Chapter 4

First published on 19/Apr/2022

The same morning, Gupta house Lakshmi nagar:

"Hai re nandkishor, garima, pagphere ki taiyyari hui ki naahi (have you prepared everything for pagpehere)? Payaliya aati hi hogi (Payal must be on her way)"

"Haan jiji. Just sweets are remaining, I will ask Khushi-" and then she stopped mid-sentence. She was so used to having Khushi running around the house, helping them that it was natural to take her name. But not anymore. The way Khushi brought shame to her and the way madhumati jiji scolded her over khushi's upbringing had made Garima extremely bitter. Why did khushi do it? what was so urgent to elope, that too on payal's wedding day?

"We don't have anything to do with khushi anymore Garima, better remember that. My brother did a lot for your sister's child, but all she does is bring shame to us." buaji once again brought up 'adoption' and more than Garima, it hurt Khushi's babuji!

Shashi Gupta closed his eyes in helplessness over his state, to protect his daughter from the taunts of her own family. She was daughter of his heart, and he was trying to summon all his strength to recover so he could shout the extent of Shyam's cruelity to everyone. After all he was the first one who had doubts about shyam, who had fought with shyam and who was a victim of shyam! But he didn't care about himself, all he cared and worried for was his daughters, one who had his blood, other who had his heart. Since the day he had accepted a scared, innocent 8 years old khushi as his daughter, he had automatically developed natural fatherly instincts and protectiveness for this little one. And with his every breath he had tried to do the same!
If only his sister and wife could do the same!

He had to get up, he had to recover!!!

--*--

It was almost afternoon as Arnav was on his way back to Shantivan, when he received a call from a frantic Anjali about Shyam's accident, and he moved his car to hospital. His Di had sounded extremely distraught on phone and that changed his focus on only making sure she was ok.

Shyam was in the O.T while rest of the Raizada family was gathered outside. Everyone was trying to console a hysteric Anjali; everyone except Khushi when Arnav reached there.

"Di, are you ok?" he asked as he watched his nani and mami consoling her and then he automatically looked for Khushi who was nowhere to be seen, "where's khushi?" he asked Akash. That didn't go down so well with Anjali as she was reminded that Shyam was here because of khushi.

"I am fine Chote, its Shyamji who is injured. and khushiji is at home, she didn't come with us." Anjali answered in a hurt voice. Arnav didn't say anything but he quickly texted Khushi to ask if she was fine. When he didn't get a reply even after 10 minutes, he got up to call her.

.

.

Khushi was still reeling from the shock of what had happened. Everything changed so fast, Shyam trying to touch her again, she having had enough and trying to save herself, him losing balance before anyone knew it. Khushi never meant to cause his fall, it was an accident but...and then again when he extended his hand, it reminded her of something...she was so lost in trying to gather her thoughts that she didn't realize her phone was ringing for a long time...

.

.

"Akash, I am going home. You and everyone is here with Di right? call me if you need anything." Arnav said as he tried to excuse himself and Anjali felt sadder.

"sure bhai, don't worry." Akash assured him, and just as Arnav was about to turn, O.T doors opened, and doctors came out. They informed them that Shyam suffered multiple fractures and cuts but nothing was life threatening and he was stable now. Anjali darted inside followed by everyone, including Arnav.

"Shyamji! Bhagwan ka shukar hai ki aap thik hain, hum kitna darr gaye the (thank god you're ok, I was so scared)."

"I am fine rani saheba." he said but Arnav kept observing him keenly. After the recent knowledge of Shyam's deeds, Arnav was trying to gauge if the man lying there could really be a killer...

A few minutes later, Anjali's phone rang, and she picked it to tell the person to call later.

"Anjali ji, I am calling from your laundry, the saree that you had sent for dry cleaning can't be done, it has ether stains. Do you work in a lab or something? Even then don't wear it near fire ok? Ether is highly flammable and-" but Anjali cut their talk in between, "its fine, send it back" and cut the call.

"Who was it Di?" Arnav asked looking at her irritated face

"Oh, my dry cleaners. telling me the saree I wore on Havan-day has ether stains and I shouldn't wear it near fire. some crazy people." she said and shifted her attention to Shyam.

But Arnav looked at Shyam sharply who's face showed a reaction, more like shock. For Arnav, it was a dead give-away to know Shyam was behind it somehow. So this ba*tard had been attempting murders for a while now! Good that he was already in hospital, else Arnav would have personally made sure he landed there.

"Di, I think we should all go home and rest now. After all, jijaji will also want to rest, right jijaji?" Arnav didn't want to leave his Di alone with that bas**rd even if he was bedridden now.

"Ha? haan, haan sale sahab, I was going to say the same thing. I am fine rani saheba, what will you here? go home." Shyam stuttered. Arnav's stares were already unnerving him and the pain due to his multiple stiches and injuries wasn't helping either. He needed some time to figure out his next move.

Somehow everyone convinced Anjali and it was decided only mamaji will stay back and will call if anything is needed.

On his way back, after again calling Khushi when she didn't pick up, Arnav called landline number in Shantivan. It was HP who picked up and confirmed Khushi bhabhi was at home but had dozed off on the dining table chair, and Arnav felt some relief.

--*--

When Anjali and rest of the Raizadas came home, Arnav started to look for Khushi who was still at the dining table chair, and had awkwardly slept off keeping her head on the table. Hearing the commotion probably woke her and by then Arnav was beside her,

"Are you ok? tum thik ho?" Arnav asked cupping her face and she could only nod her head. For a minute she didn't remember why she was sleeping there. And then she looked at rest of the family, especially a tearful Anjali and Khushi remembered what had happened. Anjali was still looking at her with hurt eyes and finally asked,

"Why didn't you save him Khushiji? Shyamji had extended his hand for help, you could have held his hand to save him, but you didn't. Why?" a tearful Anjali asked Khushi, making everyone shocked at this new information. Even khushi was shocked that Anjali had watched the scene.

"Di. Please, we'll talk later." Khushi tried to calm her down. she didn't know how she will explain now that it wasn't what it looked like, she hadn't done anything but it was other way round.

"no Khushiji, I want to know, why didn't you feel even a little sympathy for him? He cares so much for you, for all our family, why you became so careless?"

"Because he was harassing me!" Khushi blurted out.

"what?" Anjali as well as everyone asked in shock, except Payal and Arnav.

"Yes di, your husband is the same Shyam I was talking about this morning. I didn't want to tell you right now like this but you left me with no choice. He is the same shyam who cheated my family, who cheated you and who had been trying to corner me with every given chance. even today he was doing the same when i felt disgusted and tried to free myself and then he lost-"

"No! NO! It's impossible, I don't believe this." saying so Anjali ran to her room followed by Mamiji, Akash and Nani. Payal stood there not knowing what to do now that the truth was out in open.

Arnav took a seat besides Khushi who was shaking because of the revelation. She looked at his stern face and wanted to know what he felt, "are you angry with me?" she asked. her anxious tone broke his heart. He had to tell her what he felt,

"Yes! Because Shyam is still alive." he said with a stern face, and clenched jaw

"I am serious Arnavji. I didn't mean to tell Di that way. It's that just she asked me and I-"

"We had to tell her anyway Khushi, its ok." he dismissed that topic and asked more important question, "By the way, what exactly happened this morning?"

And she went to tell him how Shyam had cornered her again, how she retaliated, how he lost balance and then the rest. When she was done, Arnav realized the situation was deteriorating day by day and it was time his Di and their family knew entire truth and enormity of shyam's crimes.

"come with me." he said, getting up and pulling khushi up with her hand, "we have to tell Di what I know as well, it's high time now." and marched to Anjali's room.

.

.

Mamiji was making Anjali drink a glass of water and Nani was caressing her head when Arnav and Khushi stepped in.

"Di." Arnav called out to her. But Anjali turned her face away. Arnav persisted,

"Di. Whatever Khushi said was all true Di. In fact Shyam himself had claimed to me that he loves Khushi and you are an obstacle in his path. and I am pretty sure he was behind your accident as well as that ether stain on your saree. He is trying to-" Arnav couldn't complete the rest as he saw Anjali clasped her hand over mouth and was now crying hugging mamiji. Truth be told, it was breaking Arnav's heart too, to say all this to his di, knowing how much it will hurt her. But then again, knowing that the husband she was blindly in love with was actually a murderer was more important to be known.

"Please, Di-" khushi tried but mamiji didn't let her complete,

"Do you have any witnesses or proofs Arnav bitwa, that it was damadji behind all this or are you made to believe it?" she asked looking at khushi pointedly

Arnav and Khushi looked at each other, thinking did they really have any proof to show Shyam was indeed attempting murders? Who can give testimony against Shyam?

On the other side of the town, one of shyam's victims was finally recovering...Khushi's babuji!!!

--*--

A/N - This chapter is dedicated to my mom :) 10 years ago, when IPK aired my mom was sure that khushi's babuji will recover and expose shyam's real face. But it never happened until the last episode. So here I am trying to fulfil her theory :D I wasn't into IPk back then (*ducks shoes* I was sad over DMG ya) but she's big fan and I've fond memories of me teasing her about her 'khushi-wala show' (that's how she refers to IPk 😍). Anyway, so I called her and told her I wrote this story about it and she's happy :D

Also, most of Shyam's crimes were never exposed in the show (like attempts to murder anjali, molest khushi) so this was to bring closure to that. With this, we're halfway mark of this SS so next chapter onwards, ASR Vs Khushi, begins once again! Stay tuned.