The Other Half

Chapter 6

(Delhi: Consultation)

"And when was the last time you ate?" Dr Lavanya Kashyap asked ASR.

She had filled in for their family doctor in the past few weeks and was aware of his diabetic condition.

"Two hours ago." ASR replied.

"Okay, let's check your levels." Once done, she sighed. "Your levels are normal. Might this be about stress? Are you pressured at work? Any issues?"

"No. I told you. I felt sucked in. I saw things. They didn't make sense."

Dr Lavanya looked at Anjali Jha. "Mrs Jha, has this happened to him before?"

"Hallucinations? No!" Anjali vehemently opposed.

"I wasn't hallucinating! I saw her. Payal Gupta! And Pooja Rathore. Payal was holding my...." he stopped. What am I saying? "I saw some photos. Of them and another girl." Suddenly, realization struck. "Khushi!"

"Whom?"

No one knows who she is. She hides well.

If we don't beat K, you're fired.

K is good, you know. It would be tough to beat her.

This year, we will do it for sure.

Smirks across a bright blue eyes almost did him in.

Why are you looking at me like that?

Overconfidence is not a good thing, Mr Raizada.

It's not overconfidence, if it's a fact.

Don't make decisions you'll regret.

I'll show you what regret looks like.

"Arnav!" Anjali's voice brought him back to reality.  "Who is Khushi?"

"That girl! That chit of a girl!" ASR was out.

"Chhote, calm down. What are you talking about?"

"That girl who fell in my arms in my show, she is K. Khushi Gupta."

Anjali's brows furrowed. "The head designer? Partner at PK Designs?"

"Yes!"

"Chhote, you're going into therapy."

"Bloody hell I'm not."

"This is not up for discussion. You used to talk in your sleep. I let go. You used to be bipolar. I let go. You almost turned celibate. I let go. But hallucinating about the partners at PK Designs? I have had enough!"

(Allahabad: IV vs KG Part 4)

Khushi handed the stone back to Chandani. "It's really something special." Her fingers were pointing at the names.

"Yes." Chandani smiled. "My friend Dev gave it to me. He told whenever I feel fear, holding it would give me strength."

"And does it?"

"Sometimes. Sometimes I just don't have the heart to hope for strength."

"Wherever did he get it?"

Chandani looked at Khushi weirdly. "Probably in the forest." She chuckled.

"So no one gave it to him?"

"Who gives stones to people?"

"Dev gave it to you."

Chandani looked down.

"Arey Khushiji. Aap yahi hain." It was Indrani Vashishth. "Acha hai. Aaj aap khane pe ruk jaiye. Hum gaadi se aapko hotel chudwa denge."  (You are still here. Please stay for dinner. I will drop you to your hotel.)