Chapter 16
"Khushi you are not even thinking of staying away from me are you? " Arnav asked with a frown on his face.
"But Di said…."
"I am not even going to consider it do you get it Khushi Kumari Raizada. I will take you home even if it means hauling you over my shoulders and taking you screaming and kicking." He said sternly.
"But Di…" Khushi began again.
"Forget Di, I myself have. In the past 2 months I have not even spoken to her. What she did to us was unpardonable," Arnav said angrily.
"Arnav. She is your Di. You love her. Also, how can you leave her alone with that man without finding out how she is or without giving her your support?" Khushi asked, now totally worried about Anjali Di.
"How can you be like this Khushi? She caused you so much pain. She almost separated us forever," Arnav said with the grief of the past months re-surfacing. "I still love her Khushi. I keep track of her life through Akash. But she has to realize what her husband is all about or she can never move on in life or be the same sister to me that she once was," he concluded stubbornly.
"You loved me and yet it took you so long to realize the truth. He is her husband, how will she believe me over him?" Khushi asked.
"Well, she has to. Truth is truth and she has to figure it out." Arnav said sternly.
"But…she is alone and defenseless with that man…" Khushi said, trying to raise Arnav's protective instincts.
"Well, then she has some growing up to do. I and the rest of the family have always cushioned her from the world. May be that's why she is so blind to Shyam. It's time now to make her stronger. Trust me on this Khushi. It is for her best. You understand don't you honey?" he asked anxiously.
"I do. I trust you. I always will. But I am worried about her. I care a lot for her, you know that right?" she said hugging him.
"I know Khushi that she means a lot to you. She still means the world to me. She is almost a mother to me Khushi. But, hiding her from pain is not the best way of helping her. Consider this as the biggest challenge in her life. She has to win it to win life," Arnav said.
"You are right. I wish God gives her the strength for this…"
Anjali, was not having it easy in the last two months. She had come back to Mumbai, completely hurt and upset with Arnav. Gradually she had decided to find the truth even if it meant that her dear Shyam was wrong. But she strongly believed she would not be proved wrong.
As a starter, she had gone through the chronology of past events in her mind.
She remembered Teej, one of the first times Shyam had started the disappearing acts from home. She remembered Khushi had come to the temple to return the Thaal and Shyam had come after she left.
She remembered her visit to Laxmi Nagar temple and how she had spotted Shyam there. He had told her he had come to meet a client.
She remembered the anniversary. Khushi had been in the party serving sweets and Shyam had disappeared mid-way.
She remembered Janmashthami. Khushi had mentioned The PG and his name and they had laughed about the fact that her husband and Khushi's PG had the same name. Khushi had asked her family and the PG to come. He hadn't come.
She remembered the Diwali night when Khushi had come home. Shyam had suddenly fallen sick after eating pineapple. He had not emerged from the room till Khushi had left.
She remembered their visit to the Gupta house to fix Akash's wedding. Khushi's fianc, the PG whom she now knew as Shyam, had again escaped.
Finally Khushi and Shyam had met face to face at the pooja. She remembered Khushi looking upset, remembered her saying she had broken off the engagement right after that, remembered that Khushi had not been happy about the engagement from the beginning….
Anjali's thoughts had clearly pointed at one direction…Shyam.
But to Anjali, this was inconceivable. There must be something wrong…she thought…
But even if Shyam had been forced, he had been the one to lie to her all along. He had known Khushi and had yet pretended to her that he did not know Khushi.
He had hidden from Khushi all along, which meant his intentions were to deceive her and not let her know he was married….
Anjali had finally accepted that Shyam was definitely guilty. But she did not want to believe it. She needed proof…concrete proof…she owed that to herself, her Shyam, her life, her future…she could not let go of Shyam without proof….
And then it happened in the form of Kamala.
When Khushi entered their home in Delhi, she was greeted by the fragrance of Agarbattis. When she entered the house she saw a full swing Puja in progress with the whole Raizada and Gupta clan.
She turned surprised eyes to Arnav and he told her softly, "This is for you and the baby…so that God always protects the two of you."
Khushi was overwhelmed with this gesture from Arnav and her eyes reflected the love she felt for him. She had always wanted Arnav to believe in God, at least respect God, and today God had answered her prayers.
The whole family was thrilled to see them. Khushi had got them gifts as she was supposed to be coming back from London. Payal, who knew the truth, could not control her tears of joy. She also showed Khushi her beautiful baby girl Rhea, much to Khushi's delight.
Mamiji was mellowed because she saw the obvious love between Khushi and Arnav.
After the whole family had left and the Puja had been completed, Khushi lounged comfortably in Arnav's arms in the bed.
"Khushi…"
"Hm…"
"Do you think Junior will mind if I act funny with the Mom," he asked smiling his mischievous lopsided smile.
"I will have to check," Khushi said with an equally naughty smile. She inclined her head at an angle and said "Hm. I think he/she minds. It is kind of disturbing…"she said smiling.
"What the! Check again. Tell the baby Daddy is starved for 2 months and it is not fair…" he continued the drama.
"Hm," Khushi smiled again<"Let me see what Junior says again," and she again inclined her head. "Well Junior says that it's time you held your hormones in check because Junior is on the way…"
"What nonsense!" Arnav exclaimed and pushed her back on the bed. "You can tell Junior that Daddy's appetite for Mom is insatiable and there is going to be no checking of that…"
Khushi smiled into his eyes as he proceeded to make love to her, being careful not to hurt the baby. Khushi looked even more lovely with the baby bump, he thought. To Khushi, Arnav's lovemaking had never been more tender and soothing….
It was in the wee hours of the morning that they slept, wrapped in each other's arms. It was then the call came from Akash,"Arnav, it's about Anjali Di…"
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