ArHi FF: Broken Melody - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Warnings

Her heart froze. Her breathing stopped. Her icy hands were wound around the phone, gripping it so tightly that her knuckles turned an unearthly shade of white. It couldn't be. He couldn't have said it.

"What?" She asked, suddenly feeling suffocated. "What did you say?" Even as her lips spoke the words, she knew the answer. The person in her vision. Arnav. The car? Arnav's. And the accident? It was Arnav.

"Is everything alright?" Came his voice. She couldn't respond. Her knees buckled underneath her as she fell to the floor, still clinging onto the phone as if her life depended on it.

It was coming back. Happening all over again. Like a never ending nightmare. She remembered Arjun. How, despite being able to see his accident, not being able to stop it. It was happening once more. She closed her eyes, trying to tell herself that this time, she would change the ending. This time, she would not let him die.

"Hello, Khushi? Are you ok?!" She heard his faint voice escape from the phone. She had to remember the vision. Remember the clues.

The accident would take place around late fall or early winter, judging by the naked branches of the trees. That meant sometime in the next few months.

Then there was the cliff.

Where had she seen such a cliff? Hands trembling, she pressed it onto her ear.

"H-Hello? Arnav ji? A-Are you planning to go out of town somewhere sometime soon...? L-Like next month?"

Silence. "Arnavji?"

And then she heard him laugh. Her worry soon bubbled into anger. This was all deja vu. Exactly as it had happened with Arjun. He had made fun of her. Exactly like this. Told her to stop believing in the visions. Her hands clenched. And she had been stupid enough to do just that.

She felt tears line her eyes. She couldn’t let it happen again. “Arnav ji, I’m scared. For you. And this is not helping! Please! You need to tell me!”

Silence.

And then he responded. "I don't know Khushi. I mean, I'm always out of town for business meetings and things like that.... It's hard to tell. But as far as planning goes, no. I don't have plans to go anywhere in the near future."

Khushi bit her lip. This wasn't helping any. She needed to know where the accident would happen. She had to tell him. Not all of it. Just...she had to warn him.

"Look, Arnavji. This might sound really stupid but I have no other way to say this. Please Arnavji. Don't go out at night for the next few months. Please. At least, nowhere where there are cliffs. And... stay sober." She pleaded.

She didn't know why his safety was so important to her. But what had happened to her husband... she wouldn't let it happen to anyone else.

His reply was hesitant.

"...Alright. I won't. But Khushi, will you please tell me what the hell is going on?!" She closed her eyes, groaning, mentally. She had known this question would come up. And it was to this question that she never knew how to respond.

"Consider it a warning. The truth would sound too far-fetched anyways. You wouldn't believe me. I...I have to go now. I'll see you tomorrow Arnav ji.... Take care...."

And saying so she put the phone down at last.

Her job was done. She had warned him. Now, whether he listened to her or not, was all in his hands.

She gave a silent prayer to the lord above, to protect him, before she stood up, trying to steady herself.

ArHi FF: Broken Melody - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Accidents

The drive to her house lapsed in silence. They were both uncomfortable. Both lost in their own troubles. While Arnav was bothered by his newfound arousals, Khushi busied herself in an altogether different thought. About the events that had just passed between them. What had that been? What had it meant? The way he was looking at her.... She shuddered, feeling a cold shiver run down her spine. Friends didn't do that. Did they? Not that she had known many men in her life. She closed her eyes, leaning her back against the cool leather of the car seat. She wanted to forget. Pretend it never happened. Pretend that she hadn't felt something stir in her heart. It's nothing Khushi. Said a part of her. She wanted so badly to believe it. Wish there had been nothing in those few moments that had passed between them. But-

The car screeched to a sudden stop and Khushi felt herself being jolted out of her thoughts. Arnav cleared his throat. "S-Sorry about that." He stated. His voice was hoarse. As if he had not spoken for a long while. Khushi turned to face him, quizzically. "F-For stopping the car like that. But- uh- you're home." But the manner in which he apologized gave Khushi the idea that perhaps the abrupt brake that he had applied on the car was not the only reason he was sorry. "It's alright." She declared sharply. Her piercing gaze was enough to tell him that she had understood the real motive behind his apology. Don't think about it Arnav. He told himself. But the more he tried to forget about it, the more he seemed to remember it. The way she had so carefully applied the bandages on his forehead. The way she had looked at him...so analytical...so concerned. And the intimacy. They had barely been an inch apart.

Arnav shook his head, trying to clear it of the uncomfortable thoughts. His face suddenly hardened.
"Your duty starts tomorrow at 9:00 AM sharp. There is no set finish time. My work is such that you will probably need to work some odd hours here and there. I could need you at any point so you must be reachable at all times. Is that understood?" Khushi blinked in surprise, wondering if this was the same man she had met a few hours ago. Gone was the friendly, happy-go-lucky man and in his place was Arnav Singh Raizada - a business man in the true sense.
Without a word, Khushi stepped out of the car, removing Arnav's fall coat that he had loosely draped around her shoulders. "Keep it." He cut in as he saw her about to hand him the jacket. "You can return it tomorrow." Though she was reluctant in taking it back, she did. "Thank you for the ride home sir." She whispered. And this time Arnav didn't correct her. "I look forward to working with you miss Gupta." He declared as he started his car and left.

Khushi walked through the door, throwing the keys on the coffee table while peeling away the t-shirt and shorts (courtesy Arnav). She stared at the two pieces of clothing, remembering the morning. Everything around her seemed to remind her of the morning. Her head was spinning. So much had happened. Despite seeming that nothing had changed, she knew that her world had somehow changed completely overnight. And she didn't like it. She didn't know why, but somehow it felt as if nothing would ever be the same anymore. I shouldn't have met him. I should have paid more attention while crossing the road yesterday. If I had, he wouldn't have bumped into me, we wouldn't have met, I wouldn't have been late, Cindy wouldn't have realized there was a problem, she wouldn't have invited me to the club, I wouldn't have gone, I wouldn't have gotten in trouble and I wouldn't have met him. It was my fault. This entire thing was my fault. She groaned, burying her head in her hands. I don't want this. She whispered. I don't want any of this. I just want it to be the way it was three years ago. Arjun and I.... We were so close. Devi mayyia, you saw how much we loved each other didn't you? Why did you let it happen? You have the power to do anything right? Why didn't you stop it then? She didn't realize when she had started to cry. Her eyes were red and sore from the tears. But it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart. Stop it Khushi. She thought, angrily wiping her cheeks. No more crying. You promised yourself. You promised jiji. She closed her eyes, wishing for the strength to fight. "I'm losing it..." She whispered. "I'm losing it."

Her thoughts were interrupted by the shrill ringing of her cell phone. Her sister. "N-Namaste jiji." She greeted into the speaker. "What's the matter Khushi?" She asked, sharply, recognizing the shakiness in Khushi's voice. "Are you alright?" Khushi blinked back her tears. After a certain incident that had taken place over at Arnav's house, she herself was not sure anymore. "I'm fine jiji." She lied, trying to normalize her voice.

"I got a job. At AR companies." Khushi added, changing the topic, although not really. "Seriously?" Her sister asked, amused. "And what about your job at the bookstore?" Khushi shrugged, heading into the kitchen and opening the fridge. She pulled out a box of jalebis. They were her one sole companion when it came to dealing with any kind of problem. She couldn't help but sigh when her eyes fell on the yummy rounds of yellow goodness. Popping one in her mouth, she declared, "The pay was crappy over there anyways. I had to quit it sometime. And I guess now was the time. Although I still haven't told Phil about my decision." Phil was both the owner of the bookstore where she had worked and her (ex-)boss. "And besides. Working for AR companies was always my dream."

Payal whistled. "Impressive! So now you'll be promoted from being plain old Khushi to being Ms. Gupta eh? By the way, how did you end up getting the job?" The events from the morning flooded her mind. "I.. I don't want to talk about it jiji. And... I should go now. I've got to get lunch prepared too." She said, trying to avoid any other conversation.

"Wait! Khushi! I have to talk to you." Khushi's heart filled with a sudden dread at the silence that progressed. She knew what was coming. She placed another jalebi in her mouth, preparing herself for the conversation. "Have you thought about it?" Payal asked. A sudden seriousness came over her voice. "Thought about what, jiji?" Khushi asked, pretending to be oblivious. Payal sighed. "Stop being difficult Khushi. You know all to well what I'm talking about." She did know. But after a moment of silence, Payal was forced to answer her own question. "You haven't even considered it, have you?" Silence. Again. "Look, Khushi. As your older sister, I have every right to be concerned about you... you and your future." Khushi sighed, rubbing her temples with her fingers. "Please jiji. Stop it now." Payal's voice grew louder. Slightly more aggressive. "Why Khushi?! Why do you want me to stop when you yourself know that I'm right?! Khushi, accidents happen with everyone. But you have to get over them. You have to move on. And that's life." Khushi's eyes brimmed with tears.

"Really, jiji? Really? Are you sure you're the one who should be giving me this advice?! You couldn't POSSIBLY know what I'm going through jiji! You couldn't possibly know! You and Akash jiju love each other to bits. You have a great relationship, 2 kids, and ultimately, a perfect life! Do you know how it feels to lose someone who was so close to you? So close that he knew your every breath and heartbeat? Do you know what it means to love someone so deeply that every moment of separation kills you? Do you know the isolation...the lonliness you feel when destiny snatches them away from you? No jiji. You don't! But ask me! And I'll tell you! Each minute of life is a punishment for me! I have nothing left to live for! No one left to live for. With every breath I take, I pray that it may be my last. It hurts so much jiji! It hurts! And nearly every day you call me to ask if I am willing to consider a second marriage. Jiji, I LOVED him...no... not loved... TO THIS DAY I love him! And everytime you call, you remind me of him! Of that day when he left me! Please... Please jiji. I beg of you. Don't try to fix my life. My life is too messed up to be fixed." Sobbing, she flung her cell phone across the floor.

Suddenly, an excruciating wave of pain rushed to her head. Her hands flew to her forehead, groaning as the pain grew. The blood quickly rushed from her face as realization struck. Oh no. She thought. Not again. She barely had time to get a grip on herself before she was swung into a cold world of darkness.

This vision was different from the last. For one thing, it was much clearer. Not blurry or staticy as the last one had been. The voices, however, were the same as they were last time. Slightly muffled in the beginning leading to profound clarity with the progression of the vision. She could see the entire scene playing out before her. It was as if she was watching a movie with a remote control that was not in her hands. It was nighttime. A cold night. The season? Probably sometime in the middle of fall.. That meant that the vision was likely to occur in the next few months. The scene changed. It was a road. Empty. Except for a single car. It was a silver honda. It drove past her, screeching loudly as it did so. The car was unstable. She could tell that much from the swerving of it. Was the driver drunk? Was he hurt? Did something go wrong with the car? And then she saw it. The cliff. There was a cliff and the car was speeding right towards it. Khushi's heart stopped. She wanted to help. She wanted to something to save the driver. But she was helpless. The vision was not in her control. As horrible as the vision was, she focussed on the scene in front of her, trying to concentrate. Trying to look for any clue that might tell her what was going to happen. Or who it was going to happen to. License plate. That was it. She had to get a look at the license plate! Her head was pounding to such an extent that she could feel tears rushing down her cheeks even in the midst of the vision. But she had to do this. It took all the strength within her to accomplish the task. Even so, the letters on the license plate were blurry. Come on Khushi. You have to do this. She thought to herself. She took a deep breath, trying her best to read the blurry letters. A.... the first letter was an A. She squinted, trying to make out the rest. And then there was an F.... She could read the next letter but she was certain that the last letter was an E. Now the numbers. There were only three of them. But they seemed as impossible as the letters. The first seemed to be something of a 3... and the second was a 2. She knew that much. However, the last number was as illegible as the letter that she had missed. The letter... well... it seemed something like a K. She wasn't a hundred percent certain of it, but it would have to do. Now for the final number. Her head ached as she tried harder to make it out. But it was no use. She couldn't tell. It seemed nothing but a blur to her.

Before she could try anymore, she was jolted out of the vision. She found herself on the kitchen floor, gasping for breath. She had just seen an accident take place. Someone was going to die a horrible death if she didn't do something soon. The license plate. She tried to remember the letters of the license plate. AFKE 32.... She hadn't been able to read the last number. Who could it have been? She thought back to her vision. The road she had seen wasn't in India. She knew that. That meant that the person in her vision couldn't have been jiji. What about Cindy? No... that wasn't her license plate. Phil? He didn't even have a silver honda. And then it hit her. Arnav...? He had driven her home in a car that looked similar to the one in her vision.... but she had no idea what his license plate was! She had to call him. She had to warn him.

Quickly, she reached for her cellphone. Shit. It's broken. Dropping it onto the floor once more, she rushed to the landline. His number. What's his number?! Khushi groaned, sinking to the ground. She had to call him. The question was, how? The directory? Could that help? Quickly getting to her feet, she searched for the yellow book. "Where is it... where is it...?" She murmured. Her heart thumped in her chest. What if something happened to him while she was searching for it? Stop it Khushi. Don't even think about it. Suddenly, her eyes fell on the brown coat. Arnav's coat. She rushed to it, digging in the pockets. It has to have something. Something that will help me find his phone number. As she searched, her hand fell upon something hard. His wallet. Silently sending a prayer of thanks, she pulled it out, dumping its contents onto the floor. But what she saw was disheartening. The wallet comprised of a few hundred dollar bills, some change and crumpled paper. She dug through it, hoping against hope that she might find something of use.

All of a sudden, she saw a small manilla paper. It was thick and rectangular in shape. A business card. AR companies. It said on the top. She laughed, wanting to do a victory dance. She had found it. This had to have his number! Sure enough, in the bottom left hand corner was a ten digit phone number. She rushed to her phone, quickly dialing it. Pick up, pick up, pick up.... She prayed.
"Who is this?" He called into the phone. "Arnavji?" She asked, breathlessly. He sounded surprised as he responded, "Khushi, is that you?"

"Arnavji, what kind of car do you have?" She closed her eyes, hoping he would say anything but what she was expecting. "A honda. Why?" Her voice escaped weakly as she added, "Colour?"
"Silver! But Khushi, why are you asking?" He sounded confused. "What's your license plate number?" she asked holding her breath. She could hear a faint chuckle escape from the opposite end. "What is this, 20 questions?" Khushi groaned. "Please Arnavji, this is not funny. Just answer my question." Arnav let out a low sigh as he answered her.

"It's AFKE 326."

ArHi FF: Broken Melody - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Magic

"Friends?" Khushi looked at his hand reluctantly. It was the first time any man had asked to be friends with her. She had always been somewhat reserved. Even in her teenage years, she had never really considered befriending a boy. It was an unstated rule in her family. No talking to boys. Well, except for her husband of course. And now? Even he did not remain an exception.

She couldn't help the questioning glances that her eyes sent Arnav's way. He, however, returned with a reassuring smile. At this point, she figured, she had two options. One, thank him for his kindness for the past few days and return to her life - at the bookstore, which gave her barely enough money to support herself, or two, accept him as a friend and get an open entry into AR companies to fulfill her dreams.

Giving a curt nod, she raised her hand to meet his, entwining it with her own. His hand felt warm and she felt almost comforted in his tight grip. Somehow, she knew she had made the right decision. Not just for the sake of working at AR companies, but because he was genuinely a good person. He smiled, "Great! Finish your breakfast then, and I'll drop you home."

Khushi shook her head. "N-No Arnavji! You don't have to do that. I..I'll manage." He rolled his eyes, chuckling at the mere notion. "Yeah, right. Just like how you managed not getting run over that car yesterday and escaping those thugs, right?" Khushi's eyes wandered downward, ashamed. "A-Arnavji? I...I'm sorry. I've caused you so much trouble these past few days. In fact, everytime we bump into each other, something or other goes wrong. So..." She fiddled with her shirt. "Maybe it would be best if we didn't meet?"

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence. Khushi's eyes fluttered slowly above, afraid to meet his. But the look she saw on his face startled her. "Arnavji?" She asked. "Why are you smiling?" He laughed, shaking his head. "Because what you're saying is all nonsense! All this," He declared, waving his hands for emphasis, "was just destiny! If it hadn't been you about to get run over by a car, it would have been someone else! Likewise, if it hadn't been you hurt by those drunks, it would have been somebody else! I would have still tried to save them, just the same! And just because you think you're unlucky, I'm not going to lose the opportunity to make friends with an amazing person! Understand?" Khushi was bewildered. She had met many people in her lifetime, but never someone like him! "And I'm still sticking with my decision to drop you home! So finish up and put on my fall coat. It's hanging over by the door. I went outside this morning. Pretty chilly. And I don't want you getting a cold."

As he was about to leave, Khushi quickly grabbed a hold of his hand. "Wait." She said. He turned around, confused. "Sit down." He shook his head. "But why?" She sighed. "Do you always ask so many questions? Just do as I tell you!" Faking his anger, he sat on the chair opposite to her. "Do you have a first aid box around here?" She asked him. He nodded. "Hold up a sec. Maria!" He called. A stout woman walked out of the kitchen, wearing a white apron over her black dress. Her hair was covered with a thick hair net and her cheeks were bright red. She appeared as if she had just come from a brisk walk in the winter cold. "We need the first aid kit." Arnav requested. The woman, whom he had referred to as Maria, nodded. "Yessir! Right away sir!" Arnav turned to Khushi. "I still don't understand. Why do you need a first aid kit? Is something wrong? Did you get hurt somewhere by those drunks yesterday? If they laid a hand on you, I swear... I'll go and chop them into bits right now!" Khushi shook her head. "You'll see soon enough."

The first aid was brought a few moments later. Khushi opened the box, reaching for the bottle of sterile saline and the roll of gauze. Ripping apart a small part, she dabbed it into the saline and held it out in front of Arnav. "Bring your face closer." She commanded. After he had done so, she lightly placed the bandage on his forehead, healing his cuts from the fight the previous night. He cringed at the slight pain that followed making Khushi quickly reduce the pressure she was applying. "Sorry...." She mumbled as she dressed the remainder of his wounds. Arnav looked into Khushi's eyes, about to refuse the attention that she was giving to his cuts but he couldn't. The second time that morning, Arnav had become a prey to her eyes. The concentration and care that he witnessed in her eyes caused his breath to hitch. Her brown eyes seemed to have some magic in them. He couldn't look away from them. The innocence he saw within them was serene. He had never seen any girl with such simplicity before. He could feel his heart thumping wildly in his chest. But the pain that the saline caused on his wounds brought him back from his reverie. "Ouch!" He winced. Khushi looked at him, frightened. "I...I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you! I didn't see the cut actually! Here. I'll...I'll lean in." Arnav swallowed, nervously. Lean in? Maybe that wasn't such a good idea.

He could feel her breath on his cheek as she gingerly applied the bandages. The distance was killing him. Somehow, he wanted to simply wrap her in his arms and never let her go. He didn't want to say anything. Didn't want to hear anything. He just wished that somehow, he could hold this beautiful angel in his arms - whether it was for a second or a century, he didn't care. His heart was thundering in his chest to such an extent that he was surprised that Khushi couldn't hear it. He was glad she couldn't, of course!

"It's done." She declared at last. Arnav was too lost in her to respond. All he could see was the simple yet gorgeous woman standing before him. "A-Arnavji?" She murmured, waving her hand in front of his face. He was silent. It wasn't long before Khushi noticed the direction of his gaze. She clutched the shirt in her hand, feeling the sweat forming on her forehead. This is wrong. A part of her seemed to say. You don't stare at a girl in such a way and simply give it the name of friendship. This is wrong. Get out of this Khushi. Stop it right now. Look away. "Arnavji!" She declared louder, breaking his attention from her face. "Please... stop." There was nothing more that needed to be said. It was clear what she meant. Arnav's face was red with embarrassement. "Oh my god. I..I'm so sorry. I...I don't know what came over me." He stammered. Khushi swallowed, shakily.
"I think... it would be best... if you would drop me home now." She whispered. He nodded. "I understand."

ArHi FF: Broken Melody - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: "Friends?"

Her skin was on fire. Her every breath was strained. She had tried to scream. Tried to run. But no sound escaped her lips. Her mind seemed to be frozen. The only relief to her burning skin was her cool tears, as they slipped slowly down her cheeks. Was this it? Was this the end? She was trapped in a solid wall of fire. Her hands trembled as realization dawned upon her. There was no way out. In a few moments, the fire would have engulfed her entirely. And then? What next? She closed her eyes, trying to search for the courage that she had long since lost. She felt a layer of fire swarm around her legs, pulling her under. This time she didn't try to resist. So this is what death felt like. After one final gasp of air, she fell to her knees, the last pieces of her skin burning to ashes. She wasn't dead. Not entirely anyway. Although the fire that had played on her skin had left marks, she felt a sudden cooling sensation wash over her. A reason to live. A reason to try. A surge of pain flew through her veins as she tried to move. Her body was not co-operating. She was as limp as a rag doll.

Slowly, she forced her eyes to open. Was she really alive? And if she was, where was she? The wall of fire that she had seen just moments ago was no longer present. Instead, it was replaced by the presence of two pools of chocolate. The eyes. She recognized them. She had seen him. The question was, where? And then it hit her. He was the same man who had saved her from the claws of death.

"Good morning sleeping beauty," He greeted, tossing her a relieved smile. She felt her breath hitch. His voice escaped as a husky murmur, enough to send shivers up any girl's spine. "I hope you slept well?" He asked, looking genuinely concerned. Khushi winced as she felt a new bout of pain surge through her. "You...? Again...? What are you doing here?" She moaned tiredly. He cocked his head, giving her an amused smirk. "What is this world coming to?" He asked, rolling his eyes. "You save a girl not once but twice and all you get in return is a 'what are you doing here?' Should I be offended?" He frowned trying his best to look hurt. It didn't go so well.

"Anyways, to answer your question, sleeping beauty, this is my house." Khushi sat up with a start. "What? Your house? But how? Why?" She sputtered. Quickly, his hands were at her side, helping her down on the bed once more. "Chill, sleeping beauty! Last night, I saw you." Khushi's horrified look forced him to correct himself. "I mean, I saw you getting hurt...by those guys...." His eyes flashed from embarrassement to pure anger. "I...I knew I had to help you.... So I did." It was then that Khushi's eyes fell on his forehead. Scars. Fresh, bloody scars. And it was not only on his forehead, but also his neck and arms. Khushi shuddered silently as the realization sunk in. This man...this stranger had saved her. But there was one question eating away at Khushi. Although she was scared, she knew she had to ask him. But before she could open her mouth, he had already given her the answer. "Nothing happened last night. Don't worry. I found you at the right time. Right after you collapsed." Khushi closed her eyes, a sensation of relief rushing through her veins.

She looked down at herself for the first time that morning. It certainly seemed as if nothing had happened. Other than a few scratches here and there, she was unscathed. Except.... the clothes. They had been torn apart the night before... then... what was she wearing? Her attire was a plain white t-shirt and shorts. The shirt fell well below her waist and the shorts seemed more like capris. Khushi slowly looked at the man in front of her, not accusingly, but questioningly. Something within told her that he was worth trusting. He rose from the bed, shocked at understanding the questions her eyes asked. "Woah woah woah! I didn't do anything!" He said, raising his hands up, as if in surrender. "That was my housemaid, Maria! She didn't have any of her clothes here, so I volunteered to share...I mean give...mine. And she changed your clothes."

Khushi closed her eyes, sighing. "Oh..." She murmured. She had to stop suspecting him. "Thank you." She whispered. "For last night and yesterday morning." A few minutes of silence passed between them. Khushi could feel his eyes on her, as if waiting expectantly for her to speak. "And..." She added, feeling uncomfortable at the silence. "And sorry. For thinking that you would have hurt me and...and for yelling at you yesterday." She didn't know when her gaze had drifted downwards. She fiddled with the loose ends of her t-shirt uncomfortably.

"You're a strange girl...." He declared, finally. Her fingers left the shirt alone at last as her eyes flew up to meet his. "Excuse me?" She asked in surprise. "Well, yeah. You yelled at me so much yesterday, for saving you from coming under that car and now you're thanking me for saving you from those goons? And over top of that, you're apologizing to me? And even so, apologizing for what? For not trusting me! May I remind you, that we barely know each other? So how can you be so sure that I'm telling you the truth? What if I've lied about the entire thing? What if you really weren't about to get run over by a car yesterday? What if I just pretended, so I could touch you? What if those goons are actually my friends and I was part of... of hurting you? What if I did change your clothes so I could take advantage of you?" She looked at him, bewildered. "See?!" He declared, flailing his hands up in the air. "That's exactly my point! I'm a stranger to you! You shouldn't trust me and neither should you apologize!" Khushi gazed at him, unable to speak. He sighed, rising from the bed and walking towards the door.

"But I can trust you." Khushi whispered. He froze in his tracks. "How do you know?" He asked, turning to face her. She looked at him, silently, before replying. "Your eyes." He shook his head, not understanding. "What about them?" She smiled.... It was a slow smile. Something she thought she had forgotten to do. "They speak the truth. And they say that you did help me. Twice. I don't know why, but I can guess. Because you're a good person." He was quiet. "Don't hold me at such a high pedestal. I'm not worth it." He whispered before adding, "I'll have Maria get breakfast ready."

For the first time that morning, Khushi looked around her. The house was big. That was evident from the size of that mere bedroom. She was laying on a fairly large bed. A guest room, she presumed. The walls were painted white and the furniture in the room seemed antique. By the bed, was a wooden table with three porceline dolls lining it. Beside the dolls was a picture of one of the most beautiful women Khushi had ever seen. She wore a pink sari, lined with gold at the base. Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders, just barely touching her waist. But it was the smile that flared her beauty. Her smile was infectious. She could see the purity of a child in it. Khushi remembered when she used to smile like that. It seemed ages ago. Sighing, she lifted herself up from the bed and walked out the door.

"She's very pretty, you know." Khushi mumbled, trying to make conversation with him at the breakfast table. "Who?" He asked, taking another bite of his toast. "The picture of the woman you have on the side table." He dropped his toast, choking on it while he did so. Khushi was by his side in a matter of seconds. "Are you ok?! Oh my god! Here. Take a sip of water." Rubbing his back, she held the glass up to his lips as he drank. His eyes turned to her, to respond to her question, but all words were suddenly lost. Her eyes were beautiful. So clear. So pristine. There was so much concern...so much pain embedded in them that it took his breath away.

"Are..Are you ok?" Khushi stuttered, trying to break the gaze. "Um, yeah. I'm fine. " He shook his head, clearing it of the strange emotions being stirred within him. "Who is she...?" Khushi asked and then quickly added, "if you don't mind my asking." He wiped his mouth with a napkin. "She... she's my sister. Hey, I just realized, I don't know your name!" He was changing the topic. Khushi was not stupid. She understood. He smirked. "Or would you rather have it that I call you sleeping beauty all my life?"

She raised her eyebrows trying to change the mood. "All your life, huh? And I thought we would never see each other after today?" He smiled. "Well, if that's what you want, I have no problem with it.... But you know, I'm not that bad of a person! And that, may I add, came from you, sleeping beauty!" She nodded. "I wasn't lying when I said I trusted you." He smiled. "But the real question is, how much do you trust me? Do you trust me enough to be my friend?" He extended his hand out to hers. "Hi. I'm Arnav. Arnav Singh Raizada." Khushi's mouth fell open in shock. "Arnav Singh Raizada as in THE Arnav Singh Raizada?! As in, the owner of AR Companies?" He nodded. "Yep, that's me!" She raised her hand to meet his. "I'm Khushi. Khushi Kumari Gupta. I've been trying so hard to get a job in your company! But I'm always told that you're busy in meetings or out of town. It's pretty hard to get a hold of you, sir!" He laughed. "Sir? Now where did this SIR come into the picture?! I hate the word you know? It makes me feel old! And most of the time, I am in meetings! It's just... there are so many clients to meet, so many deals to finish... I barely have the time to think of anything else! But... if you are still interested, there is a post in my office! The salary is about       15 000 dollars per month...." It was Khushi's turn to choke. "Oh god, sir... I mean, Arnav ji. I would be honoured to work for your company! What's the position?" He smiled. "My personal secretary. Except... there is one condition involved in order to get this job." Khushi nodded. "This has been my dream, Arnav ji! And I will do anything to get this job! What is the condition?" He smiled. "Friends?"

End

ArHi FF: Broken Melody - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Help

As she swallowed her fifth shot of tequilla, the world around Khushi became a whirlpool. She shivered, relishing the fiery sensation flooding her veins. Cindy had been right. Coming to the club had been a great idea. In the midst of the deafening music, the tornado of Torontonians and the hundreds of alcoholic drinks, she could barely remember the chaos in her life.

Speaking of Cindy, where was she? She swiveled around in her chair and squinted. Focussing after such a flurry of drinks was close to impossible. She vaguely recalled Cindy's voice gushing over the crowd of eligible bachelors. But that was that. The rest seemed to be a blank spot in her memory. And now? Now Cindy was nowhere to be found.

Khushi closed her eyes as a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her. Of course. The after-effects of the alcohol. She winced at the sour taste of her bile, feeling sick at once. She shakily made it to her feet as the nausea kicked in at last. This was not good. She turned to the bar tender. "Where's the washroom?" But her voice came out as a choked whisper. The tender was well into his 80's and probably hard of hearing. He was completely white. His hair, which was balding towards the centre, his skin, his mustache, and his beard. Just replace his white shirt and overalls with a red suit and he'd be the ideal Santa Clause. She bit back the bubbling laughter that the mental image conjured. Whether it was for sheer politeness or the fact that she was going to puke any minute now, she didn't know. "Where's the washroom??!" She repeated, louder this time. Luckily, she had his attention. He motioned with his thumb to the left side of the room. She blinked, trying to focus. Sure enough, there was a door...or something of it anyways. The drinks were proving to be experts in vision distrortion. Ugh.

Khushi stepped away from the bar, unable to think straight, let alone walk straight. But as she slowly made her way into the crowd of sweaty people, the nausea got the better of her. As if in reflex action, she covered her mouth, increasing her effort to walk by two-fold. With each footstep she took, she felt all the more sick. For a moment, she didn't think she would make it to the washroom at all! But she had to. For the sake of her own reputation she had to. Khushi could already hear her friend's voice admonishing her. "I told you to put down those drinks! Why do you bother drinking if you can't hold in your liquor?" Ugh. She was dreading it already.

Suddenly, Khushi felt a warm hand grip her wrist. She gasped, wincing at both the surprise of the sudden movement and the immediate pain that coursed up her arm. The next few events happened too quickly for her to register. Before she could get a grip on her racing heart, she was whisked away from the crowd and dragged into a particularly empty corner of the club.

This part of the club was quiet and it held no greater than five people with the exception of her and her pursuers. Most of them had passed out drunk and the remaining few probably weren't sober enough to even think properly. Khushi gazed down at her arm, feeling it numbing under her captor's tight hold. Slightly dazed, her eyes rose to meet his. Shockingly blue. Chilling. A shiver ran down her spine and her eyes lowered as if on their own accord. He had a cold grin plastered to his face as his hot gaze travelled gradually across her body. Behind him, trailed four other men, with a strikingly similar resemblance. "Heyy... looky here boys! We got ourselves a girl for the night! 10 dollars an hour... whaddaya say baby...?" An echoe of laughter with murmurs of agreement followed.

"L...let me go..." Khushi declared, speech slurred. Her nails dug into the skin of her pursuer as she tried violently to pry him off. "Fiesty eh? We like that... don't we boys?" He whispered hotly. He bent forward, giving her ear a hard nip. Khushi recoilled. His breath smelled of fresh alcohol against her skin. They were drunk beyond limits. "I said...l..let me..go...." Their cold laughter seemed to bounce off of every wall in the club. Help. I need help. She thought to herself. It was the only thought in her mind. Help. "Leave... me.. alone!" She screamed.

They began surrounding her. Forming a tight circle. "I said let me go!!!" She blinked back the tears threatening to fall as she tried to find a form of escape.They were her predator and she, their prey. As they made their way into her, the dread within her deepened. The dread, as well as the reality of the situation. She was trapped. And there was no one even remotely sober to help her. Falling to her knees in defeat, she whispered one last time, "Please... You...you don't have to... do this..." But to no avail. The last thing she remembered was seeing her favourite red cardigan pulled off of her and ripped into shreads before she collapsed into mind-numbing darkness.

ArHi FF: Broken Melody - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Strangers

The front door closed with a click as Khushi stepped out. She looked very much as she had in the morning, save for her hair, which she had given a few extra brushes. Her only accessory was a black purse in hand which contained a notepad, an iPod a few emergency dollars and a cell phone. Make-up was not a word in her dictionary. If anything, a dab of lip gloss. But she hadn't touched that in over three years.

Khushi gazed at the scene around her. Toronto was so different from India. It was said to be the busiest metropolitan area. And it stood up to its name. It was the perfect place for her. It wasn't difficult to drown amongst the crowds of people here. Each person here was too busy trying to sort out the problems in their own life to care about a stranger's. Khushi liked that. In the three years that she had lived here, she had come to accept Canada as her home. She felt somehow accepted here, for what she was. Somehow, the place just screamed for a fresh start. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of the cool fall wind brushing her skin. Yes. This was home.

She descended the five steps off her porch and stepped onto the sidewalk, suddenly dreading the remainder of her day which consisted of standing at a counter with a fake smile glued to her face. She was a cashier at a local bookstore. Not exactly the most thrilling job. And though the pay wasn't the greatest, she managed to get by with it. That's what her life was all about. Wake up, work, come home, eat, sleep. A repetetive routine. Sighing, she pulled the zip of her sweater up to her neck and began walking the two blocks to the book store. As she walked, she pulled out her iPod, plugging the headphones into her ears to block out the noise around her. She felt herself relax at last as the music began to flow. Perhaps this wouldn't be such a bad day after all.

Suddenly, she felt a hard hand shove her from behind. "Hey! Watch it!" She snapped, before turning around and glaring at her assailant. For a minute, she couldn't breathe. When she turned, she found herself gazing into the most beautiful pools of chocolate that she had seen in a long time. His eyes. Something about them was so different. It sent cold shivers up her spine. The rest of him was as normal as an average passerby. A nice build, casual clothing. Nothing out of the ordinary and yet she felt so drawn to him. His lips formed an amused smirk as he took her in. The angry yet innocent eyes, the pout on the lips, the frown her eyebrows made when she glared at him.... He shook his head trying to think straight. "Great advice," He shot back, "but I think you need it more than I do. You were about to get run over by a car." He stated matter-of-factly. "If I wasn't here, you'd have been done for!" He chuckled. Khushi's eyes grew wide. What the? He's trying to flirt Khushi. Just ignore. You would have seen it if there was a car coming. Of course you would have. Just look at him. He even looks like an expert liar. He smiled, as if reading her thoughts and reached over, pulling the headphones off her ears. "Next time, try to be more attentive when crossing the road." Khushi's mouth dropped open in shock. "Excuse me, but who the hell do you think -" He laughed, before casually strolling away from her. "You can thank me later!" He yelled, his back still faced towards her. Anger bubbled within her as she retorted, "There will never BE a later!" He turned, continuing to walk (now backwards). "Nuh-uh-uh! Never say never!" He declared, giving a final smirk of victory before disappearing into the crowd. "Idiot." Khushi stuttered, furiously. "I hope I never see that egoistic loser's face ever again!" Still glaring in his direction, she defiantly shoved the headphones back into her ear before trudging off in the direction of the bookstore.

"You're late." Admonished her best friend Cindy as she entered the shop breathlessly. Khushi rolled her eyes, unamused. "Yeah, thanks Genius. I totally didn't know." Cindy chuckled, her eyes crinkling up brightly as she did so.

"No problem. So what was it today? The dream or visions?" Khushi groaned. A migrane was on the way for sure. "How about both?" Her friend nodded, sympathetically. "Want me to grab you a coffee? I'm headed out for my break now anyways." Khushi shook her head. "Naw, I'm good thanks." She bent down, reaching for the box of new books. They would need to be shelved. Sighing, she grabbed them by the handfulls, arranging them by genre.

"Hey..." Cindy declared, slowly. Her hand was on the handle of the door as she prepared to leave. "Hey, I was wondering.... Do you want to go clubbing tonight?" Khushi looked at her, wondering if she was serious. "Cind, you know how much work I have today don't you? I've been on sick leave for the past week! I've a lot to catch up on. I'm going to be working after hours today.... I'm sorry...." Cindy moaned, flailing her hands in the air. "Oh c'mon Khushi! Stop being such a bore! You're having a rough day today anyways! So what's the problem? Chill with me at the club! Have a coupla' drinks! It'll be fun! Haven't you ever heard of the word?!" Khushi rolled her eyes. It was amazing how dramatic her friend was. "Ok, alright! Fine! I'll see if I can make it! But I'm not making any promises!" Cindy tosssed her a relieved smile. "Cool! I'll be waiting for you then!" She winked before hurrying out the door. Khushi shook her head, chuckling. The craziness she had to deal with.

ArHi FF: Broken Melody - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Visions

Khushi awoke, drenched in sweat. Her black hair fell stickily on her wet skin and her hands were cramped from the night-long grasp on the bedspread beneath. Khushi's head was spinning. It was the same dream. The very dream that had been haunting her nights. Yet again. The only difference was, with each passing time, the dream grew increasingly deadly. It took all the strength within her to convince her limp body to stand. Slowly, shakily, she moved to the white-washed wooden dressing table beside her bed. She gazed at herself in the mirror, wondering whether this was the same Khushi Kumari Gupta staring back at her that she had seen three years ago. She knew the answer of course. Since her marriage, nothing had been the same anymore, much less her. The eyes that gazed back at her were not hers. They were cold. Hard. Unforgiving. The twinkle that she had grown accustomed to seeing had long since disappeared. Her cheeks had lost the red glow that once lightened them. If anything, she looked paler than she had in the past two days. No improvement there. Her lips. The biggest change appeared here. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen them upturned into a smile. It was as if she had entirely forgotten how. She looked lifeless.

Her eyes fell on the dressing table, taking in the white medicine bottle by it. It helped to cure depression - the common disease that she had supposedly come down with. It remained untouched. The table was empty, save for this medicine bottle and a black mangalsutra lying in a heap. Mangalsutra. A sign of marriage. Of love. Of companionship for seven births, perhaps more. The promise of trust, faith and future. All of which she had lost with her husband. She closed her eyes as the memories washed over her. You left me. She whispered. Even after three years, the wound felt fresh. Everyone said that it would be alright. That time would heal it all. They were lying. With time, the pain only grew worse. As reality sank in, the scars became more and more real. Life became all the more unbearable. Khushi's hand slowly snaked across the dressing table to the black thread reminding her of the past. The mangalsutra. It felt cool to her fingertips. Almost comforting. Like ice on an injury. She had kept it as a reminder of him. Not that she needed one. The ache in her heart was enough of a reminder for decades to come.

She was just about to release her hold on the thread when all of a sudden, she felt herself tumbling into a pool of darkness. Oh god no. She thought ferverently. Not again. Not the visions. Despite having received the visions all her life, she had never gotten used to their startling appearances. It was the same sensation every time. A strong force, pulling her against her will into the depths of darkness. And then the voices would start. Just slow, rythmic noises at first, which would morph into voices with the progression of the vision. The images would appear sometimes diffused as a reflection in unstill water and other times as clear as pictures in a television. Usually it was the former, as it was this time. The noises were mixed at first, sounding almost staticy. There were multiple voices. Speaking at once. It was total confusion. Khushi couldn't make out one voice from another. She craned her neck, trying to listen, trying to concentrate. But it was no use. Slowly, the noises separated, become well-defined, voices. "It's good she's getting married." piped up a voice. It seemed so familiar. So...near. "She'll be able to forget the past and move on." I knew this voice. Think, Khushi think. Suddenly, it hit her. Jiji. The scene changed from her sister to the mandap. It was as if she was watching a movie. Except, the remote control was not in her hands. Visions would show as they pleased. Loud music blasted in the wedding hall. Shehnayis. Large containers of food sat lined up against the beige walls, holding everything from South Indian and North Indian to foreign delicacies which were unheard of. The constant echoe of laughter and chatter was present as people walked back and forth underneath the tall arches of the entrance. The hall was decorated lavishly. Flowers bordered the walls in every possible pattern. Her favourite flowers. Red roses. The symbol of love. Elegant chairs were placed in neat rows with white cloths strewn on top of them. And then she noticed it. The young girl. Sitting in the mandap, arms around her knees with a pallu covering her face. A man was beside her. The groom. "Please tie the mangalsutra around the girl's neck." Declared the pandit, momentarily pausing his prayers. The man obeyed. Khushi squinted, trying to get a proper look at the bride. But it was no use. The pallu was placed in such a way that her face was hidden entirely. "Please apply the vermilion at the parting of the bride's hair." Unquestioningly, the man obeyed. And then it happened. The groom, in an effort to put the sindoor on her head raised her pallu slightly upward. Her entire face could not be seen but what Khushi saw was enough. Her eyes. They were cold. Hard. Unforgiving. Her eyes. Khushi was staring at herself. She was the bride.

When she was jolted away, she found herself on her knees, her nails etching into the cold, wooden floor. No... She whispered. What she had seen could not have been the truth. It...It didn't make sense. I will never marry.... She thought. It doesn't make sense. Her heart leapt a mile in the air when she heard the shrill ringing of her cell. She pulled herself up, trying to gain composure. It will never happen. I won't let it happen. She whispered to herself before clicking the "answer" button on her phone. "Do you know how many times i've been trying to call you?!" Shrieked a voice on the opposite end. Payal - her jiji. Khushi winced, moving the phone away from her ear. "Where were you?! I was even about to try your boss's number!" Khushi sighed. Her sister. Her silly, concerned, irritating but lovely sister. "Sorry jiji.... it was just.... nothing." There was a brief pause. "You had the visions again," Payal whispered, making it seem more of a statement than a question. "Yes..." she replied, easing herself onto the bed. "Do you want to talk about it...?" Payal asked, hesitantly. She shook her head, forgetting for a moment that her sister couldn't see her actions. "No," Khushi mouthed quickly. "I'll be ok." She heard a soft sigh. "Sometimes I really worry about you Khushi...." murmured Payal. And that was that. She wasn't the only one who was worried. Khushi was too. But about problems entirely different. About what she had wittnessed in her vision. About her marriage. I'll never let it happen... She whispered. Never.