Smitar's: Loving Khushi#4 link to #5 on Pg 1 - Page 86

Originally posted by: rulama

Smita,😊

Here is the interpretation to Part 18.

This update is about the quality or state of being true, that which is in accordance with fact or reality. It is about TRUTH.

When Arnav left the dining table leaving behind an untouched plate, all became worried. It was a certainty that Arnav was stewing in his own juice. He was neither able to tell others nor bear it. He had only himself to blame for his predicament. A fact that did not go unnoticed by the rest. Seeing that his Arnav Bhaiyya had not touched a morsel, HP hurried to fetch a glass of milk lest he sleeps on empty stomach. Weary beyond belief, Arnav placed his head on his pillow only to feel that Khushi's jasmine scent emanating from every part of his room. Turning his head, his eyes sought her pillow and he pulled it into his arms trying to get solace from it. He tried hugging it to get some sleep. His mind drifted to what Khushi must be doing then. He looked at the time and realized that she must have finished her work by then and ready to turn in feeling pretty tired. How could he call and disturb her. Though he had given in to her pleadings and let her go, in reality he was missing her extremely. All that he had taken for granted when she was around seem to be mocking at him. He who had thought himself infallible was proven wrong time and again. As he buried his face into the softness of the pillow, a tear ran down and vanished into the pillow showing that the honest truth was he too was dependent and there was nothing wrong in being so if the person who happens to be your life-line is your soul-mate.

When Khushi eased her tired limbs on her bed, it was midnight. She thought Arnavji must be sound asleep. Unable to control herself, she called him. Hearing the ringtone, Arnav grabbed his phone and eagerly said Khushi? The genuineness of his happiness to hear her voice was felt by his girl listening far away. She asked, whether he was fine? He told her he was, and asked what about her? Attempting to smile, she told him that she was, and was getting used to her work now. Naniji, Buaji, Anjaliji, Nanheji, Jiji, Jiju, Mamiji, Amma, and Babuji had called her that day. Arnav reminded of the harshness he had unleashed on her swallowed hard, as she continued that, they had apologized and they think that she had left because of them. All Arnav could say was, hmmm, showing her that he had her attention. Khushi pleaded with him to tell them that, her reasons for leaving were not them. Arnav told her that, she left because all together had made it impossible for her to stay, especially him and that was actually what happened. As Khushi protested, Arnavji...! he asked her, was she happy? It was a simple query, she found very difficult to answer. She could not find words to tell him. For if she told him that she was happy it amounted nothing but resorting to falsehood. She tried to voice out but she could not utter a word as she could not bring herself to do so. Arnav smiled sadly at the silence as he knew, in all trueness she was not at all happy and she was not the one who would resort to false hood.

Khushi tossed and turned in her bed unable to relax. Sleep eluded her though she was dog-tired. She felt her small bed too large for her, her arms empty and she felt cold all alone. She shut her eyes tight hugging herself, imagining that it was Arnavji's arms hugging her and feel the warmth of Arnavji's body behind as he spooned her and the weight of his hard arm lying around her waist, his warm breath teasing her ear... With a whispered Arnavji she was out like a light. The naked truth that she was confronting was, she misses her Arnavji more than anything and anybody else. Though he had given her tough times it was his gentleness whenever it surfaced was overpowering every other thought in her.

NK drove his family to Varanasi at the end of the first week, while Akash was driving the car with Buaji, Payal, Amma and Babuji. They had clearly forbidden Arnav to accompany them to Varanasi as they thought, in principle he deserved it. Girija Devi watched as the large group trudged into her office seeking permission to meet Khushi. Girija Devi watched and listened to the tearful reunion from a room in the next building overlooking the building housing Khushi. All the ladies hugged Khushi and Khushi hugged all of them, smiling through her tears. Girija Devi sighed happy to see the smile break on Khushi's face, a smile that had been missing for one week. Finally, the family went in to check out her quarters. They looked around. She had added four pots of flowering jasmine bushes to her balcony. Khushi explained that the mali had let her have it. She thought she need not disclose the real reason as it was her attempt to keep her Arnavji close by surrounding herself with plants. They nodded but everyone knew what it stood for. The inside track of Khushi missing her Arnavji was visible for all. They did not even mention Arnav in the passing. Finally as they were about to leave, Khushi asked her Jiji, how was Arnavji? Payal frowned while answering, that he was alright. Khushi with her heart drumming with fear asked her, were they very angry with him when he told them the truth? Payal, who was furious with him for having treated her sister despicably, told her bluntly, that he deserved all he got. Hearing her Jiji's harsh words, tears pooled up in her eyes. She went to Naniji and asked her not to be angry with Arnavji. All of it was not his fault. The circumstances, her silence... any one would have misunderstood her... Nani looked with fond eyes at Khushi who had gone pale with the knowledge that her Arnavji had to listen to harsh words from the family. She was glad that Chotey was so lucky to get a wife who loved him in spite of his nasty tongue and cruel ways. She was glad that Chotey's wife was an easily forgiving person for she needed it very much with Chotey and his behavior. Buaji was pleased to see her Titliyaa defending Damaadji and exclaimed so. But Anjali was firm and told her that Chotey was wrong and he has to face the consequence of his action and she was determined that he would do so too. The sternness in Anjali's voice, added verisimilitude to her already beleaguered mind, and a tear trailed down Khushi's cheek. The Raizadas' sighed inwardly. The truth was, come what may, Arnav was embedded in Khushi's heart for her lifetime. Even though he possessed a cold calculated and stubborn nature added with his sternness, it was all super imposed by the positive side of him. He had successfully inveigled into her being and meshed with the very fabric of her life.

Mami who was known to resort to dramatics but give a cut and dry opinion told her mother-in-law that she cannot bear it anymore! Here Khushi is crying like a leaky faucet and there Arnav Bitwaa was on hunger strike! Nani's chiding, Manorama, was of no use. Khushi became aware that Arnav was not taking his food properly making her eyes widen with horror. Mami continued to say that, Arnav Bitwaa loves Khushi and Khushi loves Arnav Bitwaa. Then what was the problem? Anjali's protest, Mami..., too had no impact! Mami defending her nephew, told that it was not like Arnav Bitwaa pretended to be nice and was not so? He was always the same not good! He was always arrogant, always angry. For, if he had stared at a pot of milk it would have curdled and they could make paneer out of it. She was overcome by the unhappiness that was in her Bitwaa's life. For her Arnav, Anjali and Akash were all the same. When one was hurt she too would hurt. So seeing her Arnav Bitwaa suffering from being away from his wife and the cause of that suffering, Khushi too was suffering by being away from her husband she could not find any logic in their suffering altogether! Brushing aside Akash's protest, Maathe!, she gave the plain talk, why was he chanting Maate! Maate!? Truth is always truth. Khushi Bitiyaa fell in love with Shatrughan Sinha, the Shot-gun Sinha. Now what was the use of wishing Shatrughan Sinha to become the lover- boy Rishi Kapoor? Coming out with unvarnished truth, Mami made known to Khushi that her Arnavji however much he says he is fine, was not at all so. Her family deciding enough has been spoken on that topic rushed Mami out of the room. In this melee, they did not see, Girija Devi observing them with a frown.

This was how Girija Devi got a better picture of the state of things between Arnav and Khushi and Khushi came to face with the reality that Arnav will never voice his necessity of having her by his side with the fear of pressurizing her into yet another decision.

That is why it is titled TRUTH.

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it"

~ Flannery O'Connor

That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it.