The Business Trip (Arshi FF)

Unexpected rendezvous

Left the hospital. Didn't want to wake you. Already settled the bill. Take care of yourself.

It was at this point that realisation dawned upon Arnav. Khushi had left. He knew she was upset but she left just like that? Without saying a word? Which couple didn't argue or have tiffs? How could she walk out like that?! Whilst he argued with himself, searching for the answers to his questions, a sudden thought caused the feeling of guilt to rush over him.

He began to imagine how Khushi must have felt, having woken up from her slumber to a note from him like that. He felt like he deserved an explanation from Khushi. In comparison, he had left her with nothing but a note before embarking on a 6 month trip abroad. He closed his eyes in frustration, realising the unimaginable hurt he had caused his wife through his lack of communication. Arnav began to wonder just how upset she must've been to walk away like that.

She might have been upset, but he wasn't one to give up so easy. Moreover, he was most worried about her health at this point. Less than 24 hours ago he had held her practically lifeless body in his hands, realising nothing was worth having without Khushi in his life. So that was precisely what he planned on doing. Getting his life back. He'd let her know that he screwed up, but he would never ever make the same mistake again.

He went back to the lounge and noted the address of the landlord from the bank statement. He had to triple check because the address was showing a 2 hour commute. Which corner of Delhi is this place in Khushi?!, he thought incredulously.

On the way to this place, where he fervently hoped to see Khushi, he checked his phone and saw a barrage of e-mails from his investors. They wanted to know why he wasn't answering his phone, whether he was dropping out of the project and what his date of return would be. He mindlessly scrolled through the e-mails, his mind on Khushi the entire time. He wanted to tell her that he would always be there. Even in times when it seemed like he wasn't. Right by her side. He was aware his words would hold little value at this point but he would do whatever he could to live by it.

As Arnav was making his way over to Khushi, or at least what he hoped would be her, Khushi was dealing with a conflict of her own. Her entire world had come crumbling down right in front of her and no amount of Netflix or Belgian Chocolate flavoured Ben & Jerry's could make her feel better. She went to her bag and pulled out the pictures she had been mailed.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get rid of that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Khushi had 101 thoughts running through her head at this point and each one made her feel sick with stress and anxiety. She had known she was sending him straight in to the lion's den, she just thought he was smart enough to not fall for it. Throughout their whole fight, despite maintaining a stoic silence and being severely disappointed at the treatment she was meted out, she had kept the faith in their love. Their relationship was the one thing that Khushi had belief in over all else. She had wanted him to succeed in all ventures in his life. She just hadn't realised she'd end up being the collateral damage in his mission for success.

Wasn't it strange that one person was both the cause and the cure for her pain? She thought back to earlier in the day as she left the hospital. Her foolish heart had made sure she visit her husband's room at the hospital before checking out. She had wanted to ask him why. Why did he make her fall in love with him, get married to him twice if he was going to treat her like this one day? Why had he come back now? She had all these questions for her Devi Maiyya, but not a single answer. She had gone back to their house after leaving the hospital. After grabbing a change of clothes, she had spotted those pictures again, alongside discarded flowers. Her favourite flowers. Almost mocking her. The one thing that could always bring a smile to her face, no longer brought her joy. She had picked them up and thrown them away in the garbage. As she recollected the day Arnav had left her a note with nothing else but his card details, she decided she would do the same too. She wasn't sure what she was hoping to gain from it, wondering if he would even care, but hoping maybe this would give him a glimpse in to what she had been through. As Khushi left, the only other thing she took with her were the mailed photographs and for a reason unknown to her, her framed wedding picture with Arnav.

As Khushi lay sitting in her new flat, feeling both physically and emotionally vulnerable, she began to doubt herself. Had she misread all the signals? Did he never actually love her the way she did him? By this time, Khushi had the worst migraine ever, soon realising she had forgotten to pick up her prescribed medication from the pharmacy. As Khushi began to question herself further, staring at the pictures in front of her, she hears the door bell. Quickly wiping her tears with her dupatta and stuffing the pictures back in her bag, she goes to check the door.

Once Arnav arrived in the area, he began to feel uneasy. There were mostly men living in the locality and he could easily spot drug gangs. He wouldn't allow Khushi to come here for a few hours to visit her friends if he knew, let alone rent out a place here! Once he reached the building, Arnav took a look around, wondering if he had got the right address. Whilst he hoped he had, given Khushi clearly had no intention of talking to him and picking up his calls, he also hoped she wasn't living in the dilapidated building. 5th floor. Of course, there was no lift. And what was that strange stench? As he walked up 10 flights of stairs to reach the 5th floor, he couldn't help but notice how the bannister looked like it was about to fall apart and how the wallpaper had been scraped off. There was no way in hell he was about to let her stay in this health hazard of a building, he thought.

Once Arnav finally made it up, his mind full of complaints, he rang the doorbell and waited in anticipation. While waiting, Arnav decided one thing. He would not leave before they had sorted out their issues, he thought with a resolve.

"Arnav Singh Raizada. What a pleasant surprise. Welcome.", greeted a sarcastic Karan.