Part 39 Game of fate

The next morning

Arnav woke up and sat on the recliner. He saw Khushi still sleeping. His lips curved into a beautiful smile, remembering the Birthday celebration. She was a cute girl and her actions were also cute. He didn't even remember his birthday... how did she know?

She spoke about the birthday celebration the other day but he thought something... he nodded his head left to right smilingly.

Arnav has almost forgotten what she mentioned. She said AS A FRIEND, SHALL I SPOIL YOUR SLEEP? How could he keep it in his mind when he didn't consider her his friend?

Taking bath, he came downstairs and saw everyone in the dining. They were discussing something very seriously, keeping the remaining Black Forest cake on the dining table that Arnav did cut at 12'o clock. He rolled his eyes and came to the dining.

*Hariprakash...* he called him.

*Jee, Arnav baba...*

*Get me coffee...*

*Chotte... do you know anything about this cake?* Ratna asked him.

*We found it in the fridge...* Manorama said.

Arnav knew they are intentionally asking because there was HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUBBY written on the cake.

*I think a wife who is madly in love with her husband brought it...* NK said seriously.

Arnav looked at him contently.

*That means, Khushi would have brought it...* Manorama said.

HP came with a cup of coffee and he handed it to Arnav. Arnav drank it not getting into their conversation.

*You are right... today is Chotte's birthday.* Ratna said teasingly.

*Oh, I see... but you didn't say anything to us...why Jeeji?*

*Chotte doesn't like Birthday celebrations... that's why I didn't say anything to you because I don't want to annoy him* Ratna said with a sense of fake sadness.

*You guessed him wrong. See, Khushi celebrated his birthday. It seems Arnav bituwa did cut the cake too...* Manorama said.

Ratna looked at Arnav expecting him to answer. Arnav looked at her while sipping the coffee.

*I couldn't understand anything when she woke me up at 12'o clock... before I got out of sleep, she made me cut the cake...* he said taking another sip.

*Ohhhhh...* Ratna said raising her eyebrows.

*The story you told us is unbelievable* NK said.

Arnav looked at him like DON'T BELIEVE.

*We are going to Manoharji's friend's house today... there is a housewarming function...* Manorama said.

Arnav nodded ok.

*Will you be back tomorrow evening?* Ratna asked.

*I think so...*

*Ok...let me know if you come. I will prepare dinner for you...* Ratna said.

*Ok, Jeejeji. Where is Khushi? I want to take leave from her before going...* Manorama said.

*She is sleeping...* Arnav said.

*Oh... she would have slept late... right Nannav?*

Keeping a cup on the dining table, Arnav stood.

*We are leaving Arnav bituwa... Convey it to Khushi* Manorama said.

Arnav nodded ok and waited in the living room until they leave RM.

Khushi opened her eyes. She sat on the bed, looking here and there. She saw the clock and the time was 7:30 am.

*Hey Devi Maiya...* came out of her throat as usual.

Khushi rushed to the washroom to take bath. She saw the SOAP became very thin and smaller. She removed a new soap from the washroom itself. Sticking the old small soap on the new soap, she used it not wanting to waste the small bit of the old soap.

Arnav came back to the room. He heard water sounds from the washroom and understood that Khushi is bathing. He sat on the recliner and checked the mail on his phone.

The small soap piece slipped down from the new soap as it was not stuck well. It has fallen on the wet floor. Khushi didn't notice it. After finishing the bath, she turned off the shower and stepped on the soap bit. In no time, she skidded, screaming. Her head got hit by the wall strongly which made her dizzy. Losing consciousness, she fell on the floor, pushing the bucket.

Her husband, who was checking the emails on his phone outside, heard her high pitch tone and also a thud of the bucket. He rushed to the washroom door and knocked on it.

"Khushiiii... Khushi what happened?" He shouted while knocking on the door.

There was no response from Khushi. It made him nervous.

"Khushi open the damn door..." He banged the door.

He didn't even hear a "MMM" from Khushi. He was losing his patience. Keeping all the damn things aside, he started breaking the door. In the fourth forceful attempt, the lock of the door fell on the floor. He rushed in and got stuck seeing Khushi on the ground without any movement... without a single cloth on her body. Taking a towel, he wrapped her in it. Picking her up in his arms, he brought her out of the washroom. He put her on the bed and tapped her cheek.

"Khushi...Khushi..."

He rubbed her palms and feet. No... she was still unconscious. He saw a wound on her forehead and blood strain on it. Taking his phone, he dialed the doctor and told her the matter. She agreed to come to RM.

That was when something kicked his mind. She was wrapping a towel. What will she think if she got to know that he had seen her COMPLETELY?

He removed Khushi's nightgown from the cupboard and dressed her up quickly. Taking a cotton ball, he wiped her forehead wound.

Without wasting time, he rushed out, calling for Ratna. He didn't want Khushi to know that he was the one who dressed her up. Ratna came out of her room.

"What happened, Chotte?"

"Khushi slipped down and got hurt on her forehead when she came out of the washroom. She lost consciousness mom."

"Oh, God..." Ratna rushed to their room.

She saw Khushi lying on the bed motionlessly.

"Khushi beta... "she tapped her cheek nervously yet gently.

"Chotte, call the doctor."

"Called, mom..."

Within a few minutes, the doctor arrived. HP brought her to Arshi's room. The doctor examined Khushi and injected her.

"She will be alright... no need to worry." The doctor said.

Arnav huffed in relief and Ratna noticed it.

"Let her be in rest..."

"Ok doctor," Ratna said.

"Is not a scanning necessary?" Arnav asked.

"Not necessary. We can do it anytime if you want" the doctor said.

"Yes, doctor... we need to check it once"

"Yeah, sure... you can come to the hospital anytime after informing me"

The doctor left.

"Chotte, let her sleep..."

"Ok, Mom..."

"Be with her... call me when she wakes up. I will bring her juice"

Arnav nodded ok.

"I will call Arvindji and tell him you are not coming to the office today," She said.

Arnav nodded ok. He also had no idea to go to the office leaving Khushi in that condition.

"You should be with Khushi. Take an off today" Ratna said.

Arnav again nodded ok.

Ratna left their room and Arnav sat on the recliner looking at Khushi. Thank God, she was alright. He rubbed his palms together and closed his face with his warm palms. He opened his eyes jerking, thinking how he had seen her in the washroom. He fisted his fingers, looking at her, tightening his jaws. Turning his face to the opposite side of her, he avoided looking at her. What would she think if she got to know about the incident? She would get embarrassed... hell embarrassed. He tried not to think of the incident. But he struggled to get off the thought. He saw her moving with a mild moan. He became alert. Khushi opened her eyes slowly. Arnav went near her.

"Khushi, are you ok?" he asked her.

Blinking her eyes slowly, she touched her head as her head was aching.

"You got hit on your forehead and lost your consciousness. Thank God, Mom crossed our room at the same time. She is the one who wrapped you with the towel... The doctor injected you... you will be alright..." he developed the story.

Khushi nodded ok smiling softly.

"Take rest"

Khushi nodded ok. Arnav was about to leave the place,

"Arnav..." she called him.

Arnav looked at her.

"Happy Birthday..." she smiled.

Arnav smiled at her nodding his head. Even in this state, she remembers what day that was... he thought.

Khushi closed her eyes.

After a few minutes, Ratna came with juice. Arnav was typing something on his laptop... or, might be pretending like typing something, stealing glances at Khushi.

"Chotte, has not Khushi woken up yet?"

"She did..."

She saw Khushi opening her eyes.

"Khushi beta, how are you?"

"Fine Amma..." she said in a thin tone.

"Come on, have this juice..."

Khushi tried to get up and Ratna helped her to sit. Khushi drank the juice little by little. Ratna took the empty glass from her hand.

"Thank God, Chotte was in the room when you slipped down. Or else, I can't even think what would have happened. My heart skipped its beats when I saw you on the bed without a movement..." she said sadly, breaking the DAMN EGG.

Khushi looked at Arnav shockingly who stopped typing, hearing the talk. He tightened his jaws and closed his eyes. His reaction to Ratna's statement told Khushi that he lied to her. Her hands pulled the quilt to her neck automatically.

"You take rest... ok?" Ratna said.

Khushi nodded ok, covering herself with a quilt to her neck. Ratna left the room. Arnav didn't even turn toward Khushi. Though he didn't look at her he knew what her reaction was. Closing her eyes, she covered herself to her head and made the man embarrassed.

To be continued...