IPKKND FF FELONIOUS

Part 10(C)

"But you and Nana were the ones who did not want me and Father in your life," he repeated the words he heard numerous times from his father.

"NO, NO, what are you saying chotey, you were the ray of sunshine in our lives, you are a part of my Anjali why would I want to part ways with you? I lost your Nana to death only because he could not live with the fact that he lost his only daughter and grandson." aghast with her grandson's assumptions, she rushed to clarify.

"We were blissful with Anjali's birth, she was our joy and life. I wanted to educate her, unlike myself. However, this wish of mine has caused my daughter to distance herself from me forever. Our life took a drastic turn with the arrival of your father into her life. She was just 15 years old when she met him at school. She fell for his charm and paid no heed to our words. She started neglecting studies and on the day she turned 16 she gave us a return gift in the form of an unexpected pregnancy. Even though it was a big shock to us, we still wanted to protect her but she was adamant about marrying him, though your grandfather accepted it to face society and stop her from getting shamed, we stayed distant on an emotional level.

A Few months later Anjali went into labour and after a few hours all we got to know is that we lost the baby to death due to some medical condition and your mother, my Anjali, was uncontrollable. Seeing her in that state broke her father's resolve to stay strong on no contact with her. He was by her side all day and cried along with her for months for the baby, even at that time I begged her to come back to us, but my Anjali was such a adamant girl, she never left his side as years passed even though the display of tears on her face stopped there was a void in her which was clear on her face, her smiles stopped, she understood that her parents are suffering more seeing her struggle daily to lead life she decided it was best for everyone to stay away for time being until everything gets back to normal.

They moved to a different city and ten years passed when we received the news of your arrival in our life. We were happy again. This time I wanted to stay beside her every minute to avoid any repeat of the suffering. With your arrival the joy surrounded us again. we did not even know how five years had passed before the tragedy hit us. All we got to know is that the car in which you are travelling met with an accident and there is nothing left for us anymore, one year down the lane your grandfather too left me to be with his daughter." she felt relieved after so long she got a chance to speak out her misery, only she knew how she waited for the death to embrace her from then but now she understood why God still hasn't called her, she has the responsibility of her grandson.

"But Nani, what I know from father is that you have not arrived even for mother's funeral because you hated him and me and mother for choosing us over you ." Arnav, even though was still reeling with the after effects of having to hear his grandmother's version, was confused about whom to trust and believe.

"Chotey, what are you saying we didn't even had a chance for the last look, we ran from place to place all around, but the only answer we ever got was that there were not even any remains of body to collect, we were shattered." she tried to remove his misconceptions but her age and the mental stress was too much for her frail body before it gave up and she fainted in his arms.

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Happy Singh called for a general physician who declared the fainting was due to stress and an ample amount of rest would be sufficient. It has been two hours since he left and Arnav sat by her bedside holding Devyani's hand with no movement, even though Khushi tried to start a conversation thrice there was no luck.

Finally Arnav couldn't stay in the room, the walls started closing in on him and he felt claustrophobic, which made him run towards terrace for fresh air, Khushi followed behind, she has no idea what they spoke as she left the room providing them with the much needed privacy and why Arnav was away from his maternal family for so long but she can for sure stand beside him in silent support.

She has followed him but was not sure if she should initiate the talk or let him be as Arnav should looking at the sky, deciding that something would be better than nothing she took a step forward and placed a hand on his shoulder calling out to him.

Khushi's voice finally snapped him out of his grief. He pulled her outstretched hand towards him and hugged her close, placing his forehead on her shoulder. It was unexpected for her and words died on her lips, she felt two prominent things by this action of his, one was she was muted with no idea how to soothe him and the second was the unexplainable feeling at the pit of her stomach, a burning sensation she felt all through her body with his proximity, his scent, his hands wrapped around her body, his hair touching the sides of her face tingling her everything is new and confusing, focusing on his grief and mentally smacking herself for deviating she did what she has done every time when NK was down, pulling him close she rubbed the back of his head with one hand and the other held him close around his waist and whispered that everything would be ok.

Khushi's attempt at soothing him has encouraged Arnav subconsciously to pull her more closer, owing to the difference in their height it made her stranded against him along the length of his body, her feet dangling in the air and Arnav's head dipped more into her shoulder.

This was how NK found them standing in each other's arms when he ran upstairs to inform them about elder lady being back to consciousness.

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