Anatomy of Love (Complete)

Chapter 40

Rishab opened the door and his eyes went to Nihar. He was hovering over Khushi who was lying on the couch mumbling something clearly indicating that she was drunk.
He threw the jacket he was holding on the floor and went to Nihar. He clenched his teeth, grabbed his shirt from behind and pulled him away from her.
He screamed, “You b*****! What were you doing?”

Nihar tried to release himself, “Dr.Rishab .. Rishab, I wasn't doing anything.. chodo mujhe.”
“She isn't in her senses. Tu kya kar Raha tha uske saath, bol? I will kill you.. I will..”
Nihar pushed him away, “Kuch nahi kar Raha tha main. Khushi is my friend, I would never hurt her. She was drunk, so I brought her here. Uski bracelet atak gayi thi mere shirt mein. See threads are still stuck on it. I was just releasing myself.”

Rishab looked at Khushi and then at him.
“I know you care for her, maybe you  have feelings for her.. But bina sachai jane ilzam lagana, I don't expect that from you.”
Rishab didn't say a word. Nihar walked past him towards the door.

He stopped and looked back, “You both are strange. Sorry to say this but that's what I found. You are concerned for her, love her perhaps. But you go and dance with someone else. You leave the hall with her. Khushi dances with me but when she sees you with another woman she gets upset. She drinks and cries for you. Itna pyar hai phir yeh sab kyun? Isn't it wise to express your real feelings for each other instead of making the other one jealous?”

Rishab looked back at him, “You love her too and you still want us to get together. Strange? Are you too good or too foolish?”
Nihar smiled, “I am neither of them. Yes, I love Khushi. I always have. We were together for a brief period of time. But she never loved me back. Pehle uske liye uska career tha aur abhi uska liye tum ho. When I know I can never get her love, why would I hope for it. Take care of her. Good night.”

Rishab forked his fingers through his hair. He went to Khushi who was lying on the sofa with her eyes closed. He ran his hand on her hair and she mumbled, “Mereko.. chahiye..”
“Khushi, hey wake up. You need to go to your room.”
“Ah.. no.. Rishu.. ke paas.. le chalo.”

He gulped the lump and said, “Hey, I am right here. Rishab… open your eyes.”
She opened her eyes, one after another.
“Rishu.. it's you.. you came back to me.. I am so happy.”
“Can you get up? Let's go to your room.” Rishab said.
Khushi tried to get up.

“Na.. I can't.. please Mere Ko utha ke le jao, like you used to … please ..”
Rishab sighed, lifted her in his arms and carried her into her bedroom. She kept mumbling, “Rishu.. you.. came back ..Rishu..”

Rishab laid her down but she didn't let him go.
“Khushi, let me go.”
“No..Tum phir uss.. chipkali ke saath chale jaoge. I won't leave you. No..”
Rishab said, “Nahi jaunga. chodo abhi.”
She shook her head and tears rolled down from her eyes.

“Why are you crying?” He wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Why? Kyun dance kar rahe the uske saath.. main hurt Hui.. bahut jyada..”
“Tum bhi toh dance kar rahi thi. Did you think about..” He stopped.
“Tum bhi hurt huye? But he is just.. a friend. Aur main toh bas dance kar rahi thi but tum toh.. chipak chipak ke dance kar rahe the.  why? Pata hai I drank because of it. I was so.. angry.. By the way, where did you go with her?”

She started checking  his neck and face.
“Did you sleep with her? Did you?”
Rishab tried to release himself, “Khushi, leave me. so jao tum.”
She kept holding him, “No.. batao.. please..”
Tears rolled down again.
“No.. okay.. I didn't sleep with her. Happy?”
He finally said.

She smiled, “Good.. stay away from her. .. koi dance wance mat karna.. I can't see you with anyone.. no body..”
She placed her palm on his face, “Mujhe hate karo but kisi aur ke paas mat jana.. please.. I am sorry for hurting you… but sach bol Rahi hun main.. bhi bahut jyada hurt Hui hun.. theen saal bahut suffer Kiya.. can't you forgive me and come back to me? I sachi love you,Rishu.. I wanted to.. have a life … ek saath .. bas ek baar sab set ho jata.. you hate me.. I know.. but I love you, Rishu.. bahut jyada..”