The Wilted Rose: Chapter 4

Writer's Comments

Okay so this update is dedicated to Shraddha! Happy Be-lated birthday my dear!

Well sorry for the late update! I had a lot of loop-holes in my update when I was initially typing it. Well, if you find any, let me know!

Right - I hope you read my note here!

Note (Please read)

Love,

Mishty 

Chapter 4

“I am Arnav Singh Raizada! You are?” asked Arnav.

“Khushi Kumari Gupta, I guess, now as Rohan is not with me! Thank you for saving me, you didn't have to do that but you did! I owe you my life!” said Khushi.

“You don’t owe me anything! I just did what anyone would have done! Come, we must go back, the doctor has to finish your check-up!” said Arnav.

Khushi let him take her back to the hospital room. She bent her head down and apologised to the doctor for her appalling behavior and thanked him for saving her life. She went to sit down and let him do her check-up calmly.

After having that chat with her stranger, he didn't feel like a stranger anymore, more like her guardian angel. He was right, though. She couldn’t just waste her life. ‘Rohan’ wouldn’t want that either. He would want her to move on. After a while, the nurse came in and offered to give her a sponge bath, and some food, while Arnav one again stepped outside to give her the privacy she needed.

She wanted to stop him, tell him that it is not necessary, but somehow couldn’t formulate the words. He soon returned once again, inside the room. She was now on the bed, analyzing his moves.

“You are tired!” she said. It was a statement which they both knew was truth. They looked away from each other. She wanted to ask him, why is he still here, when he could have gone home. Arnav on the other hand knew that he had to tell khushi the truth before ETF team arrived.

“There are some facts you need to know Khushi!” he spoke slowly, annunciating each word clearly.

“This wasn't a plain robbery case!” said Arnav finally.

“A Robbery case?” asked Khushi, “This was never a robbery case! They wanted to rape me, when Rohan tried to protect me, then they killed him”, she blurted out with difficulty.

 At the same time the door burst open with the whole ETF team striding in confidently. Arnav stood up, ready to greet them, while Khushi stared at them all in surprise, while they were looking at her carefully.

“Who is this?” asked Khushi, looking a little confused at the 5 members, standing in front of her. She looked at Arnav with worry while he nodded re-assuring her that everything was okay.

A tall man stepped forward towards her bed, “Hi, I am Arjun Suryakanth Rawte, we are part of the Emergency Task Force (ETF), and this is our Chief Rathod. That is Riya, a research specialist. On the left is Shree, and that is Chotu.”

Riya stepped forward and stood next to her on the bed, “We found out about your husband’s death. I am sorry. We are here to help you. This is not a simple case. We need your help, Khushi!” said Riya.

“I am ready to help you, as much as I can, but can someone tell me what is going on? They were after me and Rohan tried to protect me!” said Khushi.

“Protect you?” asked Rathod, confused, “I thought this was a robbery case!”

“Ms. Khushi can you please tell us exactly what happened from the beginning!” said Arjun.

Then Khushi explained the happenings, how there were 6 men attacking them. Then Arjun filled her in about the stolen items, like jewellery but her anklet wasn't stolen. They were trying to make it seem like a robbery. When he finished reciting it, she had tears in her eyes. Riya noted all the points down. Riya then came forward and handed her a tissue.

“Khushi, it’s over. He is not here anymore. I can tell from your eyes how much you loved him, but please do not blame yourself. I know what one goes through when you see someone you love unconditionally die in front of you! The pain you go through is unexplainable. But please do not blame yourself. Your husband would not want you to live a life, blaming yourself, in depression. You need to move on!” said Riya. Arnav looked at Khushi, which was now in tears.

Although she was speaking to Khushi, trying to comfort her, she was looking at Arjun, while he looked away from her gaze.

Arjun’s wife was murdered in front of him, and he blamed himself, because he should have been able to save her. Riya shook her head; she could still remember when her father was shot in front of her. That was why she joined ETF in the first place, to get justice.

Someone did say it right. Only your close ones have the power to hurt you.

Love was a strange thing.

It could give you so much happiness at one point, but at another point there would only be despair.

Only darkness shadowing you.

Arjun looked at Khushi. Of course he knew what pain was. What she must be suffering, he knew exactly. He had been through it. He knew what Riya was implying but sometimes ignorance is bliss.

He once again looked at Rathod, and began discussing the case. Riya, Shree and Chotu were showing Khushi various pictures of what the killer could look like all their suspects.

“So Khushi, this is a complicated case. As Arnav pointed out, there was a motive. So your life is in danger. They haven’t yet found out though that your alive, otherwise the killer would have striked again. However your life is still in danger so the hospital door will still be guarded by a police member! He is standing outside. If you need anything, just ask him!” said Rathod.

“Is there anything else you can remember Khushi? Yaad karo Khushi!” said Arjun.

“They didn't need to stab me! They could have killed Rohan and left me! I guess they wanted to see pain in his eyes, but then again there was no need! When they finally left, one of the men called someone! I can’t seem to remember what they said!” replied Khushi.