ARHI SS: In Another Life Ch38-pg87 COMPLETE - Page 27

Chapter 19: Shyam

Arnav stared at her blankly for a while before confusion clouded his features. "What the- This is utter bakwas Khushi!"

But Khushi wasn't shaken by the outburst. "Do you remember how we met?"

"Yes, but how does that-"

"Do you remember how you sent out that video of me falling off the ramp and into your arms?"

"Yes, but-"

"That brought my family so much shame. But you high class people wouldn't understand that. Because of that video, my family and I were assaulted outside because a couple of goons thought I was a cheap girl. They wanted a piece of me, if you know what I mean. So because of your big ego; my sister's wedding was cancelled, my family was put to shame and I nearly got raped."

Arnav's face consisted of disbelief and a dropped jaw. "Khushi, I-"

"Let me finish. I said I nearly got raped. Shyamji came and saved me. He beat up the men who had hit my Babuji and tried to rape me. He was a perfect gentleman, which is more than I can say for you. If Shyamji hadn't come when he did, I don't know what might've happened."

"But how did he come to live in your house?"

"Well, because of you we left Lucknow and moved to Delhi. I accidentally met him again and he offered me a job at the AR factory. We became friends and my family began to trust him. We offered him a place to stay because he said he didn't have anywhere else to go as he said he didn't have any family. He then asked Buaji for my hand in marriage."

"He did what!"

Yes I am aware of my evil nature but I just restarted college and teachers just love dishing out work for us to do. Between college and babysitting, updating long stuff is very hard and reserved for the weekends. By the way, this story should finish in approximately 3 weeks, just a heads up.

Chapter 20: The Bitter Truth

Khushi had a smirk on her face. Even though she was telling Arnav the bitter truth about the way he and Shyam managed to turn her life upside down, she was enjoying this greatly. Mainly because she's never had the upper hand before and it was fun to watch Arnav squirm as his whole being flushed with guilt.

"Has your hearing gone? I said he asked for my hand in marriage. My family wanted to accept. He was a great person. He saved me from the thugs, found me a job and helped the family around the house. Who wouldn't want him as a son-in-law?"

At this point Arnav was getting physically sick because he knew what a great son-in-law Shyam was and how he could charm any one.

"What did you want?" he asked in a quiet voice.

Khushi wanted to laugh in his face. After all this time of being inhumanely cruel to her and not sparing a thought for her feelings, he finally wanted to know what she wanted.

"I didn't want to marry him. He was like a brother to me and I couldn't see him as anything else. But my Babuji went into paralysis and his wish was to get me married to Shyam, so we finally got engaged."

"How is any of this possible? You were working in my house, you must've seen him around in Diwali or at poojas?"

"I can honestly say I never saw him until the day Anjiliji was hosting the pooja for Akashji and Jiji."

"The day you ran into my arms crying?"

"Yes. I wanted to tell you but I knew you'd never believe me so I went home and told my family. We broke off the engagement and threw him out. The next day I was going to tell Anjiliji the truth but her mangulsutra broke and she freaked out and thought it was a bad omen. Plus I didn't want Jiji and Akashji's wedding to break off."

Arnav frowned. "So let me get this straight, just because Di's stupid mangulsutra broke you didn't tell her? I don't think so. I think this has everything to do with your sisters wedding. How could you be so selfish?"

Khushi shrugged. "So what if it does? I think I can afford to be selfish after all you've put me through. Besides, this is all your fault, if you hadn't released the tapes, none of this would've happened. How does that feel Mr Raizada?"

Arnav was silent for a minute before he turned to her, stood straight and looked right at her.

He casually said, "It feels pretty good. In fact, I don't regret anything."