Chapter 6

The second day of the fashion week stretched endlessly for Dhruv Malik. After that incident at the breakfast table, he couldn’t focus much on the events of the day. His attention was all at home, with Khushi. What had happened there in the morning, with her mother mentioning about them having a child, it had opened old wounds.

Five year old wounds to be precise.

What had he not done to ensure Khushi forgot all about her past? What all had he not done to bring her out of sadness? It took him so many days, so many tricks to ensure she moved on. His only aim had been to give her a life she deserved. And while doing so, keeping her by his side. Actually, keeping her by his side, with him, was one of the main goals he had. Making her his had become his life motivation!

That was the first thought he had when he first saw her all those years ago.

.

Flashback, 5 years ago:

Dhruv Malik had been excited for the interviews lined up for the designer position. Although he held a senior position at AR, he had never been asked to join the interview panel. But this time, Arnav had specifically asked him to attend all five interviews scheduled for that day along with him and other senior leaders at AR. Dhruv had lately been feeling as if Arnav was finally thawing towards him, as if he was finally accepting that they were brothers, victims of destiny.

They had interviewed 2 candidates so far, none of whom impressed them much. He was craving a good cup of masala tea and was planning to excuse himself, when the third interviewee announced her arrival.

And as the door opened and the person walked in, Dhruv was a goner.

As the interview progressed, he realized that not only was the girl pretty, but she was also talented. Despite her lack of a formal degree in fashion designing, she was able to answer most of the questions. He knew that Arnav along with other panelists also felt the same.

But then suddenly, Arnav pointed out her lack of formal education. Dhruv had felt surprised by that question, especially after almost all key questions were asked. And thus, driven by sudden protectiveness towards her, Dhruv had taken the matter in his hands, cutting Arnav’s question midway and steering the interview towards the topics he felt she was more confident answering. Perhaps, for the first time in his life, he had dared to do something that wouldn’t please Arnav.

What did he know, it was the first of many more to come.

Khushi was offered the job much to Dhruv’s joy.

Over the next few days, he was able to become her friend. He assisted her in knowing about the work culture there, about facing daily hurdles confidently, about making connections within the office. He also got to know that she was new to Delhi, her parents lived in Lucknow while she was here with her widowed aunt. He decided he would help her get familiar with the city as well.

And maybe, during that time, try to win her heart. Or as they said in older times, court her.

However, before he could materialize any of that, he had to suddenly visit Paris for a fashion event, and his one-week stay got extended to almost 3 months.

He barely got to talk to Khushi during that time. They didn’t really have a very good friendship yet where it would be appropriate for him to call her daily. And thus, he satisfied himself with occasional chats during some meetings that she was also a part of.

And when, after 3 long, tiring months away, he finally returned to India, a surprise awaited him.

He came home to witness Arnav announcing his engagement with Khushi!

It was the most brutal shock for him.

When he had left, Arnav was with his long-time girlfriend Lavanya. In fact, almost everyone could see how Arnav couldn’t stand Khushi, how he always behaved rudely, more strictly with her. She too seemed to return the same feelings for him, saying how she wished to keep her interaction with Arnav at the minimum.

Then what changed so dramatically just within 3 months that Arnav broke up with Lavanya, got together with khushi and proposed to her already?

Or was there always something between them that Dhruv didn’t know? That no one knew? Was their so-called hate just a farce? Were they always hiding their attraction, their pull towards each other beneath that fake hatred?

He would never know.

All he knew was, the day he returned home, he was told to start shopping for arnav and khushi’s grand engagement party the following week.

Was there nothing he could do to stop that from happening? Because he didn’t think he would be able to stand there, just collecting pieces of his broken heart while Arnav claimed Khushi as his own in front of the world.

End of flashback

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The second day had finally wrapped up. Shyam greeted a few acquaintances as they bid their goodbyes. Although he was a lawyer, he still had good formal relationships with AR’s business partners, whether from legal prospects or just to keep a tab on them. Lavanya had taken Anjali away to visit some market in Lucknow while Arnav had been suspiciously out of sight since the afternoon. The fact that Khushi had not been seen today may or may not be the reason for that, Shyam thought.

His eyes automatically searched for the other person, someone who was linked with Khushi now but had been a part of their family, in the crowd.

And soon, he found that man. Dhruv.

He excused himself and went towards Dhruv, softly calling his attention. “Dhruv?”

Dhruv instantly looked up, with the same genuine, warm smile on his face that Shyam always knew of.

“Hello. How are you, Jijaji?”

Shyam observed the lean-built, simply dressed man in front of him. He had changed so much himself. From the Dhruv Malik of the past, who was quite a fashion icon, who wore T-shirts and jeans to this guy in a simple lucknowi kurta and trousers…

“Has it been so long that we start with such formal questions now, Dhruv?” shyam asked.

Dhruv didn’t say anything.

He and Shyam used to be quite good friends, at least from his side. Thanks to his jovial nature, he had formed an easy friendship with Shyam, as compared to Arnav or their cousin Akash (technically only Arnav’s cousin).

So, as much as Anjali Di’s silence had hurt him, Shyam’s wordlessly picking Arnav’s side had pricked too.

But Dhruv decided to not dwell in the past and cleared his throat. “The first two days have been quite good, right?”

Shyam nodded and didn’t say anything for long. There were a lot of questions in his mind. Why did Dhruv marry Khushi? Why did he cut off all contacts with Raizadas? Yes, he did reach out in initial few days, but honestly, they all were so worried about Arnav during that time. Arnav had gone missing; Anjali was on the brink of despair; AR’s shares had plummeted; and Shyam had been the only adult left to hold the house together. The aftermath of the scandal, the public embarrassment of Arnav and Khushi’s broken engagement, Nani ji’s worsening health, Anjali’s mama-mami retreating under societal pressure, their newly married son Akash barely finding his footing in business while facing sudden withdrawals by investors, Shyam had barely had a moment to breathe. In all that, he hadn’t been able to think of Dhruv.

And by the time he finally did, he discovered that Dhruv and Khushi were married.

Arnav eventually returned to Delhi, and slowly, the household returned to some semblance of normalcy. Nani ji’s health stabilized enough, mama-mami resumed their formal presence, AR’s business steadied, and Anjali found her footing again now that Arnav was back.

And that was when Shyam finally reached out to him, but this time Dhruv didn’t respond. At first, Shyam had thought of giving him time, assuming he was upset at the way the family had turned their back on him. But the silence stretched from months to years, and Dhruv never showed interest in speaking with the Raizadas again. Except for Nani ji.

Shyam still kept a tab on Dhruv, knowing he had started a small business in Lucknow along with khushi and they lived there separately from her parents.

But what surprised him most was, why was Dhruv living such a simple life?

His thought chain was broken as Dhurv’s phone rang. He could deduce it was from Khushi, as he spoke about coming home soon and not waiting for him for dinner.

Shyam smiled as Dhruv ended the call and asked, “You seem happy with your life, with Khushi, Dhruv. And I am genuinely happy for you both.”

Dhruv gave a faint smile and nodded.

“How is your business doing by the way? I am very much looking forward to your designs on Friday.” Shyam added, “the final day of the event when all design houses would present their main designs.”

The topic seemed to bring a spark to Dhruv’s eyes. “It is going well, jijaji. We have been able to make a good name here locally. But yes, we aren’t able to upscale it much. We are hoping to also raise some funding through this event.”

“Why are you not using your inheritance?” Shyam asked carefully.

Dhruv’s smile dropped and he schooled his expression. “I don’t want to speak about it. And I’d appreciate if you do not mention this again, especially in front of Khushi.”

Shyam raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? Does she not know you have a huge money in your trust fund?”

“No.”

“Why?”

Dhruv kept quiet. What was he going to say? That he had lied to Khushi and her parents all these years that he was penniless? That he let them feel sympathy for him? That they still felt grateful he had manned up to marry their daughter when she was left unwed and pregnant? He had no shame in admitting it to himself that yes, he lied, for making her his…

“It is not good to hide things, Dhruv.” Shyam said softly.

“Really, jijaji? Are we really speaking about this? Fine. Yes, I have kept this from her. but what about the truths you all have kept from Arnav? About his birth?”

This time it was shyam whose face paled.

Dhruv scoffed, “I thought so. It is better to let some truths be buried, jijaji. I will see you around.” He said and left from there.

Leaving shyam to wonder, were they ever going to come out of this impossible maze of truths and lies that had spread through their family? Could they ever untangle what had been hidden for so long without breaking someone in the process?

--*--

The next day, 3rd day of the event, too went pretty much plain. Khushi had still stayed back home, while Dhruv had busied himself moving among the stalls. Shyam and Anjali sat immersed in their chitchat with industry friends, and Lavanya, well, she tried to distract herself with the displays. But her gaze often returned to Arnav. Like yesterday, he was barely there.

For all her joy from the first day, that Arnav had seemed unaffected by Khushi’s presence and appeared ready to move on with her, Lavanya’s happiness had deflated over the past 2 days. On the first day, he had stayed by her side, which had made her so certain that her ASR was finally returning to his old self. Perhaps seeing it with his own eyes, that Khushi had moved on with her life, had indeed helped him.

But the second day had been different. He remained restless. Lavanya’s attempts to attract his attention to the fashion show, to the displays of contemporary designs, had been futile. And then he had given some excuse about a call with the Delhi office and left early.

Today, too, he was barely there, his eyes constantly searching for someone.

And Lavanya realized why he was absent. Because Khushi was not here! A quick memory jog reminded her that khushi had not been here yesterday either, and now, once again, she was missing.

Which was why ASR’s mind was not here either…

She gave a weak smile, as once again, Arnav made an excuse to leave from there midafternoon!

Enough was enough. She had to confront him.

So, she excused herself and followed him, determined to find out the truth.

Soon, her suspicions were confirmed as he parked his car in front of a house whose nameplate read: Mr. Dhruv Malik and Mrs. Khushi Malik. From her car, she could clearly make out the shiny, cursive letters in large font, even from that distance.

.

Khushi had come out of the house, while her parents took a nap inside the house. She had not been feeling good. Ever since her amma had mentioned the baby, her mind had cruelly dragged her back to the past. The moment she found out she was with child. The moment she called Arnav, forgetting all the hurt and insult, to share the news. The moment he turned his back on her. The moment she resolved to continue the pregnancy despite her parents’ threats and society’s taunts, and finally, the moment she heard her baby’s first cry… only to lose him within a day.

Why had fate been so cruel to her?

She sighed and sat on the steps of her house, overlooking the small garden she had created in the front yard. She loved this place dearly. She had planted those rose saplings and other plants envisioning her baby playing here. She didn’t have her baby with her but at least those plants were still blooming.

She looked around, taking deep breaths.

And stilled.

Because she felt his eyes on her. Arnav’s. She could never be wrong about knowing that gaze. She knew arnav was around.

She got up and scanned the surroundings. She had felt this yesterday too, but had seen no one. Today, she was determined to confront him. Why was he not leaving her alone? Was he not happy destroying her life? Was he not already moving on with Lavanya? The image of him and Lavanya’s kiss on his balcony flared in her mind, bringing tears to her eyes.

She gritted her teeth and marched towards the iron gate.

But as she opened it, there stood a very furious Lavanya Kashyap.

“Lavanya ji? What are you doing here?”

“Why, did I spoil your plans? To meet ASR in secret?” Lavanya spat, to Khushi’s shock, and continued with her insults, “What is it with you, Khushi? When you were with him, you used to meet Dhruv like this, and now that you are MARRIED to Dhruv, you meet my boyfriend in secrecy?”

Khushi stumbled back, hearing those scathing words. There was so much venom in Lavanya’s words that her already weak mind couldn’t take it. And as she was about to hit the thorny plants on the compound wall, Arnav’s hands reached out to hold her.

His eyes reflected the same pain as hers as he turned to look at Lavanya with fire. “Mind your words, Lavanya! You have no right to insult Khushi, nor am I your boyfriend. In fact, you should be answering me, why are you following me?” he gave as good as he got and took pleasure in seeing lavanya’s pale face.

She gave him one disapproving look and not giving another glance to khushi, left from there.

--*--

A/N - Sorry for the delay in updating this one. Work has been crazy, especially with the pre-Thanksgiving holiday rush here. I’ll update next one soon as compensation, and it may have the main truth reveal. Let’s see.