Arnav's eyes met her's , a smile on his face as he watched her, every movement from the time she opened her eyes seemed heightened, her senses were sharper, and it was perceptive to every emotion that played out on her husband's face, his care seemed to have increased manifold in intensity as he treated her like a delicate rose.
She felt his fingers gently trace the side of her face, moving the loose strands away from her line of sight as he bend closer,
" how are feeling princess ?? "
Khushi could only stare at him in return, everything that happened before she lost her consciousness played out in her mind, she remembered her drastic actions, her reckless behaviour, her own attempts to take her life, a life that she given this man who was watching her with only love in his eyes, she knew he was hurt and more than hurt, he was scared. And yet he was talking to her as though nothing mattered more than her well-being to him, she looked around the room, everyone in her family was there, Sayali and Samar were standing nearby, Alaka & Payal were right behind Arnav while Akash was sitting on the other side of the bed, Aryan was present too and so were 3 new faces, but their presence didnt trouble her because her heart was laden with guilt, deep mind numbing guilt at her own actions, she felt tears well up in her eyes as her gaze shifted back to Arnav. It began to glide down freely and Arnav gathered her into his arms as she wept, he cradled her like she was a baby and she clung to him, his words were trying to soothe her,
" Ssshh Khushi ... its okay. Everything is okay and under control.
Please don't cry princess ... no one is going to hurt you ... you know I will never let anyone mess with you again.
Khushi ... please stop crying sweetheart or else it will affect your health. "
Khushi pulled back and looked at Arnav with wide innocent eyes, her expression of agony was breaking his heart as each second passed,
"Arnav I am really sorry. I am so sorry for what I did a while back.
I was reckless and I acted rashly. I know I must have caused you so much pain, trying to take my own life. A life that I promised I would share with you ... live with you.
What if you hadn't reached me on time ... what if you hadn't stopped me on time ... I would have been de... "
Arnav didnt let her complete her words as he covered her mouth with his hands,
" Hush Khushi ... don't even say such a thing !
I would never be late Khushi ... I will always reach you the minute you need me.
I would never let you slip away from me !
You are right ... I was hurt .. I was scared Khushi !
You terrified me and for that you will have to make it upto me "
He leaned in closer so that only she could hear,
"make it upto me when we are alone "
Said Arnav as he looked at her with a hint of a small smile, they just looked at each other for a while, no one in the room spoke a word, they just wanted Khushi to be fine and they could see that Arnav was bringing her back to normalcy.
Khushi turned and looked at Pari Payal and Akash who were looking at her anxiously, when she smiled at them, all three of them rushed to her side, Akash was the first one who pulled her into a tight hug, crushing her in his arms,
"don't you dare do that again Bhabhi !
Don't you dare even think about it again ... its not you who should go ... its the scum that should be wiped away and promise you Bhabhi , we will wipe out the vermins in front of your eyes.
We need you always ... we need to see you and Bhai together forever. "
Khushi looked at Pari who had tears in her eyes,
" I lost Rahul already Bhabhi and now I have only you, you aren't just Bhai's wife for me but you are the only remaining living memory of Rahul with me ... I can't loose you as well !! " said Pari as she broke down crying and Khushi reached for her and together the 2 ladies cried over their shared loss and pain. "
Payal touched Khushi on her shoulder, she smiled at her,
" you know what Khushi ... I just got my sister back ... and you are my only family today. And you know am pretty much the most selfish bitch around here so yeah am not ready to let go of the only person whom I can claim as family. So yeah next time such wild thoughts enter your head, am going to tie you up for a month atleast ! " joked Payal playfully as everyone laughed for the first time, the atmosphere in the room lightened a bit.
Sayali and Samar were the last to reach her, they looked at her with such love that for a minute Khushi felt she had her mother back, she could feel her mother's presence in the two people smiling at her, Sayali placed a kiss on her forehead while Samar stroked her hair,
" we don't have much to say sweetheart, everyone has said everything but this is what we have to tell you, you are a daughter of this house, our eldest son's wife, you will be the one who will take the Raizada lineage ahead and if anyone tries to cause you pain, then they will be dealt with the iron fist of nothing short of mortal death. " said Samar who looked at Khushi with such fatherly possessiveness which left even Arnav stunned because he had never seen his father like that ever before.
Khushi shifted her attention back to the three people standing in the room, smiling at her gently, she looked at Arnav confused, who decided not to further her confusion and quickly made introductions and Khushi was positively happy once Alisha Zeeshan and Rehaan interacted with her, she had never met anyone among Arnav's friends and she was only too happy to meet that people in her husband's life beyond his family.
Once she felt a little better, Sayali insisted on everyone having a sound healthy meal and everyone got ready and headed downstairs, it was happy chaos as the family and the new members all chatted, the conversations were all kept happy and light, no one's behaviour indicated the impending storm that awaited them in the form of Nikhil Vaid and his friends, for now all that mattered was that the family had a good time.
Khushi was tense inside but she wanted to regain her strength a bit before she faced the demons again, Arnav was by her side as they silently fed each other while their family teased them which they enjoyed and played along with.
To Alisha Zeeshan & Rehaan, it was a revelation to see Arnav so happy and relaxed, they knew that Arnav & Khushi was a match made in heaven and their hearts warmed to Khushi who despite having lived a traumatic existence had still let Arnav's love win her heart and the darkness in her life.
After the meal, Arnav took Khushi with him for a walk in the gardens behind their home, nothing was said as they walked together, Khushi nestled in his arms, her hands wrapped around his waist, they walked on until they came to the small rivulet running through the garden, they sat down by the side and let the water lap their feet as they leaned against the birch tree behind them, enjoying the silent wind of the night, stars had lit up the night sky and Khushi seemed lost in them, when a voice spoke nearby,
" talking to Rahul .. aren't you ?? " .. it was Arnav's voice and Khushi could only smile in return,
" I was telling him everything ... I wish he was still with us .. if not for my sake ... atleast for Pari. Pari spends her life trying to make us all happy Arnav but I can sense her loneliness, she loves Rahul so much that his loss still haunts her, I wish there was something we do for her. "
Arnav pulled her close as he looked at the stars,
" I trust Rahul ... he has taken care of you well when he was around .. he gave my sister love ... his love was so powerful that she fought for her love even after it left her and I trust the same love to bring her happiness again Khushi.
Pari will find her happiness soon ... she wont have to wait long. "
Khushi looked at Arnav who spoke with conviction, her worries were returning,
" what's going to happen now Arnav ??
Nikhil has those tapes ... and he will release it if we try harming him.
Isn't there any end to this nightmare ! "
Arnav gently turned her to face him as he pulled her closer, his eyes were an inch away from her's ,
" those tapes will all be destroyed without any trace evidence.
Nikhil wont be able to cause any harm princess. He will die before any of that is attempted.
I have got it all sorted and very soon things will fall into place. " said Arnav who then explained his plan in detail to Khushi who looked more and more terrified at her husband's foolproof planning.
The thought of the fate that awaited Nikhil made her tremble, but she felt no pain at his suffering, neither did she wish for it, she felt numb, she knew that things would soon kick into motion and the tragedy of her past would be closed once and for all.
She had another more pressing fear which she couldn't help but voice out to Arnav,
"and what if his men try to hurt you Arnav ?
What if they try to hurt anyone amongst our family ?
I can't bear the pain again Arnav ... and I can't even live with the thought of losing you. "
Arnav stroked the side of her face as he gently smiled at her,
"I will safe Khushi ... everyone will be safe. And you will never loose me, you are going to wake up in my arms every morning and sleep in my arms every night.
This is always going to be our reality and I will not let anyone come between us and that. Its a promise. "
Khushi looked at Arnav and did the first thing her heart told her to do, she placed her lips against his, overcome by the need to be close to him , by the need to be with him in any way that was possible.
Arnav didnt hold back as he kissed her thoroughly, a few whispered words of love , passionate murmurs and lot of love and they were lost in their world, surrounded by nothing but the divine beauty of nature's night wonders, the moonlight casting a pearly shadow over the lovers.
A while later they walked back hand in hand, Zeeshan Rehaan and Alisha had left after promising to meet them the next day, Aryan had also left and now it was just the Raizadas, talking, watching TV, the time passed and almost all of them were drowsy after the exhausting day, Sayali came to Khushi who was slightly sleepy as she had her head on Arnav's shoulder,
" Arnav why don't you let Khushi sleep with me today, you can sleep with your papa. "
Arnav looked at Khushi, he was reluctant to stay away from her, Khushi also looked a bit sad but at the same time she seemed happy to spend time with Sayali so he reluctantly agreed and Sayali had to laugh at her son's expression,
"relax Arnav .. its just for one night ... rest of your lives ... Khushi is always going to be with you. "
Arnav blushed slightly while Khushi turned tomato red, but being the shameless one, Arnav got up and kissed Khushi on her cheeks before wishing his mother goodnight and then bounded off with his dad while Sayali took Khushi with her.
But the night had more surprises, it was a night when every child in the Raizada household experienced parental love in a special way, Khushi insisted that Alaka also join them while Arnav insisted Akash to join him along with Samar.
And so that night, the family slept in the same room, in 2 different beds, one one, there was Sayali at the middle with Alaka and Khushi on her either side, both the girl's needed their mother who gently erased the pain they had both suffered for so long while on the other bed, Samar had Arnav and Akash envelope him from either side, the sons taking strength from their father for the struggle for justice that awaited them, the father imbibing the wisdom of his age and his love for his sons further into their hearts.
A night of absolute bliss and contentment.
A night of unconditional love.
Blissful
ReplyDelete