Fire,fireee' She shouted with all her strength. What's wrong with this Laad governer. Why isn't he doing something? 'What the'',what shall we do now?' He slammed on the door. 'Hari Prakaaash'..Om Prakaaash'.. what happened to all the Prakashs in the house'
But Hotel Delhi mein Bali was filled with music that no one heard their cries. Even Akash & Payal were too engrossed with themselves.
'Get water 'she shouted at him and ran towards the pool. He ran to the bathroom without seeing where she was going. 'No water in the bathroom. What's with the power cut and the water cut' he came out & growled. 'Are you stupid or what? Water!!!!' She pointed to the pool.
The fire was all over the Laptop desk. When he ran there she was already with a water bucket.
'Hari Prakaaash'..' he continued shouting praying at least one of the Prakashs passes through the door at that moment.
'Diii, diii'' she joined in. 'Don't call for Di like that. She'd get scared. She's not in the status to get shocked' he blasted on her. She protested 'We are going to get burnt alive in this and all you are concerned is'..'
'Yes..All my concern is my Di. More than my life. And definitely more than YOURS' he grabbed her arm and pushed her away. She was stunned. She couldn't believe that this the same man she thought she loved. The same man who came running all the way to the mandir to bandage her finger. The man who almost cried over her when he thought she'd been in an accident.
'Why?'she whispered with a tear rolling down her cheek. 'No Khushi. No more tears. I don't care whether he values my life or not. I do. For my Babuji.' She ran to the pool again. He got out from the frozen state he went by his own words to her, and ran after her.
He looked all over the place for a bucket or something to take water as she was carrying the only bucket. Nothing.
'Ammaaa' the deathly scream coming out of the room knocked his breath out. 'Khushi?' He literally dragged his legs towards the room.
She was down with her dupatta in fire. He couldn't see her hands which were struggling to tear off the thing from her salwar. She was screaming in pain. 'Khushi,Khsuhi'' He ran towards her. 'Don't come near. Aaahhh'..In a moment the fire would take over her whole dress. He didn't know what to do. He looked at the bucket. No there won't be enough time.
He lifted her with the fire and strode towards the pool. He did what he thought was the best. Dropped her to the pool. The fire went out in seconds and he couldn't bear what he saw. She was in the pool, without struggling to get out, without shouting him back, without even a sign of pain. Lifeless.
'And definitely more than yours'..more than yours'more than yours' his own words kept ringing in his ears making him feel nauseated. He lifted her from the shallow pool and laid her on the pool side.
Just then the whole Prakash clan and the Raizada clan lashed in through the door. They took charge and the fore was gone in minutes. 'Thank God. Only the desk got burnt' said Mamaji.
But he couldn't cry out loud saying, here, in the pool side, his life lied, burnt.
'Chotte'.Khushiji' Khushii'..' cried Anjali when she saw the picture in front of her. 'What happened? 'Someone call the doctor' she shouted to the crowd who were too stunned to react.
'Om Prakash..Bring the first aid box.. Maami take a towel from the Almaari.. Chotte..hold her hands above the body' Anjali was giving instructions as he slowly held her hands and raised with his shaking hands.
'Dii..I told her that her life has no value for me.. Dii..I told her that' he murmered, tears streaking down his face. Anjali checked her pulse. Only the hands have been burnt badly. She looked through the torn clothes. No sign of burning on the body. 'It's ok Chote..She'll be fine' Anjali consoled her grief-stricken brother. 'They are minor burns. I think she has fallen unconscious because of the shock'
'Khushi..Khushiii' Payal ran in. She saw her lovely sister with torn clothes, soaked in water, burnt hands on the floor. She looked at him, who was staring at her with half dead eyes. 'What happened to my sister?' she shouted at him. Then he saw Shyam, looking at her sister with his creepy eyes. She ran in and took off the bed covers and went to the pool side to cover her body from the evil eyes.
'Payal ji'Let's cover from this.' Anjali soaked the huge bath towel from the pool and covered her. She took out gauze from the first aid box and covered her hands.
'I told you all to slow down with all the drama. See what has happened. You locked their doors, took their mobiles, switched off the lights'..' Shyam shouted feeling desperate over the state of the girl lying on the floor. 'But we were just'.'
'He's right Di. I could have lost her'. For the first time after the whole misunderstanding fiasco, he agreed with the creep. Shyam couldn't believe his ears. Payal caressesd her sister's face. 'Khushi..talk to me.. Khushi'
'Bauji'Jiji''she slowly moved her head. 'Khushi..Khushi. Are u alright?' Only that came to his mind as he was lost for words. He cupped her face. 'Khushi.. Doctor's on the way. You'll be fine. I promise' He whispered to her holding her face so close.
'A..Arnav j..ji'' She was still in pain. 'sshhh..Khushii' You'll be fine'. That's all he could say. You'll be fine.
'Your laptop' she whimpered. 'What? Khushi..Don't talk. It's alright' he was confused. What is she saying in a state like this?
'I just tried to save it from the fire. But it fell down. I didn't do it on purpose' she moaned desperately wth her eyes screaming out the pain she's in. 'I didn't mean to break it.. I didn't mean it' Pain took over the words.
He laid her head down which was held by Payal and stood up. Anjali took the pain relievers to give her. He went towards the wall and banged his fist on it saying 'I don't care Khushi.. Let all of it..all of them burn.. I don't care. As long as you are mine and you are here with me. I value your life dammit. I really do.. Burn me alive Khushi...For you are my fire'
