Making Her Mine- An IPKKND story.

Chapter 34 - Restoration

Di and Khushi arrived just as Akash and Aman were leaving. Di still looked weak and pale, but she was smiling. Khushi left them alone, with the pretext of bringing tea.

"I'm sorry, Di," Arnav said, holding his sister's hand. "I never wanted you to go through the trauma of losing someone again. I would never knowingly put my life in danger... I'm sorry this happened. I'll be more careful from now on, I promise."

"Chotay..." she said, and began to cry.

"I'm okay now, Di. Don't cry. How are you? Are you okay? Have you been taking care of yourself?"

"Yes," she said, and held him in her arms, crying until her sobs subsided.

Finally, she released him and wiped her tears.

"Chotay, please take care of Khushiji. She has been in such a bad state, I thought she would– she loves you very much...you know that, right? These two weeks have been horrible for her."

Khushi came in just then, carrying two paper cups of machine-made tea. She looked bright and cheerful, and not at all like she had just been through a terrible ordeal.

Khushi, who Arnav thought cried at the drop of a hat, had the kind of resilience he was only now beginning to understand. The kind of resilience that allowed her, after losing both her parents when she had been old enough for death to be devastating but not old enough to weather it, to still be happy. To be trusting of the world, to love unashamedly and fully, to be kind and generous, and to bring others joy. Khushi considered it her lot in life to make others happy.

She was certainly more resilient than him. Maybe even more than Di. He had dealt with his loss and trauma by becoming hard and suspicious, fiercely protective of those he loved, and just as afraid of losing them. Di was also fierce in her love, and as fearful of losing loved ones. But where Arnav was angry and cynical, Di would react with hurt and self-blame. And through it all, even when it hurt her, she would be endlessly kind, just like their mother.

Khushi got hurt too, but she hid her pain so well, it seemed sometimes even from herself. He wondered if what he had done to her would ever heal. But here she was, tea in hand, having encircled him in the select group of people she loved, no matter if they hurt her. She loved him, for better or for worse. She had saved his life! Despite everything he had done, and everything he was—a broken man with only darkness within him. All he could do now was promise himself to never hurt her again, to always keep her happy. That was the least she deserved, in exchange for loving someone like him.

At lunchtime, Akash returned with Nani, Mamaji, Mamiji, and Payal, and insisted that Di go home. Khushi, of course, wouldn't budge.

Everyone was smiling, Mamaji was cracking jokes, and even Nani was her sarcastic old self, but Arnav could see the toll the attack had taken on his family. Mamaji gripped his hands a little too hard, and his voice shook when he said how happy he was to see Arnav looking so well. Mamiji's eyes misted over as she looked at him, when she thought no one was watching. Nani looked alarmingly frail, and touched his hair and face far more than he ever remembered her doing before. He let her—suppressing his impulse to lean away and tell her he was fine. Even Payal gave him a small, wan smile, and a much kinder look than she had since he had married Khushi.

"I know everyone is worried because of what happened. And maybe seeing all the security at home and here makes you feel more anxious. But I agree with Akash, I think it's better to be safe and more careful until the police catches whoever is behind this. Aman has put the full influence of AR and ASR to get the police working on this. I don't think anyone will dare do anything right now. I don't want anyone to worry," Arnav said.

That wiped what little smiles there were on everyone's faces right off. But they also looked a little less anxious.

The doctor came to see him right after the family left and told Khushi that they wanted to keep Arnav at the hospital for one more night, but that he would most likely be discharged tomorrow. She looked positively radiant.

Aman returned, and moments later, Garima Aunty arrived, wheeling Sashi Uncle in, followed by Buaji.

He had to reassure this lot too. For some reason, Sashi Uncle looked more agitated than the women.

"Ever since he heard about your accident, he has been like this," Garima Aunty said.

"I'm okay, Uncle," Arnav said, but Sashi Uncle kept twitching and muttering in agitation. Khushi went to him and spoke in a low, soothing voice.

Arnav was oddly touched. Sure, they had spent one evening in the park, and he had said some things he would never say to anyone else. But still, he hadn't expected Khushi's Babuji to be so affected by this.

"Uncle, I am okay," he said again, trying to sound reassuring. "We are doing everything to find out who did this and why, and we have security everywhere. Aman here is in charge of everything, and I trust him with my life. Please don't worry."

Aman, who was standing by his bedside, gave him a surprised look—wait—were those tears in his eyes?

"Aman, I was thinking earlier, by the way," Arnav said remembering suddenly, "You need a security detail as well. Please arrange someone to be with you and at home."

"Sir...?"

"You're also at risk—if something happens to you– uh, it'll be easier to get to me."

Aman nodded.

"I don't think there's any more danger," Arnav lied, turning to Garima Aunty and Buaji. "But you can never be too sure. For the time being, I just want to be reassured."