Part - 19
Dhruv POV
Time works at its own pace. It is slow. It is fast. Or simply moderate. It flows like water. It runs down like sand between our fingers. We can never judge its pattern. It holds a different perspective for every person.
My mind was blank. No thoughts were running inside my brain. And the reason for this feeling is the photo on my smartphone. Popsi had started dating a woman last month. After mom's death, he refrained from meeting anyone of the opposite sex. For a while, I was worried for him. He has every right to move on. Recently when he shared this information relief flooded my senses.
This morning after a lot of insistence on my part he shared the photo of the same woman. And it is a huge coincidence that she is Lavanya Kashyap. Nannav Chachu's ex-girlfriend. But the most shocking part of this entire fiasco was that she resembled Mom. She looked just like the woman whose memories continue to haunt me even to this day. Three years ago when we lost Mom to cancer my life turned upside down and so did Dad's.
With trembling fingers, I caressed the picture of Ms Kashyap. She stood with Pops smiling into the camera. For the first time, my father was smiling a real smile. This was not the fake one which he sported after my Mom's death. Hope flared inside me. Could she be the answer to my prayers? Could she bring the lost happiness back into our lives? Before my mind could comprehend more, Popsi's name flashed over my device. With a sigh, I answered the call.
Hey kid...
Hey Popsi...
For a while, none of us spoke a word. The silence was not uncomfortable. Rather it appealed to both our senses. My mind was clouded with thoughts of Lavanya Kashyap. Dad was dating a woman who resembled Mom. He finally found her again. Maybe in a different soul, but he has.
Let's cut the chase kid. How did you feel when I shared La's photo with you?
She...she is... that face is always beautiful. I could admire her ages. It feels like 'she' has returned.
Dad chuckled nervously. I knew that laugh well. He wanted my approval. He was scared of my response. My disapproval. But there was nothing to be afraid of. How could I feel mad about this? How can I ever feel any sort of hatred for a woman who was my Mom's doppelganger?
I just...I just could not stay away from her. She is not like your Mom. But somehow La makes my dead heartbeat.
I grinned feeling the happiness behind his tone. Finally, my widowed father took a second chance. The path might be laid with difficulties, however, if Lavanya Kashyap can fill the void in our hearts then no one can stop her from joining our family. We could be an awesome threesome again.
Then I would love to meet her Dad.
Satisfied by my answer Pops changed the subject and asked me about Nannav and Akaash Chachu's double wedding. He was invited as well but due to his work commitments, he could only attend the wedding ceremony. Also, Pops wished to bring his lady love along with him. However, both of us were aware of the history between Ms Kashyap and Nannav chachu. We were doubtful about her attendance. But, I wanted to meet the woman who resembled my dead mother. Call it the loneliness of a motherless child. We ended the call after some time.
Laying on my bed I drifted away to my dreamland. A fantasy world wherein no one had any malice towards the other. All were happy. And I had everything that I desired.
Khushi POV
After the Raizadas left my family chose to retire to their rooms. There was too much to do in the coming days. Rest was important at this point in our lives. My parents and aunt had to bid goodbye to both their daughters together. Exhaustion took over me and I fell asleep within minutes of laying on my bed.
After what seemed to be only a few minutes but were mere hours I woke up parched. Blinking my eyes I sat up on my bed and drank the water from the jug beside me. Jeeji was soundly sleeping beside me. A while later my eyes noticed the phone on the nightstand. It was blinking. Signalling a missed call.
I quickly picked up the device. Arnavji had tried calling me a few minutes back. I checked the time. It was 3.45 am. Why is he awake at this time? Could he not sleep properly? Or did he have a nightmare? Post the accident he did have bad dreams. The accident and our pricking past made it difficult for him to have a proper sleep. Knowing that he was looking for some relief I quickly called back and stood beside the window.
Khushi...
Arnavji? What's wrong? Do you sound weird? Sab theek hai na?
(Everything alright?)
Silence greeted me. He was on the call. I could hear his shallow breaths but he did not respond. My eyes glanced at the full moon that shined through the night. Maybe one-day Arnavji and I too will shine together. Like this beautiful moonlight.
Do you look beautiful in white? Bilkul ek pari ki tarah.
(Just like a fairy).
The small light voice sounded unsure and shook slightly. I looked down at my white suit as comprehension dawned upon me. He is here. I looked outside from the window only to notice his car across the street. He appeared to be tired and restless. Scarlet patches blazed furiously on my cheeks. The weak smile he passed me was my undoing. Without a second thought, I picked up my discarded dupatta from the bed and rushed outside to meet my future husband.
By the time I reached him he was leaning against the driver's seat. Watching the discouraged and depressed look in his eyes I flew like a speck of hay into his
arms. The unexpected act made him lose his balance but he somehow managed to catch me and stand straight. Like a tight rope, he wrapped his arms around me. The firm grip made me aware that he was afraid of being away from me. I rubbed the back of his neck to calm him.
Phir koi bura sapna dekha aapne? Hum hain na Arnavji. Dekhiyega ek din aapko sab yaad aajayega aur...
(Another nightmare? I am here with you Arnavji. I promise one day you will remember everything and then...)
Diwali ke din kya hua tha humare beech Khushi?
(What happened between us on the night of Diwali Khushi?)
A gasp escaped my lips hearing the dreadful words from his mouth. He knew everything that happened between us but Arnavji never asked for the details. I mostly skipped them to avoid the guilt that he displayed after every such conversation. Swallowing the tightness in my throat I pulled back from his embrace. Clouds rumbled in the background. As if announcing the arrival of a heavy storm.
The intense and heated glare caused a shiver down my spine. The determination behind his eyes overwhelmed me. I did not wish to relive that night. Rather than answering his question I cocked my head upwards watching the lightning that struck the night sky.
Mausam khrab hone wale hai. Hume andar jaana chahiye.
(The weather does not look good.
I should go inside).
I tried to shrug off his hold on mine, but he hauled me roughly to his body in a manner that I crash on his chest. He trailed his fingers down my spine and pulled me even closer.
Arnav, leave me. I have to go.
I muttered in mock anger. My heart thundered like a machine gun. We were close enough to feel each other's breath. He was not in the mood to accept any of my excuses. I knew that even if I began to weep he won't budge. I could finally see him with perfect clarity. The ASR persona. The control freak was no longer peeping at me. He was out in the open. But this time his motives were different.
You are not going anywhere Khushi. You are coming with me.
He replied hoarsely. And then everything happened so quickly that it felt like a blur. A hyperlapse. Dragging me with him he pushed me behind the wheel and then we zoomed away from Laxmi Nagar. I tried to stop him. I tried to question his madness. However, he was in no mood to hear me out. It seemed like he was the only passenger in the four-wheeled vehicle.
This was the first time after his amnesia that I witnessed the dark passenger within Arnavji. I clapped my forehead for my silliness. It was foolish to assume that ASR had disappeared for always and forever. He was simply on the other side waiting for the right time to appear and surprise the hell out of me. Devi Maiyya ye phir se kyun wapas aagaye? Lost in my musings I took my own sweet time to acknowledge the fact that we were no longer moving.
(Why has he returned Devi Maiyya?)
The SUV was parked at the edge of a cliff. My eyes took in the person sitting beside me. Arnavji clutched the steering with his hands, his protruding knuckles made me purse my lips. The rigid jaw and the harsh breaths made me sigh in displeasure. It was pointless to avoid this conversation. Making a snap decision I confessed the most painful moments of the toxic relationship we once shared.
You almost kissed me that night. And when I confronted you about the same you ignored my questions and chose to announce your marriage with Lavanyaji.
I could feel his eyes on me. But I chose to continue. It was now or never. Slowly and gradually I shared all the details of Diwali with the man who sat beside me. When I mentioned his hurtful words about him being rich and me trying to trap him he banged the dashboard startling me. For a few minutes, none of us uttered a single word. The silence was frightening. However, Arnavji whispered the four words that felt like a scream echoing around us.
Koi matlab nahi hai.
(It means nothing).
They were enough for me to break. Leaning on the headrest I allowed my tears to flow down my cheeks. Koi matlab nahi hai. The same words that pushed me into a dark corner for a long time. The words that caused so much pain and sorrow. His confession after that almost kiss. The one that made me feel like a cheap woman trying to grab my friend's fiances attention. I cleared my throat and whispered the words back. The hurt behind my voice was obvious.
Koi matlab nahi hai.
Itna bada fareb. Itna bada dhoka. Khel gaya main tumhare dil se Khushi Kumari Gupta. Aur tumne kuch nai kia?
(Fraud. Such a kind of betrayal. I played with the strings of your heart Khushi Kumari Gupta. And you did nothing in return?)
I turned my head to the side to see him leaning, his face mere inches from me. And I could finally see the telltale sign of true terror in his eyes. Desperation bled through his every movement as if nothing had ever been clearer. This could mean only one thing. The night terrors were haunting him. Our past was haunting him. My pain was reflected in the depth of his eyes. An ocean of pain.
Kyun uss pal ko yaad krke khudko aur mujhko taqleef de rhe hain aap Arnavji?
(Why are you troubling yourself and me by recalling that disturbing evening Arnavji?)
Cupping my cheek with his hand Arnavji crossed the little distance between us. Feeling his forehead against mine I shuddered by the dam of emotions that was ready to burst out of me at any moment.
Using his thumb he wiped the tears that escaped my eye pockets.
How can we feel so much for each other? Why is our love so strange? Why cannot we be like any other normal couple?
I can do nothing else apart from feeling guilty Khushi. So please forgive me. And remember one thing...
He crashed his lips against mine trying to swallow my hurt and pain. I moved my lips along with him. We were not kissing. We were making up for the loss. For all the times when we could have been together but retreated behind excuses. Wrapping my arms around his neck I allowed him to dominate the kiss. He was apologizing to me. Recalling that nightmarish evening was not easy. But I feel so light after sharing the details of that day with my would-be husband.
Sometime later he let go of my lips which were now swollen. Courtesy of Arnav Singh Raizada. I pulled away from his embrace but held one of his hands in mine. My eyes were glued to our hands. They were entwined. I rubbed my thumb over the back of his hand to calm him. I looked back in those love-filled orbs and tried to lighten the mood.
Don't apologize. I will thoroughly punish you after our marriage. You will be scared even if someone would mention the word wife.
Finally, after a long while, I was greeted with a beautiful sight. His lips curled, dimples bracketing sin.
Meanwhile, another flash of lightning spider-webbed across the sky and rain started to pick up. Thankfully both of us were sitting safely in the SUV. Or else we would have fallen sick. Lifting my palm in mid-air Arnav Singh Raizada touched my wrist with his lips. My heart fluttered feeling his warm touch. But then suddenly I remembered something about our earlier conversation.
Did you dream about Diwali night? Or your accident?
He stared at the windshield for a while. The raindrops cascaded down the glass as if every one of them were a part of a secret marathon that we were unaware of. Arnavji was stalling. I knew that. So I gave him time to frame his thoughts.
Both.
Oh.
Arnav POV
Did you dream about Diwali night? Or your accident?
My strength. My woman. My Khushi. She forgave me so easily. But still the guilt of hurting the woman who I claim to love consumed me. Disgusted. That's what I felt for my past self. It is good that someone above in the sky took the initiative to punish me. I deserve worse than amnesia for breaking the iron lady Khushi Gupta. However, I am selfish too. I cannot give up on her. I know she deserves more than a twisted man like me. But if she still wants a future with me it would be a blunder mistake to push her away. Watching the rain droplets on the windshield I answered her question.
Both.
Oh.
I keenly observed her reaction. She only displayed empathy. No hatred. No malice. Not even an ounce of anger. I am blessed to have a woman like Khushi in my life. Trying to recall everything about the nightmare I disclosed the additional details of my memory. The honking sound of another truck, the way it moved as if the driver was hell-bent on murdering me. She flinched listening to every word of mine. I knew that it was wrong of me to reveal such facts. But hiding things won't make things any easier.
Matlab koi aapko maarna chahta tha? Par kyun Arnavji? Koi aisa kyun karega?
(This means someone is trying to kill you? But why Arnavji? Why would somebody do that?)
Patani Khushi. Might be a rival who took nasty measures to remove me from the picture.
(No idea Khushi).
Tears sprouted in her eyes and my heart wept tears of blood. As if I swallowed a handful of broken glass. The fact that someone tried to kill me made her so sad. Damn it. This is annoying. I always become the reason for her tears. Gosh. I am ASR the billionaire businessman who can control everything. But my power and money cannot buy happiness for her.
Listen to me Khushi soon to be Raizada. You have shed thousands of tears for me. But this stops now. I will look after everything. Leave it all to your husband. You are only supposed to look beautiful and happy now. Got it.
Placing my hand on her nape I pulled her form to me and kissed her forehead. Wiping those tears I nodded my head in her direction as if asking her to agree to my demands. She understood the gesture and whispered a yes in her soft voice making me smile. I could see a glimpse of mischief in her eyes. As I looked at her enquiringly she lifted one side of her mouth. Her lips called me like a siren. Gulping the rising emotions inside me I lifted my brow.
Do din baad hum dono ki sagai hai, aur jeeji aur humari mehendi. Angoothi pehnane ke baad se leke shaadi tak aap aur hum nai mil sakte.
(After two days we will get engaged and my sister and I will have our mehendi. Also once you put a ring on my finger then we won't be allowed to see each other till the wedding).
I smirked hearing the absurdity from her mouth. Folding my arms across my chest I saw the challenge that reflected on her features. So Khushi Kumari Gupta is under the assumption that I would sit quietly while everyone will keep us separated. Interesting. Well, she is in for a surprise then.
Oh really? Aur kaun rokega mujhe?
(And who would stop me?)
Her expression took a different turn. Shocked by my question she tried to make me understand the significance of the custom. But there was nothing that could keep me away from this woman. Nothing at all.
This is a tradition.
Exactly Khushi. It is a tradition, not a ritual. And I will see you whenever I wish to. Mujhe koi nai rok sakta. Not even you.
(No one can stop me).
Saying to I turned the key in the ignition and drove away from the cliff. Khushi was still very deep in her thoughts when we arrived at her house. I could not help but admire my soon to be wife. She sat still but chewed her lower lip with a faraway look in her eyes. I shook my head as strange happiness bubbled inside me feeling her presence this close to me.
It is almost 5 in the morning. Ghar nai jaana Khushi?
(Don't you want to go home Khushi?)
A gasp escaped her lips as she noticed her surroundings. She glared in my direction in anger while I simply passed her a flying kiss. Her mouth fell open in shock. Narrowing her eyes Khushi muttered something like badtameez and then turned away from me to unlock her door. As she descended from my SUV she spoke to me in a no-nonsense tone.
Hum bhi dekhte hain aap humse engagement ke baad kaise milenge!
(I will also make sure that after the engagement you won't be able to see me till the wedding!)
I chuckled watching her march towards her house. The challenge she threw at me caused a strange excitement within me. I was prepared to defeat this woman. She needs a reminder that I am ASR. The one who can move mountains to be with her. Nothing can separate the two of us. Nothing at all.
Shyam POV
It is time to scare Arnav Singh Raizada yet again. My enemy, my cousin is getting engaged in two days. Then it is my job to give him a unique gift on this special occasion. Just wait and watch ASR. Watch how I crumble your colourful world.
You destroyed my family. You took away my only strength. The murderer of my father will feel excruciating pain and loneliness soon enough. You did not die from that accident. But amnesia made you weak. One bad incident with Khushi and you felt vulnerable. This is just the beginning of your end dear ASR. You took away my land. My Sheesh Mahal. Now I won't think twice before destroying your world.
Sir! That truck driver who we hired to kill ASR was caught by the police this morning.
WHAT!?! HOW?! I TOLD YOU TO MAKE HIM DISAPPEAR?! THEN HOW DID THIS HAPPEN??!?
I held the collar of one of men who shook in fear of my wrath. I sneered. How did that man get caught? It's been months already. He was supposed to stay low for a year. No. No-no-no. No one can spoil my plans. Just no. I shook him harshly giving him my coldest stare.
S...sorry...sorry Sir. That...that man...Aman Mathur hired detectives to hunt our man...
Pushing him behind me I walked towards my desk. This cannot happen. I need to think of something fast enough. This ASR is trying to trap me. If he thinks that I will fall into his trap then the man is a nutcase. My thirst for revenge has kept me alive and safe so far. Any Arnav Raizada won't spoil my plans. Looking at my father's photo frame on the desk, I picked it up and caressed it with my fingers.
Arnav will face hell Dad. I promise.
.
.
.
Precap: Arnav and Khushi share some special moments; Shyam plays his next move.
