Arshi One Shots

Hurt is a small word

"Chote, Please bring back my child! I want my child back. I want my Rajkumari back!" Cried Anjali, tugging at Arnav's coat, who was crumpled in the sorrow of losing his sister's child. The mere reason for Khushi and his' miserable lives since six months.

"Chote! Please!" Anjali cried, her cries slowly turning into sobs, her face drained off the remaining colour on her cheeks. She looked tired, exhausted, pale and dead!

As Arnav saw, Anjali's grip on his coat loosened, as she slipped into slumber, her mouth murmuring the need for her child. Her Rajkumari.

His fists clenched at the sight, his helplessness growing into his nerves, the inability to rectify the situation, bubbling his anger. He felt a small hand placed on his right shoulder, as he saw his Di's tear-striken face. He turned around, instantaneously, well aware of the person trying to provide him the comfort, and embraced his Khushi tight into his arms. Settling his face in the crook of her neck, he wept, like a child, at the immense sorrow that clouded their lives. He felt defeated! Dejected! Lost against fate! Again! And again!

Khushi hugged him, pulling him deeper into her embrace, striking his hair occasionally, consoling him, all in vain. She could fathom the depth of anguish and misery but had nothing to bring him out of the situation. She too was helpless! Her eyes glanced sideways, where a small murthi of Ganesha resided, and asked him with her accusing eyes, "Why? Why only him? Again! And again!"

******************

It had been three days since Anjali was discharged from the hospital, and the whole family hovered around her, trying their best to prevent the daughter of the house from sliding into depression. The Guptas, including Khushi, paid a visit to Shantivan daily, enquiring the wellness of Anjali. Arnav and Khushi's wedding preparations halted abruptly, no one even bothered about the impending wedding. Arnav, had worked from home, of course, since three days, but never did he step into his Di's room after she was brought back from the hospital. Everyone, including Khushi wondered why, but none had the courage to question him. He was her Papad ka tukda, and he couldn't bear the sight of his defeated Di, everyone thought!

On the fourth day, when Mami was busy lamenting over the loss of their grandchild, sitting on a sofa, while Nani was busy stroking the hair of Anjali, who laid on her lap, NK sitting on the couch with a magazine, whose pages he randomly flipped, Arnav decided to talk! It was time! He saw Akash descending down the stairs along with Payal, and gestured them to join him in the living room, which they abided by.

"Nani, I have something to ask!" He started, gathering everyone's attention towards him.

He saw Anjali slowly rising from Nani's lap, and paying her attention too.

He looked at the expectant faces of his family members, and said, "I think we need to focus on Khushi and my Haldi followed by the wedding soon!"

While Akash, Payal, and NK nodded their heads, as they could see the longing for Khushi in Arnav's eyes, Nani, Anjali, and Mami stared at him, shocked, speechless.

"What the hell are you saying, Arnav? Have you gone mad? Your sister has lost her child and you act unaffected by it? Is your wedding to that girl more important than your sister?" He heard his Dadi speak, who had just returned from the temple.

He closed his eyes, frustrated, least expecting her to be present to create a huge drama!

"Yes. Khushi is very important to me! And Di has lost her child. But that doesn't mean that our lives stop there, does it?" Arnav queried.

"There is a time for everything, Chote! Anjali bitiya has just lost her child. What is the urgency now?" Nani questioned, unable to believe her eyes. Her Chote not caring about his sister? Was he really their Arnav or an imposter?