Chapter 14 (A)

It was a Tuesday, and as always things were a bit crazy during the afternoon, with corporate lunches and high-society kitty parties, while the evening had been much calmer and more subdued. That's how Tuesday night usually was at the restaurant.

Khushi looked on, as NK bid good bye to everyone while giving her an awkward smile. She smiled back and took off her gloves and soiled apron, as the cleaners went about their chores "Let's go Khushi" Akash called out, as Khushi nodded and quickly went to freshen up before following him out

Payal had not come in today, and Akash had offered to drop her at the station, and since NK had behaved very oddly with her, asking him for a lift was out of question. But somewhere she knew that all this will pass and things will turn normal again for them.

"Why are you looking so off Khushi? You've been like this since yesterday" Akash said, as Khushi  shrugged and gave him a small smile, while getting more comfortable in  the passenger seat of his car "Nothing like that...just tired I guess" she said as Akash grinned mischievously.

"Yeah, I bet not having ASR breath down your neck, makes you feel exhausted!" he said as Khushi blushed crimson "But, I guess he has calmed down considerably now, and does not even bother you much...right?"Akash asked, glancing back at Khushi, who seemed be in her own dream world, making him chuckle at the crazy girl

Yes' Khushi thought, he had calmed down and things had definitely started looking up. But after that day at the Orphanage, God only knows what new troubles were coming her way. She had not seen him since then anyways, as he had left for Delhi, but he would be back tomorrow and that thought made her oddly restless and excited.

"Earth to Khushi!" Akash said as he pulled up outside the station "S..sorry...I was just.." she started saying as Akash laughed at her "Don't worry...you need rest! Go home and relax..." he said as Khushi smiled sheepishly at him and waved a good bye. This was going to be another long night! She thought as she trudged her way towards her usual platform.

XXX

"Didi...aapka Phone baj raha hai" a young girl sitting next to Khushi nudged her from sleepy state, as she registered her phone was indeed ringing "Kab se baj raha hai...aapko sunai nahi diya kya?" the girl asked Khushi, who thanked her and sat straighter as the name flashing on her mobile took away all traces of sleep from her eyes

"Anjali ji?" she said as she picked up the call to hear hysterical blabbering, making her get up and go to stand at the back as the noise from the tracks was too loud "Calm down Anjali ji...please tell me calmly what has happened"Khushi said as Anjali tried to speak much clearly now

"Chote..I can't get through to him. He was supposed to reach Delhi yesterday evening, but his phone is coming switched off and when I spoke to the architect in Delhi, he said that he did not come to the site today. He too has been trying to get in touch with him, but no one was picking up the call and then later on in the day, it was coming switched off" she said as Khsuhi didn't seem to understand heads or tails of what she was saying.

"I tried calling Akash, but can't get through his phone. Th...the security at Chote's apartment building said that he had not seen him go anywhere since the time he came back after dropping me at the airport that day...Khushi I'm really worried and I can't even make it there since me and my family are in Goa at the minute...I don't know what to do" she said as Khushi got down at the next station.

"Anjali ji...when did you last speak to him? Sir hasn't come to the restaurant since yesterday and all of us thought he's in Delhi. Was he supposed to meet anyone else in Delhi? Was there someone picking him up?" she asked Anjali who denied everything

"No...he usually takes a taxi and he had only one meeting today with our Architect. He was supposed to leave by the afternoon flight yesterday. Khushi, I think there is something terribly wrong with him...oh God! What if..." she started panicking when Khushi tried to calm her down "Anjali ji...can you please message me his address? I'll go there and check it out myself. I'll also try and call Akash sir and see if he can join me there right now" she said as Anjali calmed down a bit and agreed.

Khushi changed her platform and got onto the train bound in the opposite direction, to once again take her to Churchgate and tried to call Akash , but his phone could not be reached. What should she do? Khushi thought as Anjali's message pinged on her phone.

She got down and ran to the taxi stand, before showing the address to the driver. After settling down in the taxi, she called Anjali again "I am on way now, but can't get through to Akash sir's phone, do you think the security will help me out?" Khushi asked as Anjali sniffed "I'll call and tell him you are coming...you will have to go up to his apartment and check...I just hope he is fine Khushi" Anjali said as Khushi suddenly remembered something

"Anjali ji, what about Sheetal? Wouldn't she know?" she asked as her heart seemed to squeeze painfully, while taking ASR's girlfriend's name. He might be with her at the moment. Shit, what if she walks in on them, she though shuddering at the thought, when Anjali's next words shocked her.

"She is not his girlfriend...it's a PR stunt! Anyway all this is irrelevant, he won't be anywhere near her..." she said making Khushi take a deep breath and sit back...how many more revelations are left? "Ok...ill reach there and call you back" she said as the taxi driver pulled into a very posh lane lined with very expensive looking designer apartments

He stopped in front of an imposing building which screamed ultra luxury. Khushi paid the fare and got down and started walking towards the security cabin that was located outside the main gate "I am here to visit ASR..." she said as the sleepy guard regarded her in her thin t-shirt, faded jeans, colorful juttis and jhola"Who?" he asked as Khushi took a deep breath

"Arnav...singh Raizada" she said as she took his name for the first time loudly. It seemed so intimate all of a sudden "Oh, Anjali madam had called...can I see some ID?" he asked her as Khushi whipped out her never in use driving license and gave it to him.

After making sure, she was indeed the same woman ASR's sister had told him about, he came out and locked his cabin, before opening the main door with a password. The huge gates opened up, making Khushi's eyes go wide at the beautiful manicured lawns and marble structures in front of her

"Residents have a magnetic id on their cars...the gate opens automatically for them" he said, trying to explain more of the luxurious setting to her; she nodded as he took her to ASR's apartment, which was on the top floor.

As they walked out of the elevator, he went ahead and rang the door bell, once...twice...No one seemed to be inside "I guess he is not in, I've been trying the intercom as well" the guard said, as Khushi felt more concerned now...what should she do? She rang the bell a couple more times but no one came to answer it

"Are you sure he did not leave the apartment?" Khushi asked the guard who nodded "Yes, we have CCTV feed of every floor; No one entered and no one came out from yesterday morning, I checked. Sir had come home on Sunday after dropping Anjali madam, after that he has not left..." he said as Khushi bit her lower lip

"He is not here and none of the neighbors have a spare key to check also" he said as Khushi remembered Anjali saying that she is the only one who has a spare key. But something told Khushi that he was here only. Acting on instinct, she held the ornate door handle and pushed down to knob.

"Oho Madam! Door is open!" the guard said happily as Khushi felt her heart rate race. Why was the door open? Was he robbed? She pushed it further and stepped inside to face a dark hallway, only lit up by the light outside"There...that is the light switch" the guard said putting it on, as dim lights flooded the hallway

"Most residents have automation and all controls are on iPad...Sir also has same I think" the guard said again, making Khushi turn around in irritation "Can you please look for more switches? And stop giving me gyan on the lifestyles of the rich and famous" she said as the guard shut up at once and mumbled "I was only trying to help...humph..."

As they walked inside, Khushi's eyes adjusted to the dim light and she nearly let out a scream as a figure came into view, resting on the huge recliner near the balcony in the living room "Arre madam...do you think he is dead? Police ka mamla ho sakta hai" the ever helpful guard said as Khushi nearly hit him with her bag

She ran to Arnav's still figure and checked his pulse first which was weak, but steady; she let out a relieved sigh as she wiped the sweat from her brow and located an iPad on the coffee table. Swiping it open, she pressed icons for light and breathed deeply as the room was splayed with bright lights and the air conditioner came on

"Kya hua madam? Ab kya Karen?" the guard asked as Khusuhi told him to help her take Arnav to his bedroom, which they located was at the end of the living room. They carefully placed him on the huge bed and Khushi once again checked his pulse while he lay there unconscious.

"Doctor...I have to call a doctor" she said as she quickly dialed Anjali and explained everything to her "Thank God...he might have fainted due to low sugar...Oh My God...how long has he been like this? Ok..I'll just call his doctor and ask him to make a house visit...till then, can you please feed him some sugar water?" she asked Khushi who assured her and went to work

The guard left them alone, and said he will bring the doctor as soon as he comes. Khushi made some sugar water after locating the massive kitchen. She was amazed at all the equipment she saw, but thought it better to drool on it later and concentrate on her boss for now

She went into the bedroom and tried to make ASR shift into a more comfortable sitting position, while being acutely aware of how close she was to him. She mentally slapped herself for thinking of unnecessary things, while he was in such a state

She quickly divested him off the coat which he was wearing, and opened up the top few buttons from his  shirt with trembling hands. She then pulled his chin down gently, while slowing making him take in the sugar water, drop by drop.

She continued to feed him, till she felt him stir a bit, making her stop and look nervously at him. He seemed to be mumbling something incoherent which was difficult for her to understand. She gently cupped his face and made him face her before leaning forward to hear what he was saying

"D..di..di..." Arnav said as Khushi understood he was calling his sister. Khushi quickly called Anjali and asked her to speak to him while holding the phone to his ear. As Anjali spoke on the other end, he seemed to calm down and closed his eyes in exhaustion

"Anjali ji..." Khushi said as she laid Arnav back down on the bed"Khushi...thank God, you are there...is he fine Khushi? We have booked out flights for tomorrow first thing in the morning...but we can also leave right now and come by road" she said as Khushi assured her that he seems to be fine and the doctor would be there any minute

As soon as she finished reassuring Anjali, the bell rang and Khushi went to open the door for the guard and Arnav's doctor. After doing a thorough check-up, during which Khushi and the guard stood outside the room, the doctor came out shutting his bag and closing the door behind him

"He is fine now...his low sugar caused him to faint and he seems to be in that state since yesterday afternoon...it could have been fatal if you had not come in today. More than 48 hours of no sustenance could be very dangerous to his system" the doctor said, making Khushi go pale

"I have put him on IV right now, so he should be better by morning...he might wake up in between and then go back to sleep. Best if someone is here with him...otherwise he might get bewildered and try and take off the needle off his wrist...also please keep some light soup ready, so that he can drink it when he wakes up" he said as Khushi nodded "His sister will be here in the morning, till then I'll stay back" Khushi said as the doctor smiled and patted her head before explaining what to do when the glucose runs out and leaving some medicines with her.

Khushi closed the door behind them and went back to sit by the bed, as Arnav continued to sleep...his face more relaxed than it had been earlier. She quickly updated Anjali and then went to the kitchen to make some soup for him.

After looking around the vast kitchen, she gathered ingredients for chicken soup and started preparing for it. When the soup was ready and bubbling away, she cleaned up the mess and covered the vessel before switching off all the lights and going back to sit by the bed

She tried to make him more comfortable by tucking in the blanket around him, when his eyes suddenly opened up and started right back at her, making her look in shock and nervousness at his unwavering by still not very lucid stare"K..khushi?" he said in a hoarse voice as he closed his eyes and mumbled "Not again..." confusing Khushi immensely before closing his eyes and again falling into a deep slumber.

Khushi wondered what that was about, when he got slightly agitated and moved about restlessly on the bed. She quickly scooted closer to him, careful not to touch the IV tube inserted in his wrist and sat by his side, while holding his shoulders gently "Shh...sleep sir...just relax" she said softly while running her hand through his slightly damp hair

She felt him relax against her caress and continued to do so while he went back to sleep. She did not remember how long she kept at it, but before long her tired eyes too succumbed to sleep as she fell into a deep slumber right by his side, her hand meshed in his hair while her head rested awkwardly on the headboard...with only one thought on her mind, he said her name...