Chapter 3

  [MEMBERSONLY]                              

                    It was the last day of the pooja in Raizada Mansion for the deceased daughter and son-in-law of the Raizadas. At night time like last two weeks, Nani was under sedation to keep her blood pressure and heart issues in check amidst the tragedy, Arnav was at the poolside staring blankly into his laptop and Khushi was trying her level best to put the 6 month old twins to sleep in their nursery. 

                    Khushi Jha, earlier Khushi Gupta, was Shyam Jha's adopted sister. They had no blood ties but were very close, with Shyam being the only happy and stable relationship in young Khushi's turbulent life.  She had met her Shyam Bhai in the bal niketan where she used to stay. Shyam was a lawyer by profession and bal niketan was one of his pro-bono clients. He was instantly impressed by 14 year old khushi. She was intelligent, warm and compassionate kid. Listening to her past story from the warden strengthened Shyam's resolve to make a difference in her life. He himself was an orphan but a well off one. His father had left him ample resources to fend for himself, study and induldge in vanities of life. But he chose to use that money as his income and devoted his time and eductaion in social service most of the times.

                  He could not adopt a girl child being a single man. So he did the next best thing. He sponsored Khushi. And not being able to adopt her never came in between the budding sibling love between the two. On her 17th birthday Khushi asked for an important gift from her Shaym bhai, permission to use his surname legally. She hated her surname. It reminded her of the bitter past which she was better without. Being a lawyer came in handy for Shyam to grant his sister's this wish. And by her 18th birthday, Anjali became the third member of Jha clan.

                  When Shaym had started dating Anjali, whom he had met at a party, Anjali had smilingly asked Khushi if she is okay with having a bhabhi. That was something nobody ever did for Khushi. Taking into account her wish. Asking her what she wants. Making her feel important. Making her feel accepted. She had fallen head over heels in love with Anjali then and there, probably more than Shyam. Life had started to look normal again. She had people to call her own. Not that she liked to bother them much, but still the feeling of belonging someplace was awesome, something she had never felt before. 

                 Khushi's biological mother Garima Gupta had died due to prolonged illness and abusive relationship. She was 8 years old at that time. Her father Shashi Gupta did not waste much time and gifted her a step mother within two months, Madhumati. Not that she was a loving woman, but she seemed to hate Khushi more than anything else. For two years the poor child tried to make herself invisible, tried to stay clear of her step mothers path as much as possible, comply to her whims and stay mum. But nothing helped. She was still an eye sore for her. For her father, she never existed.

                One day, over a minor mistake she was chucked out of the house. Her father did not interfere, neighbors did not want to interfere. Her distant mausi was called and she was handed over like a luggage. Next three years were the worst years of Khushi's life. She slaved, starved and was beaten. With no one to ask after her, the mausi, her mother in law and her daughter had a free rein over the poor child. It was during one such beating session, when someone informed the police. She was taken to bal niketan and there she had met Shyam bhai. 

             

              After her 18th birthday Khushi shifted to women's hostel and started supporting herself with part time jobs. Bhai and bhabhi offered her to stay with them at Shyam bhai's ancestral home, but she denied. Shyam bhai was still financing her education and she did not want to take any more advantage of her bhai and bhabhi's goodness. But she abundantly accepted their love, care and concern. In fact she lived for it.

                 Now with Shyam bhai and Anjali Bhabhi gone, she was again an orphan. She loved Adit and Adya to death, but she knew what their uncle Arnav Singh Raizada thinks of her. She will never be allowed in their life. He had always made it glaringly apparent that he did not welcome her into his Di's life either. Had it not been for Shyam bhai and Anjali bhabhi's love for her, he would have shown her the door as soon as bhabhi married bhai.  Right now he was in shock and in mourning. Once back to normal he will see to it that the down market girl does not take advantage of her acquaintance with the Raizada's. And no matter how much she wants or tries, she does not stand a fair chance in front of his opinion  of her.

It is not good to encourage the attachment of children with herself and then disappear one fine day. They should adjust with the nanny now. She was well trained and naniji is there to keep an eye, Khushi thought. Yes, she will take her leave tommorrow.