Part25 

Khushi was chasing the car shouting Simran's name. The driver saw her through the rearview mirror.

Driver: Is she your friend?

Simran turned backward and saw Khushi. She couldn't remember her but her lip movement told Simran that she is calling her name.

Simran: Stop the car.

The driver stopped the car. Khushi reached her, panting hard.

Simran: Who are you? Why are you chasing me?

Khushi (gasping): Simran right?

Simran(thoughtfully): yeah....

Khushi: I'm Khushi... Lavanya's sister.

Simran (excitedly): Goddamn... yeahhhh.... How did I forget you?

She hugged her happily.

Simran: How is your crazy sister? How is her married life going?

Khushi: She is dead.

Simran's expression changed.

Simran (nervously): Hey... this is not funny. Okay...?

Khushi: Do you think I could make fun of this matter?

Her sight got blurt by tears.

Simran : But how?

Khushi: She committed suicide.

Simran hit her own forehead and sat on the Marine Drive wall. She cried closing her face.

Khushi: You know why?

Simran nodded yes sobbing.

Khushi: I came to Mumbai, in the excuse of attending Sheetal's marriage to know about my sister. Sheetal told me only half of the story as she couldn't give her time for me. Please tell me what happened in La's life. What made her break up with Vikas? Who she saw in his clinic instead of Vikas that day?

Khushi took her hand and kept it on her head.

Khushi: Please tell me....

Sim: Yes, that day she didn't meet Vikas in his clinic but his mother.

Khushi: Mother?

Sim: Yes. She came to the clinic to meet Lavanya, sending Vikas to somewhere as she got to know about their affair. She asked La to get away from Vikas's life.

Khushi: But why?

Sim: It's because she wanted Vikas to marry her husband's friend's daughter who helped for Vikas's studies.

Khushi: Didn't La tell Vikas about that?

Sim: His mother got her promise not to tell Vikas.

Khushi: Why did she agree?

Sim: What did she do? She knew Vikas loves his mother very much as she worked hard to make him as a Doctor. La was broken down after that. Our college got over, after three days. Without meeting Vikas, she left Mumbai. She cried a lot you know. She loved him madly. She never thought about her life without him. She even submitted herself to him.

Khushi was horror stuck hearing that. Simran realized her mistake, seeing horrified Khushi.

Khushi: What did you say?

Sim: Ohh I....

Khushi: Did she go to that extent? How could she?

Sim: She loved him truly Khushi.

Khushi (furiously): Love my foot... Do you know how blindly my father trusted her? She didn't even open her mouth when my father asked her acceptance for marriage. How could she agree to marry someone when she was not pure?

Sim: Did she have a choice? How could she deny when she knows very well that her love won't work anymore? Don't you know how she fears of your father?

Khushi: Then why did she commit suicide?

Khushi was not ready to listen to any of her excuses. She stood firm angrily. She couldn't believe that Lavanya could forget about her family reputation just like that.

Sim: Don't get angry Khushi. Though she agreed to your father she couldn't cheat on her husband. That's why she should have committed suicide.

Khushi: What about her husband? What was his mistake? How could she spoil someone's life? Doesn't he have feelings? I can't believe Lavanya could be so selfish.

Simran was silent. She couldn't say anything as Khushi was not wrong.

Khushi: Do you have Vikas's pic?

Simran hesitated.

Khushi: I just want to see the person who made Lavanya to forget everything.

Simran removed her mobile and showed the pic in which Lavanya was smiling with a guy. She looked so happy in that pic. Khushi's eyes spilled unknowingly, seeing Lavanya's smile.

Sim: Please cool down Khushi. Just think standing on her shoes. Love can change anyone. Lavanya was not exceptional. Vikas is a good guy, so kind and polite which made her fall for him badly. You will understand her when you fall in love with someone truly.

Khushi swallowed hard.

Khushi: Thank you for your information.

Sim: Come to my home...

Khushi: It's ok. I have to go. Bye.

Khushi started walking back to the place where she left Arnav. She was not in the sense to think about anything. She couldn't bear the pain which Lavanya caused in her heart. How selfish Lavanya was. She loved someone, submitted herself to that someone, got married to another one and committed suicide, without thinking about anyone. If she was so guilty why did she marry Arnav? Why didn't she commit suicide before marriage if she was so much in love with Vikas? What about her father? How will he overcome if he gets to know about Lavanya?

In all this, Arnav is the one who is an ultimate loser. Poor man... how hopefully he would have started his life with Lavanya? Thank God Arnav agreed to get second marriage. Khushi doesn't need to think about Lavanya anymore. Arnav is the only one who is worth thinking about.

That's when she remembered that she left Arnav without saying anything. What will she say if he asks her? She forgot him, seeing Simran in the urge of knowing about Lavanya. She hit on her forehead. She saw Chickpeas. She bought it and hurried her steps.

In the meanwhile, Arnav was hell panicked not seeing Khushi. He was searching for her running here and there like a mad, in the whole Marine drive.

He felt like his breath will stop not seeing Khushi. He couldn't understand where she went. She was just here a few minutes ago than where did she go? Don't know why his eyes getting teary. He couldn't control his mind from thinking bad.

That's when he saw her coming with CHANNAS. He rushed towards her wrathfully.

Arnav: Where the hell were you Khushi?

Khushi was taken aback by his extreme level of anger.

Khushi (stammering): Ohh Channas...

He shrugged the channa packet gritting his teeth.

Arnav: Have you gone mad? Why I'm here damn it? How could you go without telling me? (he cupped her face) do you know what I went through not seeing you? I thought I have lost you. What if something had happened to you? How could I bear it damn it?

Khushi was gazing at him like she was dreaming, seeing his outburst.

Next second, as she didn't expect, Arnav hugged her tightly panting hard.

Arnav: Don't you dare do this again. Don't ever think of leaving me like this.

Khushi shocked to the core. What's this? He is behaving like a typical lover. Of course, she was double happy even though she couldn't understand anything. She slowly circled his shoulders.

Khushi: I'm sorry Arnavji... I shouldn't have done like that. I promise I won't do it again.

Arnav gasped in relief. He broke the hug.

Khushi: Are you alright?

Arnav: Will be...

He will be alright. That means he was not alright then. Khushi felt bad.

Arnav: Let's go.

Khushi: I think you have to drink something. Your throat seems dry.

He nodded yes looking at somewhere. She dragged him to the nearby juice shop and ordered an orange juice without sugar. Arnav was sitting on the chair looking down, joining his fingers. He was not out of his nervousness. Khushi extended the juice glass towards him. He gulped the juice in a go and stood. Khushi was suffocating by his rigidness. He was angry. Not that she went without informing. He was feared to death not finding her. Somewhat Khushi guessed it. Arnav didn't talk to her all the way to the hotel room. He went to the bed and laid down closing his eyes not eating dinner. Khushi sat on the bed hesitating.

Khushi: Arnavji... please don't sleep without eating...

Arnav kept his forearms on his forehead.

Khushi: Arnavji...

She shook him.

Arnav sat on the bed not looking at her. She turned his face towards her.

Khushi: Won't you talk to me?

Arnav closed his eyes.

Khushi: I'm sorry...

He was silent.

Khushi: I will cry if you stay muted. You can't sleep peacefully if I cry. It sounds horrible Arnavji... Don't underestimate my cry...

Arnav smiled inwardly.

Arnav: I will stuff cotton in my ears.

He said looking at the roof.

Khushi(dropping her jaw): Haan... won't you care if I cry?

Arnav: Did you care about me? How could you leave me like that? Do you know how worst this society is getting? What would I think? Do you know what my condition was?

Khushi: I went to buy channas.

Arnav: Just then you asked for Belpuri. Then what made you remember channas? I would have brought channas for you if you had asked me.

Khushi's face hung. She didn't know what excuse she should give.

They heard knock on the door. It was room service. Providing them dinner he left. Arnav didn't show interest to eat. Khushi took a morsel and forwarded it towards Arnav's mouth. He looked at her surprisingly.

Khushi: I'm hungry. I will eat only if you eat.

She said making face. Arnav rolled his eyes and had the morsel. Of course, how could he deny when Khushi feeds him? Arnav acted like he was eating for Khushi's completion, showing himself upset. So that she will keep feeding him. What if she asked him to eat on his own if he became normal? But he didn't know Khushi doesn't have the idea of asking him to eat on his own. She got courage, seeing his outburst in the evening. She happily fed him not wasting a chance.

Arnav: You said you are hungry. You also eat.

Khushi nodded ok and began to eat while feeding him. It seems, there is a benefit to his anger. Arnav thought smiling inwardly.

To be continued...

Today's inkitt update

Feelings...

Khushi woke up early in the morning to meet SUNRISE. She was standing near the window, taking fresh air, for the awaited scene. The Sun started to peep slowly from the see, spreading its rays on the earth. Within a few minutes, it looked like a RED ball. It was a beautiful scene for nature lovers. Though the scene is an old one the sunrise is new always. Khushi felt refreshed. Her mind relished the moment thoroughly because she doesn't know she will get a chance to see the scene again.

To read the above update, use my inkitt link dearies...