depth of my love* she gritted her teeth.

To be continued...