CHAPTER 34

CHAPTER 34

Caring means being kind, sensitive and empathetic toward someone. Everyone uses this word to show that they do care for someone. But is it always the way you want or is it the way it should be. Everyone has their own sense of understanding and acting on certain things so when we care for someone we care about them in a way we want or in a way they want. A mother cares for their kid, partners care for each other, siblings care…. Can care survive if it’s one-sided? Answer would be yes but along with the care you will also get pain either for the one who cares or the one who receives that care. No emotion can survive if there is only one person how would it be if you care for only yourself without having anyone who could lend a hand to you. A person who says that they requires no one is the one who craves the most for someone to see them hold them and mostly love them as they are. Someone who smiles the most is the person who cries when no one is looking and they have mastered the art of hiding their tears as their cry is as silent as a windless night.

ASR was dam angry and his entire body was stiff and khushi had felt his anger in the way he had held her. She knew something was wrong and it was done by her and she knew he will punish her and if she would say she was brave and least scared about what was going to happen to her than that would be a lie. Her body was shivering and her tummy and back were aching pretty badly. She knew that unintentionally she had ticked him off and now only devil would know what he would do to her.

Khushi was still lost in her thought when she felt him putting her back on ground and within a wink of an eyes her clothes were off her body making her shocked and she looked at him, before she could have reacted she felt cold water hitting her body making her shriek and jump due to the chilling water. She tried to move but she was held captive in his arms. Khushi looked up at him and said Arnav ji I’m feeling cold.

ASR heard her but said nothing and started cleaning her up and after all his whole concentration was on cleaning her and after few minute he was done. He towel dried her and again lifted her up and took her to the room. He straight walked to the walk in closet with her and started to take out her new set of clothes. Khushi who was sitting on the chair just in the towel looked at him curiously he had not done anything yet and she was fidgeting with her fingers in her nervousness.

ASR looked at khushi and he knew she was nervous so he looked at her and said what date is today. Khushi looked at him but replied meekily I don’t know. Arnav looked at her and said today is tenth of the month. He looked at her and said when you have your date. Khushi looked at him and said what you are asking? I can’t get you. ASR looked at her and said when you have your menstrual cycle or periods. 

Khushi looked at him in shock and then turned beet root red. ASR looked at her shy and said in stern voice reply me. Khushi looked at him meekily and said tenth of every month. He looked at her and said today is what date. Khushi looked at him and said twenty. ASR looked at her and said you can’t even remember your period dates.

 Khushi looked at him and said when I am at home jeeji use to keep it in mind and in hostel my friends use to take care about all this. ASR looked at her shocked and said you need others to remember about your periods. Khushi looked at him and said I forget about it every time so they use to help me by reminding me.

ASR face palmed and said have you any idea what happened down. Khushi looked at him and gulped and said I think it happened again. ASR looked at her shocked and said what do you mean by it happened again. Khushi gulped and said previously it had happened in school but my friend came to know so they warned me and I took care of it and luckily no other girl in school saw me otherwise it would have been so embracing.

ASR looked at her and said you have no idea that you dress was covered with the sign that you have you periods and there was someone else in the room who could have seen you that way. He marched toward her and said you are mine only I have the right to know everything about you, no one else. He bend down and kissed her roughly and then bit her lips and entered her mouth exploring it he didn’t let her go even when he knew that she was breathless after kissing her till the moment he felt that she will faint her let her go. He moved toward closet and took out her innerwear and bra and then opened a drawer and took out sanitary pad and gave it to her.

Khushi took it from him with shaking hand and started wearing her clothes and then when she saw him standing and staring at her, she shyly said please can you go out I have to wear it. Arnav looked at her and said I have given it to you, cleaned you up while you were covered in you menses, so why this shyness for just wearing as sanitary pad before me, I can make you wear it. Khushi looked at him in utter disbelief and soon started to wear it before him as she knew he can do what he had said. ASR looked at her and said I will call the doctor and she will check you up.

Khushi looked at him and said doctor but why. ASR looked at her and said if you have any pain or other problem you can tell her. Khushi looked at him and said no need Arnavji I’m fine. ASR just walked out. Khushi just shook her head, she is always confused what this man’s nature is. Sometimes he cares and sometimes he dominates but always it’s his way. She knew she will never understand him, so just walked back into the room where she saw him talking to the doctor or in other words commanding the doctor to come in fifteen minutes or to kiss her practice license bye for ever.

She wanted to go back down so she was moving toward the door when she heard you are not going anywhere just lie down and take rest. Khushi sulked but moved toward the bed. And lied down. While lying down she thought about the man she met down, so she thought to ask Arnavji about him. She looked at him and said Arnavji who was the man we met down. ASR looked at her with such a raging eyes that she moved back due to fear and gulped when she heard his dead voice none of your business and also a warning to stay away from that man. She just nodded her head.

Nirvan was sitting next to her for quite a long time telling her what all he did and what’s going on his life. He looked at the love of his life so pale, so lifeless and every time he saw her like that, he blamed himself for not saving her. Along with her silence for past four years his life also had turned out to be just a chore he does to keep on moving but all he hopes is for her to be back. To see that smile on her face that made him fall head over heels for her. He creased her cheeks and kissed forehead and said get back to us love you know we are nothing without you, especially him. I know you have met the kitten of your lion. I know you will be frowning like always as you can’t hear a word against him, but it doesn’t changes the truth that he is a grumpy bear. 

He held her hand and said I just hope he will not hurt that innocent girl. I’m scared for us and more for him La only if you would have been her things would have been so better. I have seen the rage in his eyes for her and I don’t know whether it’s good or to be afraid of only you were the one who understood him so well and could read his mind. I hope he won’t hurt her and destroy himself in the process. You and I both know what importance he has for the things he claims as him and to what extent he can go. Now I’m leaving will come back in few hours to wish you good night for now bye love.

A lone tear rolled down from the eyes of La but this time to no one noticed it. Her mind that was active but her it refused to give command to her body to move. She wanted to get up, she knew it had been long and he was breaking down and punishing himself for not protecting her. He mind travelled back to the first time they had met.

Flashback

La was too scared to go to a new place and live in a new environment, but she had no choice neither of her parents wanted her as they both were divorced and they wanted to restart their new life and it had no place for their daughter. Her dadi was concerned for her so she was going to live with one of her dadi’s close friend, as her dadi was not keeping well for quite a long time and so she was moving from Mumbai to Delhi. Leaving her old life and bitter memories behind. But she knew that it will not be so easily to get rid of the shadow of her past. But she hoped that the new place would bring new hope in her otherwise hopeless. She knew Devyani Sharma was a kind hearted lady and she never treated her like others who looked down at her due to her family. She had always seen kindness in her eyes so she was ready to give life a chance as long as she had that kind eyes and warm hand guiding her.

Her journey from her place to the new places was smooth. Devyani has said her to call her Nani like her only grandson does. So she happily agreed. She was nervous as well as excited for her new life. Nani had made sure to talk everything and about anything to make her comfortable. Soon their plane has landed on Delhi airport and after checking out with their luggage, Nani and she walked toward the car that was send to pick them up and soon they were moving toward Nani’s home.

La was looking out of the car window as she had never been out of Mumbai and being a kid she was super excited and this happiness made her forget everything about her sad and unwanted life. Soon the car entered a huge ironed gate that was painted in gold and black colour, it looked as if it was some royal palace. The house was more magnificent than the gate. Looking around her she realized that the people leaving her were too rich. She was scared now will they like her living with them. Her thoughts were going haywire when she felt a hand on her and heard Nani saying this will be your new home and you will be fine her. I looked at her and smiled as her warmth always was a comfort for me and for past two weeks that Nani was living with them she had been understanding, caring and gentle to her. So she took a deep breath and try to tell herself that everything will be fine.

She was a kid but circumstance had made her more mature than her age in her 13 years of life she has bare more than anyone would like but still she was strong and determined to make a better life for her. She knew that no one wanted her but she was happy with the few that accepted her and she believed in giving what she got so she was sweet to those who were to her and she can be pretty mean to those who try to act smart with her. Life’s cruel side had made her strong enough to fight for herself as she knew that she had no one to protect her from the world.

As soon as they entered the home they heard a heated argument going on and saw things coming crashing down on the floor and that shocked her for a moment but then she had seen her parents fighting so she quickly recovered. She saw a man and a boy not much younger than her fighting. She saw the man trying to move close to the boy shouting that he will hurt himself the boy looked at him and before anyone could say anything he stepped on the broken glass pieces on the floor and didn’t even flinched and said pain and laughed like manic looking straight at the man and said, the man who made my life nothing but pain is concerned about me. The blood was oozing out of his wound were glass has pierced him but as if he felt no pain.

Before Nani could react La ran toward him and pushed him away from the broken glass pieces. She looked at the boy who looked at her angrily but before he could pounce on her Nani shouted at him and said what is this Arnav what have you done and shouted for HP to get the first aid kit. Soon she was dressing his wound. But La could see his eyes on her so she smiled at him but all she got was his grumpy look.

Samar looked at his son and knew that he has lost him forever and whatever he does they will never be like old days. His foolish act had hurt his son beyond repair. He moved toward him to see if he had hurt himself more but his angry voice stopped him.

Arnav looked at him and said Mr.Raizada don’t even thing to come near me this time I won’t hurt me but you and I won’t be sorry so stay away from me. Samar looked at him and still moved toward him that made Arnav angry and he was about to get up when Nani said Samar go from her at least till his superficial wounds are healed. Samar looked at Arnav one last time and left.

La looked at the boy who may be a year or two elder to her but she could see the pain that she could see in her reflection in the mirror and in that moment she knew she had found someone with whom she can relate. She was looking at him and his eyes that were following the man he was fighting with and then it suddenly turned blank as if they feel nothing at all. She saw him look at her but he said nothing so La gave him a sweet smile and said Hi I’m Lavanya. But she got no reply but she had decided then and there that she will make him her friend whether he likes it or not and kept smiling at him even when she knew she was irritating him and that was one of her talents to annoy others.

Flashback ends.

In the room doctor was examining Khushi as instructed by ASR and doctor instructed him to let her rest and if she had any pain he could give her the pain killer she prescribe. ASR hear the doctor keenly and then called HP to walk the doctor down and also get the medicine prescribed. He looked at khushi and said you are gone rest and we will have our food in the room itself. Khushi just nodded her head and ducked into her duvet and soon she slept off.

ASR looked at her and then moved toward the poolside and started his work soon it was lunch time and he woke khushi up and said her to freshen up. When khushi came out freshening up and she saw HP setting their lunch on poolside. She walked toward their and sat down. HP left after he set the table for lunch. Khushi looked at Arnav who was talking on the phone and waited for him so they can have their lunch together. After her call was done ASR walked toward khushi and sat down and soon they were having their lunch. After they were done ASR looked at khushi and said we are leaving for America in two days. You don’t need to pack anything and was gone before khushi could say anything.

Khushi saw his retreating back and his sudden change of plan but she was happy she could meet her sister it felt like not few month but many years last she had seen her. So she was dancing in happiness.

Down stairs on the dining table Samar had sat for lunch when he saw Nirvan walking toward the dining table he sat down and HP served him. Samar looked at him and said how you are son. Nirvan looked at him and said I’m fine and what about you uncle. Samar looked at him and said I’m fine. He looked at Nirvan and said have you met khushi Arnav’s wife. Nirvana looked at him and said yes I just got a glimpse of her and was shocked to know that he is married. Do you know anything about the girl? Samar looked at him and said no but I know that he is very possessive about her and she is very sweet and pretty young. Nirvan looked at him and said that I had guessed. But what I don’t understand is that why he married her. She is not like the girl he use to hang out with. Samar looked at him and said that she is not like the women he spend his night with you mean. We all know that what importance those women had in his life. I just hope he knows what he is doing.

TO BE CONT.......