Chapter 25

"Why... why did you look at me like that? As though you hated me?" she asked.

"I didn't know you then, Khushi," Arnav said in a low voice.

She said, "I came in search of Abhishek... Abhishek, not Akash Jiju." She frowned.

"Yes," Arnav said evenly.

"He wanted more dowry at the last minute," Khushi sighed shakily.

"Yes," Arnav murmured, passing her a glass of water.

Khushi sipped it and then set the glass down.

"I am sorry I disrupted your show. Sach mein, I didn't know what was going on. I was pushed on to the stage," Khushi tried to convince Arnav.

"I believe you," Arnav said.

"You thought someone had paid me to spoil your function," Khushi stated.

"Yes," Arnav said.

"I wouldn't have done something like that," Khushi said, indignant.

"I know. Now," Arnav said evenly.

"What is the use of knowing now?" Khushi asked. "You had me locked up, you hurt my arm, you tore the dori and insulted me. Is this the way you behave with ladies?" she growled at him.

"I am sorry," Arnav whispered.

"You should be. You made me cry. All the kajal I wore for the wedding spread on my cheeks.

Muh kaali kar ke ghar laute hum uss din. In all ways. Aap ko pata he how much Buaji scolded me when I returned home?" She was scowling.

"No, I don't," Arnav said. But he could imagine. Knowing the Guptas as he did, he could imagine the reception Khushi had received that night.

"The dulha had vanished, phurrr like a kabootar."

Arnav nodded.

"The papers to the shop were missing."

"Yes," Arnav said.

"The bride's sister was missing too."

Arnav nodded.

"The guests returned home after the tamasha, leaving my family disgraced. Then I landed at home," Khushi pouted.

Arnav swallowed.

"Amma and Buaji were so angry with me," Khushi shuddered. "They said that I had caused Jiji's wedding to break off."

Arnav could only look at her and curse ASR.

"Babuji had to calm down both of them and send us to bed. And what were you doing when I was crying and spending a sleepless night? Sleeping soundly, weren't you?" Khushi was angry.

"No. I was thinking of you all night," Arnav spoke the truth.

"Acha? You were wondering how to torment me further? Planning how to get hold of me and make my life hell?" Khushi asked.

"I was trying to understand what had happened that evening and why it had affected me so much," Arnav said softly.

"Acha? And did you reach any conclusion after your night-long thinking session?"

"No."

"I know you didn't. Otherwise you wouldn't have been so rude at the dargah," Khushi complained. "What was wrong with you? Did I run after you because I took one glance at you and realised that you were rich? I just wanted to return your mannat ki chabi!"

"I know," Arnav could not say anything else.

"And you aired the scene of me falling in to your arms. He Devi Maiyya!"

"I am sorry, Khushi," He knew he would be saying this a lot in the coming days.

"You should be. I was standing before Ramu Chacha's shop watching TV. Amma & Babuji were paying the grocery bill at Chaman Lalji's dukaan nearby. And then..." her voice faltered.

"I am sorry, Khushi." His husky voice broke.

"You should be. When you aired that clip..." Big drops of tears rolled down her cheeks. "...thugs thought that I was a girl who would go with any man, a girl without shame. They pulled my dupatta off."

Arnav gasped. His fists clenched. "How dare they?"

"Where were you when they did this to me? Where had you hidden yourself?"

Arnav had no answer.

"Babuji came to help me. The boys pushed Babuji and he fell down," Khushi narrated the incident.

Arnav could only stare at her.

Khushi continued. "Another man came to help us. A Shyam Manohar Jha. With big eyes and muscular shoulders. He looked like an ox. He beat the boys and returned my dupatta to me."

Arnav could feel his whole body trembling. He had sent Shyam in to Khushi's life. His thoughtless actions had all but destroyed Khushi's life. Not for one moment as he had given in to his anger and aired that clip had he thought of the repercussions of his actions, of the pain and humiliation Khushi would have to suffer because of him.

"Then... then what happened, Khushi?" Arnav asked.

"Then?" Khushi frowned. She racked her brains. She clutched her head in both hands and tried to think but could come up with nothing. Her head was blank.

"It is alright. Don't strain yourself, Khushi," Arnav comforted her.

Khushi looked at him. "Are you really Jiji's Jetji?"

"Yes."

"But.. but you hated me so much. You disliked me. Why did you let Akash Jiju marry my sister?" Khushi was genuinely perplexed.

"Because love is stronger than hate, Khushi," Arnav whispered.

Khushi frowned. "Why do you talk in riddles?"