Chapter 30

Chapter 30: The Other Side Of The Coin

Hopefully this chapter will answer a few of you questions... Your lovely comments are so much of an encouragement... Thanks a lot for them...

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Next day Khushi resumed work and there was a lot to catch up with as she had already missed four days. She spent the day checking the progress of the projects and replying pending mails and it was quite late by the time she got some time to have her lunch. She returned from lunch when her cell phone rang. She checked it was Anjali.

Since Anjali had to immediately leave for Bangalore to take care of her ailing husband, Khushi hadn't got much chance to interact with her after the wedding. She knew Anjali was the most important person in Arnav's life and this was the first time she had called her.

Khushi: Hello Di, how are you? How is Jijaji?

Anjali: I'm fine Khushi and your Jijaji is recovering, how are you?

Khushi: I'm fine Di.

Anjali: How is your Babuji?

Khushi: Much better.

Anjali: I hope I'm not disturbing your work. I mean I've been wanting to talk to you for quite some time now but as you know your Jijaji's health has been keeping me busy.

Khushi: Of course you are not disturbing Di and Jijaji's health is of primary importance.

Anjali: So how are you and Chote? I mean have you two settled well in your life?

"Yes Di, we're fine." She replied with hesitation.

Anjali: And how about the rest of the family?

Khushi: Everyone is very nice Di.

Anjali: Thank you Khushi.

Khushi was puzzled why Anjali was thanking her out of the blue.

Khushi: Thank you? What for?

Anjali: For coming into my Chote's life. I thought you would never...

Khushi curiosity rose with Anjali's statement. As it is she wanted to find out more about Arnav and the way Anjali spoke, she surely knew something. After all she was closest to him.

Khushi: What do you mean Di? Why do you say so?

Anjali: Khushi, I know things were not good between you and Chote before marriage. I don't know what exactly happened but Chote did tell me that he had hurt you a lot.

Khushi was surprised that Arnav had told his sister about it.

Khushi: Di... I...

Anjali: Khushi whatever he has done to you, I apologise on his behalf.

Khushi: Please Di, don't say that.

Anjali: Khushi, I don't know if I should say this but try and understand him if you can. You know, he is not someone who will walk up to you and openly tell you what is going on in his mind. You will have to read his eyes and mainly his unspoken actions which speak a lot.

Khushi: Hmmm...

Anjali: Has he told you that he loves you?

Khushi: Yes, he did.

Anjali: Thank god. Khushi, you know I first saw your photograph on his laptop over a year ago. I saw a unique softness in his eyes when he used to look at it. I asked him several times about you, but he never answered. I knew even then that he was deeply in love with you. But then one day, something happened, I guess that was the time when the problems between you two started. And the softness in his eyes was replaced with pain. I pleaded him to tell me what had gone wrong but all I got from him was silence.

Khushi gulped.

Anjali: I could see him burning Khushi. I could see something was eating him up from within. His eyes would be filled with guilt, pain, regret and helplessness. He still didn't share it with anyone. I spoke to Akash then and he told me that you used to work at AR and due to some misunderstanding, Chote had fired you though you were innocent.

Khushi shuddered at the word 'Misunderstanding'.

Anjali: Every day I would see my strong brother breaking down, shutting himself up in a bubble where there was no air to breathe. He buried himself in his work and did his best to appear normal. But we could see that he was anything but normal. And then a few months ago the look in his eyes again changed. Though the pain hadn't reduced even one bit, there was something that I had never seen in his eyes, HOPE and also determination. That was when he started working with you again, I guess. (She hesitated for a moment and then continued.) Khushi... did he... Did he force you to get married to him?

Khushi was shocked by the question.

Khushi: Yes (She answered slowly.)

Anjali: I... I had suspected it.

Khushi: What? But then why didn't you... why didn't you speak to him about it, Di?

Anjali: Khushi, you can call it my selfishness maybe. But Chote has been like a son to me and I couldn't see him in pain anymore. I could see that he had started hating himself, neglecting his health, not taking his medicines, it was like he had lost interest in life and it scared me Khushi, it scared me like hell. I knew he was hurting and only you could heal him, bring some light in his darkened life. So I stayed quiet. I don't know if I've done the right thing but that's all a desperate sister like me could think of at that time. Please don't hate me for it Khushi.

Khushi didn't know how to respond, "No Di, you did what you thought best for your brother."

Anjali: He had all his remorse, guilt, pain and most importantly Love for you, suppressed for over a year now. It was bound to come out through some channel and he forced you to marry him in that desperation. He was afraid that he would lose you; that he would never be able to make up for hurting you. He told me that when you agreed for the marriage you were still upset with him. I won't ask if things have improved or not but Khushi, I beg you, please, please give him one chance. If not as a husband then as a human being, give him a chance to redeem himself.

Anjali had started sobbing softly.

Khushi: Di, please don't cry. I had no idea about all this. I won't promise anything right now but I need time to think about it. I hope you understand.

Anjali wiped her tears, trying to control her sobs.

Anjali: I understand Khushi. You said that you'll think about it and that is more than enough for me. I have faith in Devi Maiya, she'll always guide you to the right path, whatever it may be.

Khushi: Yes Di.

Anjali: I think I've taken too much of your time. You should be getting back to work. Take care Khushi.

Khushi: Bye Di.

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All the while she was working, Khushi kept replaying her conversation with Anjali in her head. A few of her questions were answered but yes a few doubts were raised too. As per Anjali, Arnav loved her right from before she left AR, that is before THAT incident. But then why did he treat her like a monster? Her head was spinning with thousands of unanswered questions.

She decided to leave early from work but then groaned. Arnav...

She was about to call him to inform that she was leaving early when her phone rang and the name flashing on the screen was of the man in question. Surprised, she answered the call.

"Khushi, I called to inform you that an important meeting has come up and I'll be at work till very late, so I will not be able to pick you up from work." Arnav said.

"Oh, that's fine, actually I was about to call you to inform that I'm leaving for home early today." She replied.

"Early? Why? Are you alright? Is everything Okay?" He asked his voice full of concern.

"Yes, everything is fine. I just felt like going early." She said.

"Alright." He relaxed. "Wait for 10 minutes, I've sent a driver with a car to pick you up."

"I would have managed, you didn't have to send a car." She said feeling hesitant.

"Of course I had to send a car. I can't let you go home alone." He said. "I'll be in the meeting but message me when you reach home."

Khushi rolled her eyes. "Yeah." There was no point arguing.

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Since she was home early today, Khushi joined Payal in the kitchen for preparing dinner.

"I'm sorry Jiji, I barely get time to help with household stuff." Khushi said smiling guiltily at Payal.

"That's Okay Khushi, with so many helpers, there is hardly anything that I do on my own. And in addition to that if even you start helping me, I'll have nothing to do and go crazy with boredom." Both sisters laughed at that.

"Yeah Jiji, when we were with Amma, just the 2 of us would finish all the work in less than three hours and now we have 3-4 helpers in addition. It's like there is nothing to do. When you were on your honeymoon, I used to complete all the work in half the time." Khushi said shaking her head.

Payal smiled. She was preparing tea for Akash who had just returned from work. She prepared the tray and was about to move out when Khushi had an idea.

"Uh... Jiji, Do you mind if I take Jijaji's tea today?" She asked nervously.

Payal looked at her surprised.

"Um... I wanted his opinion about something work related actually." She said making up an excuse.

Payal willingly handed over the tray. "Sure Khushi, I'll manage here meanwhile."

Khushi took the tray up to Akash's room and knocked.

"Khushi? Come in." Akash said surprised.

"Jijaji, Jiji was supposed to get the tea for you but I volunteered. I... Uh... wanted to talk to you about something. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all. Sit down. What is it?" Akash asked pleasantly.

Khushi sat and fidgeted nervously.

Akash smiled at her encouragingly. "Khushi, I know you are my sister-in-law now but even before that you are my friend, you can ask me anything." He paused to take in her expression and then continued. "Is it something related to Bhai?"

Khushi nodded. "Actually I wanted to ask you something."

"Yeah, go on."

"You know Jijaji, the other day... I mean the night before I left for Chandigarh, I went to sleep late because I was talking to Jiji. When I returned to my room, Arnav was already asleep. I was getting ready for bed when he... he..."

"Did he get that nightmare again?" Akash asked suddenly.

"You know?" Khushi asked surprised.

"Yes, I was the only one besides Bhai, who knew about it. He had forbidden me from telling anyone, especially Di." Akash replied seriously. "But I thought the nightmare's would stop now that you are with him. But I guess the thought of you going away from him to Chandigarh, must have caused his fears to rise."

"But what... how..." She asked confused.

Akash let out a deep breath. "After you left AR and Bhai came to know about Shyam's truth, he was completely shattered. He never said anything but we could see it in his eyes. The guilt was bubbling up inside him like suppressed lava, affecting him emotionally. You know he was never one to share his personal feelings but after you were gone, he shut himself up completely to the outside world, he started ignoring his health. Skipping meals and medicines would be a common thing but he is a diabetic and it wasn't good for his health. Many times he would faint due to skipping meals. Di would worry so much. I used to stay with him in his room to keep him company at such times, hence I know about his condition." Khushi still looked bewildered so he continued. "When we were on our honeymoon, Payal told me that Bhai forced you to marry him saying that he would convince the family for my and Payal's wedding."

"Yes." She replied not meeting his eyes.

"I feel really ashamed of myself Khushi. You had to take this decision for me and Payal and not for your own happiness. But Khushi, his biggest fear is that he'll lose you. The thought haunts him every day."

"But Jijaji, sometimes he behaves like someone obsessed. It scares me." Khushi voiced her fears for the first time, knowing Akash would never reveal them to anyone.

"I can understand Khushi but tell me one thing. Do you take your marriage with Bhai seriously?"

Khushi looked at him surprised by his directness.

"I don't know. I mean for me, marriage is a very sacred bond which ties 2 individuals for a life time." She answered uncertainly, "But with Arnav..."

"Think about it Khushi and then decide." Akash suggested. "And yes, if you do decide in favour of you relationship with Bhai then all you have to do is, just convince him that you are not going anywhere. Once his insecurities are uprooted from his mind, I'm sure he'll be fine."

"I'll think about it." Khushi said and got up to leave.

"Khushi..." Akash called her when she was at the door. She turned to look at him. "This time also think about YOUR happiness. Not just other's."

Khushi's eyes filled with emotion for Akash, who was more a brother now than a brother in law. "Thanks Jijaji." She left the room.

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Dinner was done but Arnav had not returned, he was going to have dinner with his clients. Khushi lied down on the bed pondering over what Akash and Anjali had told her about Arnav. After speaking to Anjali she had realised that maybe even Akash could give her few answers, so she had decided to speak to him. It had answered lot of her questions about what might have happened before and after that horrible incident.

But the remaining questions that she had, could be answered by only one person; Arnav Singh Raizada, the man who had hurt her. But was she ready to revisit the past with him? Was she strong enough to handle the pain? Her weak heart shied away from the idea of reliving that day. No... She was not ready for it...

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Chapter 31: Adjustments