Part 17 Khushi in Mumbai

The next day

Payal got an off and came to GH without caring about her target. She was confused when she saw the locked door. She called Akash, but his phone was switched off. She called Garima, but her phone was also switched off. Payal frowned. That was when she saw Mr. John Paul coming with someone.

"Who are you, my child? What do you want?" He asked Payal.

"I'm Khushi's friend. I came to see her as she got her eye operation..."

"Sorry, my child, they are not here."

"Not here, means?"

"They shifted from here."

"Whaaaat? What are you saying? This is their own house..."

"But they sold it to me."

"Sold? But when? Why?"

"Akash got a job, I suppose..."

"So what if he got a job? What's necessary to sell the house?"

"He shifted to the new place with his family."

"Where did he go?"

"Mumbai...I suppose"

Payal felt like thousands of thunders getting down her head. Her eyes tear up. She felt abandoned. How could Akash do this to her? He said nothing about his new job. What did that mean? Arnav also didn't know anything about his new job. He was the one who helped Khushi to get her operation done. Then why didn't they tell him anything? What happened to Khushi? Why didn't she say anything to Arnav? Didn't he give her a phone? The much she knew, Khushi was not like her brother. Of course, sometimes, Akash behaved oddly but Khushi always stayed balanced. Something must be undoubtedly wrong.

She called Arnav immediately. Arnav attended the call even though he was in the chemical plant because he was expecting Payal's call.

"Haan, Payal... did you meet them?" he asked hurriedly.

"I don't think we could ever meet them again, Arnav."

"What are you saying, Payal... what do you mean?" he shouted.

"They were not in Goa..."

"Whaaat? Not in Goa means? Where did they go?"

"They shifted to Mumbai..."

"Mumbai? But why?"

"Akash got a job there..."

"Who said?"

"The one who bought their house"

"Bought their house means?"

"They sold their house."

"Whaaaat?"

"Yes, Arnav... they shifted to Mumbai. Akash got a job there..."

"So what? Why did they go without informing us? Why?"

"I don't know Arnav... but something must be wrong"

"No... no way... I know Khushi... She would not let anything wrong happen"

"I, too, have the same hope, but what would have happened? They shifted to Mumbai overnight without informing anyone... No one knows about his new job, Arnav..."

Arnav became thoughtful. He didn't get anything.

"I'm scared, Arnav. Akash would do anything for his benefit."

Arnav gulped down.

"Didn't you give Khushi a phone to study for her exams? Doesn't Khushi have the phone? Can't you contact her through that?"

"Her phone went missing before her operation."

"But how?"

"I don't know... after her operation also I could not talk to her because Akash's phone was always out of range... I spoke to her only through the doctor. After that, I spoke to her until her discharge..."

"Arnav, my intellect warns me... something must be wrong..."

"Why do you think so, Payal?" Arnav asked to know Payal's point. He thought it would help him to guess what would have happened.

"Both Akash and Garima Aunty are selfish. You liked Khushi. You operated her eyes. You were ready to do anything for her. You are settled in your life... You have your own house... you have no parents. So, Khushi will not have In-laws' problems... Leaving all these favours behind, they left Goa. Why?"

Arnav became horrified. He didn't think so profoundly like Payal did.

"They must have gotten something better..."

Arnav gritted his teeth.

"What do you mean better, Payal? Do you think Khushi cheated me?"

"She went with them, Arnav... that too, after getting her sight. She is not blind now. Then why did she go to Mumbai with them? Why didn't she question them?"

"Don't you know about Khushi?"

"I don't know whether I know about her or not, Arnav. I'm not in the condition to trust anyone."

"You may be in such condition but I will never doubt Khushi in any situation. Until I meet her, I won't conclude anything."

"Are you going to Mumbai?"

"Undoubtedly... after knowing that they have left Goa, how can I not go to Mumbai?"

"Ok, Arnav, Please update me."

"Sure..."

After disconnecting the call, Arnav went to meet Shyam.

Mumbai

Akash brought Khushi and Garima to a hotel room Vinesh had booked. He booked a simple room so as not to Khushi get doubt. They got ready to go to the hospital. Khushi was the one who got ready first.

They came to the hospital to hire an auto. Akash inquired at the reception. The man at the reception said what was told.

"He is in the ICU sir. it's on the first floor."

Khushi headed to the first floor with an uncontrolled heartbeat. She was going to SEE Arnav, who was in ICU. She felt a kind of nervousness. They came to the ICU and saw a doctor coming out.

"Doctor..." Akash called.

"Yes, what can I do for you?"

"We are Arnav's relatives. She is his fiancé."

"Oh...I see..."

"We came from Goa to meet him."

"He is not in the condition to see you. He is unconscious. His throat was injured brutally... we are not sure if he can talk again."

Khushi's eyes poured uncontrolled.

"We can say anything only after he gets his conscience."

"Shall we meet him, Doctor?"

"We won't allow anyone inside the ICU, but you are coming from Goa to meet him. I don't want to disappoint you but please don't take much time..."

"Thank you, doctor."

They entered the ICU. Khushi squeezed her eyes and let the tears roll down. So that she could see Arnav, she slowly got close to him.

"Please don't go close to him and see him from here..." a nurse said.

Khushi stood at the same place and looked at him. A man was lying on the bed, with a big band-aid around his neck. There were a few small band-aids on his body. She felt something in her heart. One day, she touched Arnav's face and created his IMAGE in her heart. She didn't know why she could not fix the man on the bed in it.

...........

Arnav came to Shyam. After seeing Arnav, Shyam immediately understood, that something was wrong.

"Are you all right, Arnav?"

Arnav nodded no.

"What happened, Arnav?"

"Jeejaji, I want to go to India."

"India? But why?"

"Khushi's family shifted to Mumbai without a note. I don't know why."

"What are you saying? Without a note?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"But why?"

"I don't know. I can't understand anything. My mind is not working."

"Relax... What do you want me to do?"

"I want to meet Khushi."

"Ok...I will arrange your ticket."

"I'm sorry, jeejaji... I'm leaving in the middle of the project."

"You have been working here for one and a half months. You would have understood our job well, right?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"you have already completed our project. Just guide our crew online if needed. It's enough..."

"Thank you so much, jeejaji"

"Wait"

Shyam removed a bunch of dollars and gave it to Arnav.

"Keep it... You will need it."

"But you already gave me money."

"No problem. At the end of the contract, I will settle the remitting amount for you."

"Thank you so much, jeejaji"

"You are welcome. Call me if you want anything."

"Sure, jeejaji"

Arnav went to his place to pack his things. Arnav called someone. The call was attended.

"Hi, ASR..."

"I'm coming to Mumbai"

"Really, but you are abroad with your Jeejaji."

"I'm coming in search of Khushi."

"Khushi? Was she in Mumbai? Wasn't her eye operation done last week? Then how did she come to Mumbai? Why do you search for her?"

"She left Goa without informing me. She missed her phone. Akash's phone is switched off."

"What are you going to do now?"

"I want your help to find Khushi."

"ASR, Mumbai is a huge populated city. It's not easy to find a girl here."

"I know... Akash came to Mumbai last month for an interview. He attended two interviews. He must have gotten a job in one of them. Just list out all the chemical companies in Mumbai. We will find him for sure."

"Brilliant, ASR"

"I'm coming..."

"I'm waiting," Said Aman.

To be continued...