Arshi SS: Lonely last Part up 3.6.17 - Page 18

"Am i asking too much?" I ask him looking at his blank expression.

I can notice him gulp his throat. He doesn't say anything. I know he is confused. He looks at me.

"You are free to do anything Khushi, this is your house" he tells me.

"This is not my house. This is hell Mr.Raizada!!! If it was my house then I wouldn't have been restricted for each and every thing" I snap back.

He holds my hand and makes Me sit on the bed. I am fuming with anger.

"You think I care about what others restrict? I really don't care, because you are my wife. You have the rights on my house. Whenever you wish you can go anywhere, you can do anything you wish to. " he cups my cheek.

"But your grandma has restr.." I speak.

"I said I don't care! You are staying in my house, YOUR house Khushi. Nobody can restrict you" he assures me.

************
He holds my hand and we walk out of the room. Sometimes its very difficult for me to understand him. Nani and Mami look at us.

" Khushi bitiya , Anjali bitiya is sitting down" the old lady says, this is what I don't like. That's why I call this house a jail.

"So what? Did she ever say that she doesn't like Khushi walking past her? Or did she ever deny Khushi's presence?" He grits his teeth and tells her.

"But Chotte, Anjali bitiya"

"So for Di you all will keep hurting my wife?" He snaps. I am taken aback. Where was this love before? Was this suppressed under his Di's love?

"Hello hi bye bye now for this phati.." She stops when my hubby shouts.

" I am not talking to you Mrs.Raizada, n you better don't interfere in my life" I keep looking at my husband.

What's wrong or rather what's right? He is going against his family. Mrs.Manorama Raizada looks down. She is hurt with the way he spoke.

"Chotte stay calm" consoles the elder raizada.

"Nani please tell her to not interfere in my life, n if she does it again, then I will forget that she nurtured me after my parents' death" he says coldly, gritting his teeth.

The old lady nods her head. "Come" he pulls my hand and grabs me down.
I can't deny that no one in this family has the guts to go against him.

We are in the garden. He keeps looking at me.

"Why do they hate me?" I ask unwillingly.

He is speechless. I don't expect him to speak. I look at the stars.

"I wish my parents were alive" I am observing the shining stars amidst the clouds. I feel him holding my hand. I don't look at him.

"I think your family would be happy if I was in jail" I say calmly. I want to open up my feelings today. I want him to know and realize the bitter truth of his family.

"Khushi.." I stop him

"Is it because they love Mrs.Jha so much or they hate me to this extent? That they can do anything for her, whether its right or wrong. " I gulp my throat, "So much hatred towards me for telling the truth! How irony!" I gulp my throat.

He gives me a warm hug.

"I had thought even you had wanted to.." He puts his index finger on my lips.

"You had misunderstood me" he says.

"I believe you. Maybe I had misunderstood.", I add, "I believe you because I have been through it, a few months back, when you misunderstood me n Shyam. But the difference is that I believe you, unlike you did" I stare at him.

"I am sorry", I can see the guilt in his eyes. He is really sorry for what he did.

"Am I so bad that they did think of punishing me for a crime I never did?" I avoid his contact. I am looking away.

"I never wanted you to suffer Khushi", he says, "I never thought that they would think like this"

"But they did" I whisper, "I know Mrs.Jha never hurt me directly, but her family has treated me so badly for "her" that I dont feel happy whenever she is near me. " I say coldly not minding what he thinks. I too have a heart and they must know that.

"I wont force you to love her" he says calmly, "I want your happiness". I look at him with shocked expression. I expected him to be angry. This is the first time he is supporting me, otherwise he would have scolded me for his Di. He pulls me into a hug.

"I cant forget the past" I say.

Its dark in the house. Its very late, Arnavji is not back to room. I go out of my room, looking for him. I can hear some whispers in Naniji 's room.

"Di is very scared now. I will handle the situation.

You dont tell this to anyone" I see Arnavji.

I wonder what might have happened. Why is Di scared?

"If Anjali bitiya had not drove the car then
this accident wouldn't have happened" I see Nani exclaiming.

I am shocked.

Di n accident?

"I have talked to the doctor, the patient is fine now" Arnavji says.

" What if he opens his mouthwa? Anjali bitya has to go to jailwa." I see Mamiji crying.

"Mami he hasn't seen her face. It was too dark when Di had called me. The patient told only about long haired woman. He doesn't know more than that."

"What to do Chotte? I have made her sleep with great difficulty.
She was crying all along. She is very guilty for what she did.
We can't send her to jail." Naniji says

I am hell shocked to know all these.

"Why did she have to drive? Was that creep so important? "
he referred to Shyam. I see anger on his face.

" Bhy don't we hide her from the police? That car belongs to us,
n the scratches on the car clearly says that the accident took place
from our car. We can't escape from police." Mamiji is still crying.

"She has sufferer so much right now and upon that this accident"
Naniji is on the verge of crying.

"How can we hide Di from police?" Arnavji says.

Mamiji wipes her tears.

"Why don't we put the blame on Phati Saree? Even she has long hair, n if you remember, she has also worn the same coloured Kurta today.
Thankfully Anjali bitiya had wiped her fingerprints"

I freeze on the spot. Hatred to such an extent!!!!

They want to send me to jail for something I never did.

Just to cocoon their Anjali bitiya. Have I taken any vow

that whatever Anjali Jha does, I am held responsible?

I have never seen such a family. I wait, only to listen Arnavji.

"Yeah you are right.."
This is another shock for me. Even he is against me?
I don't wait there anymore, n rush yo my room.

I did so much for your Di and your family,
but you have no concern for me. I should have understood that you
love no one other than your Di. I was a fool to love you. I almost
sacrificed my life to save you, I worked day and night to
find the whereabouts about you. I acted to love that man
just to get a clue about you. I saved you and what did you do? You
want to punish me for you'd sister? Am I no one to you?

I can't stay here anymore. I won't wait for you to put me
behind the bars for a crime I never did. I will run away from here.
I have to.

" I wish you had heard me completely Khushi. I had scolded Mrs.Raizada that day for saying that"

"Maybe its fate. How would it have been if you had heard me completely on that day, on the terrace? We all would have been happy today"

*Sad rabba ve*

Yeah I m unhappy that he had misunderstood me then. But maybe that's his nature, to jump to conclusions. No matter how much sad I am with his past behavior, I can see his concern for me. Yes he said that I was the biggest mistake of his life, but sometimes I wonder did he really mean that? He bound me with the contract to keep me with him? Today I feel that he does love me. I had seen the divorce papers in the cupboard. He wants to set Me free. But little does he know that I have burnt it. I want to live, but I want him beside me.

I look at him. He avoids my eye contact. He is watching the stars. Today I realize, why would he hide me under the hay that night if he didn't love me? Why would he bear all the punches from those kidnappers when they had the gun on my head? Why would he slap Shyamji twice? Why would he break all the ties with Mrs.Manorama Raizada? Why would he fight with Naina to take me home along with him? Why would he keep quiet whenever I taunt him or his family? Why?

"Its cold, let's get inside" he tells me when I am admiring him.

I nod my head.

**************
Again a hell boring day. Naina is also busy with her patients today. I m just watching TV. How in a month my whole life turned upside down. I sigh. Its dinner time. Arnavji has a meeting so he will be late.

I am ready to go n fetch my plate. HPji brings my plate as usual. I thank him.

I keep it on the tea table. I go to wash my hands. I hear a knock again.

" Naniji is calling you down. She wants you to join them for dinner" Hpji says.

For once I am happy, but my happiness vanishes. Today they want me? After such a long time_? Why? Am I a toy that whenever they want me they can use me n whenever they don't want me they can throw me? I am extremely hurt now. Why is my happiness based on Mrs.Jha's happiness?

"Tell her that I am done eating" I say

Hpji looks at my untouched plate. He doesn't question me. He nods his head n goes back. My hunger vanishes.

I finish my dinner and before I even get up I see the family at the door of my room. I can't handle their drama now. Mrs.Jha isn't there. Thank God, at least I need not see her crying.

"You all need anything?" I ask without any kindness in my voice.

"Bitiya I had called you down, you didn't have to eat alone" Devyani Raizada says kindly.

"Yeah Khushi, I guess you have learnt to disobey elders now" says Payal.

" Could you please mind your own business?" I look at my so called sister.

"Hhbb phati Saree what's wrong with you? " I ignore her.

Mrs. Devyani Raizada cups my cheek.

"Bitiya did we do any mistake? R u angry with us?" Oh wow. I want to laugh now. They can host a comedy show. After what happened they r still not aware of their mistakes?

"Khushiji you can tell us" Akash's interference wasn't needed. These 3 women are enough to boil my blood.

I shove Mrs.Devyani's hands. "No everything was my mistake. You people did nothing" I say angrily.

"Khushi.."Mrs.Payal tries to speak.

"Just shut up. I don't want your drama anymore. Leave me alone"

"What's wrong bitiya?"

"What's wrong? Huh? Very early realization Mrs.Raizada.Blame me for each and every single mistake n expect me to be happy with you? R u all nuts? Or am I a joker? You people made my life hell and you all want me to be normal with u all. Tell me what was my mistake?"

My eyes get moist. My throat is paining.

"What was my mistake? That I told the truth about Shyam? What wrong did I do? What was my mistake if your daughter could not bear his truth? Why was I blamed when she tried to suicide? I went to her room to tell her to eat for her baby, if she misunderstood my words and tried to suicide, how can you blame me?if she had done the same thing when any one of you had told her what I told then would you punish your family members Mrs.Raizada?" I ask the old woman. She looks down in shame.

"You wouldn't, because they r your family. I am just an outsider. Instead of explaining your daughter you kept hiding me from her. You kept me in this room. You didn't think about me. Anyone who mattered to you was just your delicate doll. You didn't bother to know if I was alive, you didn't bother to know that I was suffocating here. You just wanted her happiness. You all blame me for what Shyam did. You think I tried to trap him. Why the hell would I fall in love with that ugly faced man who is 20 years older than me? What would I get destroying your daughter's happiness? I wish you people had sent me out of this house instead of him, because at least he is living peacefully rather than living in this hell!!!! You think your daughter is the only one suffering here?" I shout on the top of my voice.

Tears are flowing continuously from my eyes. The old lady comes to wipe my tears.

"Don't you dare come near me!!!" I shout.

"Congratulations, you have successfully ruined my life and killed that bubbly and cheerful Khushi. Because of this kind treatment from you people I have lost my happiness completely. I stopped smiling. You all wanted to punish me. Look you have succeeded. Nobody has the idea that I m suffering more than your daughter. Shyam was better, at least he didn't torture me mentally. He didn't send me to depression. Yes. I m taking treatment for mental depression. All thanks to you n your family." I gulp my throat.

"Mrs.Manorama Raizada has proved me very well that she can go to any extent to save her daughter. No matter what, Khushi should be put to jail for Anjali bitiya's crimes. Because whatever happens to Anjali but it's, phati Saree is responsible. Did any one of you realize that I was missing for 7 days? No right? Nothing much cud be expected from you all. Today all of a sudden you all want me? For what? To cover any more mistakes your bitia did?" I am hicupping.

" I expected you all to at least treat me as a human. I guess I expected a lot" I say gulping my throat.

"Now give me a reason to be normal with you all" I give a scorny look to each Raizada. All have theirs heads down. I see Akash feeling bad, his mother is also guilty. Payal feels bad. The older Raizada is crying.

"We are sorry bitia..we didn't want to hurt you"

"Please leave me alone" I scream.

" forgive us" she pleads.

"OUT I SAID" I roar.

All of them go out. I am surprised to see Nanheji with his luggage. He is back from Sydney. His eyes n cheeks are moist. He heard everything?

" I wanted to surprise you all, but you all surprised me. A dhamakedaar surprise" Nanheji says sarcastically looking at the Raizadas.

My cheeks are drained with tears. I m finally letting out my pain n tears after one and half month, the Raizadas made me feel worst. The only good thing that happened today was Nanheji is back.

Thank you for the votes n comments
Katty