Arshi FF - Hearts Knit Together #2 - Page 31

Novel - Hearts knit together

Akash: Teen saal bit gaye hai is baat ko. Maya toh happily settled hai apni choti si duniya me, bhool chuki hai sab kuch. Woh apne pati aur baccho ke saath Khush hai.. but bhai? Kisi se open-up nahi hote, kisi se haskar baate nahi karte, bas kaid rehte hai apni khaamoshiyo me. (3 years have passed since then. Maya is happily settled in her little world, had even forgotten everything. She is content with her husband and kids but bhai? He never opens up with anyone, has stopped laughing. Infact, all day we find him imprisoned with his silence)

Nk: Bhai ne toh gusse ko apni dhaal bana li hai. All of us know that he is guarding his real feelings with his premeditated anger but unhe badalne ki himmat koi nahi kar paaya khushi, mamma bhi nahi. (no one could dare change him, not even Mamma)

Akash: He would never tell us but we aren't blind Khushi. Although hardly kuch months hue hai bhai ko wapas India aaye hue but ham jaante hai. (Although hardly few months had passed since he returned but we know) He isn't happy. Akhir Aisa kab tak chalega?(till how long is this going to continue?) And it's not that ke..

His upsurge, however, met a piecemeal ending when the silhouette of a man standing right at the door came into view. It took them no time to realize who it was, rather, it was the bits and tithers of the conversation which he may have eavesdropped and taken in the wrong way that vexed the two younger brothers who, when sometime before were howling like a wounded lion now stood petrified on their respective places like a scared little cat. Unsure, they first looked at each other then up at him and a steely strong gaze screamed back that the damage was already done, earning more sort of funny rather than cowardice reactions from them.

Nk enclosed his face within his palms and prayed all his deities to just save him today, "bas kal ka suraj naseeb kardo bhagwaan, mai Riya aur Priya ko aankh uthakar bhi nahi dekhunga, Pinky Promise! (Just let me watch tomorrow's sunrise God, I wont even dare glance at Riya and Priya, pinky promise!)"

He opened one eye and peeked a look at the angry bull only to clash head on with his ferocious glare. Taking the clue, he gulped quite audibly, "yeh kya bhagwaanji, aap itne me set nahi hue? Chalo koi nahi, mai Anchal aur Sneha se rakhi bhi bandhwa lunga, bas mujhe aaj bakhsh do. (What? Arent you satisfied with this deal? Okay fine, I would tie rakhis from Anchal and sneha, now atleast save me plz)"

"abe dufforchand! Bhagwaanji kuch nahi karne waale, jo karna hai hame hi karna padega... (God wont do anything, whatever it is we will have to do it ourselves) Bhai seems to be very angry. Ofourse, he wouldn't want us to share his past with anybody. Mai to kehta hu, mauka dekh aur katle yaha se (I would suggest, lets just grab the opportunity and run)" Akash spoke grinding his clattering teeth, equally edgy under the fire.

Khushi, in contrast to the chameleon-ating brothers, remained astoundingly calm. She looked at Arnav straight in his eye understanding the layered persona for the first time for what it actually was. Till today, she was sure he was masking his emotions, yesterday night she even knew, he was contradicting his very own verdict and succumbing to his long due wishes but today she saw a whole new him. Standing infront of her, today, was a man who had handled the perfidy of his Mom so maturely that it could bring down the wisdom of noble priests to shame. Undoubtedly, within few seconds, she found the respect she had for him growing manifolds.

Yes, she was dismayed at the thought of another girl in his life. The fact that he loved someone, that he wanted to make her his for a lifetime, that the separation with her has resulted into a so-changed him was eating into her yet she deliberately let those thought take a back seat. For now nothing mattered, neither his past, nor his enduring. Only thing that mattered was him and his liberation off the past wounds.

Arnav was also keenly observing her face, scrutinizing her every expression, analysing every thought that her pretty little brain may come up with. He knew his brothers had messed up big time! And they were going to have it from him today. Who the hell asked them to go and disclose the truth to her? Now that he had consented to his feelings, he wished to speak to her about himself, by himself. But these dumbheads had to go and blurt out whatever nonsense they have percepted regarding him and the entire Maya fiasco. Damn it! Pata nahi wo kya soch rahi hogi, I badly need to clear this mess.

With an intention to give his darling brothers, a nice doze of his highly hazardous wrath, he marched ahead but his hyperactive brothers beat him in the chase and ran out of the room, mumbling something incoherent that distantly seemed like an apology that Arnav, with a shake of his head, ignored and concentrated his entire focus on his lady.

"Khushiii.." he called out her name like a prayer.

"Ar..arnavji.." She held her breathe in anticipation.

Walking to her side, he admired her beautiful form, probably for the first time from so close even as she writhed under his intense stare. For him, she was a temptation incarnate and no matter how hefty the circumstances were, he couldn't help himself getting allured some more by her innocent charms.

Bringing himself back to reality with great efforts, he sat himself by the edge of her bed and held her hands, gazing tenderly at her dear face. Minutes passed but no one spoke a word. Khushi's mind alerted her to withdraw her hands back lest the consequences won't be appeasing at all but the magnetic pull of his chocolaty orbs refrained her. She was so attuned to him, her hands on their accord tightened its hold as soon as she felt him clearing his throat.

"Khushi.. Tumne abhi jo bhi aaj suna, woh adhura sach hai. (Khushi, whatever you heard today is an incomplete truth) Nk and Akash, they don't know much of the things. Infact maine hi dad se kaha tha not to tell them everything. (He looked away, speaking a bit ramblingly) Un dono me, abhi bhi bohot bachpana hai (those two are still very childish), I dint wanted them to lose it with added onuses of handling someone else's insecurities.

Khushi, Maya aur mai acha dost the (Khushi, Maya and I were good friends) and I knew she liked me from the very start. Un dino Mamma meri shaadi ke liye ladkiyo ki talash me thi. Mujhe laga, shaadi ke liye ek ache dost ka hamsafar hona zaroori hai. (Those days, Mom was busy searching bride for me. I thought, a good friend is what is needed for spending life together) That's why when she proposed me, I accepted. I never thought that Mamma would ever disagree to it. I wish I knew, but I dint."

(Tucking her annoying fringes behind her ear, he continued,)

"We decided to wait till college ended before proceeding with our relationship. Us waqt mera sole focus mera career tha. Mai khud ko establish karna chahta tha. (That time, I wanted to establish myself and my focus was solely, my career) Prove karna chahta tha that I am indeed worthy of inheriting Raizada industries. Harvard, was my destination. Usi ki entrance ke liye prepare kar raha tha. (I was preparing for the entrance with great zeal)

But after college ended, when Maya urged, I agreed with her to speak to our respective parents. I spoke to dad and he was more than happy. Mujhe laga, mamma bhi itni hi khush hongi (I thought mom would be equally happy) but I guess I was wrong. Although she never said anything nasty infront of me but mere peeth piche, maya ki unhone jo insult ki.. (But behind my back, she insulted her so bad) I.. I was so hurt. Unhe kisi ladki ke saath aise nahi karna chahiye tha, chahe jo bhi ho (she shouldn't have done something like this with any girl, no matter what).

Mai to yakin hi nahi kar saka ke meri Mamma kabhi aisa kuch kar sakti hai. (I could never believe that my mom would do something of such sort) But her silence was answer enough. Khushi, you. have. no. idea. how I felt at that time. Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha ke mamma ko status and class ki itni fikr kab se hone lagi. ( I dint understood since when my mom has bothered so much about status and class) I was trying so hard not to let myself feel cheated by her deeds. It was difficult, so very difficult. It felt like going through hell and back yet the aching never reduced.

Maya se shadi na kar paane se zyada dukh is baat ka tha ke mai usse nazre milaane ke layak nahi raha (More than feeling pain for not able to marry maya, I was hurt because I wasn't able to meet her eyes) I wanted answers because somehow, I had gathered there was a strong reason behind mamma's actions. She couldn't disparage my trust like that. And I wasn't wrong. Because few days later, I got to know the real reason of her abjuration.

Flashback:

Arnav: Do you even realize what you did? How could you, Mom? Ek aurat hone ke bawajud aapne kisi ladki ke saath aisa kiya? (Being a woman yourself, you still did something like this with a girl) Puri society ke saamne aapne usko and uski family ko is qadar humiliate kiya. Uske character ko, uski upbringing ko, uski mentality ko question kiya. (You insulted her infront of whole society. You questioned her character, her upbringing, her mentality) Have you ever stopped to consider the impact of your one action in her life?

Shalini: Stop! Stop it Arnav, tumhe koi haq nahi hai mujhse aise sawaal karne ka.. (You have no rights to question me like this)

Arnav: HAQ HAI MOM! I have full rights to know ke aakhir aapne aisa kyu kiya. (Defeated, he slumped down on the nearby couch, his voice heavy thick and loaded with emotions) A..aap ko lagta hai mai aapko mana karta? (You thought I would refuse you for anything?) Ek baar keh kar dekhti mom (You had to say just once mom), I won't have married her without your permission.

Shalini: (Calming herself and occupying a place beside her son) Try and understand bete, maine sab tumhaare betterment ke liye hi kiya hai, (I did everything for your betterment) I couldn't risk anything. That girl have somehow or the other trapped you again and I couldn't let her destroy our family. Mere paas koi option nahi tha. (I had no other way out)

Arvind: And what makes you think so? Tum toh usse pehle kabhi mili bhi nahi ho. (you have never met with that girl before) Kaise keh sakti ho ke that the girl wasn't right for our Arnav? And what do you mean you had no options? You had several options, tum mujhe keh sakti thi, Arnav ko bata sakti thi. (you could have talked with me, spoke to Arnav) We would have discussed and..

Shalini: You have no idea Arvind, yeh middle class ladkiya bohot hi giri hui kism ki hoti hai, Bas ek hi maksad hota hai inka aur wo hai ek haste khelte pariwaar ko tabaah karna. (This middle class girls are extremely cheap and desperate. They only know how to break one family) They can fall to any level for money and status.

The look that both father and son passed her after her underhanded and inappropriate remark was her final undoing. Heavy sobs broke out of her entire frame as she gave in to her secreted grief. The fear of letting the dreaded history repeat itself finally managed to bring out the much needed exasperated outburst from her.

"You both really want to know why I really did all this, right? thik hai toh suno.

maine hamesha aap logo se apni zindagi ki ek bohot important baat chupaai hai. And I guess, today marks the end of my lies. I am not the only heir of Khanna family, Arvind. I had an elder brother too- Keshav Khanna. I know I or anyone from my family have never ever spoken of him but that's because he himself has cut all his ties with us and why? Just because of a bloody middle class girl.

(She went and stood facing the window, her mind lost in reliving the memories of her good old days)

Bhai, being the eldest son of our family, always received bountiful affection from everyone. He was the prince of Khanna Empire - an apple of everyone's eyes. He was given every privilege, every luxury that we could and couldn't afford. But in turn, he also never disappointed us. Bhai was mischievous but never a spoiled brat. He knew his responsibilities well. He never let our family down. He was excellent in sports and academics, he had such a bright future ahead. But his one mistake destroyed everything for us.

During college, he fell for a cheap middle class opportunist who used him for her own benefits. Us waqt mujhe is rishte ka anjaam pata hota, kasam hai mujhe, mai kabhi ise support nahi karti. (If only that time, I had known how much all of us would be paying for accepting their relationship, I would have opposed it with everything in me.) After college ended, he told us about his love affair with Sunita, his batch-mate and a so called simple middle class girl. My parents could never refuse him for anything so after meeting with the girl and her family once, they approved her for the wedding.

All was going well, I was a willing participant in every ritual in my bhai's wedding. Nobody bothered about the low financial status of Sunita's family. Infact, papa helped them with the wedding expenses whenever possible. Finally the marriage took place and she entered our family.

Initial few months, things were ok but later, that girl started showing her true colours. She started creating rifts between Bhai and us. Kisi na kisi tarah, she found excuses to portray herself as the biggest bechari of the world and showed how we all were torturing her. She was slowly brain washing him against each one of us.

Bhai relented initially but one day, shrugging of the matters as daily household activities but her constant nagging never stopped. And needless to say, her plan worked brilliantly coz one day my bhai lost his patience and for the first time raised his voice at our parents for treating his wife badly.

Mamma papa denied all the accusations but bhai ke aakho pe to parda gira hua tha (his eyes were veiled).. he trusted her, not us, no matter if it was the three of us on one side and she alone on the other. That day, it was just the beginning of our miseries. Gradually, every day a fight started taking place in our house. She would feed false information to bhai at night and he would erupt like a volcano, the next day morning. Mamma papa tried so hard to maintain the stability, they never ever questioned or doubted Sunita for anything but that girl was only taking advantage of their goodness.

Dhire dhire baat itni bigad gai ke mujhe ehsaas hone laga ham mere bhai ko kho chuke hai. (eventually, things took a turn for the worse and I realized that we have lost my brother) He became totally ignorant to our side of the story, and believe only what she spoke. Itna bechaari bani hui thi wo bhai ke nazro me, ham chaah kar bhi uska parda faash nahi kar sake. Ek din tang aakar bhai ne ghar chodne ka faisla kar diya. Mamma royi, gidgidaai lekin bhai nahi maane. (One day, his dam of patience broke and he decided to leave the house. Mamma cried and begged him to stay but her dint agreed) Papa had already transferred everything in bhai's name as his wedding gift and he, without taking papa's permission, gave everything to Sunita.

Bas phir kya tha, us ladki ke paas hamari saari daulat thi (Thus, she got hold of our money) and now, there was no stopping to her. Mamma papa somehow consoled their hearts that even if a few miles apart, their jigar ka tukda would atleast be in the same city as them. That, they could atleast meet him once in a while but that bloody occultist dint let that happen. She asked bhai to shift abroad, away from the nuisance called "us".

They went to London and established their world there. Bhai never contacted us after that. Unhone ek baar nahi socha ke unke bina, unke budhe ma baap aur ek kuwaari behen kaise jee rahe hai. Zinda bhi hai ya mar gae? (He never cared to look back at his old parents, his younger sister. He never checked if were even alive or dead) We became so empty handed. Pushtaini haweli aur kuch jawaahraat girwi rakhke Mamma papa ne meri shaadi arrange ki. (Mom dad arranged for my wedding by selling our house and some of the left over jewelleries) And then as you know, few years later to our marriage, they passed away.

This entire incident for me, was an eye opener Arnav. Pehli baar mujhe ehsaas hua (first time I realized) what actually a middle class mentality is. I observed every middle class person around me, mere friends se lekar relatives tak, I noted everyone's behaviour. Sab utne bure nahi the, but maksad sabhi ka ek hi tha. Kuch na kuch chakkar chala kar upper class me belong karna. (Not everyone was as bad as her but motto remained the same for each one of them and that is to somehow belong to the upper class)

And girls like sunita, well there were pro in utilizing their beauty and other skills for trapping high society men. ek baar shaadi ho gai, toh dheere dheere wo apne husbands ko apni hi family se alag kar dena chahti hai. (Once the marriage is done, they separate their husbands from their own families)

They don't give a damn as to what happens to the remaining family members. Sunita ne nahi suni meri mamma ki chekhe jab wo literally beg kar rahi thi bhai se ke wo unhe chod kar naa jaaye.(sunita dint heard my mom's cries when she literally begged my brother to not leave her alone) It was me who witnessed everything. Her boundless pain, her broken cries, her endless tears. Each day, I would watch her cry holding his photograph, saw her praying to all the deities of the world to bring him back but to no avail.

After witnessing all these, tell me both of you, kaise bharosa karu mai EK AUR middle class ladki par? Jo dard meri mamma ne saha hai, use sehne ki mujhme himmat nahi hai Arnav (how should I trust yet ANOTHER middle class girl? I am not strong enough to face what my mother had gone through). I can't lose you. I wont be able to bear it if you too left me someday for a girl. Mai yeh risk nahi le sakti, KABHI NAHI. And so, I did what I should to stop this relationship of yours from proceeding forward.

She broke down completely after her extended monologue and the father-son duo were immediately by her side, hugging her fiercely, supporting her as she wept for the loss of her only family that was alive yet so distant from her. Her tortuous cries sliced through the thick quietness dwelling inside the room, and along with her, the men wept too. But only Arnav knew that his eyes were flooding mercilessly for an altogether another reason.

Flashback, to be continued...

Okay, Now tell me guys, what should I do? Even after typing 3379 words, I have not reached the trailer that I posted before. Arghhh!!!! I hate myself.

Chapter 17 - Click here

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