Love - Its Complicated! 26th Mar: Chapter 10 (E) is up on Page 71! - Page 39

nice updates..
thank u for pm..
waiting for next update..

Poor Khushi.. how much truth is there in her words koi bhi nirnay hum lein. nuksaan toh humara hi hai.. hope she is able to come out of the turmoil.. whatever her bhai & bhabhi said is true but she loves her Arnavji.. now things in court of Arnavji too.. he have to take a step to make his Khushi hi with full of love, trust and respect.. loved the amazing update..

Oh I so love Geet...she is the one person right now who is not acting on emotions but practically...maan is too emotional and is acting like his dad did and kushi has never taken any decision on her own...so she is confused...So glad geet opened maan's eyes by telling the truth of what he was planning to do...

Don't go Khushi...Maan took a good decision

WOW!! Fabulous updates...

loved it dear

CHAPTER 10 ( C). THE TRUTH COMES OUT!

"Ya Maasi! I was so shocked when I heard it! But it is true!", NK nodded to emphasise the point forgetting that he was talking to his Maasi on phone and she cannot see him. On the other side of the phone, his Maasi, aka our Manorami Maami was beyond shocked. To know that the girl she called Phatti Saree was actually a rich girl had turned Maami's life upside down. And she called the girl Phati Saree! Hello Hi Bye Bye! It turned out that NK was thinking on the same lines.

"And you used to mock her! Aap uska mazaak udaati thi! Kya bulaati thi? Haan! Phati Saree!", Maamiji could feel the disappointment in NK's voice just through his voice. "Haan toh... Hello Hi Bye Bye! Tabhi toh woh Phati Saree hi thi na! Ab humko thodi na pata tha ki woh ek din paisewaali niklegi! (At that time she was Phatti Saree! How would I know she will one day turn into some rich girl!)", Maamiji huffed.

NK rolled his eyes. Typical Maasi! She will never change! He sighed, "Achcha Maasi! I am keeping the phone! Khushi will be coming home soon and I want to be there to welcome my best friend back!" He said his goodbyes and kept the phone. Just then the door opened and NK sat up excitedly. Khushi is here! He grinned and stood up but frowned when Arnav arrived looking very dejected. NK ignored him and walked to the door, looking behind Arnav for Khushi. But when no Khushi appeared, NK was confused. Where is Khushi?

"Nannav! Where is Khushi?", NK asked as he closed the door and turned to Arnav. Arnav simply continued to walk looking on the floor. NK swiftly closed the distance and turned Arnav around, "Nannav? What happened? Why are you looking so sad? And where is Khushi?" Arnav simply turned around letting NK's hands slide away. NK was confused. Arnav walked towards the room that housed Naaniji and NK followed him peppering him with questions, "Nannav! Answer me! What is wrong? Is Khushi ok? Are you ok? What is going on?..."

NK stopped his questions when he reached Naaniji's room. He stood on the threshold as Arnav went towards Naaniji. Naaniji sat on the bed with a Bhagwat Gita in her lap which she kept aside once Arnav entered the room. She looked worried when she noticed the downtrodden expression on Arnav's face. She was even more alarmed when he sat on the floor and placed his head in her lap.

"Arnav bitwa! Ka hua?", Naaniji asked softly and Arnav couldn't stop himself from blurting out happened. He started with arriving at Maan's mansion, going through the fight and the argument and then ending with his storming off. Naaniji gasped and winced at all the right places and once Arnav finished with the narration, she comforted him with her kind words and her hands carding through his hair, "Sab theek ho jaayega Bitwa! Jara dheeraj dharo! Devi Ma sab dekh rahi hai! Woh sab theek kardegi! Dekhna! Bahut jald Khushi waapis tumri paas hogi! (Everything will be fine, son! Just be patient! Devi Ma is seeing everything! She will make everything right! Pretty soon Khushi will be back to being yours!)"

NK was hearing through the whole narration with suppressed anger. NK was normally a calm happy go lucky fellow but the way Arnav dealt with the whole situation at Khushi's house made even a calm man like NK very angry. He couldn't believe what all Arnav had done in the name of love. But he held his breath hoping that Naaniji would explain to Arnav where he went wrong. But when even Naaniji was blinded by her love for her grandson and couldn't show him his mirror, NK's anger broke through.

"No! I don't think Khushi will come back Naaniji! And I think she shouldn't come back either!", NK spoke up. Arnav looked up from Naaniji's lap at NK with horror on his face. Even Naaniji looked scared. NK entered the room and loomed over where Arnav sat, "I am not wrong and you two know it! Arnav! Khushi found her family for the first time! First time in her life Nannav, she was with people who wanted her! She was separated from them for so many years and finally found them! And you tried to drag her away from them!", NK looked incredulous. Arnav and Naaniji were shell-shocked by his words. NK continued, "She yearned for her family since God knows how long and you threatened to take that away from her? And now you have the gall to ask what went wrong?", NK let out a sarcastic laugh, "No wonder Mr. and Mrs. Khurana refused to give Khushi to you! If you are always this selfish, thinking about only yourself, and not giving a damn about others' feelings, then who would want their sister or daughter to marry you!"

NK looked away disgusted and then looked back at Arnav with a glare, "Nannav, your whole life, you have thought about only you and your Di! But if you want Khushi back now, then you better start thinking about her too!" NK turned around and stormed away.

As NK reached the hall, he wondered how Khushi was doing. Poor thing! She went through so many things in so many days. I think I should call her. He pulled out the number he had taken from Khurana Mansion and dialled up the house number. The phone rang and then it was picked up.

"Hello!", came a voice and NK realised it was Mrs. Khurana.

"Hello! I am NK, Nandkishor! Can I speak to Khushiji?", NK spoke up. He crossed his fingers hoping that Mrs. Khurana didn't tell him to get lost and allowed him speak to Khushi.

"Oh! Tell me something. Is this NK, Arnav's cousin or Nanheji, Khushi's best friend?", came Mrs. Khurana's reply in sombre tone.

NK smiled happily. He didn't even have to think about the reply, "Nanheji!"

"Good answer Nanheji!", came Mrs. Khurana's chirpy voice, "Your call is being forwarded." NK grinned as the music rang and then the phone was picked up, "Hello!" NK took in a sharp breath. Khushi's voice sounded so dull! NK felt his heart pinch. Poor girl! And her voice was hoarse too! She must have cried a lot. How long must she have cried?

"Khushiji! Its me! NK! How are you?", NK spoke cheerfully hoping that his cheerful voice would bring some smile on Khushi's face.

When from other side came nothing but silence and some sniffles, NK's heart broke further. "Khushiji?", he whispered worriedly.

On the other side, Khushi couldn't stop crying. And she couldn't understand why. Till now, she could stop crying at moment's notice and paste a fake smile on her face. She was brilliant at fooling folks into believing that she was happy at that moment. So why couldn't she do the same now? She took a deep breath hoping to stop her tears only for her body to betray her and let out a loud sob. Next thing Khushi knew she was sobbing into the phone non stop for next few minutes.

What Khushi didn't understand till now was that the Khushi from earlier could paste a fake smile on her face easily because no one ever called out her actions or told her that she is allowed to cry and show weakness to her family. But things had changed now. Her new family had taught her that she didn't have to be strong every time. She was allowed to show her real feelings. Unlike her earlier family who expected her to be strong, her new family wanted to be strong for her. And with that change, the dam that always stopped Khushi from revealing her true emotions broke down, unable to be rebuilt again.

"Khushiji! Khushiji! Roiyiye mat. Please! I will feel really sad! Woh kya kehte hain? Abhaas! Main abhaas ho jaaunga!", NK tried to console Khushi. That's when he heard Khushi chuckle a little, "Nanheji! Abhaas nahi, udaas! Aap udaas ho jaayenge!" NK grinned, happy that he made Khushi laugh.

For a second, there was silence and then NK spoke up, "Are you ok Khushi? Tum theek ho?"

For a while Khushi didn't speak and then NK heard her small voice saying, "Pata nahi Nanheji!"

NK frowned but before he could question Khushi about her choice of words, Khushi continued to speak.

Khushi didn't know why but she had the urge to tell NK her true feelings. She wanted badly to talk to someone. But her family had made their stance known to her due to which she was scared to talk to them. Despite the fact that her new family was ready to support her whatever her decision was, she feared that they will look down upon her if she let them know how confused she was. So when NK called her up with his ready smile and simple nature, Khushi couldn't resist from letting out her confusion, her fears and her problems.

"Humein kuch nahi samajh aa raha Nanheji! Hum kya karein, kahaan jaayein, kuch samajh nahi aa raha! Nanheji! Zindagi mein aaj tak humaare parivar waalon ne hi humaare liye faisla liya! Humaari padhaai rukaane ka faisla, Amma ne liya! Humaare sagaai ka faisla, Buaji ne liya! Ya toh parivar ne faisle liye ya toh parivaar ke liye humne faisle liye! Kaam kiya, Arnavji ke taane sahe, unki jyaatti sahi, sab kiya taaki humaare parivaar ko paise ki kami na ho. Arnavji se shaadi bhi ki, unke liye. Usmein bhi humaari marzi nahi thi. Agar Arnavji ko humpe shak nahi hota toh hum toh unse shaadi bhi iss tarah nahi karte. Humein abhi bhi yaad hai, kaise woh humpe shak kar rahe the aur humse begunaahi ka saboot maang rahe the. Kehte the ki Shyamji ka humaare saath affair chal raha hai! Unhonein humse iss baare mein baat bhi nahi ki! Seedha seedha ilzaam laga diya. Aur phir humaare paas aur koi chaara nahi tha unse shaadi karne ke ilaava! Aur ab achaanak humse kahaa jaa raha hai ki hum apne liye sochein! Har nirnay hum hi lein? Yeh humne kabhi kiya hi nahi! Toh ab kaise karein? (I am unable to understand anything, Nanheji! What should I do, where should I go, I can't understand anything! Nanheji! Till now in my life, my family took the decisions for me! The decision to stop my studies, my Amma made it! The decision to get me engaged, Buaji took it! Either my family took the decisions for me, of I did it because of them! I worked, bore Arnav's taunts, bore his cruelty, so that my family would not face cash shortage. I married Arnav also for them. There also it wasn't my decision. If Arnavji hadn't doubted me, then I would have never married him like this. I still can remember, how he had doubted me and was asking to prove my innocence. He was saying I was having an affair with Shyamji. He didn't even speak to me on this matter! He just accused me. And then I had no other option than to marry him! And today suddenly people are telling me I should think about myself! I should take my own decisions? I never did this! How am I supposed to do it now? )", Khushi broke down sobbing, not realising that she had let NK know the true story behind her and Arnav's shot gun wedding.

NK was aghast. The story that Khushi had told him left him speechless. Nannav forced Khushi into proving her innocence? And that is the reason they got married? He didn't know what to say. But this story seemed more believable than Arnav marrying Khushi in a hurry for love. Maybe it was because NK knew how manipulative and impulsive Arnav was. And Khushi never seemed type to marry someone in a hurry just because she was in love with him.

NK was brought out of his thoughts with Khushi's sobbing. As she sobbed, NK got a determined look on his face. Now when he spoke, he spoke with seriousness in his tone, "Khushiji! After hearing your story, I can tell you only one thing! Think about yourself. Forget your family, forget your friends, forget even Nannav! Think about you and only you. Don't worry! I will stand by your side whatever your decision is. Just like your family, I will stand by you too. Even if you ditch Nannav, I will support you. Remember Khushiji, its your life. You have every right to live it your way. No one, and I repeat, no one should decide for you. You decide and do what you like. Got it?"

For a second Khushi remained mum and then she said, "Ok Nanheji! Aur Nanheji...?"

NK hummed and Khushi said, "Thanku!" NK smiled at her mangled English. Khushi continued, "Aap mera saath de rahe hain, yeh sunke humein khushi hui. Thanku! (I am glad to hear that you are standing by me. Thank you!)" Both bade goodbyes and disconnected their phones.

As NK sat there, his anger once again started to mount. He couldn't believe this. How could Nannav behave so horribly with an innocent girl! How could he be so callous! When did he become so insensitive to others' dreams and wishes? NK stood up, angry at Arnav for his decision. Before he knew it, he was storming into Naaniji's room and shouting on the top of his voice. If he was angry before, now he was thundering with rage.

"ARNAV! ARNAV!", NK roared and Arnav, who was still lying in Naaniji's lap looked up in shock. Naaniji got annoyed too. Haven't NK hurt her Bitwa enough? "NK Bitwa!", Naaniji barked, "Kaahe chilla rahe ho? (Why are are shouting?)" NK huffed, "Chilaaun nahi toh aur kya karun Naaniji? (Other than shouting, what else I am supposed to do?) What Nannav has done is horrible!" "Aisa ka kiya hai humre Chote ne? (What has my Chote done to warrant such behaviour from you?)", Naani wondered out loud. "Khushiji ko shaadi karne pe... how do you say it... haan... majboor kiya hai! Unhonein Khushiji pe accusation lagaaya aur apne aapko innocent prove karne ke liye Khushiji married Nannav! (He forced Khushi into marrying him! He accused her and to prove her innocence she married him!)"

"Tum keh kya rahe ho Bitwa? (What are you saying son?)", Naaniji was confused, "Kaisa accusation?"

NK glared at Arnav, "Nannav accused her of loving Shyam Jiju!"

"Kya?", Naaniji was totally confused. She looked at Arnav, "Chote! Kya yeh sach hai?"

She hoped her Chote would clarify to her that all is just a misunderstanding. But Arnav simply looked down and Naaniji got her answer. "Kaahe?", she cried, "Uss maasoom bachchi par aisa iljaam kaahe? (Why did you accuse the innocent girl of such a thing?)" "Kyunki Jijaji told me he had affair with Khushi!", Arnav's voice was small but it echoed in the silent room. Naaniji paled while NK stumbled back in shock. Both were speechless and stared at Arnav with horror. Then Naaniji got her voice and with sternness she spoke, "Poori baat humko bataao Bitwa! Yeh sab kya hai? (Tell me the whole story! What is all this?)" She glared at Arnav.

Arnav sighed and got up. He stood by the window and started the narration. He began with his desire to confess his feelings to Khushi and going to terrace to do it. He talked about the rage he felt when he saw Khushi hugging Shyam, how his heart broke as he realised that Khushi and Shyam were having an affair. Naaniji gasped while NK blurted out, "WHAT?" He stormed to Arnav and spoke up, "I don't believe it! I don't believe that Khushiji had an affair! It could have been something else. It has to be something else. Khushiji never would have done this. I refused to believe it!"

Arnav was shocked. NK didn't believe Khushi could do such thing. NK, who knew her only for few days, trusted her enough to know she would never do it. And I? I knew Khushi for more than six months and yet I didn't trust her. For the first time he understood some of the things Maan was preaching to him about. What Maan couldn't teach him with his words, NK taught him by action. Arnav looked down in shame.

"Phir ka hua Chote?", Naaniji's ice tone brought Arnav out of his thoughts. Her voice told Arnav that even she didn't believe Khushi would do such things. Arnav started the narration. He explained trying to tell his Di only to be told that she was pregnant. He explained his fear of her loosing her kid or harming her. He explained his confrontation with Shyam and being told that he and Khushi were in love. He then told the one thing that he knew would disappointment Naaniji very much. He told how he almost blackmailed Khushi into marrying her. NK collapsed on the bed in shock while Naaniji felt tears well up in her eyes as she wondered how much pain Khushi must have felt at that moment. Then Arnav told about Khushi taking a knife and swearing to kill herself and NK and Naaniji both smiled with pride but their smiles faded away when Arnav explained the discussion between Arnav and Khushi about Shyam. They couldn't believe how horrible Shyam actually was and how he tried to cheat on Anjali with Khushi.

Then Arnav explained how Khushi offered to marry Arnav to prove her innocence. And then there was silence as everyone tried to digest what happened.

Naaniji had seen the world and NK had also met all kinds of people in Australia and hence, both realised something that Arnav didn't. Arnav seemed to treat the whole incident as one time thing. He assumed that Shyam met Khushi and fell for her beauty. But what he didn't see was that Shyam lied about the whole situation in such a smooth way that there was a possibility this wasn't his first time. He may have cheated Anjali before Khushi too. So Arnav trying to save Anjali's marriage by marrying Khushi was useless as after Khushi, Shyam could have easily found another target, someone who was more easily mouldable compared to Khushi. So Anjali's marriage still would have been in trouble despite Arnav's recent efforts. In other words, Arnav ruined a girl's life over something that was not salvageable. And as far as Naaniji was concerned, it was not even worth the salvaging. Anjali was better off without such a fool. While Naaniji knew that Arnav was trying to let Anjali have the happiness of being mother, what he didn't realise that once Anjali came to know how horrible Shyam was, she might even not be interested in having Shyam's kid. No! Arnav's actions were only detrimental and seemed to have only one result and that is the ruination of Khushi's life.

"Ee tumne theek nahi kiya Bitwa! (You haven't done the right thing, son!)", Naaniji's disappointed tone cut the silence. "Agar tumko Khushi bitiya ya Damaadji se problem thi toh humre paas aate! Manorama hai, Manohar hai! Hum sab milke kuch hal nikaalte! Aisa kuch karte jisse Anjali ko bhi kuch naahi hota aur Anjali ke bachche ko bhi naahi! Iski jagah tumne uss phool ki bachchi ke zindagi ko itna uljha diya? (If you had problem with Khushi or son-in-law, then you should have come to us! Manorama was there, Manohar was there! All of us together would have found some solution! We would have done it in such a way that Anjali was not harmed and neither was her child! Instead of this, you complicated the life of that poor girl?)"

"Lekin Shyam ko bhi rokna tha Naaniji uss waqt... (But I had to stop Shyam at that time...)", Arnav blurted out. Naaniji gave him a glare that shut him up, "Tum businessman hoke itne bhole nikle? Toh ko kya laga? Khushi Shyam ki pehli shikaar thi? Arre! Humko lagta hai ki uu toh kabse Anjali bitiya ko dhoka de raha hoga! Ek Khushi uu ke jaal se bach gayi toh doosri aayegi! Toh Anjali ki shaadi toh mushkil mein aaj bhi hai, kal bhi thi aur kal bhi rahegi! Tum kuch naahi kar paaoge Bitwa! (You are so nave for a businessman! What did you think? Khushi must have been Shyam's first target? Arre! I think he must have been cheating on Anjali for years! One Khushi escaped his trap, then another will take her place! So Anjali's marriage is in trouble, was in trouble and will be in trouble! You won't be able to do anything, Son!)"

"Lekin woh meri Di ko chodegi toh nahi na? Ab toh maine saari jaaydaad Di ke naam kar di! (But he won't atleast leave my Di, right? Now I have named my whole property to her!)", Arnav tried to give his actions valid excuse.

"Arre bitwa! Par aisi zindagi jeene ka ka faayda? Aise rishte se toh behtar talaaq lekar talaaqshuda kehlaana achcha hai! (Arre son! What is the use of such a life? Rather than living in such a relationship, it is better to be known as Divorcee!)", Naaniji spat.

"Lekin Naaniji, situation us waqt aisa tha... (But Naaniji, at the time the situation was such that...)", Arnav tried to explain but Naaniji cut him off with, "Hum bataaye asal mein ka hua? Behen toh bas bahaana tha! Toh ko lag raha tha ki Khushi ne toh ko dhoka diya aur uss dhoke ka badla lene ke liye tumne usse jabardasti shaadi karne ki koshish ki! Tumra ego hurt hua toh tumne Khushi ko hurt kiya! (Should I tell you what actually happened? Your sister was just an excuse! You thought Khushi betrayed you and you took your revenge for that betrayal by marrying her forcefully! Your ego got hurt so you hurt Khushi!)"

Arnav looked down again unable to understand how much his life got messed up. This was what Maan was trying to tell him. His ego made him not trustworthy. This is why he refused to give his sister to him.

Naaniji continued to speak, "Tumri iss galti ki sazaa ab tumko mil rahi hai! Tumri bewakoofi, tumri ego ki wajah se Khushi tumre se hamesa hamesa ke liye door hogayi! Kya pata ab uu tumko mile, ya na mile! (Now you are getting punished for your mistakes! Because of your ego and your stupididty, Khushi is forever away from you! Who knows whether you will get her back or not!)"

Arnav looked at her with horror. His face turned pale and he stumbled back in shock. No! He can't loose her! He can't! She is the love of her life! He cannot loose her! Before he knew it, Arnav turned around and ran out of the room. Naaniji called out to him and NK ran after him but Arnav had run out of the door and no one could stop him. But Naaniji and NK didn't need ASR's brain to know where Arnav headed to. He was heading to one place that held his solace and his peace. He was heading back to Khurana Mansion.

Ooo! Now what?

Let me tell you know what?

Few more people will try to knock some sense into ASR!

Sigh! Poor ASR! Everyone seem interested in scolding him these days!

Ha ha ha!

But don't worry! Only two to three updates and then starts Arshi romance!

Thank you, take care and have fun,

Kalpana