Chapter 9

First published on 13/June/22

caution - evocation of shyam's vileness ahead, tc 😈

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It had been almost a week since Arnav had been staying in Gupta house in Lakshmi nagar and after that day in bathroom where he had almost quit this trial that his father-in-law had subjected him to, he had tried to not give up.

There were many firsts that he experienced in these 7 days, starting from adjusting to a sleep without comfort of his usual king size bed and air-conditioner to a breakfast sans toast-butter to traveling in taxis and auto rikshaws and finally carrying change!

There were few other things, more important things, he had learnt that were mainly about his wife and the middle-class life she and her family lived. He learnt not to pass judgements against someone based on the bank balance they had or the brand of clothes they wore, he learnt that there was no shame in enjoying roadside food or finding joy in most mundane things, he learnt to formally ask some things just because your babuji wants you to and finally and importantly, he learnt to adore his wife, his khushi, for the amazing person she was. And that made him fall anew in love with her!

And today he had decided to answer her long pending question about 'farak kyun padta hain' because now he knew the answer clearly and confidently. He couldn't wait to go home and talk to her... so, he picked his phone to dial her number.

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Khushi was watching her favorite Salman Khan movie when her phone rang. At first, she had no intention of picking it as the movie was at a crucial point, but she was surprised to see the name on her phone screen... It was their lawyer!

"Hello Mrs. Khushi Raizada, this is advocate Sharma. Actually, ASR's number is busy, so I called you. It's regarding Shyam Jha." the lawyer told her, and she got up from her place at once.

It had been more than a week since court's first hearing and based on the evidence Arnav's team had presented as well as testimony from her babuji and herself had made their case very strong. Shyam was given a judicial custody for next 2 weeks until the date of next hearing, but their lawyer had told them it was almost an open and shut case. Even if Shyam had tried to use his accident and Khushi's passive hand behind it, it would prove against himself, as it was going to be seen as self-defense tactic by Khushi to save herself from his abuse!

So, Khushi had almost pushed the horrible memories associated with Shyam in the back of her mind. Given the child-like innocent heart she was blessed with, it was not difficult to divert her mind to good things anyway...

But this call alerted her, and she answered in affirmative to the lawyer to continue why he called,

"Actually, there is a big development in our case. Shyam Jha was trying to break from prison this morning and police had to fire a bullet at his leg to stop him. He is taken to city hospital, but primary diagnosis is, he will never be able to walk again." Adv. Sharma informed her, and Khushi gasped in shock.

So, Shyam still had not given up and was trying to break from prison and probably harm her again? Not that she would be scared but yes, she would need to put her defenses again and she was tired of that. And the other piece of information, he was now paralyzed from hips and below! This meant his own karma brought this upon himself. First, for causing a paralysis on her babuji and second, for trying to molest her. Now not only was he in same state as her babuji, albeit permanently without a cure, but also his 'certain parts' were rendered non-functional for entirety of his life! Is this what they call poetic justice?

Khushi closed her eyes as these thoughts clouded her mind. It was good that her babuji had gone out otherwise he would not like to see her affected even the slightest by that piece of scum!

--*--

Arnav had picked his phone to dial her number but at the same moment, he received a call from an investor and by the time he finished that call to dial her, her phone was busy. So, he decided to head home instead.

When he reached and moved through the house from main hall to their new bedroom, he was very happy to notice no one except her was at home, much-needed privacy!

.

.

However, when she startled on hearing his footsteps and then turned to look at him, the serious look on her face alerted him. It was after a long time; she was in serious mode again.

"Sharmaji had called. Shyam tried to escape and is shot. He's now in hospital... paralyzed." she told him without a preamble. Not that he would have needed any.

And his first sentence was, "Does Di know?"

"Arnavji, I haven't talked to anyone yet, but she should know. She already knows his truth, aapne aur humne khud bataya tha na (we had told her ourselves no)?" she was irritated at his first thought. Agreed, as a brother he had a right to be worried but there was a limit. Anjali was a grown woman, for God's sake!

"Yes, but this will stress her, she is pregnant." he said, frowning

"Pregnancy is not any disease Arnavji nor is Anjali Di first woman be pregnant or go through stress during pregnancy. I am not saying we should give her stress but keeping in dark won't serve any purpose. Anyway, that was not what I was thinking...I was thinking, finally it seems like justice is being served to all of us." As she said this, Arnav was once again jolted to a reality, his Khushi was way more mature than he had given her credit for...

This was the lady who had always given it back to him since the beginning, she had refused to give into his crazy demand of a contract wedding, she had managed to bring him on his knees to apologize, she had faced and confronted shyam bravely, and she was now making him see errors in his ways too. Just what was this woman? And then again, she was the same woman whose caring side he had seen firsthand when broke her gullak (piggybank) without a second thought when he needed cash, or her playful side when she demanded an ice candy from roadside vendor...it was as if she was a pampered child one moment and a warrior princess the second...

In any case, Arnav Singh Raizada had fallen hook line and sinker for Khushi in her every version... every avatar...

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A/N - Short chapter but pls make do. The immense love you all show on this story gives me performance pressure* guys (*no pun intended). Pls keep it up for remaining chapters too :D

The scene of Khushi confronting arnav on why he makes a big deal of anjali's pregnancy was taken from NSIV-s2, it was my personal favorite when I wrote it there too so copying it :P

p.s. UshaVijay5 remember I told you, I had saved best part of shyam's punishment for last? this is what I had in mind :D Now he won't ever be able to abuse anyone, let alone a woman!