The story so far:
Arnav finds out about Garima's secret dalliance with his father all those years ago, which lead to his mother's suicide. Arnav stays away from his wedding ceremony out of anger, but comes to his senses and drives back desperately to Khushi, but is run off the road into a tree, rendering him unconscious.
After waiting so long at the altar, Khushi makes up her mind to leave but faints in exhaustion. The Gupta family whisk her away, and they leave Delhi in in the night, for Mumbai.
Arnav searches franticallly fro her to no avail...
The Search for Happiness: Chapter 2
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ONE MONTH LATER
Anjali sat knitting on the couch, as she did every night the last month, waiting for Chotey to return after his nocturnal routine of jogging. He usually came back exhausted, bone tired and deathly quiet. She had found out 2 weeks ago, from Aman, that Chotey had started including Laxmi Nagar in his running route. This began after they discovered that Garimaji and Sasiji were back at their house, sans Khushi and Madhumatiji. And completely unyielding of information as to Khushi's whereabouts, not even to their daughter Payal.
Aman Mathur, Chotey's right hand man, was the closest thing to a best friend. Anjali was so thankful for his presence, the Marketing Executive of AR Group, someone Chotey as the CEO can fall back on for help. More than a stuffy corporate type, he was a silent supporter of Chotey's love story, the only person who could say Khushi bhabhi, and get away with it. Through this difficult time, he weathered through Chotey's thunderstorm of a temper, cutting and abrasive behaviour, brooding and bereaved silence, and also through the restless wandering in search of Khushi.
Anjali and Aman struck a companionable friendship, one with the wellbeing of Chotey in mind. They spoke daily, consoled each other in their concern for Chotey, each taking care of him at their respective turfs. Anjali liked this platonic relationship, being friends with a man without the pressures of a relationship. Shyam was in police custody, and she had signed her divorce papers, for all her concerns she had rid herself of his presence forever.
Her reverie was interrupted by Chotey, who walked in the door, his mood dark and brooding. He stopped briefly when he spotted his Di at her post, like every other night. After making sure she had taken her dinner, he excused himself and made for his bedroom.
After a bath, he walked out to the poolside patio of his room, his sanctuary. He sat there each night, reliving his memories of Khushi; calling out to her, cajoling her, scolding her for disappearing, pleading for her to come back, missing her terribly. At times he looked as though he was having actual conversations with her, at times just calling her name repeatedly as though not getting a reply.
Every night Anjali watches her brother do his nocturnal ritual. These are the only hours she sees him reacting to his misery, the pain etched in his face heartbreaking to watch, his silent tears, while he held his head down between his knees and wept in loneliness and despair. She tried to be there for him, but he would just bottle everything up and present a stoic facade, that Anjali just left him to himself, surmising that if he didn't let it out, he would go quietly mad in grief.
The whole family had found out the full gory details of Arnav and Khushi's marriage: the 6 month contract, and all that Khushi had bore with a smiling face. All for her love for her family and the Raizadas. But although everyone resented Arnav for his cruel treatment of Khushi; they also knew he loved her immensely and was cruelly denied the opportunity to make it up to her by Dadi's untimely revelation.
Two weeks after Khushi's disappearance, Arnav left his office mid day, and walked into Garima's house in Laxmi Nagar. He sat silently as Sasi and Garima joined him in shocked silence, knowing the young man had to get the weight off his chest, the obvious suffering in his visage pricking at their conscience. This after all was the man whom Khushi loved so earnestly, the man who lived with them and treated them with utmost respect and esteem.
Arnav told them his version of what happened 14 years ago with his parents and respectfully asked Garima to explain hers. He patiently listened and found to his horror that she had been tricked by a married man into a relationship. Much like Khushi was with Shyam. He lamented on how badly he had misunderstood Khushi and would with all his heart make it up to her, as he loved her so much.
But it had been to no avail, as they didn't have Khushi's address for him. They had made a vow to let Khushi grow as a person away from expectations and pressures, to realize the person she wanted to be. Sasi Uncle had put his hand on Arnav's shoulder and pleaded for his daughter to be given a chance to heal herself. Arnav had walked away without answers but not after putting a tap on their phone.
While Anjali watched over Arnav, at AR Group HQ, Aman was looking through the daily reports of the team of private investigators they had working on finding Khushi bhabhi. They had even tapped Sasiji's house phone to gather any clues to her whereabouts. Sasi and his wife Garima went about their small business and medical check-ups with a quiet dignity that was unnerving. They have all decided that Khushi shall never be in Arnav Singh Raizada's orbit again. Aman did his daily summary every night before he left, knowing ASR will search for it first thing tomorrow.
ASR worked himself to the bone, throwing himself into his work. It translated into increased success and wealth, the company was growing in subsidiaries and assets accumulated, share prices were at an all time high. Employees got plenty of raise, but had to put up with their curt and abrasive Boss, who expected even more from them as they succeed. He walks in HQ every morning before everyone and is always last to leave every evening. Aman is the only one ASR doesn't shout at, all others jump clear of his path.
Everyone knows of his tragic love story, but no one dares speak of it.
***
One month after Khushi left Delhi...
Mumbai , 11p.m.
Madhumati stood at the door of her flat, her eyes searching expectantly at the lift doors, waiting. After some time, the doors open, and Mrs. Raghavan walks out gingerly, with a weeping Khushi in her arms. Sari raasathi, (alright sweetheart) don't cry anymore. Everything will be fine after a good night's sleep. A new day, a new beginning. Theek hai?'
She moved past Madhumati and brought Khushi into her bedroom and settled her in to exhausted sleep. Once she was satisfied, she quietly closed Khushi's door to meet Madhumati's expectant look. I found her at the bench before the bus station this time. She was chanting about how she was a pathetic fool and she was the cause of all the problems', Shantini Raghavan explained with a sigh. How long is she going to grieve like this? It breaks my heart watching her do this every night.'
Madhumati sat herself heavily on the couch. As long as it takes, Shantiniji. I must get her through this', she said solemnly. Khushi started this alarming routine every night since she arrived from Delhi. She would fall asleep every night only to be awakened by crying. Every night at around the same time she would say the same thing,Arnavji humein bula rahe hai, hum jaana hoga!'.
Initially she would just sit and weep heartbrokenly, whispering words so softly. A few days later she started to rail and rant at her Buaji for bringing her so far away from her Arnavji. Once, after two weeks Khushi woke up and started furiously packing a small bag and leaving the apartment after yelling that she was going back to Shantivan. Madhumati had to ask for the neighbours to help stop her as she herself wasn't able to keep up with an angry and agitated Khushi. The neighbours helped to hold Khushi back until she realized by herself the futility of her situation.
She would be just walking back into the muddy waters that surrounded her doomed relationship with Arnav Singh Raizada. She had a clean break now, a chance to be free of it all. Free of guilt; for Anjali Di's marriage breaking up, for the fall in grace of Shaantivan's much loved Damaadji, for Khushi's unwitting but undeniable role in Anjali Di's unhappiness, which translates to Arnav's unhappiness.
For he can never be happy if his Di is unhappy.
The nightly ritual of trying to go back continued for a month since they left Delhi. Khushi had walked out again, but she turned and walked back home herself, having reasoned with herself that life with Arnav Raizada was not for her, as everyone would be better off if she stayed away. She walked woodenly past all the concerned aunties who stood watching at the corridor of the flats every night, like many mothers watching over this one broken child in need of nurturing love.
When daytime broke, the occupants of this four storey flats watched artificially bright-eyed Khushi make Indian mittai to sell to a nearby restaurant. And the stood watch every night over her broken heart. No one spoke ill of Khushi, she was like a broken hearted angel. The young girls saw her as a cautionary tale against falling too deep in love with a man, allowing him to run over her life and leave her in devastation. Young men saw her as a beautiful vision to be admired from afar, for she looked far too broken for simple dalliances.
About 2 weeks later , Khushi had bled in her sleep. Horrified at the terrible cramping pain in her lower abdomen, she rushed into the bathroom to find herself bleeding profusely and passed out. Madhumati had banged on Mrs. Raghavan's door asking for help getting Khushi to the hospital. Everyone had worried that she had taken something to end her life.
Unfortunately, it was the end of an innocent life that didn't get a chance to grow. Khushi had miscarried her unexpected pregnancy. Khushi wept hysterically in her Buaji's arms, having lost another precious person, her child.
Miles away, in Delhi, Arnav awoke from sleep with debilitating nausea. The urge to throw up was so strong, he had scrambled to his bathroom to empty his stomach contents. And felt a clawing pain at the pit of his stomach, like a terrible grief to someone close to him. He opened his room door to a tomb-like silence outside, everyone asleep. But the ill-feeling remained in him persistently.
Khushi..?!
Did something happen to her??! He doubled over by the poolside in agony as fear mixed with anxiety over her safety.
What happened Khushi? Are you alright ??
KHUSHI !!! he cried into his hands helplessly.
Meanwhile, far away, an ambulance dashes to the hospital, taking a bleeding Khushi with her distraught Buaji, praying to the Gods for help.
Chapter 3 :
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/110492791
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