ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi
Chapter 6
Since her childhood, Khushi Raizada always had certain notions set about parents. While her mother always looked after her from the time she woke up in the morning till she went to bed in night, her father never bothered to see to her daily life activities. He visited her occasionally, showering gifts and chocolates on her to win her love.
But that never worked. As Khushi grew up, she started craving for the presence of her father in her life but he was always busy with his work, his party and politics. Barely restraining herself from resenting him, Khushi managed to live her life with her mother, her elder sister and her best friend included in it.
And she was content with it. Being the shy, romantic and reserved girl that she was, she built her world around these three peoples she loved.
But never once, her general opinion about a father's relationship with his child changed. She always thought that a father is always meant to look after his children's needs, academic performance and behavior, that's all. An occasional praise here and there was all a child could get from his/her father.
But she was wrong.
As she watched Arnav brushing Manyata's hairs with utmost concentration while the little girl chatted away, she was awestruck. She saw how Arnav didn't miss anything his daughter was saying while tying her hairs in a ponytail.
And it wasn't like Manyata didn't have anyone to brush her hairs or to look after her. She was aware of the housekeeper, Anupama standing nearby watching as Arnav got Manyata ready for school.
He kept books in her bag, packed her lunch, brushed her hair and at last tied the laces of her small leather shoes. He amazed her to no end.
Which father, exactly WHICH father took so many efforts in getting involved in his daughter's life? And Manyata wasn't even his biological daughter.
He was merely playing the role of a caretaker. Yet he was trying to give the small girl the life Khushi craved for. A life full of love, care and fun.
As Arnav looked up and met her watchful eyes, she looked away feeling embarrassed. He must love his sister very much to care for his niece to such an extent.
But what about Khushi?
Arnav married her and then left her. They were living together just for the sake of appearance to the media. Yet she wasn't able to hate him.
How could she hate Arnav? The person has been a family to a girl. The person clearly knew the meaning of love.
Arnav, who excelled in the art of loving someone in which she badly failed, in past and in present.
Khushi snapped out of her thoughts as small hands circled around her knees making her look down at Manyata who was smiling up at her.
"Bye, Mumma. I am going to school." Manyata chirped. Emotions clogged down Khushi's throat stopping her from saying anything.
She is a mother now. A small girl loves her without any condition and any questions about why she never met her before.
Blinking back the tears from her eyes, Khushi smiled and nodded. Still Manyata kept looking up at her expectantly as if waiting for something.
Sudden realization dawned on Khushi making her crouch down on the floor and stroke Manyata's chubby cheeks before kissing them lightly.
Manyata smiled at her so brilliantly like Khushi has given her whole world. She looked so happy that tears escaped from Khushi's eyes when she hugged her. Quickly wiping her tears before anyone could notice them, Khushi hugged her back.
As Khushi looked up, she saw Arnav watching her, assessing her. There was a strange emotion in his eyes like he was curious about what he just saw.
Like he was curious about her.
He blinked and the emotion disappeared just like it was never there before. His gaze wavered over his daughter "Manyata, you are getting late."
"Coming Daddy." Manyata exclaimed before waving her hand at Khushi. As she ran out of the house, Khushi stood up smiling warmly at her retreating figure.
Her smiled faltered however when she realized that Arnav was still standing there. She met his gaze apprehensively as he cleared his throat loudly and said "Just don't go anywhere without informing me."
He waited awkwardly as Khushi thought for few moments. With Aman still out of town, she'd not had any leads to proceed on Niya's case.
She nodded slowly making Arnav storm out of the house. Khushi walked closer to the window and watched Arnav and Manyata getting in the car.
As Arnav started the car, four cars pulled up on the road behind it, following it closely. It must be his bodyguards, Khushi thought before walking back to her room.
But she couldn't help herself from wondering, what exactly it was that made her so curious about her husband?
Why she has started trusting Arnav when she never believed any men she met only few days ago? What exactly is he hiding from her?
And what happened to his sister that he has adopted Manyata and is looking after her now?
As his eyes once again focused on the document placed in front of him, Arnav sighed in defeat before closing it and pushing it away.
He couldn't focus on his work.
The more he tried to solve the mess that his life has become, the more infuriated and out of control he felt. All because of one person, Bade Sahab.
Bade Sahab- it was how people referred to Anuj Raizada whenever they talked to him. It was a name born out of the respect and admiration that peoples felt for his father. And the same words that Arnav used to mock his father. To refuse acknowledging him as his father.
How could anyone look upon Anuj Raizada as an example of honest and wise politician? He mused.
But does Anuj Raizada truly deserve all this name, respect and admiration from everyone? Maybe yes, because people didn't know how cunning and selfish his father has always been.
He only cared about his career, his party and his reputation. If he would have looked beyond it, he could have realized how much damage he truly committed to his family, his kids. He could have realized that his twin kids have suffered so much because of his ego.
Sometimes Arnav wondered if his father ever remembered Anjali. It's been six years since anyone saw her.
He wondered if anyone missed her like he did. It's strange that despite being twins, Arnav never truly managed to know Anjali.
They always fought, hurled things at each other at every possible opportunity and swore every possible second that they hate each other. Still when Anjali needed help, it was only Arnav who came to her rescue.
Being twins helped him a lot. Whenever one was in trouble, the other felt it no matter in which place, country they were at that moment.
And it was this bond only that helped him otherwise Manyata could have died before coming into the world. He could have never managed the chance to know such an angel.
After 6 years, when Arnav finally felt that everything is alright now, his father popped up in his life again. Blackmailing him into marrying Khushi Gupta, Anuj once again destroyed the serenity that Arnav has managed to achieve in his life.
Arnav was shocked beyond his wits when after marriage, Khushi came to meet him. The moment he met her eyes, he recognized her as the girl he saw before. She was in pain like him. Betrayed by family. Stranded and alone like him.
And he knew what it was after having a background check done on her. After reading every detail on her life, Arnav truly felt sorry for her.
Because he knew the pain. He knew the helplessness of being forced in a situation. He was trying to not complicate things further for her and for himself.
But it wasn't enough. Not when they were so alike in what they went through. Not when he was drawn to help her, to ease her pain which was the last thing he wished to do if he wanted no relationship between them.
He needed to stay away from her before he did something stupid.
"Penny for your thoughts, Arnav Raizada?" A cheery, masculine and familiar voice interrupted Arnav's thoughts making him look up instantly.
His eyes widened in astonishment because at the entrance of his cabin stood Shyam Jha, dressed in a casual black Polo T-Shirt and denim jeans, grinning cheekily at him.
Shyam Jha, the only person he trusted with his life. The only person never betrayed him. The only person never asked for anything in return of his selfless friendship. The only person he called as family.
Arnav felt relief spreading through his mind as his friend walked in, not waiting for his permission and sat causally on his desk.
"Shyam Jha, where the hell did you disappear?" As soon as the happiness to see his friend again worn off, Arnav roared.
Shyam chuckled "Hello to you too, Arnav. I am fine, thank you very much."
"You didn't answer my question Shyam." Arnav snapped, ignoring what his friend said.
"Yeah, yeah I know it's been 2 months since I last met you. My work took a bit more this time." Shyam answered. Throwing a stack of papers in front of Arnav, he continued "But I completed it."
"Shut up. Have you actually managed to complete your story?" Arnav asked, a look of disbelief on his face.
"Yeah I completed it. It's all yours now. Edit it before I show it to my publisher." Shyam replied triumphantly, now going through files on Arnav's desk.
"I am not going to read your story this time Shyam. I am busy." Arnav replied sadly, keeping the stack of papers aside.
"Are you f**king kidding me, Arnav Raizada? We had a deal remember? I supported Anjali's company only after you promised me that you will read my stories after I am done with them." Shyam reminded making Arnav groan.
"Alright you idiot, I will read it. Waise bhi, it wasn't like you supported me just because of that. You would have financed the company anyway." Arnav nodded as he stood up and slapped Shyam's shoulders in a friendly manner.
As he sat beside Shyam and lighted a cigarette, Shyam shook his head "You need to stop this Dude. You are taking everything way too serious. Oh and congratulations, I read about your marriage."
Arnav hummed absent mindedly, puffing the smoke out. He rolled his eyes when Shyam snatched cigarette from his hand and crushed it beneath his shoes.
"Is it that serious?" Shyam asked looking concerned.
"More than you can imagine. I believe you are here for long time." Arnav replied nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulder casually.
"Yeah I am. By the way if I were you, I would have looked through the papers. Someone sent something for you." Shyam said mischievously.
When Arnav looked at him quizzically, he added "I was in New York."
As the implication of his sentence dawned on Arnav, he quickly picked up the stack of papers and started looking through it while Shyam watched him, smiling.
His hands stilled as something fell through it on the floor. Keeping the stack on the desk, Arnav bent to pick it up, his heart thudding in anticipation.
The moment his eyes fell on it, a tear trickled down his cheek. It was a picture of Anjali dressed in short pink sundress, her black hairs reaching till her waist as her eyes twinkled in happiness.
She was winking at the camera, mysteriously. She looked healthy and recovered from everything that had happened to her.
It soothed Arnav's heart as he smiled sincerely after a long time, hastily wiping tears from his face.
His sister is safe and happy.
Khushi was going through some paperwork when Anupama came running towards her, phone in her hands "Mam, someone is asking for you downstairs."
Taking the phone from her hands, Khushi pressed it against her ear "Hello?"
"Khushi it's me, Aman. These fools aren't letting me in." Khushi smiled looking excited after hearing her partner's voice.
"Let him in." Khushi ordered Anupama.
The moment Aman entered in, Khushi rushed to hug him "Thank god, Aman, You are back."
As Aman raised his hand refusing to rush towards her, Khushi halted and looked at him carefully. He looked angry and anguished.
"I was out for few days and you got married. What's all this Khushi?" Aman thundered making Khushi step back in apprehension.
"Woh Dad forced me. I wanted to call you but your phone was switched off. The marriage couldn't have been avoided, Aman. He blackmailed me." Khushi replied sadly.
Aman's eyes softened. He walked forward, keeping his hand on Khushi's shoulder and smiled sympathetically "I am sorry Khushi. I was just worried about you. I thought... Anyway, at least your father finally did something good. Vikrant won't disturb you now."
"What do you mean?"
"Remember 5 years back, Vikrant was one of the candidates for the State elections. He was contesting for Delhi's Chief Minister's post but his nomination never got filed."
"Yeah I remember that. What about it?" Khushi asked looking bewildered.
"Vikrant submitted the form but the Election Commission never got it. It was never found. From what I have got to know, your husband, Arnav Singh Raizada was behind it. Apparently, he hates Vikrant. "
"Oh. But why would my father force me to marry Arnav because of that? I didn't tell him that I was working on a case against Vikrant. Neither I told him about the attacks." Khushi asked looking confused.
"I think he got to know about it and he did all this to protect you. Just think about it, Khushi. Your father forces you to marry Arnav only after the attacks. What other reasons it could possibly be about?" Aman pointed out making Khushi wonder.
"I need to talk to him if this is all it's about. But Aman this is very good information. If Arnav hates Vikrant, maybe we can take his help for this case." Khushi replied excitedly.
"We can't. This is what I wanted to talk to you about. While I was in Mumbai, some goons kidnapped Niya after killing peoples we have hired to watch her." Aman replied grimly.
Please ignore typing mistakes if there are any. Soon, there will be another confrontation between Khushi and Arnav,
Aditi
Current Affairs
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