Thodi Si Bewafai Completed M

Chapter 4

Published On Monday,Dec 12, 2022 04:17 AM GMT-07:00

Khushi had just about finished clearing the kitchen and was turning off the lights when her cell phone rang.

‘Arnav’s dad’ the name flashed.

Taking a deep breath, she first went near their bedroom to ensure Arnav was sleeping, then softly closed the door and took the call. But the click of the door woke Arnav up from his sleep.

“Hello” she whispered, and Arnav frowned as who was she talking to in that low voice.

“Why did you return the cheque we sent Khushi?” Arnav’s dad asked in a stern, emotionless voice. The first thing a parent asked after his son was recently in an accident and still recovering! Khushi felt immense anger for this man.

“Why have you called?” she spoke while moving away from the door further into the hall, and that was the last line Arnav heard before it all became just whispering sounds…

“He needed your time, your care not your money, Mr. Raizada.”, she wanted to say but she kept it within herself. It was useless to talk sense into these people, she knew. Besides, she was cultured enough to not talk rudely to her elders, least her husband’s parent.

“Arnav wouldn’t like it. and we don’t need it either, we can manage.” She replied instead.

“What is for him to like it? I know the hospital bills must have been huge. And you guys had just bought that apartment, didn’t you? There is no way-“

“Mr. Raizada, I appreciate your help, but we don’t need it. thanks.” And before letting him complete, she cut the call. There was only so much she could tolerate from these so-called parents of Arnav. His dad was at least calling and, in a way, showing concern. His mom though, had sent flowers and a get well soon card!!! Of course, Khushi had not shown either of it to Arnav, she would do everything to protect him from his past… now, if only she could protect him from hers…

Flashback from 5 years ago:

It was her final year, in fact her graduation day. She was very excited for today. Her parents, her bhai were going to attend the ceremony and she was also planning to introduce Shaan to them.

Nishant had already completed his bachelor's degree a year ago, but he would still come to the campus to meet her, if anything, their relationship had only flourished more.

She had reached earlier than the time, her parents and Shyam bhai were going to come later. And as soon as she reached the campus, she spotted Shaan leaning on his bike, with a flower bouquet in his hands. She ran to him, and he got up to receive her in his arms.

"Congratulations Nishi! You made it huh?" he asked, and she giggled. He kissed her nose and gave her the flowers

"I am very excited for today Shaan."

"I know. I remember my graduation last year, it's a big day."

She nodded, linking her arms with his, and shyly added, "Yes, but today is special because I am planning to introduce you to maa-papa and bhai. they will be so happy. Of course, they don't know entire story but i think bhai has doubts...and-" she kept talking on n on, completely missing how his face had lost colors hearing her. He had not expected it, so soon.

He wasn't even earning yet, for Christ's sake! Although he liked Khushi, and she liked him, marriage was not an immediate thought on his mind and this "meeting the parents" was definitely scaring him. Years later, he would reflect on this as an extremely immature act by him. But the then 23-year-old Nishant did what he did...became a coward!

"Err, Nishi, I just remembered I have to file that application today, I have to run but I will be back in time for your felicitation, ok?" he said, excusing himself and Khushi agreed.

After the ceremony, as a beaming Khushi, walked up to her proud parents and brother, she was showered with innumerous hugs and kisses!

"We are so proud of you gudiya" shyam said and their parents only tearfully nodded, too overwhelmed to say anything.

Once the initial bubble of joy was faded, Khushi started searching for Shaan. When she couldn't find him, restlessly, she called his cell phone. He cut the call.

"What is it baccha?"

"Nothing bhai, I wanted to you to meet someone. I was looking for him." she said, her eyes running over the crowd.

"Him?" Shyam asked with a teasing smile

"Yeah." she absent mindedly replied and started looking through the crowd only to realize he had left. Literally.

She waited for his calls or messages for whole week, but he only kept replying saying he was busy with application process. She had started realizing he had left her. But brushing any negative thoughts aside, she wanted to give him a benefit of doubt. For the sake of those 2 years that they were together...

Shyam by then had realized what was the issue and as always, decided to do anything to make his baby sister happy

"Give me his address gudiya, I will go and get him for you. If needed, I'll beg him to accept you-"

"NO BHAI! You won't do any such thing. He is a closed chapter now." Khushi said with determination, wiping her tears.

In the intervening year, she did her best to forget her past. Nishant had totally ghosted her. From their common friends, she got to know that he had already left for Delhi for his master's degree.

And then, finally she decided to move on herself.

Nishant called her when he got to know about her wedding getting fixed

“how are you nishi?

“Why have you called Shaan? Why today after one whole year?”

“Because I heard you are getting married. It's not true, is it Nishi?" came his desperately pleading voice. But at this point, she was going to need beyond emotions, she needed commitment which he had never made...

"Why it would not be?" she asked, in a flat tone.

There was a brief silence after that. And then he said something that enraged her.

“Nothing. It’s my mistake that I thought you will wait." came his accusatory tone

“Wait for what shaan? And for how long?” she angrily asked

“*silence*” he had no answer.

Khushi took a deep breath, her decision only becoming firmer, this man was not worth her time or emotions. Definitely not love! In fact, thanks to him, she didn't trust that emotion now...

“Goodbye Nishant. And please don’t call me again.” saying so, she cut the call, never to think about him again.

If only she knew, he would be back one day, and bring a storm with him...

End of flashback

When Khushi entered their room, Arnav was awake. And apparently waiting for her to come back.

“Whose call was it?” he asked in a tone she didn’t like. But she decided to ignore it, as she went to the cupboard to take his night clothes for him to change.

“Did you take your medicines, Arnav? Here, let’s take that first and then I will help you change, ok?”

If anything, her patient tone, AND her avoiding answering him made him angrier,

Gritting his teeth, he threw the shirt away, “I asked you something Khushi. Who was on the call? Nishant?”

She felt tears spring in her eyes and did her best to not let them fall. He is weak, he is going through a lot, she reminded herself

“It was not him Arnav. Why would he call me?” she asked patiently

“You tell me. Why else did you need to take the call away from our room and whisper into the phone?” his bitter words were her undoing

“BECAUSE IT WAS YOUR DAD, Dammit! I didn’t want him to hurt you!” she shouted and immediately regretted as he visibly flinched, his face slowly lost colors.

His parents were his worst triggers, she knew that.

“Sh*t, Arnav, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to shout at you.” she said, going near him. But he just kept staring into nothing. Totally unresponsive.

She didn’t know how else to reach out to him, what else to do to get them both out of this impasse that their marriage had suddenly come to…she sat near him, cupping his pained face in her hands, she tried once again,

“Arnav, baby, please. Please trust me. It’s not like what you are thinking. Nishant is my past Arnav; I have nothing to do with him except him being your doctor. Please.” She broke out into cries and Arnav finally registered her words.

Seeing her tear-stricken face only made him feel like kicking himself.

WHY the F*ck were his emotions running so haywire? She is HIS, she is doing everything to protect him, in every way and he is only hurting her in return. Why?

He saw the woman, the only woman that ever mattered to him, sitting by his side, hiding her face in palms, and softly crying. He removed her hands, his own eyes heavy with tears at this point, and called out to her, “I am so sorry, Khushi. I trust you. I just don’t know what's gotten into me. I am sorry, jaan. But please don’t leave me.” he said, hugging her.

“I will never leave you.” she promised, caressing his back.

If only, she would keep that in future…because this was just the beginning of their test and only time would tell if they would indeed brave the storm or get lost into it…

Later that night, as Arnav was resting on his side of the bed, Khushi lying beside him, keeping a small distance so she doesn't hurt him, his mind went back to the days before their marriage and time after that.

Flashback from 4 years ago:

Arnav had been working with this company for 2 years now. And he had never been happier. Posted in Delhi, working at a reputed company and a big fat salary, he was proud of himself. Besides, he was staying with his college-best friend-Aman's house, Aman's family becoming Arnav's own. Even Aman's fiancé Anjali adored Arnav like her own brother. They all shared a lovely bond.

So, when he was promoted to a team-lead role AND asked to go to Mumbai office, Arnav wasn't too happy. But Aman and everyone else convinced him.

If only he knew, it was all his destiny so he could meet Khushi...

After moving to Mumbai, Arnav contacted his beloved teacher from his school-his only good memory from that otherwise sad place, Shashi sir. Least he had expected he was going to meet her. The love of his life.

When Arnav's parents' marriage fell apart due to their infidelity, he had sworn to be a one-woman man. And he had been so. Throughout his college years and later, he carefully and fiercely guarded his heart and himself for the ‘one’. None of the girls in his vicinity could get his attention any way. And when he saw her-shashi sir's daughter, he lost his heart to that girl. Khushi. His first and last.

It was a lucky co-incidence that when he went to take Shashi's blessings and meet him after 10 years of leaving school, Khushi was the one who opened the door to welcome him.

He didn't know what was about her that made his heart flutter, her doe shaped eyes, her flawless skin, her unparalleled beauty or her innocent smile? Maybe it was all, or maybe, the innocent smile took the prize. Her smile had power to bring much needed solace to his bruised heart...

So, when Shashi sir proposed the idea of their marriage a few weeks later, he didn't waste any time conveying he was ok with it. His only condition was, in place of his family, he had his best friend's family. Shashi had only warmly accepted that, never pushing him to ask to meet his 'real' parents. Unknown to Arnav, Shashi very well knew what kind of unfortunate parents this wonderful boy had had.

Khushi had been shy and reserved throughout their wedding. If people told him he was an introvert, she would give competition to him in that. Since he himself was a man of few words, he could understand her and never bothered her. He was oblivious to her emotional struggle in moving on from her so-called-relationship.

On their wedding day, she looked like a heavenly angel, and he couldn’t wait to start his married life, the day he had been waiting for.

But on the suhagraat bed, he sensed her hesitancy and that alarmed him. He assured her that this was his first time and she was the only woman in his life. Then, he asked her if there was something that she wanted to tell him or something for which she didn’t want to go ahead. And that was when she told him about Nishant. Her ex. She clearly told him that while she and Nishant were close, she had not crossed any barriers with him. She valued the sanctity of marriage so in a way, Arnav was her first too. She assured him, she was over Nishant, but he still felt insecure that her heart belonged to someone else before...

He still once again asked her same thing he did when he first met her, that was she really happy with this marriage? And like that time, she said yes. He then told her in no-nonsense tone, how he hated dishonesty and would never be disloyal to her and expects same from her. She looked scared then.

He had cursed himself for scaring his wife on their wedding night. And then told her to take it easy, he can wait.

They eventually got comfortable enough to cross the barriers, take the plunge and move ahead in their married life. Happily. Their togetherness even bore a fruit in the form of a beautiful child.

End of flashback

Arnav sighed.

"Khushi is with me, she is mine. So what if she has never proclaimed her love to me, so what if she had someone in her life before me, she is here now, her actions speak about her love, I don't need to worry." Repeating these reassurances to himself, Arnav drifted to sleep.

If only he knew, his insecurities and ghosts of their pasts were far bigger than these assurances...

--*--

A/N – By the end of this story if I can still have you not hate Khushi neither Arnav and understand their actions as normal humans, I’d have delivered my story!

I plan to write 2 more chapters before my year-end break but considering chapter #6 will be a crucial point of the story, I am contemplating next ones. Let's see. Pls keep your reviews coming, they are telling me if I am able to show you exactly what I want to. Thanks.