*Arnav heard her, and put Dhruv's photo frame aside and quickly wiped the lone tear stuck in the corner of his eyes.
He plastered a smile and slowly turned back on the recliner.
"Do you want something Di?" he asked politely.
Anjali stared at him for a minute and then shook her head. She came and sat beside him.
She glanced at him and spoke in a cracked tone.
"Sab ko kehte ho k. move on...move on, move on aur khud..." she trailed silent as her eyes welled up.
Arnav gulped and looked away.
"You try to console everyone in the house and.." she now looked up at him.
"I saw you in Khushi Ji's room, assuring her and...now just look at yourself" she said, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"What were you doing now?" she asked and Arnav shook his head.
"I-i was just..simply-"
"Choteyy..." Anjali sighed taking his name and wrapped her arms around his neck, breaking down into tears.
Arnav closed his eyes, resting his chin on her shoulders and gathered her sister in his arms.
"Why?...Why did Devi Maiyya do this with us?" she sniffed and cried and Arnav caressed her hair.
"Why did she snatch our Dhruv from us?" Arnav kept himself mum and listened her.
"That's unfair. Unfair with us. Unfair with Khushi Ji" Anjali said, breaking the embrace.
"It was good, you went to her and assured her" Anjali gave a faint smile and Arnav nodded.
"She need some. She's broken" Anjali said, her gaze down.
"Yeah" Arnav whispered.
"She's the most shattered one in the mansion. It had been just a week chhotey and...she must have had so many desires, so many wishes, so many anticipations for her new married life but..." Anjali wiped her tears, when she heard Shyam calling her.
"Go to sleep Chhotey, You have your exam tomorrow. Right?" Arnav nodded.
Anjali ruffled his hair with a smile and got up and left. Arnav sighed and got up too as well.
*
Everyone smiled at Khushi as she entered inside the dining hall for the breakfast.
"You came late today?" Anjali said as Khushi was about to sit on the chair.
"Yeah...actually, i was just packing the bags" Khushi answered and sat down.
She stretched her hand to have a slice of bread but stopped and looked up at everyone to find them still and staring at her.
"You're going somewhere bitya?" asked Deviyani and Khushi glanced at her and then at everyone.
"Yeah, obviously...i-i have to go back...right?" she muttered nervously.
"Where?" asked Anjali immediately.
"Back home..." she replied.
Manorma released a breath and resumed having her breakfast while Manohar, Shyam kept looking at her.
"Who said you?" asked Anjali.
"No-No one but..i just thought-"
"You're not going anywhere Khushi Ji. You're gonna stay with us" Anjali spoke.
Khushi just stared at everyone.
"Anjali bitya's right. Why will you go back? It's your house too now. Aisan hi to naahi hum aap ko bitya bulaawat hain" spoke Deviyani and Khushi gave a faint smile and quickly looked away.
Manorma rolled her eyes and wiped her hands with the napkin before speaking.
"Why are you forcing her?" she questioned and everyone looked at her and ignored.
She again rolled her eyes and got up, leaving from there.
Khushi stared at her retreating figure. Anjali sighed and placed her hand above Khushi's.
"Why do you want to go Khushi Ji? Aren't you happy here now?" asked Anjali, her face dull now.
"No" Khushi replied immediately.
"I'm happy here. You all are so good and kind with me." Khushi spoke.
How can they even think that?
"Then why are you packing your stuff bitya?" asked Manohar and Khushi just pursed her lips.
Truth to be told, Khushi wanted to go away because those past memories of sheer torture haunts her now after Dhruv's death.
But the main reason is that she misses her Bua Ji a lot.
"Don't go Khushi Ji. We'll feel so lonely. You being here makes us feel Dhruv's presence" Khushi gave a faint smile to her and her gaze fell on Shyam who ****ed an eyebrow. Khushi just shook her head and looked down thoughtfully.
She felt disgusted. She never imagined that her presence can make some feel, the monster's presence.
They were trying to find that monster...Dhruv in her. She did feel disgusted. She just sighed and resumed eating.
She didn't have a heart of making the family members sad with her decision. They really love her and she can not make those people sad who are so affectionate towards her.
Khushi shook her head. She was now confused. She shook her head again.
When will her life stop being so complicated?
*
"I promise i'll take care of myself" Anjali said...now tired of making Shyam understand this.
She had been feeling ill since yesterday night and now Shyam wasn't ready to leave her alone as everyone had gone to the Temple.
"You better do Rani Sahiba.." there was a warning in his tone.
Anjali shook her head but seeing Shyam glaring at her, she started nodding her head obediently.
"Good. I'll be back soon but you must take care of yourself" he said and Anjali nodded again with a smile.
Shyam smiled too and grabbing his Laptop, he kissed Anjali's head and left closing the door. Anjali chuckled shaking her head and got up to clear the mess he had made in the room. As she picked up the wasted papers from the floor, her gaze fell on Dhruv's Photo frame and her smile dimmed.
She sat on the edge of the bed and started caressing the picture.
"I hope Khushi Ji stays" she whispered.
The Land-line ringing downstairs made Anjali put the Photo frame back at it's place. Scrunching her brows..she moved out of the room.
But as she reached the stairs, the dizziness enveloped her. She stopped and for support, held the railing and rubbed her temples simultaneously.
"Di" she heard Khushi call her, a bit of panic in her tone.
But she wasn't in a state of turn back and look. She just felt everything revolve and everything seemed blur.
And the moment, she felt her limbs drained of energy and she would fall down, Khushi caught her in the nick of time.
"Hey Devi Maiyya" Khushi exclaimed as Anjali fainted in her arms and she didn't know what to do.
No one was at the Mansion.
"Di" Khushi patted her cheeks.
"Di"
"Hari Kaka" She quickly called out aloud.
**
Lavanya poked her head inside the lecture Hall and frowned finding Arnav sitting all alone there. His head buried in his palms.
"Arnav" she whispered and entered inside.
"Arnav" she called him and sat beside him..placing a comforting hand on his shoulders.
Arnav rose slowly and looked at her confusedly before smiling at her.
"What's wrong?" she asked concernedly.
"Nothing" he replied and stretched his arms.
"Then..Is everyone okay at home?" she asked and he kept quiet.
"Arnav" she shook him as he didn't respond.
"Yeah..everything is okay..it's just that...i don't feel okay" he replied.
"Why?" she asked.
"I don't know"
"Don't worry Arnav. Everything takes time to retrieve" Lavanya spoke and Arnav nodded.
"Yeah but i'm just worried for Bhabhi...She is so young and on the other hand...the people of our society..." he trailed silent.
"Even on the funeral..people weren't there to mourn my brother but to watch Bhabhi, to taunt her and then spice up everything. I mean how ridiculous is that?"Arnav spoke.
Lavanya nodded and held his hand.
"I know but Khushi Bhabhi's strong and mature. She ignores it" she said.
"Yeah but i can't ignore it. It's wrong" Arnav said and Lavanya stared at him confusedly.
"But we can not stop people so it's better if we ignore them just like Bhabhi does...she really doesn't care" she said.
Arnav rolled his eyes and shook his head.
*
The main door opened and Anjali beside her Khushi, entered inside.
"Sambhal ki Di" Khushi mumbled as they stepped a step down.
Deviyani kept her cup of tea down on the table and looked at them.
"Where were both of you?" asked Deviyani and Khushi and Anjali stole a glance.
While Manorma sat sipping her orange juice...
oops fresh orange juice and looking curiously at Khushi, squinting her eyes.
"Kya huya Anjai bitya?" asked Deviyani confusedly as they said nothing but kept quiet and glanced at each other.
"Why don't you sit Di?" Khushi spoke.
"Is everything alright?" asked Deviyani now worriedly.
"Yeah. Everything's okay" Khushi replied and looked at Anjali.
"Will anybody tell uhss bhaat happening?" asked Manorma.
"Woh..actually" Khushi started and Anjali bit her lips and scrunched her eyes nervously.
"Kya bitya?" asked Deviyani.
"Di is pregnant" Khushi mumbled in a soft voice.
Deviyani released a breath and then suddenly squealed with joy startling Anjali and Khushi.
"Aap sach bolat hain?" she asked still not believing.
Khushi nodded with a sweet smile, her hands clasped, down on her abdomen...feeling so elated seeing the huge grin on Deviyani's lips.
"Eee ka mean k hum Grandmother banne waale hain"
"Aur hum par Nani" Deviyani grinned and rushed towards Anjali who was sitting flushed...the smile not leaving her face.
*
Khushi was about to knock on the door but stopped when the door cracked open on its own and she heard giggles from inside the room.
A smile appeared on her lips, watching everything from the slit. Everyone was gathered in Anjali's room and teasing her.
"Nani. Inhain samjhayien k baby is just of a week now. The baby is still in the womb, how is he supposed to play with these toys and cars he has bought" Anjali whined lightly and Shyam made a face making everyone laugh present in the room.
A chuckle escaped Khushi's lips too, as she watched the scene secretly. But then her chuckle vanished and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
She leaned her head back on the wall and smiled, folding her arms. It was the first time after Dhruv's death, that the family was truly happy and laughing heartily, forgetting everything...every loss and pain.
And seeing them like this really gave her immense happiness.
The baby surely seemed a magic. He gave a reason of being happy and smile again like before. Khushi pursed her lips as she realization dawned upon her. What was she doing here? Among them?
Don't know why but she felt she doesn't deserve them or maybe she's just a stranger in this mansion.
Seeing them happy together didn't help in making her feel that she's a part of this family. Maybe because she was dragged here forcefully by Dhruv.
She sighed and glancing at them once, she turned around to leave not having a heart to disturb their private moments.
But someone grabbed her wrist, stopping her from making a move further. Scrunching her brows confusedly, Khushi turned back and found Arnav standing there.
His hand clasped around her wrist.
Khushi blinked her eyes in a slow pace and stared at him.
"Where do you think you are going?" asked Arnav, moving closer to her but his grip on her wrist not loosening a bit.
"Urh.." Khushi roamed her eye balls here and there to make an excuse.
"Lets go inside" He said and turned around, dragging her with him but Khushi pulled her hand back, stopping him.
"What?" asked Arnav ****ing an eyebrow as he looked at her.
"Arnav..i have some work" Khushi spoke softly.
Arnav rolled his eyes and reached Khushi wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"Jhoot bola kawwa kaate" Arnav whispered near her ear and chuckled and Khushi just stared at him sheepishly.
"But-" she tried to protest but Arnav didn't let her.
"Bhabhi..what's wrong?" he asked softly.
"Nothing Arnav. You go. I'll come later after wrapping up some work" she said with a smile.
"Okay then..i'll come with you. I'll help you out" he said and started walking ahead but stopped when Khushi didn't follow him.
He turned back and found her standing still on her place.
"Come on" he said.
"I know you're lying" he added after a brief pause.
Khushi sighed and dropped her gaze down.
"I guess you forgot what i had said you the night" he said and walked towards her standing right before.
"Bhabhi..never feel yourself alone. We are always beside you" he said and Khushi nodded flashing a smile.
Arnav smiled too and held her hand.
"Lets go..everyone must be waiting inside for us" he said and took her
inside.
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Feedback is most welcome :D
And i know, you all are waiting for some ArShi scenes but i'll be more than happy if you keep some more patience. Pretty please!😳😳
Edited by .MissStubborn. - 10 years ago
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
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