Chapter 11 - When Fate Plays

P.S. *drumroll here she comes with another bloody warning* :P. 

This chapter may not go according to plan mwaha! 

~
He had to miss me. It's not possible for one person to miss another person so much she thinks she might die, and for that other person not to even miss her at all, is it? I mean, we'd been soul mates. Soul mates are forever. Aren't they?
- Melissa Kantor
~

His mind was still fragmented, in pieces and commotions of problems that he would never be able to solve. He leaned back against the cold steel of the creaking hospital chair, his fingers tightening on the fragile cardboard of the paper cup he held by each passing second. His eyes were bloodshot, glazed over as he pondered through too many of the miseries in his mind that he could never escape. He wanted to throw the damn coffee against the wall, watch the ugliness of the spill as it would seep into the paint then spread it's tentacles all the way to the smooth vinyl floor. He wanted to grab his hair and scream like no one was listening, just scream and scream till he was out of breath. He needed release, something, anything to free him of his past, his memories, his duties, the wretched love that he still held for his sister.

"Di where are you going? It's 10pm, it's not safe to go out at this time," 

He saw her brows furrow together, her lips parting then coming back together with words that she wasn't able to form. He was by her side within seconds.

"Di? What's wrong? Is something wrong? Should I call Vimla Chachi?" He questioned, always quick to catch onto her every problem.

"Nahin chotey the company I work for has demanded that I do an extra shift tonight. We have a ball organised and I need to be there."

He didn't quite believe her reassurance, her eyes that darted to everywhere but his telling a different story altogether.

"What nonsense is that di? It's not safe for you to go out at this time let me go drop you off," he offered then but she waved him off.

"No no Chote they've arranged a car for me I'll be fine," she mumbled, attempting a smile before she practically ran out of the door.

He ran out after her only to stop in his tracks as she stepped into a large black mercedes. He continued to walk after it, his pace slower as his mind calculated over a dozen different questions. He was sure he had seen the vehicle before, was sure that he'd washed it in the valeting service he worked for. 

On his way back, he felt things fall into place slowly, unanswered questions that he had previously dismissed resurfacing. He was gradually seeing a change in Anjali, her new abrupt nature, not answering any of his questions clearly, excessive amounts of make-up, expensive jewellery and saris, none of which added up.

It wasn't till a few weeks later, when he had seen the car and the man inside it once again, it wasn't until that night when he had lain in bed whilst his sister had been out once more during the night that it had all finally fallen into place. When he had finally realised exactly what was wrong ... And he had been too late.

As he sat there in that same place once more still unknown to what compelled her to take such steps it occurred to him that he in fact did not hate Anjali. If Arnav Singh Raizada was being completely honest with himself, if he stepped past everything and stripped it down to one thing, it was himself that he hated. He hated his own weakness, his inability to have saved Khushi all those years ago, to have prevented his sister or realised sooner, he hated his own misgivings. It was himself that he hated.

****

Taking a deep breath in Aman finally let his knuckles fall on the wooden door. As his hand came down a second time on a knock the door creaked open. Raising an eyebrow he peaked in, instantly being taken aback by the site before him.

She sat at a corner of her bed, her knees pulled in, her arms around her knees, her face void of any emotions, her eyes blank and distant. He felt his heart sink slightly, shit things were worse than he had anticipated. He walked in hesitantly, still quite unsure as to how to proceed. Arnav was away and he'd decided to just talk to her for once, try and put her mind at ease.

Her head snapped up just as he walked in and she felt herself crouch into the corner reflexively, her eyes widening and her arms tightening around her knees.

He held his arms up, stopping in his tracks as if in surrender. "Sorry I come in peace," he tried, attempting a smile as her brows furrowed and she continued to shuffle further away. Okay maybe comedy wasn't the best of approaches with her.

Khushi felt wary, she didn't no what to think, her mind in a spiral of conflicting thoughts and assumptions and this man, this unknown man standing in front of her was not in the least bit helpful. "I... I don't know," she began to stammer, her eyes flickering from his face to the floor then back to him again, not sure of what to say or do. She just wanted to run away, from the confines of what felt like this prison cell that he had placed her in. A part of her wanted to believe the sincerity in his eyes, his quietly mumbled promises, whilst the other part didn't know what to do, what to expect.

"You don't know me!" Aman began, his voice not losing the jovial nature of his for a second as he hurriedly sat on the bed, at a distance that she would feel comfortable at. "I'm Aman," he began, completely ignoring the baffled, frightened look she threw his way. "Don't worry I really don't bite, I'm pretty nice actually, if I do say so myself," he continued, a large smile on his face.

Khushi watched the man in front of her, Aman, completely bewildered. Who was this man and why was he rambling on like a mad person?

"Seriously, you can trust me, even more than Hawk because well he's not the most open of books now is he?" It was like he was talking more to himself now. Having being brought up around computers for most of his life, his experience with girls was pretty pathetic, so he made his attempts with the little he knew.

Closing her eyes for a second and taking a deep breath in she finally looked to him. "Listen Aman?"

"Yes! We are at least getting somewhere, you've got my name correct!" He beamed, suddenly slightly excited.

She put her hand out to stop him from speaking further, her fingers clearly trembling.

"Yes ... Aman, I don't understand any of this which is..."

"Yes nor do I but then we never rarely understand much in this world anyway now do we?" He butted in, clearly assuming that he had formed some sort of connection with her now.

She shook her head quickly, coming out of the small ball she had wrapped herself into, her worries and fears subsiding to confusion with this demented man and his ramblings.

"No no you don't understand I don't even know you," Khushi began, edging off of the bed to stand up.

"No you do, I'm Aman, I'm a friend of Hawk's," he smiled back reassuringly, standing up with her.

She felt anger course through her this time. What did he think of himself? This time it wasn't sorrow, it was pure undiluted rage. She could feel it shake through her every bone. And this man? What did he think of himself? The audacity of him to lie to her too.

"You mean Arnav?" She stated definitively, squaring up to him, this time takin a step towards him, her hazel orbs blazing with fury.

His eyes widened immediately, Arnav's words playing over on his mind.

"She shouldn't know my name," Arnav's voice was quiet but the instructions in them clear. 

"But why?" Aman questioned, not new to his friends ambiguity but attempting for an answer nonetheless.

"It's a long story Aman, just... Just don't let her know my name. It's something that I need to tell her myself," he finally mumbled, arousing Aman's suspicion all the more but he decided not to prod him further. Prodding did no good when it came to Arnav Singh Raizada and he would have plenty of time to do that when everything was sorted. 

He took a step back instinctively, his mind jumping to the worst, feeling for the gun that was stuffed in his back pocket. "Wait how do you know that?" He questioned, suddenly feeling apprehensive about this girl and then Arnav's intentions.

She couldn't believe her ears, she felt blind with rage, fury that would surely consume her any moment now. "What the hell do you mean by how do I know his name?!" She screamed, taking a further step forward as Aman's hand automatically tightened around his gun. "Why don't I ask you the same question? How do you know my name? How does Arnav know my name? Why are you keeping me here?" She could feel herself being on the verge of punching this man in front of her square on the face. How dare any of them ask her any questions?

Fucking hell! This girl was a piece of work, he thought to himself as he slowly released his grip on the gun. This wasn't what he had anticipated but it was personal and he would have to get to the bottom of this the right way. If anyone knew about Arnav, it was Aman, he knew his best friend and he could tell, every action of Arnav's screamed disaster and this was it. His friend was falling, head down for this girl who had a connection to his past, who he had possibly known before meeting Aman and now she knew who he was. It didn't take him long to connect the dots.

"Hold on," he stopped her before she actually pounced forward and hit him, taking a deep breath in and bracing himself he finally began again. "How do you know his name? I'm not asking for questions in return just an answer," he tried to make his voice even, each word pronounced loud and clear.

"And why should I tell you that when you aren't answering any of my questions?" She retorted back, clearly exasperated.

"Okay, if you answer me then I could maybe answer some of your questions," he bargained. He watched as she pondered over that thought for a few seconds, a small smile spreading over his lips.

Her lips quivered, her eyebrows knitted together but she needed to know so she finally gave in, it wasn't as if it was the most important fact in the world anyway. "That man that came to get Arnav called him out by his name," she finally mumbled, sighing.

Fuck! NK! Of course he should have known and now not only NK but he also would have to face the wrath of Arnav. Shit! This was all going so desperately wrong.

"And now you have to answer my questions," she stated this time, looking straight into his eyes, her gaze challenging.

He began to feel himself stumble against his own thoughts. What was he supposed to do now?

Taking a deep breath in, the deafening silence, the only audible noise their loud breaths calming his nerves he finally took a decision.

"Give me an hour and I'll get back to you. I'll be in this same place so I won't be running away," his words were flowing out quickly, as he properly formulated a plan. She took another step towards him, trying to understand but he was too quick for her, already walking out of the door.

****

"Sir the new shipments has been ordered," Aakash reported to Shyam, his fingers furiously working away at his other phone as he replied back to Payal's message, a slow smile spreading over his face as he desperately tried to hide the amusement from his boss.

"Good! Now for the girl Aakash! I want the god forsaken girl!" Shyam screamed down through the other end of the phone, he was growing more and more restless by the second. He could literally feel her skin against his skin, smell her soft fragrance. He closed his eyes swallowing, his desires overpowering him, she was like a drug, he felt like a man dying of thirst, his thirst for her. He wanted her next to him, with him, in his arms, allowing him to inhale her in completely.

Clicking the phone down and sliding it across the table he leaned agains the table, his breaths loud and ragged. His whole body was shaking, he was craving for her. "Khushi," he whispered, feeling the taste of that name on his mouth. It wouldn't be long before he got her now.

****

"Mr Arnav Singh Raizada?" The doctor walked upto the man that clearly looked distressed, not really wanting to disturb him as he sat with his face buried in his hands.

He looked up looking slightly disorientated, his bloodshot eyes and haggard expression already giving too much away to the doctor.

"Mr Raizada, I'm sorry to disturb you," she began as he quickly stood up, gathering himself together, fixing his hair, wiping his face from not even knowing the state that she had just awakened him out of.

He shook his head slowly, insisting on her to continue.

"Mr Raizada, according the hospital records this is her third attempt at suicide," she began as he nodded slowly in return.

"We can't let this go on, I mean I can offer suggestions."

Audibly gulping he looked her straight in the eyes, evidently letting her know that it was his turn to speak. "Listen doctor I'm aware it's a problem," he began, clearly not the same emotionally distraught man that he had been only seconds before. It didn't even surprise him anymore, this ability of his to just switch off but it was required, this is how he coped and he had to address this issue. "But this is not something I can solve, this is her choice, all I can do is be there for her when she needs me."

"But Mr Raizada her occupation," she looked at him properly this time, he looked decent to him, it wasn't in her profession to judge but there was definitely something wrong here.

"Listen, Dr..." He looked to her name badge, "Kashyap? I'm going to tell you this for the last time and I'd like this to be put into the hospital records. I do not take responsibility or care for any of her actions. I am simply managing my responsibility towards her. If you are so interested yourself you are more than welcome to help her, in fact I will pay any of the charges that that may incur," he stated matter-of-factly, getting to the point and not bothering for any judgement that the doctor may pass.

She looked at his features for a few seconds, he was indeed handsome she had to admit to herself, his chiselled features along with his stubbled cheeks that clearly defined his high jaw line, his molten caramel penetrating eyes, his stern face, there was something about him that even had her heart beating slightly faster. And then there was this demeaning manner of his, it was more than evident that he cared for his sister but his cold demeanour left her completely baffled. "But sir, the next time," she tried to make him understand and that's when she caught it, that tiny flickr of concern that rapidly passed through his features.

Lavanya Kashyap was running an overtime shift at the A&E today but otherwise being a trained psychiatrist she was quick to read him; at first his despair and now his all too evident concern. "Mr Raizada," she began again, "this is my card, I run my own psychiatric center and your sister is more than welcome there, please contact me if you feel it to be a good step," she finally said placing the card in his hand, then gently smiling walked away.

Arnav looked down at the card for a few seconds, his thumb flicking at the square edge. He walked over to her room slowly, his thoughts lost in that far distant corner all the while.

"Ch...Chotey," she attempted to sit herself up on the bed as he entered, her eyes now used to the conflicted emotions of her brothers face. She yearned for one more chance to hold him, to brush his worries away, to let him rest his head on her lap whilst she weaved her fingers through his hair, gently lulling him to sleep. She closed her eyes, welcoming the raw pain as the tears sprang out of the corners and flowed down her cheeks.

He looked away, his fingers tightening on the thin cardboard, even after all of these years he found it difficult to digest her pain.

"Chotey I'm sorry," she began her voice breaking through the sobs, her arm automatically stretching out to him but he kept his distance.

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't do this again," when he spoke again that cold mask was back on, his words to the point and unflinching. "But for your well being and to make sure that I don't have to go through this a fourth time, I'm going to put your name forward to Dr Kashyap for counselling."

She listened intently, not losing out on even a single one of his emotions as he spoke, not the ones he seemed devoid of but his true feelings that he hid only so little below the surface. "Chotey... Please just listen to me once," she begged, the tears choking her voice.

He closed his eyes for a second, taking another deep breath in, this was always difficult no matter how much he braced himself for it before hand. He quickly began to trace his steps back the way, not playing heed to any of her words, afraid that that would make him even more weak.

"Chotey..." she mumbled from behind him, struggling out of her bed to stop him but he had already opened the door and before she could reach him shut the door behind him, not even allowing himself a glance backwards.

He went out into the corridor, still holding in the tears that threatened to fall out and spill for her. He refused to think back to all the other times that he had done this. He wanted to leave her behind, forget that she existed. He desperately wanted to stop caring but he couldn't, he'd tried on so many occasions  over and over again but failed.

He slumped back onto the chair, his body weak and his thoughts lost in a hazy mess somewhere. Like every other time he would remain in the corridor, every memory of his playing through his mind vividly till she would be discharged.

This is all that remained of their relationship, her broken pieces and him picking them back up.

****

"Aman what the hell are you doing?" NK questioned, attempting to read the text rapidly loading on the screen in front of him as Aman continued to furiously type away, seemingly oblivious to the prying eyes of NK.

"Go away NK, I'm busy," he attempted to wave him off.

"With what? Another mission?" NK continued to harass him with questions.

"Fuck off NK you are annoying!" Aman complained, pushing him away with one hand as he still continued to type away with the other.

"You've been at this fucking typing business for like half an hour. Are you guys keeping some sort of secret mission from me? Because that would be mean," he moaned pulling a chair and moving closer to Aman as Aman rolled his eyes in return.

"Aman batao batao, you need to tell me!"

"Fucking hell Nand Kishor! You are the biggest nuisance on the planet right now!" Aman exclaimed throwing his hands up in the air, if only he could punch NK in the face and not get shot in the process.

NK's eyes widened just then, almost popping out of his sockets. "What the hell are you doing?" He screamed, shoving Aman over to the side to get a closer look.

"Im digging!" Aman shouted back pushing NK away.

"You mean you're digging your own grave!" NK exclaimed, "that's Arnav's secure details!"

"So? I'm a legal hacker! I'm allowed to do these things! And this is only for his well-being!" Aman tried to explain then as NK's face scrunched up in confusion gave up with him and just pushed him out of the way completely.

"Fine!" He finally decided, "am I getting in on this let's stalk Arnav plan of yours or do I bust your cover?" NK questioned, edging closer again.

A smirk spread over Aman's face just then. "NK baby I believe we have a deal. Now you stay here whilst I go make Khushi your bhabi!" He grinned to himself then strode out of the room before NK could prod him any further, leaving a very confused NK behind.

Aman was now a man with a plan!

****

Khushi opened the door and walked out even before Aman could think of walking in.

"I gave you an hour!" She exclaimed, she had been ready for this, the words were already formulated in her mind. For the first time in years Khushi Kumari Gupta was furious and she needed venting! Arnav had left so this man would do!

"Wow! Hold up! Hold up!" Aman shouted taking a step back, his hands up in surrender.

She glared back at him, trying to understand what exactly this man was made of. Her expressions quickly changing to one of confusion as he smiled back.

"Follow me," he smiled turning on heels and walking towards the end of the corridor.

"Where?" She demanded, keeping her feet firmly planted on the ground.

He turned around, allowing another smirk, "to meet the man that is now Arnav Singh Raizada."

~

You're waiting for a train. A train that will take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you but you don't know for sure. But it doesn't matter. Because we'll be together. 
- Inception
~

... :( sorry that there is a lack of Arshi but this chapter leads onto Arshi scenes ;)... x Pinks loves you all! Please don't hit me with your chappals :P xx