Something in You Calls Me (Complete)

Chap_29. The Pendant

Maya kept staring at the smiling face of Khushi. She was looking at Arnav, a contented smile adorning her lips, so was the case for Arnav also.

Then she saw it. The pendant.

Narrowing her eyes, she got near to have a proper look at it.

The white chain with gold lined silver round pendant with a small heart shape on it the middle of the pendant.

It was very same which she also had. She held the pendant from hanging around her neck.

It was not like there couldn’t be two of the same design of chain but still she couldn’t help wondering. Why there had to be so much of coincidences!

She put it off when Zareef got into that accident. She blocked every running questions from her mind to make her doubt of her existence as Maya.

Out of nowhere, today Ema gave it to her and made her wear this.

She didn’t know how long she was lost in her trance until someone spoke up softly, “You okay?”

Maya titled her head to find Arnav standing beside her with a concerned face.

Arnav's eyes also fell on the pendant she was holding only to get it widen. He looked at the picture and then again turned to Maya.

When she seemed to put effort to remember something, Arnav thought of becoming an intruder first to get her calmed down, “I see this design is quite common these days.” though he, himself was getting restless.

He wanted to ask her why the same thing hanging around her neck that he gave Khushi. He wanted to ask her from where she got that.

Before the questions escaped his throat, he swallowed them down helplessly.

Maya narrowed her eyes at his expression. She thought Arnav himself would start again with for her to be his Khushi. Though Arnav could understand her thought, he spoke up otherwise, “If you are done, let’s go downstairs.”

Shrugging off her thoughts, she nodded and they got downstairs together.

Seeing Maya’s expression, Nayeem could feel something was wrong and Maya forced a smile on her face which further made him confused.

He shouldn’t have taken her here!

Nayeem mentally groaned.

Things were going in an opposing direction according to him. This was the thing he was being afraid of.

You can’t lose her! His obsessed mind reminded him on a serious note.

He got out of his trance as Mahin patted his shoulder, “To earth man.”

He gave him an awkward smile, “Yeah, I am listening.”

Esha got a bar of chocolate and reached her hand to Maya, “Aunty, you like chocolate, right? It’s for you.”

Maya took that giving her a smile, “Thank you.”

Strangely these people weren’t trying to get her believe that she was Khushi anymore. Maybe Arnav made them understand also.

She thought.

When Nayeem was busy with business talks to other, she enjoyed the company of Payel, Areesha and Riya.

For Esha this much she got that the little girl loved her aunty, Khushi very much. Getting away from them, Arnav made a call to Ema to get his restless mind some peace.

Ema answered the call on the first ring like she was waiting for this call.

Getting her assumption come true, Arnav ended up asking her the same question what she was expecting for, “Who gave that pendant to her?”

Ema’s eyes got teary. The same thought again found its home in her mind.

So, she isn’t our Maya!

Ema uttered under her breath and looked at Zareef sadly and to her utter surprise Zareef’s eyes also got teary as if he could hear Ema's thought.

“Vabi?”

Arnav’s voice got her out of their haze of sadness.

“It was on her neck when Nayeem got her here.” Ema tried to sound normal.

Arnav got silent hearing her. He looked at Maya who was smilingly talking to Esha.

“It was not on her neck when I met her for the earlier few times.”

Though it was a statement but to Ema, it sounded more like a question.

“She put it off years back when Zareef got into that accident.”

Both of the person from the call got silent for a while like the truth dawned upon them. If it was a utterly happiness for Arnav, for Ema it was entirely different.

What about our Maya then!

Is she even alive now?

Ema got wondering. The answer was no very possibly but she didn’t want to think of it like that.

Seeing Arnav's eyes fixed on Maya, Nayeem guessed something and got uneasy. He got near Maya which just increased the rage in Arnav.

“Maya, it’s getting late. We should leave now.”

Maya turned to him and then glanced at the watch on her wrist. It was almost 11.

Others kept staring at Maya waiting for her to say something but Maya just nodded at Nayeem and turned to Esha, “Sweetie, we will leave now.”

Hearing her, the smile faded from Esha’s face at once and then looked at everyone but got disappointed. She thought her aunt was back to her forever but no.

Maya also turned sad for some reason.

“Vabi, I will call you later.” cutting off the call, Arnav walked near them. Seeing Arnav, Maya smiled a little and spoke up, “Arnav, we will take your leave now.”

Arnav just wanted to hug her tight and say, “No. You can’t leave from here. You can’t leave me. Not now nor ever.”

It took everything in Arnav to keep him calm and not to say that aloud. He got reminding himself mentally, “It’s not the right time. I have to control myself. I can’t take risk. I can’t afford to lose her again.” and flashed a small smile, “See you, Khushi.”

He uttered her name in such a lower tone that it was barely audible.

Taking leave from them, Maya and Nayeem left from there. Arnav immediately got upstairs in his room. The party got over after few minutes and Mr. Zaman took Esha with her and for others, they rushed to Arnav's room.

~~

Entering his room, Arnav dialed a number at first and put the phone against his ear.

The call was received at the very second ring but before the person from the other side could say something, Arnav spoke up, “I need you here, Maruf.”

Being confused, Maruf spoke up, “Arnav, what happened? Is everything okay?” line of worries spread on his face.

Arnav sounded restless as he uttered, “Khushi. Khushi is ill, Maruf. She is one who is suffering from brain aneurysms. Please, I need you here.”

It took some time for Maruf to understand whatever Arnav was saying. But from his tone and pleas that he never did before, he couldn’t ask him whether it’s true and all but just believed him.

As the realization got into him, he moved away the comforter from him and immediately got down from his bed.

His tiredness was long forgotten and got uttering, “Arnav, I will be there before it’s noon by tomorrow.” and cut off the line.

Taking his car keys, he was about to rush out when others entered his room.

“I don't believe Nayeem for a bit. I have to see it for myself whether Khushi reached the place, she lives safely.”

Smile crept on their faces hearing Arnav’s words but Areesha had to confirm, “Arnav?”

Happiness got twinkling in his eyes as Arnav got uttering, “She is my Khushi, Api.” and dashed out the room in a flash..