Part 40 conjuncture

Arnav was suffocated to send Khushi from RM. The thought of sending Khushi itself collapsed him. He turned his face tightening his jaws. He saw his own reflection in the mirror. He walked close to the mirror and stood. he started debating.

"What the hell is happening with you? Why are you suffocating? Why can't you understand that Khushi can't be with you? Why won't you let her go away? Do you fall in love with her?" He asked gritting his teeth.

His face softened.

"She loves me. She needs me. She said she has no expectations of me. Though my past is bitter I'm sure Khushi will change my future. She has the capability to do that. why not give it a try?"

That was the first time, Arnav thought to give IT a try. Suddenly his facial expression changed.

"Don't do this Arnav. She is not an experimental mouse to give a try. You have seen many things in your life. you have never experienced well in your life. You are a wounded snake. You can't be sweet with Khushi. You will surely hurt her. She is a nice girl who deserves happiness. Don't spoil her life in the name of DAMN love. You can't love anyone... understand that. Don't try it on her. She has feelings... expectations... dreams... you are not a capable person to fulfill it... you just can't"

He closed his eyes. He cursed himself for not being able to let her go. He felt a shiver in his spine when he thought about sending her away from him. He felt like he was becoming an orphan. It felt like he was losing everything. He punched the mirror in anger, without thinking of the aftereffect.

Obviously, it created enough sound to bring Khushi to his room. after all, her room was next to his. Khushi rushed to his room and was shocked to see his bloody hand. in no time, she rushed to him and clutched his hand.

"What happened, Arnavji? How did this happen?" she asked restlessly.

She looked at the mirror and then at his hand. Arnav was looking at her face helplessly. Without thinking of anything, she rushed to the cupboard and opened it without his permission. There was nothing in her mind other than treating him. She searched for the First Aid kit and found one. She again rushed to Arnav. Clutching his hand, she pulled him to the bed. Making him sit on the bed, she cleaned the blood. Arnav saw her hands shivering. She tried to gulp her tears but she failed. A tear drop fell on Arnav's wrist. That shook him to the core. He looked at her speechlessly.

*Is she crying? *

Khushi didn't raise her head until she finished dressing. She went to the washroom not letting him see her face. she came washing her hands as well as her face. Arnav was reading her expression. he knew she washed her face only to hide her tears from him. According to him, TEARS were the most valuable thing in the world. Anyone can fake a smile but tears. Of course, people may spill crocodile tears to achieve something but Khushi was not that kind. Her feelings for him were genuine. He had no doubt about it. What feared him was, his own self.

"What have you done?" she asked suppressing her anger.

Arnav didn't answer. He could not. She would ask the reason for his foolish act.

"Why did you break the mirror? What did you see in it that you got angry to this extent?" She asked searching for an answer in his eyes where there was only regret.

"Why Arnavji? Why are you hurting yourself?"

Arnav gulped down.

"Apart from everything, if you really think I'm your friend, you can tell me anything. I will try to give you a solution being neutral even though it is about ME"

Arnav was stunned. Did she understand she was the reason for his struggle?

"Am I disturbed you?"

"No..." Arnav nodded no slowly.

"Your lips can lie but your eyes..."

"Let me be clear... be it friendship or be it my feelings for you, i just want to be genuine. That's why I let you know about it. it doesn't mean you should accept it or you should give me a reply. You don't have to be upset for something that's not worthy of it"

Not worthy of it? Like really? He didn't even open his mouth... he didn't even gesture... yet, she understood what was bothering him. What else other than this could be worthier? How anyone could dare miss this girl? Why life was always hard for him? After giving him everything, why is it snatching them back?

As Khushi didn't get any reply from him, she walked towards the door.

"One minute..." Arnav said.

Khushi looked at him.

"Khushi, to be frank... I don't think I can love you in return."

Khushi was about to say something, but Arnav stopped her showing his wounded palm. Khushi became silent.

"You made me understand many things that were not within my reach. You can get the happiest life no matter who you marry. You will change it. But, I'm not such a category. I will spoil your life... your happiness... your peace of mind... please, Khushi... try to understand. I'm not a suitable person for you. Change your mind."

Khushi folded her hands.

"Usually, I'm the one who answers your questions. But now, you yourself said what I do. I made you understand many things that were not within your reach, yet, you don't trust I can make you understand what's love. I can get the happiest life no matter who I marry, yet, you are not ready to marry me. No one can spoil anyone's life because it's up to the person. Maybe, now you are not a suitable person for me but you can change in the mere future just like how you accepted me as your friend. Did you ever think we would become friends? No... you would not have... by the way, it's your life. you can choose what you want. As the same, I chose what I want."

She took a step and stopped.

"In the process of letting out your anger, don't hurt yourself. It hurts me too" she walked off.

Arnav sat on the bed closing his eyes.

"IT HURTS ME TOO" echoed in his ears.

He never felt so helpless like this. He didn't know what to do. Marriage and him? No way.

Night

Shyam was sitting in the cell. A PC brought him dinner. He threw the food bundle towards him.

"Eat it" he was supposed to go, but he stopped hearing,

"I will give you three lakhs if you let me escape," Shyam said in a feeble tone.

The PC looked at him frowning.

"What did you say?"

"I want to go from here"

"What do you think of us?"

"Three and a half lakhs..." he bargained adding fifty thousand.

The PC gulped down.

"Please help me..."

"How could you give me money? How could I believe you? What if you run away?"

"You can let me go only after getting money"

"How could you give?"

"My friend borrowed money from me for building construction. I was supposed to get it back from him yesterday. He will be waiting for me with money. I will give it to you"

"I will help you if you give four lakhs because I can't do it alone. SI will come to night duty in half an hour. He will also ask to share"

"Ok... I will give you four lakhs. But you should do something for me"

"What?"

"The inspector took my purse from me"

Cutting him,

"No, I can't give it to you. then I will get caught"

"I don't want my purse but my bank card. Could you get it from my purse?"

"I will do it"

"Then do it, please"

"Wait..."

The PC went to the record room where they kept Shyam's belongings. Taking his purse, he removed the Bank card from his purse and gave it to Shyam.

"Take me to my friend's house. I will get money from him and give it to you"

The SI came to the station and the PC told him about Shaym's demand. They planned how to let him escape and asked Shyam to act accordingly. Shyam acted like he got a heart attack.

"We are taking him to the hospital." The SI told to the writer.

The SI and PC pretended as they took him to the hospital. Shyam came to his friend's house with the PC. Taking money from him, he handed it to them. They let Shyam go, taking the money.

To be continued...