CHAPTER 1. THE STAGE IS SET!
Arnav raised his hand to put the sindoor he had grabbed from Devi Ma's feet right onto Khushi's forehead when Khushi's eyes widened. For a split second, she could not breathe as she realised what was happening. Till now she was ready to do anything and everything to make sure her sister was not left at the altar of her wedding without getting married, but now the enormity of saying yes to Arnav's marriage proposal struck and blindly in panic she took a step back making Arnav frown. Arnav stared at her in confusion for a moment and then his eyes turned hard in anger and he glared at her. Khushi's eyes widened at the glare; this was not the Arnavji she knew. This man looked like the ASR she met in the fashion show in Lucknow. The glare had contorted his face into someone she feared when she met him first and her heart thudded wildly at the thought of staying married to this demonic man.
Arnav took a step ahead to smear the sindoor to her forehead and Khushi stumbled back in fear. No! Not ASR! If she had to marry him, she would rather marry Arnavji, the man who cared for his sister and comforted her when her father fell ill. She did not want to marry ASR, the man who hated her from the first sight and wanted nothing more than crushing her under his heels. Scared at the man Arnav had turned into; she looked around hoping something would help her. Hell! She did not mind even if Shyam came in to save her. He may have lusted after her even after being a married man but he never forced into doing things she did not want to. And here was ASR with such hatred on his face and eyes for her that Khushi was filled with nothing but fear. Every part of her body was filled with fear.
"Ruk jaayiye!", Khushi tried to say but her plea came out in a whisper. Her chest heaved as she struggled to breathe through her panic. She gulped the air around her and tried it again, "Arnavji! Ruk Jaaiyiye!", she mumbled her voice weakened from her panic, barely reaching Arnav's ear. But Arnav was lost; lost in his hatred, his rage that at that moment even if Khushi had shouted, Arnav would not have heard it. All he saw was the woman who was hell bent on ruining his sister's life and whose life he would ruin today.
Khushi's eyes fell on the knife nearby. It was the knife the Pandits of the temple used sometimes to cut the bananas offered to God and distribute it among the bhakts as Prasad. She looked at Arnav who was still coming towards her with sindoor in his hand looking more and more like the ASR she feared and less and less like the Arnavji she cared about. Her Arnavji was turning into a rakshas, a demon and she had to stop him before he destroyed their friendship or whatever the relationship that was between them.
Just as Arnav reached her and was about to grab her, Khushi lunged towards knife and grabbed it.
"HATIYE! DOOR RAHIYE HUMSE! (MOVE! STAY AWAY FROM ME!)", Khushi roared.
Arnav simply gave her a smirk but continued to walk towards her.
"Dekhiye Arnavji! Agar aap ruke nahi toh hum aapki... aapki...aapki jaan le lenge! (Look! If you did not stop then... then... I will kill you!)", Khushi announced with the knife pointed towards Arnav. Khushi gulped as Arnav let out a bone chilling laugh. This was not his usual laugh. This laugh was filled with cruelty and hatred. This was not the guy who soothed her sprained leg during Diwali or hugged her in the hospital when her father was admitted. NO! This was the man who tore apart the pearls of her blouse in anger. This was the man who dropped her from the first floor in anger.
Khushi looked on as Arnav disregarded her warning and walked towards her, "Soch lo Khushi! Agar maine yeh sindoor tumhaare maang mein nahi bhara, your sister won't be married! (Are you sure Khushi? If I did not put this sindoor onto your forehead, your sister won't be married!)"
Khushi was too lost in her panic to think about anybody else. All she wanted was that this angry avatar of her Arnavji to leave her alone. She waved the knife in front of Arnav, "Door rahiye! Door rahiye humse! Hum keh rahe hain! Hum maar denge aapko! Sach keh rahe hain hum! (Stay away! Stay away from me! I am telling you! I will kill you! I am not lying here!)"
Arnav let out another heart stopping laugh and spoke up with such a venom that even Khushi, who had seen the ASR avatar many times, was surprised by the hatred filled in it, "You? Kill me? Are you kidding? Tum main toh itni himmat nahi ki ek machchar ko maar sako! Tum kya mujhe maarogi? (You don't have the guts to kill a mosquito, forget about killing me!)"
Khushi took a deep breath looking at him with panic. He continued to walk towards her. She started walking backwards knowing that she won't be able to kill him. Inhein toh nahi maar sakti! Par hum khud ko toh maar hi sakti hoon na? (I cannot kill him but I can kill myself, right?) She turned the knife inwards and glared at him, "Wahi ruk jaayiye! Hum aapko nahi maar sakte lekin hum humaari jaan jaroor le sakte hain! (Stop right there! I may not be able to kill you but I can surely take my life!)"
Arnav stopped right away as he realised that while she did not have guts to kill anyone else she can and will definitely kill herself. He looked as the haze of the anger lifted letting him see that a girl will die because of his actions. She maybe a characterless girl and she may not be as innocent as she acts but she was a human being and he never wanted her death on his hands.
"Khushi! Be careful! Woh chaaku tez hai! (That knife is sharp!)". Arnav warned.
Khushi glared at him, "Jaante hain hum! Lekin hum apne aapko maar denge! (I know! But I will kill myself!)"
"Don't! Wait! Don't kill yourself! I won't come closer to you! Promise! Just don't kill youself!", Arnav demanded.
Khushi looked down at the knife. Now what to do? She stopped him. Now what? Then it clicked her. She had leverage over him. She could ask him the one question which haunted her mind from the moment he started blackmailing her. Why was he blackmailing her into marrying him?
Khushi looked at him with wide eyes, "Toh bataayiye ki aap humse shaadi kyun karna chaahte hain? (Then tell me why do you want to marry me?)"
"Khushi! Drop the knife and then we can talk!", Arnav told her.
"Nahi! Aapko humaare sawaal ka jawaab dena hoga! (No! You will have to answer my question!)", Khushi announced.
"Khushi! You will get hurt! Leave the knife!", Arnav tried to convince her.
"NAHI! Pehle humein bataayiye ki aap humse shaadi aaj aur abhi is tarah kyun karna chaahte hain? (No! First tell me why do you want marry me that also right now and in such a manner?)", Khushi continued to prod.
Arnav felt his anger bubbling up, "FINE!', he roared, "Tum jaanna chaahti hona ki main kyun tumse shaadi karna chaahta hoon! (You want to know why I want to marry you!) It is because of you! You and your affair with my Jijaji!", he spat the word Jijaji' as if it was a dirty word.
Khushi stumbled back in shock.
Her confusion must have shown on her face because Arnav started speaking, "Yes! You heard it right! I know everything! I know about your affair with Shyam!"
Khushi looked at him aghast. What affair? What is he talking about? "Arnavji! Aap yeh kya baat kar rahe hain! Kaisa affair? Humein kuch samajh nahi aa raha! (What are you talking about? What affair? I don't understand anything!)"
"Samajh nahi aa raha? Oh wow! You are really a good actress! No wonder you had my whole family fooled! But not me! Not me Khushi! I know everything! I heard you talking to Shyam earlier Khushi! I heard it!", Arnav opened up making Khushi frown.
Khushi was even more confused. Yeh toh keh rahe hain ki inhonein humaari aur Shyamji ki poori baat suni? Toh kaise yeh humpe shaq kar rahe hain? Kahin inhonein aadhi baat sunke kuch aur toh nahi samajh liya? (He is saying that he heard mine and Shyamji's conversation fully? Then why does he doubt me? Is it a possibility that he had heard incomplete conversation and misunderstood the whole situation?) She looked up when Arnav continued.
"And guess what! Shyam confessed that you two are lovers!", Arnav said as Khushi's eyes widened. Confessed? Iska matlab Shyamji ne jhoot kahaa? Aur inhonein use maan bhi liya? Ek baar yeh nahi socha ki hum aisa kar sakte hain ki nahi? Humse poocha tak nahi ki yeh sach hai ya jhoot? (That means Shyamji lied? And Arnavji believed it too? He did not think once whether I would do such thing or not? Did not even ask me whether this was true or false?) Hey Devi Maiyya!
Arnav was shocked when Khushi's face instead of showing remorse at her actions, looked at him with disgust.
"Waah Arnavji Waah!", Khushi spat, "Shyamji ne keh diya aur aapne maan liya! Unhonein kal agar aake aapse kahaa ki aapki Naaniji aapse nafrat karti hain toh kya aap woh bhi maan jaayenge? (Shyamji said it and you believed it! Tomorrow he will come and tell you that your Naaniji hates you, then you will believe that too?)"
"KHUSHI!", Arnav roared in anger.
"CHILLAAYIYE MAT! Chillaana humein bhi aata hai! (DON'T SHOUT! Even I know how to shout!)", Khushi spoke in anger.
Arnav was stupefied for a second.
"Aapne soch bhi kaise liya Arnavji, ki hum aisa kar sakte hain? Hum? Aapne ek aadhi adhoori baat suni, Shyamji ki taraf ki safaai suni aur aapne yeh nirnay sunaa diya ki hum galat hain aur hum aapke sazaa ke haqdaar hain? Humaari safaai ka kya? Humaare pehlu ko aapke saamne rakhne nahi denge? Yeh kaisa nyaay hai Arnavji? Yeh kaise soch hai? (How did you even think Arnavji that I will do such thing? Me? You heard an incomplete conversation, heard Shyamji's explanation and you announced the decision that I was at fault and I deserved the punishment? What about my explanation? You won't allow me to keep my piece in front of you? What kind of justice is this, Arnavji? What kind of thinking this is?)", Khushi questioned.
Arnav smirked, "Do you seriously think you are the only one being punished here? Shyam will get his punishment too. Jab use pata chalega ki tum mujhse shaadi kar chuki ho toh uska jo dil tootega wahi uski sazaa hogi. Tum zindagi bhar uske saamne hogi par kabhi uski nahi banogi, aur yahi uski sazaa hai! (When he will come to know that you have married me, his heart will be broken and that will be his punishment! You will be in front of his eyes his whole life, and yet you won't be his, and that will be his punishment!)"
Khushi let out a laugh making Arnav suck his breath in. Her laughter had no humor and bordered on the edge of hysteria.
"Aap kitne bhole hain Arnavji? (How nave are you Arnavji?)", Khushi spoke scathingly as she stopped laughing, "Bahut bhole! Arre Arnavji! Woh insaan jo shaadi shuda hoke bhi kisi doosri ladki pe dore daal sakta hain woh kya humaare iss shaadi se ruk jaayenge? Agar aapka jawaab haan hai Arnavji toh aap bhole hi nahi, bewakoof bhi hain! (Very nave! Arre Arnavji! That man is married and yet lusts after another girl, is he going to stop once we get married? If your answer is yes, then you are not just nave, but foolish too!)"
"Shut up! I said shut up!", Arnav hissed through his teeth, "Do you really think I am that foolish? I know Shyam won't be stopped but I know you! I know that you will never cross your limits. Tum shaadi ko ek pavitra bandhan maanti ho Khushi, main tumse shaadi karke tum par rok lagaaunga! (You consider marriage to be a very pure bond Khushi, by marrying you I am stopping you!)"
Khushi realised that his words left her an opening to shake his beliefs. She grabbed the chance with both hands, "Achcha Arnavji! Agar aapko pata hai ki hum shaadi ke bandhan ko kitna poojte hain toh aapne kaise vishwaas kar liya ki hum ek shaadi shuda insaan se pyaar karenge? Boliye! Aur agar hum ek shaadi shuda insaan se pyaar kar sakte hain, toh iska matlab hai ki humaare zindagi mein shaadi ka koi mol nahi! Toh kya guarantee hai ki aapse shaadi ke baad hum Shyamji ke paas jaayenge nahi? (Oh really Arnavji! If you know how much I worship the bond of marriage then how did you believe that I would love a married man? Tell me! And if I can love a married man, then that means marriage has no value in my life! Then what is guarantee that after marrying you, I won't get closer to Shyamji?)"
Arnav stepped back as if Khushi had slapped him. His face was etched with disbelief while his eyes remained fixed on Khushi showing shock. Her words reverberated in his head. If she thought marriage as a highest institution in the world, she will never have affair with a married man, and if she did not believe in marriage, then how marrying her will help him or his Di.
Arnav stumbled few steps back and sat down on the steps of the mandir in shock. He looked on into distance unsure what to do, whom to believe! What is supposed to be his next step? What is the right next step? Shyam's words echoed through his mind but then he was reminded of Khushi's words said few minutes back.
"Aapne ek aadhi adhoori baat suni, Shyamji ki taraf ki safaai suni aur aapne yeh nirnay sunaa diya ki hum galat hain aur hum aapke sazaa ke haqdaar hain? Humaari safaai ka kya? Humaare pehlu ko aapke saamne rakhne nahi denge? (You heard an incomplete conversation, heard Shyamji's explanation and you announced the decision that I was at fault and I deserved the punishment? What about my explanation? You won't allow me to keep my piece in front of you?)", Khushi's words said few minutes back assaulted Arnav. Was she right? Had he listened to half conversation and made his decision? He heard Shyam's side but never asked Khushi's side. What if I am wrong? But what if I am right? What if Khushi is simply manipulating me after listening to my words? What to do? Dammit! What to do?
Suddenly, Khushi sat beside him. He looked at her but she was looking at distance. She spoke softly, "Hum jaante hain Arnavji ki aapko samajh nahi aa raha kispe vishwas karein? Hum samajhte hain! Isliye hum aapke saamne apna pehlu rakhenge! Phir aap jo faisla lenge humein manzoor hogi! (I know Arnavji that you don't know whom to believe? I understand! That is why I will keep my piece in front you! Then whatever decision you will take, I will accept it!)"
Khushi started her narration starting with the ill fated day she met Shyam, how he found her a job in Dilli, how he came to live as paying Guest at her Buaji's house, how she got engaged to him, how she got to know his truth, how she broke the engagement. She ended the narration by telling Arnav the full details of the conversation between her and Shyam on the terrace.
Arnav looked at her as she narrated the whole tale. There was pain, desperation, hatred, fear all mixed and flashing on her face. Her eyes which kept on shredding tears from the time he placed his condition in front of her finally turned dry. She had nothing left to spill from her eyes and from her heart. She slowly turned to look at him and Arnav was shocked to see her eyes sad and upset.
They both turned back to look at a distance, both mirroring each other's poses; sitting on steps, hands around their knees as if trying to shield themselves from the pain and eyes lost in confusion and pain.
Finally after thinking for a while, Arnav spoke up, "I don't know whom to believe!"
Khushi frowned. How can he not believe me?
Arnav continued, "I heard both your sides. On one side is the girl who has always been honest with me but known to me for barely six months and on the other side is the man whom I have known for years and who has been one of my biggest supports in this world but turned out to be just another cheat. What should I do? Tell me! What am I supposed to do now?"
Khushi wanted to tell him, choose me' but she understood his point of view too. If someone asked her to choose between one of her family members and Arnav the same way, she would have been confused too. But she did not want to be thought as wrong by him. She did not know why but she wanted him to believe her. He had to!
Arnav was brought out of his thoughts when Khushi grasped his arm tightly. He looked at her only to see desperation in his eyes. She wanted him to believe her but he was still confused.
Khushi thought twice about her decision. Was she right? Yes! She had to do this. Taking a deep breath she blurted out, "Arnavji! Hum kuch karne ko tayyaar aapko humaari baat par vishwas dilaane ke liye! (I am ready to do anything to make you believe me!)"
Arnav frowned as an idea entered his mind, "Kuch bhi? (Anything?)", he asked.
Khushi nodded vigorously.
Arnav took a deep breath and put forth his condition, "Marry me!"
"Kya?", Khushi's hands slipped from his arm as she looked at him in shock.
"Marry me!", Arnav reiterated.
"Kyun?", Khushi frowned. Hey Devi Maiyya! Abhi toh shaadi ke plan ke peeche ke kaaran ko galat thehraaya tha! Ab waapis se shaadi? Lagta hai Arnavji ki sui shaadi pe hi atak chuki! Devi Maiyya! Ab aap hi kuch karo! (Hey Devi Maiyya! I just proved that his reasoning behind marrying me was wrong. And now again marriage? It seems Arnavji's needle is stuck on marriage! Devi Maiyya! Now you only do something!)
Arnav explained his reasoning, "Yehi ek tareeqa hai Khushi, apni begunaahi saabit karne ka! Agar tum Shyam se pyaar nahi karti, toh bejhijak mujhse shaadi karlo! (This is the only way Khushi, to prove your innocence. If you don't love Shyam, then without hesitating marry me!) Without any force, become my wife willingly!"
Khushi looked away unsure of what to say.
"Kya hua?', Arnav asked her softly, "You said you would do anything, remember?"
"Lekin...", Khushi hesitated and then blurted out, "Hum kaise aapse shaadi kar sakte hain? Humaare beech toh kuch...(How can I marry you? Between us, there is no...) ", she trailed off unable to say what she wanted to convey.
"Kyun nahi? (Why not?)" Arnav shrugged, "Tumne Shyam ko haan kahaa tha na, jab ki tum usse pyaar nahi karti thi! (You said yes to Shyam, even though you did not love him!)"
Khushi looked down unsure of what to say.
"Why Khushi? Why were you ready to get into arrange marriage with Shyam but not me? Jab tumhaare Amma aur Buaji ne kahaa ki Shyam se sagaai karlo, tumne kiya, yeh bhi nahi socha ki tum kya chaahti ho! Aaj agar main tumhaare ghar apni Di ke saath rishta leke aaya hota, aur tumhaari Amma ne iss rishte ko haan kahaa hota toh kya tum haan nahi kehti? (When your Amma and Buaji asked you to get engaged to Shyam, you agreed, you did not even think of what you want! If I had to come to your house with my Di, bringing my rishta, and your Amma had agreed to the rishta wouldn't you have said yes to it?)", Arnav questioned her.
Khushi looked at him in shock. He is right! If her parents had told her, she would have agreed to marry Arnv too, then why she hesitating now? Atleast she knew Arnav inside out! When she agreed to get engaged to Shyam, she knew nothing about him! Arnav is right! But what about love? Her heart whispered. Did not she dream for a loving husband whom she loved back too? But she crushed her feelings and threw them away. If she went by her Aunt and Mother, she will one day get married to a guy, she barely knew, forget about loving. Atleast here it was a known devil rather than the unknown. And who knows! Maybe one day Arnav might care for her. She had no hopes for him loving her, he was too cold hearted to love her but maybe one day he will care for her. Her mind flashed to the time he kissed her on the cheek by the poolside, their dance on Teri Meri at her sister's sangeet, him worried for her when he found her chappal at an accident site. She closed her eyes as she realised that he did care for her. So what was wrong in marrying a person who did not love her but atleast cared for her?
Khushi took a deep breath and then nodded. Arnav got up and went inside, followed by Khushi. He took the sindoor and placed it gently on her forehead making her look at him with peace. Gone was the scared panicky girl and in her place stood a girl, not happy but atleast satisfied with her decision. He put the mangalsutr around the neck and they looked at each other. They were married. He slowly raised his hand in front of her and said, "Lets go Mrs. Raizada. We have a family to face!". Khushi placed her hand in his hand and they walked off to the car.
NOTE:
Before you all think Hey! They still got married' and stop reading the story do remember one thing. You are reading Kalpana's story where nothing is as it seems, especially when I am writing a drama story.
Also, do remember that while Arnav put the sindoor and mangalsutr on Khushi, they did not do saath phere or other rituals making this wedding invalid in the eyes of God. And as far as the law is concerned, you have to have witnesses to a hindu wedding and photos of marriage as proof before the court deems your wedding legal and gives you wedding certificate. That is why in court marriage, witness and exchanging of garlands in necessary. (I am not an expert but this is what I learned when I asked my mom in my teenage how the weddings happening in tv serials are not valid in real life?)
Now based on the information I gave you, imagine what would happen when Khushi's real family who has been searching for her for years comes to know about this fake marriage plus the way Arnav treated Khushi in the past and the way he tried to blackmail her into marrying him and finally asked her to prove her innocence by marrying him? The answer to this question will be replied in the next part of Betrayal, Love and Vengeance series, LOVE'.
In short, sit tight for a very interesting ride kyunki abhi toh bas shuruvaat hai!
Abhi toh aur jhatke baaki hai, for you readers and for Arnav and Khushi too!
PRECAP:
The drama begins as Arshi reach home.
Who will support them and who will condemn them?
To know the answer, stay tuned for the next chapter of Betrayal coming up next Sunday!
Thanks for reading!
Take care and have fun,
Kalpana
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