SS: Hospital Hug - Part 4

Part 4

Arnav and Khushi looked up at the same time as they heard the noise behind her and Khushi immediately ran over to the bed, 'Babuji, Babuji, you're awake! How are you feeling?'

Khushi's father looked distressed and was trying to indicate something to Khushi with his hands being unable to speak clearly. Arnav wondered if the distress was because he had seen them hugging and like her Aunt he also wanted Khushi to marry Shyam.

'Babuji, what were you trying to say? About Shyamji? Do you want me to marry him? Please Babuji say something.'

Arnav marvelled at Khushi pressing the matter, what if her father said yes? He had a sickening feeling that she would agree to marry someone she didn't love just to please her father. He stepped forward and put a hand on her shoulder, 'Khushi, don't. Shyam isn't...' Arnav stopped as he felt a hand clutching onto his other arm. Khushi's father was now trying to say something to him, Arnav didn't want to hear Shashi's approval of Shyam but there was a pleading look in his eyes that Arnav couldn't ignore.

He bent down as Khushi's father kept looking desperately from Arnav to Khushi and back again and nodding his head. Arnav looked at Khushi who was similarly puzzled.

'Babuji, what are you trying to say? Babuji?'

Shashi still kept looking from Arnav to Khushi while he tried to speak and finally managed to break through the wall of silence, 'my daughter, please.' And in one second Arnav understood every word that Shashi was unable to say.

He immediately held onto Shashi's hands, 'I understand, you don't have to worry. I promise I'll take care of her, I'll protect her from him. You just rest, please.'

'Arnavji...What? Protect me from who?'

Arnav saw a peaceful look replace the distress that had previously been on Shashi's face as he closed his eyes and probably attempted to sleep. He kept looking at Shashi for a few more minutes trying to figure out what he was going to say to Khushi. He didn't know how much he wanted to reveal to her, he didn't want to admit his failure at providing his Di with the right life partner. He eventually stood up, and walked over to face the window and ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

Every doubt he had ever had about marriages had been absolutely proven to him now. He closed his eyes as he tried to think about what he should do now. Did he tell Di or did he lie to her and let her keep the illusion of her happy married life? And Khushi, how did he explain this to her? How would he keep his rashly made promise to her father?

Arnav turned to look at Khushi, she was sitting running her hand soothingly over her father's head speaking to him in hushed tones and asking him to sleep. Almost as if she felt his gaze on her she lifted her head to look at him questioningly. She looked back at her father again before standing up and walking towards Arnav. 'Arnavji please tell me what's going on. What did Babuji mean? Why do I need protecting?'

'Khushi, I... Khushi I need you to trust me. I need you to promise me something.'

'Promise? Promise you what?'

'I want you to promise... promise that you'll never, I mean never marry Shyam.' Arnav saw something flicker in her eyes, almost like hope before she quickly looked away from him.

'I don't understand, why do you want me to promise that?' Her voice had a nervous energy to it he couldn't understand.

'He's not... He's not who you think he is. Just promise me, please.' There was a desperation in his voice now that he didn't try to mask, he needed Khushi to agree before he could think of his next step. Her slow nod of agreement and whispered 'yes' relieved him of the heavy feeling in his chest and he had a desire to hug her once again but he resisted.

Now wasn't the time to explore the barrage of emotions he felt in Khushi's presence but rather to forget all emotion and deal with the situation he had found himself in.