Part 5

Arnav went to Khushi and without any hesitation he asked her..

Arnav: If you don't mind, can I drop you?

Before Khushi denies the boy who was with Khushi got excited..

Boy: Really you will give us lift? In your car?

Arnav nodded yes smiling at him.

Boy: Didi please don't say no. come on.( he dragged her towards Arnav's car)

Actually Arnav wanted to confirm whether she belongs to the same place where he saw her at first. He opened the door for her asking to get inside. He doesn't want her to sit in back seat with the boy. She sat inside and Arnav instructed her to put seat belt which she don't know how to do. He helped her to do so. It's not only him who buckled her seat belt but also Khushi who buckled ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA by her bewilderment look. Arnav was lost in her eyes for some second as he is watching her as much as closer. He wanted "TIME" to halt here itself. He captured the moment by closing his eyes and started the engine.

Khushi directing him to her place and he was satisfied as she is directing him in the same way in where he saw her before. Arnav sensed she wants to ask him something. So he thought to initiate.

Arnav: When did you leave the hospital that day? Hope you reached safely without any fuss.

Khushi: Ji. You admitted me in the hospital because you didn't try to wake me up right?

Arnav could say that she is trying to know something. He was getting curious to know what that was.

Arnav: No, I tried but nothing worked. So I took you to the hospital.

The word "TOOK" made her gulped hard. That "took" means he picked her to the hospital. Though he did that to help her but when he is in front of her, it made something tickled her sense.

Khushi: Tried means sprinkling water like that?

Arnav: yes.

Khushi: You didn't feed water to me right?

Now Arnav started getting the point. She wants to know that either he broke her fast by feeding water or not. He wants to smile. More than that, he wants to see her expression when he declares the truth. That day he never wanted to say it to her nor wanted to see her again. But now he was really interested to say that he got the chance of breaking her fast. He felt happy even though he knew that she was not fasting for him.

He stopped the car at the side of the road and freed himself from the seat belt. He sat turning toward Khushi.

Arnav: Any one can do that? Without feeding water how could I prefers hospital at first? Of course I fed. He said looking deeply in to her eyes.

Khushi turned her face in to opposite side nervously. Arnav thought that being a cultured girl it's obvious to feel like that. Wasn't it only her HUSBAND's rights to do so? After admiring her fragile figure for some seconds he again started the car. Khushi asked him to stop the car little before to her area.

Boy: Didi, why are you asking to stop here itself?

Khushi: We will go by walk.

Arnav: No problem Khushi. I will drop wherever you want to.

Khushi: No thank you. I don't want to give food for people's thought. But, please can you wait for some minutes here?

Arnav wanted to ask why? But why? When he was ready to do so? He nodded yes. Khushi and the Boy rushed inside the crowded area. Arnav watched her disappearing figure smilingly.

After a while...

Arnav was waiting for Khushi in his car. He saw, she was coming towards his car by running followed by the same boy. She looked at her surroundings once in cautious manner and got inside the car. Arnav was looking at her panting figure arching his eyebrows in surprise. She forwarded the bunch of money to him which she kept folding in her shawl. It was full of Ten and Twenty Rupees notes. Looks like she should have broken her Piggy Bank. Arnav looked at her with questioning look.

Khushi: This is for my hospital bill which was paid by you that day.

Arnav(plainly): Did I ask you?

Khushi: But I can't accept the help from a STRANGER.

The word Stranger made his eyes go wide. She was not wrong. According to her he is a stranger because she met him few hours ago unlike him. He is the one who was being haunted by her thoughts day and night in past few days.

Arnav: What would have you do if you didn't have met me?

Khushi: But WE MET.

Arnav(smirking): yes. "WE MET".( he said that in the meaning of finally he met her)

Khushi: Please take this money.

Arnav: Give it to someone who is in need of money.

Boy(who was sitting in the back seat): Then you can keep it with you for your mother's medicine Di.

Khushi gesture him to be quite.

Arnav: Khushi you can use this money.

Khushi(wearily): Who are you to give me money? We hardly know each other. How can you expecting me to accept your favor? I accepted your lift just to return your money back. That's all.

She kept the money in the dash board and got down from the car. Arnav stopped the boy.

Arnav: Hey, what's your name?

Boy: Suraj.

Arnav: Suraj give this money to your Di.

Suraj(horrified): No uncle. Di will not talk to me if I do so.

Arnav: Is your Di always like this or only with stranger?

Suraj: Always. In fact she talked very politely with you.(he chuckled) She never let anyone touch her self-respect.

Arnav was stunned hearing big things from a small boy.

Arnav: How do you know about these things?

Suraj: Di taught me. You will also learn if you are with my Di.

Arnav smiled at his words.

Arnav: I'm ready to learn, if your Di is ready to teach me.

Suraj: For that you should become her friend.

Arnav: Yah. Tell me, what medicine you talked about?

Suraj: Di's mother has some problem in her health.

Arnav: What is her father doing?

Suraj: Her father is no more.

Arnav(widening his eyes): Then who is earning for their family?

Suraj: who else? Di.

Arnav: Is she working? Where?

Suraj: Yes. Data Entry Operator in Royal Merchant Company. Today is second Saturday so she is at home.

Arnav: who else are there in her family?

Suraj: Di, her mother and Buaji.

That's when they saw Khushi coming back looking for Suraj.

Suraj: Ok then. Now I should go. Or else Di will scold me.

Saying he got down and ran hiding himself from Khushi. He doesn't want to get scold for talking with Arnav.

Arnav saw Suraj reaching Khushi from behind as nothing happen. She started dragging him with her. Suraj turned his face towards Arnav's car and showed him Thumps up smilingly.

Arnav was looking at their retired image without blinking. He saw the money which was kept in the dash board by Khushi. He got many GOLDEN CERTIFICATES from income tax department for his loyalty in paying income tax. But those certificates cannot be equal to this money. She gave it back to him even in her poor stage. Who will certify her? He is paying his taxes just to grab attention to gain goodwill unlike her.

Arnav(self talk): You are giving me reasons to think about you more Khushi. Truly, you are such a matchless piece I had ever seen.

He took the money and smelled it closing his eyes in the feeling of Khushi. He chuckled on his own thought and leaned back on the seat closing his eyes. He started liking this feel which he is undergoing right now.

To be continued...