ArShi SS : Broken Bangles (Rejected II)

They met again

Khushi froze hearing the news that the youngest son of Raizada clan was going to arrive and who was none other than the love of her life Arnav. She was initially shocked to note the harsh reality and how the fate manipulated her future. The boy she loved since her childhood was now her brother-in-law. She didn't know about this reality when they met in St Stephens and fought with each other. A part of her was happy to know that despite of all the odd she still like Arnav from the very start when she first layed her eyes on him in the collage. That time she didn't know he was the one to whom she shared her first lollypop when she was a kid and she can never forget that the kiss which remained incomplete was actually completed by him when they were kids. She still remembered the chuckle of his lips against her chubby cheeks when he kissed her. The only person who had foreseen their growing affection at that tender age was Khushi's father, who worked for Arnav's father for more than 25 years as his obedient driver. Arnav's father Aarav Raizada was a kind hearted man and so was his mother Avantika. They loved Khushi like their own daughter. After dismissal of her mother at very early age Aarav and Avantika took Khushi's entire responsibly financially. But Khushi's father Shashi Gupta was a man of honour and he couldn't take advantage of his master's kindness. Arnav and Khushi clearly became close in no time and he had to literally drag a weeping Khushi out of Arnav's room every night against her daughter wish. He was also aware of Khushi's protests not wanting to leave Arnav. He had also seen the little boy's face when he helpless looked at his best friend with teary eyes. In several occasions he requested her mom to keep Khushi in their house and not in the driver's quarters so that they could play whenever they wanted without any restrictions from Khushi's father. He also used to say he would marry her if Shashi kept Khushi at a distance. Shashi knew that two of them couldnot be together. He would have classified as a gold-digger and opertunist. Though he knew Aarav and Avantika would have treated Khushi as their own and Arnav would have loved Khushi like no other man could but the shame, the humilation he might have gone through forced him to part Khushi from Arnav when she was only 6 years old. The society would have acted like a vulture taunting him and Khushi for manipulating his own master who has done more than what he deserved.

**

Arnav opened his eyes and immediately winced in pain. "Aah".

The nurse hurried towards him and held him by his shoulder. "Please relax Mr Raizada".

Feeling an unfamiliar touch Arnav flinched and looked at the middle aged woman standing beside him.

He narrowed his eyes and asked, "where am i?" sensing the unfamiliar atmosphere around.

"Hey Arnav how are you young man?" the doctor entered his suit.

"I am fine doctor chacha. What is the matter why am I here?" Arnav tired to seat up with the help of the nurse holding his unaffected hand.

"Relax, son. You are in the hospital due to your accident 3 days back. You lost your consciousness and drifted to coma and stayed like that for 72 hours. Thank god you gained your colour", with that the doctor checked his pulse and eyes. "Do you feel pain?" he enquired.

"Yes I do. I do feel terrible pain in my head. Damn..that accident".

And then he remembered everything, his encounter with Khushi. He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes to recollect. How he couldn't bear her tears when she left the hall. In rage he left after her and drove aimlessly on the roads of London. Despite of repetitive warnings he speed up the car and finally hit himself against a big tree near the outskirts and after that everything became blank.

After few quick examinations when the doctor confirmed that he was out of danger he planned to bring up his brother's misshap.

Arnav went numb and he tried to gasp the whole news. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His beloved brother was dead? How can that be possible? He spoke to him 4 days back when his brother told him that he was about to get married very soon and that his parents are very happy for him. The line got disconnected before he could say with whom he was going to get married. But Arnav was excited to hear such amazing news. He also bought a very expensive rolex watch and matching ladies watch for his spouse. He couldnot wait to meet her. His instinct told him that he was going to be as close to his spouse as he was with his Eldest sister-in-law Anjali.