Arshi TS : Changing Priorities - Part 3 Updated page 10 A/N on pg 9 - Page 4

"Di" Khushi called out again panicking.

"Di. Please don't cry. It's not good for your health. Please calm down and tell us what happened."

"Khushi I am sorry."

"Di why are you asking sorry?"

"I know it is because of me that you and Chotte weren't on talking terms and you avoided me for so many days."

"No no Di. It is nothing like that. Please don't stress yourself. We will both come for dinner tonight. We will talk then. Please take rest now."

"Haan Di. I will come with Khushi in the evening. You please take rest now."

After extracting promise that Anjali will take care of herself, they disconnected the call.

"Arnavji what the hell have you done?"Khushi glared at Arnav standing up, with her hands on her hips.

"What did I do now?" Arnav couldn't understand what he had done wrong.

"You Mr. Raizada don't act as if you don't know what I am talking about. I stayed away from Di only because I didn't want her to worry. And you went and told her?"

"Why do you all think that I am acting? And no Khushi I didn't tell her anything. She found out herself."

Arnav held her hands and made her sit near him. He started serving their lunch and told her how Anjali had made him realize how he was jeopardizing their marriage by his thoughtless acts.

Anjali - Arnav Convo:

"Di why did you call me urgently?"

"Chotte what are you doing to your marriage?"

Arnav did not expect this from Anjali. He was shocked. He stuttered.

"Di wha.. what are you asking?"

"Don't act as if you don't know Chotte. Showcase your acting skills in your boardroom not to me. You have left me with no choice than to ask you. I have been observing you both. There is some tension in your relationship. You both avoid being in each other's presence. Do you think I am blind to not observe that? You don't even come together to meet me. What is happening Chotte?"

"Di it's nothing like that. I am busy in office and I can get some free time only after 8 at night. We stay at the other end of the city Di. So it's not possible for me to go home pick her up and come back to meet you. You know how crazy the traffic is." Arnav replied without meeting Anjali's eyes.

"I think the traffic in Delhi did not become unbearable in a month Chotte. Don't lie to me Arnav. I am more your mother than your Di. You know I can catch your lies easily. I can see it in both of your eyes Arnav. A sadness; an yearning. I don't know what it is about. If you don't want to share it with me, don't. It's between a husband and his wife and I should not interfere. But being a mother to you, I should ask you some questions and tell you some things."

Anjali paused letting her words sink into Arnav. She wanted him to understand that she is not going to let this go. After a few minutes, Arnav's shoulders slumped and he took a deep breath. He cannot escape from this now. He needed to get this out of his mind too. His work has been suffering for the few days. Now that Di already knew, he can open up to her. He needed her guidance he decided.

"Di... I am afraid I will lose my Khushi Di..." The anguish in his voice pierced her heart. She wanted to hug and console him. But she kept mum wanting him to open up. This is the first time she is seeing him like this. When he did not continue, she held his hands in hers and pressed it lightly encouraging him to speak.

"I don't understand what happened Di. I know I am at fault. But I don't know what I did."

He held his head in his hands and sat there dejected.

"When did all this start Chotte?"

"Di it was her b'day when we went for your first sonogram. That day when I went back at night, she was lying in a corner in the living room Di.." With that he told her everything that happened from that day.

"I understood that she needs my attention Di. But she wanted space and so I gave her that. I know that even when she ignores me she takes care of me Di. I tried talking to her but she avoids talking to me. Only for the past few days she has been giving me at least monosyllabic answers. She cries herself to sleep everyday Di. It hurts me Di. But I am not able to break the wall she has built around herself. I am scared Di."

Arnav placed his head on Anjali's lap. She started weaving her hand through his hair giving him a sense of peace as she connected the dots in her mind.

"With all that he has said, it seems things started changing after my pregnancy and Shyam left for his international assignment. How could I have been such a hormonal fool? I should have invited Khushi too when Chotte came to meet me all these days. I did not want Chotte to exert himself by going back and forth and I hurt that innocent soul without realizing. How can I forget that he has someone else in his life now? Chotte is an idiot when it comes to relationships. His world has always been me. But I should have made him realize that his wife is equally important. At least now I should make him understand." All these thoughts went through Anjali's mind at lightning speed.

Determined to bring her Chotte's life back on track, she made him sit up and look at her.

"I don't want to dig into the past happenings Chotte. I need you to answer one question truthfully. Do you love Khushi Chotte?"

"Haan Di. I love her so much."

"Have you told her that Chotte?"

"No but she knows that right? After our marriage I didn't even go for outstation meetings. I stay with her as much as possible. She used to tease me for that." A small smile played on lips remembering how Khushi had teased him about spending more time in home than in office but she had been happy about that he knew.

"Was it the same for the past 2 months?"Anjali broke his trance.

Arnav sat back thinking. From the emotions playing across his face, she knew he understood.

"You know Chotte, you may love a person but if you don't express it properly, how will they know? Khushi might know that you love her Chotte. But it has been only few months after your marriage and it might take her some time to understand and believe that you will love her no matter what. But the past few months you have suddenly started ignoring her. She will of course doubt whether there is a space for her in your life. Chotte when I got married to Shyamji, Nani told me that a girl should adjust with her in laws and learn to handle them. Things will not be the same as it was in the girl's house. But it's not only that. She has to adjust to so many new things so soon Chotte. She is connected to them only through her husband. Even if her in laws do not treat her well, she can manage them if only she is assured of her husband's love Chotte. But if she has even a miniscule of doubt in her husband's love for her, then even if her in laws are great, she will forever feel a void. That is probably what Khushi feels. Give her the assurance Chotte. Show her and tell her how much you love her. Change your priorities now Chotte. She comes first. Even before me. Like I come before everyone else for Shyamji."

"I will Di..." Arnav hugged his sister and left for his home as a changed man.

End of Anjali - Arnav Convo.

By the time Arnav finished narrating the night that made him realize his mistakes, they had finished lunch and Khushi was staring at him with tear filled eyes.

"Can we go now to meet Di Arnavji?"

Looking at her tear filled eyes, Arnav could not deny her. He informed his PA to cancel all the meetings scheduled later in the day and left to meet his sister with his wife.

Anjali was happy to see them come home soon after a long time. She hugged Khushi and led her into the living room. She sat beside her on the sofa and took her hands in hers and said in a voice filled with regret.

"I am sorry Khushi."

"Di I shouldn't have ignored you. I didn't want to worry you. Arnavji told me everything. Let the bygones be bygones Di. I understood you both better now."

And with that the two sisters started talking leaving an amused Arnav to converse with Nani. When Khushi told Anjali and Nani how Arnav had tried to woo her, they teased him relentlessly calling him "Joru ka gulaam". That day came to an end watching a happy family smiling away to glory. A husband doting his wife, a brother doting his sister, a sister in law caring for her nanand and a Nani wishing her children to be like this forever.

Dawn will be a new beginning with new priorities and stronger relationships.