Part39

Khushi stayed in the guest room refused to come out. Ratna was not ready to help Arnav this time while LA tried but she failed. Khushi denied listening to her. Arnav was sitting in the living room expecting her to come out. Arnav was losing hope as she didn't come for dinner too. None of them had dinner because of the mess. Ratna couldn't bear Khushi starving. She made her plate and knocked on the door.

Ratna: Khushi open the door. (silence) Open the door if you really respect me. I promise nobody will enter inside other than me.

She said looking at Arnav who gulped hard. Khushi opened the door and went to bed. Ratna locked the door after entering. Her heart bleed seeing Khushi's puffed up eyes. She touched her shoulder. Khushi hugged her waist burst out. Ratna caressed her hair.

Ratna: Are you angry with me? (Khushi pouted without saying anything) So you are angry with me. (Khushi nodded yes) I'm sorry.

She said holding her ears. Khushi removed her hands nodding NO hurriedly.

Khushi: I was also wrong. I overthink, overreact, and think our beloved ones also will feel like me.

Ratna: I'm sorry. I hurt you but none of us intentionally did that. We care for you beta. Sometimes, we lose our goal giving importance to small happiness which we can get whenever we want. Chinna is your husband. He too loves you so much still he is ready to get separated from you because he doesn't want you to lose your reputation. You can enjoy your material life after your exams but if you fail in your exams then you will repent for your whole life. Won't you?

Khushi ( nodded yes): That doesn't mean he can take all the decisions that too without saying anything to me. Am I a kid? Won't I understand? I was scared of seeing him keeping his distance from me. That's why I crossed my limits. (she cried)

Ratna: I'm not saying that Chinna's decision is right. But he is not avoiding you. I won't ask you to forgive your husband. It's a matter between you two. You have all the rights to deal with it in your own way.

Khushi: who am I to forgive him? After all, he is a strong-headed man.

Ratna(sighed): Ok. Let him work hard to get it.

Khushi (hesitating): Will he go to Coimbatore?

Ratna (pressing Khushi's hand lovingly): he won't go. I'm responsible for it.

Khushi: Mmm but I won't forgive him.

Ratna: I know. Are you angry with me too? (She nodded no. ) Then eat it.

She forwarded a morsel and Khushi had it. She took a plate from Ratna's hand and forwarded a morsel towards her mouth making Ratna amazed.

Khushi: I knew you too wouldn't have eaten anything.

Ratna nodded yes smilingly and had it.

Khushi: promise me you won't get upset with what I'm doing.

Ratna: I promise. Hope you won't do anything stupid as Chinna did.

Khushi: No aunty. I know I'm reacting quickly to everything but not this time.

She said sternly which made Ratna worried. She left the room thinking about what will be her move. Arnav came to her.

Arnav: Did she eat?

Ratna: I made her eat.

Arnav: Is she alright?

Ratna: Do you think she would be?

Arnav was silent. Ratna left the place.

Ratna: Guys come and have your dinner.

She started serving everyone. After having dinner, they dispersed to their respective rooms. Arnav stayed in the living room expecting Khushi to come out. He sat on the couch. He didn't know when he slept. When he woke up from his sleep, he found the guest room door opened. He rushed to see Khushi but she was not there. He galloped to their room but the only disappointment was waiting for him there, in the form of an empty room. Where is she? Did she go to GH?

He went to GH to know whether she was there or not. Garima looked at him helplessly nodding YES.

Garima: She is in her room, looked upset. you better don't talk to her now.

Arnav: I will manage.

Shashi: No Arnav. Let her get cool because anger will make the problem worse.

Arnav went back to RM feeling sad. Shashi was right. Let her calm down. He decided to talk to her in the evening. But when Arnav came home in the evening, he found the cupboard half empty. 

There were no Khushi's things in their room which made him frustrated. He threw his coat on the bed and strode down. Ratna saw him going to GH and she didn't want to stop him. Let them sort it out.

Arnav directly went to her room and got stuck seeing her studying. Raising her head, Khushi saw him standing at the doorstep. She looked down at her book again without any expression on her face. Arnav sat in front of her.

Arnav: Khushi what's all this?

She didn't answer nor did look at him.

Arnav: Khushi I'm sorry.

Still, she was expressionless.

Arnav: I just want you to...

Khushi(cutting him): I know. That's what I'm doing.

She showed him her book.

Arnav: Come home Khushi.

Khushi: Sure but after my exams got over.

Arnav: I will help you in your studies if you come home.

Khushi: I have good professors in my college. They knew the easy method of teaching. I will get cleared all my doubts from them.

Arnav gulped closing his eyes.

Arnav: Khushi I'm really sorry...

Khushi: It's not your mistake. I should have known my limits.

Arnav: What you are thinking is not right Khushi.

Khushi: Right and wrong differs from person to person. I was wrong in your view but it's not my problem.

Arnav: You are not wrong.

Khushi: Thanks. Let me study.

Arnav (feeling sad): Do you ask me to leave?

Khushi nodded yes.

Arnav (sternly): What if I don't?

Khushi: Your wish.

Arnav: let me clear everything Khushi.

Khushi: I would have been happy if you would have done that before.

Arnav: What harm if I clear it now?

Khushi: I'm already got cleared.

Arnav: No, you seem upset with me.

Khushi: To be honest. Yes.

Arnav: Khushi please... try to understand.

Khushi: I understood everything Arnav. I shouldn't have shown my interest in you forgetting that people won't value anything if they get it easily. It's my mistake that I thought, "you are MY ALLAV", (she gulped) forgetting that everything has its limit, even husband and wife relationship. I agree I lost my concentration on my studies because of some unexpected changes in my life but I'm not that fool to ignore my career. (pause) What do you know about me? Have you ever asked about my study habits? Do you know I was never a bookworm? I start studying only a few days before exams and it's more than enough for me to score good marks. I had revised my portions a night before the exam many times. But GOOD BOY like you can't understand that. You made me realize that everyone won't be like us and won't feel like what we feel for them.

Arnav: Khushi I don't know how to make you understand.

Khushi: You can do it after one month. You can go now.

She didn't look at him after that and started reading the book which was in her hands. He sensed her sincerely studying which amazed him. Why doesn't she come back to RM if his presence won't affect her then? But she looked enough stubborn. Somehow it pricked him. He stood and left her room half-heartedly. He touched her wrong nerve without realizing the after effect. He knew it will not easy to get her back to normal. He believed that she will be alright in few days because time heals every deep wound.

But he was wrong. After that "GH meet" Arnav didn't see Khushi for a week. Correction, she didn't give him a chance to see her. She started going to college at different timings. Even though they were next to each other, Arnav faced a tough time getting her sight. She refused to take LA with her to keep her college-going timing secret. So that nobody could know about her timing. Her behavior frightened Arnav. He dialed Anjali. She picked it up instantly.

Anjali: Hi Arnav... what made you remember me?

Arnav: How is Khushi?

Anjali: I guessed it. Being a good husband, you want to know your wife's progress. Right?

Arnav: yeah. How is she studying?

Anjali: If you ask me to put a grade for Khushi, I will put A+++ which is not allowed. She laughed.

Arnav (gulping): Really?

Anjali: yes. She is studying well. She can write her final exams anytime. She almost completed her portions. You don't have to worry about her. And her project work also got the first mark.

Arnav(shocked): Really? What's her project?

Anjali: What do you mean by "what's her project"? I thought you would have helped her. Don't you really know about it?

She asked with disbelief.

Arnav(sighed): No. I got busy last week. so I couldn't help her.

Anjali: If that's the case, then I will say she is a perfect queen for her king.

Arnav: Of course she is...

Anjali: Ok Arnav, I have to go to my class. See you later.

Arnav was really worried. He believed that Khushi will ask his help to complete her project but she finished it without getting his help. "She can write her final exams anytime". Is it possible to show this level of progress in a week? Didn't she say "I start studying only a few days before exams"? Is it true? Did he underestimate her? But she always looked slag. How badly he had tangled his happy life by his own hands?

He would have handled the issue a little wiser. What's wrong if a girl who loves him a lot and just came out of a big misunderstanding would be desperate to show her love? Life with Arnav is what Khushi always wanted. Won't she have expectations in her new life? That too, with the person whom she loves the most?

Without speaking with her, he should not have decided to go to Coimbatore like a "GENIUS". The man who hacks all the toughest machines in a blink of an eye missed hacking his wife's heart.

To be continued......