ArHi SS:A Thing called Marriage #1 *Complete* - Page 12

When Khushi had woken up next morning, she was flabbergasted to see Anjali already up and sipping tea while reading some papers. Just then Anjali looked up and smiled brightly at her, putting the papers down on the table and coming to sit in front of her on the bed.

"Good morning, Khushiji." Anjali wished her cheerfully shocking Khushi further.

Where was the Anjali Singh Raizada who looked rather sad and lost yesterday whenever Khushi talked to her?

Not giving Khushi any chance to wish her back, Anjali got up and walked towards wardrobe, opening it while saying "get ready Khushiji. You have a long day ahead. First you need to prepare something sweet for us and then some ladies are coming to see the new bride of Raizada's."

Khushi watched carefully that the wardrobe was divided into two sections. One section had colourful and expensive sarees while other had pale kurtas and salwars similar to one which Anjali was wearing right now. She noted how all those saree looked new, like no one have not even touched them and saw Anjali picking up one saree out of them and walking back to her and bringing it forward to give her.

"Now wear this saree and get ready, Khushiji."

Taking up the saree from her hands, Khushi stood up and moved towards the bathroom silently. Anjali's smile fell as soon as Khushi went out of her sight. It was so difficult for her to pretend how much happy she is.

Anjali Raizada who was seen always with a smile playing on her lips was lost.

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Khushi got ready and went to kitchen to make something sweet for breakfast as it was a ritual performed by every bride after her marriage. While stirring kheer and adding dry fruits in it, her mind wandered back to what she had seen few minutes ago.

When she came out of the bathroom wearing the saree given by Anjali, she walked towards the dressing table and started brushing her hairs when her gaze fell on the small vermillion box lying on the dressing table along with a simple yet beautiful looking mangalsutra.

She was still staring at it when Anjali came rushing towards her, picking up the vermillion box and mangalsutra quickly and shoving it inside a cabinet of the dressing table, mumbling something under her breath incoherently.

So Anjali Didi doesn't wear her mangalsutra and vermillion? Was she divorced? Had she separated from her husband already?

Questions formed in Khushi's mind making her concerned and worried about Anjali. Ever since she came in Shantivan, Anjali was the only person who had made efforts to make her feel comfortable.

She didn't want anything bad for the woman whom she had started liking a lot.

Going through all this confusing thoughts, Khushi finished cooking breakfast for the family and was laying the covered dishes on the dining table when Anjali came and had asked her to go and call Arnav to come down for breakfast.

Horrified at what Anjali had proposed, Khushi immediately said no' to it and started requesting her in return to do the same. After much needed assurance and soothing words, Anjali had managed to send Khushi to Arnav's room while waiting downstairs.

Anjali wanted to see what Arnav would do to decide her next course of action and had kept her fingers crossed for that. She didn't wanted her brother to disappoint her in any way and certainly didn't wanted to go against the brother who had helped her when her husband resembled no less to a monster.

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When Khushi had finally reached outside the room she had thrown out of yesterday, her footsteps halted at the threshold. Her hand gripped the pallu of her saree in fear and she closed her eyes tightly before taking another step towards the room.

After not hearing any voice for few seconds, she opened her eyes and peeked in to see her husband's hand still around his neck, gripping his tie as his eyes trailed at her through reflection.

Lowering her gaze, Khushi halted there fidgeting with her saree while wondering how to talk to him.

What if he again said anything harsh to her? Just then, she remembered Anjali's words and cleared her throat loudly in order to gain Arnav's attention.

"Breakfast is ready." She stammered looking down, not having enough courage to look up at him.

"Since when have you started doing the work of the servants of this house? Not that I mind assuming you as another servant of this house."

With a pang in her heart, Khushi turned and walked down not replying to Arnav's sarcastic comment at all.

If she was expecting her husband to be a little nice to her, then she was so wrong.

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Not wanting to create any scene in front of Anjali and his Dadi, Arnav quickly came downstairs and had his breakfast in complete silence and left for work soon after that.

He couldn't wait to start his plan.

If Anjali was happy to see her brother not looking at Khushi with hatred, she managed to hide it very well. They both had a long way to go and if she knew her brother fully, she knew he won't change this quickly towards Khushi.

She was still cautious about everything.

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After spending the evening with few ladies who had come to see her for the muh-dikhai' ritual where Anjali introduced her to everyone, Khushi was thinking about where to go from here?

What If she again went to their room, Arnav may throw her out again and she can't go to Anjali's room again, could she?

Feeling someone tapping on her shoulder, Khushi turned and looked up to see Anjali looking down at her "Khushiji, what are you thinking? Just go to your room and take some rest before coming down for dinner."

"Didi, I..." Khushi hesitated while fidgeting with her dress as Anjali understood the reason behind Khushi's reluctance to go to her room.

"Don't worry Khushiji. I have talked with Arnav already and he won't dare to misbehave with you." Anjali reassured Khushi making her relax a bit.

Thanking Anjali silently, she turned and was about to go to her room when Anjali spoke again "Khushiji today I helped you but maybe I won't be there to help you always. You need to speak for yourself Khushiji. God helps those only who have the courage to face the problems of their life bravely."

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Khushi was taking off her jewellery when the door of the room opened and Arnav came in, looking very angry and bothered about something. Closing the door behind him, he threw his laptop bag on bed.

She watched through the mirror as Arnav walked up to her and stood behind her. Understanding that he want to say something, she kept the necklace on table and stood up turning towards him, waiting for him to start speaking.

She was startled when Arnav pushed the stool on which she was sitting aside, closing the distance between them. She stepped back, sticking her back to the mirror avoiding standing close to him.

She gasped when Arnav stepped forward again, the fabric of his coat brushing against her dress and raised his hand to place it beside her head on the mirror, bringing his face closer.

"Di again warned me to not misbehave with you. Already managed to get my sister on your side, did you?"

Khushi opened her mouth to say something when Arnav removed his hand from the mirror surface and cupped the back of her head, pulling her closer. Placing her hands on his chest instinctively, she looked up finding Arnav's face too close to her comfort.

"You are playing with fire, Khushi. Just stay away from my family. I have already lost my parents because of you. I will destroy you if anything happened to my sister because of you" Arnav bit out, his eyes shooting daggers at her.

"I didn't do anything." Khushi protested weakly.

"Oh stop your I-am-innocent drama. I know you very well to believe that you are everything except an innocent girl."

Pushing her away abruptly, Arnav stormed out of the room leaving a very stressed and shattered Khushi behind.

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