Life Altering Holi
by Savera84
After buying colours for Holi and Anjali left them to their own devices, Khushi took it on herself to arrange for the money to make the payment.
She went into her…. no his room to break the Piggy bank.
Khushi carefully gathered all the notes and kept them aside. While counting the coins, she dropped some coins which rolled under the bed.
When she was crawling out after collecting the coins for the second time, she found Arnav’s stretched hand to protect her from hitting the bed very endearing and confusing at the same time.
The guy who said it is very difficult to live in the same room as she lives, breath the same air as breaths, wants to protect her. Why?
He put his mother’s bangles on her hands so lovingly because Mami was watching. She knows he protected her honour in front of the neighbours because his family’s integrity was also questioned. He carried her from temple steps the other day because she was trying to run away from him.
Today, the curtains were drawn and there was no one watching them. Then why?
Mr Raizada, are you confused, or do you want to confuse me?
Oh, whatever it is, I will find out soon. Khushi has decided to get to the bottom of this.
After counting the money, when she asked him for 300 rupees loan, Arnav simply gave her the money.
No gold digging remarks? Is it because 300 rupees is too less?
He even folded the loan paper which she ripped off from her notebook and carefully put it in his wallet!!!
Khushi changed into her favourite Yellow and White dress. She is in a happy mood and decided to mend relationship with her best friend. The happiness did not last long when the creep Shyam tried to blatantly apply colours on her, right in front of his wife.
Who applies colours on a daughter in law on her first Holi as a married woman? Wasn’t it supposed to be the husband or someone elder in the house or even the sister in law? Has he lost his mind?
She somehow managed to escape from him.
After dancing on the song “Aye Meri Johra Zabin”, Devyani relented and hugged Khushi. How can anyone stay upset with Khushi for long? Shyam again approached her to apply colours only to be thwarted in his plans by none other than the man himself. Arnav applied colours on Khushi.
That gave Khushi a renewed energy to find out what is going on.
On Shyam’s insistence Anjali tried to give Bhang to Khushi. Khushi not only drank it, but also got Arnav drink it too. They both ended up at Pool side. They shared everything they feel about each other including Dil ka Dhadakan and how it becomes one when they are close to each other.
When Khushi returned to pick her dupatta, Shyam held her hand and tried to pull her towards him. Khushi in her intoxicated state hit him on his shin making him fall in pool and yelled “ArnavJi, this bad man is trying to touch me”.
Everyone in the house rushed to the pool side.
Anjali who has reached the pool side as fast as she could with tears in her eyes, helped her husband out, made him sit on the chair and started fussing over him while ordering HP to bring first aid box from Chote’s room.
“Hi re Nannd Kishore, what are you doing here babuwa?” asked a visibly angry Madhumati.
“Shyamji is the son-in-law of the house Madhumati Ji. He can go anywhere in the house” answered Mami.
“As a son-in-law he can go anywhere Manoram Ji, I am not questioning that, but when Arnav babuwa and Khushi bitiya are inside the room, why would anybody loiter outside their bedroom?” Madhumati continued her questioning.
Anjali did not like the interrogation a bit. Her husband is suffering, and he needs rest.
Before Anjali got a chance to say something, Devyani asked the same question.
Shyam understood that his cover can blow any minute from now, so, he quickly made a decision and said,
“Khushi Ji called me here. I know Arnav and Khushi Ji were in the bedroom. But lately they were having fights and Rani Saiba tried to control the situation many times. I thought they were in another fight and Khushi ji needed help”.
“Khushi called you here?” repeated Madhumati.
“Yes, she told me to delete the call details”, answered Shyam with an afterthought.
“She told you to delete the call details?”, this time it was not Madhumati but the ever so soft spoken Garima.
Shyam looked un-interested to this question.
Garima opened her hand and revealed the offending object. The phone.
“Khushi Bitiya left it with her babuji when she went to change clothes for the dance. The phone is with him since then”, Garima declared looking at Shyam curiously.
Madhumati looked at both Devyani and Manohar and said, “Forgive me DevyaniJi. I need to tell you something”. She revealed everything she knew about Shyam.
She folded her hands and said, “I know I was wrong. I will take full responsibility. If you still want to punish the kids, I have no choice but to accept it”.
Anjali got up and said, “there must be some misunderstanding, my ShyamJi can’t do anything wrong.”
“There is no misunderstanding Anjali JI, forgive us. This is the truth” Khushi finally opened her mouth. She narrated how she found out Shaym’s truth, how they threw Shyam out of their house, how he persuaded her at Sangeeth and his appalling behaviour on Payal and Akash’s wedding day.
Shyam could not take it. He got up and angrily shouted. “Do you have any proof to prove that I lived at your house or got engaged to Khushi Ji or misbehaved with Khushi Ji?”
“There is no proof but, it is not hard to find something if one wishes”, shot back Payal, surprising everyone.
Arnav’s intoxication disappeared without eating any pickle. He went inside, opened his laptop and started watching the security footage of the house in fast forward mode. Cameras were installed outside of the house, terrace and at the main entrance from outside. Shyam’s folly was revealed straight away when he saw what happened on the terrace on the day he forced Khushi into a contract marriage and on the day Khushi found out about Shyam. Arnav needed no further proof. He also noticed how Shyam tried to hide from Khushi when she was leaving Shantivan in tears one day. It was the day he insulted Khushi when she joined to train Lavanya.
Arnav closed his eyes in despair. Manohar who was watching the video standing behind him, touched his shoulder to give support. Devyani declared that Shyam needs to be handed over to police on cheating charges. Anjali tried to protest, but Devyani hugged her and said “no Bitiya, this is a crime, and we can’t let it go. Please be strong for the sake of your baby”.
Shyam was handed to the police. Guptas left and Payal went after an angry Aakash to pacify.
Devyani, Mama and Mami took Anjal to her room to make her understand Shyam’s deception and tell her that they will give all the support she needs in coping with the situation.
When they were left alone, Arnav looked at Khushi and said “Khushi I need to tell you something”. When he told Khushi how he misunderstood her after witnessing a bit of terrace fiasco, Khushi was livid.
“I pretended to drink bhang to find out what is going on and I certainly wasn’t expecting this Mr Raizada. I know you don’t trust anyone outside your family. But, I never thought it could be to this extent.” You don’t need to put up with me. Now that you know the truth, we don’t need to wait for 6 months. We can get separated straightaway.
Arnav agreed for the separation with an intention to court Khushi properly this time.
The End
************
Suggestions / Comments
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
278