Lost | ✔

Chapter Nine - A New Journey Begins

Note: I did try to proof-read this chapter but it's so long that I'm sure I must have left many mistakes behind. Please ignore them if you see any--I'll go over it again some other time. For now, hope you enjoy this!

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Relief and gratitude did eventually settle in Khushi.

She had managed to calm her overwhelming emotions--which were sent into a frenzy at the realization of her infatuation, followed by her separation from the person she was infatuated with. By the time they began approaching the main road, surrounded by an army to protect them, she realised just how lucky they were to be alive, given that they had just spent a week in a forest with no useful supplies--just a dozen blood-thirsty hitmen on their tails.

Her relief only grew, until she couldn’t help but smile widely, especially when Arnavji met his brother.

Mr. Akash Singh Raizada, whom Khushi recognized from watching his interviews, ran into the road from the other side, almost stumbling. His clothes were disheleved, his hair a mess and his spectacles sat crooked on his nose. But when he saw Arnav, he gave out a broad grin, as if he never felt so elated before.

“Bhai!” He had shouted before he sprinted to his brother and engulfed him into a bear hug. Khushi watched with teary eyes, this time out of happiness, as Arnav reciprocated, his own eyes moist.

She leaned against one of the police cars as the brothers had their moment, during which Akash did a lot of sputtering and stammering whilst Arnav patiently reassured him that he was fine. Finally, Akash calmed down. He wiped his eyes and turned to Khushi.

He managed a smile, though he looked apprehensive.

“So, you’re Khushi? Khushi Gupta?” He asked. Khushi nodded. He turned his eyes to his brother, then back at Khushi. Finally, he said, “Well then, I guess you guys owe me an explanation. Your friend really wreaked havoc at Shantivan and this whole time, you were with Bhai? How?”

Officer Arjun intervened before either Khushi or Arnav could respond. “The medic is here.” He informed them, pointing to their left.

The ambulance pulled up and several paramedics filed out in their direction. They helped both Arnav and Khushi on board, with Akash close behind. Soon, they were all settled in and ready to go.

Arnav had sat himself next to Akash whilst a paramedic checked his blood pressure and sugar level. Meanwhile, Khushi laid on the stretcher, her super gross-looking cut out in the open for treatment by another nurse.

On their way to the hospital, Arnav filled Akash in on everything that happened to them in the past week—beginning with how Khushi ended up in the backseat of his car. He narrated it like it was some normal occurrence but Khushi was flustered to no end. She stared at her lap resolvedly, not wanting to envision what Akash must be thinking about her at the moment.

But Akash didn’t look angry, or even disgusted at her. Instead, he let out a low whistle of appreciation.

“You’ve got a lot of nerves, trying to barge in on ASR like that.” He said to her and Khushi could have sworn the nurse, who was applying antiseptic on her wound, let out a brief, muffled chortle. She turned redder.

“But anyways, good thing she was with you.” Akash now turned to his brother, “If you were alone, I doubt there would have been anything left for those goons to do. Di is right, you never take care of yourself, Bhai! You hardly even eat on time, unless someone reminds you to do so! Seriously—”

“Hold it, Akash.” ASR said calmly, “I can still swing a fist.”

That effectively shut the other ASR up.