Part 6 New Yet Old Khushi

Arnav didn't feel to eat dinner. He didn't feel anything right. So, he didn't touch the box sent by Ratna.

Why Neerav is like this? Arnav thought to talk to Neerav. How could he be irresponsible? If he doesn't know about his responsibilities, he should make him understand his responsibility. How could he disappoint a girl after giving her hope about their relationship? It was Neerav who liked Khushi and asked his parents to take the proposal forward. Arvind and Ratna as well as Shashi and Garima were happy about the proposal. Arvind was damn happy about it more than anyone because he knew he and Ratna will get a daughter, in the form of a daughter-in-law. They liked Khushi very much and waited for Khushi to finish the graduation. After she finished her studies, Arvind and Ratna started nagging Arnav to return to India and we already knew he didn't get time to come back to India as he got busy in the London AR branch.

Arnav saw the saline bottle getting finishing. A nurse came and injected Khushi. She shrank her face when the injection was given. Arnav felt relieved and hoped she will get her consciousness back soon.

As he expected, Khushi opened her eyes slowly. She couldn't understand where she was and what happened to her. She saw Arnav looking at her, sitting next to her bed. She tried to sit on the bed and hissed in pain as the needle in her hand pricked.

*Careful...* Arnav said.

She frowned clutching her hand.

*Don't get up... stay...* though it was an order it sounded soft.

*Ammaaaaa? * she called, looking here and there.

*She is in GH* Arnav said.

*Ratna aunty? *

*She is with Garima aunty... Dad just went home to take medicine... he asked me to be here*

*Why I'm here? *

*You fainted... didn't get consciousness... that's why I and Dad brought you here. We will go home after this bottle gets over* Arnav said.

That's when she recalled what happened in her life.

*Babuji...* she said horrified.

*Shhhhh... stop crying...*

Khushi looked at him weirdly.

*My Babuji is no more and you ask me to be quiet? * she asked with shivering lips.

*Will your Babuji come back if you cry? *

She looked down crying.

*I agree it's not easy to accept the reality... but you have to... because it's the reality... your father will not come back no matter how hard you cry...*

*You are talking meaningless...*

*What about your mother? Don't you want her to be happy? Are you going to make how worried about you? Do you know how anxious she is? Who else other than she has for herself? Only YOU... Can't you understand that Khushi? *

Khushi cried closing her face with her palms.

*Cry how much you want... but, make sure, you are not going to cry again if you are done...*

She looked at him biting her lips weeping.

*I'm sorry for the loss you are facing right now*

She closed her eyes helplessly.

*Try to understand Khushi... aunty is guilty and also anxious. Uncle left you without caring about anything. Don't you want your Amma to be relaxing? How could she be if she sees you crying? So, what if you guys lost everything? You have your mother and she has you... make her think you are enough for her... give her strength... don't make her think like, it would have been good if she had a SON...*

Khushi looked at him gulping.

*Because your mother needs a helping hand now... be one*

The nurse came and removed the injection from her knuckle. Khushi was looking at somewhere blankly. She was in deep thought. It was clear that something was running in her mind.

*You can go, follow the medicine correctly* the nurse instructed.

Arnav nodded yes. Khushi got off the bed. She walked with Arnav silently. Arnav opened the car door for her. She saw a water bottle on the car door. Taking it, she washed her face making Arnav smile.

Taking the tissue paper box from the car, Arnav extended it to Khushi. She didn't deny it. She wiped her wet face with tissue papers and sat in the car. Arnav started the car towards GH. The journey was silent at first.

*When did you come? * she asked.

Arnav looked at her and smiled.

*In the evening...*

*How did you get the tickets immediately? *

*My manager arranged for it...*

*Oh...*

*Are you alright? *

*Not exactly...*

*You have to...*

*Why are you telling that? * she intentionally asked that.

*Just like that... as a friend...*

Khushi chuckled sarcastically.

Arnav looked at her frowning.

*Why did you chuckle? *

*Nothing* she looked outside.

*You are lying*

*Yes...*

*What's the matter? *

*You are my friend... that's why you have forgotten to wish on my birthday? *

Arnav was stuck. He didn't expect her to ask him this question... at least, not at this time.

*I haven't forgotten... it's on Sep 17th...right? *

*Were you busy that day? *

*Mmmm...* he again concentrated on the road.

*I was expecting your call... I told Babuji and Amma too...*

*I'm sorry... I was busy...*

*This is why we should not befriend with a busy man who doesn't even have just ONE MINUTE to wish us*

Arnav felt suffocating. What can he say?

They were nearing GH.

*By the way, thanks*

*For? *

*For the timing advice* she said with a painful smile.

*We have no choice...*

*Mmm... Amma warned Babuji many times before he signed the surety... he didn't listen to her*

*Don't worry, we are here. Dad will arrange a house for you*

Cutting him,

*There is a small house in Laxmi Nagar... we will shift to that house after Babuji's rituals get over*

*Whose house is that? *

*My Amma's Amma's...*

*Oh...*

*Babuji fought with Amma for accepting it from my grandma... now, that house is going to be our shelter* she said painfully.

Arnav gulped down.

*You can ask me anything if you want...*

*I will manage*

Arnav looked at her surprisingly who looked confident.

They reached GH and Khushi got down with Arnav. Buaji saw them coming.

*Are you alright, Khushi? *

She nodded yes.

*Arvind told me the saline was given*

*Yeah...* she showed her knuckle to Buaji.

*Thank God, you are going to marry a good man who is concern about you* she said smiling at Arnav.

Khushi looked in the direction and raised her brows.

*He is not who I'm going to marry...*

Buaji's facial expression changed.

*Shashi said he is Arvind's son...*

*He is his elder brother*

*Oh... then where is he? *

Khushi shrugged her shoulders and went in. Garima started crying, seeing Khushi. Ratna was beside her. Khushi came and sat with Garima.

*Khushi...*

*Amma, don't cry. We can do nothing crying but will surely get weaker* she said.

Ratna as well as Garima were dumbfounded. What happened to her all of sudden? Was not she fainting again and again crying?

*We have to accept the reality... we have lost Babuji... he won't come again... I'm here for you... don't forget that* she said.

Garima hugged her and cried again but this time it was not in sadness. Ratna caressed her back lovingly. Arnav smiled, hearing that who was leaning on the wall near a window.

*Khushi beta... go and eat something...* Garima said.

*Wait, I will bring you* Ratna said.

*No aunty... I will go...* she went to the kitchen and made a plate.

She kept the plate on the kitchen slab and cried closing her face with her palms, without making noise. Of course, she understood the reality. But what could she do with her poor heart? How could she manage to solve their problems which she never did before? What would she do for their expenses? How many problems were there in front of her...! what was she going to do? she was blank...!

To be continued...

The next part is available on INKITT

Arnav's lead...

Arnav slept in thecar whereas Ratna slept with Garima and Khushi. Arvind was sleeping on thecouch of the living room. Ratna slept quickly as she was tired. Garima was uptill midnight. After that, she drifted into sleep. But Khushi didn't sleep asshe already slept in the hospital. She came to the window and stood lookingout. She saw Arnav getting down from the back seat of the car. Opening thefront door, he checked the water bottle. It was empty.