Harvest Moon

Chapter 17

Khushi woke up in the morning, her heart a little heavy when she saw the empty bed next to her. Arnav was in Delhi for the past two weeks and she had stayed back for Naniji and her school work.

She missed him terribly. It was like she had big hole in her heart. She couldn't sleep at night for wanting him.

Since the first time they had come together in the midst of the fields, Khushi had discovered that she was in some sort of an entrapment with Arnav. She not only needed him but craved for him. Arnav had permeated into her being to such an extent that she couldn't think anything beyond him.

She knew that this sort of attachment was not good for her but it was like she had no control over her own body anymore. She couldn't quite understand this enthralling bondage she had formed with him.

Khushi came down to breakfast and saw Naniji seated at the table. "Bitiya," She said her eyebrows creased with worry, "I realised that my Lucknow trip is not on the 26th but 20th."

"That's tomorrow Naniji!"

"I wanted to leave on 26th but I couldn't get tickets and was forced to book for an earlier date. I completely forgot."

"That doesn't matter Naniji." Khushi assured her, "I will help you pack."

"But how will stay here all alone?" Naniji lamented.

"I can manage fine Naniji," Khushi said, "I have to go to the US in a few days anyway."

"I have a great idea!" Naniji exclaimed emphatically. "Why don't you come with me till Delhi? You can go and stay with Arnav for a couple of days and leave for the US from there. You flight is from Delhi anyway." She said, "With Anjali and Manav away in Singapore, you had to stay back in Faridkot for my sake."

"Don't forget I have my job."

"Mr. Bedi won't mind if you take few days off," She dismissed it. "He managed without you all these years, didn't he?"

"I am not sure Nani," Khushi said, "I will think about it. When I come back from school, I will help you pack."

After finishing school, Khushi sat on the bench under her favourite tree thinking about what Naniji had suggested in the morning. Mr Bedi wasn't too happy when she had asked him if he would be okay if Navneet substituted her for a few days. A friend of Navneet had also volunteered to help but the old man was hesitant as he had grown fond of her.

"A penny for your thoughts Rani Sahiba."

A shiver went down Khushi's spine at the voice she had heard only in the darkness of the night before now. She looked up to see the stranger who she had met in the garden. He sported a beard and wore dark glasses just like the other night in the garden and that was exactly why she hadn't been able to remember his face in the dimly lit garden area. If he was trying to make himself look sinister, he was doing a pretty good job of it.

There were not too many people in this stretch of the street and fear crept up her spine. She stood up and began walking away from him.

"What happened Rani Sahiba?" He said coming up behind her. "Is this what I get for giving you so much information last time? I have to tell you that I was disappointed that you didn't act on my warning. Nevertheless, I have something very important to tell you again—"

"No I don't want to hear anything!" Khushi felt drops of sweat trickling down her back, but she didn't want to let him know that. She stopped and turned around. "I will create a scene if you don't leave me alone." She warned him.

"You didn't have a problem talking to me the last time." He reminded her.

"Well I have learnt my lesson about not talking to strangers," she hit back, her eyes flashing.