Arnav gently placed Khushi on the bed, he was so afraid, this wasn't the same strong headed Khushi, she was still weak and frail from the accident, as much as she may deny it. He knew she'd be okay eventually but he hated seeing her like this. Khushi caught onto his off mood and placed her hand on his cheek.
"Aren't you happy I'm home?" Khushi asked in a small voice, Arnav sighed and half smiled. He placed his hand on hers.
"You know its not that Jaan, I'm just worried that's all." He said attempting to shake it off, the last thing he needed was Khushi getting stressed. "Anyway I have to go there's something I have to do." Arnav said as he abruptly got up.
"Kya?!" Khushi said in shock. "But I only just got home-" She complained.
"Khushi I wouldn't go unless its urgent, try to understand. Payal and Di are here for you anyway, I'll be back before you know it." He said, he ducked slightly to kiss Khushi on the forehead, in-between the crease of her brow where she was frowning and he quickly left.
"Yeh Laad Governor bhi na, khabi nahi suderenge!" Khushi complained to herself, Payal entered in with a tray of juice and fruits. She sat beside her sister smiling at her.
"Pattah hai Khushi hum saab ne aapko bohut miss kiye. Khabi khabi rona bhi aatha tah. Lekin aaj hum saab bohut kush hai!" Payal said to her sister as she held Khushi's hand in her own.
"Tum saab ne miss kiya toh hoga. Arnav ne toh nahin kiya." Khushi said angrily.
"Dut! Pagli. Do you even know how much he missed you? Tumhe andazza bhi nahi hoga. Din raath yaha, issi kamare main Devdas banke rora tah. Tumhare yaad mein. Nah kaata tah, naa boltha tah, bahar bhi nahin jaata tumse visit karne ke bhager. Ek dum maraa hua insaan tah. Aur tum ho ki-" Payal shook her head and Khushi's eyes had welled up. She hadn't realised it had been that bad, she began to feel guilty even though it wasn't her fault but she didn't want Payal to catch her out.
"Ha, lekin abh mein ghar agayee. Where has he gone now?" Khushi demanded, Payal looked around discreetly, Khushi followed her gaze, there was no one there. Payal moved closer to Khushi.
"Mandhir gaaya hai." Payal whispered and Khushi hit Payal playfully.
"Aisa mazaak nahi karte Jiji!" Khushi warned.
"Main mazzak nahi kari. Such main. Arnavji neh manaat maangi thi. If you got better he would go to the Mandhir and do a darshan, at a Devi Maiyaa Mandhir also, just for you." Payal said and Khushi was floored. Arnav Singh Raizada who found it hard to even put his hands together and say sorry to a human had gone to a Mandhir to thank someone, not someone but God, a religious belief he never had. Khushi smiled to herself, he really does love me doesn't he?
Arnav had gotten stuck in rush hour traffic on the way home and arrived in time for Khushi's seven 'o' clock evening check up. He raced upstairs ignoring Nani's numerous bellows to eat something first. He burst into his room apologising franticly.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Jaan. There was traffic and this stupid guy who kept cutting me off-" Arnav said in an aggravated tone as he took a seat next to Khushi on the bed. He then looked to the doctor. "How's she doing doctor?" Arnav asked worriedly. The doctor smiled.
"Darni khi kohi baath nahi. We'll have Khushi do some mentally strenous challenges to get her brain functioning smoothly and if you just have her walk a little now and then that will help her physically. Not too much though, only as much as she can handle, she'll need support at first also." The doctor warned and Arnav mentally noted all this. Khushi wasn't listening to the Doctor, she was smiling at the blatant attempts Arnav had made to disguise his trip to the Mandhir. His red tikka had been smeared with his handkerchief, there was still a slight redness to his forehead and Khushi could see the stained handkerchief in his pocket. She saw how dutiful he had become and how serious he was about taking care of Khushi. He even apologised for being late. Arnav Singh Raizada apologised...she couldn't believe it. Arnav showed the doctor out and then came back upstairs lying down onto the bed, he felt exhausted. It had been an emotionally draining few weeks and he was glad that it was over now. Khushi stroked his hair gently as he had gently rested his head in her lap.
"You know Khushi this is what I missed most." Arnav murmured.
"Hmmm?"Khushi responded.
"Just spending time with you, not needing to say anything and you already knowing what to do. You just, you make everything better." He admitted, she looked down at him, she knew he was tired and it was probably more that and how much he had missed her that coaxed this reaction out of him. Either way she was happy to be back. Meanwhile Anjali noticed how quiet Shyam had been all evening. Ever since Chotte had come back from the hospital her husband had become awfully quiet and stayed out of the way a lot.
"Saab, tik hai nah?" She asked Shyam, he nodded and she continued putting the clothes away. Not once did he say, "No you sit, I'll do that, its bad for the baby." Nor did he attend doctor's appointments, read books with her, go shopping with her, think of names for the baby with her. He did nothing at all he didn't even talk about the baby. At first Anjali thought it was the nerves of being a father but really he should have expressed some interest by now. But as usual she pushed it away trying to think of other more pleasant things, like the fact Khushi was home and now everything would be okay.
Khushi was bored of lying in bed, its all she'd been doing since she got back.
"Khushi we'll start the walks tomorrow, don't push yourself." Arnav moaned.
"But I'm bored. Meh kohi sabji hoon kya joh vegetable ki tarah lethin raho." Khushi groaned and Arnav raised his hand to his head, yeh ladki bhi nah, always food food food.
"Why don't you watch a movie then?" Arnav suggested and Khushi began to mull on that.
"Tik hai, remote dedho." Khushi said and Arnav handed it to her. She began flicking through the channels until she stumbled across and old looking film. Well not old, maybe 80's. There was a girl singing to a pigeon and Arnav had no idea what was going on.
"What the-" Arnav began.
"Shhhhhhhhhh! Its Maine Pyar Kiya Arnav." Khushi said as if he was an alien for not understanding.
"Yeh kya hai? Why is she singing to a bird?" Arnav asked bemused.
"Shhhhhh. Hai!" Khushi said longingly as Salman Khan came on screen. "Hero ho, toh aisa ho. Kya style hai, uff!" Khushi said happily. Arnav began feeling uncomfortable.
"Salman Khan, really?" Arnav said questioningly, with an undertone of bitterness.
"Hah! Bachpaan se yeh mere saathi raha." Khushi said matter of factly, Arnav moved away from Khushi. "Arre, aab kya hua?" Khushi asked.
"You obviously don't need me, why don't you ask your "saathiji" to look after you. Baath karthi hai-" Arnav muttered angrily. Khushi smiled, Arnav was jealous.
"Nahi, yeh toh kuch nahi hai. My new saathi is much better, after all I don't remember Salman Khan ever going to the Mandhir for me." Khushi said and Arnav turned sharply with shock in his eyes.
"How did you know-" Arnav began and Khushi smiled.
"I have spies everywhere Mr. Raizada. Jhoot maath bhol, mere liye gaaye teh, nah?" Khushi asked, Arnav looked down and nodded.
"Yahaan ah." Khushi said softly, Arnav still cast his eyes low and sat next to her on the bed. Khushi wrapped her arms around him and kissed him lightly on the lips.
"I love you." She said earnestly, Arnav looked up into her eyes and smiled.
"I love you too." He said with just as much truth as she had, they settled into bed and even though Arnav thought the movie was stupid and unrealistic he watched it happily just because it bought a smile to Khushi's lips.
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