Chapter 23

Every good relationship, especially marriage, is based on respect. If it's not based on respect, nothing that appears to be good will last very long.

- Amy Grant

A Twist of Events Ch. 21

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

Right in front of her was Payal Singh Raizada, her hand warm from slapping Anjali hard in the face. Arnav looked in disbelief. Some part of him was relieved that Payal had done it as he was sure, that another second and he himself would have landed his own hand across her face.

"I said...not another word against my sister. I cant take it anymore. It has to stop" Payal sneered dangerously

Anjali looked at her utterly speechless, the usually helpless, feeble Payal Raizada had just landed a slap on Anjali's face!

Shyam was in front of his wife in seconds. He looked at Payal in anger,

"what the hell did you do? Who are you to slap my wife? Who the hell gave you the right...the courage to even-"

Akash stepped forward,

"jijaji...I advise you to stop talking so rudely." he said softly but confidently

"Didn't you see what she just did?"

"Yes I did. And though it wasn't the right thing... Di did get out of line." Akash said sternly. Arnav's admiration and respect for Akash just increased tenfold as Arnav saw him stand up for his wife. He wished he had done that. Stood by his wife when everyone had gone against her.  Shyam wasn't standing up for his wife, he was lying right in her face, being a coward, feigning innocence.

Anjali stepped forward and was about to shout at Payal when Nani stepped forward and shouted,

"ENOUGH!" she bellowed. Everyone stared at her, "Everyone stop acting like children! We are all one family. This is not about my husband, my wife, my sister! We should all stand up for one another! Why are you all going against each other as if your all children! We are all one family.EK parivar hai hum sab. And we should all start acting like it. This family is already broken. Stop breaking it further! " she scolded them sternly

Everyone looked down sheepishly as they registered the words of the elder.

Arnav looked at Anjali and walked up to her,

"Di...I will forgive you for what you said today. And this will be the only time I will forgive you for saying such things. And that's only because you're my older sister. But what you said...I never wanna hear it again..do you understand?" he sneered.

Shyam was about to cut in, when Arnav stared at him with an icy glare,

"You...stay out of this. I was talking to my sister. Not you."

Before anyone could get another word out, Arnav stalked up to his room. He slumped on the recliner. Nothing was going according to plan. The family was just beginning to get back to normal and then...he had to show up and ruin everything. But the question remained...where was Khushi?

He took out his phone and dialed his most trusted man,

"Aman...I want you to find Khushi's whereabouts. Im giving you a day...you have 24 hours to give me information on her whereabouts" and with that he turned off the phone.

He began packing some necessities for him and Shaila, and stuffed things into the bag carelessly. The door creakily opened and in entered the most dreaded face. Shyam.

"What are you doing here? Get out." Arnav said with a deadly glare

"I think you will be interested in what I have to say Saale Saab" Shyam said in a manipulative tone. He slammed an opened envelope onto his table, "you may want to read that."

Arnav looked at the envelope and back up at him,

"if you have nothing else to say...you may leave. Or I can kick you out just as gladly" he said.

But instead, Shyam just sat down on the edge of the bed, folding his legs across his knee.

"Saale Saab, I suggest you give it a read"

Arnav took the envelope and was just about to tear it when Shyam snatched it from his hands. He opened the envelope and took out a piece of paper.

"Saale saab...I really think you should read this. Its...quite..."

Arnav snatched the paper from his hands and read It himself. He felt his heart stop as he skimmed through the paper. He legs went limp and he sat on the bed.

No...no...this wasn't going to happen. No way. He wasn't going to let this happen.

He  stood up, scrunching the piece of paper in his hand as he did so. He looked down at Shyam who seemed to be enjoying himself. Arnav pulled him up by the collar,

"WHAT IS THIS?" he shouted. Shyam just smiled sinisterly.

"I SAID WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?"he shouted again

"ttthhh saale saab...cant you see for yourself? Do I have to spell it out for you? Its a- ...Oh wait...there's more in that envelope, and if that's not enough then I don't know how much more prove you need. " Shyam said callously.

Arnav threw the envelope away; Shyam went to pick it up.

"Saale Saab...Im pretty sure this news is of some worth to you."

"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT! IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO ME!"

"OH but this one will...trust me Saale Saab...you better give it a read"

Arnav snatched the piece of paper; his eyes widened as he skimmed through the long table set out in front of him. And the last sentence had his heart stopping. His breathing slowed down, and he couldn't focus as a layer of moistness covered his eyesight. He...he felt empty.

No...it wasn't true. It wasn't true. They were all just lies. They were all just lies.

"THESE ARE LIES! LIES LIES!!! YOU bas***d! YOU FILTHY SCUM! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT FROM ME!?" Arnav shouted as he pulled him up his collar.

Shyam lips curved up in a cruel manner as if he was truly enjoying snatching away all of his happiness...his whole world;  he let out a derogatory laugh.

"Oh Saale Saab...I feel sorry for you...you...you have absolutely nothing now."

Arnav shook his head in denial. This wasn't true ...it just wasn't. Arnav pulled the man closer and sneered in his face,

"I don't know what you want. But all I know is that your definitely not getting it"

Shyam pulled Arnavs hands off himself and laughed in his face,

"Oh but you see...I've already got it. I've got everything..while...you...you are left with nothing"

Rage overpowered him. All he saw was red. His rage blinded him till he saw nothing but Shyams blood on his hands.

The family rushed in and tried to pry him off Shyam but he wouldn't budge. He punched him until even after the man fell unconscious, fresh, purple bruises taking place.

He was about land another punch until he heard his sisters shrill cry. She fell on her knees beside her unconscious husband and screamed,

"ARNAV! ARNAV WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?"

Arnav let go of him harshly. He threw the papers to Anjali.

"You might want to see what a cheating scumbag this husband of yours really is."

Anjali tossed the paper aside, turning her attention back to her husband,

"I don't wanna see it"

Arnav picked up the papers and shoved it in her hands.

"I SAID READ IT. I AM ASKING YOU ONCE. LISTEN TO ME" he shouted with authority. The whole family was stunned, never had they heard Arnav even raise his voice at his sister, and now here he was shouting at her.

Anjali stared at him with unsure eyes and slowly opened the crumpled piece of paper. She read through the first one, and once she was done, she looked up at him blankly,

"So what's so surprising about this...I mean she already left you, this is just finalizing it. It's a divorce paper what else? Just sign it and get over her."

Arnav at this moment didn't even want to be related to this woman who happened to be his Di. He couldn't believe the things coming out of her mouth.

"Now read the other one." He said angrily.

She skimmed through the other piece of paper, her heart racing faster as she reached the end. She looked up at Arnav confusedly,

"what is this?" she said

"Ask your beloved husband"

Anjali stood up. She pushed Arnav on his chest with her fists,

"TELL ME WHAT THIS IS!" She shouted unwilling to register what was on the piece of paper.

all original work belongs to arshiforever123. Please do not copy

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