Chapter 11

It had been two days since Khushi had been to RM and she had had the “confrontation” with Arnav, if she could call it that. They had mutually decided that today they would tell his family their decision. She was sitting on her bed bracing herself for the reaction of his family because she had know them long to get to know what they were like. “You ready?” Karan asked leaning against her bedroom door. She took a deep breath and looked at him. “If I said yes I have to be. Don’t I?” she asked looking away from him. Karan sat down beside her on the bed. “There’s something that’s been bugging me since that day Khushi,” Karan said deep in thought. “What is it?” Khushi asked concerned turning towards him. “After everything you told me, after everything you said he did or tried to do to you... why did you say yes?” he asked looking for some emotion, some reaction in her face, anything but there was nothing. Khushi stood up and walked to the window across her bed. “He needs to know what it feels like. He needs to know how easy it is to destroy someone. He needs to know what I went through because of him. I’m not the same Khushi he knew a year ago Karan. Whether he knows that or not is his problem. All that matters to me is that Arnav Singh Raizada has hell to pay... and the time has come,” Khushi was emotionless when she spoke almost as if she was hell bent on destroying him. It didn’t go unnoticed by Karan and he was scared. Not for himself but rather for Arnav. The path Khushi was travelling was one of no return and from where he was standing it looked like she was going to take Arnav with her. He knew there was no point in trying to make Khushi understand. She was hurt, maybe even damaged and with her determination she was unstoppable. No one could reason with her. She had always been like that, even before she moved to Delhi but then her heart used to make her see reason. Now it was as if she didn’t have a heart. Karan could blame her. He knew how much she loved Arnav and he knew how much what he had done had hurt her. “I’ll wait for you in the car. Come down when you’re ready,” Karan said and made his way downstairs. Khushi grabbed her bag of the desk and shut the door on her way out. She got into the passenger seat, “Let’s go” she said.

 

Arnav had asked everyone to meet him in the living room because he had something important to discuss with them. As asked the Raizada family had assembled in the living room of Shantivan at one pm. Everyone was as curious as the next person because for the past year Arnav had been very secluded and isolated. He was hardly ever around his family and only spoke to them when it was absolutely necessary. The only people that ever had anymore contact with him was Sanjana and Anjali. After Khushi had walked out of Shantivan she had noticed how her brother had built up some sort of wall and that he wasn’t letting her in. Since their parents had passed away she had been a mother to him and that’s why when Shyam had accused Khushi of seducing him he couldn’t take it lightly even if he had feelings for her. Anjali had noticed since Aakash’s wedding how close they had become and knew that her brother was falling for Khushi but after speaking to him and hearing what he did she couldn’t believe it. She knew her husband would never hurt her but she also knew the kind of girl Khushi was and knew she would never be capable of committing such a heinous crime.  Seducing her brother that she might. But her husband, never.  Anjali didn’t know what it was but she had a weird feeling about what was going to happen.

 

Arnav walked in taking notice of who was there and who wasn’t. To his surprise his Shyam was actually there. Sanjana seemed to have disappeared in the time span of ten minutes but she knew everything so it was fine. The only reason he really wanted her there was to help him convince his family if needed but he doubted the occasion would arise. “I know you all want to know why I’ve called everyone here but the circumstances are such that should I go ahead without telling anyone there might be some problems,” Arnav said matter-of-factly. “But Arnav, what is so important that you’ve called us all here like this and that too on such short notice,” Anjali asked worriedly. Just then the door to Shantivan opened and Sanjana walked in followed by Khushi and Karan. Everyone stood up in shock as Khushi made her way to the living room. Their eyes were wide with surprise, more especially Shyam who had become scared recollecting the incident that happened a few days back. “Arnav... she...” Anjali said trailing off. Arnav looked at Khushi then his family, “This is the reason it was urgent. I wanted to tell you all that Khushi is back in Delhi and we’ve been meeting for a while. I also know that especially Di and Nani will not like what I’m going to say but I’m going to say it anyway. Khushi and I have decided that we want to get married.” He looked for a response but everyone seemed to have been paralysed from shock. “I know everyone doesn’t like this idea and is concerned about what happened but we’ve sorted it out between the two of us and it’s a mutual decision,” Arnav said looking at Anjali. Anjali had a strange feeling and wasn’t sure Arnav was telling the truth. She knew Khushi could never have done what she was accused of but she also knew what Arnav had done to her that day. She looked to Khushi for answers.

 

Khushi was waiting to see the reaction of his family more especially at Nani and Anjali but when she looked at Anjali she saw it in her eyes. She wanted to hear it from Khushi. Khushi knew that what she Arnav had decided was unorthodox. People didn’t do that so she at least owed it to Anjali to tell her. “Arnav is right. I met him at the fashion show a couple of weeks ago. I’m not doing it under any pressure or anything like that. We’ve sorted out our differences and we’ve decided to move on. Whatever happened is the past and shouldn’t affect the future. We’ve decided together that we want to get married but it’s not going to be big. We’ll get married in a temple with just immediate family present. Amma and Babuji are in London and I told them not to worry to come because they aren’t going to miss anything,” Khushi said trying to convince everyone. Anjali stood up and was about to walk towards them when Shyam stopped her, “Arnav, how could you do such thing even after knowing the truth, after knowing that she tried to break your sister’s home. You know very well what she is yet you’re still marrying her!” he burst out. Anjali opened her mouth but before she could say anything Arnav had jumped to Khushi’s defence. “Whatever you said was a misunderstanding on your part jeejaji. Khushi did no such thing,” Arnav said firmly. Arnav’s response made Anjali swell with pride. She knew he regretted what he had done and he was trying to make up for it. “Very well then,” Anjali said walking towards the Arnav and Khushi, “I guess we should start preparing for the wedding then.” She noticed something was wrong and turned to Khushi, “Is everything okay?” Khushi looked at her unsure of how to say it, “Uhm... actually Di, we want the wedding to happen as soon as possible. I was hoping tomorrow. I know you’re going to ask me about the mehendi and haldi but...” Khushi trailed off. Anjali noticed something different about Khushi. She changed. She wasn’t the same happy-go-lucky girl that had big dreams about her marriage anymore. “After everything that happened I can understand. Everything will happen as per your wishes,” she said looking from Khushi to Arnav. Khushi gave her small smile and was led away from the rest of the family to discuss with Nani and Anjali how she wanted the wedding to happen making it very clear that she didn’t want anything grand.

 

Once everyone had accepted that they had reconciled their differences and the wedding was going to happen Karan pulled Sanjana aside. “Arre... What happened?” she asked concerned. “I’m scared Sanjana. What Khushi’s doing...” Karan said trailing off. “What? What is she doing?” she asked urgently. “She only said yes because she wants to show him what he did to her. She wants to hurt him, they way she was hurt,” fear was evident in his voice, “She said he has hell to pay and know is the time.” Sanjana closed her eyes and took a deep breath, “I know she hates him but she doesn’t hate him that much Karan. If she tries to hurt him, damage him or ruin him she’s only going to hurt herself more. Yeah she’ll hurt him but she’s going to feel twice as much pain as she gives him. She hates him because of what he did not who is. She loves him more than her life. That’s why she tried hating him so much when she left here. That love that she feels for him is going to kill her if she even tries to destroy him.” Karan shook his head, “You’re talking about her heart. Her heart that would stop her. You weren’t with her as much as I was in Lucknow. She doesn’t have a heart anymore Sanju,” Karan said close to tears, “she doesn’t have one. It turned into nothing but stone the day she came to Lucknow. She doesn’t have any emotion, any feeling. She doesn’t care for anything or anyone.” Sanjana looked at Karan with red eyes, “I hope for her sake what you’re saying isn’t true Karan. Arnav’s my brother and I don’t want anyone to hurt him but I know what he did Khushi and he had no reason to. I guess only time will tell but I just don’t want to see either of them hurt again because I know that they won’t be able to bear it. Not the second time round.”

Chapter 10

Sanjana and Karan saw an enraged Arnav heading to where the other two were standing. It was clearly visible in eyes. He didn’t like what he saw and he was going to do something about it. How much of the whole confrontation Arnav had actually seen and heard was unknown to the two spectators. All they knew was that no one was prepared for what was going to happen next. Not even Sanjana.

 

“Arnav!” Exclaimed Shyam, “I’m so glad you are here. You will never believe what SHE is doing! She’s trying it all over again despite knowing what happened the last time she was so characterless.” Arnav looked at his brother-in-law seething with anger. “Didn’t you have somewhere to go?” Arnav asked through gritted teeth. Shyam looked at him slightly scared. “Yes, I was just leaving when she...” Arnav cut him off. “Then leave!” he said making his anger known. He looked at Khushi then at Shyam who was scurrying out the front door. He turned towards her looking her in the eye. “What the hell are you doing in my house? How did you even think of coming here?” Arnav bellowed. Khushi looked at Arnav in the eye a he shouted at her. When she had first seen him she wondered how much of her conversation with Shyam he had actually heard. From what she could see now it looked he was still under the misconception that everything was her fault. Had he not punished her enough already? That too for something she hadn’t done? Ignoring everything that had happened a few minutes ago and all the thoughts that were running through her mind when she first got there she glared at him as he shouted at her. “Excuse me Mr Arnav Singh Raizada but you have no right to speak to me like that. What I’m doing here and how the thought if even coming here crossed my mind has nothing to do with you,” she folded her arms across her chest. Arnav couldn’t believe what had just happened. SHE, a low class, third grade girl had the audacity to speak to him like that. Arnav opened his mouth to speak but before a single word could come out Khushi released more of her anger. “Before you start of another rant accusing me of more things that I’ve done I suggest you get your facts straight and think about what you heard two minutes ago before you open your mouth,” she said with a straight face. Anger was boiling inside Arnav. How did she manage to become so courageous? The whole point of what he had done when he found out was so that she would be scared and neve think of doing it again. Not get more brave and try something else! "How did you get so brave all of a sudden? You ran out of this same house eight months ago because you were scared so where did the courage come from?" He asked folding his arms across his chest. Khushi laughed, "Here I was thinking you're atleast intelligent enough to be a ble to answer that question but you just proved me wrong again." Khushi rolled her eyes. "Excuse me!" Scoffed Arnav. "You see Mr Raizada, the day I stepped out of this house and this city I died. YOU killed everything that was good about me, " she said accusingly, "I had nothing left. Nothing to live for. My sister was here. My family was here and I had to leave it all behind because I was accused of being characterless and almost got raped by a business tycoon." Arnav could see the tears that were starting to well up in her eyes. It was his biggest weakness and considering the relationship they had now he couldn't afford to care. "Your little life story doesn't bother me Miss Gupta. All I really care about is what you are doing here and why you were with my brother-in-law," he said emphasizing the last few words. "As I said earlier, it has nothing to do with you." Khushi said sternly. Arnav grabbed Khushi by the shoulders tightening his grip as he spoke, "Of course it does dammit! How much of that conversation I heard?" Khushi looked at him, her eyes wide.  "How much did of that did you hear?" She whispered. "Enough! Enough to know what to do!" He shouted.

 

"Ehem..." They heard someone clearing their throat trying to attract their attention. "Sorry to break up your lovers quarrel but I think we have something bigger to deal with." Sanjana said casually sitting on the stairs with a nervous Karan standing behind her. She got up and walked towards them with Karan trailing behind. At Sanjana's approach Arnav realised he was still holding Khushi and immediately released her from his grip and backed away. "Before you say anything Arnav just listen to me. I... We heard everything that just happened. You're so loud that your voice travels through the whole house. You made it clear to Khushi that you heard part of her conversation with Shyam but how much of it did you hear and PLEASE don't beat around the bush and just come straight out and say it." She glared at Arnav as she spoke. Arnav didn't have a choice and had to succumb to his sister because he knew that if need be she can become ASR or even worse. "All of it. From the beginning," he said in a monotone. "Well you must be having mixed feelings after hearing all of that," Sanjana smirked. She turned serious and turned to speak to Arnav directly, "You heard everything and you saw both their reactions to that situation," she said looking towards Khushi, who was looking at the ground feeling very anxious and nervous unaware of what was to come, "What do you think about the decision you made eight months ago? Do you still think you were right and whatever you did was best for Di?" Sanjana looked at her brother as she asked him softly. " He looked at her and she saw a hint of guilt in his eyes. He didn't need to say anything. His eyes said it all. Sanjana immediately understood and turned towards Khushi who was looking at Arnav and didn't seem to notice anyone else in the room. Sanjana smiled at the realization that there might be a chance her brother was going to try to rectify his mistake. She took Arnav's hand in hers and looked him in the eye, "The choice is yours Arnav. You decide what happens from here onwards and you know I'm with you no matter what. As long as you make the right decision." She pulled her brother in for an embrace and whispered, "I trust you with my life and I know you won't ruin anyone else's without cause." She pulled away and stood next to Karan watching her brother deep in thought about what to do next. She noticed Khushi stealing glances at Arnav not sure what decision he was going to make but scared that it would ruin her life, or what was left of it. Sanjana took a deep breath and held it.

 

The events of what happened eight months ago ran through Arnav's mind. He thought about what he'd done and how he he had hurt Khushi. It all made sense now. What she had told him in the room and what he heard now. Could he have been wrong? Was he wrong? A million questions ran through his head. Every moment he spent with her flashed before his eyes, regret flooding them. He should have listened, he should have stopped her. There were a lot of things he should have done but he didn’t. He wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. He lifted his gaze from the ground to Khushi only to be met by her own. He remembered the effect those hazel eyes had on him. It was his biggest weakness, unknown to everyone. For a few seconds he thought he saw her let it all go. Everything she had been through this past year. The pain, the hurt, the anger and the heartbreak. He knew what he wanted to do now. He turned to Sanjana and Karan, “I know what I want to do but I’m not going to force anyone into doing anything they don’t want to.” He looked at Khushi. “Let’s hear it. How do you plan on getting rid of this son of a ...” Sanjana said. Arnav stood in front of Khushi almost as if he was only speaking to her and not the others, “It’s Khushi he wants and it’s Khushi he won’t get,” he moved away from Khushi and stood in the middle of the room addressing all three of them, “I’ll marry Khushi. That way he won’t be able to do anything about it. He wouldn’t dare touch her if she was my wife, he’s not that brave.”

 

Khushi’s eyes were wide with shock. She couldn’t believe what he just said. He, Arnav Singh Raizada, was going to marry her so that Shyaam would stay away. Something she would have wanted him to do a year ago when all of this had happened he had only thought of now. She didn’t realize when Arnav made his way to her. She remembered everything he had done to her that day how he had killed her. He looked into her eyes and she could see the regret that flooded his. “I won’t do it against your will Khushi. I know how much hatred you must have bred for me within this year so I’ll only go ahead with it if you are willing. Once he confesses everything was his fault and he realises he made a mistake you’re free to go and no one will stop you,” he was sincere. She could hear it in his voice. She had nothing to live for anyway. What will she lose? She had no family, no love when she left so she couldn’t lose it now if she decided to marry him. If she married him at least Shyaam would stop chasing her as well. Right? It didn’t matter how sincere he was. She had let her guard down for a moment, but that was exactly what it was... a moment. Nothing could decrease the amount of hatred she had for him. If it became unbearable she could always leave. She’d do this for his sister because she had no part in anything that happened but for him... for him this would be punishment. He murdered her and she suffered for a year with no one’s shoulder to cry on, with no one to share her pain. She couldn’t burden her friends with it so she never told them but she had a feeling they figured it out along the way. Now it was his turn to feel how it’s like to be dead and living at the same time. “I’ll do it,” she said with a straight face.

 

Sanjana looked at Arnav then Khushi. There was something wrong and she could feel it. She knew Khushi and Khushi wouldn’t just agree like that. There had to be a catch but whatever happened now wasn’t in her hands. Whatever happened after this she has no say in. Whatever happens now is between the two of them.