ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi #2 Link to next thread on pg 1

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ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi

Chapter 11

"You know my friend Trisha who sits with me in class, Mumma? Her mother always pulls my cheek whenever she meets me. I don't like it at all." Wrinkling her cute button nose in disgust, Manyata grumbled.

As she bent her head and raised her hand to pick one of the apple pieces that her mother has sliced for her, Khushi laughed silently. The moment Manyata looked up, Khushi sobered up not wanting to hurt her cute daughter.

Quickly adding crushed sugar and nuts to the frozen mixture of coconut and milk, Khushi kept listening to Manyata telling her everything about her classmates. In the span of 2 hours while she cooked, Khushi got to know everything about what Manyata liked, hated and feared.

Khushi didn't know why but she felt special the way the girl poured out her heart to her, like she was telling Khushi that she trusted her with it.

The more time she spent with Manyata, she felt happy and alive like someone has jolted her out of her misery and guilt.

So that she could see that her life isn't that bad. That world is a beautiful place as she believed in her teens.

It was just the way she looked it that changed everything. As simple as that.

The moment Khushi put the sweet dish that she was preparing in front of Manyata, her face lit up in excitement. Jumping on the table, Manyata scooped some of it in a spoon and ate enthusiastically.

Chewing slowly, Manyata kept making faces as Khushi looked on in anticipation. As she swallowed, Manyata quickly scooped some more of it and squealed "This is so tasty Mumma. I never tasted something like this ever."

"Really?" Khushi asked looking relieved.

Bobbing her head in affirmation, Manyata kept devouring it as Khushi kept watching, cradling her face in her hands.

"Even Daddy never made something as tasty as this." Manyata added.

"Daddy cooks for you?" Khushi asked instantly.

"Every day Mumma. He always prepares breakfast for me. And he is a very good cook. Just like you. But he never makes any sweet dish. He says that he can't eat anything sweet so he never learned cooking something sweet. But he always brings chocolate and ice creams for me. And story books too." Manyata chattered, looking dazed.

The way she spoke about Arnav told Khushi that the girl loved him crazily. Like she idolized him.

As Manyata licked her spoon, she looked at Khushi hopefully "Will you make it tomorrow again Mumma? For my lunch? I want to show my friends that my Mumma can also make tasty food like their moms. I told them today but they didn't believe me. They said that I am lying about everything. They didn't believe me when I told them that you came back."

"What?" Khushi asked looking shocked and hastily added "But you know I am here Manyata."

"They are stupid, Mumma. Daddy always said that my friends are dumb. I think he is right. Of course they don't understand why you went away from me. But I understand." Manyata replied, acting very proud and intelligent.

"And why do you think I was away from you all these years?" Khushi asked carefully.

"Because God hid you from everyone so that no one can hurt you. Daddy always said that a monster is after you. And if he got to know that I am your daughter, he will take me away. So god will return you only when that monster won't hurt you." Manyata answered in a hushed voice.

Khushi blinked her eyes slowly, trying to understand everything. She felt as if Manyata wasn't just telling some story that Arnav told her but was talking about her biological mother.

According to what Arnav has told her, Manyata's mother was already dead then why was he letting a small girl hope that her mother will come back to her someday? He could have told her anything and would have said that her mother won't come back ever but he didn't. What if Manyata's mother is alive?

"Okay Manyata didn't I tell you not to tell anyone about it? Mumma just returned to live with you and you have already started talking about monsters. She won't like talking about monsters." A harsh voice boomed from the door making Khushi jerk her head up.

Arnav stood there, a strange emotion creeping to his face. He looked as if Manyata revealed the biggest secret of his life. He looked panicked, Khushi added warily.

"Daddy, I am so sorry. I forgot." Looking apologetic, Manyata said nervously twisting her hands together.

"Did you eat your dinner?" Arnav asked sternly making Manyata nod instantly. Quickly getting down from the table, she ran towards Arnav and wrapped her small hands around his legs.

"Sorry Daddy. I won't talk about it ever." Manyata promised.

Picking her up in his arms, Arnav smiled at her "It's okay sweetheart. Now I am going to read you a story and will tuck you in bed. It's getting late already."

Resting her head in the crook of his neck, Manyata mumbled something incoherently under her breath when Arnav started walking towards his room.

When he was about to enter in his room, he looked back at Khushi as if deciding something in his mind. The moment he turned and disappeared in his room, Khushi collapsed in her seat in relief.

Still she wasn't able to think past what Manyata said. Sure it sounded like a story but she felt like it held some truth. And from the look that Arnav gave her, she knew that it wasn't something good to hear about. Arnav didn't look too eager once he heard Manyata saying it to her.

Maybe he told Manyata all this just so that the girl never asks about her mother. But what if he told her only the truth in the shape of a story?

Just one thing she knew for sure. That Manyata's mother isn't dead. Then why Arnav lied to her?

________________________________________________________

Deciding to take a bath before going to bed, Khushi went to her room. A sigh escaped from her lips the moment she entered into the warm water of the tub. She felt tired and worn out. As much as she loved spending most of the day with Manyata, the girl's enthusiasm tired her.

The moment she closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the tub, Arnav's face flashed in front of her eyes. Frowning, she wondered why Arnav was hiding so much from her like he doesn't trust her. May be he doesn't want her to get involved in his life.

He helps her but still he looks eager to stay away from her. Khushi knew that Arnav came back from work hours ago but chose to spend time in his study than joining her and Manyata.

Maybe just like her, he takes time in trusting someone.

After tying the belt of the blue bathrobe that she was wearing, Khushi walked in her room while wiping her wet hairs with a towel.

The moment she looked up, her feet stopped moving and a voice escaped from her mouth instinctively "Oh."

Arnav who was facing the window till now, turned around after hearing her voice. His eyes widened as he took in her appearance. His eyes lingered on her hairs for a moment and then he looked away, color rising to his face as if he was the one standing in front of her in just a bathrobe.

The lamps in her room threw his sideway turned profile a soft look. Noticing his rather disheveled hairs and crumpled clothes, Khushi asked uncertainly "Do you need something?"

Running his hands over his face, Arnav whispered "Actually there is something I would like to talk to you about."

"Go ahead. I am listening." Settling on a couch comfortably, Khushi asked.

After looking at her for few moments, Arnav turned away linking his hands together behind his neck "I met Aman today and we have discussed everything about Niya's case. In 2 days the complaint will be registered in the court."

"Oh that's great. But then why are you tensed?"

"Because I have decided to file a kidnapping case against Vikrant as well. I know that Niya is safe where I have sent her but if we want to make our case strong, we need to do this Khushi. We need to pretend as if Niya was kidnapped by Vikrant when she warned to drag him to court for raping and threatening her and he is still holding her captive. I have already bribed some of his people and they will testify against him in the court." Arnav explained.

"Wow, I mean that's great. It sounds like a good plan. I never thought about it this way." Khushi blurted out looking awestruck.

"I know. You believe in working honestly. I admire that. But we need this." Arnav grimaced, looking disgusted by his own plan somehow.

"It's fine really. When we lie to do something good, it's exactly not a bad thing. You don't need to look so apologetic about it." Smiling at him confidently, Khushi whispered.

"It's not your conscience that I am worried about, Khushi. As much as I acknowledging inheriting my father's sharp mind, I feel ashamed about it." His stance rigid, Arnav shot back still looking out.

"When it comes to monsters like Vikrant, sometimes we need to compromise with our morals Arnav." Khushi pointed out, putting emphasis on the word monster and noted how Arnav froze for a moment.

Turning back towards her, Arnav nodded his head curtly and was about to walk out when Khushi spoke again "So your sister is alive, isn't she?"

Stopping dead in his track, Arnav looked back at her innocently "I don't understand you."

"Oh please. Just spit it out Arnav. Your sister is alive." Getting up from the couch, Khushi said furiously.

As Arnav kept looking at her like he isn't able to understand what she was saying, Khushi started pacing to and fro "You always help me but still you keep running away like you don't trust me or something. You tell me that your sister is dead and then you tell Manyata that someday her mother will be back. You look so eager to destroy Vikrant like it isn't about Niya only. You look like a man out on taking revenge from people who have hurt his loved ones."

Arnav shook his head "You have got it all wrong."

"Oh yeah?" Khushi stopped in front of him and stared straight in his eyes "Then look in my eyes and tell me that your sister is dead. Do it and I will believe you. I won't ask about it ever."

Taking one step ahead, Khushi kept staring in his eyes as Arnav did the same. Anger, fear and defiance- she saw in his eyes as he looked stumped by her determination.

Just when she wasn't expecting him to say anything, Arnav grabbed her forearm roughly and shouted "Yes, she is ALIVE."

Pushing her away, Arnav harshly ran his hand through his hairs before yanking his necktie away and popping the top two buttons of his white shirt free. He looked angry and helpless.

Laughing bitterly, Arnav started "How was I supposed to just let her die? She asked for my help. How could I have let her down? She is my twin sister. She always knew what I felt just like I knew what ticked her off. When she came to me, she was so heartbroken. Her husband cheated on her. She was hurting and I wasn't able to do anything to make the pain go away. When she came to know that she is pregnant, she was so happy but then she realized that she couldn't keep the baby. Her husband will take the baby if he got to know about her pregnancy. That's when we started plotting everything. I let everyone think that due to depression, Anjali was sent to some mental hospital for treatment. She gave birth to Manyata there and then I sent her to New York. I quickly spread the rumor that she died in a hospital fire there."

"But why? How could she just leave her baby?" Khushi asked, looking outraged.

"Didn't you hear me? Her husband would have taken her baby away from her. She didn't wanted her baby to be like her father. She wanted me to look after her. So after a month or so, I adopted Manyata officially, weaving some story about her mother running away and leaving her behind in a hospital. Everyone thought I am generous like my father, taking responsibility of an orphan baby girl." Arnav answered, looking so anguished that took Khushi's breath away.

"Who is her husband?" Khushi asked breathlessly, wishing with all her might that it wasn't what she was thinking.

"Vikrant Chaudhary." Arnav said bitterly as Khushi closed her eyes in regret "So tell me, what I am supposed to do? How can I tell Manyata that Anjali is dead when my sister is alive? My sister isn't a coward. Any other woman would have shattered but not her. She was so determined to not let Vikrant anywhere near Manyata that she chose to go away. She loves Manyata dearly. It kills her that she never met her daughter ever since she gave birth to her. But she is bearing it all. So don't you dare question me, Khushi. This secret is her key to life."

"I am so sorry, Arnav. I didn't know anything about this." Khushi said looking ashamed.

"It's not like I don't trust you, Khushi. But a man, who once has been betrayed by his own family, needs to be careful." Arnav confessed, moving Khushi to tears.

Grabbing his hands with her own, Khushi bent her head on the top of their joined hands and whispered "Thank you for telling me everything, Arnav."

"It's alright, Khushi." Quickly shrugging her hands away, Arnav muttered looking uncomfortable.

As she wiped tears away from her face, Khushi cleared her throat and said "I think you will need my help Arnav if you want to destroy Vikrant. If you involved yourself in Niya's case, people will think that it's all personal to you."

"Then what you think we should do?"

"I will handle everything. You don't need to worry about it. Trust me, Arnav." Khushi asked looking confident and assured.

As Arnav shook his head, Khushi smiled feeling like she really earned something very precious. His trust.

Lovely update.

so Khushi knows about Anjali now...good..and loved how Manyatha told Khushi about everything in her life..such a sweet bonding between them..nice update...😊