Dried Lilies, Withered Hearts And A Lonely Path

•Chapter-9• Hurt and strange comfort

Riya looked at the once full of life, bubbly, chirpy girl she knew lying on the bed looking pale with dark circles circling beneath her beautiful eyes yet she looked tranquil. Soothing, serene, and beautiful like snow-covered scenery. Even with the drip connected to her right arm along with the machine monitoring her pulse and heart rate.

But Riya couldn't quite throw out her accusing words from her mind. "You shot me, " seem to ring in her mind. Again and again.

And no matter, how much she racked her mind trying to find the source of the accusation. She couldn't. She just drew blank. She couldn't remember a single incidence from the past two or so years in which she crossed paths with Khushi.

So when and where did she shot Khushi? And Khushi was still calling her Lav, not Riya. So, it kind of seemed absolutely impossible to her.

"Bhabi- it's time for dinner, "

The soft call from her dearest brother-in-law drew Riya away from her ransacking.

"Nav! I think I'll have dinner here. I don't think we should leave her alone after what happened?" Riya said softly smiling at a concerned Arnav. She always loved him the best.

"I can stay here while you go and eat," Arnav offered immediately frowning and Riya felt her lips curl in a soft smile. Always the considerate one, she thought fondly as she got up from the stool she was perched on besides Khushi's bed and walked up to Arnav.

"I don't think that'll be a very good idea, Nav"

"Why?" He asked almost petulantly and Riya felt this almost intense urge to ruffle his hairs. His soft unkept curls looking quite like a cute bird nest and she gave in, ruffling his hairs like she always did.

"Because my dear Nav, we don't know how she'll react. You've seen what happened earlier and another such fit can be fatal for her, " Riya explained patiently, gently treading her fingers through his thick curls.

"But she knows we don't mean her any harm now, doesn't she?" He asked her looking all lost and confused, his brows squeezed together in an analyzing frown. She knew all too well.

From the days, they had spent together with his head on her lap asking questions, unloading his burdens, and sharing his problems while she gently massaged his scalp with coconut oil. Answered his queries, soothed his doubts, and reassured him that everything will turn out for the best.

And like all those times with a smile, she answered his questions.

"Because my dearest, Nav. We can't be sure whether she remembers the morning incidence or not, "

"It's..."

"Unfair, I know, " Riya completed his sentence patting his cheeks lovingly.

Arnav just looked displeased with the whole thing and more so, for not finding any loophole in her words that could help him in sending her to have her dinner.

Smiling, well aware of the notion of his thoughts. Riya ordered him in her best motherly tone "Now go and have your dinner before Dhriti bhabi have to come up and drag you down, "

"But..., "

"No buts Nav, it's rare for all of us to be here together. Don't waste the chance, go and have the dinner with your brothers, "

"Okay, Bhabi ma, " he grumbled unhappily as he left the room following her orders, leaving her with her thoughts again. 

Riya had known Arnav since he was an awkwardly lanky twelve-year-old left with her and she had seen him slowly grow and be comfortable in his own body. She had mothered him since those days and knowing she won't ever be a mother herself. Her love for him had just vastened. She had always cared for him and she will always.