SS - ArHi: Saansein (Complete) - Page 4

When she saw Arnav sitting on the couch she ran to him, medicines and grocery forgotten.

Tears in her eyes, she stood there in front of him. If she had reached her arms out she could've touched him even but she just stood, hoping she wasn't imagining him there.

"Khushi" Arnav's voice croaked, his voice filled with vulnerability that she had never heard before.

"Arnav ji? Is that really you?" but she never really gave Arnav a chance to answer because her arms circled around Arnav on their own accord. She sobbed against his chest while he finally hugged her back. That made Khushi cling to him even harder.

"Where were you? And why didn't you call? "and the questions started "Arnav ji, look at the state you're in you look like you haven't slept or ate in days. You're so pale! Why didn't you call? You are okay, right?"

"I'm fine Khu"

She touched his cheek lovingly with one hand, her other arm still around him.

"Arnav ji?" She said worriedly, seeing through his lies of I'm fine.

Arnav cursed himself for the umpteenth time that day. How could he think that Khushi could be involved with anyone else? Her eyes only saw him. She was worrying herself, she saw through his lies. She was just so ' Khushi! And that's what made him love her even more.

He cut her off when he pulled her into a hug himself; he put everything he felt into that hug. He felt her body tense momentarily before she relaxed into that hug.

They noticed they were not alone in the room, and broke it off. Anjali was in the hall too, sporting a sombre look on her face. She turned to face Arnav.

"Chotey, I assume you have some questions for me" Anjali didn't fail to notice how Arnav avoided her eyes. How he hadn't spoken to her since they'd gotten back. How when he greeted the family he never looked at her once. She tried not to let her hurt show on her face but she failed gently. Because a certain Khushi Kumari Gupta had seen it all. And she was more confused than ever.

Arnav lead his sister and wife into his room.

"You might want to sit down for this, it's a long story" Anjali tried to smile but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

Khushi sat beside Arnav on the edge of the bed, whereas Anjali chose to sat on the recliner, she sat silent for a few moments to gather her thoughts, and figure out where to start.

"Chotey, tell Khushi Ji where you were for the past six days" Anjali requested softly.

"Khushi, I was" abducted? Captured? ' "Kidnapped" Arnav said hesitantly. His ego hurt in admitting that fact.

What Arnav ji? HOW? I knew something was wrong, di didn't I tell you? Arnav Ji are you okay? Why did they kidnap you? How did you get free from them? Who kidnapped you? Hai Devi maiya! Did you fight a whole lot gundey? Like that time at Nainital? Arna'"

"Khushi ji, I got Chotey kidnapped." That statement made the desired impact and shut Khushi right up

It took a few seconds for the information to sink in, and when it did Khushi's face paled, and she sat on the edge confused and hurt.

Arnav looked at Anjali. This whole time he had been shaken. Anjali had always been Arnav's pillar of support since the beginning. Without Anjali, there was no Arnav. And Anjali had purposely put Arnav through 6 days of torture? Willingly? It was beyond Arnav, what could even force Anjali to make that decision.

"I did it" her voice vividly displayed her remorse. Arnav stopped himself from comforting her.

"Before both of you judge me, I need you to know that I know about Shyam and Khushi ji." Khushi's face lost what little colour she had, and before she could stop herself tears rolled down her eyes. She subconsciously slipped a little further away from Arnav on the bed. How could that evil slimy bas***d ruin her life so conspicuously?

"Di ' you too?"

"I also know that you're innocent. I've known since the day of Payal and Akash's wedding. But I've had my suspicions since before.

"There were some incidents that occurred when Khushi Ji was engaged to her fianc. When we found the ring on the floor. You remember that right Chotey? When I was so convinced that, that ring was his choice? It was." Anjali paused. Waiting for the news to sink in. She tried to ignore the guilty faces of Arnav and Khushi. She needed to be strong to finish her story. She needed to be strong for her brother and sister-in-law.

"I heard him talking about the ring with the jeweller. But when I confronted him about it he lied to me, and I let him think that I believed it. It was always fishy to me how you both had never met, and I wanted you there on the day of the pooja for that purpose. I needed to see your reaction when you saw him. And when I did, I knew that you were as shocked as I felt.

"So I hired a private investigator. And he confirmed what I was thinking. And we devised a plan to bring Shyam Manohar Jha once and for all. But then of course Chotey had to go and ruin everything!"

Anjali was pacing in front of Khushi and Arnav at this point. So engrossed in telling the story while Arnav and Khushi waited on this with baited breaths, this was a big blow to them both. Arnav was waiting restlessly to know what he did.

"Chotey just had to go marry Khushi Ji for the wrong reasons! You thought you knew the truth but you didn't. And bringing Khushi into this house while Shyam was here was stupid. That is why I was mad when you married Khushi ji. Not because I didn't approve.

"And then things started going downhill again when you cut Shyam off Chotey. The detective knew he would not take this lightly so we had to be very careful, so I thought of sending you to London and keeping you away from Shyam for a while. But then I noticed things were getting worse for you and Khushi ji. That's when I found out she didn't know why you were married."

Anjali took this moment to sit down on the recliner again and observe the faces of Arnav and Khushi. After this day, they would be together once and for all. She would make sure of it, it was about time her Chotey and Khushi ji got some happiness.

"I got the detective to befriend Shyam. It took a while, but Arjun did it. I also caught him snooping around your room. Then the will papers came into the picture and that complicated things. Arjun, your kidnapper was the detective. He is also my friend now, and he was keeping you safe from harm's way. Feeding you on time, and making sure you had your medicines.

"Anyway, Khushi ji had found out about the misunderstanding by this point and I could see it clearly on both your faces that you were heartbroken. And then Shyam had to go blackmail Khushi ji into getting you to sign the papers. I knew then, what had to be done. Arjun convinced Shyam to kidnap you. Hat would keep you away from all of us while we gathered the last piece of evidence for the police to finally take Shyam away from us.

' and now here we are."

Anjali walked up to Arnav and Khushi and sat in front of them on her knees. Putting her hands on her ears she let out a teray-eyed "Sorry, Chotey, Khushi Ji. I hut you a lot didn't I? I'm sorry that Shyam came into all our lives. I'm sorry, that I kept Chotey away from you all these day. I'm just so sorry for everything!"

"No Di!" Khushi immediately made Anjali let go of her ears and pulled her into a hug. "It's not your fault. In fact, I have gained more respect for you what you did ' could only be achieved by a strong woman and that is what you are. And thank you, you got Shyam out of all our lives, and that is what we all needed."

Anjali smiled gratefully at her through her tears, wiping them very fast she turned to face her little brother, who had tears of his own in his eyes.

"I should've protected you"

"Arrey Chotey, I'm the older one, na? I shouldn't have been so stupid with him, but hes gone now."

"But Di, why didn't you tell me?"

"Are you kidding me Chotey? You thought you knew the truth about Shyam and went off and married Khushi ji, while keeping her in the dark" Anjali knew it was a low blow to bring that up now, but she had to make him understand. " and besides, you being here would mess up gathering the evidence."

"Evidence?"

"Yes Chotey" She looked back and forth between Arnav and Khushi, wondering how to disclose this last piece of information Arjun had told her. When she could hold it in no more she finally blurted out "Turns out, Khushi ji wasn't the only one he was lusting after. "

See? I listened to you all telling me to make my update longer. Its 5 pages on MS word. Now it's time for you to return the favor and comment and like please 😆 Last part up in a couple days time! 😃