Chapter Four

Nayan and Sumitra rushed Khushi to the hospital immediately. She was put into the ICU and the doctors worked away. Nayan called Gaurav, telling him of the accident, and Gaurav rushed to the hospital immediately. 

"How is she," Gaurav asked as he came running in.

"I-I-I," but Nayan couldn't speak. He broke down immediately and Sumitra went over to him, trying to calm him down, but she broke down as well.

Time passed away very slowly. From seconds to a minute, minutes to an hour, and an hour to hours. Gaurav had called Sameer and told him about the accident and his whole family came running in.

"How is she," Sameer asked as he and his family came in.

"We don't know," Gaurav said.

Sameer went over to Nayan and helped him to control himself.

"We have to stay strong," Sameer said, but Nayan couldn't keep himself stable.

Sumitra cried away and Mona tried to comfort her.

"Auntyji, please don't cry," Mona said, but it was no use.

*~*

It was late into the night, when Sameer got a call.

"Hello?" He paused and his eyes widened. "No, we're not at home. Actually..." and he told them the whole story. He told the person how they were here and everyone looked at him confused.

"Who was that," Gaurav asked as Sameer hung up.

Just as Sameer was about to reply, the light above the ICU turned off and the doctor came out.

"Doctor,” Nayan said as he rushed over to him. “How is she?"

"Is my daughter okay," Sumitra asked, tearing away.

"She's currently being prepared for her operation," the doctor said. "But there are some problems."

"What," Sameer said.

"What kinds of problems," Nayan asked.

Everyone closed in around the doctor and he spoke.

"Because the rods fell down directly onto her, she has been burned severely."

Everyone gasped and the doctor continued.

"They are really severe and deep. We'll start operating on her once my team and I have sorted things out. If all goes well, then within time she will heal physically, so long as she is treated well. But...."

"But what doctor," Abhay asked.

The doctor took a moment and hesitated, but he eventually spoke.

“Not only was her body harmed... but her face as well."

"What," Abhay questioned. 

"I'm sorry to say this to you, but the side of your fiance's face got burned in the accident."

Nayan and Sumitra couldn't believe what they were hearing, Sumtra gripping onto her husband for balance.

"No… that can’t be," Sumitra exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, but it’s the truth. However the burns on her faces aren't as deep as the ones on her body. As I said, if she treats it well, then it won't be a problem. In fact, once it's been healed, she can do plastic surgery, should she wish to."

Nayan and Sumitra broke down again and the doctor allowed them to see her, but from a far distance. They went in and their eyes widened from what the saw. One side of Khushi's face was burned, covered in gauze, the other side unharmed. Sumitra broke into tears while Nayan was still in shock.

The doctor placed a hand on Nayan's shoulder.

"Does she know," Nayan simply asked.

"Yes; as soon as she woke up we told her and... showed her, her reflection."

"How did she react?"

"She was upset and she cried, but she got herself together and accepted it."

They couldn't take it anymore and walked out. Sameer held onto Nayan, helping him and supporting him, while Mona comforted Sumitra. Nayan was still motionless and he kept thinking about his daughter and how beautiful she used to look. All the time, people would always tell him how Khushi was a sight to see and other comments alike. And now... and he broke down again.

"Nayan, please," Sameer said. "Don't worry about a thing."

"But what about the wedding-"

"Don't worry; this wedding will happen."

"No."

Everyone looked up at Abhay.

"Abhay what are you-"

"No dad, I can't marry her. I don't mean to be rude, but I'm not marrying her."

"Abhay!"

"Yelling at me isn't gonna change her face! I'm not marrying her and that's final! And if you don't like it, then oh well."

Sameer looked at him in disbelief and everyone couldn't believe what he said.

"Abhay," Aditya yelled. "Is this what you were taught-?"

"Bhaiya please. Lecturing me isn't gonna do anything," and he walked away.

"Abhay! Abhay!! Abhay-"

"Face it Bhaiya! Who in the world would ever want to marry her? Forget this world, no one in this universe will marry her," and he turned around to walk away but he stopped.

A man stood at the end of the hallway.

Abhay's eyes widened and so did the others' in his family. Nayan, Gaurav and Sumitra looked at the man curiously and wondered who he was.

The man walked towards them and stopped in front of Abhay.

Abhay couldn't believe it. "Arnav... is it really you?"

Arnav just looked at Abhay. "Yes, it’s me... why Bhaiya?"

What? Bhaiya? This is what was going through Nayan's and Sumitra's minds. Gaurav was puzzled at first, but then he recognized him.

"Who is that," Nayan asked Gaurav.

"That," Sameer began, "is my youngest son. Arnav."

Arnav looked at his father and went over to him. He reached down to his father's feet to receive his blessings. 

"How are you dad?"

"I've been better. How have you been? All these years you've been gone to New York... and you came on such a day," Sameer cracked.

"Dad, relax. Don't cry, please." He looked at Nayan. "You too, please, don't cry."

He turned his attention back to his father. "It's a good thing you told me everything on the phone. Otherwise I would've ended up going home and would've been worried. Now, this girl... you said her name was Khushi right?"

Sameer nodded and Arnav turned to the doctor, who was just coming out of Khushi's room.

"Doctor, this is my youngest son Arnav," Sameer said, as Arnav shook hands with the doctor.

"May I go in and see her," Arnav asked.

The doctor nodded and took him in. Everyone else was confused and just looked at Arnav as he disappeared inside the room. Arnav walked in, put on some scrubs, and the doctor took him to Khushi. Arnav simply looked at her. She looked calm as she rested, and he couldn't help but to get a strange feeling inside of him.

After a few moments, Arnav turned away. He looked down at the floor, lost in thought, and then looked back up at her. He made up a decision, straightened his spine, and left to rejoin everyone outside.

When Arnav came out the room, Sameer went up to him.

"Arnav-"

"Dad, I'll marry her."

"What?"

"I will to marry her."

"What are you saying," Nayan asked. Before he could continue, Arnav went over to him and held his hand.

"Please, I want to marry her."

"But why?"

"It's hard for me to explain, but I will marry her. Plus my father loves her as if she were his own, so in his honor and respect, I would like to marry her. But first, please ask her of what she feels."

Nayan simply nodded, still faded by his words, and Sumitra teared even more. Arnav didn't like it and he went over to her, kneeling down before her before he held her hands.

"Please, stop crying.," Arnav said softly.

He smiled softly and Sumitra hugged him.

"Thank you," she cried softly.

"I don't know what relation we have," he said, "but I feel like as if you could've been someone close of mine from another life."

This touched Sumitra's heart and she held onto him. Sameer's heart filled up from the sight. When Arnav was only a little boy, his mother had passed away, leaving him, Sameer, and his other two brothers. 

Nayan watched Arnav and decided that he would take Arnav's decision to mind, and that he would ask Khushi of her opinion. What will she say?