1: Aftermath
An air of melancholy seeped into the air of the Raizada mansion. In a few minutes their pillar of joy, Anjali, had crumbled into a sobbing mess. Her marriage, belief, love and trust had been tested.
And joy’s namesake, Khushi, wandered in the halls in the lonely night - hoping to find solace.
The revelation had gone terribly wrong. Anjali’s fragile mind and body had been unable to cope with the truths she had been gaslighted against. Khushi had learnt, in the worst way possible, that intentions had no place nor merit against consequences.
Khushi leaned against the door to Nani’s bedroom, her legs heavy and head throbbing from the recent events.
Forced Marriage. Mistrust. Kidnapping. Love. Rescue. Revelation. Aftermath.
Things should have been better.
Except Shyam’s sudden expulsion had only led to a poisonous, permanent scar that damaged and questioned all relationships.
A nervous shiver ran up her spine. Did the rest of the family believe Shyam’s version of events? Or worse, believe she could have avoided the pain caused to Anjali if she had only told the truth?
But would anyone have believed her then? Could Payal and Akash’s engagement have been salvaged from it?
A loud bang snapped Khushi out of her thoughts. A furious Akash left his room.
How does one ever know one’s making the right decision?
Her heart hurt. With a gentle push she entered Nani’s room, hoping for her guidance and strength. Nani was the first and only one to call her blameless and reach out to her post the revelation. The only one to believe in her intentions.
And it had been so long since she’d slept on someone’s lap and cried her heart out.
—
Devyani hummed the last of an old lullaby, patting an exhausted Anjali to sleep. Had she been a bit younger, anger and shock would have ruled her. But after the death of her daughter, Devyani could only feel horror and recollection of the past.
The past that made her too agreeable to the first man who could win her dear Anjali’s heart, or heap unassuming, traditional prospective brides on her grandson.
The past she had accused her grandson of not moving on from.
Hypocrite.
On seeing the shadow of the angel faced bride of her Chotey, Devyani allowed a single, unkind thought to possess her.
She didn’t deserve to be near Anjali.
And before Devyani could reign her mind, her hand stopped Khushi from entering the room, and her heart.
—
Khushi headed towards the steps, her feet numb and head swimming with Nani’s quick apology and request.
Stay away from Anjali.
Please.
The more she sees you, the more she’ll remember.
The words stung like the slap her mother gave her on the wedding day. She deserved it, but it hurt nonetheless. Arnav sat on the steps, his own brow furrowed in deep thought. Nani’s words had pricked him, but he knew better. He knew, and believed, that Khushi was not at fault.
Her feet gave way and she sat by Arnav, quaking in fear and uncertainty.
And he banished her fears with a tired smile and an offer of his shoulder.
She didn’t remember when she reached their bed, but the fleeting kiss on her forehead and the warmth of his hand in hers gave her the hope that she wasn’t alone.
And she could lighten her burden of guilt.
As long as he was there.
—
Time and normalcy would heal all wounds. While everyone catered to Anjali, Khushi catered to the family.
Nani received her daily medication for arthritis. Akash and Payal’s breakfast was sent to their room. The laundry delivery was looked after, so were all the other household chores.
The family could focus on Anjali, and help her heal - just as it should be. Payal shot her a concerned look on her way to Anjali’s room as Khushi lost her footing for a moment, her head dizzy.
Khushi gave Payal a reassuring smile. If her mental fatigue left her like this, one could only wonder how Anjali survived the night.
If anything, Arnav’s sweet smile and a breakfast sent by her Jiji gave Khushi the strength to trudge through the day.
She sat on a kitchen stool, weary, when she remembered it was a Tuesday. Her and Nani’s time to go to the temple.
—
“Sorry Khushi bhabi, Nani ji already left,” Hari Prakash informed Khushi.
“Kya, why didn’t you tell me? When did Nani-”
“What else do you expect Phati Sari?” Manorama sneered, ushering Hari Prakash away.
“I don’t understand Mami ji,” Khushi looked at her, balking at the hatred in Manorama’s eyes.
“Spelling karke de kya? Sasuma isn’t a fool to take the reason for Anjali’s devastation to the temple when she’s trying to pray for Anjali bitiya,” Manorama seethed. The gall of the girl to think she’d go on a sunny walk with Sasumaa to the temple when everyone had barely slept a wink!
“Nahi Mamiji! I didn’t mean any of this-” Khushi reached for her hand but Manorama stepped back, nearly shoving Khushi aside.
“Shut up! You Gupta sisters did this on purpose. You both trapped our sons and ruined Anjali’s life!” Manorama cried.
“No Mami ji, why would Jiji and I do it? We just wanted to save Di from suffering,” Khushi choked, her own reasonings hollow to her ears. Manorama, despite her anger, couldn’t argue with that one statement. Khushi and Payal, truly, had nothing to gain from Anjali’s pain.
“And that man was truly a devil, he…” Khushi shivered as memories of Shyam’s harassment assaulted her.
“Then why did you stick around him?” Manorama snapped.
“To find Arnav ji! You know that, don’t you?” Khushi pleaded. Manorama had to know the truth. She certainly didn’t believe Khushi willingly spent time with her assaulter. Did she?
“Mami-”
Manorama huffed and walked away, leaving Khushi to her questions.
—
Khushi had only meant to help Anjali. And the unborn child. Nani was in the temple, Mami wouldn’t speak to her and Payal was troubled.
It was only a morsel of food and a few words of empathy.
To the woman who had made Khushi a Raizada. To the only person who took every effort, despite the family’s shared anger, to restore Khushi’s honor by granting her the rituals of a new bride.
Her best friend, her new sister.
Di.
It never registered with Khushi that Anjali would leave to abort her child. Nani’s disappointment and Mami’s scolding terrified her.
Payal was strung, pulled in two opposite directions when Arnav rushed in with an unconscious Anjali, and Khushi slumped on the sofa, white as a ghost.
With so many hurt, who could she help? Who should she help?
—
“You are the biggest mistake of my life Khushi Kumari Gupta,” Khushi hitched at the use of her maiden name, and his claim.
“I wish I never met you,” Arnav snarled, leaving her alone by the poolside.
Breaking her heart and taking her only hope away.
Khushi had no more tears left to cry.
—
“What happened, where are you going?” Akash asked, several hours later.
“Woh, I was thinking I should check up on Khushi. Especially since what’s been happening since this morning-”
“-and do you even know who has been suffering since this morning?” Payal bristled at his tone. Akash stared at his wife in wonder, was his mother right? Did neither of the sisters get the magnitude of their actions!?
Payal couldn’t collect her wits. How could she make him understand that Khushi had been suffering as well? She’d seen it in her little sister’s scars and terrified eyes.
She didn’t even get a chance to ask how she and Arnav had survived the kidnapping.
“You want to check on Khushi?” Akash scoffed, “Do you have any idea about Di’s state?”
“Akash I didn’t mean that. Di means just as much,” but there is no one for Khushi.
“Payal, you aren’t just Khushi’s sister. You are the daughter in law of this house. And your duties as a bahu outweighs those of a sister.” Payal stood rooted to her spot, unable to defend, unable to believe everything her husband of six months said.
“Or perhaps you don’t feel thinking or caring for Di is a part of your responsibility.” Akash stormed out of the room without a second glance.
—
After half an hour Payal mustered enough strength to go to Khushi’s room, despite Akash’s hostility. What she found was not her sister.
Pale and and delirious, Khushi shoved her clothes into her duffle bag, careless about the ripped gota and pom poms. Her hands and feet were unsteady, unable to hold on to all the clothes her thin arms carried.
“Khushi?” Khushi stopped at the gentle touch of her sister.
“Jiji, I have to leave. I… I am the cause of Di’s pain. I should have never listened to Amma, I should’ve told him the truth when time came. I… what was I thinking?!”
Payal engulfed Khushi into a hug, shushing her cries. In few, incoherent words Khushi told the truth.
The will, Arnav’s kidnapping, Mami and NK’s aid, NK discovering the whole truth, Shyam’s attempt on both of their lives, their eventual rescue.
“Khushi, you and Arnav ji haven’t visited a doctor yet?” Payal exclaimed, checking Khushi’s scars.
“Nothing happened to us Jiji, I don’t need a doctor. Par Di, I didn’t know she’ll end-”
“Khushi, no, you and Arnav ji will head to a hospital-”
“-Bhai,” Akash stepped in the room, with no effort to hide his disappointment, “Payal, of course, you’re here. Di got up. I don’t know where’s her medication is and she needed food-”
“Hum abhi-”
“No it’s ok, talk to your sister, I’ll figure everything out.” Akash stepped out, leaving Payal torn. Which sister should she attend to?
Payal didn’t have to decide. Khushi ushered her out, after a promise to head to the doctor. In her heart Payal knew that Khushi hadn’t told her one thing.
Arnav’s reaction to Anjali’s abortion attempt.
—
Khushi could barely stand on her two feet, her world turning before her every second. At one moment Arnav claimed that he didn’t mean anything he had said before, in another he reduced their marriage to the contract he forcibly bound her to.
What did he not mean? If every word of what he said is not what he meant, then was his current threat of their contract marriage also not true? Or the whisper of an “I Love you” over the phone?
Arnav turned around, unable to meet Khushi’s eyes. He could no longer lie to her.
And she would not stop at his plea.
He’d make up for every injury up, every pain. He just needed time. And if it was necessary to hurt her to get her to stay back, he would do so. If he needed to confirm that their marriage, and everything in between, was nothing more than a contract… he would do so.
He could not afford to lose her.
“If I leave… drag me to court? Police? Jail?”
“I’d do what I promised,” Arnav swallowed, unable to hold his shame in his lie, “Separate Akash and Payal.” Stealing his resolve, he said, “By now you know-”
Thump.
He turned and lost his footing. Dread stole his voice and clutched his heart in a vice grip.
A silent scream left his mouth.
Khushi lay on the floor, motionless.
—
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