AJHS - 7

Part - 7

Khushi POV

The sudden vibrations of my phone startled me. A familiar number appeared on my cracked screen. Recalling our previous conversation I quickly answered the call. 

Khushi...

Arnavji?

Are you free at the moment?

Jeeji had left the porch leaving me alone a while ago. With a sweeping glance, I observed that no one was around the house. Knowing that I could talk freely without any disturbance I answered in a polite tone.

Yes, Arnavji. What is it?

For the first time, I felt a strange nervousness talking to him over the phone. Earlier we either bickered, argued, or even fought on the phone. I bounced my knees in a display of my awkwardness.

Umm, I...were you sleeping?

No. No, I sleep around midnight.

Oh.

For a moment only silence echoed on both sides. Can he hear my shallow breathing? Am I making a fool out of myself? Why cannot I think of anything else to talk about? Think Khushi Kumari Gupta? Choose an appropriate subject...

Are you taking any meds for your amnesia?

Dropping my head on my hand I shut my eyes as embarrassment flooded inside me. You have no filter Khushi. You are hopeless. Devi Maiyya ye kya pooch lia humne. Ughhh. Did I offend him? Should I hang up now?

My musings halted as he responded to my question.

No. But I have been prescribed medicines for my shoulder injury. The accident left me with some nasty scars.

His last sentence dripped with sarcasm. Oh no. I need to make him feel better. He is not in a good mood. Come on Khushi talk about something interesting. Anything that will make him happy instantly.

Oh acha...waise Dhruv bahut fiqar karta hai aapki. Aap bhi usse bahut close hain shayad?

(Oh I see...well Dhruv cares for you. Do you seem to be close to him as well?)

That's true. Dhruv is a gem. Apni umar ki bachon se zyada samjhdaar hai. Shayad isliye main iss waqt sirf usse apne dil ka haal sunata hoon.

(He is very intelligent for being a kid. Maybe that is the reason why I have bared my heart to him).

I smiled hearing the love that poured out in the form of words out of Arnavji's mouth. If a 10-year-old kid could become a shoulder to lean onto for Arnav Raizada then why not me? In these tough times maybe I too could offer him a helping hand. This is not the time to keep grudges.

Hum bhi sunsakte hain....aapke dil ka haal. Hum bhi aapke dost bansakte hain Arnavji. 

(I could hear you too...when it comes to baring your heart...I want to be your friend Arnavji).

As I shared my idea with Arnavji the realization of what I had spoken dawned upon me. Will he reject the idea? Will he make fun of me? Am I doing the right thing? Should I stay away from this ASR business? The silence on his end was not helping much. However, my doubts evaporated when he finally chose to answer.

Dost? Mujhe to laga tum mujhse nafrat krti hogi. Kya waqai humare beech dosti hosakti hai Khushi?

(Friend? I thought you would hate me. Can we have a friendship Khushi?)

Jo bure waqt mein saath na chode wohi sacha dost hota hai. Aap sochkar jawaab dijiyega. Goodnight.

(A true friend never leaves the other in tough times. You think about this offer of mine. Good Night).

Hanging up the call I stood up and left the porch. As I passed Buaji and Jeeji in the living room my mind kept recalling the sadness that laced his words. Arnavji's amnesia has changed him so much. The man who claimed to be god had turned into a helpless soul. Devi Maiyya changed his fate. And he could do nothing at all. In the end, his power, money, and position did nothing for him.

Arnav POV

Dosti.

Dosti?

Friendship?

She wants to be friends with me. Me? Arnav Singh Raizada the man who has hurt her to the point that only anger and tears grace her features when I am around. But I could leap of faith and trust my amnesia. I could use this second chance wisely by being a good friend to Khushi Gupta.

If she is ready to forgive and forget the past. Then even I am ready to have a new beginning. And if we had our differences this means that we shared a past. No matter how bitter it was. This is an opportunity to know more about ASR. The cold indifferent and calculative businessman who is somewhere buried inside the deep layers of my mind. I mused.

Smiling to myself I switched off the night lamp. Today had been an emotionally exhausting day for me. However, it ended beautifully. The night has brought a strange serenity. A sense of calm washed over me recalling Khushi's offer of friendship. Lying on my bed under the comforter I made my decision. I would accept her offer of friendship. 

It would be refreshing to know more about the enigmatic Khushi Gupta. Doing my nightly breathing exercises I fell asleep as the sound of night crickets echoed around me. And dreams of being friends with Khushi greeted me for a change.

Anjali POV

I yawned yet again as Akaash brought another cup of coffee for me and him. It was 5 am. And we stood around the main gate of the airport impatiently waiting for Vikram to arrive. Well, only I was getting restless because Akaash was daydreaming lost in his thoughts. He was doing that a lot for the past few days. 

But the excitement to see Vikram was too much so I filed this information at the back of my mind. I will interrogate my brother later. 

His flight has arrived already. Then why is he not here yet?

Relax Di. Give him some time. I am sure he is waiting at the belt to collect his luggage.

Oh yes. Of course.

However, I did not have to wait for long. Because in 10 minutes a smiling face walked in my direction dragging a trolley in his hand. Without missing another moment I sprinted towards my hubby who by now had both of his arms wide open to embrace me. For a long moment, he kept twirling me.  I could hear the whistling of Akaash as he teased the both of us. But both of us were lost in our world. The spinning stopped and now we stood amongst the crowd in an intimate hug.

Di if you don't mind can I say hello to Jeeju?

Giggling like a fool I left his arms allowing Akaash to share his famous man hugs with Vikram. The two loved to act like thugs all the time. I wish Chotte was here too. If he was not suffering from amnesia I am sure he would have hugged Vikram as well. Vikram has always been close to both of my brothers. Arnav would have teased me tirelessly if he have not had that terrible accident.

Hey, wifey come back from Anji land. I am here...

Tapping my shoulder Vikram gave me a look of complete understanding. He knew where my mind had drifted to. And as usual, my man diverted my attention rather quickly.

I know hubby.

Grinning and joking the three of us drove away from the airport terminal. Maybe watching Vikram and me together will make Arnav realize that having a companion to share your happiness and sorrow is a great idea. 

Khushi POV

Two days passed rather quickly. Eating my lunch at noon I made a mental list of all the things that I would need for tonight's party. When Jeeji and I had informed Buaji about Anjaliji's party invitation she coaxed us to attend the event. She did not want us to lose a good friend like Anjali Raizada Shekhawat. According to Buaji, we should not judge Anjaliji by our past experiences with ASR. My thoughts halted as I heard Jeejis voice.

Khushi I will wear my orange saree for tonight's event. What about you?

Umm. I will wear my blue saree.

In a few hours, Arnavji will be aware of the bond that I share with the rest of the Raizadas. And his family will know that I am Dhruv's Hindi tutor. Meeting Anjaliji, Naniji, Mamiji, and the rest of the family will bring back the old memories. I tried to bury my past, my feelings for Arnavji. However, Devi Maiyya has other plans for me.

Quickly finishing my meal I left the dining table. The thoughts of Arnav Raizada caused my head to throb all of a sudden. Maybe a nap will help me to get over him. Bolting my bedroom door I lay on the bed. I am trying to help Mr. Raizada because he helped me and even saved me several times. My offer of friendship is a reciprocation for all those times. That's it.

Never again will I fall for a chameleon-like him. I don't want a repeat of what happened on the occasion of Diwali. Kabhi nahi. My self-respect is my priority. That door has been shut. And will remain so forever. 

Maybe I am thinking too much. Maybe he will reject my offer and I won't even have to meet him ever again. I mused and sometime later lost the battle with sleep.

Arnav POV

I know I am a total stranger for you Arnav. But believe me when I say to you that your sister loves you more than me.

I simply stared back at the man who introduced himself as Captain Vikram Shekhawat to me this morning. It was late in the afternoon and he stood leaning against the doorjamb as I sipped my black coffee sitting on the comfortable recliner.

He was a man of a few words. I accomplished that in the last few hours. My sister's husband was an army man and a good orator. After Dhruv and Khushi he too made his name in the list of friends.

I get what you are trying to say, Captain.

Giving me a smile he left the room leaving me to my thoughts. After Di's anniversary party I will call Khushi. She should know that I want to be friends with her. A smile bloomed on my face as  I recalled her words.

Hum bhi sunsakte hain....aapke dil ka haal. Hum bhi aapke dost bansakte hain Arnavji. 

How cute. Khushi sensed my sadness through the phone so easily. A few words from her were enough to cheer me up. I remember hopping around my room humming tunelessly surprising a shocked HP who passed by.

Oh my. I cannot wait for this day to end. It would be nice to hear Khushi's voice again. 

Payal POV

Hailing a taxi both Khushi and I left for the Raizada mansion. We were both clad in six yards of orange and blue. Our bangles clinked with the slightest of movements. Khushi was lost in the thoughts of meeting the Raizadas after so long. 

However, I was lost in my musings. Last night Akaash had said something to me that kept echoing in my mind till now. I could not help but feel restless about meeting Akaash again. 

Cannot you be mine Payal?

Why did he have to spoil our friendship? Things were running smoothly then why did he have to say those words to me? Why? Ughhh. We have no future. We come from different backgrounds. I work at a tailor's shop and exist on a budget. I shop from Sarojini Market. I have a hand-to-mouth income. Savings, EMI, bills, and rent. That is all I think about. I don't have time to be in a relationship.

Cannot you be mine Payal?

Kyun Akaash? Why did you have to ruin it? If I come across him at the party then I will have to make a few things crystal clear. But what is the point of making him understand when like a stubborn idiot he repeated the same mistake yet again. Why cannot he move on?

Jeeji we have arrived.

Blinking in her direction I composed myself and hastily paid the cabbie. The mansion was decorated with fairy lights that glowed from afar. Taking a deep breath I advanced towards the entrance with my sister Khushi tailing me.

Arnav POV

The party and the crowd made me uncomfortable. I just wanted this function to end as soon as possible. I was ready to accept Khushi's offer of friendship. A while ago I had tried to excuse myself from the party but the disheartening expression on Di's face made me give up the idea.

A man called Aman had been speaking with me for the past 10 minutes. According to him, I trusted him the most when it came to business decisions. He seemed like a nice guy. 

If and when you feel like relearning more about the Raizada business then we could sit together sometime.

I knew that he would suggest something similar. It's high time that I get back to my work. But something was holding me back. An emptiness. A vacuum within my heart. Despite having a great loving family I felt loneliness clouding me. Sighing I simply nodded in his direction. He took the cue and left me to my musings.

I was trying to find another excuse to leave the party when suddenly the person occupying my mind walked towards Di and Vikram Jeeju along with another woman. What the?! What is Khushi Gupta doing here? Did Dhruv invite her? I slithered towards them bewildered by the beautiful surprise that stood before me.

Khushi what are you doing here?

Chotte you know about Khushi?

An expression of happiness and hope crossed her features. She probably misunderstood the situation. I knew that the truth would crush her hopes but I never approve of the idea of lying because in the end the truth gets revealed hurting others in the process. Another voice from behind me enquired about Khushi.

Khushi Maam! wow, you are here at our party. 

Dhruv, Chotte, you both know about Khushi? And Dhruv why did you call her Maam?

I rolled my eyes as Di fired one question after another without any pause. As if the confusion was not enough Nani too joined the lot making me huff in exasperation. Thankfully my intelligent nephew took care of the situation drawing everyone's attention towards him.

Anji Bua Khushi Maam is my Hindi teacher. Chachu and I met her a few days ago.

I shook my head as my melodramatic family continued with their theatrics of shock and disbelief. In the midst of this all, I witnessed something unexpected. My brother Akaash and the lady who came along with Khushi were having an ogling contest. And it seemed that no one was ready to back down. 

I could sense grief enveloping my brother. Why is he so gloomy? Filing this information at the back of my mind I eyed Khushi Gupta who was being introduced to Vikram Jeeju. Khushi's female companion was her sister Payal Gupta. Oh. So Akaash is interested in Khushi's sister. Hmmm. 

Watching Khushi mingle with my family caused my heart to stutter. She looked like an angel clad in a blue saree. Her face glowed with happiness when she greeted my Nani. They seem to be very close. Maybe before my accident, she shared a good bond with my family.

I need to get her alone. There are a lot of questions in my mind that need to be addressed. And only Khushi can answer them. As if God heard my request music started playing in the background and Vikram Jeeju asked Di for a dance. Taking the cue from him I sauntered towards Khushi raising my hand in a silent request for a dance. My action startled her. But sharing a glance with Payal she placed her hand over mine.

Tere jaane ka gham

Aur na aane ka gham

Phir zamaane ka gham

Kya karein?

I coiled one hand around her waist and clasped the other hand with hers. Her eyes widened as I began to move with the beat of the music. The sadness and longing of the song caused a weird sensation in my heart. Like I lost something precious because of my errors. 

Raah dekhe nazar

Raat bhar jaag kar

Par teri toh khabar na mile

I arrested her eyes with my own and verbalized the words that I desparately wanted to say since the beginning of this party. She should know how I feel about her being friends with me.

Khushi I want to be friends with you.

Bahut aayi gayi yaadein

Magar iss baar tum hi aana

Iraade phir se jaane ke nahi laana

Tum hi aana!

My words left her surprised. She halted her movements for a minute. With a sweeping glance, I realized that we were the only ones who were not moving on the makeshift dance floor. I spun her around making Khushi blink twice.

Meri dehleez se hokar

bahaare jab guzarti hai

yaha kya dhoop kya saawan

hawaayein bhi barasti hai

Phir to humari jodi khoob jamegi Arnavji. Aaj se hum aapke pakke dost hain.

(In that case, our bond will be great Arnavji. From this day onwards I am your best friend).

She smiled saying the words. And the sight caused strange happiness inside me. Why do her feelings matter to me? Her tears made me sad last time. And her smile made me happy this time. We share a deep connection. I could not help but question my doubts.

Toh hum ekdusre ko bahut ache se jaante hain right? Di aur Nani ki baat se toh yahi zahir hota hai.

(So we know each other well right? I heard Di and Nani's words).

Hmmm. Aisa hi smajh lijiye Arnavji.

(You could say that Arnavji). 

Ab tum meri dost ho to mujhe sab kuch batana pdega. Hum kaise aur kaha mile? kyun itna ladte hain? Etc etc.

(Now that you are my friend I expect you to tell me whatever you know. How and where we met? Why do we argue so much? Etc).

Pehle hum bhi toh dekhein aap kitne ache dost saabit hote hain.

(Well for that to happen I first need to know how great of a friend you are).

I smirked hearing her response. If her answers are vague then it is fine by me. This will give me another excuse to spend some quality time with Khushi Gupta. Now that we are friends it is gonna be really interesting. I can know more about my past in her company.

Dekhte hain Ms. Gupta.

(You will Ms. Gupta).

Dhruv POV

Khushi Maam is the same woman who trained Lavanya Kashyap in Shantivan. The intense conversation between Anji Bua, Great Nani, and Vikram Uncle connected the dots of my research. 

I stood behind them as they kept talking about the old times. Great Nani also mentioned how she always wished for Nannav Chachu and Khushi to be a couple. But Chachu chose Ms. Kashyap and her dream became just a dream.

My eyes shifted towards the dance floor where Nannav Chachu danced with Khushi Maam with an ecstatic look on his otherwise gloomy face. Their chemistry was too obvious. He loved her. He still does. He only needs to realize the same. 

humein pucho kya hota ha

bina dil ke jiye jaana

Bahut aayi gayi yaadein

Magar iss baar tum hi aana

I trudged upstairs to my room as a tear cascaded down my eyes. I know what I feel for Khushi Maam is just a crush but still letting go of someone who you adore is not easy. With a sad smile, I dialed my Pops number. Feelings have no space when it comes to duty. My mission is to make Nannav Chachu a happy soul. No matter what I lose in the process. Nothing is more important than Chachu's happiness.

Hi Pops. I have an important update to share.

O...

Koi toh raah woh hogi

Jo mere ghar ko aati hai

Karo peecha sadaaon ka

Suno kya kehna chahti hai

Tum aaoge mujhe milne

Khabar yeh bhi tum hi laana

Bahut aayi gayi yaadein

Magar iss baar tum hi aana

.

.

.

.

To be continued.

 

AJHS - 6

Part - 6

Khushi POV

Someone once said if you want something very badly, set it free. If it comes back to you. Then it is yours forever.

I shook my head, feeling tears sprout in my eyes. My clothes were soaked by the time I returned to Laxmi Nagar. The storm continued to rage outside, rain pelted the window, but I did not pay any attention to it. Nobody was home. Everyone had left for the Jaagran. I somehow dragged my body to my room and bolted the door.

As thunder rolled through the house I ground myself against the wall. To another person, it might appear that the bad weather is causing me pain. That the reason for my restlessness is the lightning and storm outside.

However, this excruciating pain that is rolling within me is not due to the climatic conditions of Delhi. The cause of this pain is him. Him. 

My heart wept tears of blood as Lavanyaji's parting words echoed in my mind.

He does not remember anyone Chamkeeli. ASR sab kuch bhool gaya hai. Sabko bhool gaya hai. 

(ASR has forgotten everything. He has lost his memories).

The tentacles of pain clutched my insides. I gulped. It was hard to process the fact that the only person who made me fall for him does not remembers me. My phone kept flashing every two minutes. Five missed calls and two messages. The notification read. I kept the device on the floor and pulled my hair hoping against hope for the hurt to disappear.

All the times we spend together. All the special moments. Sheesh Mahal. Dargah. Office. Shantivan. Nainital. Hospital. Diwali. I gasped as realization dawned upon me.

All those memories. They were gone. Khushi Kumari Gupta has disappeared from his mind. I closed my eyes recollecting his confused expressions. That lost look was not an act. My speculation stands wrong. It is not one of his new games. This is real. Retrograde Amnesia is real. Arnav Singh Raizada has changed.

Gulzarji ne theek kaha hai.

(The poet Gulzar uttered the truth).

Ye ishq mohabbat ki riwayat bhi 

ajeeb hoti hai,

Paaya nahi hai jisko,

Usse khona bhi nai chaahte!!

(Love is a strange phenomenon,

You do not wish to lose the one,

Who was never yours, to begin with).

He does not remember anyone Chamkeeli. ASR sab kuch bhool gaya hai. Sabko bhool gaya hai. 

My phone went off once more.

Dhruv Singh Raizada will not stop calling me. I will have to answer this call. Wiping my tears, I cleared my throat and picked up the phone.

Hello...

The hoarseness of my voice astonished us both equally. Unlike me, he expressed his worries verbally. I could not help but purse my lips as the innocent boy bombarded me with a long list of questions.

Khushi Maam are you alright? You don't sound good. Are you...crying? Why? What's wrong? Are you sick? Is everything alright with your family?

Composing my self I tried to act brave. I should not lose control. Gulping away the blinding pain within me I answered him in a semi-normal voice.

I...I am fine Dhruv. It is just that...I am not feeling good. 

Clamping a hand on my mouth tried to keep my heartbreak at bay. He should not hear the hurt in my voice. He needs to stay away from the harshness of this world. Dhruv is a kid. He needs to be sheltered from the darkness around us. His heart is too pure for all this.

Oh. Is it your stomach? Maybe you ate something wrong? It happens to me a lot. Pops always scold me for it.

Haan. Haan shayad...kuch galat kha liya Dhruv. Aur ab dard bardasht nai horha hai.

(Yeah. Yeah maybe...I ate something wrong Dhruv. And now the pain has become unbearable).

Oho. Don't worry when D is here. Aap warm water peejiye. It will help mam. Aur haan thodi der rest karlijiye.

(You drink a glass of warm water. And yes rest for a while).

The last time I broke down no one was there to hold me. But this time I am not alone. Dhruv Singh Raizada is applying balm to my...wounds. Unknowingly he has given me the one thing I yearn for. A friend in need. Using strength from his soothing voice I stood up from the floor and dragged my body to the bed.

Ha..an. Hum thodi der...let jaate hain.

(Ye..ah. I should lie down...for a while).

Do you want me to sing to you? Pops says that my voice is very soothing.

Yeah...please do.

Tears rolled down my eyes one after the other as Dhruv sang to me. I felt like a little kid who needed reassurance that his mom will be back soon. The pain within me released with every tear that fell. 

The pouring rain resembled my emotions. The deafening thunder echoed the sound of my breaking heart. 

I know Arnavji and I had a complicated relationship since the beginning. But our nameless bond was still a bond. A weird relation that I cherished from the bottom of my heart. Oh, Devi Maiyya. I spouted so much hate and anger towards Arnavji. And he did not retaliate.  He must be so confused right now. 

Of course. He kept talking about the fact that we have met before. He also questioned me about the kind of past we shared. The feeling of despair clouded my mind as I recalled the times I did not hear him out. How can I be so heartless? My train of thoughts halted as Dhruvs voice echoed one last time.

Maam you should rest now. I will call later. Take care.

Bye Dhruv.

He hung up and I immediately started weeping like a baby. Arnavji has forgotten me. This means he has no idea of what transpired between us on Diwali. 

Diwali.

Diwali night.

Oh yes. According to Lavanyaji, Arnavjis accident happened on Diwali night. Does this mean that after dropping me he never returned home? Was I the reason behind his accident? Did our talk tipped him to the point that he lost control over his driving?!?

Wiping my tears I tried to compose myself. Instead of wailing like a fool, I should investigate Arnavjis health. I should enquire about the accident. But most of all I should speak to him. He does not deserve my hatred at this moment. 

In these vulnerable times, I should be supportive. This is the law of humanity. Yes. Yes, I will meet him tomorrow. When he will come to the school and drop Dhruv then I will approach him.

Anjali POV

Vikram. I miss you so so much.

Anju it is just a matter of 2 days now. Then we will get to see each other baby. 

I nodded eagerly as we spoke over the video call. After so many months finally, I will be able to see and hold my husband. It is not easy being the wife of an army man. But it is very difficult to not fall for an honest and loving Captain. His persuasion skills are amazing. After all, he was hell-bent on getting married to me, when we met for an arranged proposal 3 years ago.

Please tell me you are recalling the time I wooed you. Tell me. Am I right?

His teasing voice made me grin immediately. Devi Maiyya this man knows me too well. Sometimes I wonder whether he has installed CCTV in our room or what?

Yes. I am. I cannot help but remember how stubborn you were when your army background overwhelmed me. You were adamant about making me your wife.

What was I supposed to do? I fell for your kind spirit. I needed you like air to breathe. And I fought like hell to make you mine.

Giggling at his explanation I thanked Devi Maiyya for blessing me with such a wonderful husband. If it were not for Vikram I would have fallen for the wrong guy. Vikram holds a special place in my heart. I wish Chotte too finds his happiness soon enough. He needs this. Especially at this stage of life.

Anju. I can sense your worries here in Iraq. Relax. Your brother will find peace at the right time. Do not exert yourself. Let him fight his battles. Or else you will make him weak. 

You are right. I like being a worrywart. Chotte is recovering and I should appreciate the fact.

Changing the subject we talked about our upcoming anniversary. Everyone wanted a grand party so Vikram agreed that we will organize it after his return. I discussed my desire of inviting Khushiji and Payalji to the party. And as usual, Vikram agreed that familiar faces might surprise Chotte. We continued to talk till his battery died.

Arnav POV

It was a new day. A sunny day. But the bright and shining morning did not do much to motivate me. Usually, the idea of dropping D to his language school energized me to another level. However, today rather than counting the minutes, I was dreading the moment. 

The reason being Khushi Gupta. I need to stick to my decision. I have to make sure that we don't cross paths. Not unless it is very urgent or she desires to see me. The latter is unlikely to happen. She hates me. Her tears are my undoing. Cannot help it.

I mechanically showered and changed. I did not join my family for breakfast. And now I am sitting with Dhruv in the car as we drive to his language school. A sense of despair has clouded my mind. Even Dhruv can feel my emotions. The kid is giving me peace today.

When we arrived at the school leaving Dhruv towards the front door I headed behind the building towards the amphitheater. For the first time even having that shiny piece of cloth in my pocket did not give me any source of comfort.

I sat on a bench nearby passing my time observing the people around me. Some were laughing. Some were smiling. They were all enjoying the happiness of life. A feeling of envy enveloped my soul. Will I be able to overcome my illness someday? Will I ever feel the serenity that comes when one feels euphoria? Lost in my musings I almost missed the soft voice who called out my name with a yearning that made me sigh in bliss.

Arnavji...

Cocking my head to the side I noticed Khushi Gupta standing just a foot away from me. Her eyes were filled with a strange warmth, this drastic change within her gave me whiplash. I stood up in reflex. 

Khushi...

Kya hum do minute baat krsaktein hain?

(May I talk to you?)

The question baffled me. My dark mood evaporated in a jiffy leaving only calmness around me. Does Khushi want to talk? Yes, she does. She came in between her class, leaving her work, to simply talk to me. A small smile graced my features. It was a contagious one as she smiled as well.

Sure. Baith ke baat krein?

(Why don't you sit?)

She nodded enthusiastically. I sat on one side of the bench leaving a lot of space for her to sit comfortably. My body twitched feeling the awkwardness surround us. What should I say to her? Ughh. I was waiting for this moment for ages. And now I cannot even open my mouth. Speak up damn it. I screamed in my thoughts. However, Khushi took care of it.

Humein kal hi pta chala ki Diwali ki raat aapka accident hogaya tha.

(I was informed last evening about your accident).

Oh.

Her words shook me. How? Is she in touch with my family? Or perhaps Dhruv might have? Who was the one to reveal this fact? The curiosity made me verbalize my thoughts.

Kisne bataya tumhe?

(Who told you?)

Lavanyaji. Woh aur hum ache dost hain. Woh do din ke liye India aayi thi.

(She is a good friend of mine. She was in India for two days).

Of course. How can I forget the woman whose heart I broke so brutally? Closing my eyes I tried to think about anything other than Lavanya Kashyap. The tentacles of guilt clawed my fragile heart.

Main bahut bura hoon. Main siwaye dil dukhane ke kuch nai krta.

(I am a bad person. I can only hurt others).

Aap aisa mat kahiye Arnavji.

(Please don't say such things Arnavji).

Her soothing words made my eyes flutter open. I faced her only to see empathy oozing out of Khushi. She is a beautiful person. Despite knowing my sins she is still trying to comfort me.

Maine kuch galat to nahi kaha. Lavanya ke sath galat kia hai. Aur shayad tumhe bhi hurt kia hai. Tabhi to tum mera chehra bhi nai dekhna chahti thi.

(I am only saying the truth. I wronged Lavanya. I also hurt you. Maybe that is the reason why you get so infuriated by my presence).

No. No, you did not hurt me.

Her words made me swallow the regret that kept flowing out of me in waves. Really? Is she serious? Or is she doing this to make me feel better? But if it is true then maybe my guilt will be lessened. 

Khushi?!? I never hurt you? Ever?

Khushi POV

With eyes full of hope the man cupped the ball of my shoulder and asked me something so vital that for a second I paused wondering about the consequences of my answer.

For a moment I thought that an honest reply would be something that Arnavji expected.

However, in a split second, I changed my decision. The pain in his eyes pinched the insides of my heart. So plastering a smile on my face I boldly lied to Arnav Singh Raizada. 

No. We had our differences and due to unavoidable circumstances, we never found a chance to sort out things in a normal manner.

And as expected my answer brought a significant change in the expressions of Arnavji. His drooping posture was erected. The cloud of sadness surrounding him disappeared. A newfound emotion graced his features. Slowly the hand on my shoulder dropped around my elbow. Studying my face he replied in a husky voice sending a tingling sensation in my spine.

Thank you. I feel better now. 

Agar humare jhoot bolne se Arnavji ko khushi milti hai to hum unhein sach nahi batayenge. Devi Maiyya humein maaf krdein. The hand on my elbow retreated making me feel its absence. Maybe when Arnavji would be less vulnerable I will let him know the truth.

(If my one lie can make Arnavji feel a little relief then it's better to stay quiet. Forgive me Devi Maiyya).

I checked my watch to see that my break was about to finish. Since there was nothing left to say I quietly stood up and turned around to leave the amphitheater. 

Khushi...

I did not turn around but only tilted my head to one side acknowledging that I heard him. He understood the gesture and did not ask me to face him. Of course, he won't. The old Arnav Singh Raizada had an issue with it. But this man has no memories with me. He is a clean slate. The thought caused acute pain in my heart. His voice brought me out of my stupor.

Amnesia ke side effects ki wajah se koi mere sawaalon ka jawab tak nahi deta. Par tumne dia. Mujhe achha laga. 

(Due to the side effects of amnesia no one bothers to answer my queries. But you did. And I am grateful for the same).

Before tears could betray my voice I simply nodded in his direction and sprinted to the other side of the language school. He sounds so out of control. He feels so lost. And he is being so thankful for the lies I sprouted a while ago. Devi Maiyya give him the strength to face this world. Bring back the old ASR. I cannot see him like this. 

Praying for his quick recovery I rushed back to my class. As thoughts of Arnav Singh Raizada reverberated around my mind I had an epiphany. No matter how hard I try to distance myself from him, somehow somewhere he always comes back to me. Our lives are entwined oddly.

Payal POV

Pushing his glasses up Akaash Raizada looked towards the wall behind me as I complimented him for his chivalrous ways. Sitting in an ice cream parlor with him I grinned at his display of awkwardness.

Payal stop it.

I did not do anything Akaash.

I said in my I am innocent tone making him shake his head in return. Being friends with him made me happy. It made me wonder why I hated Akaash so much just because of his relation with Arnav Singh Raizada. Thankfully Akaash never speaks about his brother in front of me. He knows how much I hate it even when ASRs name is mentioned in our conversations.

Payal Anjali Di is planning to invite you and Khushi to her anniversary party. I would love it if you could make it to...

I will think about it Akaash. But don't pressurize me to...

I promise. Your wishes will be respected.

And just like that with one simple sentence, he made my heart flutter. Akaash Raizada was much more than a simple-looking man. A man who shows me every day how gentlemanly his upbringing has been.

When I reached home around supper the ringing of the landline echoed in our home sweet home. Knowing very well who was calling me I rushed towards the phone.

Hello?

Hi Payalji. Anjali this side.

Dhruv POV

HP Uncle enthusiastically spoke about the girl Khushi who always stood up against Nannav Chachu. A lot of times he witnessed how she faced the brutal comments of Chachu fearlessly without getting intimidated by his persona.

Her retorts surprised the entire Raizada clan. They began to love Khushi like family. But circumstanced made her leave Shantivan. Her temporary job of training Lavanya Kashyap was over rather quickly than everyone's anticipation.

So she does not visit Shantivan anymore?

No. She last visited RM on the night of Diwali. There was a grand party. 

Oh. So Chachu must have met her before that horrible accident?

HP Uncle nodded with a smile. He was about to say something else when suddenly Anji Bua called out for him. He quickly left the kitchen to look for the said voice leaving me to my thoughts.

Khushi...hmmm. My teacher's name is also Khushi. Are these two the same...? No. No that's a simple coincidence. Chachu's Khushi is a trainer of Indian traditions. And my Khushi Maam is a teacher in a language school. It is a common name. Yeah. But what if they are the same? HP Uncle says Khushi the trainer always had her differences with Chachu. And my teacher always gives a weird reaction when Chachu is around.

Ughh. I am so confused. Am I overthinking? Or am I crushing on the love of Chachu's life? Oh god. Help me, please. I want Nannav Uncle to get better. But I don't wish for another heartbreak. Cannot I have both things? Am I demanding too much? Damn it.

Khushi POV

After dinner, Jeeji asked me to join her for a cup of tea on the porch steps. The pleasant weather made me agree to her demand rather quickly. The sky appeared to be cloudy. The cool breeze made me shiver slightly. But the hot liquid slipping down my throat made it bearable.

Khushi. Anjaliji called a few hours ago.

What?!? 

Shhhh. Don't be so loud.

Slapping my palm over my mouth I stared in Jeeji's direction who stood a foot away from me leaning against the wall watching the clouds with a strange look in her eyes.

Sorry.

Sighing out loud she cocked her head towards me and answered in a casual manner making me wonder why anything related to the Raizadas always leaves me surprised.

Anjali Raizada's husband will be back tomorrow. And she wants to host their anniversary party this weekend. Both of us have been invited.

Listening to her words I continued to sip my chai. My thoughts ran at the speed of the Shatabdi express train. Why are we both invited out of the blue? Do the Raizadas know that I know about their Chotte's accident? Why did they not call even once during all this time? Or is it that Anjaliji simply wants to introduce her hubby to us?

Ughhhh.

My mind is being churned right now.

Khushi? Are you alright? There is no compulsion we don't have to go to their so-called party. I won't allow ASR to spoil your life Khushi. 

Oh no. Jeeji beliefs that I am worried about Arnavji's cold and harsh behavior. She has no idea about his amnesia. But she hangs out with Akaashji so how come she is unaware of such a vital incident.

Jeeji I have seen you hanging out with Akaash Raizada. Did he not tell you about Arnavji's amnesia?

She jerked her head and covered the little distance between us. We sat side by side on the steps, our cups lay forgotten as the discussion turned more intense. Sheer confusion rendered her incapable of doing or saying anything. She simply shook her head in denial.

My words came out fast. My thoughts tumbled into the space between us. With mouth slightly open and eyes wide Payal Jeeji heard my explanation. Black clouds rumbled across the sky. The change in the weather made me jumpy.

You are sure? I mean...I just...amnesia??

Yes, Jeeji. 

And out of all the population of Delhi Dhruv Singh Raizada happens to attend your Hindi classes?

Giving out a bitter laugh, I could not help but think how fate continues to play with me. Arnavji and I have experienced it. Since Sheesh Mahal, something or the other leads the both of us towards each other. And I never understand the why and how of these coincidences. Strange right? I mused.

I feel like lying down on my bed. This is a little too much. I need to process it.

Nodding in her direction I continued to sit on the porch. The thundering had stopped a while ago. But the sky was still cloudy. I traced my finger along the rim of the teacup. For the first time, my mind was blank. I was neither happy nor worried. 

The sudden vibrations of my phone startled me. A familiar number appeared on my cracked screen. Recalling our previous conversation I quickly answered the call. 

Khushi...

Arnavji?

Are you free at the moment?

The politeness in his tone felt so ironic. Not long ago the coldness in this man's voice terrified me. And look at me now. I pity him. I feel sorry for him. Times have changed. The shrewd ASR has disappeared in a dark abyss leaving a vulnerable Arnavji behind. And he has to start relearning everything from the beginning.

Yes Arnavji.

AJHS - 5

PART - 5

Khushi POV

Biting my cuticles I flipped pages after pages sitting in the empty staff room of Sharma Language School. I was early. But there was no point in sitting at home with a worried mind. At least in this way, I might find something to distract myself.

The day before yesterday my conversation with Arnav Raizada made no sense at all. I was prepared for his taunts and sarcasm. However, despite my rude warnings to stay clear of my way the man only acted like we had no history at all. Is this his new game? Is he pretending to not know me in front of his nephew? 

Because to be frank Mr. Raizada's behavior is giving me whiplash. I am so done with his never-ending game of run and chase.

Something is different about him though. He is acting all strange. When he saw me in school the man had a weird expression on his face. For the first time, I could not read his eyes like usual.

Sighing deeply, I stopped driving my mind in circles. I am just making up stories to satisfy myself. This cannot happen. The decision has been made. Arnavji and I belong to two different strata of society. The north pole and South pole can never meet each other. They can only stand against one another. He is with my friend Lavanyaji. And betrayal is not my forte.

Shutting the textbook I crossed my arms on the desk and placed my head on them. Maybe I can rest for a while. There is still an hour left.

Time passed quickly and soon the bell for the first class of the day rang out loud. 

Dhruv POV

Today my Hindi class was scheduled for the afternoon. So instead of watching tv or playing around, I chose to do something more constructive. I video-called my Popsi to give him all the necessary details regarding Nannav Chachu's past. 

So after the general greetings and meal inquiries, my Pops touched the subject of Chachu. With a smile on my face, I explained to him my analysis of the facts that I gathered about the trainer Khushi for HP Uncle. Listening to me with a keen interest he nodded with a deep sigh at the end of it. He is processing. I know how Pop's mind works. A few minutes of silence, and then he started talking.

You are getting good at this kid. I believe your conclusions are right. My brother indeed fell in love.

I giggled awkwardly as the compliments he showered at me. He always makes it a point to praise my efforts no matter how big or small they are.

Kiddo why don't you ask Anji Bua about this Khushi? But be subtle in your approach because my sister is very sharp. She might want to organize a marriage...

Shaking my head I smiled at the indirect compliment that Anji Bua received. He is right. It is a well-known fact. Anji Bua was the one who expressed her wish to have me here with Chachu. And it worked like a charm. Chachu is on the road to recovery. So my one hint about this Khushi and Nannav Chachu will be taking vows with the said woman.

True Popsi. True.

Is there something that you want to share with me kid?

Slamming my head on the pillow I tried to hide my face but my father is a professional therapist. A face reader. I think it is in our blood. Turned to face him I bobbed my head.

I think I have a crush on my language instructor.

Laughing like a hyena he fell back on the sofa in the living room of our house in Sydney. I groaned palming my face. The reaction was expected. This is embarrassing. But what can I do? We father-son are like glue cannot hide such things. It is impossible. His voice broke my train of thoughts.

Is she beautiful?

Yes.

Did you blush around her?

Yes.

Awe. My little flower is becoming a fruit. 

Shut up Pops.

He continued to tease me about Ms. Gupta. And our conversation ended around lunchtime. Before hanging up he said that the teacher has his blessing. Damn it. Pops is a menace.

Arnav POV

After dropping Dhruv at the language school I did not leave the premises like the last time. Instead, I sat on the grassed area in the amphitheater behind the building. There were a few people around me. But I was not bothered by them. Pulling out my cell I started texting the woman who had began to threaten me about keeping my distance from her.

I cannot approach her directly she will be busy with her classes. But I can make sure that we meet each other after Dhruvs class. She gets angry easily. I will have to get a rise out of her. Only then will she come down to see me. Tapping my fingers on the screen I inboxed her a little something.

You are so much like Dhruv. Instead of coming down and facing me you are sulking and hiding behind the excuse of classes.

Rubbing my hands in anticipation I prepared myself to meet the woman because of whom for the first time in weeks I slept like a baby without any nightmares. 

Khushi POV

I banged my fist against the table startling my students as I read the message once again. The scared little faces made me gulp. What the hell am I doing? I am not Arnav Singh Raizada. I am Khushi. The happy-go-lucky person who loves to spread happiness. Ughh.

Sorry. Aap log aaj ki activity complete krlijiye phir hum aapko vyakhya ke baare mein batayenge.

(You guys complete today's activity then I will explain nouns to you all).

I busied myself in marking the points for the upcoming lessons when I felt a tap on my shoulder. The handsome and cute Dhruv Singh Raizada stood beside me with a slam book in his hand. 

Hi Dhruv. Kahiye hum kya karsakte hain aapke liye?

(What can I do for you dear?)

Khushi Maam. Ye...ye meri slam book hai. Aap isse batengi?

(This...this is my slambook. Can you fill it?)

Patting his cheek with a smile I took the book from him making the child's eyes gleam. Aweee. Devi Maiyya blesses this kid with lots of happiness. He is such a sweetheart. And his Uncle is a Rakshasa. The devil who loves to spread hatred. No. I won't even let his thoughts control me.

Batengi galat shabd hai. Sahi shabd hai bharengi. Hum class ke baad ye aapko lauta denge. Theek hai?

(The right word is bharengi which means to fill. I will return this to you after class. Alright?)

Yes, Maam.

He rushed back to his seat and I started to fill up the different blanks in the book. Pretty soon the class ended and after handing over the graded sheets I asked them to leave. I stopped Dhruv and returned his book to him.

Umm Dhruv let me come with you. 

Uhh. Sure, Mam.

Retreating from the classroom we took the lift and exited the building. And right outside the gate stood my nemesis Arnav Singh Raizada with a look that screamed I won't leave without talking. 

We reached the gate and after a quick wave, Dhruv fled to the black car behind Mr. Raizada. Good that he left. He should not hear this conversation. 

Arnav POV

Someone was fiddling with the radio nearby. A song about distance and longing was being played. I could relate to that. As Khushi and I stood a feet away but her eyes screamed 'don't move any closer.'

Hi.

Kyun koi paas hai

Door hai kyun koi

Jaane na koi yahan pe

But I was only greeted with a blank face. Damn it. Why does Khushi intimidate me so much? What is it about her that makes me act so weird? I can be rude to everyone in my family. But she seems so fragile.

I said Hi.

Sunna humne.

(I heard).

Aa raha paas ya door mein ja raha

Janu na mein hoon kahan pe.

Look main zyada time nahi loonga. Bulana ka tareeka galat tha I know. It is just that mujhe bas ye poochna tha kya hum ekdusre ko pehele se jaante hai? A few weeks ago...Diwali ki raat...mera ek...

(I won't take too much of your time. I agree it was wrong of me to use such a childish trick. I just wanted to know more about our past. Do we know each other from before? A few weeks ago...on Diwali night...I met).

Something changed inside her. Interrupting me in between the woman started shouting at me. My heart broke into pieces as two tears rolled down her cheeks.

Bas Arnavji. Bahut hogaya. Aur kitna drama karenge aap? Hum ekdusre ki rag rag se waqif hain. Aur aap anjaan banne ka dhong krhe hain? Diwali ki raat jo hua uske baare mein humein baat nai krni. Behtar hoga agar aap humse door rahenge.

(Stop it Arnavji. This is too much. How long are you gonna continue with this drama? We know each other very well. And you are pretending to be a stranger? What happened on Diwali is something that I don't wish to talk about. It would be better for the both of us if you would stay away from me).

Yeh dooriyan

When she folded her hands in front of me I shook my head in denial. Hating the idea of her pleading before me. Walking backwards I looked at the sadness on her face and turned to sit in my car.

What have I done to her?!?

In raahon ki dooriyan

Nigahon ki dooriyan

Hum rahon ki dooriyan

Fanah ho sabhi dooriyan.

The car moved away from the building and I kept staring at the figure till she disappeared from my vision. 

Dhruv POV

Waiting in the car for Chachu felt a little boring so I opened my slambook and looked at the information filled by Khushi Maam. My eyes widened in awe as I read more about her.

She likes the color green.

She loves to make others happy.

And she is crazy about Jalebi!

Oh wow.

My idea to know her using the slambook worked. This information is enough to impress Maam. How cute can one be?

OMG! OMG! OMG!

She has given me her number. With a cute heart in the end. This lady turns me into hot butter that swirls on the pancakes.

Squealing like a 5 yr old I quickly saved Khushi Maam's number under the name Beautiful.

Thankfully Nannav Chachu did not ask me any questions when he sat behind the wheel. Slowly Mohan drove us away from the school. And I hugged my slambook to my chest feeling elated by the joyful memories that I made today.

Khushi POV

Standing in the restroom I kept splattering water on my red teary eyes. Arnavji has started playing these cheap tricks now. How could he do this to me? He is pretending around Dhruv and on top of that, he has the guts to bring up Diwali night. Why Devi Maiyya? Why does he keep hurting me?

Wiping my tears I tried to smile in the mirror. I have a class to teach in 5 minutes. I cannot lose control. Deep breaths. Inhale. Hold. Exhale. I repeated the process for a minute.

Before I could move out my phone vibrated notifying me of a text. I opened my inbox to see a message from another Raizada. He is a sweet fella.

Miss you Ma'am. If you are free in the evening can I call you?

Miss you too. And yes we will talk tonight. Call me after your dinner.

A wave of happiness flooded my chest. He is a god-sent angel. Thank you, Dhruv. Thank you for uplifting my mood. You feel like kin. Like my family. Smiling genuinely this time I walked out of the restroom and proceeded towards my next class.

My phone vibrated yet again. Expecting a reply from Dhruv I quickly checked my inbox once more. But this time the message was not from any of the Raizada. It was from another kin. Another person who became my family a long time ago.

My best friend. Lavanyaji. She has not contacted me since that Diwali incident. I too did not stay in touch with her. The guilt of having feelings for his lover overwhelmed me. So I chose to remain distant. Maybe Dhruv and Arnavji told her about me. I tapped her name to open the text. But the words that greeted me left me bewildered for really long.

Khushi I am back from London. By now you must be aware that I and ASR have called off our engagement.  I am visiting Delhi for just one day. So please meet me at Blue moon hotel tomorrow for lunch.

Arnav POV

It hurts. It hurts a lot. Her tears. Her pain. Why? There are endless questions in my mind. And no one to answer around. Did I share a bond with Khushi? Why is there so much hatred between us? It seems like I have hurt her beyond repair. She does not even wish to talk about Diwali night. 

Something else happened that night. Apart from that accident something big and disastrous occurred on that occasion. But what is it? Was I a player? Did I hurt Lavanya and Khushi? Am I a cheater? A two-timer?

Grabbing my hair in my fingers I sat on the bed dejectedly. My heart feels so heavy right now. Like a wound has been opened. Bleeding non-stop. A flowing river. I slapped my other hand on my thigh feeling hatred consume me. I am a monster. A feelingless monster. She has every right to hate me. 

I won't approach Khushi anymore. Not unless she talks to me first. Nothing is more important than that beautiful smile on Khushi Gupta's face. My past is meant to be forgotten. Like Akaash said I could make new memories.

However, the sad part about my life is that I cannot make Khushi a part of these memories. She hates my presence. She hates me. And the hurt in her eyes hurts me.

Lying on my back I shut my eyes as strange tiredness took over me. My mind and body both were exhausted by today's activity. Doing my breathing exercises I fell into a deep sleep.

The salty smell of blood assaulted my nostril. 

The pain in my shoulder was excruciating. 

I tried to move but the seatbelt made it difficult. The car was upside down. I wiggled my body trying to find a way to get out of the vehicle. Somehow I found the clasp of the belt using my other hand. But then bright lights blurred my vision the distance between us kept reducing. And then a loud deafening sound echoed in my ears.

My eyes flashed open in the next second. Breathless I sat on the bed rubbing my face trying to come to terms with the fact that I dreamt about another memory of my accident. 

I looked towards the transparent poolside door. It was almost evening. Another day ended. Another night began. Sighing I stood up moving towards my almirah and picked out the first set of clothes I could find. The need to freshen up made me rush to the washroom.

Khushi POV

Hi Dhruv. How are you?

Hi Khushi Maam. I am fine. I wish we could meet again tomorrow but our class is scheduled for the day after tomorrow.

Awee. My sweetu. Don't worry. We can call each other frequently. Then you won't miss me.

Good idea Maam.

We kept talking to each other as I ironed my clothes. Dhruv is such an intelligent and beautiful soul. He is so much more than a 10-year-old. His Dad is his hero. And he is best friends with his Nannav Chachu. We played twenty questions getting to know each other in the process.

An hour later we hung up and I turned to close my bedroom window, only to see Jeeji standing at the corner of our street talking to Akaashji with a strange smile on her face. How come she is in touch with Akaashji? When did the two meet? Am I missing something?  I need to have a chat with her.

I should tell her about Arnavji. Or else that man will use Akaashji as an excuse to hurt me again. Arnav Singh Raizadas demonic ways of handling life are frightening at times. Maybe he should consult an exorcist.

Nope. Not again. Devi Maiyya I won't let his thoughts dominate my mind. Never. Never again. I shut both the windows. The one in my bedroom. And the other of my heart. Arnavji betrayed Lavanyaji's trust. And his behavior is not surprising at all. It happened to me too. This time not even hatred for this man will consume me. I swear Devi Maiyya. I swear. 

Tomorrow I will meet Lavanyaji. She must be heartbroken by  Mr. Raizadas act of betrayal. She needs support. Like I did once. But unlike me, she won't be alone. I will be there to hold her. That's what a good friend is supposed to do. I mused.

Lavanya POV

Sitting on the corner table of the restaurant I sipped my chai latte trying to curb my desperation to see Chamkeeli. I will be meeting her again after so long. So much has changed in these few weeks. The last time we saw each other Khushi had done the task of getting ASRs nod for our official engagement. With tears of happiness, my friend had hugged me with a warmth that reminded me of my family.

But today the circumstances of my life have taken a 180-degree turn. I am a single woman looking forward to closing the chapter of ASR from my life. Wiping the single tear that fell from my eye pocket I kept looking out of the window to get a glimpse of my friend.

She finally arrived almost banging into the waiter but caught herself at the last second. I chuckled at the whirlwind girl who always manages to bring a smile to my face. Unable to control my happiness I called out to her.

Khushi.

Lavanyaji.

Keeping my mug on the table I stood up only to rush to her side. Chamkeeli hugged me to herself in a second making me grin. We held each other for a little longer. Till I lost my grin and sadness took over me. She sensed the change in my mood rather quickly.

What happened Lavanyaji? Please tell me everything. I am here. That Rakshas has crossed all the limits this time. He needs to answer me. I have the right to punish...

Chamkeeli...

Holding her hand I took her to my table and sat in silence for a while. On the center of the table, a small vase held a red rose. A camouflage. But of course, when you look at things from a different perspective everything appears to be more real and raw.

This flower is fake Chamkeeli. But from a distance, it looks real. So was my relationship with ASR. But still, I hoped. I hoped against hope that our relationship would survive. On Diwali night suddenly ASR agreed to our engagement. His decision overwhelmed me. But then...

Then what Lavanyaji? Did he hurt you furthermore? Rakshas toh rakshas hi rahega...

(A monster will always remain just that..a monster).

No.

No?

Her big eyes looked at me enquiringly. As if she was doubting my sanity. Is she not aware of ASRs accident? Wait she keeps calling him a monster. Oh no. She has no idea. She is clueless. Has no one informed her? Scared of her reaction I questioned her. And observed how my doubts became a reality.

Khushi you know about ASRs accident right?

WHAT...? WHAT ACCIDENT?

Watching the color on Khushi's face disappear, a quote by James Campion Conway reverberated in the palace of my mind.

Thrown from my secure life, whether by chance or the Powers That Be, I was sitting on a skipping stone and it was fear, not confidence, that was increasing with the ripples of uncertainty. Mine had become a world without center.

My world shook drastically as realization dawned upon me. I could clearly see the reflection of my heartbreak inside Khushi Kumari Gupta's eyes. Oh no. No. No no no. How did I miss this? How could I not see this love...and perhaps...devotion? Was ASR ever aware of Khushi's feelings? I closed my eyes as guilt and remorse flooded my senses.

On the night of Diwali Chamkeeli was not crying happy tears. Nope. This woman was weeping because she lost all hope when ASR announced his decision about our engagement. Her one sided love was over in seconds. Please forgive me god. Please forgive me. I wish I could have done something worthwhile for my friend.

.

.

.

.

Precap:

Guilt consumes Khushi as she recalls her rudeness towards Arnav Singh Raizada;

Captain Vikram will be back soon.