Part20

Khushi touched Lucknow but her heart was not with her. She was thinking about Arnav since she boarded into flight. She couldn't believe that she was really at Lucknow. In an hour, she will be in front of her mother. She waved for auto and hired to go to the Hospital where Garima admit was.

She enquired in the reception and started walking to the room which was allotted. When she was coming to the room she saw "ICU patient attendant room". she saw a big crowd was sitting there and chitchatting. Some of them were watching their favorite daily soap in TV. She didn't find Buaji there.

Then she went to the room 467 as receptionist told. Buaji was watching TV lying on the bed. Buaji was surprised seeing Khushi in the Hospital.

Buaji: Arrey SankaDevi... how did you come here?

Khushi: I'm here to see Amma Buaji. I'm in leave.

Buaji: What about your boss's mother? Who will take care of her?

Khushi: She was admitted in the Hospital. As I'm free my boss granted my leave.

Buaji: Because of good hearted person like him only still it's raining. How good quality man he is! I wish him get all the happiness in the world.

Khushi(gulping): Where is Amma? I want to see her.

Buaji: she is in ICU. You can't see her whenever you want. We can only see her when Doctors permit us. Wait they will call us.

Khushi: What? Can't I be with her? I thought to serve her Buaji..

Buaji: No way. It may cause infection. She was undergone with kidney transplantation. Not some simple surgery. Understood? She will be protected at least for two months like this.

Khushi(shocking): What? Won't they shift her to common ward?

Buaji: No. she will be in incubation. It will protect her from getting infected. You can take care of your mother after two months.

Khushi: Every patient who undergoing the operation is to be like that?

Buaji: I don't think so.

Khushi: Then?

Buaji(whispering): Didn't I say, Garima is getting ROYAL treatment here? I'm so tension free as Garima is safe here. This hospital canteen food is so tasty and hygienic. I'm not even thinking about going home. She stated proudly.

Khushi was so numb to utter a single ward. No one could understand what she was undergoing right now.

Buaji( hitting her forehead): where were you lost?

Khushi: haan...ohhh then what I will do here?

Buaji: Who called you here? Just see your mother and get satisfied.

Khushi understood that her role was not needed here. At last Khushi was allowed to see Garima from far away. She was not allowed to touch her. Garima smiled at her. After Khushi came out from the ICU, Buaji went inside to see Garima. This is Hospital rules.

Khushi was fed up sitting in the hospital. So she decided to go home. Buaji gave Garima's bangles and chain to keep inside the locker as she couldn't keep it safely in the hospital. Khushi took leave from Buaji and went home. she need to get fresh.

GH

She arrived at her home. she got fresh and went to Garima's room to keep the jewels in the locker. She kept it inside, that's when something caught her attention. It was nothing but RATNA's chain. She took it out and opened it to see "Chotte". Her eyes welled up instantly.

Khushi: where are you? Do you know me? Did Ratna aunty tell about me? Do you even know I'm waiting for you since long? I'm also in Delhi in the place where you are living, so close to you. Can not you feel me? Are you real or illusion? Am I wasting my life? She sighed and kept the chain in her bag.

When she came out, She heard.. "Didi"... it's none other than Suraj.

Suraj: Didi...

Khushi: Chotte..how are you?

Suraj: fine. you came?

Khushi: Yes.

Suraj: You won't go right?

Khushi: I'm in leave. For one week.

Suraj face dropped.

Suraj: Did you come by Train?

Khushi: No. By Flight.

Suraj(excitedly): Really? Do you have the ticket? Please show me na....

Khushi: wait.

She removed her "return ticket" and gave it to him.

Suraj: Wow. Hey...Rohit.... Maanav... Vikaas.... See here... flight ticket. He waved it.

In few seconds a group of boys came there by running. They got super excited seeing flight ticket for first time. They started snatching it from one another's hand. Next minute the ticket got torn in to pieces. Khushi's jaw dropped seeing that. her eyes went wide open. Everyone ran away from the place leaving Suraj all alone with Khushi. Suraj started crying.

Suraj: Didi please forgive me. I called them to show the ticket. I didn't do it deliberately.

Khushi felt bad for him, because she knew he didn't do it knowingly.

Khushi: it's ok. stop crying.

Suraj: will your boss scold you?

Khushi thinks about Arnav.

Khushi: He won't scold me.

Suraj(wiping his tears): Is he that much good?

Khushi was stuck for second. "Is he that much good?"She smiled at him without saying anything. She went back to the Hospital thinking about it.

RM

"LONELINESS" is a novelty feel. It brings happiness when you willingly accept it, but it hurts when someone else gives it.

Arnav was not at all Arnav. He was someone, ever seen before. He was not staying at home nor did he go to AR. He was pushing his "time" to pass. He spends most of his time in long drive. He couldn't bear the loneliness, where he used to be alone before Khushi coming into. Now he was suffocating to be there without hearing her anklet sound. His tongue was demanding her hand made food. His mind was wavering around her room. He couldn't imagine "Khushi less" life. What will he do if she doesn't come back? If he couldn't tolerate this small separation then what will he do if she refused to accept him? That mere thought itself made him scare. First time in his life Arnav Singh Raizada felt so powerless. He sat with thud. His eyes tear up instantly. He felt the same when he saw her mother was dying in front of his eyes. This one girl makes him helpless. Did he take a wrong decision of sending her to luck now?

His expression changed in a second. He became beast. No. He couldn't let it happen this time. Arnav Singh Raizada will never lose. He will show what his power is.

City Hospital, Lucknow.

Khushi was sitting in the room while Buaji sleeping. That's when intercom rang and she picked it.

Receptionist: Call for you Mam... can I connect?

Khushi: yah...

Receptionist: one second Mam..

She connected it...

Khushi: Hello...Who is speaking?

No response.

Khushi: Hello..... who is that?

Still silence...

Khushi: If you don't want to talk then why did you call me? Don't you have any other work? What are you thinking of me haan? Why the hell are you called me?

She freezes hearing "Because I love you".

For a while there was silence on both sides

Khushi: Aaaaap?

Arnav: Who else other than me has the guts to say "I love you"?

Khushi was silent.

Arnav: How is your mother?

Khushi: she is fine.

Arnav: You?

Khushi: Jee I'm good.

Arnav: Won't you ask me "how are you?"

Khushi was silent.

Arnav: Khushi....

Khushi: I know you are fine.

Arnav(sarcastically): Really?

Khushi: yes. After all you writes your own destiny.... She mocked.

Arnav closed his eyes and fisted his fingers. Yes he writes his own destiny. This is the first time he doubted that he wrote it wrong by sending her to Lucknow.

Khushi sensed, something is surely wrong with him.

Khushi: Thank you.

Now Arnav was silent.

Khushi: For everything Arnavji....

Arnav: Mmmm. Take care. He disconnected the call.

Arnav was suffocating by her absence. He just wanted to hear her voice. That's all. At least it could make his barren mind cool. He didn't get angry when she scolds him. After all he wanted to hear her voice. He wanted this one week go in swift. That's all.

As he wished... it's gone.....

After one week.

Arnav came to AR as some of the files needed his signature. Aman could feel tension in Arnav's face. Today, Khushi should have return in afternoon flight. Arnav was looking at his watch again and again. Aman's stomach was mixed up in fear. Aman saw Arnav was leaving.

Aman: ASR, where are you going?

Arnav: Don't you know? I'm going to Airport to pick Khushi up.

Aman: But you can send Mohan..

Arnav(cutting him): One week.... After one week.. I'm going to see her. Remember?

Aman: she will come to RM only right?

Arnav: I can't wait any more.

Aman: But...

Arnav left AR without giving ears to his words. Aman was hell tensed to see Arnav so curious. And he knew what will be the outcome if Khushi will not come. Aman took out his mobile and dialed someone's number.

In car

Arnav got a call. He turned his Bluetooth on and it was Aman. Arnav rolled his eye.

Aman: ASR... you no need to go to Air port.

Arnav(frowning): Why?

Aman: ASR please come back.

Arnav: Tell me why?

Aman: Ohh... ASR...

Arnav(shouting): Tell me damn it.

Aman: Khushi didn't get board in the flight .

Arnav clinched his jaws.

Arnav(cutting him): I want my chopper ready in an hour.

Aman: ASR listen to me...

Arnav(shouting): Shut up Aman.... Did I do any wrong move towards her? Then what's her problem in coming back? How could she do this to me damn it?

Aman: Arnav...

Arnav: Just do what I said....

He cut the call and threw his Bluetooth.

Arnav (self talk): you shouldn't have done this to me Khushi. you should not have.... I trust you damn it.....

Taking "U" turn he headed to RM to take his stuffs, to go to Lucknow......

To be continued.......