Chapter 10: Haan Main Jitni Martaba

He pulled her close and leaned forward his lips meeting hers. Khushi immediately responded kissing him back.

The next day Arnav hadn’t come to see Khushi and Khushi was a little disheartened. At six o’ clock the doorbell rang and Khushi answered the door. It was Arnav. “You ready?” he asked. Khushi nodded and shouted to Barun that she was leaving before grabbing her bag and heading out with Arnav. They drove to the arena and headed backstage where their costumes where waiting for them in their dressing rooms. Their rooms were across the hall from each other. Khushi had her hand on the door handle and was about to go in when she realized something very important, “Arnav,” she said turning around and catching his attention, “I don’t know what we’re singing,” she said panicking. Arnav smirked, “Every time I sang with you superstar we sang your type of songs so now we’re gonna rock it my style. Like a rock star with a little rock.” Khushi eyes almost popped out of their sockets. “Just feel the music love,” Arnav said before walking into the dressing room and closing the door behind him. Khushi was starting to hyperventilate. She didn’t speak to Arnav, she just spoke to ASR. She walked into her dressing room got dressed and went to the left wing of the stage. Arnav was already on stage and Khushi was getting nervous. The music started playing and Arnav joined in with his guitar. She noticed he had a mic attached to his ear. That meant he was going to play the whole song. He started singing while he was playing...

 

 Haan main jitni martaba

Tujhe hoon dekhta

Yeh lagta hai mujhe

Haan haan haan tujhe hi dekh ke

Meri saansein chalein

Bata doon main tujhe

Haan haan haan main jitni martaba

Tujhe hoon dekhta

Yeh lagta hai mujhe

Haan haan haan tujhe hi dekh ke

Meri saansein chalein

Bata doon main tujhe

Haan tu jeene ki wajah

Dikhe tu har jagah

Nazar jaaye jahan

Haan haan haan ke tere saath hi

Chalegi har ghadi

Yeh meri dastaan

Haan haan haan main jitni martaba

Tujhe hoon dekhta

Yeh lagta hai mujhe

Haan haan haan tujhe hi dekh ke

Meri saansein chalein

Bata doon main tujhe

 

The number of times I

Look at you

I feel that

Looking at you

I’m able to breathe

I’m telling you

The number of times I

Look at you

I feel that

Looking at you

I’m able to breathe

I’m telling you

You are my reason for living

I see you everywhere

Wherever my eyes are

Only with you

Will it move forward

This tale of mine

The number of times I

Look at you

I feel that

Looking at you

I’m able to breathe

I’m telling you

 

Khushi was smitten by the words Arnav was singing and was lost in them until he stopped singing and was playing along with the band. One of the guys handling the sound backstage handed Khushi a mic. She looked at him panicking praying to God. She didn’t know what to do. She could hear the crowd cheering for Arnav and didn’t want to disappoint them. Despite being a singer all these years she had never sung a rock song. Then she remembered what Arnav said, feel the music, she opened her eyes and saw Arnav smirking at her probably knowing she was panicking. Khushi nonchalantly sang as she walked on stage to the cheer and applause from the crowd taking Arnav by surprise...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haan kya galti hai meri

Jo baaton mein teri

Aa gaya aa gaya dil mera

Haan zamaana chod ke

Humesha ke liye

Ho gaya ho gaya dil tera

Haan tu mera pyaar hai

Mera dildaar hai

Tu mera hai jahaan

 

What is my mistake

If your talks

Is what my heart fell for

It left the world

Forever

And became your’s

You are my love

You are my sweetheart

You are my world

 

Arnav was stunned at Khushi singing. He knew she’d be able to do it but he didn’t realise she’d be better than him. He hadn’t given her any lyrics or even the tune. Khushi smirked at Arnav and with a naughty look in his eyes sang...

 

Haan haan haan

Yeh lamhe khaas hai

Jo hum tum paas hai

Nahin hai dooriyaan

Haan haan haan main jitni martaba

Tujhe hoon dekhta

Yeh lagta hai mujhe

Haan haan haan tujhe hi dekh ke

Meri saansein chalein

Bata doon main tujhe

 

Yes

These moments are special

When we are together

And there is no distance between us

The number of times I

Look at you

I feel that

Looking at you

I’m able to breathe

I’m telling you

 

Khushi walked towards him while he was playing, “Not the only rock star now are we,” she whispered in his ear with a mischievous grin. She stepped back, their eyes locked and she sang...

Haan nigaahon mein rahoon

Ya baahon mein rahoon

Main kabhi na kahin pe jaaun

Haan iraada hai mera

Yeh vaada hai mera

Na kabhi main tujhe tadpaaun

Haan tujhe main doon khushi

Tu meri hai zameen

Hai tu hi asmaan

 

I shall remain in your eyes

Or your arms

I will never go anywhere

It’s my intention

It’s my promise

To never torment you

I will give you happiness

You are my ground

As well as sky

 

Without breaking their eye lock Arnav continued singing...

 

 

 

Haan haan haan yeh meri zindagi

Hai tujh mein hai kahin

Hai jaana kahaan

Haan haan haan main jitni martaba

Tujhe hoon dekhta

Yeh lagta hai mujhe

Haan haan haan tujhe hi dekh ke

Meri saansein chalein

Bata doon main tujhe

Haan tu jeene ki wajah

Dikhe tu har jagah

Nazar jaaye jahan

Haan haan haan ke tere saath hi

Chalegi har ghadi

Yeh meri dastaan

Haan haan haan main jitni martaba

Tujhe hoon dekhta

Yeh lagta hai mujhe

Haan haan haan tujhe hi dekh ke

Meri saansein chalein

Bata doon main tujhe

 

My life is

Somewhere in you

Where else do I have to go

The number of times I

Look at you

I feel that

Looking at you

I’m able to breathe

I’m telling you

You are my reason for living

I see you everywhere

Wherever my eyes are

Only with you

Will it move forward

This tale of mine

The number of times I

Look at you

I feel that

Looking at you

I’m able to breathe

I’m telling you

 

Arnav stopped playing and there was soft music. He walked slowly towards Khushi letting his guitar hang by the strap around on his shoulder. He could see Khushi breathing heavily and could hear heartbeat racing. She tried stepping back but stopped herself realising she was on stage. Arnav was two steps away from Khushi when the music stopped and so did he. He sighed in defeat and turned to face the crowd. They bowed, thanked the audience and walked off. Khushi handed the mic to one of the people backstage and headed for her dressing room hoping Arnav was far behind and wouldn’t catch up with her. She stopped at her dressing room door and turned around to see Arnav heading towards her. She walked into her dressing room and locked the door behind her. She leaned against the door and placed her hand over heart where she could feel its rapid beating. She caught her breath and heard someone trying to open the door from the outside. “If you don’t want to let me in fine but you and I both know you’re gonna come out eventually Khushi,” Arnav said and Khushi could almost see him smirking. She heard him walk into his dressing room and close the door. She smiled and walked to the clothes rack to grab her clothes. She had been wearing jeans, boots and a biker jacket with a shirt underneath. There was no way she was going home like that. She also had to call for her gift.

 

Arnav chuckled at Khushi’s shyness and went to his dressing room. He closed the door behind him, put his guitar on the stand and took of his jacket. He was half through unbuttoning his shirt when he had a ‘watched’ feeling. He brushed it off thinking it was his imagination and carried on unbuttoning his shirt. “You should’ve locked the door you know. I’m sure ASR wouldn’t want anyone else seeing him shirtless,” Arnav heard a voice behind him and froze. He spun around and saw her sitting on the sofa in his dressing room. She had a peach mini dress on and was lounging on the couch. Arnav’s eyes popped out their sockets and he could feel his temper rising, “What the hell are you doing here Lavanya?” he asked irately. Lavanya stood up and walked towards Arnav, “I made mistake ASR and I realize that now. I shouldn’t have broken it off. Your dad is businessmen and didn’t let what happened between us affect his business but my dad couldn’t face him. I shouldn’t have left you. I shouldn’t have called off the wedding,” she said apologetically. Arnav couldn’t believe this. Just when everything was going fine and all was good in his life his past had made a u-turn and decided to come back. She was trying to get closer to him but he put he held out his hand to stop her, “Look. I don’t care what you’ve realized or what mistake you made or what you came back for. Whatever happened is done and dusted. I’ve moved on with my life and so should you. I don’t need you anymore. Yeah you hurt me but that was a long time ago. You don’t matter to me anymore.” Lavanya didn’t like what Arnav was saying and continued to be persistent, “But I love you ASR. How can that not matter to you?” Arnav laughed and he sounded almost evil, “It doesn’t. Because I love someone else. She’s everything to me and I don’t you need you getting in the way Lavanya,” Arnav warned her. Lavanya didn’t seem to be bothered, “Well you see ASR, I don’t really care. You were mine first and so mine you will be,” she said grabbing his collar and pulling him towards her. “Lavanya –” Arnav was cut off by something falling. They both turned to the door and saw her standing there. Khushi wanted to surprise Arnav so she got a bouquet of flowers and put them in a crystal vase. The vase was what Arnav and Lavanya heard. Khushi stood at the door teary eyed unable to bear seeing what was happening in front of her. Yes, she could have walked in and maybe has some misunderstanding but that’s really not what it looked like.

 

Khushi turned and ran out of the building towards the parking lot at the back. She didn’t know where to go. She could feel herself getting weak and couldn’t hold herself up anymore. She fell down on her knees between two cars in the lot and cried. Arnav had run after Khushi, his shirt half buttoned, but lost her outside in the car park. He raced between the rows of cars screaming for Khushi but couldn’t find her. Eventually he was going to give up when he had neared the last row of cars but saw a body lying on the ground. Arnav ran to the spot and saw Khushi lying on the ground unconscious.