Chapter 6
The silence in the room is deafening.
My mind goes blank as it tries to process this information.
How could this happen?
How could he die before I could see the panic in his eyes when he was caught?
How could he die before I could see the terror take root in him when he was convicted and sentenced?
I look around the room, and shock is evident on every face.
Except a few..
I have no time to think about this discrepancy, because all my attention is suddenly drawn by Di's move towards the sofa, where she sits down heavily.
Concern for her well-being suddenly overrides everything else, and I rush towards her, and so does everyone else.
Their cries of concern go unheard as she sits there with a blank expression.
A glass of water is offered to her, but she doesn't react at all.
NK's voice cuts across everyone else's.
"I think we should confirm this before we do anything else."
I know he is right, and I pull out my cellphone with the intention of calling my friend, my eyes still trained on Di and Khushi.
When the call is answered, I tell him what I have just heard, and he promises to call me back with the details.
After I have conveyed this to everyone, Mami suggests that Di should be taken upstairs while we wait.
But they have barely gone halfway up the stairs before my phone rings, and I answer it immediately.
When I have heard what the commissioner has to say, I realize that all eyes are trained on me, and I take a deep breath before I cut the call and face everyone.
This isn't going to be easy for me to say, but it has to be said..
I will keep to my promise about not keeping secrets from either of these women, who have surprised me with their strength.
I look from Di to Khushi, and take another deep breath before I speak.
"The commissioner just said that a body has been found in a run-down apartment in a seedy area of Delhi..but since the entire house was burnt down, the body cannot be identified without a post-mortem examination.."
"What? Then how do they know it is his, Nannav?"
"Because..some things have escaped the fire..including parts of his wallet, and his blue-stone bracelet..but the autopsy will confirm this..it is scheduled for later today, and he assured me that he would let me know as soon as he finds out.."
The words are barely out of my mouth before I see that Di has turned away, and is heading to her room at a brisk pace.
I know that she needs me now, but I am torn..
I go to Khushi, and look into wide hazel eyes filled with shock.
"I'll be back, Khushi.."
I wait for a response, but she just stares at me, and I finally turn away.
The policewomen come up to me.
"Mr.Raizada, we are not sure if we need her statement if this is true, and he is actually dead. We will be back later, if needed."
I watch them leave, and suppress a sigh of relief because Khushi has been spared the horror of recounting her ordeal.
When I reach Di's room, she is facing the wardrobe, and even from this distance I can see that she has some pictures in her hands.
I go up to her, but she speaks before I reach her.
"I'm fine, Chotey..don't worry.."
"Di, I.."
She turns to face me, and I am amazed once again at her apparent calm.
"For a moment I was shocked..after all, this is the man I've spent three years with..the father of my unborn child.."
She takes a deep breath.
"But then I looked at Khushiji, and I felt ashamed of myself for even feeling a moment's pity for such an evil man."
"Di, your baby will still have me.."
"I know that, Chotey. She will have you, and Nani..as well as Akash, Payal and Mamiji..I am so grateful that I have an entire family who cares for me so much. But tell me, will my baby have Khushiji as part of this family too?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm talking about your marriage, Chotey. It isn't legal, and without a Pandit, the wedding rites aren't complete either.. So how can anyone call her your wife?"
"I'm sure there is a way around that,Di. I'll ask my lawyers.."
Even as I speak, I am amazed at the way Di has managed to move past the issue of his death, and completely focus on Khushi.
"I hope you find a solution, Chotey. She deserves all the respect due to her as your wife, and as a Raizada."
"I'll talk to her right now, Di."
"But before you do that, I want you to see this. I found these in a locked drawer that I had completely forgotten about. He always carried the key with him wherever he went, but I never questioned him about it.."
I take the pictures from her hand, and start looking at them.
My heart starts racing even as a red rage builds inside me.
These are pictures of Khushi, and from the camera angles it is apparent that she had no idea that they were being taken.
There are pictures taken in Gupta house, as well as Shantivan.
There are also pictures taken during Akash's sangeet.
But there is one picture that makes my heart stop.
My hands shake as they are holding it up.
It is a photo of a TV screen, and it shows a startled Khushi in my arms.
I realize that this has been taken during the media coverage of the footage I had released after that fashion show in Sheesh Mahal.
Which means that all this started in Lucknow..
"He was clearly obsessed with her, Chotey. There can be no doubt about that. How could we have been so blind?"
"I..I don't know, Di..I must go.."
I turn around with the pictures in my hand, and leave the room to head towards Khushi's.
I need to ask her about this.
I need to ask her if my suspicions are correct..
Am I responsible for more sins than even I am aware of?
But when I reach her room, I find her family there with her, along with NK.
Everyone stares at me when I enter, and I see the questions in their eyes..
Buaji speaks first, and her voice is tinged with fury.
"Arnav babua, I need to ask you something!"
"Buaji, I.."
"Look, I don't care what happened with that man. Nandkishore always punishes the sinners! But I do care about my innocent Khushi.."
Khushi looks up, and begins to say something, but Buaji cuts in before she can do so.
"Was that true? That you had no pandit, and no witnesses to the wedding?"
I cannot lie, and yet the truth shames me.
I nod my head, unable to offer anything in my defence.
"Hai re nandkishore! How could you do this?"
"Buaji, I'm sure there must be a solution, let me talk to my lawyer and.."
"I've already spoken to one, Nannav."
I turn to NK, once again surprised by yet another person who is able to sucessfully ignore the news of Shyam's death.
"You have? When?"
"A few minutes back, I spoke to a friend who is a lawyer, and he said that your marriage.."
NK looks at Khushi, then back at me.
"You are not married, Nannav.He told me that without the wedding rites, this marriage isn't even sanctioned by religion. Legally or otherwise, this marriage doesn't exist."
Stunned, I can only stare at him for a moment.
And then I turn to Khushi.
But Khushi isn't looking at me.Her mother is sitting beside her, and Khushi stares at her parents.
"Khushi, listen to me.."
Her mother stands up suddenly, and comes towards me with folded hands.
I don't know what to say..
"Arnav bitwa,things were bad enough when you married her without anybody's knowledge..somehow we weathered that.And then there was that horrible attack on her..and now it turns out that you are not even married.."
She looks back at Khushi, who has now risen to stand by her father.
When she turns back to me, her voice is shaking, and there are tears in her eyes.
"Khushi doesn't deserve this, bitwa..how will she recover from all this if she is still hearing all kinds of taunts from others?We are not rich and powerful like you..we live in a small neighbourhood ,and people will talk..and I really don't want her to go through that, on top of everything ..I can't bear to see her hurt again..Which is why I must ask you .."
I know what is coming next.
And so does Khushi, but she says nothing.
And her silence is an answer in itself.
But I still try to stop the inevitable ..
"Aunty, please , just listen to me.."
But Garima Gupta is no mood to listen.
"No, bitwa..please don't stop me from saying this. There is no bond of marriage between the two of you, and I cannot have my daughter living with you in this manner..so we will take her with us , and please don't try to stop us."
I look at Khushi again, and my eyes drop to the mangalsutra around her neck.
The one thing she hasn't removed yet..
And then my gaze moves to the pictures I am still holding,and I remember the threat that might still exist..
"Aunty, I understand what you are saying..and I am really sorry that it has come to this.It is all my fault, and I cannot apologize enough.."
"Hai re Nandkishore, we don't want your apology! All we want is to take our daughter home with us!"
"Buaji, I know that..but what I am trying to say is, we have to think about Khushi's safety as well..We still don't know if Shyam is really dead, and at this point, it is better if she stays within the security of Shantivan.."
"You can provide the same security at her house, as well. All it takes is a few bodyguards , Nannav."
"Yes, Babua, that will work. "
I can't believe this.
I am trying really hard here to combat their anger and suggest a solution that makes her safety a priority, but NK seems hell-bent on getting her away from me!
In a selfish corner of my mind, I know that I am also doing this to keep her here, with me..so that I can try to bring her back.
But I push these thoughts away, and focus on my new opponent, NK.
Why is he doing this?
"NK, can I speak to you for a moment?"
I turn away towards the open door, and leave him no choice but to follow me there.
I make sure I am out of earshot of the people inside, and then face him.
"Just what the hell do you think you are doing, NK?"
"What does it look like, Arnav?"
I don't know what shocks me more, the confident aggression in his stance, or the use of my first name.
"Why are you fighting me on this? We both know that it is better for her if she stays here in Shantivan! She will be safe here, I can protect.."
"Is that the only reason, Arnav?"
"Of course it is! Her safety is my biggest priority right now!"
"I think there's another reason you are doing this. And I don't like it."
"What are you talking about?"
"You are making her safety an excuse to make her stay here. So that you can force her to come around, now that you just found out that you aren't even married."
I am shocked at his insight, and I cannot even deny that he is right.
I don't say anything for a moment, and he breaks into a sarcastic laugh.
"I'm right, aren't I? That is so typical of you, Nannav. When are you going to stop thinking about yourself for once?"
I immediately go on the offensive, his words making me realize that my motives are still self-centred..
"I am thinking only about her! And anyway, what is it to you? Didn't you tell me yesterday that you had given up on her? So what difference does it make to you?"
"I never once said that I have given up on her!"
"What?! "
"All I said was that I knew that she has never seen me in that light. But everything has changed now, Arnav."
I fold my arms across my chest.
"Really."
"Yes. I told you, Arnav, I have had feelings for her for a while now. But I stepped back after you told everyone that you were married. But now that I have found out that you are not.."
"Unbelievable! So you want to turn this into some sort of contest? How can you even think of something like this after all she has gone through?"
'On the contrary, I think that at this point in time, she needs someone like me. Someone who will put her needs above all else.What she doesn't need is a man who doesn't learn from his mistakes, and who still continues to try and force her into something she doesn't want!"
"How do you know she doesn't want to stay here with me?"
"Why don't we go in and ask her?"
I still for a moment, doubt clouding my mind.
The next moment, I shake myself out of it.
I am confident in my love.
I know that if it comes down to a choice, she will choose me.
At least, I hope so..
"Let's do that, NK. And then maybe you will learn the truth, once and for all."
"The truth?"
NK laughs and comes up to me, his eyes boring into mine.
"The truth is that you are afraid, Arnav. And let me tell you this: I have stepped back once before.But I learn from my mistakes, unlike you."
He turns towards the door, and looks at me one last time before stepping inside.
"I'm not stepping back this time, Arnav."
"Neither am I."
He smiles, and goes in.
I follow him immediately, and speak before he gets the chance to do so.
"I'm sure you all will agree that our first priority has to be Khushi's safety. And you know the two choices before you. But I think we should leave it up to Khushi to decide where she wants to be."
"Hai re Nandkishore, you want to come home with us, right, Khushi?"
NK speaks up too, and I control my anger with great difficulty.
"Khushiji, we will keep you safe no matter where you are. So please tell us what you want."
All eyes turn to her, and anguish floods through me as I remember everything that she has gone through in the past few hours.
She had prepared herself for the ordeal of giving her statement, but then she received the news that her assailant may be dead.
And then she received an even bigger shock when she found out that our marriage isn't even real..
I haven't even had the chance to speak to her, and reassure her about any of this..and now I might never get the opportunity to do so..
I stop myself from drowning in doubts, and stare at her, willing her to say what I am hoping for..
She stares back at me, and then her gaze moves to her parents.
I take a step forward, and finally address her.
"Khushi, tell me.."
She turns back to me with a new resolve in her eyes.
I hold my breath as she begins to speak.
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A/N: I know it's a short update, but I'm really short on time today!
Hopefully I can make up for it in the next chapter.
New readers, please add me to your buddy list for PMs of updates.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
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