Far Away From You

Silence Before Storm

"Khushi" he whispered seeing the woman he wished to see for the past three years.

"Annav this mamma" Hiya said jumping happily.

He looked at Hiya and the realization dawned upon him.

The uncanny resemblance the girl has with his wife. Her striking smile. The short but soft hair. Her big round eyes exactly similar to his wife but her nose like his? Her jaw structure that looks like it was carved out of him....how come he never noticed it before?

Hiya.

Khushi's daughter.

HIS DAUGHTER.

"Hiya go and play" Khushi said softly and Arnav looked at her hearing her voice.

Hiya ran away and Arnav found himself looking at the woman who left him years back.

"Khushi" he whispered and took small steps to her. His eyes filled up in no time as the man lifted his hands to cup her cheek to make sure that she is real. He could see tears rolling down her eyes as well and slowly wiped it away, like he does every time.

Puling her to him, Arnav wrapped his arms around her tightly and rested his head in her hair, breathing her scent. "I missed you so much Khushi" he said in a broken voice, "Where were you? Why did you leave me?"

He broke the hug and cupped her face again. "Why Khushi? Why did you leave me?" he demanded.

Khushi stepped out of his hold and wiped her tears. "You need to leave" she said in a hoarse voice.

She turned to leave and he held her wrist turning her to him. "No" he said in disbelief, "You cannot walk out on me again"

"I can and I will" Khushi said and tried to free her wrist but he tightened the hold. Pulling her wrist he pulled her and she fell on his chest. "Not anymore Khushi" he whispered, "I won't let you leave again"

"Leave Arnav ji" Khushi hissed in anger, "Why can't you understand? I don't want to come back to you."

He left her hand the instant.

I don't want to come back to you!

Her words felt like cold water being splashed into his face.

"Why?" he whispered, tears rolling down his cheek, "Why don't you love me anymore?"

Her heart broke at his voice and she held back the instinct to wipe his tears away. "It's not you Arnav ji" she whispered slowly, "I can never stop loving you but....I cannot come back to you"

"WHY?" he demanded.

"I had to choose between Hiya and you. I chose her" she said and turned to leave when he ran behind her. Holding her arm he turned her and said, "NO. Don't go!"

"Tell me why you left. Please.....please tell me" he begged.

"I told you didn't I?" she said in croaked voice, "Your sister put me in a position where I had to choose you or Hiya. I love you Arnav ji but I love my daughter more"

"Why didn't you tell me about Hiya? Why did you hide my daughter from me" he asked.

"Now don't act as if you don't know" Khushi said angrily, "I know what you and your sister is planning to do. Let me get this straight. I won't let you both take my Hiya from me" she pushed him and walked away.

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Raizada Mansion, New Delhi

11.30 am

"DI DI!" Arnav shouted as he walked into the living room. Hearing his voice everyone walked out of their rooms to the living room to find out the reason for his temper rise.

"What is it Chotte?" Anjali asked worried.

"The night before Khushi left, three years ago, did you say something to her?" he asked angrily.

Anjali looked at him shocked.

Did he meet Arhan? Did he tell him the truth?

"No...Chotte....I didn't say anything to her" she said, her voice shivering.

"That's not what she said to me!" Arnav said angrily.

Everyone took a while to grasp what he said. Payal gasped and rushed to him. She held his arm and asked, "She? Khushi? You met Khushi?"

Arnav looked at her and nodded.

"Where?" Payal asked, her face lit up with happiness and surprise, "Tell me bhai where is she? And why didn't she come home with you?"

"Nannav say something" NK cried.

"Ha Arnav bitwa where is Khushi bitiya" Nani asked.

"She works at an NGO named Amaara. I'm one of their sponsors and NK..." his voice broke as he looked at his brother, "The girl we met at restaurant....Hiya....."

NK nodded in confusion, "Ha Hiya....she?"

"Hiya.....she is my daughter!" Arnav said in tears.

"WHAT?" everyone gasped.

"Khushi bitiya was pregnant before she left?" Nani whispered and Payal cried shaking Arnav's arm, "Take me to her. I want to meet Khushi Arnav ji!"

"She left the NGO before I could stop her" Arnav said looking down, "She had her car. She took Hiya and zoomed out of the NGO!"

"Wait" NK said frowning, "The girl...Hiya Harshid. She was with her uncle Arhan Harshid, di's ex boyfriend. So....Khushi is Arhan's sister?" he asked in confusion.

Anjali paled. So that's how Arhan knows the truth.

Arnav looked at Anjali and asked, "Where does Arhan live?"

Anjali gulped. No. If he meets Arhan or Khushi then they would tell him why Khushi actually left. If Chotte knows then he'll never forgive her. He will banish her from his life.

"Where does Arhan live?" Arnav asked raising his voice.

"He has an apartment in Gandhi Road" Anjali said in fear.

"Give me the address" Arnav demanded.

"12B Skyline Gandhi Road" Anjali said and she looked at mami who was pale as a sheet of paper.

"Hiya was with Arhan. So Khushi ji might also be with him!" NK said and Arnav nodded.

"Let's go!" Payal said and Arnav nodded. He turned to leave but stopped when he stood in front of Anjali.

"If you have anything to do with her disappearance di, forget that you ever had a brother!" he said calmly and walked out.

He sounded so calm.

But Anjali knew.

It was the silence before storm.