15. Sting of Love



 Khushi was getting increasingly desperate. The dulha's side led by Naniji had put up an excellent show in the dance competition, and the Guptas were trailing. Only one more dance remained -- hers. If she could give a stellar performance, her family could atleast claim a status equal to the Raizadas. And she could escape the Laad Governor's demands... All evening she had felt his sharp eyes on her, running over her from head to toe, alert to each expression on her face. She shivered, feeling his eyes touch her.

 He had been stalking her, listening to every word of hers, awake to each feeling in her heart, aware of even the movement of strands of her unbound hair in the cool evening breeze. She was the hunted, and he the hunter. And he took pleasure in letting her know that. Each time she averted her eyes from his, or turned away self-consciously from him, his heart rejoiced. She was coming closer and closer to the edge of the trap...he was reeling her in. Soon she would be in his control. He would decide her fate. Only he...no one else. She had given him the right. And he would take it. He would enjoy taking it...

The last dance of the day. Soon the noise would be over, and he could get on with the real purpose of this evening's programmes. Khushi... Soon it would be her turn. He watched her go in to the room where her heavy box had been safely kept. She emerged from the room wearing a rich, colourful lehenga and jewellery, ready to dance. Her eyes skittered off his as she got on to the stage.

Halfway through her performance, she came to a sudden halt, clutching the flowing dupatta to her waist. Arnav, who had been enjoying her fluid movements and look of joy on her face, tensed. Her face was pale as she smiled and bowed to the audience in a stiff manner and left the stage.

"Khushi...Kya Hua?"

"Bichoo... a scorpion ... bit me ... on the waist. Must...have been..hiding in the thick dupatta...I didn't notice..."

"Khushi...", his voice trembled.

"Don't tell anyone...", she panted, desperate not to spoil the sangeet.

He led her out of the house and into his car without attracting the attention of the guests or family. He helped her in to the seat, and she sat clutching her waist with both arms. Arnav threw increasingly worried looks at her as he tried to manoeuvre the car through the traffic to reach the nearest hospital.

"Khushi...how are you feeling now?"

"Pain...all numb...It feels strange...a tingling all over...dhak dhak like I feel...when you come near me...", she panted.

He looked at her, his heart in his eyes. Her eyes were shut.

"Talk to me, Khushi...", he commanded, anxiety turning his voice stern.

"Daantthe rahte he...har wakt...Order dete he...What will you do...if I go to Lucknow?...Whom will ... you scold?", she tried to calm her racing heart beat.

"Khushi... hold on for a little while longer", he pleaded. "We will get to the hospital soon."

"Hospital...hate hospitals...", she grimaced. "They...poke needle...in to...you...It hurts...they scold...just...like...you..."

Arnav swallowed, the pain moving from his throat to his chest to lodge firmly there.

"Khushi..."

"Don't ... let them...hurt me...", she cried, sweating profusely.

Thankfully he did not have to respond to her plea. He brought the car to a screeching stop in front of the hospital.

Khushi could not understand what was happening...It was all a flurry of movement...urgent orders barked out by her Laad Governor...people running in front of her, behind her...All she knew was that she was safe in his arms, held close like a precious bundle. She tried to focus on his face, her ears resounding with the rapid drumming of his heart.

"Saboot ...mil ...gaya...", she said, lightheaded with tiredness. "You ... have... a... heart."

Arnav looked into her eyes. They were half-shut with fatigue. His arms went tighter around her, and pulled her closer to his body.

Khushi heard Arnavji forcing the doctor to accept his presence in the treatment room, urging him to examine her, shouting at the nurse...She smiled. Pakka Laad Governor! She took comfort from his hold on her left shoulder.

The doctor came ready to inject her with anti-venom, and Arnav shielded her gaze from the needle. He needed to distract her.

He cupped the right side of her face, bent down, and asked her, "Khushi, who won?"

"Aap...", admitted his innately honest contender, defeat and excrutiating pain unable to beat her spirit.

"Look at me", he ordered.

She lifted eyelids weighed down by exhaustion, and looked into his eyes.

"What shall I claim from you, Khushi...?", he murmured.

"Kuch...bhi...", said his lioness, down but not out.

The injection had been given, and she had not even felt the prick. Arnav sighed in relief.

Left to rest for a while before going home, Khushi tried to remove her bangles with shaky fingers. Arnav sat by her, and slowly took each bangle off her, asking her frequently if he was hurting her. She looked at his serious face with rapt eyes, and felt him lift her against him so that he could remove her necklace. He looked at her lying against his chest, eyes half-closed, as peaceful as a baby, full of trust in him.

Yes, he had a heart. He wished he didn't. It hurt so much. Drawing each breath was painful.

"Khushi...", he wanted to apologise, as though he had caused all this pain. If only he could bear it for her, he would...

"Tomorrow, I will come to meet you... You can think and decide what you want me to do...", she mumbled.

"Khushi...", he felt as though a fist was choking his heart.

"I am feeling sleepy... aap hamein maaf kijiyega...can't talk anymore...too tired..."

Arnav looked at the doll-like face that was dearer to him than any other sight on earth, and swallowed.

He slowly lowered her on to the bed, only to find that she had a firm clutch on his jacket.

He sat the whole night by her side, watching her sleep, holding her hand, covering her with the blanket, gently touching her soft cheek with his fingers...

"My Laad Governor...", she smiled, deep in sleep.