Arshi FF #5: THE SEED OF PASSION, Chapters 34 to 44 - Page 37

Originally posted by: Pinky.Raizada

Awesome Update, I feel bad Anjali, but she handled it better. Aman is in love with Anjali. Arshi were cute and Awesome as always.

Please do not copy my work in any form. Thank you.

Dear friends⭐️

I can't thank you enough for wonderful response to my FF. Sorry for being late. Here is the secret Nani shared...

Chapter 39

A Dark Night of Secrets

Black clouds gathered in the sky ouside the house...thunder rolled in the distance..

Inside, the deafening silence was broken by Arnav's low strangled incredulous,

"Maa was killed? What do you mean! Killed as in ...murdered?" The last word was released in a grief stricken whisper.

This is not happening, Arnav convinced himself while his every breath seemed like the wind outside...that had slowly picked up speed...depressing in a giant hole that was his heart...
Tears rolled down Nani's sagging cheeks and her voice wavered in despair,

"Yes! Murdered! "

A morbid pain shot through Arnav, he felt a terrible weight on shoulders, gnawing him into the ground, tearing him into pieces...nothing would ever be the same again...the wind howled ouside...
His face was impassive but Khushi felt him dying a silent death... her heart ripped apart...she wanted to hug him...to let his pain seep into her...

She prayed fervently in helpless silence, "Devi Maiyya please give him strength, I know he does not believe in you but for my sake...please Devi Maiyya.."
"So its true...What i felt so long..." Anjali's cry of distress startled everyone!

Anjali should have been crying. But she was too numb to cry. She felt herself hurtling into a deep black hole, heavy hearted and breathless...a bolt of lightening lit up the room in an eerie blue light...she felt faint...
Arnav lurched towards a swooning Anjali before anyone else could react.
"Di! Di! open your eyes dammit! " Arnavs voice broke as he cradled his sister's head on his powerful shoulders and he kissed her forehead and held on to her like a dying man to a straw...
As everyone gathered around them in melancholic silence, Anjali opened her slits and looking druggedly into her brother's worried brown pools and panted, "I am okay Chhotey, don't worry. Your Di will never leave you alone like..."

She did not complete the sentence, but he understood what she meant.
"Yes Di," Arnav's tone was dead somber, "at least we have each other...hamesha," and saying that he seated her carefully on the chair besides Nani. "You shouldn't be stressing yourself in your condition..." he murmured kissing her forehead lightly.
Nani took Anjali's hand in a strong grip, her eyes filling with guilty tears.
"Sorry bitiya, this must have come as a shock to you but I could not hold back any longer.
"Its alright Nani...I always knew something wrong ever since I heard parts of the agitated conversation between you and Dadi, the day before you disappeared from our lives..." Her voice strained with emotion and she could continue no more.
Arnav jerked around. "What are you saying Di? You knew something? Why did you not tell me about it?" Arnav stared at her with disbelief.
"What could I say Chhotey? That I had overheard Nani telling Dadi that maa had been shot? I wasn't sure if I had heard right, everything seemed so unreal..."

She had not wanted to see her adolescent brother crumbling before her eyes. There was no saying how he would have reacted to any word of maa's murder. As it is she had been afraid of his growing angst, his resurgence as a cold hard man of the world. So she had borne the secret alone all this while...only once had she used it to threaten Dadi...to prevent her from harming her Chhotey...

Anjali let the tears flow, the dam had burst.
"Di! Don't cry...I did not bring you to my house you make you unhappy...I did not know all this..." Aakash ran to Anjali and hugged her.
Khushi saw the sudden sagging of Arnav's shoulders and the numb look in his eyes. For the first time in his life Arnav found it difficult to comprehend and register his sister's words. A shudder slithered through him.
Khushi found herself inching towards him anxiously till she was behind him.
Even without turning his head, Arnav felt her comforting presence and to his alarm he found his eyes moistening. He moved away from her.
She moved with him."Its okay Arnav...I am here..." She whispered reassuringly, touching his sleeve lightly.
Manohar Singh Raizada walked past them in a daze and bending down on his feet questioned his mother, "Amma what is Anjali bitiya saying? Is it true my sister Ratna was shot? She did not commit suicide? Why didn't you tell me Amma? And Subhadra Mallik knows about this...? Is that why she treated us the way she did?
"Hello hi Sasuma, you are a big chhupi rustam!(someone who hides secrets)!" Manorama chipped in.
There was a deafening cloud of thunder ouside and Khushi shivered seeing Arnav's hard face. Too much was piling up on him, she must prevent him from hurting anymore...and Anjali di she was in no condition to hear this dark murky tale

Khushi voiced her mind loudly. "I don't think Anjalidi and Arnav should be subjected to this now...maybe later "

Payal and Akash nodded in approval.
"Go ahead Nani! I want to know everything. Start from the beginning..." Arnav' s voice was cold and he flashed an angry look towards Khushi...
"Yes Nani..." Anjali's voice was low but steady as she entwined her fingers with her brother's.
"But..." Khushi began, and was silenced by an angry look from Arnav. He was furious with her because she had literally forced him to come to Nani's to learn the truth and now he was adamant to know it! And he would get to the bottom of it!
Hey Devi Maiyya, if i had known that the truth was so bitter and painful i would have never goaded Arnav into this, khushi thought as everyone looked expectantly at Nani to start her tale.
Someone hugged her sideways. Khushi turned doleful eyes at her Jiji as Nani cleared her throat.
With a far away look in her glazy eyes she began...
"That night...that fatal night...we were all waiting eagerly for Anjali's baraat, the preparations were lavish, Sheeshmahal was decorated with Ratna's favourite roses, guests were milling around in their expensive attire, glasses were tinkling, Ustadji had especially graced the occasion for playing shehnai and there was a huge crowd enjoying the performance, Anjali was looking so beautiful and happy and my dear daughter, my Ratna, was on cloud nine! She was living a dream and my eyes filled with joyous tears as I saw her welcoming the guests with her glowing smile with her young Chhotey by her side."
"As usual the only person missing was her husband." Nani paused for breath and Khushi saw Arnav clenching his fist at the mention of his father.
"It was my fault, mine..." Nani said beating her chest, "that i asked Ratna to go in search of Anjali's father. The bridegroom would be there soon and he must be present to welcome the bridegroom's family!"
"I wanted to go with maa..." Arnav whispered, but she told me i was a big boy and should look after the guests..." He gripped the back of Anjali's chair tightly, his face ashen, his knuckles white...

"That is the last I saw of her...alive! I should have gone with her..."
Anjali laid her hand over her Chhotey's and caressing the puckered skin, trying to soothe him, "How could you have known Chhotey? Don't blame yourself..."
Khushi gulped her tears. Her heart went out to them.
She helplessly looked down at her feet and bit her lower lip.
Nani laughed hollowly, "I send my daughter to her doom, I did..."
"Aww Nani!" Aakash leaned forward and hugged her sideways.
Devyani Raizada closed her eyes and continued, "Ratna was gone a good twenty minutes, when someone told me that the baraat would be there in a few minutes. I panicked and looked around for the Malliks but I couldnt see Subhadra or Ajit Mallik anywhere. My daughter and son in law were missing!"

"I made a decision and crossed the huge manicured lawns of Sheeshmahal with hurried steps and entered the main building. Almost everyone was out on the lawns.."

"But as I climbed up the stairs, amidst the strains of the shehnai and laughter, I heard raised voices... somehere upstairs."

"I quickened my steps and called out , 'Ratna, Ratna...'
"And then I heard her voice distinctly," Nani's voice fell, she trembled slightly, "'Ammmaaa, aaamammaaa...I heard Ratna scream..." Nani's voice choked and she started coughing loudly...
"Maa! Don't talk anymore!" Manohar Raizada cried.
"Water! Someone get water..." Aakash roared.
Khushi looked around in despair. Payal spotted the water flask on a side table and quickly poured a glass of water and ran to hand it to Aakash.
"Hello hi bye bye! Give it here!"Manorama said, snatching the glass from Payal and giving it to Aakash.
Aakash held the water to Nani's lips and asked her to sip it slowly.
"Are you okay Nani?" Anjali was concerned.
"Perhaps Nani should stop..." Khushi said hopefully, darting a quick glance at Arnav's dark face.
"No she should finish..." His eyes flashed at Khushi.
"Yes I will tell you all I know bitwa, only then will the burden I carry become lighter..." Nani said, handing the glass to Aakash.

She waved aside all protests by Manohar and Aakash and continued, "I can't tell you how loudly my heart was pounding as I rushed up the stairs as fast as my old legs could carry me! My heart swelled with panic! Why was my daughter screaming! What had happened! And as terrible thoughts entered my heard I heard a loud sound...it sounded like a bullet shot! For a second my feet were nailed to the ground, then I ran up the last flight of steps, panting, and praying for my daughter..."
Nani paused and gulped air and noticed everyone was listening to her with rapt attention. She continued immediately.
"I hurtled myself across the corridor and burst into Ratna's room. All of Sheeshmahal was lit up but her room was strangely dim, a gloom hung over it.
At first glance I could see no one in the room and a strange fear overcame me. "Ratna!'I screamed at the top of my lung. A loaded moment ticked away, there were many sounds in the distance but the voice I wanted to hear eluded me.
And then I heard it. Ratna's voice, a muffled, "Amma...!"
I turned to the direction of the sound and moved forward at once, my eyes adjusting to the strangely lit room...there was no light, except for flickering candles...eerie
And then i saw her...my daughter, cowering on the floor near the corner of the wall...and her eyes, " hot tears gushed out of Nani's eyes, " Big terrified eyes, the roses in her hair crushed and drooping, .her thick hair in disarray billowing in the waft coming from the window behind her... My heart stopped beating... I felt faint and feeble, the distance between me and Ratna seemed unfathomable...I begged Devi Maiyya to help me...and a strength infused me and I found myself galvanized towards Ratna, holding her, bodily lifting her to a sitting position while her gaze was transfixed at something at the end of the room. I turned around but could see nothing but the huge antique bed."
"I tried to keep calm and cupped her face. 'Ratna bitiya what happened. Are you hurt? I think i heard a bullet shot...Dont be afraid, tell me. Ratna!' But she was unmoved. Only staring beyond with that frightened look on her face...
"Ratna, I am talking to you...I slapped her pale cheeks lightly, then harder, till she burst into tears and blurted, 'Wo...wo!' And slowly lifted her finger to point outsomething to me. I cradled her head on my shoulder and followed the line of her finger and gaze..."
She was pointing to the bed. There was a sudden burst of crackers outside indicating the baarat had arrived and the ancient marriage band in Lucknow broke out into an old Hindi movie tune, 'Raja ki aayegi baraat, rangili hogi raat, magan main nachoongi...(Baraat will come, the night will be colourful, I will dance madly...)
Nani closed her eyes in pain and sighed deeply, "Its indeed strange how such small things play on your memory...the band...the song...the firecrackers...that is how i saw him...in the light of the crackers...
He was lying at an awkward angle on the bed...
Anjali gripped Arnav's hand tightly, her lips trembling, she did not want to hear any more...
Arnav moved closer to his sister and put his other hand on her head and asked in a low emotionless voice, "Who was lying there Nani?"
Devyani Raizada snapped open her eyes and answered in a hushed voice,
"Your father..."

"My son in law...I could not believe my eyes...but I was prepared for the worst...

I approached him with great trepidation admist the sound of the bursting crackers and the marriage band...it was bizarre..."

"And then I saw his eyes they were wide open but unblinking and motionless...the gun nozzle tuned towards him..."

"I almost screamed my lungs out but in time clamped my mouth to muffle any sound that might frighten Ratna further...I knew now why she was looking so scared..."

"Ammaaa, Ammaaa..." I suddenly heard Ratna calling out to me.

"I turned around swiftly...

She was trembling like a leaf but she had managed to stand up against the wall. She took a step towards me, her hand outsretched

I ran to her and she collapsed in my arms...

Ratna, get up, my child, let us get out of here,' I shrieked into her ears.

But Ratna slumped down on the floor with a thud.

I tried dragging her to the door but lacked the strength...

I shook her shoulders and slapped her face, "Ratna, Ratna, wait here, bitiya, I will get help immediately!'

She looked at me with a blank expression and then abruptly said in a strangely steady voice,

Help me Amma..I want to live for my Chhotey and Anjali...I have too...'

And then she fell unconscious. I let out a helpless wail and ran helter skelter out of the room, my white pallu trailing behind me on the stairs. I had almost reached the bottom when I crashed into two women of our neighbourhood.

They asked me urgently, "Where in God's name is Ratna? Get her now! She has to do the welcome aarti... the bridegroom is at the door!"

"But before I could answer they took in my tearful, dishevelled state and inquired, "What happened Devyaniji? Is something wrong?"

"I could only point upstairs before I passed out...

When I regained consciousness I was told my son in law and daughter had committed suicide! They were found with guns in their hands!"

"That is true," Manohar mama nodded gravely. "I found them in that state..."

"The bidegroom's family had broken off the marriage and returned from our doorstep, hurling abuses at the Malliks for spoiling their good name in society...Obviously Subhadra blamed my daughter solely..." Nani said bitterly.

"However, I am certain my daughter did not commit suicide! Her last words to me before I left the room was that she wanted to live for her children, her Arnav and Anjali...a mother would never lie...my bitiya was murdered! I tell you she was murdered! She was killed by someone in Sheeshmahal!" Nani shrieked at the top of her voice!

All was quiet and then suddenly cries of anguish burst from within Nani and violent sobs racked her whole body.

Anjali reached out to her Nani and embracing her cried her heart out...

The sorrow had been too great to be borne alone, but sharing the grief could heal the heart.There was not one person in the room whose eyes were not moist.

Only Arnav stood alone, holding on to the empty chair his Di had just vacated looking dark, distant and aloof...

Khushi ran her eyes over his features anxiously. It was impossible to say what he was feeling at this moment for his face bore no expression. His eyes were hooded and masked. He suddenly swivelled on his heels and walked out of the house. "Hey Devi Maiyya!" Khushi winced, glancing at the others.

No one had noticed Arnav's departure.Khushi ran after him outside the house.

A gale was blowing outside through the swaying trees, whipping up dust and churning it around, snarling around the house like a banishee in the dark. In the distance Khushi could see Arnav's obstinate figure cutting across the strong winds.

"Arnav!" Khushi screamed after him, "Arnav stop!"

Huge sadistic drops of rain chose this moment to hammer Khushi.

Khushi gasped and looked up at the dark snarling sky! She missed a step and skidded on the gravel path and closed her eyes yelping in pain.

"Dammit!" a voice growled into her ear, "Why can't you leave me alone Khushi Kumari Gupta...'' he said bending down on one knee before her.

"Because I can't, not now..." she looked up into the brown sizzling pools of fury.

He looked up at the sudden downpour and muttered "What the! You will fall sick!" and suddenly lifted her off the ground in his secure arms and walked towards the nearby gardener's shed purposefully.

"Are you okay?" she peered into his eyes.

"Do I look okay?" he lifted his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders as rain pelted down his back, soaking him in moments. Droplets slid off his eyelashes and fell on her face. He looked so vulnerable...

"You look like a drenched kitten!"she giggled.

"Great!" his lips curled at her choice of words.

"At least you did not call me a rat!" his voice was suddenly steely and quiet.

Khushi looked up at him despondently, "Arnav, please, that is not what I meant...I know you can never forgive me for compelling ou to meet Nani..."

His face was wet and dark and gleamed menacingly as lightening struck in the distance. His voice was like the thunder that filled the air...

"I don't want to talk about this Khushi, samjhi tum? You and Di wanted me to meet Nani. I have done that. And that is all there is to it, understand?"

Khushi looked at him in amazement. He could not really mean that! He was totally unaffected by the news that his mother was murdered! This was impossible! Khushi knew him too well! He was a past master at hiding his feelings and instead of breaking down adversity seemed to have made his control over himself stronger. But surely his insides were melting away...she thought in frustration noticing the tightening of the jawline, the pursed lips.

He kicked open the tin door of the shed and bending his head carried her inside and set her down.

But before he could move away, suddenly on an impulse she grabbed his shirt collar more tightly and tugging his head down kissed him full on his lips.

Arnav was taken aback.

But Khushi pressed into him, nibbled at his lips and threaded her fingers in his wet hair and moaned his name for reaction.

Arnav came apart like never before...it was her mere touch that did it...

He hungrily grabbed her wet lips and sucked them urgently... sliding his tongue past her invitingly parted lips into the deepest crevices of her mouth...like rain on parched earth...drops of grace...offered in torrents...

A lone tear made its way on their entwined lips...

And then came the tension, frustration, anger, helplessness and deep seated hurt in the shuddering convulsions of his body, washing over him again and again. Wave after wave of his dull, throbbing realization crashed at the calming shores of Khushi's heart till the tide ebbed and he slumped against her in despair...

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This chapter was difficult for me to write...yet it flowed restlessly...

Do tell me if you liked it.