Chapter 22

[NOCOPY]

A Twist of Events Ch. 20

The next morning, Arnav woke up and dressed impeccably. Today was the first day of mission Getting Khushi Back and he had to be prepared.

He set pillows around the sleeping Shaila, promising himself he would get a crib for her soon. He took the baby monitor and put it in his pocket. He walked out of the room in a gleeful mood, despite the little amount of sleep he had gotten these past nights. He made his way to everyone's rooms and called them each down for breakfast. He didn't know why he was doing this but somehow it felt as a sort of celebration for his realization last night. He wanted everyone to be together, he didn't want this dull life anymore.

He knocked on Akash and Payals door and called them down, and did the same with nani, mami and mama's room, and NK also. He then found himself standing in front of his Di's room. He slowly turned the knob to find it open. He opened the door and saw mother and daughter cuddled into each other peacefully on the bed. He walked closer until he could get a good look at Di's face. She looked paler, and slightly thinner. Dark circles had formed under her eyes. Arnav held back the urge to shout out in disgust at that vile man. The same man who his Di was crying for constantly. The same man who fathered his neice. His beloved little niece Amana. He looked at the cute, chubby little girl and rubbed the hair away from her face.

He lightly touched Anjali's shoulder and surprisingly, she woke up instantly.

"Chote..what are you doing here?" she croaked. He could tell by her voice, that she had cried non stop.

"Di...come down for breakfast today." He whispered.

"Im not hungry Chote" she said as she fixed her hand under her head. He held her other hand which rested on Amana's little back.

"Di...please...for me? For your chote?" he pleaded with his eyes. Anjali smiled tiredly and got up. She nodded. And after giving her a boyish grin, he too left the room.

As he went down for breakfast with Shaila walking beside him, holding onto the railing, he smiled seeing everyone down at the table talking lightly. He felt good. He felt as if things were getting back on track. He set Shaila in her baby chair next to Akhil and Amana. Khalid kaka tended to the kids, feeding them all at once. He sat down across his somber looking Di. She had a small, sad smile on her lips as she pretended to listen to the conversation between mamiji and Nani. Akash held a squirming Suhana in his arms as him, NK and mamaji talked about NK's new job offer. Arnav soon joined them.

As breakfast was being served by Payal and HP, a doorbell sounded and in entered...

Shyam Monohar Jha.

Anjali was the first one to stand up. Everyone else just stared in shock. She cried and laughed simultaneously in relief as she tried to run up to him and hug him. Amana clanged spoons together and squealed happily,

"dadaaa"

Shyam hugged the crying Anjali and then his daughter. He looked around the table at the shocked faces of all of them.

"Whats...whats going on? Rani..Rani Sahiba...why are you crying so much?" Shyam asked in confusion as Anjali hugged him fiercely.

Arnav stood up abruptly, anger boiling in his veins.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Arnav asked sternly

"What do you mean? I...Im home"

Before Arnav could reply, Anjali looked at her husband hopefully,

"You...you mean...your home?"

"Well ofcourse I am. I thought you would be happy since I only spent 3 days instead of the 3 months that I said. What happened was that for some reason, they closed the case"

Anjali clutched him and cried loudly.

"Where is Khushi?" Arnav said. Shyam faced him

"Saale Saab, how am I supposed to know? She is your wife, not mine."

"Shyam...stop lying and tell me where she is"

"Arey...I have just been in kerala these past 3 days...how am I supposed to know where Khushi is? Actually...what? Khushi is missing?"

"You...you mean...you don't know ..?" Anjali asked

"No...why would I?"

"OHH THANK GOD! THANK GOD!!! I..thought you were with Khushi these past few days...oh Gosh..I am so relieved." She said as she hugged him.

Arnav couldn't help but feel angry at his sister right now. She was so in caught up in worshipping Shyam that she basically disregarded his own wife's safety. Is that how little Khushi meant in this household?

Shyam peeled her off him,

"what?" he said in surprise..."you..you though Khushi was ...with me? What are you implying here...Anjali?"

"I...I...chotey told me that you and Khushi ran away together." Anjali said apologetically, looking at the floor in embarrassment.

Shyam looked incredulously at Arnav, then at Anjali,

"He-and you believed him???"

"Im..Im sorry...i...didn't know!"

Shyam walked up to Arnav.

"What the hell are you even trying to say Saale Saab? Why would I do such a thing?"

Arnav grabbed him by the collar, ignoring his sisters cries,

Khalid Kaka, smartly and quietly took the kids from there, so that they wouldn't have to witness what was to come.

"Don't you dare lie to me. Tell me...where is she? She was with you" Arnav sneered

Shyam released his collar from is hands,

"No...she wassn't. I don't know about your shameless wife, but I would never do that."

"SHUTUP!" Arnav shouted as he slapped him square in the face. Everyone gasped in shock. Arnav grabbed him by the collar again, "Don't ever say such things about my wife" Arnav said as he released Shyam harshly.

Anjali walked up in front of Arnav and looked at him seriously,

"Arnav...what is going on? Tell me. How dare you treat my husband this way for your own wife's mistake? She left you. Shyam did not leave me, he loves me."

Arnav had to hold on to the chair and take deep breaths to prevent shouting some sense into his sister. But before he could say anything, he heard a feminine, soft, but confident voice,

"Anjali di...Khushi didn't do anything of the sort. Do not make assumptions based on one sided tales. Don't speak badly of Khushi" Payal said confidently.

"Payalji...I haven't said anything wrong. I only spoke the truth. Hasn't Khushi left her husband and child?"

Arnav looked at his sister incredulously. Who was this woman standing in front of him he thought? Why was she being so harsh? He had never seen her behave this way before,

"Di...what are you saying?" he asked in barely a whisper, too shocked by the words coming out of her mouth.

"Chote...I was depressed these past few days because you told me my husband had left me. But he's here. It wasn't him who ran away but Khushi. I dont understand why you eloped with her in the first place. That woman always has problems with my husband. First she was accusing him of getting engaged to her, then pursuing her while she was married to you, and now she somehow she made you believe that my husband left me for her. I don't know what her problem is but I do know that shes never setting her foot in this house. Im glad we kicked her out...we dont' need such filt-" she wasn't able to finish as she felt a stinging sensation across her face.

Everyone looked absolutely shocked at what had just happened, their mouths hanging wide open. Anjali looked flabbergasted.

All original work belongs to arshiforever123. PLease do not copy.

[MEMBERSONLY]