Khushi herself was like a dead body when she was taken for her parents' last rites.
Devesh had held her all the while and did all the pujas. Devesh set fire to the pyres of her parents.
When she saw them burning Khushi started shouting.
"Nhi. Mumma! Papa! Roko isse!"
(No! Stop it!)
She started to run towards and Bhavna held her tightly in her arms.
"Nhi! Please! Let me go! Chhodo mujhe!"
(No! Let me go!)
Bhavn tried to hold her but she was uncontrollable. Adi held her and pulled her a little away.
"Adi! Adi! Mumma! Papa! Wo-"
(They-)
He cupped her face wiping her tears.
"Shh! Look at me! Mai hoon! Hum sab hai! Please sambhal khudko Khushi! Please meri jaan".
(I am here! We all are! Please control yourself!)
The 15 year old boy was so scared for his best friend. He hugged her close to his heart and she sobbed continuously.
He felt her sobs stop and her body go limp. He pulled away and looked at her face.
She had fainted again. He called for his mother and they took her home and slept for 5 hours straight.
The next morning they met her doctor and told her the entire situation.
"If this goes on then she might either go into depression or become suicidal."
"Suicidal?"
Bhavna was scared. The doctor nodded and continued. Adi was standing at a corner.
"She is suffering from PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder. Just like you told me Mrs. Singhania that she is having nightmares. The symptoms are clear."
"What can we do?"
Devesh asked.
"You have to make sure that she is not left alone even for a moment. Make sure she is happy. Make sure she is loved. And most important make her believe that she is not alone. And yes don't let her sleep too much in the day. This should not become her escape route."
Adi knew what he has to do. They reached home and he immediately went to his mother's room where she has been sleeping from the past two days.
She was still sleeping when he went inside. He immediately woke her up. She opened her eyes groggily and looked at him.
"Mai so rhi thi Adi."
(I was sleeping Adi.)
"I know. Lekin mujhe movie dekhni hai. Come let's watch a movie."
(But i want to watch a movie.)
She looked at him and her eyes slowly started pooling with tears. He sighed and held her close to his heart as she sobbed in his chest.
He let her cry for time and then pulled back and cupped her cheek.
"Jo huya hum usse nhi badal skte Khushi. I can't take your pain away. Lekin i can help you move on and lessen the pain. We are with you Khushi. Hum sab hai tere paas. Please tu khudko iss tarah maar mat."
(We can't change what happened. We all are with you. Please don't kill yourself like this.)
He kept his forehead over hers and she sniffed.
After a few months she felt bad for disturbing Bhavna and Devesh and so she said that she could sleep in another room. Bhavna was reluctant was agreed because of Adi.
Since then every night Adi slept in her room and helped her during her nightmares.
It took her about an year to become happy and cheerful and normal again but her nightmares did not go.
In the beginning she used to wake up and cry due to her nightmares but slowly they started to end as dreams only.
Khushi was in tears as she was remembering everything. Adi came in to ask her down for breakfast. She quickly wiped her tears and he sighed and pulled her in his arms.
Her heart started beating loudly. She was afraid he might hear it. He caressed her hair and back and kissed her head.
She loved how he had never left her alone ever. Whenever she needed him he was miraculously always present there.
Even on their death anniversary she used to visit the temple and sit there for hours and then visit the driver's family. The driver too had died in the accident.
She gave them a good amount of money so that the old lady who had a cute 13 year daughter can live their lives in peace.
He used to accompany her at both the places. She had started developing a crush on him when they turned 13 but did not say anything afraid of losing his friendship too.
But after the accident how he always held her took her heart. She started to fall in love with him. And the love has only grown stronger with time.
But she was scared. Scared to confess.
'What if something happens to him too? I don't want to lose another and the only family I have now.'
And so she buried her feelings deep in her heart. She remembered another incident that happened a few weeks ago.
They were watching movie in her room sitting besides each other.
Adi put his head on her shoulder. She smiled and put her head over his. She felt him place a kiss on her neck and her breath hitched.
"Khushu i want to say something."
She froze. No! She got up abruptly and went out to the balcony leaving him confused. He followed her and looked at her while she continued to look ahead.
"Kya hua?"
(What happened?)
"I just needed some air."
"I am sorry if i made you uncomfortable-"
"Adi! Tu mera best friend hai. Mera best buddy. You can never make me uncomfortable. I just wanted some air. I am fine. I swear."
(You are my best friend. My best buddy.)
His face fell hearing her. She had very subtly denied his feelings. She hated the look on his face but she had to do this.
He nodded, kissed her head and went inside. A tear leaked her eyes. She loved him to death but she couldn't lose him. Her fear was eating her.
She knew that if he got to know about her true feelings he would never let her go.
In the evening she was going through her pictures with her parents when she remembered a quote she read somewhere.
Mohabbat aur maut ki pasand toh dekhiye Ek ko dil chahiye aur dusre ko dhadkan
The door opened and Adi came in. They spent some time working on the plans which effectively took her mind off the topic. ************************************** Please do leave your comments.
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