Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Khushi listlessly bid her mother and aunt goodbye, and stopped to take the blessings of her father on her way out the door. She made an effort to smile at the paralyzed man in the wheelchair, not wanting to worry him. Perplexed, Arnav watched her. Again, she was giving her father's happiness the utmost importance, forgetting her own misery. Then why did she not think about Di's happiness before asking Shyam to leave her? This girl was so confusing.

In the car, she turned away from him, blankly staring out the window. Her behavior was beginning to scare him. Normally, he couldn't get her to shut up for two minutes and now here she was, silent. She hadn't spoken a word to him since their confrontation on the rooftop yesterday. He was about to call out to her when he saw the tears rolling down her face. What had he done to her? His hand immediately shot out to cup her face, to wipe away the pain he had caused. What was he doing? This was probably another one of her tricks. He quickly looked away, lest he fall into her trap again. He would not soften towards her until he found out the truth. But when he heard her shaky breaths, her feeble attempts to control herself, he couldn't stop himself. His hand reached out, seemingly of its own volition, to cradle her face. "What's wrong Khushi?" She looked up at him then, and the pain in her eyes mirrored the pain in his heart. It was as if she was burning in her own personal Hell, just as he had been ever since that night when he saw her on that terrace. He slowly drew back from her, not knowing what to do or say. She continued to look at him with those sorrowful eyes and this time, he was the one to look away.

When they reached the gates of Shantivan, she quickly wiped her face, erasing all evidence of the grief coursing through her. She walked into the house, not stopping until she reached the poolside where she collapsed in a heap, gut-wrenching sobs wracking her slight frame.

Anjali stared after Khushi's retreating figure. What had happened? The ever-present smile was gone, the sparkle was absent from her eyes, and she had not even spared a greeting for Anjali. Something had definitely gone wrong. Arnav followed Khushi into the house, his mind already in gear, formulating a plan. But Anjali would not let him pass without clearing her doubts. "Chotte?"

Arnav paused. "Yes, Di?"

"Chotte, what's wrong with Khushiji? She seems rather upset."

Shit. "Upset? What are you talking about? She's fine Di. You worry too much."

"No, Chotte. Something's definitely wrong. Khushiji didn't even stop and say hello to me."

"Khushi."

"What?"

"Khushi, Di. Not Khushiji. It's about time you dropped the formality. She's a part of this family now." With that, Arnav attempted to escape to his room again, where he could finish planning in peace, leaving Anjali behind with a soft smile on her face. But he didn't get very far. Before he had taken no more than two steps, Anjali spoke again.

"You didn't answer my question Chotte. What's wrong with her?"

Dammit. He would have smiled if he hadn't been so irritated. Of course she had seen through his ploy. Sentimental and romantic she may be, but Anjali was still a Raizada. He turned back to face his sister.

"It's nothing Di. Khushi wanted to stay with her parents for a few more days but I really needed to get back."

"Then why didn't you let her stay? You could've left her there and come back alone."

"No Di. Khushi belongs here. With me." This time, Arnav was able to slip away, leaving Anjali with a full blown grin on her face. I just told Di what she wanted to hear, he tried to convince himself. But both sister and brother knew that those words had rung with a fervor that only the truth could hold.

Her brother was hopelessly in love with Khushi. Though Anjali had initially been very upset with their hasty marriage, she now saw that Khushi was the best thing to happen to her Chotte. But now, Khushi was upset and Anjali felt it was her duty to cheer her up. After all, Khushi had always taken it upon herself to make everyone in the house happy whenever anyone looked even the slightest bit put out. Anjali smiled. She knew exactly what to do to put the happiness in Khushi's name back on her face.

One floor above her, her brother smiled too. But whereas Anjali's smile had been an infectious, excited one, Arnav's was grim, full of determination. Yet, each was eager for the next day. Each had a plan to put into action.