"Take cover!"
"You've been here for more than 10 years."
"It is time for you to rest."
"You're done, Randhawa."
Waking up with a gasp, Arnav turns to switch on the light. He wipes the sweat off of his forehead and takes a look at the time. 4 am. Four hours of sleep, that is one hour more than he got yesterday.
It was two weeks after his surgery, his physiotherapy was to start today. He got up carefully not wanting to damage his knee further and got busy with his morning activities.
"You're up already? Good morning." he was greeted by his mother, Mansavi, as he got out of his room.
"Ah, yes. Couldn't sleep much. Good morning maa."
Manasavi's face morphed into expressions of tension as she heard that her son couldn't sleep well, before she could voice her concern, Arnav spoke up."I'm fine maa. I had a good sleep. It is just that I woke up too early."
"I'm going to go make some breakfast. Do you want some?"
"Chup kar. You're the patient here. Go, sit down." She ushered him to be quiet.
(shut up)
"I'll make some food for you and then I'm going back to sleep."
Arnav settles himself on the couch and stretches his leg on to the centre table.
"Your physiotherapy starts today, right? His mother asked, stirring the batter to make dosas.
"Yes. I have an appointment for 11 am."
"I'll drive you."
"It is fine maa. Prateek will take me."
"Are you nervous?"
Nervous? Yes, he was nervous. He was more than nervous but there's no way in hell he would ever admit to feeling like that.
"No."
—----------------------------------------------
"Good morning, Lt.Randhawa! Nice to meet you." Dr. Brijesh, one of the best physiotherapists in the city, greeted him with a painfully wide smile on his face.
"Good morning, Dr.Brijesh." Arnav greeted him with a tight lipped smile. "You can call me Arnav."
"Great! Let's take a look at your file. I'll ask you some questions later on and then, we'll decide on your rehabilitation process."
One hour later, he was out of the hospital feeling uncomfortable. Dr. Brijesh had asked all sorts of questions, right from the moment he got injured to the moment Arnav sat down in his office but that's not what made him uneasy. It was the fact that Dr. Brijesh had a permanent smile plastered to his face and his voice was cheery as fuck.
As he was waiting for Prateek to pick him up from the hospital, his phone went off with a text message. It was from his mom.
How did the session go?
Prateek pulls up in front of him and Arnav settles into the passenger seat. He shoots off a reply to his mom saying he is on the way. He isn't a fan of texting. He believed conversations are better face to face or via a phone call. Moreover, he was on his way back home.
"Kaisa tha?" Prateek asked.
(How was it?)
"Teek tha. He has asked me to come in twice a week. Next session is on Thursday."
(It was okay.)
"Accha. Let's hangout this weekend?"
(Accha= okay/oh)
"I'll let you know." Arnav answered, scrolling on his phone.
"Bhai, how many days do you plan on rotting in your bed?
(Bhai= brother)
"I don't rot in my bed," he answered, getting defensive. "I exercise, I help mom out. I don't rot"
"Right. So tell me why haven't you met any of our friends when you've been back for a month and half now?"
Arnav sighed, his best friend didn't seem to want to stop today.
"I know retirement has been a little hard on you but -."
"Prateek."
"Alright. Alright. I'm just saying, ghar se bahar nikal, tujhe accha lagega."
(I'm just saying, get out of the house. You'll feel good.)
"Okay. Let's hangout this weekend." He finally gave in. There was no winning with him. After all, he's one of the very few people who stood by him, no matter what.
"Yeh hui na baat. Vaani is visiting her mother this weekend." Prateek had already made their plans. "We'll have a boys' night. Pizza. Movie. Playstation and gossip. Cool?"
(That's the spirit.)
"Cool!" Arnav answered, with some of the excitement from Prateek seeping into him. He knew he was lucky to have a friend like him in his life. Their friendship had started 15 years ago, on the very first day of college. They shared ups and downs, fights and laughs. Arnav helped Prateek woo his wife, Vaani and also went on to become the best man at their wedding four years ago. Prateek supported him when he made the decision to join the army and even now, he is here, helping him adjust to his new normal.
—------------------------------------------------
Arnav was currently answering his mother's questions about physiotherapy. She insisted on coming with him to his next session and meeting the doctor personally. He didn't even try to deny her. There would be no use in doing that and his mother would be so much in peace if she met up with his doctor once.
"Did you think about what I said last week? Manasavi asked, sipping her coffee.
"What did you say last week?"
"About your marriage, beta."
(Beta= child)
Arnav huffed. He was sick of this topic.
"Maa. I already told you. Mujhe shaadi nahi karni."
(I don't want to get married.)
"Why not? Give me one good reason."
"Well, um, because, the army. Yes, the army."
"The army, what?" his mother was starting to get annoyed. "The army was your excuse before. Not anymore. Abh toh tu yahan rahega na."
(Now you'll stay here only.)
"Maa, why don't you under-"
"Understand what Arnav? You're 33 now! Abh shaadi nahi huyi na, phir kabhi nahi hogi."
(If you don't get married now, it'll never happen.)
"I don't understand why you keep asking me to get married when you're divorced yourself!"
Hurt flashes over his mother's face and he instantly regrets his words.
"Maa, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."
"Arnav, your dad and I didn't have a bad separation. We're still friends, you know that."
"I don't understand how you both are amicable to each other. It doesn't make sense."
His mother takes his hands in hers, "sun beta, life is very long and it can get lonely. I want you to have a partner. I want you to have someone you can call yours. Just think about it. Okay?"
(Listen child)
"Okay."
"Accha, I'll go make dinner now and, I'm going to the temple tomorrow morning."
"I'll drop you, maa." He answered. "Waise bhi mujhe ghar se bahar nikalna hain."
(I've to get out of the house anyway.)
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OMG!!! You guys, the first chapter of Tujhse Hain Raabta is out! Our male lead Arnav has been having a hard time adjusting to his new life! Do vote and let me know your thought♥️
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