ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi #4 Next thread link @page 1 - Page 51

Some Clarifications:

1. About the story: When I started this story, I already clarified that this story will focus beyond the lead pair, that is, Arnav and Khushi. The only reason this story is my dream story is I imagined almost every character playing a pivotal role in the story along with the fact that it revolves around political background.

2.About the lead pair: I write stories I can relate to in real life. In real life, a love story is not about romantic outings and cheesy lines. It starts with initial attraction to each other, struggling to connect to each other, understanding and trusting each other and finally falling in love. I tried to show each and every step of it when it came to Arnav and Khushi. A love story is never fully based on attraction.

Having said that, I know that in few chapters, I might have not gave you all romantic scenes of them but I damn well made sure of providing you all with sensible scenes enough to show how deep their bond is going to be. If you are still complaining, I don't know what else to do.

3.About Anjali: When it comes to this character I can't blame you all for hating her. But you all should know that she is one of my favorite characters. I know that the more you all are getting to know about her, the more you all hate her. But remember, there are always two sides of a coin. Till now, I have revealed how she behaves, now I will show what she thinks.

At the end, you may still not like her but I sympathize with her very much. I know this is not an appropriate example still I am giving one:

Four years back, when I was in high school, there was a group of 10-12 girls in my class who hated me very much. I am a very private person and I still don't know how to talk to new people. My teachers considered me as a very sensible girl, for you know talking very less.

But those girls hated me for it. They mistook my shyness as my arrogance. They said bitter things about me behind my back which I got to know about eventually. It hurt me a lot but still I never said anything to them, always talking to them politely. My school life got over with them still hating me.

Does that make them bad? No. Yes. Maybe.

Because I still don't know what exactly made them hate me, I can't hate them back but I was angry a lot about it. At the end I realized that their point of view is different from mine and maybe they are right in their place. Maybe I was right they were wrong, I don't know.

So, never judge anyone without knowing the full story.

ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi

Chapter 30-B

Hate.

Hunger.

The two word which start from the same alphabet but end up different, defining two very different emotions.

Throughout her life, Anjali Raizada feared the first word while ignoring the latter. She thought that hating someone or something is much worse than being desperately hungry for something or someone.

Unluckily, she couldn't have been more wrong.

When she was a little girl, she has read somewhere that no matter how much a human being tries to fulfill his dreams, his wishes, even the whole world won't be enough for it. It's the hunger in a human being for everything that never ends.

And it has always been much worse than hating someone for something.

Anjali knew that now, after experiencing it first-hand. Frankly speaking, she deserved what had happened to her 6 years ago.

Back then, she couldn't have been more self-centered, jealous bitch like she is right now. She has accepted it whole heartedly.

She destroyed her life with her own hands unknowingly back then.

Now, she was heading for destruction purposely.

And she had no qualms about it. Six years ago, she had been nave about it, now she isn't.

Because finally, she has accepted her faults and flaws. She accepted her own hunger for things that weren't meant for her ever.

Her hunger for father's love for whom she never existed.

Her hunger for perfect love and family, something she rejected foolishly.

Her hunger for everything she wished for.

It was this selfish emotion which destroyed her. It destroyed what she already had and what she could have managed to achieve.

It destroyed her own life.

It destroyed her brothers.

It destroyed her love. Her Shyam.

It destroyed her possibilities of having a wonderful family.

It destroyed her chance of acknowledging her own blood whom she nurtured in her womb for nine month.

Her daughter. Manyata.

It was everything in her world that she had lost till now. Everything that someone else has.

Someone she was staring at.

Standing in front of Khushi Raizada, realization dawned on Anjali. She wanted to laugh. She wanted to cry.

She wanted to shout at the injustice of the life to her.

But she couldn't.

For a moment, Anjali contemplated falling on her knees and begging to her for everything. But she couldn't. It was too late.

She was broken. Her world was full of dark.

And she won't drag everyone else along in it. She had decided that six years back when she gave up her own daughter without even looking at her after giving birth to her.

She was here for a purpose, Anjali reminded herself. But that reminder didn't stop herself from hating the woman in front of her for having everything she wished for.

She hated her since she got to know about her.

Khushi Raizada reminded her of the days when she had hopes and dreams in her heart. She reminded Anjali of the way she married a man, hoping to lead the rest of her life with love.

Except Anjali chose the wrong man while luck favored Khushi Raizada.

Because she knew despite being forced to marry the girl, her brother will do everything to honor the vows of his marriage.

He will eventually fall in love with her.

And Anjali was worried about him. She didn't want him to break if his wife betrayed him.

No matter how much optimistic she wanted to be for Arnav, she knew that politicians always think from their mind not from heart.

And Khushi was one of them.

Blinking softly, Anjali prayed to be proven wrong for the sake of her brother. He deserves to be loved dearly.

He deserves to be happy. Everything else in the world can go to f**king hell.

Words could confuse you but eyes don't.

Staring at her estranged sister-in-law, Khushi blinked, eyes scanning her from head to toe. Dressed in a blue button down shirt and washed denim jeans, she looked stunning with her chin length black hair caressing her face softly.

Anjali Raizada looked too perfect yet cold at the same time. She looked tough. For a woman she knew suffered very much, she was surprisingly calm and collected.

Disappointed, Khushi peered in her bleak, black eyes expecting them to be void. But she was wrong.

They were full of suffering and pain, containing the flames of a past that still burned. Gasping softly, she staggered back in shock.

She felt like she is looking in a mirror.

Shaking her head vehemently, Khushi turned back, bracing her hands on the desk. She knew that look very well. For a decade, she had that look in her eyes. It is full of guilt, pain and self-loathing. It destroys every emotion. It breaks the soul of a person.

She knew how difficult it is to get out of that horrible state. She had Arnav to help her but Anjali is alone. No one is there for her. Because she keeps pushing everyone away, using bitterness as her defense tool. She doesn't want to involve anyone in her mess.

Just like Khushi had done ten years ago, by keeping distance from her family and friends.

Damn it, it can't be true.

Closing her eyes, she prayed for all of it to be a dream. Whirling around, she looked in her eyes directly and cursed under her breath heavily.

It is true.

Anjali scowled, stepping forward, apprehension entering in her eyes "What are you looking at?"

Rounding around her desk, Khushi sank slowly in her chair not answering the question. The irritation and anger she had felt at first disappeared leaving wariness and determination behind.

Rubbing her forehead, she gestured to the chair across her desk, indicating her to sit. Anjali stiffened, looking surprised.

But she didn't move.

Taking a deep breath, Khushi raised her head, speaking sincerely "Look, I don't want to interfere in your life but your brother is my husband. And there are things related to you that he worries about. I just want to talk to you about them."

Anjali froze, feeling confused at the sudden change of the topic. But it was what she had wanted to discuss as well. Feeling at ease again, she moved, sitting across her comfortably. Steepling her fingers together under her chin, she nodded "I am listening."

Leaning back in her chair, Khushi asked curiously "You are aware that your father is in hospital right?"

Heckles rising once again, Anjali scowled "Yeah. So?"

Giving her a patient smile, Khushi quizzed further "Why are you not taking over his responsibilities towards his party members, then? You declared yourself as the head of the party after all. Since your father is in hospital, it is up to you to handle his party works. Right?"

Breathing slowly through her clenched teeth, Anjali hissed furiously "Why does it matter to you if I am not taking over the responsibilities of the party? You are not a part of it."

Khushi snorted "I don't even want to be a part of it, trust me. I hate politicians as well as politics."

"Then why are you a member of your father's party?" Anjali sneered, leaning forward.

"Because it was what my father wanted. Look, I don't want to talk about it right now. I just want to request you to take over your responsibilities as the head of the party. Arnav is being forced to look after it and he hates doing all this. I am just looking out for him." Khushi explained in an even voice.

Anjali reared back in shock, hurt flashing in her eyes "My brother asked you to do this?"

"WHAT!? No. You are getting it all wrong. He didn't even say a word about it. Last night, when he came home, he was worried and tired. He said he hated releasing press statements about your father's health and organizing party meetings on his behalf. Look, you willing took the position of the party head. Now act like one. By hiding like this, you won't be able to win people's support." Khushi explained, looking nervous.

Anjali blinked, sitting straight suddenly "You mean to say he doesn't have any idea about this meeting?"

Letting out a nervous laugh, Khushi replied sarcastically "He would have got to know about it if you would have arrived at time. I wanted to talk to him and you together but he arrived on time and you didn't so he is gone."

Mulling over her words, Anjali nodded slowly "Okay, I will do it. You don't need to worry about it anymore."

Smiling gratefully, Khushi replied looking excited "Great, then. My father will be more than willing to help you with everything. We will just need to meet him tomorrow. That's all."

Raising a hand, Anjali argued "Wait a minute. You didn't say anything about your father earlier."

"Well you cannot expect to handle everything on your own, can you? My father can help you with everything. Now since we have already discussed this, this leaves me with my last question." Khushi concluded, leaving no choice of argument.

Anjali sighed "And what that would be?"

Getting up from her chair, Khushi walked around her desk quietly, stopping in front of her. Looking down, she whispered "Why do you keep pushing everyone who loves you as family away?"

Eyes widening in shock, Anjali spluttered "Excuse me?"

Shaking her head, Khushi looked at her as if she knew everything going on in her mind "It never works you know. By pretending you are strong, you just delay the inevitable. I did that too. Then your brother came in my life. Despite the fact we know each other only for few weeks only, he understood me like no one else could. My false sense of protecting myself and everyone else was busted in seconds. I don't know what exactly happened to you but it's not worth losing the rest of your life."

Anjali looked away, pressing her lips together in an attempt to stop the trembling. The words hit too close to home in her heart.

Patting her shoulder sympathetically, Khushi continued "There must be someone who you must love very much. Please take his or her help to get out of this state. It'll just ruin you for worse."

Giving her a curt nod, Anjali stood up quickly, slinging the purse over her shoulder in agitation. Her vision blurred as a heavy yet familiar weight settled over her heart. Not wanting to cry in front of the woman she envied just a while ago, she moved to run out of the cabin.

Staring at her back, Khushi blurted out hurriedly, looking curious "Did you ever see your daughter?

Halting in her track, Anjali stared at the door in longing, choking a single word out of her throat "No."

Sighing in regret, Khushi offered gently "Manyata looks just like you. She is a very sweet girl. I love her as my own daughter. She is the best thing that has ever happened in my life."

"That's good." Anjali gasped, clutching her chest in panic, her ears ringing with the cries of a new born baby she never looked at, something which always haunted her.

Walking past her, Khushi opened the door, looking down on the floor with a smile "You don't have to worry about my intentions, you know. I truly love your brother. I love Arnav."

"Right." Anjali muttered, running out of the building at once.

Unluckily, Khushi Raizada has managed to open her buried wounds, rubbing them raw and making them bleed.

It was too much.

She was right. It never gets over.

"I thought I was the one who smoked."

Shyam looked up, stubbing the burning end of the cigarette in the ashtray slowly as Arnav strolled inside his office, looking surprised to see him.

Popping a piece of gum in his mouth, he answered grimly "I just wanted to see you."

Locking the door behind him, Arnav leaned against it, regarding him with curious eyes "So you are. What's wrong?"

Lifting his shoulder in a careless shrug, Shyam answered pensively "I wanted to tell you before anyone else did. I had a fight with your sister last night when I went to check on her."

Arnav walked forward, pointing his index finger at him "Oh I forgot all about that. How is she doing now?"

Jerking his head up, Shyam looked at him in shock "Didn't you hear what I said just now?"

Rolling his eyes, Arnav stared down at him "Yeah I heard. But I also know you must have fought with her for a valid reason and you would never hurt her on purpose. So, how is she doing now?"

Glancing at his shoes, Shyam answered in a small voice "Okay, I think. Can I ask you for something?"

"You know you can ask me for anything. I am happy to oblige." Giving him a smile, Arnav sat down beside his best friend on the couch.

Looking at him, Shyam asked apprehensively "Please never ask me to visit your sister again. Ever."

Startled, Arnav met his eyes, his mouth falling open in shock. Clenching his jaw, Shyam glanced away, looking extremely guilty and flustered "I don't think I can bear the way she keep insulting everyone. I can't see how she keeps pushing you and everyone away when she clearly needs help. I don't like it."

Closing his mouth, Arnav shook his head, clearing his throat loudly "Is it what you really want?"

"Absolutely." Shyam replied at once, looking determined.

Giving him a curt nod, he said passively "If that's what you want, I accept your request. You know why you were always the one I asked to check on her?"

With his shoulders drooped in defeat, Shyam whispered "Why?"

"Because I know you love Anjali and you worry about her." Arnav smiled, watching as his best friend sat straight suddenly, looking at him in shock "Yes, I always knew you love her. I knew it 8 years ago as well. But I also know what no one actually managed to realize."

Leaning forward, he whispered in his ear "She loved you as well."

Standing up quickly, Shyam looked down at him in disgust, enunciating his reply loudly, "No she didn't. YOU.ARE.LYING."

Arnav snorted, meeting his eyes in mock surprise "Oh yeah? Considering the fact that I am her twin brother who always managed to know how she felt most of the time, I don't feel the need to make something up which doesn't exist. I would rather tell the truth."

"Since you are telling the truth," Shyam retorted haughtily "then care to tell why didn't she confessed about the same to me?"

Arching his left eyebrow up, Arnav replied with sarcasm dripping from each word "Well there was the fact that you two first met only a week before her wedding with that asshole and then there was her justified fear of making our father angry by breaking the alliance with his approved choice of groom just before the wedding. And last but not the least, she was scared that if he knew you were the reason behind all of this sudden development, Anuj Raizada would have made your life a living hell."

"Now wait a minute." Shyam drawled, resting his hands on his lean waist "Even your said twin mental connection can't reveal things this accurately, so I don't think this is all true."

Arnav chuckled darkly, standing up to meet his fierce blazing eyes "She told me everything, Shyam. I was trying everything to stop her from marrying that Vikrant, she broke down one day and revealed everything. She said that marrying Vikrant was something she has to do. She thought that you deserve a better girl than her. Someone not scared of standing against her family for you."

Shyam stepped back in shock, clutching his hairs in frustration and helplessness. Hunching forward, he breathed slowly, counting each and every breath.

As Arnav's hand stitched loafers came into view, he heard his sympathetic voice "You aren't the only one who is waiting for love, Shyam. She is doing the same except she never believed she deserves it."

He was in hell.

Looking around the cold and dark surroundings, Anuj concluded, rubbing his hands together to ward off the chill, wrinkling his nose as an unbearable stench wafted in the air. Glancing around, he searched for something warm, failing miserably.

Placing his hands around his waist in protective stance, he walked forward, shivering terribly. He never felt this helpless, being rich and powerful for as long as he remembered.

It was frustrating.

Slowly, the blood in his veins ran cold, restricting his movements. Falling on the hard, cold ground helplessly, he glanced around, scrutinizing for other human being and ask for help.

But no one came forward. Just like he never did for other people, desperately in need of his help.

Closing his eyes in defeat, he prayed for forgiveness, wishing to see everyone he had hurt for one last time so that he could apologize to them.

"I warned you."

He froze, feeling the sudden light knocking against his closed eyelids. Suddenly his body felt warm, lying on a soft surface. The voice speaking to him was achingly familiar. He heard footsteps approaching toward him.

Snapping his eyes open, he looked up, inhaling sharply as he saw the person standing in front of him. Anuj watched silently as he bent forward, offering him his hand in support with his cheerful smile playing on his lips "Surprised to see me? I promised you I will come whenever you will remember me."

Staring at his outstretched hand pointedly, Anuj exclaimed in disbelief "How could you be here? You are dead."

Grabbing his hand, Ajit Raizada forced his brother to stand on his feet, commenting dryly "Geez, I know that too."

"So how could I see you?" Anuj questioned, looking bewildered.

"It's all in your head, Anuj. Your conscience is knocking on your door in my form. You are seeing me because you know I am the only person you loved and trusted blindly." Ajit grinned.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Anuj hugged his brother tightly, confessing softly "I missed you, Ajit."

"I know. Now tell me what's wrong?" Punching his brother's arm playfully, Ajit asked.

Anuj looked down, full of shame and guilt as he confessed "I did everything wrong, Ajit. I destroyed my family, your kid and everyone else I knew. God, I made my own daughter give up on her child. I am disgusting."

Patting his back sympathetically, Ajit shook his head in defiance "No you didn't. You tried to buy your family's love, Anuj. That's what you did wrong. I told you money and power is not the answer to everything."

"I thought I could. Don't you remember what happened to you? You died because of it. If we had money and power like I have now, I could have saved you. Those robbers would have never got hold of you." Anuj argued.

Clucking his tongue in his mouth softly, Ajit whispered "The only think I regret not being able to do is say goodbye to you. You know I gave everything to the robbers when they cornered me and my wife. They shot me because they never wanted to get caught. You cannot control fate."

Anuj shouted "I CAN. CAN'T YOU SEE THAT NOW?"

Narrowing his eyes, Ajit pointed out "Still you weren't able to make your kids love you, Anuj."

Anuj looked away, feeling tears fill his eyes.

Grabbing his hand, Ajit made him look up "You cannot control everything, Anuj. But you still did everything you could to ensure your kids safety. The only thing which disappointed me was what happened to Anjali. I understand that to save Anjali's life you had to throw her out of the house when she came to you, still you could have helped her."

Lowering his eyes in shame, Anuj confessed "I know."

Placing his hands on his shoulders in support, Ajit ordered "Make amends for every mistake you have committed till now, brother. Try to save what you can. I still believe in you."

Closing his eyes, Anuj nodded, replying apprehensively "I am sorry for treating Akash like the way I did."

Ajit laughed "Are you kidding me? This is the best thing you have ever done. You kept my son close to the ground, never letting the heady power of money take over his senses. He is a great kid. I am forever indebted to you."

Suddenly, the sky turned dark, stealing everything bright and cheerful. As his brother's image started blurring suddenly, Anuj shouted "Will I ever be able to see you again?"

Ajit laughed, looking at him with twinkling eyes "You just need to look in your heart. I will be there always."

As everything turned pitch dark, Anuj opened his eyes, registering the telling beep of machines monitoring his condition.

He was alive.

"Hey."

Her eyes widening in surprise, Khushi exclaimed "Hi. You are home early."

Stepping inside, Arnav dropped his laptop bag, closing his hands around her waist, dragging her to his chest "Since my intelligent wife made my schedule flexible, I decided to return home early."

Khushi beamed.

Winking roguishly at her, he leaned forward "Now where is my welcome home kiss?"

Closing a hand over his puckered lips, Khushi said cautiously "Behave, Arnav. Manyata was just behind me when I came to open the door."

"Daddy!!!"

Stepping back in time, Arnav smiled as two small hands hugged his knees, a cheerful face peering up at him in excitement "Are we going somewhere?"

Picking her up in his arms, Arnav replied with a frown "Sorry Princess, but we aren't going anywhere. I need to go out for some work along with your Mumma."

Manyata scowled "This is not fair, Daddy."

"Sorry sweetheart. We will go out tomorrow, I promise. Tonight, I will buy your favorite ice cream on the way whenever we come back." Arnav offered.

Manyata smiled, clapping her hands together in happiness "Okeydokey."

Setting her down, Arnav watched as Manyata ran inside with their conversation already forgotten. Turning back to his curious wife, he said looking tensed "It's about my father."