Chapter 22: Helping The Beast!

Next day, Arnav bid bye to Muskaan, Gurpreet and other people wishing them. Though he tried to wear his plastic expression, Muskaan saw tiredness through it. But Arnav without listening anything, packed her to Delhi. But once he came back inside, his feet could not bare his weight. He slumped on the sofa in the living room.
His headache knew no bounds and he was drained of any energy he had. He sat with his arms over his eyes which were burning and within minutes he fell into tired sleep. This is how Khushi, who came to steal some achar found him.
Khushi being in her 7th month of pregnancy grew more fond of Achars. And Gurpreet's achar always trigger Khushi's taste bud. But in between, due to having too much of spicy achar, Khushi started having Cramps so Arnav, Muskaan and Gurpreet had restricted her from having any and hid all the achar pots. Once or twice she was allowed to have. And today Khushi was craving for those Chatpata eatables and as today Muskaan and Gurpreet are leaving, she thought of searching and eating them. But the moment she saw Arnav in that state, her craving for Achar was forgotten.
With her swollen legs, she reached him as fast as she could and sat beside him. She slightly shook him.

Khushi: Arnavji... Arnavji...

Arnav just grunted and rolled his head but did not wake up. And that scared Khushi to her wits. She started shaking him again.

Khushi: Arnavji.. Wake up! Why are you sitting like this?

But again she got only a grunt as a reply. She moved his hand away from his face and touched his forehead. Khushi gasped as he was burning like furnace. She shook him to wake up again. But no. So she started yelling.

Khushi: Arnavji... Wake up! Its paining. Ouch..

Actually that was a real kick. Her baby was kicking for lying to its father. Khushi scowled. But Arnav jerked up rubbing his eyes and moaned in pain.

Arnav: Khushi.. Are you Okay. Wait I will..

He was talking in his hoarse voice without even looking at her. Khushi stood there with her hands on her hips.

Khushi: I am fine! But you are not. Now wake up and come with me.
Arnav: Urhh.. What the!
Khushi: Even in this state you don't forget your what the? Now please stand up and give me your arm!

He did as said but he kept on mumbling.

Arnav: I am heavy for you Khushi.. Khushi you will hurt yourself. Not the staircase. You are 7 months and supporting me.. Khushi..

Khushi got irritated.

Khushi: Yes That is right. My name is Khushi and yes I am 7 months pregnant and Yes you are heavy for me and I am supporting you. So Can you please not make it more difficult for me by coming quietly to the room?

Arnav pouted cutely and walked unsteadily to the room in her hold. She made him lay on his bed and covered him. She was about to go out when he called her.

Arnav: Khushi..
Khushi(turning): What?
Arnav: Where are you going? 
Khushi: to get you something to eat. You should have medicines. You are burning!
Arnav: No.. I can't take medicines. Diabetes..
Khushi: Huh!! Ajeeb musibat hai!
Arnav: There is induction and microwave in this room! and milk, bread and eggs in fridge there.
Khushi: I know!
Arnav: Emergency purposes. Use them. Don't climb stairs.
Khushi: Unbelievable! Its you who are ill... but I am getting health instructions from you!
Arnav: Do as I say!
Khushi: Rassi jali bal nahi gayi.. Laad governor!

Arnav slowly chuckled while Khushi managed to heat a glass of milk and make toast for him. She made him sit leaning on the headboard and made him have his food. And she had the same food as he insisten. Then she gave him his tablets as he instructed and soon he was asleep.

Khushi sat in the couch nearby till she was sure that he is sleeping and stood up to stroll out after eating. Now it became her habit as advised by Muskaan. But as she reached the door, a mild whimper halted her.

Arnav: Don't..

Khushi turned to see if he was awake. But she saw him still asleep. But then his expressions were disturbed. He was moving his head to the sides making light noises of denial. When Khushi went near him she heard him clear.

Arnav: Don't do that to her.. Leave my maa..

Khushi frowned. This is second time she is hearing him speak about his mother.

Arnav: Anjali.. Don't cry.. Maa.. Don't hit her.

Again Anjali.. Why was a crying Anjali disturbing Arnav?

Arnav: No Maa.. I will not leave you and go.. No Maa... Don't go there. He will hit you.. Maa.. No.. Don't..

He kept on calling in hoarse whisper. But just sleep talking turned into something vigorous as he started shivering badly. Khushi immediately sat near him and started caressing his hair. She sat in such a way that she was close to him and also her baby bump was secure.

Khushi: Arnavji.. Calm down. No one is going no where..

Khushi once wondered if she could talk to him in polite manner. But these 8 months stay with him has showed her that Arnav was not just a monster, but from inside a very badly hurt soul. Though she cannot forgive him for what he had done to her, leaving him to suffer in this worst state was not in her nature.
With his hanky she wiped of his face and sat with him till his shivers stopped. But the fever was taking toll on him. He kept calling for Maa and Anjali.

Khushi: Arnavji.. I am Khushi. Please stay calm. This will not help your temperature.

But instead of calming Arnav caught her hand and turned with her hand tucked in his.

Arnav: Khushi.. Stop him.. He is hitting Maa.. She is bleeding.. So much blood.
Khushi: No one is beating your Maa Arnav ji.. There is no blood.. Arnavji.. Sleep!
Arnav: No.. She is not your Rakhel(mistress).. Maa.. Don't leave me..

That shook Khushi. He always get agitated with this word. But she couldn't make the connection. It took hours for Khushi to calm him down and make him sleep. At last he held in his hold and slept with his face in her crook making her also lie down next to him. She did not have a choice. Else his torment would have increased his temperature. She never knew he was so distressed.

Arnav's room always had fruit supplies to help Khushi if she is hungry. Today that became her lunch. Anyways she did not feel like eating anything. So She just had apples and her regular juice that was kept for her in side table. Arnav slept through the lunch time.
Muskaan called him by the evening. But as he was sleeping, a hesitant Khushi answered the call.

Muskaan: Khushi? Where is bhai?
Khushi: He is sleeping!
Muskaan: What? At this time?
Khushi: He came down with fever! Very high temperature.
Muskaan: Oh no! Why did he have to get wet in rain! That will make him worse, he cannot have any medicines either!
Khushi: His sugar. He told me!
Muskaan: He told you? Good for him. Did he have anything? He should take his medicines for diabetes..
Khushi: Yeah he had milk and bread before taking tablets.
Muskaan: MILK?
Khushi: There was nothing else I could do! He won't let me inside kitchen.
Muskaan: Ahh.. good for you. Now is he any better?

Muskaan knew that Arnav will be disturbed with the incidents of Past whenever he is this ill.

Khushi: Ermm.. Err.. He has been calling for Maa and Anjali! It took so much effort to put him to sleep!
Muskaan: I knew it. Neither he will talk about it, nor he will show anything out! This makes him more vulnerable! Do one thing Khushi. In his list of medicines, there is a particular one for sleeping. Give him that after he eats something. That might help him.
Khushi: Are you sure?

Muskaan: Yeah that is his regular medicine only. And you take care of yourself too. Now that we are not there, don't try to steal pickles!
Khushi: Oh please! Your bhai has pinned me to this room. No way I can move out! Should I tell anything when he wakes up?

Muskaan: Just tell him that the job is done if he is in state of listening. Just let him sleep. That would bring him back to track! But careful.

As Arnav had bodyguards and two dogs, security was not a problem and those guards had instructions to fill in the groceries and other necessaries for the house. So Khushi could find Milk bottles outside the room every evening which became very useful now. Khushi took good care of Arnav. Haan but, whenever he was near her, she had this odd feeling. She wished to snuggle more close to him warm. His musky smell did something to her. But she guarded herself and helped him recover.

On the other side in Delhi city, Arjun was in Rohan Kapoor's office in SACHDEV AUTOMOBILES LTD.

Arjun: Rohan.. What are you doing here?
Rohan: Work Jeejaji! What else?
Arjun: There Sheetal needs you. She has been visiting the doctor alone.
Rohan: So what do you expect from me? I told her not to have this child. I wanted a little more time. But no! Then let her take the responsibility!
Arjun: What you are doing is wrong Rohan!
Rohan: You    will put me behind the bars for this JEEJAJI? Well I don't care. No one is going to complain and till they don't you can do nothing to me! Even if you do, I know to take care of myself. For now, my secretary is waiting for my instruction! You may leave!

Saying he got up but halted as ARjun called from behind.

Arjun: Instruction for what? To undress herself? Well, I don't even wish to be here Saale saab. For once I thought Khushi Gupta and Arnav Singh Raizada could be wrong. I came just to know about them. But looking at you, I think there is no way Khushi is wrong! I don't think any girl in her conscious would like to marry you. I pity Sheetal! By the way, if I think to punish you for what  you are doing to sheetal, I don't need the help of legal formalities. Mind it!

Saying Arjun marched out leaving a visibly fuming Rohan behind..

To be continued.