Chapter 12 - The night of destruction

Long and loaded chapter ahead. Until now, you’ve seen and heard about “the night” in bits and pieces. This chapter gives you the entire picture.

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It had been almost an hour since Khushi stepped inside Shantivan after a gap of 5 years. And yet, to her, it felt like she had never really left. In a surprisingly short span of time back then, the house had made a permanent space inside her heart. It had been a part of her memories, her dreams, sometimes even her nightmares. Despite everything that had happened, Shantivan had always remained a home to her.

Her eyes moved around the hall, taking in everything eagerly. The walls, the slightly worn paint, the framed photographs of Raizada ancestors. And then, the family portrait with the current members.

A faint, wistful smile curved her lips.

She remembered asking Arnav once, when she would be added to that picture. And how he had smirked, teasing her, saying she would be added only after she gave birth to their first child.

Her Prateek. She felt her heart tighten in her chest.

Their son had never even seen this house. Had never run through these halls. Never been a part of its traditions.

Across the room, Arnav’s gaze drifted to her far more often than he intended. No matter how hard he tried to stop himself, it was impossible not to look at her when she sat right opposite him on the oval-shaped sofa. Payal was sitting beside her, telling her everything she could about what happened in her life in last 5 years. It was hardly a surprise, as Khushi and Payal had bonded quite well from their very first meeting, like long lost sisters.

He forced himself to look away, nodding along to something Akash was saying, while Shyam added his own commentary. Dhruv, who was sitting beside him, was also playing his role well. Everyone was actually doing their part to honor Nani’s wish.

But truth be told, even if no one was letting it show, every single person sitting in that hall was thinking of the same night at some point or other. The night when it was the last time all of them had been together like this.

The night of Arnav and Khushi’s engagement.

Flashback, 5 years ago:

Khushi was getting ready in one of the rooms of the penthouse suite Arnav had booked for her and her parents. The rest of her relatives had been accommodated in rooms across the same five-star hotel. It had impressed almost everyone. Everyone had told her what a great man she was marrying.

Except her amma.

Garima had always been apprehensive about Khushi’s choice. She knew about Arnav’s past relationship with Lavanya, and to her conservative mind, that alone marked him as unsuitable. A man who had a past was not clean! But when khushi convinced her and Shashi, especially when Shashi himself met Arnav and approved of him, Garima didn’t have much choice. And she reluctantly said yes.

But she always worried about Khushi’s future with him.

.

.

On the other side of the city, Arnav was happy and eager for the evening. The evening marked the first ritual of his and Khushi’s official togetherness, and he found himself wishing rest of all rituals were already over. Although, she had already become his. Their weekend in Nainital a few weeks ago had changed everything, it had unexpectedly led to her allowing him to break all barriers between them, in body and soul. And it was the memory of those nights, of the way she had melted in his arms, which made his impatience intense.

He wanted the formalities done so she could be with him. Permanently.

He had proposed to her on their last day in Nainital, needing her to know that he was serious, that he did not take her love or her surrender lightly.

However, when he broke the news to his family, he didn’t receive a very positive response. His mami ji passed comments about the girl’s middle-class background being unsuitable for them, his Nani told him she would first check Khushi’s horoscope and his Di, well, she had openly told him she didn’t think khushi was the right person for him and he should reconsider Lavanya.

He had stood his ground though. It was either khushi or no one for him.

And finally, his family had given in.

However, in all those days since his declaration till his engagement today, his Di had tried to change his mind. Sometimes telling how she felt he was rushing into marriage. Sometimes telling how khushi may not be able to adjust in their family. And sometimes, saying she liked Lavanya better for him. Arnav had brushed it off. Or at least, he had tried to. Since he loved and respected his sister a lot, he had let her continue for so long. But that didn’t mean the talks didn’t affect him. If you keep listening something repeatedly, that too from a person who you respect a lot, you are bound to think about their words…

And then there was Lavanya and her subtle comments. Although she had told him she accepted their breakup, that she understood he did not love her the way she loved him. And yet, she never missed a chance to remind him how she wished she were in Khushi’s place. Or sometimes, even pointing out how Dhruv and Khushi were such good friends and she and Arnav too can be friends like that. It was a veiled provocation of course, to make him start looking at Dhruv and Khushi in different light…

Lavanya’s clever attempt to create misunderstandings between Arnav and Khushi.

However, neither she nor Anjali had anticipated that just in few hours both of their wishes were going to be fulfilled.

.

.

Khushi was almost done getting ready. She had worn the lehenga he had selected for her, albeit from her own designs. He would always say her designs were flawless and that he wanted to bring them all to life. The one she was wearing today was one of her most expensive ones though. With real diamonds and thin threads of silver and gold, it had cost a fortune. But he had insisted she wear it. And the design he had finalized for their wedding was supposedly the costliest ever to be made in India.

She sighed.

She loved him so much. He might have made her wear gold and diamonds, but her real gold was him and his love. She could do anything for him.

Overwhelmed with her feelings, she bit her lower lip under her teeth and thought about how she should let him know what he meant to her. She remembered she had carried a notepad in her handbag. The same bag she had taken to office during her first week, before switching to a smaller one later.

She rummaged through her bag, searching for the notepad and pen, and frowned when her fingers brushed against an envelope she did not remember keeping there.

She pulled it out and turned it over. A bold “Arnav” was written on it.

Did Arnav leave it for her? How did she not know about it?

Smiling to herself, she opened the envelope and unfolded the letter inside.

And as she read the contents, her smile slowly faded.

It was a letter written by Ratna Malik, Arnav’s mother, to him.

By the time she thought of stopping, it was already too late.

And what she read was too devastating.

Ratna had confessed her crimes and wrongdoings to her son. She had written about how Arnav’s father had been previously married, and despite knowing it, she had gone ahead and married him out of obsession. How she had harassed his first wife, Radhika. How she had ensured Radhika stayed in exile. And how she had discovered that Arvind had never stopped loving Radhika, when she had come to their doorstep with her son, Dhruv. Who was around Arnav’s age… After all, she was pregnant with Arnav when Arvind had found out how Ratna had manipulated Radhika and left her for months…that was when Dhruv must have been conceived. Albeit this time his parents blackmailed him to return for the sake of societal reputation…

Ratna had written that she was guilty of snatching Dhruv’s rights, Radhika’s right as a wife, and Arvind’s happiness. She had admitted she knew her sins would make her pay one day but feared they should not haunt Arnav or Anjali.

Khushi could hear her heartbeat ringing in her ears. The words on the paper blurred, dancing in front of her eyes. This was too personal. Too devastating. And she had stumbled upon it.

She sobbed softly, remembering how Arnav had once told her his mother was his everything. He worshipped her, even her memories. If he ever found out about this, it would destroy him.

Oh God. What should she do?

Did anyone else in the family know? Of course they didn’t. Then who could she tell, if not Arnav?

She could tell Nani ji. After initial aloofness, his nani ji had started being warm and loving towards her. But considering her age, it would not be right to share this with her. Mami ji perhaps wouldn’t believe her, but Payal would. However, this was far too personal to share with someone who was not part of that secret.

Perhaps she could try to talk to Anjali Di. Hoping she will listen.

Or maybe Dhruv? But then she remembered how Arnav had objected to her interactions with Dhruv. He had told her clearly that he did not like her mingling with him and wanted her to stop all contact.

As if on cue, her phone started ringing. It was Arnav. No. She could not take the call. One word from him and she would break. And if she broke now, she would destroy the very first ritual of their wedding, something both of them had been waiting for with such desperate hope.

.

And thus, still torn in her dilemma, she reached Shantivan with her family a few minutes late. Her parents had of course noticed her pale face, and her papa even asked why she did not look happy, but she brushed it off, telling him she was just nervous.

She was soon engulfed in pleasantries and warm welcomes from the Raizadas and the guests they had invited. And she did a good job of keeping up the pretense of happiness, as if she hadn’t just stumbled upon the most heartbreaking secret about her fiancé.

.

.

The last 7 days had been some of the worst days of Dhruv Malik’s life. He had returned from his 3-month long trip eager to meet Khushi and perhaps finally confess his feelings for her, only to be met with the news of her engagement to Arnav. He had been too shocked, too shattered, to think straight.

However, when he saw her with Arnav, saw how happy she looked, how deeply in love she seemed, he pushed his feelings aside. He decided to be happy in her happiness.

But that didn’t mean he didn’t notice her, didn’t care for her.

He had been observing her since the moment she walked in. And he could tell something was wrong. Something serious.

He had also seen Anjali Di take her to her room, the two of them staying inside for over 10 minutes, and only Khushi coming out. She looked even more unsettled then, though she was doing a good job of veiling it.

Should he have left it to Arnav to take care of her? Perhaps yes.

But his heart refused to listen.

And so, he walked up to her, made sure no one was within earshot, and quietly asked her what was wrong. The question instantly filled her eyes with tears, and that was all it took for him to gently pull her away from the gathering, towards Shantivan’s terrace…

.

Anjali Malik-Singh Raizada-Jha had fiercely protected her brother, Arnav, after their parents’ accidental deaths. Her mother often told her that she worried about Arnav because he was overtly emotional, he could get attached or detached to someone beyond normal limits.

And thus, she had decided that the girl he would marry needs to be very strong herself.

For some reason she didn’t think it could be khushi.

Until this evening.

When Khushi walked in with her family and relatives, and later requested to speak to her in private, Anjali had not expected the conversation to lead to their mother’s letter.

Panicked, she had made Khushi promise she would never show that letter to Arnav. That she would guard that secret, come hell or high water.

And it was in that moment that Anjali realized the truth. Khushi truly loved her brother and she was strong enough to carry the weight of a secret that wasn’t hers to keep…

.

.

Arnav had been desperately waiting for Khushi’s arrival as the guests had already started coming. But she wasn’t there yet. He had tried calling her phone too, but she hadn’t picked up either.

He had gone back up in his room to fetch his car keys and go to look for her.

When he came out of the room, he scanned the gathered crowd in the hall and noticed her parents as well as her side of guests were there. His eyes started searching for her now. but she wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

And an ugly voice in his head pointed out, Dhruv wasn’t there as well.

Lost in his thoughts, scanning the house for any sign of her, he nearly collided with Lavanya.

“ASR. Easy there.”

“Sorry, I wasn’t looking.” He said, trying to sidestep.

“Are you looking for khushi?”

“Yes. Did you see her?”

“Yes. I saw her come in a while ago.” Lavanya answered. And then as if fate had presented a golden chance to her, she added, “She was with Dhruv. He took her up to the terrace.”

Something snapped inside him.

Without another word, Arnav turned and walked away. His irritation had turned into confusion, and that confusion into something dangerously close to panic.

He took the stairs two at a time.

And then he saw them.

Khushi was standing there, on the terrace, her face buried in Dhruv’s chest. Her shoulders shook as she cried, and Dhruv’s arms were wrapped tightly around her, one hand resting protectively on her back.

For a moment, Arnav could not breathe.

Khushi in Dhruv’s arms.

The sight hit him harder than anything had in a long time.

.

“We should tell him, Dhruv.” Khushi was sobbing, her voice breaking with tears streaking her cheeks. “He has a right to know.”

Dhruv wiped her tears with his thumb. Although he knew the truth she had revealed, he had promised Nani that he would not tell Arnav. Even when he wanted to… but he was under their debt of generosity, and he also knew arnav’s fragile emotional state.

So, he said, “No, Khushi. We cannot. You know he won’t be able to handle this. It will destroy him.”

“But I feel so guilty. It feels wrong to hide something like this from him.”

“I know. I know you do. But trust me, this truth will only hurt him. It is better if he never knows. You don’t have to worry about anything, Khushi. I will make sure this never reaches him.”

Khushi nodded slowly, though her face remained pale with worry.

And a few feet away, unseen by them, Arnav stood frozen.

.

“KHUSHI!” his loud voice made her instantly separate from Dhruv and stand away. He could see fear on her face now.

He strode towards her, and held her by her arms, “What are you doing here, Khushi?”

“A-Arnav… I was just talking to Dhruv.” she stammered.

“Talking? About what? What kind of conversation makes you cry in his arms? What was so important that you ignored how I feel about you and him?” His eyes burned into hers. “So important that you didn’t even come to meet me. On our engagement night. What is it, dammit?”

She trembled hearing his words and his raised voice.

“Arnav, listen-” Dhruv tried to intervene, but Arnav stopped him with a sharp gesture of his hand.

By then, Anjali and Lavanya also came there. Luckily Nani was downstairs with everyone else.

“I am asking you, Khushi. What were you talking about?” he asked in dangerously steely voice.

And Khushi felt her words freeze on her tongue. What should she tell him? She couldn’t tell truth obviously. And no lie was forming in her fogged mind.

So, she kept quiet.

And that angered him further.

“Answer me! I have been losing my mind wondering why you were late, worried sick. And all this while, you were already here. Instead of coming to me, you were here with him?” he snapped.

But she stood there, tears flowing unchecked. And seeing them, something in him cracked… his voice softened despite himself.

“What is it, Khushi?” he asked, almost pleading now. “Koi problem hai toh mujhe batao, please. Do you not trust me enough to tell me?”

That finally broke her composure. “No, Arnav. Please… it’s not that.” she whispered.

“Then tell me why you were crying.” he demanded.

“That too being with Dhruv! You know, being alone like this on your engagement night doesn’t look right. At least you should have been decent than that Dhruv.” Lavanya had taken her chance.

“Please don’t say anything to Dhruv.” Khushi blurted out instinctively, and that was it.

Arnav’s restraint snapped.

“You need to decide right now, Khushi.” he said coldly. “Either you tell me exactly what you and Dhruv were talking about that left you like this… or you forget me and walk out of my life.”

Khushi gasped. Anjali did too.

But both of them were helpless.

“Please, Arnav.” she begged. “Don’t do this. Please don’t put me in this position. Forget everything that happened here. I promise I will never speak to Dhruv again. Just… please let this go.”

Dhruv’s chest tightened painfully at her words, but he still stepped forward.

“I’ll be the one to walk away, Arnav. Just forget what you saw. Forget what you heard.”

“No. I cannot be with someone who hides things from me. Who lies. Who gives more importance to others over me, disrespecting my wishes.” His eyes locked onto Khushi. “So either you prove you are not that person, Khushi. Or-“

Khushi wiped her tears. Initially she was only scared and worried for him. Now, his mistrust was making her angry. Enough of begging him. If he thinks he can live without her, so can she.

And so, she finished his sentence for him. “Or I leave your life, right? I choose the latter, Arnav.”

His eyes widened slightly.

“If one moment makes you forget everything we shared. My love, my loyalty, my feelings for you, then maybe this relationship was never strong enough to survive the truth.”

She took a step back. “So let it be.”

And with that, she turned around and walked away. Away from the function.

Away from Shantivan.

And away from his life.

End of flashback.

And that night, as all of them went to bed- Khushi and Dhruv were given one of the guest rooms, since Dhruv’s old room was still under repair- everyone had a single thought in their mind.

Could that night have ended differently? And if it had, would their lives have looked the same today?

Whether it had all unfolded for better or for worse was something only time would decide.

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A/N - Need comments more than ever for this one. Some major confrontations will start here onwards. There might be no update next week, it'll be difficult to write this story with Valentine's mood around.