Love, am I not worth it ?
Chapter 32
Others who were present in the living room was looking at the conversation with different emotions. Everyone could feel the hurt and pain both of them were going through. Mostly Khushi. They could understand that it was not only the things that happened two days back or now that was affecting her but also the pent up pain and hurt that she was suffering for years. They could clearly see that it was not only Arnav but each and everyone of them were responsible for her this state. Her anger was not only directed at Arnav but everyone of them. The thing is she expresses it in front of Arnav but for others she doesn't express it directly.
They couldn't blame Khushi for behaving like this. Her pain and hurt was too deep that it won't go away in two or three days or by giving them small small punishments. But they were also helpless they didn't know what to do other than apologizing to her. But she was not ready to hear anything. They can't even blame her for it.
After bursting out on Arnav, when Khushi went to her room, Arnav also tried to go behind her but Jules stopped him.
Jules: No Arnav. Leave her alone. She needs time to collect herself. She is too hurt now.
Arnav: But I want to talk to her.
Jules: No. Not now. You can talk later.
Arnav: But...
Jules: No buts and ifs I told you no you can talk to her later. No now. Leave her alone for sometime.
Looking at Jules's determined face Arnav was sure he was not going to let him meet Khushi. Frustrated he went to his room. Julian was in his protective brother mode. He had seen his sister break down once again today. Even though Khushi didn't cry in front of others. He knew she must be crying right now in her room.
He knew she didn't like to show her weak self in front of these people. So he stopped Arnav from meeting her. She at least deserved that much privacy. He didn't like to see his sister like this. This weak. But for her to be strong she need to get out that pain from her heart so he let her cry. He wanted to go and see if she was fine but he let her be for the time being. He gave her time to compose herself.
Others felt guilty seeing Khushi and Arnav's state. But the one who felt bad the most was Ratna. Because she knew somewhere she was the reason for all that is happening in Arnav and Khushi's life. It was because she had forced Arnav to marry Sheetal that all these are happening. Both Arnav and Khushi are suffering because of her.She felt ashamed of herself.
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Ratna was the eldest daughter of Rajesh Mallik and Devyani Mallik. She was born in a very conservative family. Her parents were always very strict about rules. She and her sister were brought up with high moral values and traditions. They were taught to be calm, composed and always disciplined.
Even though with time her sister Manorama had turned to a person who was loud and vibrant. Ratna remained to be soft spoken, calm and well mannered woman that she was taught to be like. Her parents had brought her up in a very protective way. They were always kept away from the cruel and greedy world. They were never exposed to the selfish and corrupt society outside.
Ratna was brought up telling that she was going to marry Arjun. So her world always revolved around it. She never thought about anything beyond a life as Arjun's wife. She was educated and broad minded. After her marriage also she had lived her life in a very protected lifestyle. Arjun had always kept her away from all the bad things that happened in the society. So according to her everyone was good.
She considered every person to be honest and loving. The protected lifestyle that she lived all her life never let her see the true self of the people around her. She believed people easily and cared for them. Her world revolved around her family and their needs. She did everything to keep her family happy.
She always wanted a happy life with her family. Her kids were her life. She loved them beyond limits. Like every mother she always wanted to live a happy life with her kids and grandkids. But her dream shattered when she came to know that Anjali can't conceive. With passing time her yearning for a grandchild increased. She started expecting to get a grandchild from Arnav.
Ratna never liked Sheetal for some reason. She always had a bad feeling when she met Sheetal. But she never expressed it because her upbringing was so that she even behaved well with the people she disliked. When Arjun suggested Khushi for Arnav, she immediately agreed. Even though she had met Khushi only once that too on such an occasion like her sister's death, but she liked her for her nature.
Because of that only she did everything in her power to make Khushi Arnav's wife even to the extent of blackmailing Agnihotri Family using Dhruv's marriage as pawn. But she could never give Khushi her deserved place in her family. Not that she never wanted to. But Sheetal had played such a vicious game on them that she was helpless.
On Arnav's marriage day night, Anjali told her that Sheetal had tried to commit suicide. She was shocked. She didn't knew what to do. After everyone went to bed, Ratna along with Anjali went to meet Sheetal. She was very shocked seeing Sheetal's condition. Sheetal was acting completely hysterical. She was unstoppable. She was trying to commit suicide continuously.
Finally somehow Anjali stopped her and promised her that she will make Arnav marry her. Ratna was stunned with the happened. She couldn't understand anything. She knew that whatever was happening was wrong but she was helpless. She didn't wanted some girl to loose her life because of her family. So she didn't say anything. She silently let whatever that was happening happen.
At that time she was naive to understand that all that Sheetal was doing was only an act. Her innocent nature where she believed in anybody and everybody never made her see the true self of Sheetal. She thought Sheetal also to be innocent. According to her Sheetal was a girl from a good family with good nature and values.
But everything went out of her control when Anjali started using her silence to bring Sheetal in Arnav's life. She couldn't do anything. She thought everything would be fine with time and she would come out of her obsessive nature for Arnav. But nothing happened. Even after two years nothing changed.
But everything started ruining when even after two years of marriage Arnav and Khushi didn't have children. Ratna found her dreams shattering once again. When Anjali told her about the fertility test that she did for Khushi, she was shattered. Her years of wait to have a grandchild were getting ruined.
The nail in the coffin was when some ladies mocked her for not having grandchild in a party. After party when Anjali showed her the fertility test reports she didn't know what happened that she felt her world crumbling. Her years of wait for a grandchild and her yearning blinded her so much that she didn't realize what she was doing. She made Arnav marry Sheetal in that rush of emotions. But by the time she realized her mistakes it was late. Her family was ruined. She lost her son. She lost her lovely daughter in-law who she secretly loved like her own daughter even though she never expressed. But now she know she even lost her grandkids because of her foolishness.
Her whole family was broken. She even lost her husband's trust on her. Her whole family looked at her with disgust and anger. Till day her son had never said a single word to her after that day. When one year later they came to know Sheetal and Shreya's truth she was shocked. Her guilt increased when Sheetal confessed that the fertility test reports that Anjali had shown her was actually a fake report made by Sheetal.
That day Sheetal and Shreya confessed their all crimes in front of them. How they had staged Sheetal's suicide attempt to make Arnav her boyfriend, how they were using Anjali to get married to Arnav and Dhruv, how they have done everything to hurt Khushi, how they killed her children, how they had made those ladies mock Ratna for not having grandchild in the party so that they could trap her in their plan, how they had made the fake fertility reports and used Anjali and Ratna to make Arnav marry Sheetal.
Knowing everything Ratna felt anger on herself for blindly believing those witches. But it was too late. They had already lost everything. Sheetal and Shreya had tricked everyone and had snatched all their properties. They were thrown out of their own house.
But now seeing Arnav and Khushi suffering her guilt is increasing thousand folds. Because of her one mistake so many lives are ruined. She knew one thing it was because of Khushi, Shreya and Sheetal never harmed them. Till Khushi was there they never put a finger on anyone of them. But the moment Khushi left them Shreya and Sheetal started plotting against them. Indirectly Khushi was guarding them.
Because of their fear for Khushi only Sheetal and Shreya never tried to harm them earlier. It was only Khushi who was capable of destroying them so that only they feared her and tried to hurt her to make her leave. And they in their foolishness indirectly helped them in their plan by hurting Khushi.
Now also their own mistakes are hurting her. She helped them but they are giving her pain only though unintentionally. Ratna knew that it was because of her one mistake that she made Arnav marry Sheetal, everyone is suffering. That one mistake had ruined her family. That one mistake had ruined her kids life. That one mistake had snatched three kids their father. That one mistake had given an innocent girl pain for a lifetime.
Now enough. Enough of everyone's suffering. Enough of the pain everyone had born. She had done mistake. She herself will correct it. She will end everyone's suffering. She decided. She was determined to bring back happiness in her children's life. She won't let them suffer more. It was a mother's promise.
So what is Ratna going to do. Will she be able to bring back happiness in her children's's life. What is going to happen in Arnav and Khushi's life. Stay tuned.
I know this chapter was boring. But please bear with it. It was necessary to give Ratna's POV. I will try to update next chapter soon. May be in next two days.
Please comment. I am really disappointed with the comments. If you guys don't comment, it is better I end this story here itself. I really don't feel like writing seeing low comments. So please tell me if I should continue or not. So please comment if you want me to continue.
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