Arshi FF: The Broken Hearts #3 NEW LINK ADDED pg 146 - Page 11

Chapter 22

A fortnight later.

Khushi tied the ribbon of Sia's floral pink dress then started to comb her hair. She threw a quick glance at the bedside clock, Arnav would be home in another thirty minutes and she still had to get ready. She shook her head, Aakash and Payal had returned from their trip and had invited them to the club for dinner. Now what was the need to take her and Sia along, Arnav could have gone alone, but no, Payal insisted that they too joined them. Payal was a very sweet person but still Khushi barely knew her, what would she do with Payal and her husband? But then she thought, maybe in Payal she could find a new friend.
She fixed matching pink clips in Sia's hair and then she was all set for the dinner. Khushi lifted Sia and took her to show the mirror.
Khushi palmed her cheek. " oh my god, so pretty!" Hearing that and seeing her own reflection, Sia's imitated Khushi and cupped her chubby cheeks with her tiny hands. " hmm." She murmured. Khushi laughed out loud and kissed Sia's cheek.
" Now you play with your hippo." She placed her on the floor and gave Sia, her favorite toy.
Khushi opened her cupboard and took out two Salwar suits and a sari.
" Sia, baby what should maasi wear?" Khushi showed her the outfits. Sia just looked up at them and frowned.
Khushi pouted. " so, you don't like them?" Khushi tilted her head and peered at her wardrobe. It was dull and boring. Even she didn't quite like it but then what could she do?
She moved her hands through the hangers to find something better when her gaze fell on the packet that Arnav had given her on Valentine's day. She was just happy that he had thought of making that day memorable for her..gifts didn't really matter.
She opened the packet to see what was in it. And she was left stunned. What a beautiful green colored sari! She ran her finger tips over the fabric...so soft and silky.
" Sia, how's this?" She held up to show it to Sia.
Sia smiled and clapped her hands. She too approved it.
" I'll go and change, but you don't be naughty."
Minutes later, standing before the mirror, Khushi was pinning the sari to her shoulder. A fleeting smile adored her lips. After so many days she was wearing something nice and colorful..it felt good. But she didn't know why, otherwise she wore, such plain and depressing colors.
" thanks Arnav ji, for bringing in some color."
Khushi was tying her hair in a bun when Arnav called from down stairs. " hurry up Khushi, we're getting late."
" two minutes, Arnav ji."
Khushi picked up Sia. " come baby, pa is waiting for us."
Arnav who was casually pacing up and down the hall, stopped in his tracks on seeing Khushi and Sia come down. He just couldn't take his eyes off, Khushi..She looked just the way he had imagined her in that sari. Not just red, even green looked great on her. But why hadn't she let her hair open?
Khushi cleared her throat after standing before him. He seemed lost, somewhere it pleased her.
" we are ready." She said when she found him still staring at her.
" lovely." Arnav whispered.
Khushi frowned, now this lovely was for whom?
" shona, you're looking lovely." Arnav stroked Sia's cheek.
Oh, so till now he was admiring Sia? Ah, never mind.

Arnav took out his cell phone to capture this moment .

" smile ." he clicked and checked the picture . great !
" let's go." Arnav said.
He kept on looking at Khushi from the corner of his eye as she walked beside him. And then out of nowhere, Sia reached up to Khushi's hair and pulled her bun. Khushi gasped as her hair came down on her shoulder.
" Sia!"
" Perfect." Arnav said as he opened the car door for her. Khushi gulped as color rose to her cheeks. She couldn't dare look up and meet his eyes. Her heartbeat once again quickened. Why couldn't she remain unaffected by him?

Payal smiled and gave Khushi a side hug.
" hope you had a great time in Bali." Khushi said while glancing at Payal and Aakash.
" yeah it was a nice break from our daily hectic schedules." Aakash replied and gestured Arnav and Khushi to take seats.
Payal caressed Sia's face. " you're looking like a little princess in this pink dress."
Khushi smiled. " she's indeed Arnav ji's little princess. He got her this dress." Payal reluctantly nodded then called her daughter. " divya sweetheart come here." She came to Payal, holding her nanny's hand.
" see this is Khushi maasi and this is Sia."
" hello divya."
" hello." Divya shyly greeted back.
" won't you play with your new friend?" Payal asked.
" sure." Divya replied who was around three years old. " come Sia, there are so many fish there."
Khushi glanced at the huge aquarium that divya was pointing at. It really had very beautiful fishes in it. Khushi lowered Sia and she immediately started to crawl toward the aquarium. Khushi thought of following her but Payal stopped her. " it's okay Khushi, the nanny will take care of both of them."
Khushi seemed a little unsure, Sia always stayed with her or Arnav, she had never left her with a stranger. She looked at Arnav for his consent, who blinked his eyes. " it's fine."
Besides the kids were just a few steps away.
" so Khushi what do you do all day? But before that let me compliment you...you look stunning in this sari."
Khushi smiled and after so many years Payal was seeing her friend smile that reached her eyes. She was happy for Khushi.
Khushi felt the sari and lowered her eyes. " Arnav ji, gifted me." Hearing that Arnav didn't glance at Payal, he knew what she must be thinking...that he was using his money to buy Khushi and Sia's happiness. So he preferred to chat and watch the cricket match playing on the wide screen with Aakash.
However Payal did throw a glance at Arnav, the happiness that she felt for Khushi and Sia, somewhat diluted on knowing that Arnav was the reason behind it.
" and all day I'm only running behind Sia..She keeps me busy all the time." Khushi said gladly.
" I can imagine even divya would keep me on my toes when she was Sia's age." Though Khushi was made to believe that she was Sia's nanny but still she was enjoying her motherhood. She was deprived to know her past but she wasn't deprived of her daughter. Payal once again looked at Arnav, could she give him some credit?
" But kids grow up so fast." Payal added.
" true. Nowadays Sia is so keen on standing on her feet that she just refuses to sit. Even in the car while coming, I made her sit between me and Arnav ji but all through the drive she was tugging at my arm or Arnav ji's suit to pull herself up to stand. And she can't balance herself , so her tiny little body was all the time swaying." Khushi laughed as she talked about it.
" and next you know , she'll be walking." Payal's words only made Khushi more happy.
" has she started speaking?"
" She tries to talk...like hmm..bbb..mmm but nothing is clear." Replied Khushi.
The waiter intervened to take their order.
" Khushi, tonight you order." Payal passed her the menu card.
Khushi smiled and shook her head. " no, no I don't know what you guys enjoy..so please you order."
" okay." Payal agreed and after consulting her husband and Arnav, placed the order.
" just one thing. Don't keep the dishes spicy." Khushi told the waiter.
Payal frowned at her. " you don't like spicy food?" As far as Payal remembered during their school and college days, both of them used to gorge on roadside junk food that used to be really spicy.
" ah I do but Arnav ji doesn't."
Payal mentally rolled her eyes. She could see her naive friend once again treading on the wrong path.
" and what about Sia, what will she eat?"
" She had stuffed parantha with butter, in the car. Before going to bed , I'll give her milk." Khushi turned her neck to check on Sia. She was slapping the aquarium glass with her palms..She was having a good time.
" so Arnav, have you booked your tickets for New York?" Aakash casually asked.
" not yet, but I will in a day or two." Arnav replied.
Khushi stole a glance at Arnav. He was planning to go to new York, but he didn't tell her. Maybe some business trip.
" I hope things work out this time." Arnav said while taking a bite of lasagna.
" I have spoken to Mr.Richard, he's quite optimistic. The judgement will be in our favor." Aakash assured him.
" btw did I tell you, Lavanya called up some weeks ago?"
Khushi who was eating pasta, choked on hearing Lavanya's name.
" Khushi, are you alright?" Payal asked seeing her cough.
" have water." Arnav immediately passed her a glass.
She took a few small sips and felt better.

" what was Lavanya saying?" Aakash asked, resuming their talk.
Arnav casually shrugged. " nothing new. The same old stuff."
" Though our paperwork is strong but still beware of her." Aakash warned him. As a lawyer he knew how nasty people could get to win a case.
Arnav nodded in agreement. " I'm thinking of meeting her in person."
This time Khushi didn't choke, but her spoon dropped, spilling the pasta on her beautiful sari.
" oh no." Khushi cried and shot Arnav an apologetic look, she'd ruined his gift.
Arnav smiled at her. " go clean it up."
" excuse me." Khushi grabbed a tissue and got up to head toward the washroom. She mentally scolded herself as she rubbed the stain, why did Lavanya bother her so much? She was his wife, he was divorcing her but still just the mention of her, would twist her heart.
Looking down at the stain , Khushi was engrossed in her thoughts when she collided with someone.
" Watch Out!" A man yelled at her. But it was too late, the guy had already spilled his drink over Khushi's sari. She immediately looked up in surprise and annoyance, the guy was drunk.
Khushi wrinkled her nose. " excuse me mister , you need to watch out."
Anger coursed through him seeing his empty glass. " you blind woman, because of you I have nothing to drink..who'll pay for this?"
Khushi gaped at him, was he crazy, if he spilled his drink then what was her fault? Ignoring him she tried to walk past but he held her arm.
Khushi's eyes shot up. " leave me!"
He clenched his jaws and shook his head. Khushi picked up another glass from the counter and splashed its contents on his face. He at once left her arm.

" you bitch!" He screamed and slapped Khushi.

He again lunged toward Khushi but Arnav grabbed the back of his shirt and jerked him away from Khushi, spun him around. " how dare you hit her?" And then Arnav punched him hard across his face. The guy fell back on the floor.
Arnav rushed to Khushi. " damn it, Khushi, are you okay?" Arnav held her face in his hands and tilted it up to get a good look at her left cheek. It had a blood spot and the area had already turned a bright purplish pink.
" shit." Arnav cursed himself, why didn't he get here in time?
Khushi who was looking back at him through half closed eyelids, turned wide eyed. " Arnav ji."
Arnav followed her line of vision and looked back when that guy's fist connected with Arnav's jaw.
" bloody coward!" Arnav lifted his hand to his chin and wiggled his jaw, doing his best to massage the slight ache his punch had caused.
" that's all you got?" Arnav taunted. " you hit like a girl."
Anger shot through him, as he lunged at Arnav, swinging his fist once more but this time time Arnav blocked it and hit him back.
The guy lay half against the wall, half slumped on the floor.
" I'll break your face." Arnav snarled and kicked him in his ribs. He continued punch and kick when Aakash came from behind and stopped him.
" leave him Arnav, the bouncers will throw him out."
But Arnav was still furious. " how dare he touch Khushi..I'll kill him!" Aakash was finding it hard to control Arnav, who just wanted to break that guy's bones.
" hang on Arnav...Khushi needs you." Arnav was torn between going to Khushi and beating the ass of the man who had attacked her. But Khushi won.

Arnav followed Payal as she led Khushi to the lobby.
" sit." Payal insisted as she eased Khushi into a chair and knelt before her.
" I'm fine," Khushi tried to get up, but Arnav pushed her back down.
" no, you're not fine. Your left side has swollen up."
" I've brought ice." Aakash handed Payal an ice pack.
" the cops have come. I'll lodge a complaint." Arnav nodded his head, letting Aakash go.
" I need to get back to Sia, she's alone." Khushi said.
" relax Khushi, I'll go get the kids." Payal met Arnav's brooding gaze before giving him the ice pack. He was still so angry.
Arnav knelt down and carefully pressed the ice against Khushi's cheek. She winced and grabbed his arm.
" I'm sorry Khushi. I couldn't protect you." Hurt and regret quite evident in his voice.
" it's alright Arnav ji, it's not that bad."
Arnav frowned. What did she mean, its not that bad?
" have you been hit before?"
His question forced her to think..why did she say that?
Closing her eyes, she thought hard, there were some flashes, a woman sitting on the floor, crying and rubbing her aching body...but nothing was clear.
Khushi opened her tired eyes. " I don't seem to remember clearly..but maybe."
Her comment made his stomach ache and his gut twist. Apart from shyam, who else it could be? God what hell did she went through!
" Khushi.." before he could say more, Aakash and Payal came back with the kids. Sia at once wished to go to Khushi but Arnav stepped in.
" shona, I'll hold you."
" I'm sorry Khushi, this dinner turned into a disaster." Payal apologized as they all started to head toward the porch.
Khushi let out a weak smile. " don't be sorry. We'll enjoy some other day."
Aakash and Payal waved at Arnav's car as it left the porch.
" my god, I have never seen Arnav this furious." Remarked Aakash. " had I not intervened, he would have probably killed that drunkard."
" hmm." Replied Payal as she thought about the whole incident.
" he's extremely protective and possessive about Khushi."
Payal slowly nodded. " hmm. But what's the use? He wasn't there when she needed him the most."
*********************************************

Khushi popped a painkiller before laying in bed. The swelling had come down but her cheek was still purple.
Arnav gazed at Khushi with guilt anger and remorse, as he fed milk in a bottle to Sia. He hoped that what he was thinking was wrong, Khushi wasn't a victim of domestic violence.
Sia too couldn't take her eyes off her mother. She touched Khushi's cheek with her finger tips. Khushi opened her eyes and kissed Sia's hand. " sweetie, I'm good."
" Khushi tonight, I'll take Sia to my room. You can sleep here peacefully. She won't disturb you."
Khushi smiled. " no Arnav ji, I like sleeping with her..she's never a problem."
Arnav nodded his head and pulled up the blanket to tuck in Sia. He then went to the other side of the bed and adjusted Khushi's blanket as well. He gently touched her head. " if you need anything, let me know."
Khushi blinked her eyes and pressed her lips together, the concern in his eyes and the softness in his touch, made her teary. She closed her eyes and whispered. " good night, Arnav ji."
He didn't wish her back. Tonight, sleep was far far away.

******************************************

Anjali turned off the lights after wishing her kids night. She pulled their door shut and turned to move to her bedroom when her phone rang. Who could be at this hour?
" hello?"
" di."
" chotte?" Why was he sounding so low?
" di..I ruined Khushi's life..I hate myself." His voice cracked as he spoke to Anjali.
" what's the matter, chotte? Is Khushi alright? You're worrying me." Wasn't Khushi keeping well? She was with him and last Anjali knew that Arnav was taking good care of Khushi, then what happened?
" that shyam...that son of a ... he used to beat up Khushi."
Anjali turned wide eyed. " how do you know."
Arnav narrated her the whole incident, how she was in a daze when that drunkard hit her.
" the night shyam died, he was drunk and Khushi hated to see people getting drunk...Sia, being shyam's daughter didn't react seeing his dead body which meant she wasn't close to him..then when I went to Khushi's home, that place was such a mess and when I saw their family picture, only that moron was smiling..both Khushi and Sia looked so lost and unhappy..I'm sure he made Khushi's life a living he'll..he is dead but I wish I could kill him again."
Tears pricked Anjali's eyes. " Khushi is such an innocent girl..I can't even imagine what she must've gone through..but I really wonder, why she decided to marry shyam?"
Arnav ran his fingers through his hair. " it's all my fault. Had I not left Khushi, shyam wouldn't have entered her life...my selfishness, destroyed Khushi completely."
Anjali couldn't disagree with her brother, indeed his ambitions had crushed Khushi's happiness. " sometimes the dreams in our eyes blind us, we don't see or maybe don't wish to see the tears that they bring in someone else's eyes..we end up realizing our dreams but at the cost of trampling others."
" leaving Khushi was a mistake, and not coming back to her and marrying Lavanya was a bigger mistake..I wish I had curbed my desires. I wish I had come back."
" exactly chotte, even I want to know, how could you choose Lavanya over Khushi? After your job contract expired, why didn't you return? Surely things would have been much better for both you and Khushi."
Arnav rubbed his forehead and thought over what his sister was asking. He let out a sigh.
" at that time, lot of things were going on in my mind. A part of me wanted to return to Khushi but then after ruthlessly shattering her heart would it have been fair to expect a second chance from her? I left her for my dreams, that was selfish on my part and after realizing some of my dreams, I decide to go back to her so that I can combat my loneliness..wouldn't that be even more selfish? Stepping in and out of her life, as per my whims and fancies would have been so unfair to her. I had asked her to free ourselves from this relationship, so that we could both move on then later how could I step back?"
" but didn't you love her? I'm sure you could have sought forgiveness, if you had tried."
Arnav smirked at his arrogance. " tried? I could have. But did I really think that my decision of parting ways with Khushi was wrong? Maybe I did but I didn't wish to accept it. Turning back would have meant that I was wrong but my arrogance didn't let me accept it. So I decided to stay back and set up my business and everyday I would lie to myself that whatever I had done was best for both of us and The love that I had for her would fade away with time because I didn't love her more than myself and "
Anjali shook her head, her brother had been such a fool.
" and Lavanya, how did she come into picture? Did you tell her about khushi?"
" I was growing successful but like any other person I also needed someone to share my life with. Lavanya worked for me, she was intelligent, confident, ambitious just like me, and I thought we would be perfect for each other. And I did tell her that back in india I was dating khushi but that didn't bother her. Everyone has a past."
Anjali bit the inside of her cheek. " opposites attract and likes repel..something like that happened with you."
" not something, exactly like that happened with me. Khushi and I were poles apart, yet there was strong attraction between us that slowly turned into love..but I failed to value that love, I thought her love was an hindrance in my path. Whereas Lavanya and I were similar, I thought we would complement each other, grow together and our similarities would only bring us close...but nothing of that sought happened..we only argued and fought with each other. There was just bitterness and no love between us."
" chotte, marriage is not a business deal where you come together to make your life profitable by marrying who's perfect for you. You don't marry someone you can live with, you marry someone you can't live without."
Arnav pursed his lips in regret. " I have been a selfish jerk..I didn't care to look back even once. Khushi gave me this job opportunity that took me places.. But I didn't make an effort to know how she was doing here."
" I agree. At least you should have done this much for her." Anjali felt sad for Khushi, she didn't deserve this from her brother.
" di, I failed to feel her grief... I didn't realize the pain she must have experienced on losing a dear one till I lost someone I loved..losing my child to Lavanya's selfishness made me realize how selfish and unfair I had been to Khushi."
Anjali's jaw dropped knowing about Arnav's baby. All along she was under this impression that Arnav and Lavanya weren't compatible so they were heading for a divorce. " chotte, what are you saying?"
" She aborted our child without letting me know."
" that's terrible! How could she do that?" Anjali raised her voice in anger. Yes her brother was ambitious and he had broken Khushi's heart but she knew how much he loved kids. He adored her children and it was so unfortunate that he himself was deprived of fatherhood.
" di, I deserve this loss. After knowing that Khushi lead a wretched married life, I deserve more pain..I wasn't there to protect her from shyam..I so bloody hate myself."
Anjali remained silent as Arnav poured out his grief and anger. He needed to share this anguish with someone, however she felt that somewhere he was blaming himself for mistakes he hadn't committed.
" Look chotte, I know you feel horrible after knowing about Khushi's past, even my heart goes out to her...But you can't hold yourself responsible for what happened with her after her marriage. It wasn't your fault."
" But.."
" let me finish. The decision to marry shyam was hers, you didn't push or compel her to marry him. You left her, but you didn't leave her for shyam. You left her so that you could both move on and later in life find suitable partners for yourselves. Did you have any idea, that one day she'd choose shyam as her husband? No. Then why do you feel guilty? You can and should hold yourself responsible for all the miseries that she faced after you left and before she married..But post marriage if her husband turned into a beast then it's her bad luck and not your fault."
" you're saying this because I'm your brother."
" definitely not. I'm not overlooking your mistakes and I wish to see you correct them. But choosing shyam was Khushi's decision that went wrong. Just as you faultered in picking the right life partner, so did she. You both made the wrong choices and suffered."
" I still believe that had I not left her, she wouldn't have landed up with shyam."
" true, she wouldn't have. But shyam wasn't the last guy on this planet, she could have opted for someone else but she didn't. And why she didn't, only she can tell."
" di.."
" okay tell me chotte, had Khushi been leading a happy married life, would you take credit for that?"
" of course not."
" Then why take the blame for a decision that went wrong?"
" what do I do now, I've messed up things so badly."
" First stop cursing yourself and come out of this guilt trip. Second give Khushi and her daughter, all the happiness that they deserve.. true love and true repentance are above everything."