Khushi hadn't talked to Arnav since last night, when he ripped her fragile heart from her chest. The words still swirling around in her mind "I wish I had never met you khushi kumari Gupta." He was right though everything Shyam had done to his beloved sister was all her fault. Guilt started to chipping away at her already cracked heart. She didn't know how much longer she could take the guilt of seeing Di in such a state because of her.
25 days left in the marriage contract, khushi concluded.
It's 25 days she told her self. She could make it. She would show her face to Anjali unless it was absolutely necessary. She didn't want to cause any more pain to Anjali, or give Arnav a reason to be angry with her. Khushi would try to act normal on the outside though she is wasting away on the inside.
Chin up, smile on; she repeated the words to herself as she greeted her soon to be ex-husband at the door.
"How was your day Arnavji?" She questioned
"Fine." One syllable response he's still upset with her then, she thought.
She quickly followed him up the stairs into their bedroom.
"So I was thinking that..."
"Whatever it is no." He snapped
"But you haven't heard what I have to say."
"If it comes from that screwed up head of yours it can't be good, so no." He grunted
"I was saying that I will eat my dinner here so that Anjali won't feel burdened by the sight of my face at dinner,"
"Fine." Was his only response
"Fine." She tossed the word back at him
At dinner Arnav sat across from his Di watching her intently as she picked at her plate. Over the past few days her appetite has been slowly returning. He felt relived to see her complexion had gone back to normal as well. For days her face was pale a lifeless, yet somehow today she looked back to her old self.
"Chote will you take the day off tomorrow? I want to go to the temple and make offerings."
"Sure, Di whatever you want." "Khushi should also come. The two of you can take blessings from the priest." Anjali's voice was barely above a whisper
"Ok Di" he said afraid that if he declined it would ruin her progress.
Upon finishing dinner Arnav had returned to his bedroom to see Khushi walking out of the bathroom. Even with her hair wet and no makeup on she still managed to kick his heart into over drive. The woman an effect on him, one he was trying to fight tooth and nail for the sake of his Di. He knew that yesterday's events he taken their toll on her, and he so badly wanted to make it right and apologize for the harsh words he had said. He couldn't, he had to keep he distance from Khushi emotionally and physically so Di wouldn't think he was choosing Khushi over her.
"Di wants to go to the temple tomorrow, she wants you to come along." He said pulling her from her inner thoughts
"If that's what she wants." Khushi agreed though on the inside she was reluctant.
Little did either of them know that tomorrow was going to change their lives forever, and not for the better.
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