Chapter 38

Khushi covered her mouth with the flowing edge of her gown and ran out of the hospital. She stood under a canopy, slumped down and cried out, holding her face in her palms.

She replayed her conversation with Anjali inside the ICU, in her mind.

*************

The police officer recorded the statement he needed and came out with his cap in his hand.

" Um...Is Ms.Khushi here? Ms. Anjali has requested to meet her in alone."

Khushi got up from her seat, nodded at the police officer and went inside the ICU.

Anjali was covered from head to toe with various needles connecting her to various machines. The ECG machine beeped in slow motion on her right showing that her heartbeat was pretty slow.

Khushi became scared at this sight. Anjali's body was covered with a white bed sheet till her chest. Her fingers were clipped to some wires. Her hair was nowhere to be seen. Her head had been covered with huge white bandages which showed clear red stains of blood.

" Come here Khushi..." Anjali stuttered in a slow voice.

It was unbearable for Khushi to see her chirpy friend in this state. Anjali noticed this and said "I don't regret dying Khushi, except for one thing...my Aashi." Anjali slowly sighed.

" No,Anjali! Don't die! Aashi needs you!" Khushi pleaded holding her hands. Over these 3 years both of them had developed a sisterly bond.

" Khushi! What has to happen shall happen! Please, let me die in peace. Please make me a promise to give my burning soul some rest. I don't want Aashi to ever be alone. Please become her mother! She has no one except you. I know I am being selfish right now and loading my girl's responsibility over you but..." Anjali pleaded.

Lavanya entered the ICU tearfully and looked at Anjali.

" No buts Anjali! Of course she is my daughter!" Khushi cried.

" Yes she is! You are leaving Aashi in good hands, Anjali. But why are you leaving? Don't leave, please!" Lavanya went near her and held her hand.

" I don't think I have any time left now. But Lavanya don't worry! I shall always be looking upon you! Making sure you don't do any mischeif or get Niall into any trouble." Anjali tried to laugh but La and Khushi kept crying.
"Khushi, I am indebted to you forever. Thank you for accepting my daughter's responsibility. But...but... promise me you won't take this as an excuse to not fulfil what you said today morning " Anjali said slightly smilingly.

" What did she say, Anjali?" Lavanya scrunched her eyebrows.

" Even I don't remember..." Khushi frowned.
" Arre! You forgot so soon?
You had decided to take your relationship forward with Arnav. Don't let my Aashi become a barrier to that decision of yours.
If you yourself won't be happy then how will you keep others happy? Also, don't let Aashi see me now. Promise me, Khushi! Promise me!" Anjali painfully said as she felt her breath leaving her.

Khushi placed her palm on Anjali's tearfully and smiled to her softly.

Anjali then gave a satisfied smile and breathed her last. She was content that Aashi was now in safe hands.

Khushi cried a lot and ran out of the room.

******************

Khushi sat with her head down, covering her face with her palms, mourning over the death of her friend. She remembered all the moments they had spent together like making Aashi's birthday cake, gathering ideas for her fancy dress competition, going shopping together and what not! But today that lively friend of hers was lifeless!

She felt a hand strolling through her hair and looked upwards.

"Arnav!" She said in her broken voice and hugged his waist tightly.

" I need to fulfil Anjali's promise! I am aashi's mum!I need to take care of her." She said in a broken voice.

Arnav bent down to her and said

" You need to, Aashi needs you the most right now! Go Khushi! Aashi is sleeping on the hospital bench. Be her mum!"

"I am scared Arnav, would I be able to fulfil such big responsibility?" She spoke really scared.

"I know Khushi. I know that my Khushi can do anything in this world! She has will power! I trust you in that. Do you trust my words?"

Khushi nodded.

" Then go support your daughter!"Khushi and Arnav got up. Khushi ran towards the door to get aashi.

Arnav smiled slightly as she left.

*********************

6 months later...

Khushi was all alone in her apartment with a sleeping aashi. Lavanya had shifted to Niall's apartment down the road and they would meet frequently and talk a lot.

After knowing that Anjali was dead, Aashi had cried a lot but Khushi consoled her explaining her that all dead people become stars. God's most favourite people become stars so that they can see their children from up above and be with them always. Aashi, being the inquisitive child she was gaped at the starlit sky and pointed towards the pole star and waved at it. Then she hugged Khushi and called her mumma making her release tears of joy.

The web series project had got over. Arnav had packed his bag to go back to London. Since the past six months, he had always been there for Khushi and Aashi. He had grown very fond of Aashi and was very compassionate towards her. The three of them would often have dinner together.

As Arnav filled his baggage into the taxi, Khushi came with a solemn face towards him.

"Hmm....you are going? Now? "

Arnav nodded.

" Um...come inside with me. Just one second please!" Khushi said holding his hand leading him to the corridor where Aashi was standing.

Khushi bent down on one knee making Aashi giggle and Arnav scrunch his eyebrows in confusion.

Khushi nervously smiled.

" Since the past five years you have been occupying my thoughts ASR. I have thought about it and I think I need your thought to remain alive. So will you remain in my thoughts forever?" Khushi said really fast like a parrot making Aashi burst out laughing.

"Your thought, my thought? Is this some toungue twister or something?I didn't understand a word!" Arnav said.

" Oh smartypants didn't understand? What a fool!"khushi teased him.

" What the!"

" Arre ASR! Mumma is asking if you would like to be my papa?" Aashi said happily.

"Huh?" Arnav scrunched his eyebrows.

" Yes, I am Aashi's mumma. So I and Aashi were thinking how about we give you a promotion from mumma's friend to mumma's husband i.e. Aashi's papa. So tell me ASR, proposal accepted?" Khushi asked, smiling widely.

Arnav looked at both of them blankly and turned his back towards them,
disappointing them.

Khushi got up, disheartened that he doesn't want her in his life anymore. She made a sad face, lifted Aashi in her arms and moved backwards.

" Hey! Wait! Where are you both going?" Arnav stopped them.

" What is left? You are going, ASR. You don't want to be papa." Aashi turned back and frowned.

" Let me call Aman to book your tickets to London and arrange for emergency visa for both of you." Arnav looked at Ashi.

"Means you are fine with this?" Khushi smiled and Aashi clapped her hands in joy.

"Yes! Khushi, I too want a life ahead with you and if you don't have any problem with it, then you are already mine. Fate always made us meet even though we separated so many times. This means we were meant to be together! And Aashi, obviously I want to be your Papa!" Arnav smiled to her. Aashi leaped into Arnav's arms from Khushi's arms and he pulled both of them into a warm embrace.

He had never been so content with life ever before, this was the best day. He had his khushi and a chirpy little baby just like his khushi. What more could he ask for?

There were back like before, phir se.