Chapter 8

Introducing Siddhant Chaturvedi as Dhruv Malik:

--*--

Lavanya couldn’t keep the grin off her face. Her dedication, her patience, her hope, her years-long wait, all had paid off. ASR had asked her if she would marry him. She had yearned to hear this for so long, it felt like a dream.

And she of course had replied with a yes. Immediately going to wrap her arms around him. He didn’t return her hug immediately, his body still stiff with whatever storm he had just walked through, but eventually he did so…awkwardly, hesitantly. She smiled against his shoulder. He was always like that. Less affectionate. Closed off. Hard to read.

But never mind, she would change that too. The same way she had waited for everything else with him.

--*--

Today was the fourth day of the fashion week, and tomorrow was the finale wherein all designers from across the country and some international ones too, would be presenting their most special creations. Khushi and Dhruv Malik’s brand “Kahani” too was gearing up for it, with Khushi’s most revered design was to be presented by their showstopper model.

So, she had decided to go to the event today after having skipped the previous two days. She also wanted to stop by her office to check on some paperwork and other pending work for tomorrow’s main event, if needed.

In any case, staying at home was suffocating today. After her confrontation with Arnav the previous evening. After hearing him say her son’s name for the first time in his life. But without acknowledging that baby as his own child.

Why? Why had he done it?

.

Despite not wanting to, her mind dragged her to her past. How could she not remember it? It was too precious to her, even if it had given her tears and heartbreak. Because her past also had memories of her child, her son, Prateek.

She had found out about her pregnancy a few days after she came to Lucknow.

After her broken engagement with Arnav and the scandal, she had been miserable when she came to Lucknow. She had skipped meals, had barely slept properly. So, when she fell sick, she assumed it was simply her body giving up. But then a neighbor came distributing sweets for their daughter-in-law’s pregnancy, and it hit her that she had missed her periods that month. Alarmed, she secretly took a home pregnancy test. 3 in fact. All came back positive. And thus, panicked, she had gone to a gynac, alone. There too, it was confirmed she was indeed carrying a baby. Arnavji’s baby.

And she had been thrown into another whirlwind of emotions. She had to tell him, of course. But would he listen? Especially after the way everything had ended between them?

Still, she had gathered herself and called him.

But his number was switched off. She tried his number almost every 10 minutes, even through the night but it stayed the same. What she didn’t know was that he had thrown away his sim card, in anger, not wanting anyone to contact him, and had already left India.

The next option, calling Raizada mansion was too scary for her. And thus, she had run to the one person who could call them and help her reach Arnav. Dhruv.

However, when he too couldn’t help her contact Arnav, she had collapsed.

Eventually her parents found out, and she was greeted with a slap across her face. For not adhering to their values, for not keeping a check on her “youthful desires.” She had closed her eyes in tears. But she firmly refused to abort the child.

She knew Arnav would come back, sooner or later, she felt sure. He had to. From what she knew of him, he wasn’t someone who would disown his baby. His responsibilities.

But how could she reach him? How could she tell him what their passion had led to?

And that’s when she thought of one last attempt. Risky, yet almost certain. Writing him an email. He would read that. Right?

So, she sent him an email with the title, “Urgent, please I need to talk to you.” and shared everything in it. Her love for him, her apology for staying silent that day, her promise that she would tell him everything if he came to get her. And then she shared that she was pregnant. That he was going to be a father and she needed him. Their baby needed him.

But only to hear dead silence. Although a read receipt confirmed he had seen it.

That was it.

That was when she finally accepted, he had turned his back on her and their child. She had wiped her tears and told her parents she would raise this child alone.

Only for Dhruv to step forward and promise he would be there as a father to her child if she let him. Before she even reacted, her parents had agreed. And when she looked at their pleading, tired faces… she accepted his proposal.

.

She was now Dhruv’s wife, had accepted him as her husband, knew he loved her. But was she able to love him? Would she ever be able to build a family with him?

“Khushi, aaj office ja rahi ho bitiya (are you going to office today)?” her amma asked, coming to sit beside her.

Khushi smiled a little and nodded. Her relationship with her parents had been strained in the past few years, more so with her mother. Her mother left no chance to remind her how she needed to be grateful to Dhruv, how she had to ensure he was happy and recently, how she owed him a child.

Khushi wasn’t ready for that conversation. At least not now.

So, she got up with her purse and decided to leave, hoping to escape before anything began.

“Khushi, wait. I need to talk to you.”

Khushi knew what was coming and closed her eyes in tiredness. “Amma, please, I am getting late. We will talk later.”

But Garima didn’t pay any heed, “Just tell me one thing and then go. I know that there are many people attending this fashion show that you and Dhruv bitwa are attending. But is that family attending it too?”

Khushi stiffened, understanding who exactly her mother was referring to.

Garima’s voice raised. “Answer me, Khushi. Is HE there too? Have you met him?” She asked, almost confronting Khushi.

Khushi couldn’t answer that. She couldn’t lie, and yet she couldn’t speak. Silence felt safer.

But she forgot her amma could also read her silence.

Garima strode to her and made her turn, holding her hand, “What’s wrong with you? Kyun apna ghar tod rahi ho tum (why are you breaking your house) for that man?”

“Amma!” Khushi gasped in half-insult, half-protest.

“What else? Did you forget what Dhruv bitwa did for you? He married you at a time when that family abandoned you, when that man- that Arnav-” Garima said his name with pure despise, “left you pregnant. It was Dhruv bitwa who married you, who saved you from getting badmouthed in society. And saved, your parents’ izzat (reputation).”

Khushi had heard this so many times that now she no longer felt guilt or gratitude. So, she plainly asked, “I know that amma, why you keep reminding me?”

Garima’s eyes searched her face anxiously. “Because I can see you don’t really treat him as your husband. Tell me honestly, Khushi, have you two… have you let him…you know, be near you?” She struggled with the words, although quite determined to ask her daughter whether she had shared her bed with her husband yet!

But Khushi realized what her amma was implying and felt her stomach twist. She straightened and cut her off, “Amma, I have already told you. Dhruv ji is my husband, and I have accepted that relationship in every way.” Khushi said each word twisting her stomach in a dread.

But Garima’s face visibly relaxed and she smiled, caressing Khushi’s head. “Very good bitiya. You don’t know how much relief this gives me. Now just give me a grandchild...”

“I am getting late, amma. I will talk to you later.” Khushi said and left from the room before Garima could say something to hurt her already anguished mind.

.

When she stepped out of the house, Dhruv was standing near their car, checking something on his phone. They had only one car between them and used it together. Khushi had thought he had already left for the event venue, so she was planning to take an Uber.

“Dhruv ji, haven’t you left for the exhibition center yet?”

He immediately looked up from the phone and straightened. “I was waiting for you.”

Khushi frowned, “But I was thinking to go to our office first.”

“No problem, I will drop you.” he said with a smile, opening the passenger door for her.

She hesitantly sat inside.

.

.

Dhruv tried to keep his face neutral but after hearing Khushi and Garima’s talks, he had felt quite irritated. As much as he understood Khushi’s mother’s concerns for her, she didn’t know how fragile his relationship with Khushi was. How delicately balanced his marriage to Khushi had always been. It had taken him so much time, patience, and effort to reach even this point with her… to reach even a corner of Khushi’s heart.

The first year of their marriage, she had been pregnant, and her world had been completely consumed by her baby. He had been there as a protector, a caregiver, a friend whose shoulder she cried on. The second year, she was healing after losing her child, both physically and emotionally, and he stayed in that same quiet corner of her life. The third year, small openings had appeared. She had let him hold her hand. She had let him kiss her forehead. She had allowed him a little closeness,

And then came last year. Their fourth anniversary, when a moment of grief and longing for her lost child had left her raw and unguarded. And in that weakness, she kissed him, let him hold her, and finally, she had allowed him to be close to her in every way. That night, they had shared their first intimate moments, and the barrier between them finally had broken. She let him hold her, let him love her. Their marriage had finally been consummated.

But the morning after, she had grown distant again, withdrawing into herself and told him she needed time.

.

It had been 1 year to that. Dhruv held on to the memories of that night, a night when she had let him love her completely. And today, hearing her amma try to force her into a future she wasn’t ready for… it scared him. Because he knew pressure only made Khushi retreat, and he didn’t want to lose the space he had finally earned in her heart.

He heaved a tiny sigh as he opened the car door for her stopping in front of their office.

But inside, he was far from calm.

--*--

It was nearing the end of the day. No one was paying attention to the speeches anymore; most teams were focused on final fittings and last-minute preparations for tomorrow’s concluding event and the finale.

Lavanya, who had clung to Arnav’s side almost all day with that persistent new-fiancé glow, had finally left with Anjali for some shopping. They had decided to keep their engagement secret until tomorrow, once the show ended and AR hopefully won the award for outstanding design.

Arnav pressed his temple with tips of his fingers, when a reputed investor, Mr. Ramani walked to him to talk.

They were in middle of discussion when Shyam came to ask if Arnav was ready to leave. Arnav, stepped aside and told him to go ahead, he would join in a moment.

But by the time Arnav stepped aside to speak with Shyam, the investor spotted Dhruv across the hall. He had liked Dhruv’s presentation earlier in the week and waved him over. Dhruv who had noticed Arnav was standing nearby, tried to pretend he hadn’t heard, but the investor called him again. So he had to go, reluctantly.

When Arnav returned, he saw Dhruv now in conversation with the same man he had been speaking to and felt irritation rise within him. He had managed to avoid Dhruv for 4 days. But today was clearly not meant for self-control.

The investor, Mr. Ramani, turned to Arnav with a bright smile. “Mr. Raizada, have you seen Mr. Malik and Mrs. Malik’s designs? Quite impressive, I must say.”

Arnav gave a stiff nod, the kind that conveyed no agreement.

Just then Mr. Ramani’s phone rang, and he excused himself, leaving the two men standing directly in front of each other.

Dhruv did not look pleased at the coincidence and Arnav looked even less so.

Planning to leave, Dhruv turned slightly when, Arnav spoke, “Old habits die hard. Right?”

Dhruv paused. “What do you mean?”

Arnav stepped a little closer, his eyes cold. “You know exactly what I mean, Dhruv. You have a habit of eyeing everything and everyone I take interest in. Right?”

Dhruv’s eyes flashed. He gritted his teeth and said, “Keep Khushi out of this.”

Arnav let out a bitter scoff. “I never took her name. But it seems you caught the meaning yourself.”

Dhruv stepped forward, like a fox ready to attack and Arnav mirrored him instantly.

That was when Shyam appeared, and stood between them, “Woah, woah, woah. What are you two doing? People are watching.” he murmured, spreading his arms and keeping a hand on each of their shoulders. Then, turning to the onlookers with a wide smile, he added, “They’re brothers meeting after a long time, that’s all.”

Arnav matched his smile with a thin, mocking one. “Of course. I am meeting my brother after 4 years after all!”

As soon as he said that, Dhruv’s eyes snapped to Arnav in panic. And sure enough, Shyam caught that too.

“Four?” Shyam frowned. “You mean five, right?”

Arnav, realizing his slip, took a deep breath and answered without looking away from Dhruv, “Yes, you’re right, jijaji. I last met my brother five years ago.” the one I did later on is my enemy!, he said in his mind.

Dhruv silently thanked him with a nod but Arnav pretended to not have seen it and told Shyam he was leaving.

The truth was for the world, for the Raizadas, for Khushi, Arnav and Dhruv had last met five years ago, the day the engagement broke.

But only Arnav and Dhruv knew the rest.

After his one-year disappearance, Arnav had first come to Lucknow. Months after Khushi lost her child… before even returning to Delhi. So, no one from the family knew he had been there.

He had sought out Khushi but somehow found Dhruv. And that was when he learned Dhruv and Khushi were married.

And when he confronted Dhruv then, Dhruv had told him, calmly, that Khushi always liked Dhruv, that she never intended to marry Arnav, and that was why they married as soon as Arnav left…

Arnav had stood there, hollowed out. Broken… too broken.

But he gathered whatever pieces were left of his heart and went back to Delhi. Still hating Khushi, but still wishing her well. Of course, from distance. He didn’t think he could meet her now as someone else’s wife.

.

Now, Dhruv watched Arnav walk away. Watched the retreating back of the man who had once been his brother, for whom he had sacrificed so much. But when it came to Khushi… he had chosen selfishness.

Or maybe, it had been the practical thing to do.

Because by the time Arnav returned, it was too late. Khushi and Dhruv were already married. The baby was gone. Arnav’s return would have only made everything worse.

So he did what he thought was best…for her.

Or perhaps only for himself.

--*--

A/N – I had scoped this story for less than 10 parts initially, thinking I’ll finish it before Christmas. But now, as I am revealing one truth at a time, I may need a few more chapters and thus, story will go in the next year too…hope you all are ok with that.

Also, I had left Dhruv-Khushi’s intimacy be implicit but a very thoughtful discussion with a dear reader made me realize that I needed to elaborate more. They do have husband-wife relationship but also have distance…if it makes sense. If any of you have any such thoughts, please do share so I can address them, whether in story or in comments. Thanks <3