When Tables Turned...
Chapter one: The other end
She felt the train come to a halt. Though she knew in her subconscious that it was not her stop, she couldn't help but peep out of the window. A strange feeling of dread washed over her as she closed her eyes and leaned her head against the window and along with that dread came memories and she remembered the incident that had made her leave Delhi 5 years ago
Flashback
The slap echoed across the room and khushi nearly lost her balance with the impact of the slap. Turning her head in shock, she looked at the red eyed angry Anjali who stood in front of her breathing heavily.
"I trust my husband. I know him. He will never betray me. Ever. I believe him and I know you must have taken advantage of his good heart. You must have thrown yourself on him and he didn't have a heart to bring your shameful acts in the open for the sake of Chote and Akash."
Khushi joined her hands and looked pleadingly at Anjali
"Di, Shyam was staying in my house as-"
"ENOUGH" her voice echoed in the mansion and the rest of the family stood watching the scene too frozen to move.
"My brother and my husband are the most important people in my life and you have made a mistake of hurting both of them. I want you to leave the house this very minute."
Khushi opened her eyes coming back to the present. Five years ago on this very day, Arnav had married her forcefully thinking she had been having an affair with Shyam. Her family had disowned her while Arnav had made her life a living hell. When Payal had Akash had gone on their belated honeymoon to celebrate their 6 month anniversary, the heavily pregnant Anjali learnt the truth about their marriage when she overheard Arnav confessing to khushi why he had married her in the middle of an argument.
What followed later was the scene which flashed in front of her eyes moments ago. Anjali had refused to listen to her. Arnav had not bothered disillusioning his precious sister about her husband because of her pregnancy and put the entire blame on khushi. The raizadas had hurled accusations at her and had thrown her out of the house. She remembered going to buaji's house later that night. She remembered how her parents had packed everything and left for lucknow with her instead of fighting for the truth hoping that it wouldn't shadow Payal's marriage.
The initial days in Lucknow had been difficult. Because her heart was broken, her spirit was gone. Khushi walked around like a zombie for days till Rajbir Malhotra had come in her life- , her childhood friend, making her laugh and teaching her to live again. She had always depended on Rajbir as a kid and when her mother told her to get engaged to him a year ago, it had been the most obvious thing in the world.
Because she knew the only person she had truly loved had never loved her.
That Fairy tales never came true.
She hoped she would find a good husband in her friend.
She still remembered the day when Rajbir told her that he had to go to Delhi because he was hired by a rich business tycoon for his sister who was going through depression. Rajbir was a psychiatrist.
His calls had been regular in the beginning but as days passed the calls had reduced. She remembered his last call three days ago telling her that he had fallen in love with his patient and asked for her forgiveness, apologizing for the promises he couldn't keep.
And here Khushi was back on the train to Delhi. Seeking for answers once again. She wanted to know the reason behind Rajbir's betrayal. Of all the people she had ever trusted, she had never expected Rajbir to break her trust. It was true that they weren't in love but they had been friends and for the sake of that friendship at least she deserved more than a phone call telling her that it is over.
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Reaching Delhi, she caught an auto to Laxmi nagar and hurriedly dropped her luggage in the house that had been empty for five years. Without wasting another minute she got out of the house and called Kishan, Rajbir's best friend.
"Kishan, where is he at this very moment?" she asked breathlessly
"Hotel blue orchid- gazebo- but khushi'"
Khushi cut the call before he could complete the sentence and hailed another auto
"Bahiyyaji- take me to hotel blue orchid"
Khushi could see the gazebo at a distance, decorated in beautiful fairy lights. Hurt beyond belief Khushi rushed to the place where her former fiance was getting engaged. As she ran, she could see that it was see that it was a small affair and she thanked devi mayyiya for that once again. She mentally began to count the number of people. Eight.
As she neared the gazebo, she saw that everyone had their backs to her and they were clapping gesturing that the ceremony was done. She stepped inside and yelled as loud as she could
"Stop."
As everyone turned around, khushi felt the breath leaving her body as was looking in the eyes of the Raizadas and the person whom her ex fiance was getting engaged to was none other than Anjali singh Raizada herself.
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Arnav felt peace settle in his heart as he watched his sister glowing with happiness as the person she loved put a ring on her finger. She turned to him, giving him a bright smile as Arnav handed a ring to her. He felt at peace seeing her smile. Peace not happiness. Because his happiness had gone out of his life five years ago when he had wronged his wife in more ways than one.
Khushi
There wasn't a day that passed without him thinking about her. He still remembered the day when his sister had slapped Khushi after knowing the truth. He remembered telling khushi that their contract was over and she could get out of his life and leave them in peace. Her family had left for Lucknow. When Payal came to know how khushi had been wronged, she had unveiled the truth of shyam along with proof. With Akash's help they had got Shyam's call details tracking all the calls made by shyam on khushi's phone when he claimed to not know her. Payal had brought the whole neighbourhood in laxminagar to justify each and every statement that had come from Khushi's mouth. She had shown photo's of shyam and khushi's engagement.
That proof had been enough to convince Arnav but not his di. It was then that NK from nowhere came with his camcorder which he had accidently left on the terrace and that had clearly recorded Shyam Khushi hug. That had been the final straw. Anjali had collapsed and hit the table hard. That day she had lost her baby and had gone in a state of clinical depression. 4 years and several doctors later, Rajbir Malhotra entered his life, a renowned psychiatrist. He had watched Di come out of her shell. He had seen her fall in love again.
When he had asked Rajbir stay on even after Anjali recovering, Rajbir had declined. Arnav had seen the love in Rajbir's eyes too and had told the other man that his sister would shatter again. Rajbir had confessed that he was engaged and there was someone waiting for him in lucknow. When Rajbir was actually about to leave, he had suddenly announced that he had decided to stay and asked for permission to officially date Anjali. He had said when the right time came, he would break the news to his fiance.
The sound of clapping broke his train of thought and Arnav looked at the happy faces of his family. He was in the process of feeding a piece of sweet to his di when a voice which haunted his thoughts rang in his ears
"Stop"
He watched frozen as the women who haunted his dreams, who colored his every breath stood in front of him, dressed in white, looking like an angel fallen from the sky. He took a step forward wanting to hug her, to apologize, to say all the things he had only thought of when he felt his sister gasp in shock and grasp his arm tightly
Confused and irritated at his sister, he turned to her but it was Rajbir's voice that caught his attention
"Gudiya." Said Rajbir his voice cracking
And in an instant his world tilted on its axis
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
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