IRE vs IND 28th June at Belfast,2nd T20I,India tour of Ireland, 2026
Armaan sa ki maiyyat ki taiyaari
Is Cocktail 2 struggling at the BO? It went down after good start: BOI
🏏ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Group A: India W vs Aus W🏏
Khushi sat numb. Her face devoid of expressions. Her eyes were steady and body was cold. Her brown satin hair were left open, the kohl earlier in her eyes was now smudged a little.
No sindoor in the hair partition and no mangalsutra around her neck. The white saree, she was made to wear was making her feel empty.
She brought her knees up to her chest and sighed, leaning her head back against the wall. She could hear some people taunting her, sneering at her and mocking.
But she cared less. She was motionless with no emotions. It was all a shocker for you. In a matter of few hours, her life changed completely.
She wasn't sad but shocked. How can he die? How can happen so much in a short period of her? How can her life just take a complete new turn? She wasn't prepared.
Everything happening around her was too quick and hard to absorb.
Her piercing eyes just stared at Dhruv's dead body lying before her covered in a white plain cloth.
Anjali sobbed uncontrollably. It was hard to believe that her dear brother was no more now. It was hard for because she had always loved Dhruv as much as she loved Arnav and today seeing his lifeless was body was piercing her soul.
Lavanya's own eyes were teary, but she kept caressing Anjali's back giving her some support, trying to console her.
For Deviyani, it seemed her death was not so far too. Her grandson's demise was effecting her immensely.
The same was the case of Manorma, in fact everyone was present there to mourn Dhruv.
*
Arnav slowly entered inside the spacious hall. He stopped two inches away prompt from Dhruv's feet. His eyes fluttered towards Dhruv's face and he gulped the mass formed in his throat.
The sudden change of events was flabbergasting for him. Just now, few hours before...his brother was with him, advising him to work hard.
Wasn't he just few hours ago arguing with someone over the phone?
Wasn't he just few hours ago sat in the car with Khushi?
Arnav clenched his fist. This was not supposed to happen. He let out a deep breath and that's when he heard his sister's cries.
And his heart wrenched. He was feeling so helpless at the moment. He can't even go to her and lie to her that Bhai is just acting, he's just trying to scare her. That he hasn't gone anywhere.
He can't.
He can't even go and give her some consolation, he was already so torn. His words that might not lessen her pain, at least not now.
But it pained him the most when his eyes fell on Khushi who was sitting upright against the wall with an expressionless face. Her body rigid and she just kept looking at Dhruv's body.
It was just a week happened to their marriage and she had to face this...
She doesn't deserve it.
She doesn't deserve so much pain.
"Arnav" he turned hearing Aakash whispering his name in a heavy voice.
"It's time" He glanced at the lifeless body.
Arnav wiped the lone tear slowly before glancing at his family members and then giving a nod to Aakash.
It was time to have a final goodbye with Dhruv
*
Khushi let out a shaky breath the moment, she saw Shyam, Aakash, Arnav and NK take Dhruv's corpse away to light the pyre.
While Anjali's and Deviyani's sobs got only louder. Khushi rolled her eyes to a side and leaned back again against the wall.
She touched her cheeks and sighed. Even her eyes didn't glisten. She closed her eyes. It was too much to digest.
How can he just die? So easily...
The doctor had said that he couldn't survive because his nervous system had gotten damaged and he even the blood in his brain had started clotting.
He could only live just for few hours after the accident while she was unconscious.
The current situation for Khushi was confusing. Should she be happy or sad? Sad because her husband died or happy because she finally got rid of a monster.
But, how can she get happy over someone's death? That was impossible! She wasn't that ruthless. Somewhere in the corner of her heart, it was paining her.
But yes she felt herself a free bird, at least now she doesn't need to bear all those tortures. But the thought worsened her mood.
And then all of the sudden, the fight in the car replayed in her mind.
"I Love this"
"Silence"
"Stare ahead"
"Just enjoy the drive"
"Don't try to touch me Dhruv"
"I just want to have a small payback"
"You are sick"
"Dhruv slow down the car"
"No i'm sick and i won't slow down the car"
"Dhruuuv"
Khushi breathed heavily, shaking her head. That was terrific.
"Please...Please just take me away. I don't want to be with him. I..I want him away from me. Very far"
She remembered her words.
A sudden pang of guilt hit her and she swallowed thickly as the realization dawned upon her now. Her eyes slowly started to moisten.
Was it because of her that Dhruv died?
Of course not, she has not done anything but she had prayed to Devi Maiyya to send him away from her.
But she never wished for his death. She can never do that. She just wanted him to be away from her not from his family not forever.
"Bhabhi" Payal came beside her caressed her hair.
She hadn't a spoke a word and so Payal was worried. Her stony expressions were scaring everyone.
Khushi bit her quivering lips. The thought was killing her from inside. Payal again called her but Khushi didn't respond gaining everyone's attention.
Anjali's sobs broke off for a moment as she scrunched her brows and stared at Khushi.
"Bhabhi" Payal called again but Khushi got up and left from there abruptly leaving everyone astound and letting them make some silly remarks about her.
Anjali's body shook as she cried more.
*
Arnav entered inside the mansion with heavy steps. His eyes were red slightly. Aakash followed him and patted his back, placing a soothing hand on his shoulders.
"Everything will be alright. You have to be strong for Di" whispered Aakash and Arnav nodded slowly.
They reached the lounge where everyone was seated. There was a deadly silence.
The atmosphere of the mansion was horrible. Anjali was sitting beside Deviyani, her head resting on Deviyani's shoulders. Both were mum.
"I still can't believe" Manorma whispered and Arnav dropped his head down.
"He was just like Akash to me. How can he just leave us?" she added and wiped her tears.
Aakash pursed his lips and taking a round, he came beside his mother, and embraced her trying to shush her.
Women are always emotional so it's men's duty to console them and soothe their aching hearts.
"Well, don't mind but..." Rekha spoke in a fake low tone.
Everyone looked at her.
"Urm...actually this is what i heard" she said.
"I mean everyone was taunting Khushi...that..that she is a bad omen, inauspicious and portentous"
"She ate her husband" Arnav scrunched his brows at hearing that.
"Well, they are not wrong. Just after a week of their marriage..."
"Aunt please..." Arnav interrupted enraged at her words.
"How can you speak..." but Arnav was cut off.
"No No..these are not my words Arnav dear. I'm telling what i heard" she tried to clarify.
"But still you shouldn't have said it Rekha" Deviyani spoke up too and Anjali sat straight.
While Manorma lost herself in deep thoughts.
"And why do we even care what society thinks? Don't they see how much she is suffering? Don't they feel pity for her? Don't they see that she lost her husband? She is the one who is in pain the most" It was becoming difficult for Arnav to hide his anger.
How can anyone be so heartless? Instead of being sympathetic for someone, they mock and taunt.
Rekha sighed and rolled her eyes looking to a side. She doesn't even care.
"Chote is right Rekha. Please don't ever say anything sort of this before Khushi Bitya. She is already so much broken" Deviyani almost pleaded, her voice quivering.
Rekha nodded.
"Is Bhabhi fine?" asked Arnav slowly.
"No.." Lavanya replied who just came there and stood beside Arnav.
"Me and Payal have been trying a lot to start a conversation with her but she's not ready. She is so lost.." Lavanya whispered feeling bad for Khushi.
"She even refused to eat" she added and looked at Arnav.
"I'll go and see her" spoke Anjali and got up but was stopped by Arnav.
"Di, you stay back and have some rest. You look really weak. I'll go and check on her" Arnav said concernedly seeing his sister's state. She really looked frail.
"But.." she trailed silent when Arnav left from there, not making Rekha so happy with his move.
*
There she was standing by the poolside with her back facing him. Her brown satin hair flying backwards as the wind blew.
Arnav had knocked twice on the door but not getting any response, he had gotten worried and thus he was now standing right behind her.
And it pained him seeing her, wrapped in that white color saree. She doesn't deserve this...not at all.
Gulping the lump formed in his throat, Arnav opened his mouth.
"Bhabhi" he called her slowly.
No response.
"Bhabhi" Arnav called her again and stepped closer.
"Bhabhi, you didn't - "
"Leave me alone for some time" Khushi breathed in a not-so nice tone.
Arnav didn't fail to feel to the quiver in her voice.
"But - "
"Please" Khushi whispered, her voice soft now.
He didn't want to leave her alone He wanted to console her. Arnav sighed and nodded. It was a plea.
Khushi chuckled a sarcastic chuckle inwardly. Here she is tormented, trapped in a mess, so confused, she didn't even shed a single tear and everyone thinks that she is completely shattered and broken from inside.
Yes she is maybe sad but more than that she is unknowingly feeling guilty. Was it really because of her? the accident.
But she never prayed for Dhruv's death, she can never wish that for anyone. She just wanted to get away from him and nothing.
Did Devi Maiyya took her words so wrongly and seriously?
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I know the update is short but this is where i had planned to end. But i will say it again,let me give some exposure to Arnav and Khushi's thoughts regarding Dhruv's death, especially Khushi's..before you judge her :P
P.S. I didn't know, Dhruv's expiry would surprise you all. Dhruv had a small role in this story.Now there will be ArshiLicious updates only. I hope you will like them.
Waiting for the feedback :D
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