ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi #3, Link to next thread @pg1 - Page 33

ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi

Chapter 24

The habit of winning is an addiction. The moment a human being starts managing his problems without much difficulty, he doesn't consider himself lucky for once. He starts considering himself strong enough to face them.

Further, the possession of money and power clouds his vision and his ability to see the difference between white and black.

Add the uncanny and rare ability of being able to control the fate of others and bend them to his will, he will start considering himself god', who can never be defeated.

He becomes rude to everyone and arrogant enough to consider other people around beneath himself.

But he forgets the basic law of nature. That the events will keep making appearance until there is an unbiased balance in his life. He forgets that the nature has its own way of showing that you cannot be a god, no matter how hard you try.

You cannot control everything. And by the moment, he realizes this truth, it becomes too late to change his ways and his thoughts.

In the end, in an attempt to control everything once again, he loses everything he had earned ever along with his mind and sanity. He becomes a danger to his own life and others.

Such was the condition of Anuj Raizada. Hiding inside the darkness of his room, he sat in a chair facing the wall, twirling his thumb against his jaw.

His eyes were bloodshot and red like the rest of his face, burning in anger and embarrassment. Anger at being defeated by the boy he raised in a hope of acquiring a pawn he can move wherever and whenever he wished.

And embarrassment at being mocked by the people who till yesterday were scared to even look in his eyes. How could this happen to him, Anuj Raizada famously known as Bade Sahab among all the people?

Raising the bottle to his lips, he took a big sip of the alcohol he deemed fit to accompany him. No one was there to be with him.

His kids had left him long ago and his wife was never there for him. Not that he needed them but he didn't want to end up alone either.

He laughed bitterly, remembering the sneers he received the moment he had announced that Akash has resigned. Everyone around him was ecstatic after the announcement, shouting questions and speculations at him. But only one question haunted him in the darkness of the night.

What now?

What is he supposed to do now?

His insides were burning in rage, willing to ruin everyone responsible for his current situation. And there was desperation as well. Desperation to preserve the party he has created.

His political party which he started on his own and worked hard to make it the best.

His nephew's resignation has made a dent in his party's reputation and he couldn't bear it. He will do everything to save what he has created.

Everything.

As the harsh sunlight started knocking on her closed eyelids, Khushi tentatively fluttered her eyes open, her mouth open wide in a yawn.

She looked around and found herself alone in the bed, with Arnav and Manyata nowhere in her sight. She didn't even hear them getting up. She was so tired last night.

But she didn't mind it at all.

Stretching her body in leisure, she smiled not slightly perturbed by the sudden realization that she has slept till mid-morning. She definitely earned sleeping peacefully for a night, without any nightmares.

Last night was full of adventures, Khushi recalled with a sigh. After departing from the club with Arnav, she had stopped only at her office with trusted photographers and reporters already waiting for her. After forcing Arnav to return alone to Manyata Niwas so that he could make sure that their daughter is alright, she had dived straight into work along with Aman and other peoples.

It took them hours to work through the story, wrapping everything up only when the sky was filled with faint light of the awaiting dawn.

Khushi had arrived home around early morning, having done everything required to blast the steady world of the politicians. By now, everyone must have read about Vikrant's activities last night, she mused belatedly.

She would be damned if they didn't, having worked hard for it. She only hoped that it'll help their case today at the first hearing in the court.

Getting up slowly, she looked at her reflection in the mirror and acknowledged reluctantly that there was a glow on her face despite the tired expressions etched on it.

She was happy. Not for one reason only.

In fact, the glow was not because of her success in the work. It was because of a certain Raizada who is her husband.

Since last night, she had forgotten the number of times she had recalled that first kiss shared with Arnav and relived that particular moment again and again.

It was truly magical.

She realized that though she had never faced any difficulty embracing the harsh truth of the society for last 10 years, she was struggling to maintain that hard prospective she had seen everything through till now.

Earlier, no one was there to break that emotionless notion settled in her mind and eyes but with love and her maternal instincts knocking in her heart, she was changing slowly.

She didn't find the art of enjoying a small moment and smiling at others taxing anymore.

Now, she was determined to live the present without worrying about future.

Shaking her head, Khushi smiled losing herself in the past, not neglecting the fact that this is what she did till the moment she didn't lose Lavanya.

Somehow she was once changing to the girl who knew how to cherish every single moment of her life even when she didn't have much people to share it with.

If this change would have happened 3 weeks ago, she would have freaked out. But now she wanted to welcome this change with open arms.

She wanted to live.

"Good morning."

Looking up, Arnav smiled watching as Khushi sat in a chair beside him, looking beautiful as usual in a pale green cotton saree perfectly worn and pinned around her petite figure with her long hairs as usual worn in a neat bun at the nape of her neck.

But for a change, there was a small green bindi stuck on her forehead with vermillion filled in her hair parting as usual. With her neck adorning the black beads of the mangalsutra that he had tied around her neck only 3 weeks ago, she looked exactly like the way he wanted everyone to see her.

His wife.

His.

"Good morning, Khushi. I hope you slept well." Hiding the smile that threatened to bloom on his lips, Arnav replied gently.

"I did though you shouldn't have let me sleep till this late." Looking around for something, Khushi replied absent mindedly.

"Do you need something?" Arnav asked suddenly, his voice suddenly going faint and warm. Snapping her eyes up at his question, Khushi opened her mouth to answer when she realized that he wasn't looking at her face.

He was looking at her lips. Staring intently on them to be precise.

Words died in her throat instantly. She tried to glance away but she couldn't. Because the way he was looking at her, she knew what was going on in his mind.

Apparently, she wasn't only one affected by their kiss last night.

Heat flooded her face. She wanted to say something, anything in answer but she couldn't bring herself to break this moment, feeling a tug in her heart at the way his eyes darkened slowly.

She was falling, the moment weaving a magic around them. He didn't look away while she couldn't.

As his eyes quickly travelled up meeting her gaze, she stared back in a trance not blinking at all. Quirking his eyebrows up as if telling her that he is still waiting for her answer, he smirked knowingly.

Looking away instantly, Khushi blushed not missing the silent exchange between them. Clearing her throat loudly, she stammered "Woh...last night..."

"Yes. What about last night?" Arnav quizzed, his eyes once again settling on her lips.

Darting her eyes around, Khushi tried to formulate a steady answer in her mind which she could utter but with his eyes stuck on her mouth again, her concentration was wavering.

"Stop it." Khushi admonished shyly.

"Stop what?" Not missing a beat, Arnav shot back knowing very well that she couldn't actually answer him. His eyes twinkled in unconcealed mirth.

He was certainly enjoying this game. A flustered Khushi Raizada was a rare sight for his sore eyes.

Throwing her hands in air in silent surrender, she quickly closed her eyes and blurted out "Forget it. I was just looking for today's kiss."

Arnav laughed, his palms curling in tight fists. God, she looked so enticing. "Today's kiss?"

Slapping her hands on her forehead, Khushi cursed silently looking embarrassed. Not meeting Arnav's eyes, she stuttered "Today's newspaper I mean."

Clucking his tongue in mock regret, Arnav quickly passed her a newspaper. Feeling glad for the distraction, she raised her hands to snatch it from him when he pulled back.

"No newspaper-reading during breakfast, remember?" Arnav reminded her.

Slumping back in her chair in defeat, Khushi meekly nodded. Looking away, she quickly instructed the housekeeper to bring her some breakfast.

"You don't need to worry though. Your work is done." Arnav assured her looking happy. Folding the paper, he kept it away. Glancing up, he found Khushi eyeing him curiously and chuckled. Steepling his fingers together and resting his chin on the top of it, he smiled looking amused. Khushi suddenly glanced around before turning to him once again.

"Where is Manyata?" She questioned looking cautious.

Arnav grinned "She is playing."

"Where?"

"Just around us. Now, I want you to not shout in surprise when you see her. You see, she has traits of being dramatic just like my sister. Today is one of those days." Arnav explained.

Raising her eyebrows in response, Khushi countered defiantly "You think I don't know her enough after spending so much time with her."

Arnav winked "Damn right."

Standing up quickly, she turned around in frustration. And she just knew why Arnav considered it necessary to warn her.

She really had to struggle to not shout in surprise or more in astonishment. Because standing in front of her was Manyata dressed in a blue skirt and yellow top. But that wasn't what astonished her.

It was the blue-yellow dupatta draped around her, with one end tucked under her skirt and another over her head like a saree, paired with some yellow bangles and a big red bindi on her forehead.

As her eyes lowered, Khushi gasped watching Manyata holding a tray in her hands. Astonished, she watched her daughter walk closer before raising the tray toward her "Coffee, Mumma?"

Eyeing the tiny plastic cup filled with water, Khushi smiled "What is this, Manyata?"

"Coffee, Mumma." Manyata answered quickly with a duh expression on her face. Clearly, the little girl assumed that her Mumma is acting silly.

"No, I mean why are you bringing me coffee?" Khushi quickly rephrased her question as Arnav looked at the whole interaction amusedly.

"Woh Mumma, today I am playing house. So I made the breakfast instead." With her lips breaking in a cheery smile, Manyata answered looking pleased.

Khushi stared down at her silently, not moving at all. Watching Manyata now reminded her of the times when she was a kid and used to do the same with Lavanya. Draping a dupatta as a saree, she used to act like a grown up, playing with her plastic utensil toys. Using water and crushed biscuits to act as real food, she used to play this game for hours with Lavanya.

Looking back at Manyata, she saw a miniature version of herself, looking up at her in anticipation. Quickly picking up the cup, she sipped the water and smiled swallowing her tears "It tastes good."

"Thanks, Mumma." Clapping her hands together, Manyata squealed before running away to bring the rest of the food so that her Mumma can taste everything and praise her for being an excellent cook.

Khushi laughed softly, not realizing as a lone tear escaped from her eyes and ran down her cheek. As a finger quickly wiped it away, she froze looking up in the bewildered eyes of Arnav.

Quickly turning around, she hid her face in Arnav's chest. Closing his hands around her, he pulled her closer offering her strength silently.

Patting her head, he whispered "You used to play this game."

Khushi nodded, crying softly.

Pausing for a moment, he continued "With Lavanya."

Khushi nodded once again, a sob escaping from her lips. Sighing deeply, Arnav didn't say anything further, holding her close silently.

Knowing very well that she is hurting.

Once her sobs subsided, Khushi tried to pull back making Arnav tighten his grip on her. Resting his cheek on the top of her head, he quickly mumbled "You need to share this pain with someone Khushi. You need to open this tightly shut part of the past with someone you trust blindly. Otherwise you won't ever be free of feeling this pain."

"I know." Khushi answered, drawing in a ragged breath.

Looking up at him, she continued "Someday I will."

Arnav smiled, realizing that he is the person Khushi wanted to share it with. Nodding in approval, he cupped her face gently before touching her forehead with his lips.

"I am not looking." They jumped hearing a shout nearby. Looking around, they saw Manyata standing nearby with her hands covering her eyes.

Quickly peeking at them through her fingers, she shouted again "I am still not looking."

Khushi laughed, breaking the hug quickly to walk over to her daughter and picked her up, twirling her around. Manyata shrieked in delight, her hands clinging around her mother's neck.

Arnav looked on affectionately, knowing very well that Khushi loves this small family just the way he has started loving it.

Together, they are a perfect, happy family.

Looking down at her passport, the flight attendant flashed her a smile before stepping aside "Welcome on board, Ms. Anjali Raizada. Please settle down on your seat. The plane will depart shortly."

"Thanks." Anjali smiled, walking inside.

Flashing a polite smile at the elder woman sitting beside her, she looked out of the window from her seat.

She is going home.

Hope you all like it,

Aditi.