It had been a week since Arnav had begged God to cure Khushi and yet she still lay on the hospital bed, lifeless as ever. Everyday Arnav would walk down to Khushi's room talking to her, trying to get a response out of her but all he ever got was silence. The doctors were going to discharge Arnav tomorrow but Arnav wasn't happy about this, he wanted to stay as near to Khushi as possible. Anjali assured him that after his discharge they would find a way to make it happen, although she wasn't sure how. Anjali herself was a mess, Akash was busy handling the business, Payal had gone to her Maayke to help them in this difficult time, Mamiji was running the house while Anjali took care of Chotte. Anjali could see how Khushi had kept them all so bound, her lovely family unit was scattered because of this incident, but Anjali did not give up hope. She had been consulting all the best doctors for Khushi and they said her chances were low to ever regain concioussness. But yet Anjali knew Khushi would come back, Khushi was never one to back down in the face of a challenge, Anjali had faith in God and in Khushiji. Chotte on the other hand, he cried every night, he thought Anjali didn't hear but she did. She wanted so badly to comfort him but she didn't know how. How could she assure her brother she was going to be fine? Anjali had faith but Arnav believed in facts. She'd not seen him this broken since their mother had died, even then Khushiji wasn't dead but Arnav seemed to feel she was headed that way and worst of all he thought it was his fault.
"Di I should have checked." Arnav said to her as he looked at the floor, his jaw clenched, anger clear on his face.
"Chotte how were you to know? It happened to me also, I'm beginning to think kisi ki nazaar lagaye hamari ghar phar." Anjali said, the latter more to herself. Arnav ignored his sister's comment and continued to think who would want to do this? Who had it in for him and his family so much? His head always throbbed when he tried to figure this out. He'd never been one to act with kindness, he had a million enemies, where was he to start? He wanted so badly to look into the eyes of the person who had done this to his wife and watch the light drain out of their eyes as he made their state similar to Khushi's. Anjali excused herself as her phone went off, she walked outside of the room and answered it.
"Hello." Anjali said relieved, since the accident had happened she hadn't heard a word or seen her husband. He said he had some urgent business moments after Khushi and Arnav left and when she told him what had happened he said there was no way he could get back in time as he was abroad and it was necessary for him to be there.
"Have you gone home yet?" He asked, Anjali knew he was worried about her and the baby but his tone felt impatient and aggravated.
"No, woh Chotte was talking to me, I will go soon sort myself out and come back later when Chotte needs to sleep." She said, Arnav had gotten into the habit of becoming very aggressive before going to sleep, he had too much time to think, Anjali would calm him down, he'd sleep for a while until he would get the flashbacks of the accident, then he would begin shaking, crying tears he didn't know how to handle. She could never leave him alone in a state like that.
"Okay, I will ring you tomorrow I have to go now." He said as he abruptly hung up the phone. Anjali felt hurt, he never asked how she was, how Arnav or Khushi were or how the rest of the family were either. Anjali began to feel anger towards her husband and she didn't like it. She was about to head home when she heard Arnav call for her, he wanted her to stay a bit longer just because he didn't want to be alone. Anjali was a little reluctant but stayed because she knew if the roles were reversed Arnav would have never left her side. Meanwhile Shyam snuck into the Hospital, having given Anjali enough time to leave, he made his way to Khushi's room, he'd heard Anjali talk about where she was in one of their few conversations since the accident. Shyam was completely at a loss, this was not how things were meant to have happened, Arnav should have been dead and Khushi in his arms! This was all Arnav's fault, had he not married Khushiji then no one would have had to see this day, it was like when Khushiji's father interfered all over again. He saw her through the window and he pressed his hands against the window, wishing he could hold her in his arms and never let her go especially not let her back into the arms of Arnav. He made his way to the room and stood over her, his body casting a shadow across her serene face. She looked as though she were sleeping, although the colour in her complexion was drained. Shyam still felt just as possessive of her, if he could have he would have taken her from there, there and then but a sound alerted Shyam to come back to reality.
"What, the fuck, are you doing?!" Arnav asked trying to keep calm, even if Khushi was unresponsive he didn't want to scare her, he'd done enough of that already.
"I...I heard about the accident and I...I just came to check." Shyam said sheeplishly, Arnav looked with disdain at the man.
"You. Get out. Now." He said plainly, Shyam looked ready to argue back but Arnav gave him a dark look that drove fear into the bravest of men and Shyam was a coward anyway and so he left, unwillingly. Arnav took a deep breath, he went to take a seat by Khushi, he pulled back a stray hair from her face.
"Sorry Jaan, you know I hate that rat. I promise once you get better he will be out of our lives for good. The doctors are letting me go tomorrow, but don't worry I wont leave you..." Arnav continued making conversation with a horribly mute Khushi but he felt it may help her so he continued on.
Shyam was making a hurried exit out of the Hospital when he carelessly bumped into Anjali. Confusion was clear on Anjali's face.
"Aap...?" She began and Shyam searched his brain for a believable excuse.
"Woh hum...I....I wanted to surprise you and here I am. Would I leave you in a time like this?" He asked quickly forcing Anjali into a hug, he could see her eyes were searching for truth in his. She would have been able to see the lie clear in his eyes, he thought she didn't and smiled. But she had, she'd seen the worry, panic and nervousness. Something definitley wasn't right about her husband and she'd be damned if she didn't find out what.
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