Warrior - Chapter Forty One

Where... where am I?

Wandering around, all I see is bright colorful circles, illuminating around me to the point where I can barely see a thing.

What are these? Where am I? What are these circles? They're too bright!

Bringing my arm over my eyes, I tried to get away from the lights, not even sure of what was ahead of me. However, no matter where I went, the lights only continued. It felt as if someone had taken sequins and grew them into jumbo-size lights and put them all over the place!

Get me the fuck outta here! What the fuck is this-?!

Immediately, everything went dark. Now even if I wanted to see something, I couldn't. I couldn't even see my own hands!

What's going on?

Suddenly the sound of footsteps echoed from behind me. Turning around, I tried to see if I could see anything, but it just wasn't possible, only the sound of footsteps echoing. With each step, it slowly grew louder and louder, and my heart started thumping more and more.

Wait a minute! Is it... no, no please no, not again! Please-!

The footsteps got even louder and oddly enough, a hint of light returned. But it wasn't one of the bright circles from before, but rather enough lighting from the floor to show footsteps. I could see clearly that the footsteps were coming my way, and with each step it took, it got brighter. The more it walked towards me, the more it was revealed, and the darkness around us started to fade, giving way to light. It was only several feet away from me, when I was finally able to understand who it was.

Arnav?

As soon his name escaped my lips, the darkness fully evaded, revealing him and filling the room with light. However, unlike before, where it was just too much, this time it was just right. Arnav came forward with that small, polite smile of his and relief spread through me. Without a thought, I charged at him and threw my arms around him, Arnav wrapping his arm around my waist as he placed his other hand at my head. I could feel the warmth of the colorful lights return and I peeked out to see them. Unlike before, they weren't overly bright.

They were perfect.

~

My eyes sprang open, the ceiling looking down at me.

It was all a- wait!

Moving my blanket aside, I crawled over to the end of the bed on all fours, and found Arnav asleep on the floor on his makeshift bed. 

Hmm... he looks so at peace.

Tilting my head, I watched him for a moment, breathing in and out at a steady pace. Suddenly the way he had held me in the dream, came to mind.

How odd.... But how did he manage to hold me the same way as the-?

Images of the nightmare quickly came to mind and a horrible shudder ran through my body. Without a thought, I climbed off the bed and dashed to Arnav's side, holding him.

"Mm... what the...? Khushi," Arnav murmured in his sleep.

My grip on him only tightened, trying to get monster out of my mind.

Go away! Go away!! Go away!!!

"You're safe," he murmured, and he moved his arm over me.

The vision immediately went away and I found myself staring at Arnav. He was still clearly asleep, that much was obvious. And yet his words....

I'm safe.

Relief spread through me and I allowed myself to relax, fading into sleep without even realizing it.

*~*

My eyes sprang open, the ceiling looking down at me.

Wait, what-?

Sitting up in my bed, I looked around the room. Arnav was nowhere in sight, but his pillow and covers were on the bed. However, unlike the other times I would spot his stuff, which would be at the corner of the bed, I find Arnav's pillow besides mine.

Huh?

Last night's events replayed in my mind, as well as the odd dream and what had happened afterwards.

Wait, so did it not happen? Was that also a part of the dream? A dream within a dream?

What the fuck?

That's it, I'm skipping the wine for the next few days!

Getting up out of bed, I got ready for the day, then headed downstairs. I spotted the clock as soon as I reached downstairs, and my eyes widened.

Is it seriously-?

"Well, look who decided to join us."

Turning around, I found Amma with her hands at her waist, frowning at me.

"Really Khushi? Waking up after one o'clock?"

What? It's not like I meant to.

Payal came walking in with a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting in hand. "Oh! Someone's ready for brunch," she squealed sarcastically.

I glared her down, but all baby sis did was smile.

"Oh relax Di," she waved. "You're home, not at your in-laws, who cares!"

Amma's head immediately turned to her. "Who cares? Who cares?! What if she wakes up late at her in laws! What will they think, what would Shaliniji say-!"

"Amma, chill out," I groaned. "They're not like that, they don't care."

"But-"

"Speaking of Shalini Singh Raizada, where's her son," I frowned.

He's nowhere in sight.

Amma scowled at me. "Khushi, that is your mother in-law you're talking about; don't call her by her name."

Yeah, yeah, whatever.

"Missing Jeeju already," Payal smirked, wagging her brows.

I glared her down once more but she only gave a toothy grin.

"Damadji is with your father, they went out for a walk," Amma said.

A look of disgust immediately spread across my face. "Ew! What did you just call him?"

"Amma, no," Payal frowned, shaking her head.

"What," Amma said innocently.

Eww, why is Amma calling Arnav that. Even with him she would call him by his name. Heck, she even called Arnav by his name before so what the fuck is up with this appropriate shit?

"That's so... tacky," Payal grimaced.

"For real," I agreed.

"Well I thought I'd try it," Amma said defensively. "It sounds sweet."

"No it does not," Payal and I said together.

Amma frowned at us.

"Call him by his name," Payal said. "Besides, do you want to just treat him as your son in-law? Or as an actual son?"

Amma looked over at me and I could see her emotions gloss over her eyes.

I swear, if she starts crying like an episode of a bullshit saas-bahu series, I'm gonna scream!

Reaching out, she caressed my cheek, smiling at me as she held herself together, before looking back at Payal. "Of course I want to treat him like a son. I want him to be a part of our family forever."

"Forever's a long time."

"I know."

"I was promised forever once before."

"I'm not him."

The memory flashed in my mind before I could even register it. I'm quickly snapped back to reality by Payal, who's tugging on my arm.

"You okay, Di?"

"Uh, yeah, just work stuff on my mind. Anyways, I'm hungry."

Releasing myself, I make my way to the kitchen and get something to eat. Once I'm seated with my bowl of cereal, last night's dream comes to mind.

I'm confused. Did I go to Arnav last night or not? I mean if I did, I wouldn't wake up in my own bed, but on the floor instead. So what- wait a minute, why would I even do that? I'm not the type to do that! Sure, I went to him after the last episode I had, but that's different, that was an episode; this was just a dream. ...so why- enough Khushi! Why are you letting such stupid things get to you? You've got loads of emails to check and you gotta call Ivy, so enough!

My brain be acting too foolish these days.