Part 4 Queen

The girl smiled at sleeping Arnav. If anyone other than him had been in that place, she was not sure if she was still a virgin. Society was being brutally ruined. Girls have no safety. The goons made her faint. He was the one who brought her to this place after fighting with those goons. She was with him for the whole night. He could have done anything to her who was unconscious and thrown her down into the valley. What could she have done? Nothing...! But he did nothing! He protected her from the goons fighting hard like a movie hero, brought her to his place, and now, sleeping on the couch, gave her the bed. What a great character he was! Could she find anyone like him? Definitely not. He was unique... greater than anyone...!

She lay on the bed, covering herself with the quilt, looking at him smilingly. She didn't feel like taking her eyes off his face. How handsome he was! Her smile broadened. He was beautiful from within, too! It was indeed a deadly combination found in a man. Who was he? Where was he from? How furious he became with those goons! He must be basically a loyal man. That was why he became angry with those men. She liked him very much. She slept after a while as she had a full stomach.

The next morning

She woke up and looked at the clock. It was 10 o'clock. She didn't find Arnav in the room. The washroom door was open, but he was not there either. Where was he? Did he leave? She felt her heart getting heavy. Why did he leave without even bidding her goodbye? She felt bad. She had seen many men in her life. No one was like him. He was the only GENTLEMAN she had ever seen. It seemed she was not lucky enough to be with him.

She sighed and went to the washroom to get fresh. Disinterested, she took a hot water bath and came out. Her face brightened, seeing Arnav in the room.

"Did you come?" she smiled glossily.

"Where did I go?" he asked rigidly.

"Not seeing you in the room, I thought you left"

"I went to buy this" He took the paper bag from the table and gave it to her.

She looked at the bag and smiled, surprised. It contained new black shoes. She smiled at him, understanding why he had brought them. Didn't the goons identify her with the shoes?

"Shoes?" She asked, purposely.

"Your shoes are your enemies. Throw them away," he said.

She chuckled.

"Wear the mask until you reach home", he added.

She found a cotton driving mask cum scarf in the bag. She looked at him, wondering if anyone could be so concerned for a stranger.

She nodded ok.

"Have this sandwich", he said.

"No, I don't want." She denied.

"But why?"

"My mouth is aching."

Arnav saw a slight swelling on her right jaw.

"I think you would have got hurt when the goon dropped you to the ground, " he guessed.

"Drop me?"

"Mmm...they tried to take you with them"

"I don't know how to thank you, but I don't know any other word than thanks. Thank you so much for saving me from them." She said emotionally.

"It's ok... where is your house?" he inquired.

"I'm from Delhi"

"Delhi? Don't you belong to Nainital?" he frowned.

She nodded no.

"Shit... if I had known you belong to Delhi, I would have sent you with my friends who went to Delhi last night" He regretted.

"Thank God, I didn't tell you," She murmured.

"Whaaat? What do you mean? Oh... did you come to Nainital with your family? Ok, tell me where your parents are staying. I will drop you there"

"They are not here. They didn't come with me"

"Then, with whom did you come? Did you come for a college tour?"

"No... I came with my friend..."

"Friend? Who is your friend? Where is she?"

"I don't know. I missed her when the goons chased me. I have to find her now"

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"Don't you have a sense? How could you girls leave home alone? See what happened now...! What would you have done if the goons had done something to you? I can't understand how your parents could let you come to Nainital with your friend from Delhi. How irresponsible!"

"They went to Kailash..."

"Whaaat? They went to Kailash and you came to Nainital...?"

"They didn't take me with them because they thought I was too young to visit Kailash."

"Do they know you are in Nainital?"

"Of course, I told them"

"And, they permitted?" he raised his brows.

"Yes...Don't they need privacy?"

Arnav looked at her weirdly.

"Unbelievable..." he murmured.

"I'm sorry. I will never make such a move in my life," She apologised.

"Ok, where did you miss your friend?"

"We just got out of the bus. My friend went to inquire about the bus timing to the Nanda Devi temple. That was when the goons teased me. I ran when they tried to touch me."

"Then, call your friend"

"My phone is with my friend"

"Whaaat?"

"Yes, she took my handbag too"

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"What to do? I didn't expect we would get separated."

Taking his phone, he asked her,

"Tell me your phone number"

Khushi told him. Her phone was switched off.

"Your phone is switched off."

"Oh..." she felt sad.

"Do you know your friend's number?"

She nodded, no pouting.

"Will you help me to search for her?"

Arnav sighed.

"Please..." she pleaded.

"Ok, let's go"

"Don't you eat?"

"Mmm"

Arnav started eating while she got ready.

"By the way, my name is Khushi..."

He nodded.

"What's your name?"

Arnav was stuck. He didn't tell his name, thinking about something.

"Excuse me, I ask you something, " she said.

"You don't need to call my name."

Khushi was stuck. She was shocked. What was his problem with telling his name?

"What? What did you say?"

"You don't need to know my name"

"If you don't tell me your name, how could I call you? Oiiii? Hello?" she asked teasingly.

"Your wish"

"My wish? Can I call you Don?"

Arnav looked at her, frowning.

"Don?"

"Yeah, what a fight you have shown me! I never saw such a fight in my life. You can't be a common man. You should have a strong background, I suppose"

Arnav silently ate.

"Where is your house?" She asked.

"Lucknow", he said, biting the sandwich, not looking at her.

"Lucknow? Is Nainital not your native?"

He nodded no.

"Why did you come here?"

"For a college friends' get-together"

"Thank God, you guys have chosen Nainital for your get-together. Otherwise, I would not have met you"

Arnav finished eating and stood up.

"Wear the mask", he said.

Khushi wore it. Arnav also wore the surgical mask.

"Yeah, the goons will identify me through you", Khushi said, taking her bag.

Arnav locked the door.

"Why don't you tell me your name?" she again asked.

Arnav walked without answering.

"I think I'm right... You must be a Don. That's why you don't reveal your name"

"Could you keep quiet?"

She closed her mouth with her palms. He continued walking, and she followed him.

Khushi saw a cab waiting. They got into it, and the cab driver started it. Arnav sat in the front seat. Khushi saw him searching for something. After travelling for three kilometres, Arnav said,

"Stop the car"

The cab driver stopped the car. Khushi looked around and found a DENTAL clinic. That surprised her.

"Are you going to take me to the dental clinic?"

"Haan, don't you say, your mouth is aching?"

She looked at him adoringly.

"Come"

He walked inside. The clinic had no crowd, so they waited for their turn. After ten minutes, Khushi was called. To her surprise, Arnav accompanied her. It was a big hall with many dental chairs. Many doctors were treating patients. A doctor asked her to sit in the clinic chair. Khushi sat on it, and Arnav stood at a distance.

"What's your problem, ma'am?" The doctor, in his late twenties, was so polite. His voice was like honey in their ears. That satisfied them.

"I can't eat anything, sir. My mouth is aching."

"Let me see..."

The doctor checked her mouth.

"A food particle is stuck, madam. I will clean it," The doctor said.

Taking a sharp instrument, he pulled the food particle hard. In that process, the instrument scratched her gum, and blood started oozing.

"Aahhhh..." Khushi shouted in pain and spat the blood in the small wash basin next to the chair, crying. Her eyes poured uncontrollably. She cried, holding her jaw and jerking, hearing,

"Don't you have a sense? Being a doctor, can't you think this sharp instrument hurt her? She is already in pain, and in addition, you wounded her. See, how she is bleeding...! What kind of doctor are you? Learn how to treat the patient with patience." Arnav pushed the doctor wrathfully.

The doctor didn't expect that and looked at his surroundings. He felt insulted, but Arnav didn't mind it. All the doctors and patients were looking at them, whereas Khushi looked at Arnav, forgetting her pain.

Hearing the noise, the chief doctor came to them.

"What happened, sir?" he asked.

Arnav held the doctor's hand who attended Khushi and raised his hand.

"Using this sharp instrument, he scratched her gum, which was already in pain due to its swelling."

The chief doctor glared at the doctor.

"The doctor should feel the patient's pain. Then only he can become a good doctor. You trained your doctors to talk politely. I wish you had taught them to treat the patients in the same way. Teach them the meaning of patience. The doctor needs it the most" Arnav lashed him.

"Sorry, sir. I will attend to her." The chief doctor looked at the doctor who attended to Khushi and said,

"Leave"

The doctor left the place. The chief doctor checked Khushi and removed the food particle patiently without making her feel the pain.

He prescribed a few tablets.

"Take the medicine properly. You will feel good. Sorry for the mistake the doctor made"

Khushi nodded and took the doctor's prescription. They bought the medicine from the clinic pharmacy and came out.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know the doctor would treat like that", Arnav said with repentance.

She smiled.

"Is it aching a lot?"

She nodded yes.

"Can't you talk?"

She again nodded yes.

"I'm really sorry"

She blinked.

"Could you roam with me in this condition? You are hurt. Could you find your friend in this condition?"

She nodded like 'I don't know'

"Ok. Let's go to the room"

She nodded. They again came to the room. He brought bananas and asked her to eat them.

"You have to take medicine. You can't do it on an empty stomach. Have this fruit."

Khushi took a fruit smilingly. She knew why he preferred bananas. It would be soft to eat. She ate one and had the medicine.

"Take rest." He said and was supposed to leave the room,

"Where are you going?" she asked in a low tone, holding her jaw.

"Just..."

"Feel free... You can watch TV if you want. I don't have any problem"

He nodded. Taking the remote, he switched the TV on and watched the news. Khushi lay on the bed, covering herself. Arnav watched the news, and Khushi watched him. There was a smile on her face.

She had never met such a person in her life. How daringly he took a step against the doctor! He fought with the goons, and the fight with the doctor had no difference. He stood for the right in both issues. He didn't tolerate unfairness. How sweet he was!

A weird thought rose in her mind. He didn't even know who she was. He didn't even like to share his name with her. Yet, he fought for her. He felt bad seeing her bleeding. If he could do so much for a stranger, what would he do to HIS LOVE LADY? Would he not treat her like a QUEEN? How would it feel if she was his queen? She wanted to become his queen.

To be continued...