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Gupta House,
"Maa, are you sure that she will listen to us? It seems next to impossible at least to me." A dreadful look hovered over Khushi's pale face as she expressed her inner conflict to Sumitra, who couldn't help but wonder the very same thing which haunted Khushi's thoughts.
Will their one conversation eliminate her age-old beliefs?
"I don't know, Khushi. I just know that we are not giving up before we try genuinely. And if she still doesn't listen to you, then you know what to do; leave. Because once Jiji comes to know about it and is not ready to accept it, she will try every single way to get you hooked to the guy she deems to be perfect, like that idiot Rahul." Sumitra sighed in worry while Khushi nodded in approval as they made their way to Suhasini who was watching one of her serials, which happened to be older than the relationship of Arnav and Khushi.
Sumitra nudged at Khushi to act on their plan while Khushi took in a deep breath, collecting the courage to blurt out the biggest truth of her life.
" Mumma, I am in love with someone."
A look of horror appeared on Suhasini's face as she turned around to face Khushi. Soon the expression of horror transitioned into that of confusion and then into that of raw fury.
" What did you say?"
" I said I am in love with someone." Khushi took all the perseverance and courage to pull out a calm expression on her face as her mother seemed to throw daggers at her through her sharp gaze.
" Khushi? You are in love with someone?" Suhasini tried to collect herself together to confirm this piece of information about her daughter for one last time.
" Yes. In fact, that someone is my husband." Khushi answered with an air of confidence as she thought about Arnav, told herself that she had to do it for herself, for Arnav and their love for each other.
Before Suhasini's hand could attach itself to Khushi's cheeks, Sumitra brought herself in between Suhasini and Khushi, shielding her from Suhasini's act of wrath as she cried out,
" JIJI!"
" SUMITRA," shouted Suhasini as she shook in fury." This is between me and my daughter. Leave us!"
" Khushi is my daughter too. And this is no way to behave with your daughter, Jiji!" shouted back Sumitra while Khushi was amazed to see this avatar of Sumitra who never even spoke in pitch on the louder side.
" You will teach me how to behave with my daughter, Sumitra? I am elder to you and you have a son. How will you even understand my situation?" Suhasini had unknowingly mellowed down seeing Sumitra ablaze with rage.
" If you say Khushi isn't my daughter and I have no daughters, then I am a daughter myself, Jiji. Instead of letting her heart open upto you, you are about to slap her. Do you even know what Khushi endured? I wonder if you are really her mother sometimes, Jiji." Suhasini stepped back in shock as the effect of Sumitra's words took over. Khushi let Sumitra take it her way as she knew that Sumitra knew how to deal this in a better way than her.
" Sumitra..." A shocked whisper managed to leave Suhasini's trembling lips as she tried to compose herself after what she has heard.
" Yes, Jiji. You emotionally blackmailed Khushi Bitiya into agreeing to marry that jerk of a person, Rahul Kapoor. That guy's parents were themselves ashamed of him when you went asking them to not break the alliance. Kya Kaha Tha Apne? Jawani Ka Josh? Jiji, Apko Pata Bhi Tha Aap Bitiya Ko Kiss Cheez Main Phasane Waali Thi? He tried to molest her, right in her own home and what did you say? Pati Hai, Haq Banta Hai? Na Woh Khushi Ka Pati Tha, Na Jo Woh Karne Waala Tha Woh Sahi Tha. Even if he was married to her, he didn't have any right to force her.
Jiji you knew the pain of having another woman in your husband's life, yet you wanted the same for your daughter. Why Jiji? Khushi left her love for you and your ideals. Yes, she had fallen in love. With her husband. A husband who has the dignity to be called as a husband. 5 years since their accidental marriage and till date he never forced her to do anything. He took rejection from his own wife and didn't even cast a look on any woman with an evil intention, forget getting involved any other woman. And she was about to lose him for that Rahul just because you wanted it. Understand her love for you Jiji and give her what she deserves, what she needs and what she desires.
For once think like a mother and not wife of Sudhakar Gupta, not daughter Arvind & Rama Singhania, not a part of this wretched society. Just as a mother of Khushi Gupta who wants to unite with her husband who treasures her beyond anything and whom she loves enough to drown herself in an ocean of pain. Please, Jiji." Sumitra looked at Suhasini with an anticipating gaze while Suhasini looked flustered yet in deep thoughts. Sumitra knew it was too much for Suhasini to take at once and too much to let go but she somehow hoped that the mother in her would win and not succumb to the society or anything else which occupies the top priority for now.
It was nothing that Khushi didn't know but it still managed to instill a feeling of pride in her heart for her husband and the same feeling managed to scare away the fear residing in her heart as she waited for her mother to respond. Be it in affirmative or negative, this time she was sure that she will unite with him, as she no longer cared whether it was right or wrong. She just cared about his company and their togetherness.
After all, love was the lord of mistakes and she could afford to do mistakes in it.
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