Arshi SS - His Mistake

Part 5

Arnav entered his room, to feel the same hollowness again. Discarding his coat on the recliner, he went near the wardrobe to extract his casual wear. Before entering the bathroom, he paused to see the bed. He had kept the bed same--- the left half side still has the pink mattress, the glittering stars still hanging on the bed. It gives him a hope, hope that its owner will come back soon to claim her rights on her pink side, on the stars hanging, on his cupboard, on his bathroom, on his poolside, on his heart, on his life, on each and everything he owns.

It's been 1 month since she is discharged from the hospital and is living at her Buaji's place. She is no longer the Khushi he knew. She talks less, smiles less, he doesn't remember when was the last time he had heard the soothing sound of her laughter, her eyes which use to always gleam with mischief is now replaced by so much pain and sadness. Everyday he goes to meet her, talks to her, tries to make her smile, says how much he loves her, how much he is waiting for her to return to him. But it's like nothing is working. But he will try, try till his last breath. For now he is happy that she is allowing him to meet her, to spend few hours with her, and he is more than happy with that. The things he had done and said to her, only Khushi can give him a chance, no one else. And for that he is ready to give her all the time in the world. He will wait, wait till eternity for her.

All ready to leave, he took his car's key and exited the room to only stop in his track. He looked at his sister, standing in front of him. He averted his eyes from her. He doesn't know why a sudden hatred and guilt envelops him as soon as he sees her. He knows she is not guilty, its only him to be blamed. Still he can't bring himself to talk to her. He had tried, tried so hard, still something stops him. He doesn't know what that something is. May be because she was the reason for his outburst that night. If only she had not tried to kill her own child that day, if only he had not seen her in that vulnerable state, if only she had believed that it's the scumbag of her husband who was at fault, not he and his Khushi. But she chose to believe her husband over him and Khushi, which led all of them to that dreadful night.

Not wanting to think more on that, Arnav started walking, avoiding her, but was forced to stop again as he heard his sister call him.

"Chhote, you are going to meet Khushi, right?" She came and stood in front of him. "Take her with you, Khushi will love to meet her" Anjali forwarded her 6 month old daughter.

Arnav looked at his niece, whom he had never seen closely, never picked her, never bothered to know anything about her. Khushi likes kids. With only that thought running in his head, he took his niece from her sister's arm.

"Should I come with you? How will you manage her?" Anjali asked, hopefully.

"No..I will ask Mohan to drive the car. I will manage."

Anjali nodded her head, hurt. "OK.." Anjali said and saw his brother leave the house.

Arnav rang the bell, and stood waiting for the door to open, the little girl in his arms, clad in a baby pink frock ,was resting her head on his shoulder, her eyes open but not making a sound. His eyes shifted to her tiny hand, holding the neck of his T-shirt. Just like Khushi. He smiled, his hand lifting to caress her soft hair.