Part 7
Khushi felt nauseous as she leaned over the bathroom sink. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror, only to recoil when she saw the pale and ghostly image of herself. She tugged at the eye bags forming under her eyes, feeling her stomach flip once again. She closed her eyes slowly, letting the unshed tears fall freely. What was she to do now? What would she say?
One year ago
"Let her go di! She obviously has no desire to stay here anymore. Let her go." Khushi's flinched at the scorn in his voice.
"But chotey-"
"DI. There's no more to discuss. Game over."
Khushi glanced over, in shock, at the man she used to call her husband but he wasn't facing her. He stood staring out, more interested-as was always the case- in the poolside than any matter going on behind him in the living room.
"Aise kaise ho sakta hain! Khushiji aap-please I'm begging you to reconsider. Please'Just tell me why? Why do you want to leave? Are you not happy with this family? Is that why?"
Khushi looked up at her sister-in-law, tears brimming. She felt a wash of sadness sweep over her as she looked into her panic-stricken face. It tug at her heartstrings that she was about to leave this family behind. Her eyes began to sting, clouding, as she scanned the faces of the ones she called "family" in turn individually. They had been the only things keeping her going, kept her living, in these four years...They had been the only ones she had known...She had foolishly began thinking they were her own loved ones...her own family...and now they were going to hate her. Her eyes finally fell on him. She smiled sadly; now they were going to become his. She had lost everything.
"Arnavji'" she called softly, in fact it came out rather choked, as she desperately tried to keep hold of some semblance of control. To keep herself from breaking down finally...
She witnessed him tense. Smirking, she decided she hated this man before her. This very action of his confirmed to her that he had never felt for her and never would. Did he have so much pride that he could not even see her off? Did he not feel anything knowing that he would never see her again? Was she the only one sad and in pain here?
Of course she was! Khushi realised the man was probably jumping for joy inside, it was probably the happiest day of his life. He had won. He had removed the pawn from his path, sealed a checkmate and in effect the match. She had lost the battle. Though as Khushi stared for the final time at his stiff back, she despised this rakshaas more than she ever had any other person. He didn't even have the decency to kill her in one blow; instead he had captured here and stripped her slowly of everything. She had left her only one piece to play with-herself and even that she was not sure how long she would be able to keep a hold of.
"I'm leaving," she said simply yet it was statement which undoubtedly held bitterness. Bitterness he may have detected as he turned around swiftly to meet her gaze. They stared at each other but as his eyes bore into her, she found herself unable to read them. She was certain however that it was not anger like she had expected...
Their eye lock was disrupted by naniji's distraught voice this time.
"Khushi bitia! What joke is this? How can you even think about leaving this house? Why won't you tell us what's wrong?"
Khushi, with difficulty, lifted her guilty eyes to meet naniji's worried face. She remained silent for what could she say? That she was running away...from her husband? With someone else?... That her grandson knew? That they had talked about this as husband and wife?"
Her eyes pleaded desperately to just let her go, no questions asked. Khushi's face shrank, this was the last time she would ever see concern and love in those eyes again. She felt her knees go weak and her legs threaten to give way.
"Hello hi bye bye! Saasuma is asking you something! Reply please!" came Mamiji's cutting remark.
"Everyone this is enough. Khushi," he directed his steely stare at her again before saying, "I'll carry your luggage to the door."
"But chotey-"
"Arnav-"
By this time naniji and Anjalaji were sobbing beyond control.
"I said let's go Khushi," his cool and collected voice broke through the sobs, before he went over and picked up her only possession, her tattered suitcase. He began making his way to the front door. Khushi's eyes narrowed. How could he be so heartless?
Khushi, refusing to look up lest she completely break, simply mumbled "I'm sorry everyone. I truly am" before reluctantly following the way to the front door, where her husband stood waiting. She desperately tried to block out the chorus of crying behind her and to most of all not look back.
***
"Khushi, are you alright in there?" Khushi flinched when she heard Arnavji knock on the door. He hadn't gone down yet?
Scrambling to turn the tap on, she replied, "Haven't you gone down yet? I'll be right down. You go on ahead."
There was a pause, an uncomfortable one, in which Khushi began splashing water onto her tired face in an attempt to revive herself somewhat. Needless to say she started, when after a while he replied, "w-well I thought you would want to you know...face this together?" Khushi stopped whatever she was doing instantly, hands hovering in mid-air. Tears were threatening to fall again. Oh no-she would have to hold them in. She took in a few sharp breaths.
"Give me a few minutes. I'll be out."
"Okay," she heard both the smile and relief in his voice. She winced momentarily and then returned to washing her face, washing the tear-stains away.
She emerged a whole ten minutes later, when she had finally managed to get her hair into a presentable state and had somewhat covered up her dark circles with concealer. She was greeted by a smiling Arnav who jumped up from the bed in an instant.
"Ready?" he asked with bated breath.
She tried to smile reassuringly but all she could manage was a tight-lipped upturn of the lips. "As ready as I'll ever be." She sighed.
Arnav's smile fell slightly as he saw her concern. Exhaling, he slowly took her frail hand in his own.
"Khushi I have something I need to tell you."
"Yes?" she looked up him quizzically, wide-eyed in expectation. She felt her heart skip-what was it now?
Arnav looked down, unable to meet her eyes. She began to panic.
"Well...everyone...everyon-they don't know the reason why you left."
So well yeah...sorry guys who wanted a family confrontation in this part but I feel including one would have rushed this and that is not what I want so I ended it here. Please do remember that the story is going to unravel slowly because I feel it is a sensitive issue and that is the only way I can do justice to the characters. Therefore I have also decided to go against my original plan and turn this into a continuous fanfic. So stayed tuned. Also just a note, I probably will not be updating anytime soon. I have to put writing on hold (for a couple of weeks) as I have exams and assignments to write. But who knows if you leave me lots of comments I might be tempted to slip in another chapter here and there. 😉
Links to another ss I started btw:
The eyes have it (not as serious as this one, needed to escape the angst all around me): http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2442129
CID
Music Corner
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