Chapter 2 : Just A Mirage

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The Times of India
Pg 1
18/8/2011

Delhi 

 The Recent Inspection in Delhi’s one of the most trusted and famous hospital - ‘Blue Cross Hospital’ has shaken the entire nation with its shocking revelations. It has been revealed that behind the closed doors of the hospital illegal organ trade was carried out by a group of senior surgeons. On further investigation, the CBI found that many of the junior staff were also involved and they were mainly given the duty of looking for helpless and financially stricken patients!………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….......

xxx

Khushi ran down the stairs as fast as her legs could carry her. Finally reaching the door of her house she walked in and locked the door quickly. Breathing heavily she looked around the empty house and found a note on the center table. Her limbs trembled as she walked towards the table and picked the note up with still shivering hands which read –

Gone to Ratna’s house. Will be back in an hour. Lunch on the dining table. Have it in case I’m late.

- Amma

Khushi sighed relieved that her mother wasn’t at home. Had she seen Khushi in that condition, she would surely get suspicious and question her and Khushi at the moment wasn’t in the state to answer those questions.

Khushi kept her palm on her heart and tried to take a few deep breathes and calm herself down. She slowly walked towards her room, latched the door and leaned on it closing her eyes. She just stood still for a couple of minutes and then her back slid down the door as she sat down with a thud. And all of a sudden, she broke into loud sobs. She sobbed uncontrollably hiccuping in between with her face in her palms.

xxx

NK was shocked when he saw Khushi sprinting downstairs from his apartment. He tried to call her but she didn’t listen and ran away as if someone was following her.

As he walked inside his apartment, he found his cousin, Arnav Singh Raizada standing a little away from the door looking dazed. Arnav was looking at his direction but not at him.

NK was utterly confused.

He just saw Khushi running out of his apartment and now his friend was looking so disoriented .

‘Arnav’ he called, but his friend didn’t reply but just stood there.

‘Arnav bro’ he called a bit louder and that’s when Arnav came out of his reveries.

‘Uhh…Huh! NK, you’ve come back’ Arnav said still feeling a bit befuddled.

‘Erm yeah…’NK said uncertainly. He for some reason felt as if something had happened here. Something not very good.

‘Arnav’ NK spoke again. ‘I just saw Khushi running out of the house…I mean…what happened?’

‘Khushi ?’ Arnav asked.

‘Yup Khushi! Shashi Uncle’s daughter…You know na! I’ve told you about her so many times! In fact remember, when we were in college, once you, Ratna Chachi and Amar Chachu came here to visit us and you met Khushi, though she was very young back then and….

NK kept on speaking but Arnav had stilled right there.

It was Khushi!

Khushi , yes he still remembers…                     

Arnav and NK were chilling in NK’s room, eating popcorn and playing Video Games. They heard the doorbell ring and then the sound of some commotion in the living room. They were still busy playing, when the door of the room suddenly burst open a lanky girl in a yellow top and pink skirt stood there grinning widely at NK.

‘NK Bhai!’ she squealed happily and much to Arnav’s surprise, NK got up from the couch , walked to the girl and hugged her.

The girl too jumped up and hugged him fiercely.

‘How’s my baby?’ NK smiled ruffling the girl’s hair.

‘Arre! I’m toh masst!’ khushi grinned.

To say Arnav was shocked would be an understatement. Arnav had known NK since childhood and he knew that NK always got uncomfortable with girls…but the way NK behaved with this girl was certainly shocking.

Arnav saw the two chatting like long lost buddies and they did not even seem to realize that another person was actually there in that room.

Arnav got up from the sofa and cleared his throat to get their attention and that’s when the two of them looked at him.

The girl looked straight into his eyes and he was speechless for a moment. He eyes were strikingly beautiful. Arnav just watched her but then he realized he was staring at the little girl when he saw her cheeks reddening.

What the hell was he doing?

Arnav tore his gaze way as he heard NK speak.

‘Hey Bro! This is Khushi! She’s my mooh-boli Sister. You know like, Sister from another mother! And Khushi , he’s my cousin , the one I always talk about’ NK chuckled.

Arnav nodded and looked at Khushi who was trying to hide behind NK.

Khushi was a bit of a reserved and shy child and so she looked at the tall ‘Bhayyia’ who was now looking at her curiously.

Was she supposed to say something him? She thought.

‘Ermm…hi I’m Khushi. Khushi Gupta’ she said timidly and looked up in his eyes again.

Arnav as a young boy was a very haughty and not-so-friendly-with-kids kind of a guy. So he just nodded without replying and then plopped back on the sofa.

Khushi though was timid with strangers, but she too had an ego. A Big Fat Ego!

She just introduced herself to him and he didn’t even reply? Wasn’t he supposed to introduce himself as well? Huh! Sadoo Bhaiyya. So what if she was just 11 years old and he was…erm...NK Bhai had said his cousin is of the same age as him and NK bhai is 18 so…the Sadoo Bhayyia is 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 ! yeah 7 years older than her. But so what?? Khushi fumed inwardly.

Arnav turned towards NK. ‘Shall we continue with our game NK?’ he asked.

‘Yeah Sure!’ Nk smiled.

‘Bhai, I also wanna play! Can I?’ Khushi poked NK.

‘Why not?’ NK shrugged. ‘Come on!’ Nk said as he held her hand and walked towards the TV.

‘What the hell NK , how can she play with us? She’s a…girl…and that too a…kid! I’m sure she doesn’t even know how to play video games.

Khushi stopped and looked at him with an angry glare. If only looks could kill, Arnav would have been murdered by an 12 year old kid!

‘Arre Arnav , you have no idea how good she is!’ NK spoke as he inserted another cassette in the video game box.

Arnav rolled his eyes. Of course NK was lying so that the this little ‘Baby’ doesn’t feel bad otherwise she would start crying…Arghh ! Baby girls! Arnav cringed.

Though NK had been busy fitting the cassette, but Khushi had caught that expression on Arnav’s face and now she was determined to show that Sadoo Bhayyia , what she actually was.

Khushi then stood in front of Arnav with her hand on her hips and said – ‘You Bhayyia.’ She now pointed her finger at him. Arnav raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in demeanor of the ‘little matchstick looking girl’ and she continued.

‘I, Khushi Kumari Gupta challenge you to defeat me in a game of duck-hunt!’ Khushi said in a serious and confident tone, but Arnav who was looking at her incredulously burst out in fits of laughter.

‘You?’ he said while laughing continuously, ‘You will beat me in this game? Size dekha hai apna?'

Arnav was very very confident.

Duck Hunt was a game that no one till now had been able to beat him in..so what was this chit of a girl ?

Arnav kept laughing but the expression on Khushi’s face didn’t change an inch. In fact she was now more determined than ever to beat Arnav in the game.

NK , who was now done , looked at the two in astonishment.

He was about to say something, but Khushi gestured him to keep quiet and he happily obliged excited to see this little war. Arnav had no idea what this little bombshell was, NK grinned inwardly.

 

Old Video Gaming Console

As the game started , Arnav smirked at Khushi – ‘Ladies First!’ to which Khushi innocently replied ‘But I’m not a lady Bhayyia , I’m a kid , so you go first!’

Arnav’s smirked again – ‘Why? Scared? Bu if I remember you were the one who challenged me you liliput? Next time, compete with someone of your size’ he laughed arrogantly before taking the gun in his hand and aiming it at the TV screen.

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8…..

Arnav kept on shooting the birds one after another missing a very few. But the score he made was fantastic and unbeatable according to him.

He then turned at Khushi who looked at the score wide-eyed. He smirked.

‘Your turn baby’ he mocked and handed the gun to Khushi.

Khushi closed her eyes and took a deep breath and then she started her game.

Hit!

Hit!

Hit!

Hit!

Hit!

Duck Hunt

Khushi kept shooting without missing a single duck and at last when the round ended , she head a whistle. She turned to see NK smiling widely and then clapping for her.

She turned back towards the TV screen and beamed proudly seeing the score.

SHE HAD BEATEN HIM , THAT OVERCONFIDENT SADOO BHAYYIA !

She bent and placed the gun on the table and then finally looked at Arnav who looked STUMPED. Now it was her turn to smirk.

Khushi walked towards him , but he still wasn’t out of the ‘Trauma’ he just went through.

And then Khushi Kumari Gupta did the unimaginable - She pulled Arnav’s cheeks and spoke – ‘Next time try playing with someone of your SIZE haan! Maybe you’ll win then!’

Saying that Khushi walked towards the door of the room.

Bye NK Bhai! See you! Had a great time here!’ She said before exiting the room with her head held high.

Arnav couldn’t forget that. For Arnav, who was used too much used to victory , that incident was a reality check.

As the memory came flooding back in his mind , with that came a disastrous realization.

That Girl , who he had forcefully kissed and would have done a lot more if she hadn’t pushed him away, wasn’t a harlot but Khushi.

Fuck !

Fuck !

Fuck !

Fuck !

That is why she looked so…so innocent!

God ! What had he done ? How could he?

As the flashes of the kiss came back in his mind , he remembered her clothes. She was wearing a normal top and pajama. Hell she didn’t even look like a Call girl !

How had he not realized that? Shit !

How could he behave so impulsively?

He then remembered the look on her face when she had pushed him away. The sheen of tears in her eyes. What a horrendous experience must it have been for her!

He had screwed up big time ! And very badly this time….

But what could he do now ?

He was nothing but a useless person who could only create problems….for himself , for others!

NK who had stopped talking long back was observing his cousin. His reaction at the mention of Khushi.

Khushi had come to his apartment he knew and he wasn’t there at that time , so she must have met Arnav. But what happened between them ? Had they fought for some reason ? But after so many years , they must have practically been strangers! Why would they fight? But then what was it ?

And at the moment , the only person who could answer these questions was the person standing there looking lost.

NK walked to Arnav and shook him by his shoulders.

‘Bro , what is it? Tell me what happened? Why did Khushi…’

But before he could have continued , Arnav just brushed his hands off himself and stormed into his room leaving back a totally clueless NK behind.

xxx

Khushi had eventually fallen asleep while crying….

But even as she slept , she wept.

‘Jiji ! Please come back, I want to talk to you. Just to you. Please Jiji come back to me. I need you. Jiji....Jiji!!’

-_-_-_-

Author's Note - Okay , i know this chapter was quite boring , and might have seemed like a filler chapter but then some of the facts provided in this chapter were necessary for the future of the story.

And also i'm extremely sorry for the delay. Loads of assignments and projects..*sigh*

Also follow me on twitter for updates :)

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