Chapter 1
Khushi Kumari Gupta entered the bathroom with a haunted look on her face. She mechanically took off her blouse and trouser and unclasped her bra and removed her underwear. She stepped into the shower and switched it on. She increased the temperature until it began to scald her. She had learnt in school that heat could kill "germs" and remove filth and that's exactly what she felt like. A huge ball of filth. Garbage. Unwanted by society. A social outcast. A bad omen. Cursed. Bad luck. A bane. She vehemently began to scrub her skin with soap until bruises began to form and her skin became red and sore.
" Apsgagun "
" Divorced "
" Orphan "
" Ill luck "
Tears ran down her face are the words echoed in her head. She put her hands on her ears to block out the sound but it was of no use. The comments would be a permanent part of her life and she had to accept it.
She turned up the shower so that her sobs couldn't be heard outside. She had already caused a lot of pain and couldn't bear to hurt anyone anymore.
She had borne too many difficulties in her life already and she couldn't bear anymore. She tried to be strong and become independent but no matter how hard she tried, she was always put down by society. The same society which claimed to support female empowerment and equality. She was blamed without knowing her side of the story just because she was a woman and it was always the woman's fault no matter what.
Earlier on in the day, when she had said that she was divorced, the lady's expression had changed to shock and disapproval and she could hear the other ladies whisper and gossip. They had excused themselves but it was obvious that they did not want to go ahead with the proposal for Payal and it was her fault. Like it always was.
She slumped onto the floor in a fetal position and cried her heart out.
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Arnav entered the house, with the gift in his hand and crept into Ananya's room. He could hear her giggling with his sister, Anjali. Her laughter felt like music to his ears. She was his little bundle of joy. Ananya had bought happiness in his life when he had given up on living and became the reason for him to live.
Anjali was tickling Ananya and Ananya was lying on the floor laughing and trying to stop Anjali.
Anjali was Arnav's younger sister, full of life and mischievous. She was in her final year at university and was going to graduate in the summer. He was incredibly proud of her achievement as she had worked incredibly hard.
Arnav cleared his throat, in order to make his presence known. Anjali and Ananya stopped and looked at Arnav.
"Arrey bhayya, you're back early today, is your project over?" asked Anjali.
"Yeah, it's finally done. The presentation was today and the deal is finalised" replied Arnav.
"Oh that's great! Congratulations bhayya!" Anjali said ecstatically and hugged her brother.
"Ananya hug" shouted Ananya. She didn't like to be ignored and as she was the only child in the family, she was pampered and loved the most and so was used to be the centre of everyone's attention.
"Yes, Ananya gets a hug too" replied Arnav and he picked her up and twirled her around. Ananya giggled and Arnav kissed her on the cheek.
"Papa got Ananya a gift. Does Ananya want it?" Arnav asked.
Ananya's face lit up.
"Ananya gift! Ananya gift!" Shouted Ananya excitedly, clapping her hands.
Arnav put her down and handed her gift. Her tiny hands started to rip the wrapping paper to reveal a doll set. She started to jump and clap her hands.
"Papa look, Ananya doll" said Ananya showing her doll to Arnav.
"Wow, it's so beautiful" said Arnav " just like my baby Ananya".
"No! Ananya big!" said Ananya. Eventhough she was only 2 years old, Ananya was more mature than other children her age as she lived with adults and no children.
"Ok , ok, Ananya big" laughed Arnav.
She ran to Anjali to show her doll who admired it.
Arnav's grandmother walked into the room.
"Nani! Ananya doll!" Shouted Ananya as she ran towards her great grandmother.
"Arrey bitiya, what a cute doll" said Nani.
The three of them continued to play with Ananya for a while until she began to yawn.
Anjali bitiya, take Ananya to her room now and get her ready for bed. She must be tired from running around all day"said Devyani.
"Yes, Nani" replied Anjali and she picked up Ananya and went to get her ready for bed.
Devyani turned towards Arnav.
"Come bitwa, you must be hungry. I'll serve you food. I made your favourite Daal"
"No Nani. I'm not hungry. I already ate from outside when I went shopping" said Arnav.
"Very bad bitwa, I've told you so many times not to eat from outside. It's bad for your health." reprimanded Devyani.
"You worry too much Nani, relax" replied Arnav.
"If I won't worry who will bitwa. If you had a wife then she would take care of you and get rid of my worries but you don't listen do you?" Tears began to form in Devyani's eyes. "What answer will I give to my daughter bitwa, that I couldn't take care of her children?"
"Oh come on Nani, I've had enough of this conversation. I've already told you that I'm not interested in marriage and that's final. Don't try to emotionally blackmail me.".
He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration and walked out of the room leaving a sulking Devyani behind.
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Khushi lay in bed trying to sleep. Her eyes were still red and swollen. She was deep in thought when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She immediately recognised the touch. It was Payal. Khushi quickly got up but made no eye contact as she knew that Payal would figure out that she had been crying.
"Di, are you ok?" asked Payal with concern.
Khushi just nodded as she knew her hoarse voice would give her away.
"Di, look at me" said Payal and she held Khushi's face and made her look into her eyes.
"Do you think that I won't know if my Di is upset? Have I become a stranger that you'll hide your pain from me?" said Payal.
Tears started to flow from both of their eyes.
"No Payal, you're my sister and no one can seperate us but today you got rejected because of me. How will I forgive myself?" Cried Khushi.
"No Di" said Payal and she hugged Khushi tightly.
"I'm glad that I'm not going into that family. I can never be part of a family which doesn't respect my sister and women. I'm proud to be your sister and I always will be. You did an incredible thing by leaving that marriage and becoming independent so you have nothing to be ashamed about. People will always talk but Me, Amma and Papa willwill aways be with you and don't you forget that."
Payal wiped Khushi's eyes and Khushi wiped Payal's eyes. She was so grateful to have Payal as her sister. Payal had always been Khushi's pillar of support despite being younger than her. She was the one along with her parents who had helped Khushi to get out of her miserable marriage.
Khushi looked at the door and saw Shashi and Garima standing there. They had heard the conversation between the sisters. They walked towards their daughters and kissed them on their foreheads. They were proud to have such daughters and prayed to God daily to keep the love intact between the family.
"We love you both and no one can change that, no matter what happens" they both said.
Khushi ran to hug them. Fresh tears ran down her eyes but this time they were due to gratitude to God for giving her such loving patents. They weren't her biological parents but she was sure that even her biological parents wouldn't have loved her as
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Thank you SO much for your lovely comment and PMs for the prologue. I'm overwhelmed. I'm so grateful at the response.
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Edited by ...Pwincess... - 10 years ago
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