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Erm, arguably my worst piece of writing. I started writing it and Chicky nagged me into finishing it. I was really not in the mood, plus this whole situation was shitty. That reflects in the writing. But, what the hell? 2 minutes of random time pass. If it's totally unbearable, feel free to PM Chicky with gaalies since she is responsible for me finishing this.
Arnav was starting to walk away in a stupor when he heard his Jeejaji say "Chod denge Khushiji. Aapke liye Rani Sahiba kya hum kisiko bhi chod sakte hai."
Arnav stopped dead in his tracks, disbelief and despair pouring into his veins, the face of his sister flashing before his eyes. He turned around slowly to look at the man who was his sister's life and the girl who was slowly beginning to be his.
Shyam stepped forward again as if to touch her, but Khushi stepped away with her hands held out.
"Bas!" she shouted. "Hume dobaara haath lagaane ki himmat mat kijiye Shyamji. Anjaliji aapse itna pyaar karti hai aur aapne kitni aasaani se keh diya ki aap unhe chod denge. Ye puura parivaar aapse itna pyaar karta hai aur aapko unhe dhoka dene mei koi takleef nahi hai?"
"Khushiji hum aapke liye.."
"Humaara naam bhi mat lijiye aap. Galti humaari hi thi jo humne aapki gandi sachai sabse chupaake rakhi. Aapki sachai pata chalte hi hum Anjali ji ke paas aaye the. Lekin unka aapke liye pyaar aur vishvaas iss had tak hai ki hum unhe kuch keh hi nahi paaye. Woh sehen hi nahi kar paati. Lekin aapne humaari khamoshi ko humaari kamzori samajhli. Hum sirf Arnavji aur unke parivaar ko uss dukh aur dhoke se duur rakhna chaahte the jo hume aur humaare parivaar ko bhugadna pada. Hume laga aap sudhar jaayenge. Lekin aapke jaise log kabhi sudhar hi nahi sakte. Aapki aaj ki harkat ke baad hume yakeen ho gaya hai ki agar aap Anjaliji ko chod denge toh unpe bohot bada ehsaan hoga. Aapke jaise ghinone insaan ke saath unhe rehne hi nahi denge hum."
Shyam was beginning to panic lightly. This wasn't how everything was supposed to be. "Khushiji.. aaj Payalji ki shaadi hai aur.."
"Aapko sachmei lagta hai ki hum apni behen ki khushiyo ke liye kisi aur ki behen ki khushiya daav par laga denge? Hum aapko bataade ki humaari Jiji bhi humaare saath hai.. uss din hum dono ne milkar faisla kiya tha Anjali ji ko sach bataane ka. Aaj bhi humaari Jiji hume samajh jaayengi. Aur vaise bhi Jiji aur Akashji ek doosre se pyaar karte hai. Hume yakeen hai ki Akashji sahi faisla lenge. Jo bhi ho, bohot ho gaya. Aap apni had se baahar jaa chuke hai. Hume koi ummeed nahi ki aap kabhi bhi ek achcha pati ya achcha insaan ban payenge, issliye hum Anjali ji aur Arnav ji se kuch bhi nahi chupaayenge."
As Khushi was about to walk out, Shyam grabbed her upper arms roughly and pulled her back. "Khushi ji hum aapko chot pahunchaana toh nahi chaahte par iss waqt aap hosh mei hi nahi hai toh hum aapko neeche jaane nahi de sakte"
Khushi winced in pain and said "Hume choddiye varna hum.."
Before she could finish her sentence, she saw a blurry movement, heard a sickening crack, and was suddenly free of Shyam's hold. She looked down to see Shyam lying face down on the floor. Looking up, she saw Arnav standing next to her, looking down at Shyam, shaking with fury. His eyes had a glint which reminded her of the day he had bashed up the goons at the dhaba, only he looked even more possessed right now.
She looked between Shyam, who she realized might have passed out, and Arnav, who clenched his fists. She wasn't sure what to do. She wasn't sure how much Arnav heard. "Ar..Arnavji" she stammered softly. Arnav's eyes snapped to meet hers and she flinched at the cold fury emanating from them.
Before she could react, Arnav turned on his heel and walked away.
For a few moments, Khushi just stood there looking between Shyam's unconscious form and Arnav's retreating back. Suddenly, she straightened her back, made up her mind and walked out of the terrace. She saw Arnav walk into his room and, after a moment's hesitation, she followed him inside and locked the door behind her.
Arnav turned around to see Khushi lock his door.
"Get out" he said quietly.
Khushi turned around slowly meeting his eyes reluctantly. She took a deep breath and said "Nahi. Hume aapse baat karni hai. Aur abhi karni hai."
"Oh really?" said Arnav stepping forward. "Kyu Khushi? Ab kyu karni hai? Jab karni chahiye thi tab toh chup thi naa? Itne dino se tum mere ghar mei mere Jijaji ke saamne rahi aur ek baar bhi mujhse kuch nahi kahaa. Toh ab kya hua hai?"
Khushi could feel the fury emanating from him and realized that this was the worst time to have a conversation with him. He would only hurt her and say a lot of things he possibly doesn't mean. But, this time, she had no choice. It was already too late.
Mustering her courage, she said "Aap jaante hai kya hua hai. Sach kahe toh agar aap ye saari baatei sun nahi lete toh shaayad hum aaj bhi aapko kuch nahi bataate. Shaayad aaj bhi hum haalaat ko sambhaalne ki koshish karte. Lekin ab jab aapne itna kuch sun hi liya hai toh baaki bhi sun lijiye. "
"Tum hoti kaun ho mere aur mere family ke decisions lenewaali? How dare you hide such a thing from me? Aur ab tumhe lagta hai mai tumhaari baat sunoonga? More importantly, tumhe lagta hai ki mai tumhaara vishvaas karunga?"
"Aapko humaari baat sunni hogi Arnavji. Apne gusse pe kaabu rakhiye kyunki ye aapki behen ki zindagi ka savaal hai."
"Exactly, Khushi Kumari Gupta" said Arnav quietly, stepping within an inch of her. "Ye meri Di ki zindagi ka savaal tha. Aur tumne itni badi baat chupaake bohot badi galti ki hai. Jiske liye mai tumhe maaf nahi karunga. Tum badla le rahi ho na? Lucknow mei jo tumhaari behen ke saath hua, uska badla le rahi ho naa tum? I can't believe you. Di ne tumhaare liye itna kuch kiya aur tum.."
"Bas Arnavji. Hum aapki tarah nahi hai jo kisi ko jaanboojke chot pahunchaayenge. Agar hum aapse badla lene par utar aaye toh sirf woh ek hi baat toh nahi hai naa? Aisi bohot si baatei hai jiske liye hum aapse badla lete. Aur lena hi tha toh hum aapke Jijaji ka hi istemaal kar sakte the. Lekin hum kisiko dukh nahi dena chaahte. Aapko aur aapke parivaar ko toh bilkul nahi."
Khushi walked away from him towards the window, Arnav's eyes following her. She could sense that he had calmed down a bit.
"Anjaliji humaare liye Jiji se alag nahi hai. Aapko yaad hoga, hum aapke Jijaji se aapke ghar mei puja ke din mile the. Hume usi din pata chala ki humaare mangetar aur aapke Jijaji ek hi Shyamji hai. Agle hi din hum aapke ghar aaye bhi the Anjali ji ko sach bataane ke liye. Lekin unka mangalsutra toot gaya aur uss baat se unki jo haalat huyi thi hum woh dekhke darr gaye. Hume laga ki woh ye sach kabhi bardasht nahi kar payengi. Phir humne socha ki shayad Shyamji sudhar jaaye. Isiliye humne kisise kuch nahi kahaa."
Khushi turned around to meet Arnav's eyes. "Lekin aisa kuch nahi hua. Woh achche insaan nahi hai. Aaj jo kuch bhi.. khair choddiye.. achcha hi hua aapko sab pata chal gaya. Ab aap khud faisla kijiye ki aapko kya karna hai."
She walked closer to Arnav and looked into his eyes tearfully "Arnavji, hum jaante hai ki hume aapse ye baat chupaani nahi chaahiye thi. Par humaara yakeen kijiye, hum bas aapko aur aapke parivaar ko uss dukh aur dhoke se bachaana chahte the jo humaare aur humaare parivaar ke saath hua. Hume laga ki shayad sab theek ho jaayega. Lekin hum galat the. Hume maaf kar dijiye."
Arnav stared at her for a long moment. "Kyu?" he asked softly.
Khushi blinked. "Ji?"
"Mujhe dukh se kyu bachaana chahti ho tum? Mere dukh se tumhe kya farak padta hai?"
Khushi took a deep breath. Lies and pretenses and facades had not gotten them anywhere. Without breaking his gaze, she replied "Bas. Hume farak padta hai. Aur aap jaante hai kyu. Lekin filhaal hum aapko Shyamji ke baare mei sab kuch bataana chahte hai. Hume aapse kuch nahi chupaana. Phir aap faisla kijiye ki aapko kya karna hai."
Arnav sighed and reached out to pull her close. "Khushi" he breathed against her forehead.
"Ji"
Tucking a strand of hair behind her ears, he said "Not now. Shaadi ka waqt ho raha hai. Di ki bhi tabeeyat theek nahi hai. Iss waqt kuch nahi ho sakta. Tum jaake tayyaar ho jaao. Mai jaake Jija.. Shyam ka kuch karta hu - I need to make sure ki woh shaadi attend na kare. Ek baar shaadi ho jaaye toh apne gharwaalo se kehna ki mujhe tumhaari help chahiye mai tumhe baad mei ghar chod dunga. Shaadi ke baad mujhe yahi pe milna. Tab saari baatei karenge."
He walked past her to unlock and hold the door for her. "Chale?" he said.
She nodded before walking out of the room with him.
Well, no matter how crappy it is, I'm sure it's still better than what will be dished out tomorrow! SamJHE TUM LOG!
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