Miss-Touch-Me-(Not) Chapter 10

Chapter 10 – Feelings, Commitments, Confusions!

Khushi: Sorry.. tune bolne ko mana kiya.. katne ko nahi... (Sorry.. you said not to talk.. but you didn’t say not to bite)

And at the first chance, she passes by Arnav and runs away to the terrace. He follows her but she jumps off the barrier and enters her room.. She locks the door and lets a breath of relief while ASR nods in irritation.

ASR thinks: aisi craziness, sirf tumhi karsakta kashish! (Only you can do such craziness Kashish!)

And he gets back inside his room.

30 minutes later

Moving into bed, her sleep was lost long ago. Tired of turning over and over again, she wakes up and sits leaning her back to the head board. She lights on the lamp and takes her blackberry from the bedside table. As she sees the time, it was almost 3 a.m.

Khushi thinks: I think she must have gone back to her room by now... Should I... No no no Khushi.. What are you thinking? If he catches you spying on him he’ll get another chance to taunt you... just forget it.. and anyways why should I care?

Brushing her thoughts away, she switches off the lights and gets back into the blankets. When the clock strikes 5, the alarm clock broke her sleep. She gets off the bed with her half closed eyes. She was feeling very sleepy as she slept not more than 2 hours. Getting into her slippers, she walks to the bathroom. Few minutes later, she gets out in a simple white salwar kameez all prepared for the morning prayers. She steps out of her room but her steps stop as she passes by the guest room. Tempted, out of curiosity, she lifts her hands to the door almost pushing it slightly to check in when suddenly she gets startled and takes back her hands from the door as a sleepy Anu bumps into her. Anu passes her arms to her waist taking her into a cute hug.

Anu: Hottie please.. start the prayers, I want to go back to bed.

Khushi forgets about Arnav and smiled as she takes Anu into a hug while she bends down placing a kiss on her head.

Khushi: Come on.. let’s go sleepyhead!

They walk down the stairs to the temple where Payal was waiting for them. Nanaji and all the workers of the house join them while the guests were still sleeping. As Payal realized that they forget to inform Lavanya and Arnav, Nanaji takes Khushi by surprise when he orders Payal to let them sleep as they must be tired after a long flight. When the prayers come to its end everyone resides to their work and Payal went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Finding Khushi quite weak, she stopped her from helping and told her to go back to bed for some time. As soon as she gets into her room, she toppled into bed for a long sleep.

Hours later.. 8.30 am.

(knocking sound)

Hard knocks on the door brought her back from dream land. She rubs her eyes and yells in a grumpy voice.

Khushi(yelling): Coming...

But the knocks don’t stop here and she hears Anu’s worried voice. She gets off the blankets and rushes to the door. As she opens the door, a tensed Anu dressed into her school uniform barged into the room while Khushi stares at her in confusion.

Khushi: Kya hua? (What happen?)

Anu: Woh woh..

Khushi: Woh woh.. kya?

Slowly she takes out an envelope and handed it to Khushi.

Khushi: Yeh kya hai.. (What is this?)

While she takes it, Anu finally speaks out.

Anu: study room mein, I was searching for my books jab galati se I opened hitler’s file. (I was searching for my books in study room when by mistake I opened hitler’s file)

As Khushi reads the content of the envelope, her eyes popped out in shock and she stammers.

Khushi: yeh.. yehh (this..this)

Anu: Tumhari sagai ka invitation card.. Viren chachu se... aur wo bhi 4 dhin baad. (your engagement invitation card.. to viren uncle.. 4 days later)

Rooted on the spot, she was shocked.. Her engagement.. in 4 days.. forget about asking, nanaji didn’t even find it necessary to inform her. Her eyes welled up at the thought and a tear wets her cheeks. As she lowers her look towards Anu, she sees her in tears. Immediately she wipes off her own tears and bends down on her knees. She cupped her face comfortingly.

Khushi: Anu.. why are you crying baby?

She sobs loudly and Khushi takes her into an embrace. She looked back at her and wipes her tears off.

Khushi: Hey hey.. don’t cry! Everything will be fine! I promise...

Anu(sobbing): Nanaji will force you to marry chachu?

Khushi: it’s ok baby.. don’t worry! Don’t think too much about this..

Anu(sobbing): Agar chachu tumse zabardasti shaadi karlegi, to main usse kabhi baat nahi karoongi. (If uncle marries you forcefully, I will stop talking to him)

Khushi smiled at her cute innocence and caressed her cheeks.

Khushi: Kyun? You don’t like chachu to marry me? (Why? You don’t like chachu to marry me?)

Anu nods in denial..

Anu: No no.. I love him a lot.. lekin.. (No no.. I love him a lot.. but..)

As she hesitates to continue her words, Khushi looked at her questioningly.

Khushi: Lekin kya? (But what)

Anu: Tum ASR ke saat zyada achi lagti ho! (You look better with ASR)

Khushi yells in shock.

Khushi: Kya? (What?)

Anu pouted and Khushi couldn’t stop her laugh. She kisses her cheeks and nods.

Khushi: Anu you know what? Tum bilkul pagal ho, meri tarah!  (Anu you know what? You are completely mad, like me!)

And finally a sad smile appears on Anu’s teary face.

Khushi: Now you go to school and I’ll handle the matters here.

Anu: Promise?

Khushi: Pakka promise.. Now go!

Anu gives her a quick kiss on her cheeks and runs out of the room while Khushi’s smile disappears and she looked back at the card. Angrily she throws away the card and rushes to the bathroom. After freshen up, she decides to go and face nanaji.

Khushi thinks: I think it’s high time to have a conversation with hitler.. I’ll never let him ruin my life like he did with mama.. Never!

And she steps out of her room. Fortunately, arnav’s room door was open and he was nowhere to be seen. She walks to Nanaji’s room but she stops before knocking as she hears Payal’s voice.

Payal: Sach nanaji! Yeh bahut hi khushi ki baat.. itne saar se yehi to hai mera sapna ke viren aur khushi ki shaadi ho jaye. (Really Nanaji! That’s a good news.. I’ve been dreaming since long that Khushi and Viren will get married)

Khushi was shocked. She was on the verge to confront nanaji and she didn’t even think about her Babhi.

Payal: Par nanaji, kya khushi iss rishte se khush hai. (But nanaji, is khushi happy with this relationship)

Her eyes welled up as she hears her babhi inquiring about her. It is the dream of Payal that Khushi gets married to Viren, but still her first concern is Khushi’s happiness.

Nanaji: Khushi nadaan hai, lekin usse pata ke sab ki khushi kisme hai.. khass kar ki tumhara payal. Khushi kabhi nahi chahegi ke tumhara sapna tootjaye. (Khushi is imature, but she knows in what lies everyone’s happiness.. especially yours paya.. Khushi will never wish to break your dream)

The answer of Nanaji shocks Payal. Payal wants this wedding more than anything but not at the cost of Khushi’s happiness. She decides to talk to her while Khushi walks back on her steps, confused of her own decision. She went back to her room lost in her thoughts. Half of the day passed by, and she didn’t leave the room.. At lunch time, Payal knocks at her door before entering.

Payal: Can I come in?

Khushi turns towards the door and smiled.

Khushi: Babhi,.. you don’t need to ask to come into my room!

She smiled and walks to Khushi. She sits next to Khushi and cupped her face.

Payal: tum tik to ho na Khushi? (You are ok Khushi?)

Khushi smiled excitedly.

Khushi: Are mujhe kya hua? I’m perfectly fine meri pyari babhi ji! (What’s wrong with me? I’m perfectly fine my sweet babhi)

Payal: Khushi meinn... mein tumse viren ke baree mein... (Khushi I..I want to talk about Viren)

Khushi holds payal’s hands as she sensed her uneasiness and Payal lifts her eyes towards her.

Khushi: Babhi.. aap yehi poochna chaati ho ke agar mein iss rishte se khush ho? (Babhi you want to ask if I’m happy with this relationship?)

Payal looked at her with concern and nods in a yes. She was tensed as she sees Khushi’s serious face which then shortly turns into a bright smile.

Khushi: Ofcourse babhi..

Tears of happiness reached her eyes and she hugged Khushi tightly.

Payal: Thank you.. thank you Khushi.. I’m so happy.

In her embrace, a happy payal couldn’t see the sad face of Khushi.. she disguised her pains into a smile for the happiness of her babhi but her heart was yelling out loud that she’s not happy..

Khushi thinks: Mein apko kaise bataoon babhi, ke ab tak nanaji ne iss shaadi ke bare mein, mujse kuch nahin poocha. Khood faisla le liye hai usne.. (How can I tell you babhi, that till now nanaji didn’t ask me anything about this wedding. He took the decision by himself)

Payal moves back from her embrace and Khushi faked a smile as she faces her. Payal kisses her forehead before leaving the room while Khushi closes her eyes leaning on the head board. She had no idea at what time she fell asleep. When she woke up late, she had a bad head ache.  She remembers she missed lunch time and as she looked at her mobile she sees it was already dinner time.

Khushi: Gosh.. how could I sleep for so long? And who tucked me into bed..

Khushi thinks: Shayad babhi! (Maybe babhi!)

She smiled and got off the bed. Dinner was a quiet moment. Even Khushi didn’t complain after Nanaji finished lunch and went away. She was drowned in her problems that she did not realize the absence of Arnav and Lavanya. Her thoughts broke as Viren lays his hands on her shoulders and shakes her.

Khushi: What the!

She turns to him angrily but her eyes fell on the standing figure at the door. Arnav was staring at Viren’s hands. His blood was boiling. He was burning in jealousy.. in anger. Viren was touching his Kashish, his Khushi or whatever her name is. She is only for Arnav. He clenched his fists and looked at Khushi. Khushi was worried.. not because of his anger.. she had no idea that he is angry or jealous.. she just wanted to run away.. from the answers she owes him. Because for the moment, she had to find answers for herself and at the right time her phone rings giving her a chance to escape. She excused herself and runs away to the garden. She signs in relief and takes the call.

Khushi: Hi Nats!

Nats: KKG where the hell are you? I need you here!

Khushi: Why? What happen?

Nats: A huge problem? I think... I’m gona fall in love with NK!

Khushi yells in surprise.

Khushi: What?

Nats: Actually we went to a party yesterday and when I woke up in the morning I was naked in his bed.. Goshh.. Disgusting.. Me and NK!

Hearing Nats, Khushi laughed out loud.

Nats: What the hell KKG? I’m damn worried here and you are laughing..

Khushi: Ok ok.. sorry! But seriously, there’s nothing to worry! It happens.. that does not mean that you’ll fall in love with him or him with you! So just relax!

Nats was less worried as she heard Khushi and she said excitedly..

Nats: Yeah, you are right! It’s just like you and Arnie boy! Thanks KKG you are the best, don’t know what I’ll do without you.. Ok I got to go now.. call you later.. love you..

Nats disconnects the call leaving Khushi idled in her last words. Suddenly she gets startled as Arnav passes a hand in her waist from behind. Scared she turns and backs off while she faces an angry arnav. Arnav steps closer but she steps back.

ASR: We need to talk!

Khushi: Stay away from me..

ASR: Kashish enough of your games, I’m sick and tired.. I want to know what’s going on!

She tries to pass by him but Arnav was faster and blocks her way. Khushi was getting angry by his attitude. She knew she had to talk to him but all she needed was time.. Time to sort things in her own life..

ASR: Kashish, I’m warning you.. if you don’t tell me now, I’m going to kiss you infront of everyone and especially for the eyes of this Viren.

Her eyes popped out as she heard him. And then came what Arnav never expected..

Khushi: Fine, you want to know.. then listen.. yes I’m kashish, yes I’m the one who sleeps with you almost every day! But no more.. I’m just tired of all this.. tired of living two life, pretending to be two different person.. I just want all you people to get out of my life.. I’m fed up of you, I’m fed up of everything.. you mean nothing to me.. you get that? So please just leave me alone..

And she turns back looking at the opposite side. Her eyes turn red as her tears fall. She was angry and hurt.. but Arnav was not the reason. He’s just at the wrong place at the wrong time. She tries hard to control her continuous tears. She didn’t want to cry infront of him. She knows it.. when he’ll find out the real problem, he’ll do anything to help her, but this issue, she has to solve it herself, either saying yes or no to this engagement.

Khushi: Arnav, I said just go away from here.

She wipes off her tears and turns angrily but nothing... arnav was already gone. She realized what she had done and guiltily she runs into the house to her room. She cried for hours. She felt desperate. She was missing her mother like hell. It was almost midnight. All lights were off and everyone was asleep.. Her tears were dry on her skin. She pushed aside the pillows and went to the terrace. She lifts her eyes towards the stars and stares at the brightest star.. her maa!

Khushi: Mama.. I don’t know what I should do... Meine ab tak wohi kiya jo mujhe tik lage, apne zindagi apne tarikein jiya hai meine.. lekin ab? Mera yeh faisla sirf meri khushi ki nahin par ki babhi aur viren ke bhi hai. Babhi mujhse bahut pyar karti hai. She loves me a lot maa.. infact agar aap yahan hote, you’d feel proud to have her as bahu. Kabhi kabhi mujhe lagta ke yeh mujhse aap se zyada pyar karti hai. Aur nanaji.. mein usse nafrat nahin karte aur jaise apne kaha, I’ll always respect him.. Bass sirf naraazgi hai mujhe unse.. Naraaz hai ke woh hum dono ko kabhi nahin samjha.. aur aaj mujhse bina pooche phir so wohi galati dorahi hai. Mujhe pata hai.. Viren bahut aacha ladka hai, papa ki tarah nahi.. he’ll never hurt me.. Lekin.. I just don’t feel ke mein usse khush rak paogi.. I’m not the one for him and he’s not the one for me either. Par mein babhi ka sapna....Mein kya karoon mama? (Mama.. I don’t know what I should do... till now I’ve been doing whatever I feel right, I’ve been living a life the way I want.. but now? My one decision is not only for me but Viren and Babhi’s happiness. Babhi loves me a lot. She loves me a lot maa.. Infact if you were here, you’d be proud to have her like daughter in law.. And sometimes I think that she loves me more than you..And nanaji,. I don’t hate him and like you said I’ll always respect him.I’m just angry with him.. Angry that he never understand us. And today without asking me.. he’s making the same mistake. I know.. Viren is a nice guy, not like dad.. he’ll never hurt me.. But I just don’t feel that I can keep him happy. I’m not the one for him and he’s not the one for me either. But babhi’s dream..What should I do Mama?)

A silent tear falls from her eyes as she feels the cool breeze on her face. She turns to go back inside the room but suddenly her dupatta flies away. As she tries to get back her dupatta she jumps the barrier and finally got hold of it. The doors were open and instead of going back she couldn’t stop her steps as her heart guides her towards the room of Arnav. Standing at the door, she looked at a sleeping Arnav. Her heart was crying.. of guilt. She so wished she didn’t tell him all these words.. She never meant these words ..He means something to her. What it is? She still cannot figure it out or she just don’t want to give a name to this unknown feeling.  But she’s happy with him.. his care, his mischief.. the way he tolerates all her craziness without a word.. Remembering all these happy moments, a smile appears on her face.. a true smile! She walks towards the bed and sits next to him. Her hand caresses his face and she plays with his hairs. Taking off her slippers, she sneaks into the blanket and lays her head on his chest while Arnav stays idle faking to be asleep.

ASR thinks: I wish.. that we stay like this forever.. I love you so much!

Khushi thinks: Whenever I lay my head on your chest,... tumhare dadkanein se mujhe ek ajeeb sa sukoon miljata hai! (Whenever I lay my head on your chest,... From your heartbeats, I feel a strange peace.)

ASR thinks: But maybe you are right.. I should stay out of your way.