Raizada and Sons - Thread 4 - Page 23

Chapter 52 - Mirror test

Khushi's eyes fluttered open and searched for husband's face, relaxed and mouth slightly parted. His hair was ruffled and dishevelled; she was responsible for it, having tugged it mercilessly the previous night. A smile spread across her face as she tried to untangle herself from his constraining hold. Arnav grabbed her under her arms and pulled her closer, unwilling to let go. Khushi let out a soft chuckle, "Arnav, we have to get up, just take a look at the time. You are miserably late for work and I too have to go with Amma" Khushi spoke in her sleep heavy voice and an angry grunt was all she got in reply. Khushi waited for a few minutes, before she tried again.

Arnav finally opened his eyes to see an exasperated expression marring his otherwise beautiful wife's face. "What?" Arnav asked groggily, not wanting to wake up or let go of his wife's soft body. Khushi lifted his hand off her waist and sat up, adjusting her tee shirt to step out of bed. "Coffee", Arnav mumbled and snuggled into the duvet, wanting to get a few more minutes of sleep before his morning coffee was served. Khushi got up, running her hands through her hair to pull it into a bun and pressed the intercom to the kitchen to ask for Arnav's coffee to be sent to the room.

Khushi stood under the shower to relax her tired body; having woken up in the middle of the night, they had dinner quietly as the rest of the household was fast asleep. Arnav and she had stayed awake late talking, something they had not done in a long time. Arnav had then made love so tenderly; it had knocked her breath away, not one used to such tenderness from him, she felt special, like a deity worshipped. When they had finally fallen asleep, the house was waking up to start a new day. Khushi heard the knock on their room door and Arnav open it to allow Murali to serve him his morning cup of coffee. After wrapping her long hair in a towel and pulling on her bathrobe, she stepped out of the bathroom. She hurried to the walk-in closet to get ready for the day, throwing a quick look at the clock. Arnav took in all this while sipping his coffee and stood up to follow her, to extract a kiss before she assumed her whirlwind form.

She was pulling out a saree when he reached the door and pushed it open. Khushi turned at the sound and one look at her husband; she knew what was on his mind. Holding up her hand to stop him "I am fasting today Arnav, so please don't come near me and make it difficult" she pleaded. Arnav let out a soft chuckle "I don't expect you to do all this for me, Khushi" he drawled, stepping inside and closing the door. Khushi took a step back to keep the distance intact. "It has nothing to do with your expectations Arnavji, it is what I want to do; would you kindly leave me to get ready?" she requested with sweet sarcasm. Arnav raised an eyebrow with surprise "I mean it Khushi, you don't have to do all this and Amma never forces you to. Why are you doing this?" he asked not liking the idea of a hungry and therefore a very irritable Khushi.

Khushi let out a heavy sigh before she answered "Arnav it is an auspicious day for your birth star and Panditji had suggested this fast and puja to Amma. I want to do it for you" was her simple reasoning as she met Arnav's steady gaze. "I don't like this, Khushi" Arnav said with full seriousness, he had always opposed this starving in the name of every possible God. He sure did not want his wife falling ill because of the fasting, which was clearly unhealthy.

Khushi understood Arnav and his concern but she wanted to do this and for some strange reason, it felt right too. Illogical, but the need to keep the fast for her husband seemed to fill her with inexplicable energy and love for him. "Please Arnav" Khushi requested softly and watched him consent to her idea with an annoyed glare followed by a slight nod. "I will have your breakfast ready, please shower and come down quickly" she added to pacify him. She was rewarded with an angry glare "Yes, please serve me food, while you starve yourself for heaven alone knows what purpose" he barked and stormed out of the closet, leaving a concerned Khushi. She was used to fasting and knew Arnav never encouraged or endorsed that practice, but had hoped he would understand her wish to do it now. She felt this would cement her relationship in the eyes of God as well; she too wanted him for eternity. Convincing him would be very difficult but she could not give up, at least not now. The door to the bathroom closed with a loud bang and she knew, she had upset Arnav and it would take a lot from her to get him around.

Arnav came down towards the living room, ready to go to office, his anger barely concealed. Khushi was laying out his breakfast on the dining table; she looked up to call him for breakfast and saw him walk purposefully to the door to leave for office. Khushi rushed to catch up with him, placing a hand on his shoulder to stop him. Arnav looked at her hand "I am not allowed to touch you as that would nullify your fast but you can" he questioned with an angry whisper and clamped his eyes shut when he saw Khushi withdraw her hand quickly. "What kind of f**k all logic is this Khushi? You starve for my good and all I ask; is it is really worth it. I will have a cranky irritable wife at the end of the day and how is that going to lead to a happy husband or happy anything for that matter" he demanded standing close to Khushi now. She blinked to formulate her argument; Arnav let his laptop bag fall on the ground with a thud and grabbed her by the waist with one hand as the other cradled her head. "You have to learn to stop all this, it is unnecessary and I don't want you doing all this" he bit out before he took her open mouth in a punishing kiss. Khushi tried stopping but gave in till she was released, tearing up at his attack.

Arnav ran a thumb over her lips "Please Khushi, I absolutely hate this concept of wives fasting for their husbands. I cannot stand it sweetheart" he said solemnly. Khushi let the tears trapped in her eyes flow out and heard her husband groan with frustration. Sniffling softly Khushi pushed Arnav a bit and wiped her face. "I wanted to do this Arnav, why is difficult for you to understand; now Amma will be so disappointed with me. She will admonish me for not being able to refuse you even when I have to keep a fast for your wellbeing" she complained, tearing some more.

"Don't bother doing all this Khushi; I agree with Arnavji, no husband is worth the effort his wife takes to pray for his wellbeing" Indira said with a defeated voice and saw Khushi and Arnav step out of each other's arms in surprise. Bhavna who was coming towards the living room let out a scandalized gasp. Everyone present near the foyer and the living room turned to look at Bhavna. "Indira" Bhavna hissed with unsuppressed anger. "Did I say something wrong Amma?" Indira asked matching her mother in law's anger.

The silence in the room was unbearable, not a soul moved or said a word. Bhavna let out a suffering sigh and sunk into the sofa in the living room. Arnav and Khushi rushed to her, while Indira stood rooted to her place. "Did I say anything wrong Amma?" Indira asked, this time her words sounded like an insult. Arnav snapped his head in her direction "Please Bhabhi, do you have to do this now, clearly she is distressed" he said gesturing towards his mother. Indira was beyond caring, "With a son like Arjun, she cannot lead a stress free life, Arnavji. So please do not hold me responsible for her plight" she said maliciously.

Khushi stood up, surprised at Indira's sudden outburst "Bhabhi" she started but was cut off by Indira "Please Meethi, I don't want to say anything to you, I would regret later. I want to ask Amma, if it is really worth going through all the trouble for sons and husbands" Indira asked, clearly wanting to draw blood. Bhavna looked at Indira with ill-concealed shock on her face. "Every time you take up for your sons Amma, when do we get our due? You only call us your daughters but don't treat us as one. I am waiting for the day you would take a stand and back us instead of your sons. Actually don't answer that, just let me know if it worth waiting for you to realize that" ignoring Arnav and Khushi while addressing Bhavna.

"That is enough Bhabhi; I am sure you have an issue with Amma and Arjun, there is a time and place for everything. You can have this argument another day, could you please let it be for the time being?" Arnav requested, the steel in his voice belying the choice of words. Indira looked at Arnav patronizingly "Sure Arnavji, I understand your concern for your mother, don't get me wrong. But I am tired of waiting for Amma to prove her love and affection for us. Every time Meethi and I are asked to let it go in the name of family honour. Do you think it is fair?" Indira asked with a catch in her throat.

"Bhabhi, please don't" Khushi pleaded not knowing the reason behind her name being dragged into the argument. Indira looked at her with tenderness before she answered, "Meethi, it happens all the time. Viren misbehaved with you and what did Amma do? Nothing, she asked you to let it be. Your Bauji was furious with the way she handled the whole mess, I thought that incident would have forced her to introspect but I was wrong. She is back to demanding things from her daughter in laws; wanting them to cover up her son's sins" Indira paused to catch her breath.

Khushi avoided meeting Arnav's eye and Bhavna was staring at Indira like she was seeing the devil in front of her eyes. Arnav looked at Khushi with unmasked anger. "Khushi" he spat out, demanding she look at him and was angered further when he saw her leave his mother's side and sit on the sofa at the opposite side. "Oh for God's sake, please Arnavji. You don't have to get angry at Meethi; it is your mother who is at fault and not your wife. Amma asked her not to tell you anything and requested Mamaji to keep it from you. You want to know another thing Arnavji?" Indira asked mocking him with a smirk on her face. "It was Amma, who asked me to get rid of the Lila situation and asked me not to use any of ASR Group funds to clear the mess her darling son created. She of course asked me not to tell you anything. I have had it up to my neck with all this mess" Indira finished the fight leaving her suddenly, she came and sat next to Khushi who had her face buried in her hands.

Tears flowing freely down her haggard face, Indira spoke softly now "Arnavji, Meethi begged me not to contact Lila or give her money. She even suggested I let you handle everything but I acted before she could share any of the details with you. Amma wanted the problem to go away and urged me to do the needful. Her son had not got the constituency ticket and now was saddled with the issue of that girl. There was only that much heartache he could handle, so I was sent to clean up the shit he had no right to create in the first place. I am so embarrassed with my existence; I tolerated a spineless man all these days and for reasons that were so trivial. I am wrong in blaming Amma when I am no better. I caved into her demands; had I stood my ground, things would not have deteriorated like this" Indira spoke in a monotone addressing no one in particular like she had to rid her mind and heart of all the baggage she was carrying the whole time she was married to Arjun.

Bhavna, Arnav and Khushi listened to her patiently, each one reassessing their role in their home. It was essential for all to take a mirror test as Indira suggested, to know if they really could recognize the person who looked back at them. In their struggle to meet social and family norms, they had forgotten to be true to their conscience. The fight was indeed between good and evil, even if the evil resided in their home, it had to be overpowered, the sooner the better.

Res

Edited:

Really I had not seen it coming between Arnav and Khushi. I mean her faith. I want to ask Arnav who is he to decide how Khushi will express her love for him? His is a highly physical expression of love and if I am not mistaken Arnav had once mused that he tired her with his demands.

He can be demanding but not accommodating. Huh?

ASR will definitely get upset with Khushi for hiding from him the incident about Viren. But if he cannot understand Khushi's simple need to fast for him, how would he understand her need to keep quiet on his mother's insistence?

I am not in an anti-ASR mode or anything. I just want him to understand that love is a two-way thing. Bas!

This Bhavna actually made Indira do the dirty job? 😲 She made her DIL "atone" monetarily for the sins of her son? If I imagine myself in Indira's position I would loathe myself and my MIL too. Imagine giving money to the mistress (though forced) of your husband so that the name of your husband and your family is not dragged through the mud. Your self-respect be damned! Yewww

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third to comment yayy!!!!
i guess this was an eye opener to all the raizadas especially bhavna
it is quite pathetic the way that despite failing miserably as a mother she is still trying to cover up the sins of that poor excuse of a son, arjun.
indira is justified in her outburst.
she has to bear the brunt for all the grievous deeds of her husband, raise her child alone protecting her from the knowledge of arjun's sins, and put up will all the crap of bhavna.
i really feel sorry for her.
finally arnav came to know about viren misbehaving with khushi

Brilliant update Kalyaani. I like that their relationship is growing- how they are able to communicate and talk to each other. I understand Arnav's point of view on fasting- how he wants her to be healthy and happy. Not fasting because she has to but then again it comes down to beliefs... faith. They both have different outlooks on life but both need to compromise to meet half-way.

Bhavna is a caring mother but shocked by her behaviour... but at the end of the day- blood is thicker than water. She tends to brush everything under the carpet and hopes for the best... her family means more to her- that's not how one should be dealing with men like Viren and Arjun- who tend do ruin lives and happiness. I am glad that Indira spoke out- She needed to. It was all going to come out one day. She shouldn't fast for the man that is Arjun. Why should she pray for his long live when he hardly cares about anyone. She had been surpressing her feelings, her concerns and anger for too long but would this bring a positive change or a negative one? Fighting against evil is fair- it's right but when family gets involved; it gets messy. Family against each other- this will lead to many changes- in the process... breaking them up or bringing them closer. I like that Arnav knows now- what he didn't know before. He should have been told. I liked how you emoted Indira's feelings through her powerful words- just brilliant!

Sorry for the late comment- Christmas has been hectic and I am still recovering from food overload and loud relatives.

Speechless!! No words to explain how good this update was! Truly amazing Kalyani. Loved it how Indira showed everyone the mirror..I am so shocked to know about Bhavna who had sent Indira to lila for cleaning her sons mess..this is bad. the way you have written Indiras distress as a wife and her pain as a daughter-in-law..is beyond words. lovely update!

I am shocked to know Bhavana behind clearing Lila's mess through Indira. I never expected this from her but is should have understand this after knowing what she had done during Viren's incident. Wonder what Arnav and Khusi will think of their mother now. It's a very sad situation for any mother or son to be in.
I couldn't agree with her that no husband deserve this dedication from his wife. If there's bad then there's good also. I completely agree that Men like Arjun never ever deserved anything in life but there are men like Arnav .
But glad that she understood and admits that she's equal fault for tolerating Arjun's sin for this long and obeying Bhavana for anything. She should have stood her ground before or atleast let Khusi or Arnav know . But as a woman i do try to understand her situation..But never late than before. Now Arnav has idea over many incidents .
Don't know How Arnav will tackle this situation.
Yes the time has come for self assessment for everyone.
Very well written part...

Awesome update...this is a fiction but the reality is no different...I wonder why even today in India in this century women are subjected to all kinds of torture in name of family honour and society...the way you have explained everything is amazing...

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