Kashvi and Kavin were laughing their heads off at Arnika's narration.
"And then...Maine kaha ki I don't want strawberry jam! I want mango jam on my bread and dang! the look on his face was so adorable! Trust me he was all ready to stomp his foot in frustation....it was so funny" she recited in between laughter.
Kashvi- "Tune chachu ko bohot pareshan Kiya na!"
Arni laughed but then grew quiet. Somewhere she was feeling guilty for troubling her father so much. A large part of her justified her actions with a simple answer, "He deserves it!" But the smaller, more close to her heart part felt sorry for him.
Kashvi looked at her friend. She put a comforting hand on hers and said, "Chachu will soon talk to you, Arni but usse pehle na unhe tujhpe thoda sa chillana hoga and tujhe unhe guilty feel karana hoga. Tabhi toh woh tujhe pamper karenge na?"
Arni looked at Kashvi. This friend of hers understood her plight without her words. Something she was thankful for.
Kavin trying to lighten the mood- "Bas ek loophole hai plan me."
Arni looked at him. "Kya?"
Kavin- "Kahi tu pit na jaaye, Arni."
Arni smiled sadly. "I'll be the happiest girl on the earth if this happens."
Only if her father raised his hand on her to draw her back in line rather than controlling himself like a complete stranger, she would have leapt in joy. When he whacked her with the file for running on the stairs, her heart warmed. But that happened once in a blue moon. Not that she was a big fan of getting whacked but her heart yearned for the essence of familiarity that comes with it.
Kavin gave her a questioning look- "Kashu dhund. Yahi kahi hoga. Jaldi dhund." He looked around.
Both Arni and Kashvi looked at him confused. "Abbe kya dhund Raha hai?" Arni asked.
Kavin- "Tere dimaag ka screw. Tu tension na le. Mil jaayega."
Arni rolled her eyes and walked away annoyed followed by Kashvi. Both the girl found him really annoying. He laughed and trailed off behind them.
Arjun was sitting in his cabin and going through the file on the recent murder case his team had solved. He heard a knock on his door and looked up only to find Sakshi standing there.
Arjun- "Kya hua Sakshi?'
Sakshi dreamily- "Kuch nahi. Bas tumhe dekhne ka man kar Raha tha."
Arjun firmly- "Sakshi."
Sakshi- "Aree baba, shaant.Mazak tha."
Arjun in a monotonous voice- "Na mujhe mazak pasand hai aur na hi coffee. Toh tum bhi Jaa sakti ho aur ye Jo coffee apne saath layi ho usse bhi leke ja sakti ho."
Sakshi looked at him surprised. "Tumhe kaise pata ki mai ye coffee tumhare liye leke aayi thi?"
Arjun- "Tumne cup kaafi upar Tak bhara hai jis wajah se tum bohot carefully chal Rahi thi. Agar coffee tum apne liye leke aati toh ya toh Kam barti ya phir raaste me hi thodi si pee leti. Tumne dono hi nahi Kiya which means of course ye coffe tum mere liye laayi ho."
Sakshi just looked at him. She came out of her stance when Arjun cleared his throat.
"Woh file tumne review kar Li ho toh Sameer sir ke paas bhi leke jaani hai."
Arjun nodded and held out the file for her to take.
That night, Arnika sat in the living room waiting for Arjun. She knew she had to continue her plan if she had any hopes of getting through him. It was already 10 and there were no traces of Arjun.
Neelu- "Baby aap khana kha lijiye. Agar Arjun sir aa gaye toh woh gussa karenge."
Arni muttered- "Wahi toh mai chahti hu."
Neelu confused- "Kya?"
Arni shook her head- "Kuch nahi Neelu di. Aap khake so jao. Papa ko Mai khana serve kar dungi aur unhi ke saath kha bhi lungi. Aap jao."
Neelu shook her head. Arjun worked at odd hours. There were instances when he had not come to the house for an entire night. She can't let Arnika wait for him all night. Especially when she was under strict instructions that Arnika had to be in bed by 10:30 almost.
Neelu- "Nahi Arni baby. Time dekho aap. Aapka bedtime bas aadhe ghante me hai. Aapke papa ne aapko jaagte hue dekha toh aapko saza milegi aur mujhe daant."
Arni- "Mai unko handle kar lungi, Neelu di. Maine kaha na aap jao."
Arnika convinced her after a few more sugary talks and soulful looks and successfully sent her off. As a few minutes passed, she settled herself comfortably on the couch. She looked at the clock. 10:45. Perfect!Minutes turned into hour and hour turned into hours. She had fallen asleep waiting for Arjun's arrival.
When Arjun entered the house at 1, he was greeted by this scene. His eyes misted as memories came rushing through the memory lane.
7 years back:
Arjun came in the house at 3 only to be greeted by Roshni lying on the couch with a 2 year old and a comforter on top of her. He frowned. He had already informed her that he'll be late that day but his stubborn wife would just not stop waiting for him. He walked towards them and looked over fondly. He had gotten what he desired in his life. His girls were an open testimony of that.
His girls were also deep sleepers,so unlike him. He carefully picked up Arni cradled her close to his chest. He always found an unknown solace when he held her close to his chest. Just like his Roshni.
Roshni's deep slumber broke when she felt someone snatching her little princess from her. She sat up grumpily and looked at Arjun, irritated.
Roshni-"Time dekha aapne? Itna late!"
Arjun laughed at her expressions. "Maine kaha tha na aaj late hoga, Rosh. Riots city outskirts Tak pahuch chuke the. Usi ko control karne me late hogaya."
Roshni sighed and nodded. She knew her husband had a difficult job and he was definitely not the type of person to compromise on his job. She smiled at him.
Roshni- "Ye bhi sahi hai. Aap waha riots control kare aur main aapki laadli ko control Karu."
Arjun frowned- "Matlab?"
Roshni- "Shaam se papa papa ki ratt lagayi baithi hai. Thaka Diya iss badmaash ne mujhe."
Arjun- "Really? That's like my girl."
He patted her lightly making Roshni glare at him. Arjun laughed at her. Roshni could clearly see the tiredness in his eyes.
Roshni- "Isse bed pe sula dijiye. Mai dinner garam karti hu."
Arjun- "Rehne do Rosh. Mai--"
Roshni- "Shh...Jaiye Mr. Rawte. Yeh wala card mere saamne nahi chalega. Jab Tak Mai hu na, aap Bina khana khaye kabhi bhi nahi soyenge."
Roshni's words echoed in his ears. They were so true. He had never slept a night without eating. She always made sure that he ate even when he practically couldn't keep his eyes open due to tiredness. He hated that with a passion back then and now he missed it with a passion.
Arjun blinked away his tears looking at Arnika's face. Her face resembled so much to Roshni that he couldn't help but feel sorry for what he lost. He walked towards her and kept a gentle hand on her head. He hated himself for he was doing to her.
Arni leaned into his touch and a small smile graced on her lips. Arjun smiled back at his Roshni's smile. Another reminder of what he had lost. His smile vanished and he took back his hands.
Arnika's sleep broke when her source of warmth was withdrawn. She opened her eyes to find Arjun looking at her. She sat up with a grumpy look on her face and rubbed her eyes.
She glanced at the clock. "Itna late? 1 baj rahe hai papa!" she scolded him.
Arjun looked at her blankly. She sounded so much like her. She held his hands and dragged him towards the dining table.
Arni- "You know aapko batana chahiye ki aap itni late Ghar aaoge! This is not done."
She put a plate infront of him and served him the rice. She looked at the jug which was empty.
"Oh! Paani toh hai hi nahi. Aap Khao Mai paani leke aati hu." she said and walked towards the kitchen.
Arjun felt numb. She was behaving so much like Roshni that it scared him to a certain level. The way she rebuked him was so similar to her. The way she cares for him was so similar to her. The way she looked at him was so similar to her.
He couldn't help but relive the day, Roshni died in his arms. He hated himself for imagining Arnika at her place. He closed his eyes. No! He won't be able to survive another loss. Everytime he looked at her, this unknown fear clutched his heart. He cannot fall weak.
Arnika came out and frowned when she looked at his untouched plate.
Arni- "Like really? Aapne khana bhi shuru nahi Kiya abhi tak? Come on eat!"
Arjun coldly- "Why are you up at this hour, Arnika?"
Arni rolled her eyes. "Why are you up at this hour, papa?"
Arjun glared dangerously at her but it was all lost to her as she was busy pouring water in his glass.
Arni- "Itni raat ho gayi hai! Aapko sona bhi toh hai. Jaldi kha lo aap."
Arjun continued glaring at her. She shook her head and picked up his spoon, filling it with rice and forwarded it to his mouth.
Arjun took in a sharp breath. He was losing control over himself. His mind was clouded by all the memories of Roshni. But the one that predominantly occupied it was her last memory.
Arni urging him to eat- "Khao na!"
At that moment, Arjun lost all control over himself and harshly pushed away the spoon making it fly across the room.
Arni flinched at that and took two steps back.
Arjun shouted- "Answer my damn question, Arnika!"
The raised voice was enough to reduce Arni to tears.
Arni- "I-I was w-waiting f-for you."
Arjun harshly- "Did I ask you to wait for me. Why the hell do I have to remind you everyday about your bedtime? Tell me!"
Arnika was crying hysterically now. Arjun looked at her and massaged his temples. This was a mess. He couldn't even stand the sight of her without doing some serious damage. He walked away angrily leaving Arni all alone to cry.
She sat down on the floor and brought her knees closer to her chest, crying hysterically. If only, her mumma was there today. She wouldn't have to cry like this. She wouldn't have to cry at all. Her innocent heart couldn't help but wonder why her father couldn't love her. Why he was always so mean to her. Why he couldn't for once acknowledge her efforts of getting close to him. Why he always made her cry.
She calmed down after a while and walked to her room. She lied on the bed, her face down and started crying all over again in her pillow.
She got up the next morning feeling completely exhausted. She sat on the bed rubbing her eyes as the events of the last night replayed in her mind. She felt like crying but couldn't cry. Her tears seemed to have dried up.
She glanced at the clock. It was way past her school time. She got down the bed and quickly freshened up.
As she walked down, she was met by a completely silent house.
Neelu- "Uth gayi baby? Aaiye naashta kar lijiye."
But Arni's eyes were searching for someone else. "Papa kaha hai?" she asked.
Neelu- "Woh toh subah hi office ke liye nikal gaye."
Arni felt like those words were a slap to her face. She hoped that her father would atleast wait for her. That gesture alone was enough for her to know that he didn't mean to be so harsh last night. She would have forgiven him.
But he wasn't here. A clear sign that he did not care about her actions or attempts. He did not love her. She controlled the tears that came to her eyes and turned back.
Neelu- "Aree baby, khana toh naashta toh kar lijiye. Aapne kal raat bhi kuch nahi khaya tha."
Arnika- "Bhookh nahi hai, Neelu di."
Neelu- "Arjun sir bohot gussa karenge agar unhe pata chala ki aap...." but she was cut off.
Arnika miserably- "He won't care, Neelu di." He doesn't love me. It doesn't matter anymore. Nothing matters anymore.
She went to her room and locked it. She started crying again. She had wanted to get a reaction out of him. She thought that would force him to make it up for her. But she was wrong. You grovel a person you love. Where there was no love, there was no yearning for forgiveness.
She had lost. She had lost miserably. She had been trying to win the affection of a man who didn't love her. It didn't matter to him whether she existed or not. She was tired of trying now. She won't bother now. She just won't.
____________________________________________________________________
A/N
Fine! Curse me all you want! I deserve it for making my dear readers wait for so long! And no! I am not trying to melt you.
Anyways how was the chapter?
Can you relate with Arnika's feelings?
Do you think Arjun needs a love interest in his present life?
Did you guys like the flashback?
And ofcourse your views on Arjun-Arni?
What do you think will be Arni's next course of action?
Do lemme know!
No target. You know why🙄
Regards.