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There was a commotion everywhere. People had started returning home after the red alert. Any time the old Mandir on the bank of river Gomti would be submerged. Even panditji had made up his mind to evacuate the Mandir. He came out and saw the couple on the ground in each other's arms under the lamppost. He felt disgusted. 

"The young generation, they just don't understand the sanctity of this sacred place! Look at them. The way they are entwined!" his anger mounting, he came down to reprimand them and send them away.

"They don't understand, the sacredness of this place. They are trying to convert this into a romantic place...!" his rage reached the peak as he reached the couple.

"Hello, get up! " bending down, he angrily shook Arnav and was shocked to see him unconscious. He tried to wake up Khushi in vain. He called for few more people and took the couple inside the temple. He sprinkled holy water (Tirth) on their faces to wake them up.
The crowd gathered around to look at the couple. Arnav gained consciousness but still felt dizzy. Panditji offered him prashaad. 

"Have prashad, you will feel better!" said panditji calmly. 

Khushi was still unconscious and Arnav held her in his arms. He tried to wake her up but she remained unconscious. Arnav's dizziness increased. He felt his head was spinning and the darkness engulfed him. 

A person came forward pushing the crowd aside and stared at the couple. 

"I know these two. I am related to them. I will take care!" he said looking at the unconscious couple, Arnav and Khushi. He requested the crowd to stand aside and said he will take them home. He went out to hire a vehicle to take them away, smirking secretly. No vehicle was ready to take any passenger. Everyone was in a hurry to back home, safe!

He dialed a number and asked the person to get the car for him, giving him his location. He waited outside the Mandir complex on the street, in the pouring rain with bated breath wondering about his fortune. He was after one and he got two. His smile broadened.
Arnav gained consciousness and looked around. He saw Khushi still in his arms. He looked pleadingly at Panditji.

"Bete, there is someone from your family. He just has gone to arrange for a vehicle to take you two home!" said the old panditji keeping his hand on Arnav's head. Arnav got confused.
"From my family?" he was puzzled but at the same time tried to wake up Khushi.

"Khushi... Khushi!" wake up. Someone gave him water. He splashed water on her face and she opened her eyes with a start.

"Arnav ji!" she said in a bear whisper chocking. Arnav stroked her back.

"Khushi... it’s ok! We both are alright!" he held her close. She looked around and on finding themselves in the Mandir, joined her hands for prayer.

"Khushi... are you ok?" asked Arnav concerned. She nodded.

"Bete, you got to vacate this place, the water lever is rising.. its pouring outside!" said panditji.
"Everyone is leaving now! You got to go! I feel, your relative could not get any vehicle to take you home.!" Said panditji in a worried tone. 

"We will manage! Thank you!" said Arnav helping Khushi to get up. He was still puzzled about who his relative could be..! They both came out of the Mandir helping and supporting each other, drenching in the outpouring rain. 

"Khushi, we got to go away from here! Can you wait here till I arrange a vehicle for us?" he asked her softly. She nodded and stood there resting her back on the pillar. Arnav went away. She was too exhausted both physically and mentally. Someone placed his hand on her shoulder and she shuddered with fright. She couldn't bear that touch. She felt a filth on her shoulder. She looked up to see who it was and screamed "YOU..?" she moved away from him with a jerk.
"Yes, its me! come on let us go HOME!" He said smirking. She pushed him and called out "Arnav ji!

"He must have gone by now!" he said smirking and leaned forward to hold her hand. She pushed him back and broke into run. She did not know in which direction she was running in that rain to save herself. She could hear footsteps following her. She knew he will catch her any time. She started descending the stairs... she found her feet into the water after descending a few steps and understood that she had no escape route left. She looked around. He had already reached her and holding her by shoulder was trying to drag her up. She turned around to face him and pushed him from the stairs down in the rising waters with all her might... 

"Khushi...!" she saw Arnav descending the stairs and she ran up to meet him. "I pushed him... I killed him!" she said resting herself in Arnav's arms. Arnav looked down in that darkness to find a person trying hard to hold on to the iron railing!

"Let us go Khushi!" said Arnav. He saw life guards moving to save the drowning man.
Someone was waiting at the top of the stairs giving them a supporting hand. The taxi driver held them by hands and pulled them up. They were moving away faster. 

"Bhaiyya ji, maine aap ko kahi dekha hai! I have seen you somewhere!" she said looking at the taxi driver in the rear view mirror of the taxi. He immediately turned his face.

"Shhh! Khushi! Its ok!" Arnav did not know how to react. He looked at the taxi driver embarrassed and pulled Khushi into his arms.

Their endurance was not over yet. The life guards had saved Sham and he was determined to go after them with all his vengeance. They had escaped from the death once again.

***** ******** ********

Arnav took her to the room. She stood there in the middle of the room completely drenched in water... in love. She looked around mesmerized. She tried to touch everything in that room. She was taking in the grandeur of the room. She looked at the door on the other side of the room and opened it. She was in the terrace on the top of the hotel. She looked at the fiercely roaring water of gomti river. The rain had subsided. She smiled at him and opened her arms. He came and hugged her tightly. 

"Now, do you agree, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada?" she asked in his ears. 

"Not yet! Khushi ….!" he whispered back. She broke away... and looked at him in shock.

"You still believe... this is all not real?" She looked hurt. He took her again in his arms and said
"No, Khushi! It's not like that... this is all beyond our imagination! We need answers!" he was trying to justify. She nodded in agreement. 

"Who will help us with our questions?" she asked looking into his eyes. They stood there in each other's arms staring at each other and their faces lit up brightly.

"Mummiji....!" They both said. He pulled out his mobile and saw it soaked in water. He looked at her hopelessly. She grinned and said "Let us go out and call from std booth!" He looked at her. "You called me from the std booth?" he asked her in amazement.

"I didn't have a phone!" she said grinning. He shook his head looking at her hopelessly and said "Khushi we can call from the room!" she looked at him sheepishly smiling at her stupidity.
"You are impossible!" he exclaimed. They came back to his room and he dialed Mummiji's number!

Khushi was shivering completely drenched. He came near her and touched her forehead. "Khushi, you have fever!" he said worriedly. 

"Come change into warm clothes!" he ordered her. She looked at him blankly. "Clothes? Where do I have clothes? You know, last three days I am wearing the same dress!" she said angrily. He paced backwards with mischief in his eyes, holding his nose. Her anger mounted and she came on to him. 

"Go, and wrap yourself with the bath robe!" he pushed her.
"Arnav ji!" she looked back to gauge him. 

"What?" he asked her concerned.

"I am hungry!" He gaped at her hopelessly and then nodded. She went into the bathroom and he called for room service.
…..

“Khushi….!” He wrapped his arms while she still was devouring the food.

“What?” she looked up with puffed cheeks.  “Nothing…!” he shook his head tightening his grip around her.  She pushed the plate aside.

“Humm…!” She sighed satisfyingly.  He smiled with happiness. 

“Arnav ji… Even if this is the end… I don’t mind ending my life like this, in your arms…!” Khushi said pulling Arnav closer.  The moment of the reunion was so overwhelming for her, that she threw herself in his embrace, kissing and caressing him.

“This is not the end, Khushi… This is the beginning… of togetherness… of our life… a new life…!” for the first time, he seemed to be vocal about his feelings…! 

Khushi woke up in the morning to find Arnav ready to go out!

"Khushi!" he sat on the bed keeping his hand on her forehead. You still have fever. I will go out, get you something to wear and we will go to the doctor.

"No! I want to go back!" she said adamantly. 

"Like this?" he removed blanket from her and looked at her bath robe.

"Noooo!" she screamed pulling it back on her. "I mean... no doctor, we will go back!" she clarified. He stared at her and went out without a word. 

***** ******** **********