Choti Si Duniya - ArShi FF

22. That one time

Quick note: caution! don't get shocked with initial few lines, please read on, it will be worth it:)

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"how could you do this to me? Didn't you once think of me?" her tears were making him weak

"I did. In fact, your face was what I constantly saw in her. She was just like you. Please try to understand. Please forgive me.  It was just one time, please" he tried to explain. That one night of attraction was making him lose everything, one night when he let attraction for some other woman rule his love for his wife

"One time? What if I said and did the same? Slept with some other man and said he was just like you; would you accept it?" her voice and questions were strong and determined now

"NO!" he almost raised his hand on her but her bitter smile stopped him. What had he done to her, to them? He threw away everything for that one moment in a haze and brought them here

"Thought so. I can't forgive you, not now, nor until I die, which is soon, thanks to you" she turned her face away and left him to atone his sin alone, both counting their last moments, in the HIV ward...her parents looking at him, disgusted while his had already turned their backs

And that's how she died the next day on her hospital bed, the same evening he took his last breath...

Khushi sat numb as the short film ended and credits started rolling. Her friend Preeto who nowadays had settled in Chandigarh, had recommended this one and Khushi wished she didn't see it. It was just too sensitive and too overwhelming. Thankfully she decided to watch it after kids went to sleep, otherwise they would have easily sensed her off mood. But how was she going to hide it from her Arnavji though?

And just as if on cue he stepped in their bedroom, from the study where he had been working while she watched the 30 minute-short-film.

He saw her sitting on their bed, with folded legs, her iPad in her lap and her head resting against the headboard. Even when her eyes were closed, he could tell she was not close to sleeping or resting, in fact if he was right, she was disturbed. And that disturbed him!

He sat besides her cautiously and put his hand on her shoulder

"Hey!" he greeted her with as much love as he could muster with that one word

But when Khushi opened her eyes and looked at him, he was taken aback by the pain he saw there.  "Khushi? what's wrong? Kya hua hain?" he asked, alarmed. 

The last they talked which was an hour ago, she was her normal self, reading a dramatic angel-demon bedtime story to their kids. And then she was planning to watch a short film or something. Wait, was it that? His Khushi anyway used to get too invested in the movies, he knew that. That's why he kept restricting her movie time like one would do for a kid!

"Arnavji, please hold me" she urged him, almost in a whisper, already leaning onto him. Arnav needn't be told twice, he immediately engulfed her in his strong hold

"Kya hua hai sweetheart? Is it the movie?" he said holding her close to his heart, at the same time rubbing her back comforting her, soothing her.

"hmm. He cheated on her...and ..they had the ...AIDS ...then they both...they died" she said, her voice breaking with almost every word

He stilled his movements. Was this because she felt bad for just fictional characters or was there more? He held his breath. He did not have to wait long though

"Arnavji hum mar jayenge agar aapne kabhi (I will die if you ever)-" she started but soon cut off mid-sentence as his palm on her mouth stopped her from saying further