Accidentally In Love - Chapter 8

Accidentally In Love
An Arhi fanfiction
Song of the Chapter: Balam Pichkari - Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
(I just love the song LOL)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WvN2Zlck24

Arnav returned in record time with the jalebis, blazing through hospital staff and sprinting into the crowded hospital room inhabited by one Khushi Kumari Gupta. AKA the woman who was in tons of trouble when she got better. Didn't she know what she meant to him?! How dare she put herself in dangerous situations?!

Arnav sighed and locked eyes with Khushi's hazel ones. Shoving past NK, who was enthusiastically acting out Salman Khan's new trailer, he walked towards her bedside. 

"Yeh loh, tumhare liye. Tumhe Jalebiyan chahiye thi na? Here, for you. You wanted Jalebis right?" Arnav said lowly, holding out the paper bag full of the sweets to her.  Khushi stared at him in surprise for a long moment, her doe eyes blinking, before she slowly reached out a shaking hand and grasped the bag.

"Shukriya. Thank you. Aapko sach mein laane ki koi zaroorat nahin thi. You didn't really have to go and get them." 

"Nonsense," Arnav muttered gruffly, sitting down next to her and running a hand through his dark locks.  His gaze bored straight into hers, and for a moment it was as though it was only the two of them in the room. (Rabbbbbbbbaaaaaaaaaaaaa veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee) Khushi's eyes widened at the sheer overflow of emotion in Arnav's caramel gaze and remembered all of his mother's words. 

"Humare Chote aapko bohot pasand karte hain. Iss liye voh aapko apne pass nahin aane dete. My Arnav likes you a lot. That' s why he won't let you get too close." 

The moment ended with a bang, literally, as NK tripped over the post of Khushi's hospital bed and plummeted to the floor with a screech of 

"CATCH ME NANNAV!"  Arnav deftly maneuvered himself out of the way, smirking at NK's fate. 

"Haw! Nanheji! Aap teekh toh hain! Nanheji! Are you okay?" Khushi gasped, sitting up as far as she could in her hospital bed, leaning over slightly to check on NK, who was sprawled out over the floor. Akash and Arnav, who was snickering now, moved to help him up and Arnav's dark eyes fell on Khushi leaning over the bed to see the progress.

"Khushi!" he snapped sharply, and her eyes flew up to meet his. 

"Ji?" she asked meekly, surprised at his sudden anger. His eyes blazed and he looked as though he was going to tear down the warpath. 

"Tum- tumhara dimaag kharab hogaye hai kya? You- Are you crazy? Sit up straight! Kuch hojata toh! You could seriously hurt yourself! What if something happened!?" Arnav growled, surging forwards and correcting Khushi's posture immediately. 

"Pagal. Crazy." He muttered, straightening her bed sheets and fluffing her pillows, while she stared at him in shock, Di smiled softly, Akash full out laughed, and NK struggled to his feet. 

"Sorry Arnavji," Khushi muttered shamefaced, and Arnav nodded stiffly, staring down at her. 

"Don't do it again." He said gruffly, before turning around and catching the knowing gaze of his older sister. He cleared his throat awkwardly, and walked out, slamming into NK on the way, effectively sending him back to the ground with another screech of

"CATCH ME AKASH BHAI!" 

But once again...no one listened.
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Khushi felt flustered. There was no other word for it. Her entire family, and the Raizada family, were crowded all around her, some stroking her hair, some holding her hand, others massaging her legs, why on earth Buaji was doing this she had absolutely no idea, but Buaji's response to her inquiry had been the same as every other time and so she conceded.

Not my gif!

One of the most shocking however, had been Mamiji and her sudden feelings of kindness towards Khushi. 

"Uh Phatee- humra matbal hai Khussee....bitya," Mami forced the word out as though it pained her. "Ripped- I mean Khushi....dear, tum teekh toh ho naa. All ij wells no?" Khushi choked on the Jalebi she had been eating, Arnav had really gone and got the best ones, in utter shock, and coughed violently. Payal surged to her feet and the women gathered immediately began to offer her water and attempt to help her.  However, as though he had received an electric shock, Arnav sprinted in, shoved past everyone, gently shouldering Buaji, he didn't have a death wish, and began to gently, yet effectively thump Khushi on the back. 

"Pagal hogayi ho kya? Are you crazy?! Maine kaha tha na, be careful! Didn't I say it? Ab dekho- dhyaan se! Now look- careful!" His voice was deep and husky from lack of use, and Khushi blushed instinctively at the sound and his words. His large hands gently moved her into a laying down position and brushed an errant lock of hair out of her face. Their eyes met again for a moment and Khushi felt the thump of her heartbeat begin again.  (RABBBA VEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE)

"Ab Khushi ko aram ki zaroorat hai. Agar mere ilava kisi ko iss kamre mein rehna hai toh bilkul chup rehna padega. Sabh log samajhgaye? Now Khushi needs rest. If anyone, besides me, wants to stay in this room, then you'll have to remain absolutely quiet, understand?" Arnav said sternly and Buaji opened her mouth to argue, only to be hushed by everyone else.

"Ji bitwa, sabh samajhgaye. Yes, dear, we all understand." Garima said soothingly and Arnav nodded and claimed the chair immediately by Khushi's bedside and ordered her to sleep. She blinked at him for a moment, her mouth twisting into a pout, but when his stern expression never wavered, she sighed and closed her hazel eyes.  It didn't take Khushi long to fall into a deep sleep, the gentle rise and fall of her chest the only indication she was still alive. Arnav continued to gently stroke her hair, his eyes transfixed on her face, never moving away for a moment. The others smiled softly as this unconscious show of affection and simply let him have his moment.

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Arnav felt as though his heart had finally found a steady rhythm, the bubble of panic that had been rising within him had finally burst, and he could find peace. 

Khushi's expression was peaceful and she mumbled something in her sleep, grabbing his hand and tucking it under her face. Arnav let a soft smile grace his features, and for the first time actually let himself feel the acute relief he felt at having her alive and kind of well. Fuck. She was so battered though. All these wires and bandages. Everytime she would wince, his heart would break more. 

And as she turned in her sleep, gripping his hand tighter, and muttered his name under her breath, he promised her silently that he would always be there to catch her when she fell, take a bullet for her, give his own life for her. He would always protect her.