Arshi - SS It's Time To Move On (completed) - Page 4

Chapter - 5

Devyani smiled a little seeing Priyanka & Khushi descending the stairs smiling. Priyanka looks quite comfortable with Khushi. Seems like she has decided to move on finally.

Maasi', a child voice makes Priyanka look towards Manorama & found that a girl of about 5 years were sitting on her lap. She has eyes of Aakash & a smile of Payal. She heard about her before, but seeing her today in person, is altogether a different experience . Strangely Priyanka didn't find any hatred towards that girl. Smiling, she went ahead to let her introduce to the child. Though Aakansha was nervous initially but somehow Priyanka break the ice between them. Her experience of presently working as a teacher in the primary division of a reputed school came handy. She took her to her room in lure of crayons & pastel colours.

Seeing them bond, the elders smiled fondly. Since the elders were busy deciding the date of the puja , Khushi busied herself in exploring the house. She has many fond memories in this very house , when she used to take tuition from Arnav. She remembered , how she used to irritate the hell out of Arnav . How Anjali & Aakash never scolded her. How the elders used to ignore all her monsterish behavior. After completing his graduation, Arnav was very much busy with his Masters & part time jobs. So, she also hardly visited this house except festivities.

After 7 years, Khushi went to Bangalore for pursuing her graduation. She always wanted to do her graduation in Fashion Designing from NIFT , but her parents didn't approve of it, thinking about the unsure future. But after completing her graduation in Commerce, she joined a tutorial home as a teacher. She continued doing few crash courses from NIFT with the help of her earning from the tutorial home. Later she shifted to Bangalore & stayed with Aakash & Payal.

In the mean time, Payal , who has already become a software engineer got transferred to Bangalore. After his marriage fiasco, Aakash also joined as a lecturer in one of the college in Bangalore. Khushi's parents though shifted to Lucknow, remain in touch with Khushi got updated about everything. Arnav previously used to look after their family business from Delhi. Later, he shifted to the Bangalore branch to take care of the same & also to stay in touch with Aakash & Payal. (Family didn't know about Aakash & Payal's whereabouts. They only knew that they are in touch with Arnav & Khushi & hence got the updates.) Whereas the head office in Delhi is under Manohar's supervision . Arnav's best friend cum business partner - Shyam is also helping Manohar in managing their business from Delhi.

Khushi still remembered how, she felt awkward in meeting Arnav after so many years. More so whenever he visited Aakash & Payal, he went on teasing Khushi , about mentioning all the pranks , she used to carry out as a child. Aakash & Payal were no less. They add their share too. Slowly Arnav & Khushi get into their old comfort zone standing strong with Aakash & Payal & acting as a medium between them & the family members. It cannot be said that things got better but, it was not worse as before.

Equation changed between Arnav & Khushi too . They were more than friends inspite of their age difference. Things developed massively between them , which didn't went unnoticed by Aakash & Payal. So, it didn't came as a shock when Arnav proposed Khushi. Khushi though confessed her feelings expressed her desire of uniting the family before getting married. Arnav though agreed , joked saying if left to the elders, he might have to wait for eternity to get married. So will Khushi be alright in marrying an old man ? But, with the improvement in interaction, Khushi was hopeful that they might not had to wait for long.

Khushi's musing came to a halt when somebody drag her by holding her wrist inside a room. She turned to find out Arnav smiling at her. She smiled back & hug him instantly.

Hey' , Arnav greeted her kissing her forehead.

Hi'. Khushi replied back.

You ok now'

Better . You?

Me too. How is Piya ? Have you informed uncle & aunty.

Not yet. I am scared . I don't know how they will react. It's just that papa is not doing well. Now, if I gave them this news over phone & if sometime serious happens to them, I can't take it. I just lost my jiji & jeejaji. I can't take it if something happens to them. So, buaji is going to talk to them. She is going to invite them for the puja. Once, they are here, we will break the news to them.' Khushi broke down in tears.

It's ok Khushi. Shhh. Calm down baby. Nothing will happen to them. I am here nah with you. Please calm down.' Arnav tried to cheer her up. Hugging her to his hearts content, he tried to make her feel better. Slowly Khushi relaxed a bit in his arms. Both the lovebirds soon get themselves busy in discussing everything & nothing.

Sometimes later, Arnav & Khushi gets startled hearing loud noises coming from downstairs. They run towards the stairs. The scene that unfold infront of them make both of them shocked. Anjali was shouting at Madhumati pointing her fingers towards Aakansha .

How dare you come to this house with her ? Was your Payal not enough , that you bring her replica to this house without caring for others feelings. How could you even think that we will accept her. Her face is an exact replica of Payal & a direct reminder of what she has done to our family. We will never accept her. She is ...

Khushi didn't hear anything after that. She saw Aakansha crying uncontrollably. Everybody was too shocked to react. Both Arnav & Khushi ran towards Aakansha. But they suddenly came to an abrubt hault, seeing Priyanka hugging Aakansha all to herself trying to calm down the kid. Aakansha was too scared with all the shouting & also hearing so many things against her mumma. Priyanka pick her up in her arms & turn towards Khushi.

"Khushi , please take her inside. Arnav , you too please go with her. Please take care of her'.

Before Khushi could say anything to Anjali, Arnav drag her & Aakansha inside.

Priya, how could you ...

Just stop it right there Anju', Priyanka shouted interrupting her .

Priya, I was just...

You were just what ? Do you know what you have done today ? How could you behave in such a way ? & that too with an innocent child? What is her fault?

What is her fault ? You are asking me this ? Have you forgotten everything? First her mother trapped my brother & separated him from his own family. Then also, we have a chance to bring him back. But no. Payal has to go ahead & bring a child in this world & thereby blocked all his way towards his home. & now, when my brother is no more, Madhumati aunty brings her here reminding us what pathetic life we all are leading for last 6 years.

FOR HEAVEN SAKE WAKE UP ANJALI !!!!!!!!!!!

Priyanka's loud voice shocked everybody more. In all these years of acquaintance, nobody heard her raise her voice & specially that too on Anjali. Moreover, she never called her Anjali'.

For gods sake Anjali, she is a kid who just have lost her parents. She is still not over this tragedy. How could you use such hurtful words' - Priyanka ended up crying.

Priya , I did everything for you'.

For me??? Then I have a request,' Priyanka joined her hand in a begging gesture you don't' have to do anything, specially for me'.

Anjali got shocked seeing her best friend's reaction. She never expected such behavior from Priyanka.

I am telling you repeatedly for last 2 years Anjali, please stop blaming Payal for everything. Why don't you accept the fact that she was never at fault. It was the result of our imagination, planning & manipulation that Aakash was married to me. It was our betrayal that Aakash left us. We have never taken Aakash's feelings into consideration while doing all those that we did. We did wrong Anjali !!'

Whatever we did is for you Priya. The way I behaved with Payal's child is because , I know , what her presence is doing to you. You are hurting Priya & that's why I was asking Madhumati aunty to keep her away from you, from us. That is the reason why , we can't accept her.

She has a name Anjali. She is Aakansha. She is not only Payal's child, she is Aakash's child too. Payal didn't bring her alone in this world. Aakash is responsible too. & I am not hurting because of her presence . I am hurting because of your behavior towards that child. & it hurts me more to think I am the reason for it. It makes me feel pathetic Anjali , that you did it for me.

Turning towards Madhumati, she folded her hand & broke down into tears I am really really sorry' & run away from there.

Anjali look around to find a tearful Devyani taking Madhumati away from the room. Manorama giving a disgusted look towards her & left the room. Manohar followed her inside. Feeling defeated & exhausted , she turned around to find Shyam standing at the main door. His face was devoid of any expression. He was very cold & distant.

Shyam', Anjali cried out & started walking towards him.

Did you see, what just happened? Did you see ? How can Priya said all these things ? I have done everything for her only & she behaved in this way. Why is everybody behaving in this way with me ?

Are you really that dumb Anju or you are behaving this innocent to get everbody's sympathy'.

Hearing the cold voice of Shyam made Anjali stumble back. She stammered ,'Wh...what do you mean'?

The world doesn't run according to your whims & fancies Ms Anjali Singh Raizada'.

Why are you behaving in such away Shyam', Anjali asked disbelievingly.

Oh, so you want me to explain everything? Suits fine with me Anjali. If you want me to spell things out for you , as you are in denial, I will do the needful. You are no more that pampered yet innocent kid of the Raizada family , who used to brought smile on everybody's face. You have changed into a devilish woman. .

Unable to bear the lack of emotion in Shyam's voice, Anjali turned her back towards him.

Your turning back is not going to change the reality Anjali. The damage that you have caused to the people who loved you, trusted you , is irrecoverable. Even if you try you cant' change anything.

Seeing no reaction from Anjali, Shyam continued ,' Everybody knew about your & Priyanka's dream of getting Aakash married to her. But nobody knows when your when your one childish wish turned into your obsession for complete pwer. What Priyanka saw is your wish to have her as a sister-in law. But what she didn't know is that, if this wish has been ever fulfilled, she would have forever be indebted to you for fulfilling your wish. Thus you would always have an upper-hand over your brother, forever controlling him & his wife. I am sure, once, your this wish was fulfilled, you might have manipulated Arnav too to get married to someone, whom you can control. So, you see Aakash -Payal's relationship as a roadblock in having a complete power over your family. Because, you knew you couldn't control Payal or rather Aakash would have not given you an opportunity to control Payal. You are extremely insecure Anjali. You feared that if your brothers marry according to their wish , then you will loose all the privileges that you were enjoying till date. You will loose their attention. It is your greed for control & attention seeking mentality that make you do all this things. & still, you are in denial. If all this is not enough, you too confessed that you love me when I proposed you & then suddenly announced that you can't marry me as you want to punish' yourself for ruining Priyanka's life. Like seriously. You gain Priyanka's sympathy. You gain my & my family's sympathy. You knew, I would wait for you . You even make it a point to reach this information to Payal through Arnav & Khushi, thereby making her feel guilty . But 5 years is a long time to catch on to this malicious ideas of yours Anjali.

So, I came here today to finally announce, my decision of breaking up with you. Good luck to your future , to which I refuse to be a part of anymore.

Without waiting for any reaction or answer from Anjali's side, Shyam left.