Bikhre moti (Scattered pearls)

25.5 Sun saathiya - part 5

A quick recap: Arnav and Khushi first met in Banaras 2 years ago where he immediately felt a connection to her while she moved on in her life. They meet again after 2 years in Delhi when Arnav's best friend Aman is to marry Khushi's sister/sister-in-law Poornima. Arnav, elated at finding his mystery girl, asks her out assuming she is single only to hear from her she is in fact married and then he knows her husband saahas is missing/presumed dead. Khushi's parents/in-laws Shashi and Garima lover her like their own daughter and want her to move on in life while she is adamant on saahas's return. Arnav then motivates her to search for saahas himself and goes with her to Manali along with a newlywed Aman-Poornima. Meanwhile, Khushi learns from Arnav that Aman's widower father Lalit and his mother Vasudha were once supposed to marry but Vasudha called it off without a proper reason. Unknown to him, it's his Dadi whose opposition had caused her to do so, and she is currently regretting her behavior. Now on to next:

--*--

It was their last day of stay at Manali. Although Khushi didn't say it, Arnav knew she was still finding it hard to cope with the reality and dwindling hopes of ever finding her husband, Saahas. And Arnav was left wondering if he did a mistake by pushing her to go and search for saahas and in turn make her more sad. At least until now she was living in a hope of seeing her beloved saahas someday but now, she would have no such hopes and it's very hard to live a life without hope. Although, his intention was only to help her find a closure in either way, he couldn't shake the feeling of still being unable to bring it to her somehow.

It was still early in the morning and the dewy, pleasantly cold air of Manali welcomed Arnav as he stood on the porch of their hotel. He was woken up at dawn and when he couldn't go back to sleep, he took a shower and came down while the others were still asleep. The hotel staff was working to set the breakfast tables, but a kind servant quickly came up to him and gave him a cup of steaming hot ginger tea. Arnav accepted it with a smile acknowledging his service and started sipping the tea while looking at the Himalayan Mountain range visible from the hotel verandah. He knew after their return from here to Delhi, he would probably have no other reason to meet Khushi again. At least not so easily. Sure, she was Aman's wife's sister but who was he to her? Another thing was, he remembered her reluctance to be friendly with him, perhaps after how he had made an impression on her that day in her house. He didn't really blame her but the problem here was, after meeting her just once, he couldn't forget her even after 2 years. Now that he knew her so well and had spent so many days in her close company, listening her talks, seeing her caring side for all those whom she called hers and knowing her as a pretty strong woman inside out, he didn't think he will ever be able to get over her!

Tu jo nazron ke saamne kal hoga nahi
tujhko dekhe bin main mar na jaaun kaheen
(Now that you'll not be there in front of me tomorrow
I hope I don't die without seeing you...)

Tujhko bhool jaaun kaise maanein na, manaaun kaise?
tu bata...
(How do I forget you, how do I make them listen?
tell me.)

Roke na ruke naina, teri ore hai inhein to rehna
roke na ruke naina...
(The eyes didn't stop even on trying to stop, they have to look in your direction,
the eyes don't stop on trying...)

"Good morning, Arnav." Khushi's sweet voice acted like a painful reminder of what he was going to miss from tomorrow. But he had to hold himself strong. For her. A few more hours, Arnav, he reminded himself and replied with a good morning.

The same waiter came with another cup of tea for Khushi which she took with a polite thanks.

Meanwhile, a young couple around their age and probably on their honeymoon passed by them lost in their own talks. The girl was telling her husband about a sweet, joyous dream she had that morning involving their family. That brought a smile on Arnav's face while Khushi too let her eyes become soft with some past memory. And soon, the sadness of losing something precious touched her mind and she automatically said,