Thursday 30 August 2012

ArHi FF Answered Prayers - Chapter 7

- Chapter 7 -
 
The rain poured over the streets of Delhi unceasingly. The wipers in almost every car visible on the road (which was not many, mind you) were working in a furious attempt to overpower the rain. With an enormous storm on the way, however, this was not an easy task.
Arnav squinted through the thick glass of his equisite black car realizing that it was going to be much harder to reach his goal than he had once presumed it to be. Dammit, she could be anywhere right now! He thought feeling a thin lace of guilt line his worry. If anything happens to her, I won't ever be able to forgive myself. But it wouldn't come to that. He wouldn't let it come to that. He had to find her.
His foot pounced on the accelerator with an increased vigour.  With every sound of thunder that tore the sky, Arnav's worry grew ten-fold. In a few moments, it would begin to rain like never before. That meant road blockages. It meant accidents. And who, amongst the speeding cars on the dark road would be able to spot a woman not even his shoulder height with barely enough energy to walk down the street? He knew the answer. No one. Not a chance. And that meant that she could be anywhere. That meant that she could be in any state. Possibly hurt.
He had been searching for her a good four hours. He had looked everywhere that he could think to go, searching every corner for the girl who had etched herself into his brown irises. But each time, he was left disheartened. 
The sound of water slipping under the tires of his car was prominent. And he decided to concentrate on it, instead of the worry that was nagging away at him in the back of his mind. Khushi, where are you...?
He didn't know why she meant so much to him. He didn't understand then why a girl he had met not even two days ago held so much importance in his life. Why was he so desperate to find her? She was not his responsibility after all, and he had clearly mentioned this to the doctor in charge of her. And yet... and yet he had gone to the trouble of enquiring about her from the hospital staff and now was spending not one or two, but four staggering hours trying to find the same girl. Why?
He didn't know. How would he find her? He didn't know. How long could he continue to drive in the deathly darkness of the night? He didn't know. He didn't care. He would continue to try with all the strength in his body as long as he didn't find her. Because he knew that even though she hadn't come out and said so directly to his face, she still needed him. Now, with a storm approaching, with no clothes, no money and no shelter, she needed him even more. And it was this fact that kept him motivated to continue his search.
Suddenly, he heard felt the loud vibration of his cell phone. Quickly attaching the bluetooth to his ear, he clicked on his phone, murmuring a tense greeting to his caller. "Arnav?" Was the response he got. His hand grew cold. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, in order to avoid doing something he was sure to regret later. He wanted to say so much to her. He wanted to do so much to her. But he didn't. He reached for his phone, and was just about to click the "end" button when the voice broke through once again. "Before you cut the phone, just listen to me once...." She pleaded. Arnav felt a coldness arise within him that he never knew existed. "Don't you think that the three years I've wasted with you are more than enough?" He spat into the phone, still trying (and failing) to keep his cool. "I know, Arnav! I know I was wrong and I wanted to tell you, but-" It took all of Arnav's inner strength to control himself. "But what?" He murmured in a deadly whisper. "But you were too busy seducing him to talk to me, right? But you forgot? But you didn't think this was important enough to let me know? But you were having too much fun spending my money? But WHAT dammit?!" He asked, fury ignighting his very soul. "Arnav please, it's not what you think! I...I wanted to tell you! But I was scared... scared that-"
"You know what, Kiran? I just. don't. care. You can do whatever you want with whomever you want. You didn't bother to tell me? Fine. But it's over between us. We're done. I'm done...with you." With that, Arnav at last clicked the button that he had been desperate to click since the beginning of the conversation - "end".
His eyes were moist. He didn't know when he started to cry. The tears rolled unstoppingly down his cheeks. The one woman that he had trusted. The one woman he had truly loved. And this is the betrayal that she gave him. Ditching him for another man. He felt his heart break at the thought. She's not worth it Arnav. She's not worth you. Said a part of him. But his heart refused to listen and the tears continued to fall. If he hadn't spotted the pale figure crouched on a nearby bench, he may never have stopped crying. It was her. The same girl he had been searching for like a mad man. His foot hit the breaks as if by reflex action and a flood of relief came over him. He had never liked lightning. Truth be told, he was slightly scared of it. But today was different. It was solely thanks to the burst of sudden light that had illuminated the girl's face that he had seen her. He parked the car, quickly unbuckling his seatbelt and rushing over to her side. She looked exhausted. No, exhausted had to be an understatement. She appeared as if she hadn't eaten for days straight and he could tell she had given up all hope of survival. She sat on the park bench, head facing upwards and eyes closed. Her pale blue salwaar kameez was drenched and clung to her body like a second skin. And there she sat, shivering, hair unbrushed, dark circles under her eyes with the palest of skin he had ever seen in his life. He felt choked up. Suffocated. This was all because of him. No one was to blame but him. He cursed himself for letting her go...for letting his ego come between righteousness. A new round of tears fell from his eyes - this time from the relief of having her in front of him.
His hand reached for her cheeks, subconsciously. He heard her sharp intake of breath as his hand came in contact with her skin. She was colder than ice. "I'm here...I'm here now..." Arnav whispered, soothingly. He shook her slowly, trying to awaken her. But she lay still. Her eyes were closed. Her lips quivered and her skin continued to deprive itself of colour. Arnav felt his breath hitch. Why isn't she waking up?! He shook her with vigour. But she was motionless. Oh my god. Oh my god. This is not good. He thought to himself. Heart thudding violently in his chest, he lifted her into his arms, quickly rushing to the shelter of his car.
"It's going to be ok, I promise!" He whispered to the silent girl, while changing the gear on his car from parking to drive. He stepped on the accelorator, knowing full well that it was now or never. He had to get her home - get her changed as soon as possible. Despite the fact that he was driving as if his life depended on it, the journey home seemed to be unusually long. Throughout the drive, he stole quiet glances at the unconscious girl next to him. Everytime he looked at her, she seemed to weaken. So when he stopped the car next to his enormous guest house at last, a mixed feeling of worry, concern, guilt, regret and relief took over him. He lifted her gently in his arms, as if she was more delicate than porcelin. He strode into the guest house, while gazing into her white face. For the first time in a long time, Arnav Singh Raizada was terrified. For her. He picked up a dry towel from the washroom cupboard and tossed it over his shoulder before softly placing her on the grand four poster bed.  I won't let anything happen to you. He whispered, sincerely meaning it. He took the towel in his hand, gently wiping the drops of water from her face. His hand ran from her forehead, to her eyes, to her nose, to her lips, forbidding even a single drop of water to adorn her face. His hand lowered then, to her neck. He slowly pulled off her dupatta, patting the area dry. She is beautiful. He thought, in spite of himself. He lowered his hand, running the towel on the exposed skin just above the neckline on her suit. He lingered, feeling entranced. How can a girl be so beautiful and so innocent at the same time? He wondered. His hands moved to her arms. He caressed her gently, leaving the towel aside and taking her wetness on his own fingertips. His fingers left a hot trail from her shoulder, covered by the blue kameez to her arm, all the way to her hand. He paused, feeling a new kind of emotion arise within him. He had never felt a desperation like such. Slowly, hesitantly, he entwined his fingers with her. It felt so breathtaking...so heavenly....so..so perfect. She looked so peaceful when she slept. So angelic that he wanted to continue to gaze at her, simply transfixed.
Wait. What??!
He opened his eyes (which he hadn't realized were closed) shuddering at what he had just felt...at what he had just done. He immediately released her fingers, picking up the towel and quickly drying her other arm. He felt shaken up. How could he have thought of her in such a way?! Especially after such a bad break up with Kiran. Hadn't he promised himself the very same night that he would not allow himself to trust any woman again? So what was he doing now?! And to top it all off, he didn't know a damn thing about the girl that was now sleeping on his bed! She could be a murderer or a prison runaway for all he knew! Looks can be decieving could they not? But then...there was a part of him that knew she could be trusted. A part of him that said that the innocence on her face was not a mask, but a mirror of what lay inside her.
He was broken out of his thoughts by the pained moan that escaped her lips. Her mouth moved, creating inaudible syllables. Her face was controrted and he could tell that she was having difficulty breathing. Quickly, he stood, reaching for his cell phone. Almost instantaneously, he had reached the person on the other end - a doctor. He described her symptoms rapidly, barely taking a moment to breathe in between. "...She's trying hard to get oxygen, but the colour is draining from her face pretty quickly!" He announced, feeling the tension rising. "What should I do doctor?" He finished at last.
"Is she still unconscious?"
Arnav gazed at her form, feeling warm tears line his eyes. "Partly. She's awakening now."
"She needs air." Was the response he received from the other end. Arnav felt a bout of frustration. As if he didn't know that already! "She won't make it to the hospital. She's suffocating. You have to get her out of the house. Into the fresh air. But she'll still need to be examined. She's faced a lot and this incident could have caused a lot of trauma to her brain. I'm coming over there right now."
Arnav looked at her, his entire body quivering. What was he saying? She was suffocating? Examinations? Head trauma? His mind whirred in a whilpool of thoughts. But out of them all, there was only one that was knawing at him each instant. He hadn't planned to voice it. He hadn't planned to ask it. But he did. "D-doctor, she has to be ok. She will be ok. You can save her, right?" He didn't know if it was a statement of a question. Maybe both. But the answer he got was far from the comfort that he had been searching for.
The doctor was hesitant. And in those two seconds of delay, Arnav died a thousand deaths.
"...we will try our best Mr. Raizada."
And saying so, the line was cut.
Arnav's actions were almost robotic. He didn't even have to think about it. He went to her side, picking her up in his arms as if she were weightless and proceeded out of the room. It was only upon hearing her muffled moans that Arnav eased the tension in his arms and resolved to a gentler grasp on her. She was in pain. And something about her being in pain caused him pain.
She had already been hurt enough because of him. She didn't need any more of it.
The burst of cool air felt comforting to his hot skin when he pushed open the front door. The girl lay limp in his arms. She tried to move. Tried to fight the force of his arms away, but she was too weak.
"Shh..." he whispered soothingly. "I'm not going to hurt you." And although she didn't entirely stop struggling in his arms, she began to relent. There was something about his voice.... It was so familiar.... As if she had known it for ages. She suddenly wondered who the owner of the husky voice was. She knew him. Or at least... it felt like it. Something about his voice was comforting, telling her that he was being honest...that he wouldn't hurt her....
Even in her subconscious state, she was fighting a battle within herself. Should she trust him? Would he help her, or hurt her? Who was he? She wanted to know. She needed to know. But her eyes felt as if they weighed a thousand pounds. She couldn't open them if she tried.
And then she heard him.
"It's ok.... You need help. And I'm here to help you! Don't be scared...."
It felt as if he could somehow control her mind. Control her heart. Somehow, she didn't feel frightened anymore. His voice had an unexplainable calming effect.
But that wouldn't change anything. She still had to know.
"P-Pl..ea..se... wh...o are...y..ou...?"
Her voice escaped as a mumbled whisper. "No...not now. Just relax. Breathe."
Slowly, he helped her down on the decorative porch swing that adorned his guest house. Her breath escaped in ragged gasps. But the initial paleness that he had witnessed on her face was dispersing. He decided to take it as a good sign. He didn't know what was helping her more - the fresh air, or his soothing voice. Whatever it was, he would go to any length to put her out of her pain. "You'll be ok.... I'm right here...right beside you.... I won't let anything happen to you.... I promise...." Her eyes were still closed but a calmness was overshadowing the look of fear he had seen earlier. A sudden pain stabbed his heart. He knew he was responsible for her state. If only he hadn't acted out of anger in the hospital. If only he hadn't left her alone like that. If only he hadn't wasted so much time. If only....
"I'm sorry...." He said. It was barely a whisper. He himself could barely hear
Suddenly, he felt a light squeeze on his hand. When he gazed downward, he was dumbfounded. It was her. Even in her subconscious state, she was holding his hand, almost forgivingly. Had she heard him? But how could that be? His words had barely been audible, even to himself! Shaking his head with disbelief, he admired her sleeping form, full of inquisitiveness. She was really something. Suddenly he heard the deafening noise of an ambulance approaching. Quickly snapping himself out of his thoughts, he turned, moving towards the speeding vehicles.
"Over here!" He yelled, running towards them, although he knew his cries over the sound of the ambulance alarms would be inaudible. Still, he would try. Two doctors rushed out, followed by their assistants to examine her. She was losing air by the moment. Arnav closed his eyes, memories from the past filling his mind. He remembered how his mother had passed away. He had seen the colour drain from her face the same way. He shuddered. He couldn't see another person die in front of him. He wouldn't be able to bear it. It would surely be the end of him.
He was shaken out of his thoughts by the words of the doctor. "Oh my god. She has a very high fever. I didn't know this when I asked you to take her outside. Nurse!"
He called, turning to a young woman behind him. "Get the stretcher over here now. We're going to need to hospitalize her." Arnav felt his heart skip a beat. Hospitalize? "N-No! I won't allow that!" He exclaimed, surprised at his sudden outburst. The doctor turned, shocked. "Excuse me?"
Arnav's mind was blank. Why had he refused it? "Uh... Mera matlab hai... I mean... if the treatment could be done from home.... I would like to keep her near me actually..." The minute the words escaped his lips, he knew it had come out wrong. He hadn't meant that. At least not in this way. But he remembered what happened the last time he had left her at the hospital. He resisted a shudder at the thought. The doctor gazed at him silently for a moment, before nodding. "That's fine. But keep in mind that you'll have to take extra care of her here. She's worse than she looks." Arnav's heart skipped a beat for some godforsaken reason. He nodded. "You don't have to worry about that, doctor. She'll be receiving the best care here."The doctor smiled. "Something tells me I can count on you for that. Nurse! Take her inside!"
"No." Arnav shook his head. "Let me do that." Without waiting for a response, he bent down, taking the frail girl into his arms. Her body was limp against his and he could feel her struggled breath caressing his neck. He sighed, at the proximity. Having her close gave him a feeling of utmost serenity. But as much as he loved the feeling, he hated the way his body was reacting at that moment.
His eyes lingered a moment longer before he set her down on the bed.  He heard her utter a soft whimper of pain which sent his mind into complete fear mode. He moved away, allowing the doctors to examine her. Please... He prayed. Let her be alright. He thought, although he was not entirely sure as to whom this prayer was being sent. He closed his eyes, sinking down onto a chair beside her bed. It had been such a long day. He had never received so many shocks all at once... first being insulted, and then losing her at the hospital... and then finding her in THAT state... outside...sick.... And now, of course, how could he forget the strange reactions that his body was experiencing by merely looking at her? He turned away, disgusted at himself. Stop being such a pervert Arnav. He admonished himself. He had never looked at any woman till date in such a way. And then she had come along. Just the way she looked at him seemed to turn him on. What is wrong with me? He thought. This type of behaviour was definately not his type.
Sighing, he bent down on his knees, gently resting his head in her lap as he watched her. She was the definition of serenity. Even after all that had happened, she looked peaceful...calm...unaffected...just like a lotus on water. She was beautiful.


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