Arshi FF - Hearts Knit Together #4 [COMPLETE] EPILOGUE on Pg66 [24/07] - Page 8

Originally posted by: radhvi

Awww Thanks Chav!! 😳🤗

I truly couldn't help myself with the comparison part!! You see I once read while surfing the net that

"Terrorizing a bunch of school kids is not worse than killing and torturing people. But Voldemort is a bad guy!! Umbridge is personal."

This was the phrase that kept recurring to me with Shalini's each and every move!! For heaven's sake she hasn't even thought about the repercussions and certainly is unaware how deeply her son loves Khushi!! For all I know she is banking her win with a "trump card - this is Khushi's real face" totally unaware of what exactly happened!! And when she realizes that... to quote Simmi "bhagwaan hi maalik hai" (Chapter 6 HKT)

Originally posted by: tuli_jayee

well dearies ... I was srsly enjoying the discussion on this Shalini issue & really it's nt only nice meeting you guys here ... at the same time it's grt talking to you people. though I am a regular reader of Chav's stories ... bt met Radhvi here only.

you are absolutely right that Shyam is practically a nobody. he is nt even that imp that we have to worry abt him. & he is already been well taken care of. it's Shalini who is terrorizing & taking advantage of unsuspected people. so I do not empathise with her. so Sim ... don't even try to bring any kind of justification in her behaviour.

we all know Shyam is practically a pathetic person while Shalini is actually two faced. & these type of two faced characters are actually more dangerous than devil like Shyam. we know that we have to be conscious or aware when people like Shyam are involved. bt in case of people like Shalini , you never know when or how you would be attacked.

Originally posted by: Chaverah_TFC

So very true, radhvi. I think its more of standing on her beliefs. Beliefs she's been blinded with. I have seen her as a troubled mother, could see her apprehensions as she reveals her past, but what I never understood is her way of dealing with Maya way before Khushi came. But isn't it, in a way put, d same thing her bhabhi did? Breaking n splitting d family n their love n wishes? I mean her bhabhi had some views, she stuck to them. In turn she broke a family, scarring them. But what is she doing? D same if I were asked. Loads worse given it is her own sons life she is playing, plotting n messing with.

N yeah, nice point about Shalini not stopping her parents from selling d land.

Good point raised tuli!

Ohh gaawdd!! Seriously true! Family of bride outta spend every penny or atleast a huge bulk of what they've earned so far, even if it means sweating blood. Sply in India. What's there to take offense? Its largely true. There might b very very less of d shining like a star kinda ppl but apart from them, d rest r same.

Novel - Hearts knit together

Chapter 29

[PART 1]

[English]

He held her as he was longing to do all day long, feeling a knife twisting his heart at every sob that racked through her shivering little frame, "shh..Khushi, its okay...calm down"

...

...

"shh...please jaan, stop it...you know I cant handle your tears right?", He scooped her in his arms, settling down on the bed with her firmly placed on his lap. Khushi, unheeding to his little activities, kept on crying.

...

...

"That's enough now khushi...you are scaring me now, please atleast tell me whats wrong?" He pressed her cheek to his hoping against hope that maybe the pressure would stop those precious droplets from falling off of her gorgeous hazels. God, his khushi had never cried so badly, what could possibly be wrong?

...

...

"Ok ok shush, its alright...you stop crying first, we will talk later ok?", His arms held her more closer, securely locking her in his warm embrace while she shook uncontrollably in the feats of her own misery, "No, its not okay Arnavji.."

At her statement, his arms curled around her tighter, while she still has her face buried deep in his chest. She was still crying her eyes out while he could only stare, feeling utterly helpless and lost. How he wished to take away all her pains but first, it was that whatever-god-damned-thing-that-was-bothering-her which was not letting her stop fretting even for a sec, and later, it was her horrified realization of how rudely she had spoken to him that accentuated the salty flow.

"Hey devi maiyya...What have I done Arnavji.. I..I shoudnt have spoken to you like that...I..I..am so..so sorry, forgive me please... I don't know what had gotten over me.. you must be so hurt Arnavji, I am so sorry, please...forgive me...p..l..e..a...se... I..a..m... ss..or.r..."

And before he could react, she had fainted right in his arms, panicking him till no ends.

~

Shalini was a happy woman today. No, not happy. She was jubilant.

Enthralled.

Proud.

Content.

She had finally achieved what she wanted to, was striving for, for quite a sometime now. She hated losing the veneer of control and for the past few days, that was all happening to her.

She was losing it.

That girl's immorality and cheapness was not letting her sleep at nights. Everytime she would try to close her eyes, it would be a wasted effort at trying to put her tired limbs to some rest since that one face would take away all the comfort the plush bed had to offer. And it the nights were bad, the days were even more horrible.

She would recall the incident with nk when that sorry-excuse-of-a-human had tried instigating her sons against each other and her blood would boil with a new fervour. She wished she could do something about it, missing her earlier spontaneous ways. Yet she couldn't actjust as heedlessly as before for the fear of messing everything would lurk in the nearby corner, damaging her thinking ability sometimes or mostly just leaving her highly frustrated. She wanted to get rid of her, but she knew this time it was not going to be so easy.

She needed a full proof plan!

Last time with Maya, all she needed a simple confrontation and some sharp speaking skills to get her job done but this time the girl was in the direct protection of her husband. Moreover, with Maya, she had gotten an upperhand for she was sure if it ever came to selecting between the two, her Arnav would always prioritize HER. He himself had vowed to never go against her wishes but this time, she was not sure. Under her very nose, Khushi had gotten a hold of her biggest weakness - Arnav.

She had wished she could deny it. But if the accounts of the servants were to be trusted and looking at the way he had transformed ever since that filthy-little-thing had entered their lives, grudgingly she had to accept, the tables have indeed turned. Now, if she was to try proving khushi's characterlessness and khushi's nasty intentions to her husband and Arnav, she was cent percent sure they wont believe her. If Nk and Akash could help, they were too innocently smitten by khushi's charms to look beyond her sweet-talking-ways.

Shalini remebered cursing her luck for her very bad timings, I got a little late in discovering her true face and she had gotten my entire family wrapped around her bloody little finger. Great. Just Great! She had rebuked herself for showing even an ounce on faith on the fact that middle-class-girls could be anything better than gold diggers and carried on planning. It is going to be the age old formula, she had decided, with a minor difference, she hastily added - she was not letting anybody on with it, that's it. It was going to be discreet and destructive!

And so, in front of Arvind, she had portrayed to be giving serious thoughts about changing her beliefs post Mrs Chauhan fiasco. Infront of her kids, she was the usual strict but caring mother. And infront of khushi, she was a different person altogether. After all, it was an unwritten rule for her to strike her enemy when they were at their vulnerable best. For that, she needed to catch them off guard. And that was only possible when she would pretend to let them off the hook, to act as though she had finally accepted them, welcomed them in her life. This was a tested trick that was sure to leave its mark, all throughout the life.

Maya was the living proof of it. Shalini remembered how once she had accidently bumped into her, at a mall. The way that girl had rounded her eyes, petrified to an extent that her shivering just wont stop, it had given her so much of satisfaction, knowing that people like her would think a thousand times before obstructing her path with their stupid whims and fancies again. Years later, another girl had come, apparently with more preparation and even stronger conviction that she could actually win if she gets her entire family in her control. So naturally, it was about time to prove her wrong. And wrong, she had finally proved khushi today.

It wasn't easy. She remembered how she had unknowingly gotten Arnav so worried. The day he had returned from his business trip, their conversation must have definitely irked him somewhere. She haven't planned to explode like that. But then, what could she do if her son was slipping from her hands? He was hiding things from her, taking Khushi out with him on dates, planning his future and all of the other nonsense stuff thinking SHE wont be any hindrance. Well, son or no son, how dare he? How could he take her for granted? She was bound to get angry with all these thought jumbling in her head and that days' mild outburst was just the result of her frustration. She had almost spoiled everything that day, hinting Arnav that she had an idea of what was actually going on behind her back. The only saving grace was the last minute perspicacity that had saved the day.

But Shalini knew the damage was done. Arnav had gone into a thinking mode and she knew, if she wasn't going to quicken her moves, he would soon be approaching her with his and khushi's proposal. So today morning, when she had caught him alone, without delaying a second more, she had brought him under confidence and had, what could be claimed as, a lengthy heart-to-heart conversation.

They had spoken of anything and everything under the sun. If it was a bit awkward at first, they both had taken a special care to not let that reflect on their faces. That was only possible because both were willing although for reasons best know only to them. However, even though she had a planned agenda behind initiating that talk, the conversation lacked even an ounce of sullenness. After the initial hesitation wavered off, both the mother son duo had bonded like they had never done before. It was truly a bonding of heart where Shalini came out like a woman Arnav truly longed for in the face of his Mom. In return, he too, letting go of the past bitterness, accepted the whiff of fresh air with welcoming arms and gracious smile.

When it was time for breakfast, she made him his favourite dishes, surprizing the entire family who had no idea what had transpired between the duo to trigger such a change but nonetheless happily welcomed it. Amidst the liveliness, Shalini had caught khushi passing a relieved smile to Arnav which he had reciprocated with a wink of his own and that was enough to spoil her mood. A few more hours, she had chanted like a mantra in an effort to calm the burning exasperation down.

And sure enough, a few hours later she had finally accomplished what she was pining for, spinning Arnav and Khushi's world in the process..

SCROLL DOWN FOR PART 2

SCROLL UP FOR PART 1

Novel - Hearts knit together

Chapter 29

[Part 2]

[English]

Flashback:

Khushi was feeling nervous as well as happy. It was so heart warming to witness Arnavji and Aunty getting along so well on the breakfast table today. They were, for the first time, behaving like a mother and son are supposed to. She had tears in her eyes witnessing their bonding. Their reformed equations had elated her hopes. Maybe Arnavji is right, Shalini aunty is certainly coming around. But then why was it that her heart was getting so restless? Why does she feel that something was gravely going to go wrong?

Should I call Arnavji? No, he will get worried...As it is, he is so happy today, I shouldn't bother him unnecessarily.

Consoling herself, she forcefully shed the negativity off of her and got back to her books and studies. She was just about to fully submerge herself in her studies, what with the oncoming exams, her concentration broke with a soft tap on the door. She looked up and found Shalini gazing at her with indiscernible eyes. That it was after very long that Shalini aunty had stepped into her room, went undetected by her perked up senses.

Straightening up, she attempted a weak smile although every fibre of her being was burning in trepidation, "Aunty..y..you? Please get inside"

Finding Shalini not moving by an inch, khushi started drooping bit by bit. She had no idea what Shalini had in store for her. Gathering he wits, she tried yet again, "What is it aunty...y..you want a..anything from me?

Shalini: Umm nothing as such. Actually I had some questions. I wanted to ask those since quite a long time now. I was a bit free today so thought of getting them answered today. But If I am disturbing you, I can come another time.

"Are..No no aunty, I was just...you can ask whatever you want to ?" She said on the face, inside she was dying with an unknown foreboding feeling, what questions?

Shalini smiled and grabbed a seat opposite hers. "Hmm alright then, first tell me how are your studies going on?"

Khushi, who was unknowingly holding her breathe realized a long sigh. So Aunty is here just for a casual visit. And here you are unnecessarily getting so hyper, grow up silly girl.

Smiling in her usual sunny way, she answered sweetly, at once getting comfortable and totally missing the predatory glint sparkling in the old lady's brown orbs, " Its going really well aunty. Payal sometimes helps me with my notes. And rest of the time, its Akash and nk. With them, I never seem to miss going to college"

Shalini smiled scrunching her nose, "Only Akash and nk huh?" Looking at the suddenly-pale faced girl in front of her, she decided to end her misery, atleast for this split second, "I meant don't you consider me and your uncle as your well-wishers too? Anyways, its good that you have coped up so well. By the way khushi..." Walking to the gallery, she crossed her across her chest before resuming talking, "What are you planning after the exams?"

Khushi: umm I don't know Aunty. Whatever you and uncle suggest, I will accept that.

"Oh really?" Shalini was quick to counter her argument, " So you mean to say you will have absolutely no objections even if we consider for your marriage?", Finding that sceptical look back, Shalini turned around, facing her, "What? Why do you look so shocked? You think this aunty of yours has no idea what has been going on all these days? Oh come on beta, you shouldn't underestimate me so much. You like Arnav, don't you? "She looked at her with sharp eagle eyes although it wasn't needed. The blush on khushi's face could never be missed unless the person was blind.

Khushi, on the other hand, could hardly believe what was happening. Am I dreaming? Is this really aunty standing in my room and talking about Arnavji and me with a smile on her face? She had a million questions swarming through her head ranging right from how come aunty knew about them to what was going to be her decision now. The most dominant one being how come Aunty appeared so relaxed and if khushi had to be brutally honest, quite happy too, as though whatever she had revealed cum spoken just a few seconds ago was not at variance with her ill-fated notion against middle class girls but a normal day to day gossip that she used to have at her kitty parties.

Khushi knew she can ask these to her and get her conception set alright but all she did was pinching her own wrist. She tried to make the act as discrete as possible and the slight sting gave her the much awaited answer- This was real, not any figment of her overzealous imagination. Oh, she coudnt wait to share these with her Arnavji. God, they were worrying so unnecessarily, Aunty has changed indeed!

Aware yet hardly concerned with her state of mind, Shalini continued in her own flow, "Just this morning, I tried making him confess but that chap is one heck of a stubborn person. Can you believe he dint budged at all?" Looking at khushi averting her eyes, she pretended as though lightning stuck, "Oh..now I get it, he wont be having permission to open his mouth, right?"

"N..no aunty.. there's nothing like that" Poor khushi could only come up with this, feeling very uncomfortable with the direction their conversation was now taking. Now that the initial exhilaration had wavered she could sense something amiss. And her nerves flared up in response.

Shalini though wishing she could drag this on, let that up with a simple, " Alright alright, if you say so, that's fine" But, but, but, if khushi was to loosen up up thinking the dreading time was over, she was in for a mild shock for Shalini continued, "By the way khushi, there was one more thing that I have wanted to ask"

Khushi obediently bobbled her head with a "Sure aunty.", inwardly wondering whats with Aunty and questions today. Shalini, in the meanwhile, again moved towards her customary place by the window in leisure steps and calm eyes then fired her very first shot with a curt, "How do you manage this?"

"Uh, I d..don't understand aunty" Innocent that she was, khushi couldn't actually grasp the sarcastic hinge. But it dint took long. When Shalini turned to her, the disgust and rage storming in those almost blackened orbs were enough to bring her crashing back on the earth from her blissful fairly-tale dreams

"I asked how do you manage all these? How do you make men go crazy over you and that too with such ease? ...must have practised a lot, haven't you? Or maybe, you are getting trained for this since childhood. Afterall, girls like you are so apt for this job. Am I right Khushi Kumari Gupta?"

"Aunty!", Khushi gasped in disbelief.

Shalini: Don't you dare call me Aunty. I don't wanna have any relation with a cheap and downmarket girl like you. What was the name of that lover of yours, yeah, Shyaam. It was so wrong of me to misjudge him and his mother, now I realize who exactly is the culprit. God knows what special favours' he had from you that he became so obsessed!"

Khushi fell on the ground with a huge thud. Tears fell off her eyes in a continuous drizzle. Nothing made sense to her. One moment aunty was asking about her studies, talking so nicely, discussing her future, hinting about marriage with Arnavji and now, her tone and looks changed as though gentleness was never a part of her. And her words!

Those words were worse than toxin, for they seeped through every fibre of her being and sucked out the very essence of life. It felt as though the shock had paralyzed her entire body leaving her pale, almost lifeless. This was all a lie, you are lying, she wanted to scream but nothing came out of those numb lips.

Shalini, however wasn't done yet.

Forcefully grabbing her by the arm, she made khushi stand before continuing with her task of spilling venom on the tortured soul, that she was enjoying with utmost relish, "Are, even your mother couldn't tolerate you for she preferred leaving the world rather than staying by your side and your father, that poor guy finally died, fed up of enduring your disgraceful deeds. With a daughter like you..

Khushi finally had enough! She could have bore anything said against her but one word against her dead parents and she lost it. Covering her ears with both the palms, she cut through Shalini's booming voice, "Stop it aunty. Just Stop it!"The accusation was too much to handle as it is and when she mentioned her dead parents, khushi lost whatever little semblance of courage she was trying to gather and broke down immedietly.

Cupping her face in her palms, she cried bitterly speaking incoherently in between, "I am not saying anything that doesn't mean you can speak whatever comes to your mind.. Y..you would not...s..say anything against them...not ..e..even a word.. you get that...not a ..s..single word, I wont tolerate that.."

Her body was trembling violently and anyone else in Shalini's place would have melted at the heart wrenching site and surely given her atleast a few moments to herself. But nope, this was Shalini- the woman on a mission. She had no qualms continuing,"-h really? And what about me tolerating you in my house all these while?" Circling her slackened off figure, she sneered, shaking her head in mock pity. "Anyways, let it be, I understand.. You must be feeling bad. After all, truth surely pricks!"

SCROLL UP FOR PART 2

Novel - Hearts knit together

Chapter 29

[Part 3]

[English]

There was cold silence for a second or two before Shalini broke that herself.

"Whatever you did with Shyam, that's your personal matter so I wont want to give a damn about it but what you are planning now heavily concerns me. HOW DARE YOU even think of trying your luck with my Arnav? What did you thought, I will simply watch while you allure my son under my very nose? I very well know what girl's like you have on your mind. First you portrayed yourself as the biggest bechari of the world, forcing Shyam as the villain of your life, onto our minds. Then gradually, you made your place in my Arnav's heart taking advantage of the sympathy that he had for you. Arvind too had his own obligations. And now that Arnav think he loves you, you are trying very best to tie him in a marriage. But listen to me clearly, I will never let this happen. I wont allow you to sweet talk my son out of our lives. I couldn't stop my brother but with Arnav, I wont let anything go wrong"

Khushi stared at her, shaken to the core. A sane part of her wanted to run away, to hide herself from Shalini's dagger throwing eyes, from her accusing words. But her heart refused to follow suit. It begged her to fight back, to prove Shalini wrong. If not for her self-esteem then atleast for the purity of emotions she shared with Arnav. She owed this to him.

" Aunty, I..I mean Shaliniji, I know whatever I say, you wont believe it. Yet, I would like to tell you that the feelings I and Arnavji share is so pure that your cruel words wont have an iota effect upon it. You think I will drag Arnavji out of this family once we are married but atleast try to reason out why would I be doing so. I don't have anyone in this world, not parents, not siblings. How is it to live amidst the heart-felt chatter of siblings, how blissful life becomes under the tender cocoon of parent's undying love, I got to know all of these after coming here. Then why do you presume, I would want to live this place? All my life, I have been yearning for a mother's love, for the warmth that oozes out of her gentle care, then why would I be wanting to break a family, deprive a son of such affection?..please..a..unty trust me.."

Shalini stopped her with a piercing glance, "Enough, don't try emotional crap on me, better you do that infront of Arnav. He might believe your fake tears but mind you, I would never be affected by them. And about what you really yearn for, I have seen it with my own eyes, heard it with my own ears so please spare me your drama.."

Khushi: Au..Shaliniji, what are you talking about?...I have..

A shrill noise of ringing cellphone cut through the dense atmosphere of the room. The tension was palpable even as Shalini picked her phone after glancing at Arnav' flashing on the screen.

"Hello Arnav!"

Khushi's eyes grew wide the moment her love's name escaped Shalini's lips. So Arnavji has sensed her distress! She looked at her phone, there were several missed calls and a dozen of messages, all from him. Tears shone her eyes, Oh Arnavji, come and save me please..

On the phone,

Arnav: Mom

Shalini: What is it bta?

Arnav: umm I had a free hour...so err..I just thought of, you know... I.. just felt like talking to you.

Shalini: aww, why don't you admit, you were missing your mom.

Arnav: err, yeah.. .. you could put it like that. By the way, where are everyone?

Still wondering the reason behind his call, and later giving full credit to the blossoming relation between them, she smiled as to how things finally seemed to be falling into places. If his query felt a bit uncanny, she was too cheerful to bother, "Hmm, let me see. Your brothers are out doing their usual stuff, Dad had just now left for office, payal isn't here yet, I wonder whats wrong, and.."

Arnav: and?

Tracing cursory glance at the daunt figure huddled at the side of bed, Shalini smiled a callous smile, deciding to include khushi's whereabouts' in her description of everyone', Afterall in Arnav's eyes, she was a changed woman, right? She smirked inwardly to herself before placating her tone and acting to speak casually, "And khushi is in her room, taking a nap I guess."

She could feel him relieving a deep sigh at the other end and understood that her son had called only to know khushi's whereabouts because obviously she wasn't picking her phone. Any other time, she would have seen red but today, she let it go with a small shrug. After all, her happy days were just about to begin.

She took a few more moments on the call and then turned her focus back to her object of distaste, "Listen khushi, Neither I am interested in wasting my time here nor you would be willing to bear me and my taunts.. So let me come straight to the point. What I am here for is, because I have a deal for you"

Khushi just stared at her, her eyes free from tears, her body almost ready to collapse, her face devoid of any expressions whereas inside, her heart was scalding with the turmoil it was unnecessarily getting subjected to. The notion of this so-called deal' already formulating in her mind.

And true to her assumptions, Shalini spoke exactly what she feared the most, "Leave Arnav. Get away from our lives forever. In return, I will give you every comfort that you have gotten so accustomed of. A luxurious apartment and a huge monthly allowance will take care of all your miseries once you will be gone. I have already made the arrangments, here.." Shalini took out a set of documents and handed her that along with some cash.

"Looking at the way you have been incessantly trying to break my family, I should probably just kick you out of my house, but then, I am not so cold-hearted. I know you have no one left to be called as your own. Least of all that old lady...what was her name, yeah Madhumati.. Her daughter too seemed to be following your footsteps. Its good that once you will be gone, she would also fall short of reasons to get here. Hmm, so now tell me, do you agree?"

At Khushi's unyielding, unmoving stance, Shalini clenched her jaw, roughly grabbing her by her shoulders before uttering in a high pitched voice, "If you are planning to speak about this with Arnav or Arvind, let me warn you, its going to be of no use. Before any of them will be back, I am gonna make sure you are thrown out on streets. So the best you could do is accept this deal and get lost, understand?

Already you have been living on our favours, if not anything, you can atleast pay for our generosity by accepting my terms. And if you still want to deny, just think for one sec of how you would be returning our munificence. For your honour, my sons fought with third-grade thugs, got injured severely, Arvind had to keep rounding at police stations and if that was not enough already, we had to listen to society's taunts and snidy comments, all for your sake. If there was any respectable girl at your place, she would have long ago left us for our own good.
But no, this was you, who was concerned only with her wellbeing. Let the family go to hell for all she cares, wasn't this the case with you khushi?" Relenting her grip on khushi's shoulders, Shalini took a pause, momentarily to catch her breath before she began once again,

"I am asking for the last time, are you going out of here with your head held high or you want me to call the guards? They would effectively take care of throwing you out"

"No need Aunty." Came khushi's determined voice. "I will go by myself. Not because I am scared of your threats or because your offer had appealed me. I am leaving because at this moment your favours are more dominant than mine and Arnavji's love. But mark my words, a day will come when you will realize that its only love which triumphs every other thing. We can leave money for love but love could never be sacrificed for a few wads of notes. And this rule is applicable to everyone, be it anyone rich or poor alike" Involuntarily a tear escaped her now dried eyes which she wiped off with a renewed strength. A strength born out of the utmost faith she had in her love and their promised happily-ever-after.

Flashback ends.

***

Chapter 30 : Click here

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With lots of Love

Simmi <3

Originally posted by: radhvi

So I just logged on and saw you have posted an update!!! I was like why is she posting the same chapter again only to realize its English version of the previous chapter!!! Was expecting new chapter... But anyways it's nice to see the translation!!

Do post next chapter soon!!