Part 23
arjun drove back home in a dejected mood but with the same strong belief in his love 'it is still not over arohi, I will find out who hurt you so much that you dont want to share it even with me'.
When he came in raashi and daadi were in the living room. Kumud and Rudra were upto some serious discussion in the dining area. 'what did she say' raashi asked as soon as she saw arjun. 'same thing, she wont say any reason, but now I am sure someone has said something to her' 'hmm who would say anything' daadi questioned trying to remember if anyone of them have remotely did anything. 'no idea, I feel so exhausted'. 'arjun dinner is ready' kumud called out to him 'no ma, I ate already, sorry'. Rudra called out to him this time 'arjun we want to talk to you' , this time he could not avoid, he looked at daadi if she knew anything. Daadi knew what they wanted to talk to him about and she wanted to interfere, but she thought it would be best if arjun himself told them.
He sat at the table adjacent to his dad and opposite to his mom. Kumud signaled rudra to start. 'I am pleased with what you did in Bombay , with the clients and the tenders, and now we have set the inauguration date to be this Friday and same evening we will a party in the house for our relatives and friends' Arjun just nodded he was lost in arohi's thoughts. 'arjun' Arjun' his dad's voice brought him back. 'I also see you are listless ever since you came, what is the matter' kumud too asked him the same 'you did not call much for past few days, now you are here but you don't seem to be here mentally' Arjun did not know how to reply. 'actually I wanted to talk to you about this also' kumud started again 'how do you find Natasha?' 'who?' 'Natasha, payal aunty's daughter' 'yeah what about her?' now it was rudra and kumud's turn to look at each other . 'payal had called several times and said natasha would make a suitable bahu in our family' rudra added 'I think so too since she is done with her studies and she will be able to be a part of our business and you know how me and her dad have been friends , it will be nice to take it forward with the alliance we can announce in the party and..' kumud took over 'and payal also says Natasha is interested in you and you too have shown the same, is that why you look unhappy that you thought we may not agree?' arjun was looking back and forth at his mom and dad the last line got to him 'stop it!! You both are going on and on, what is this, you don't want to hear me out? Which Natasha are you talking about and which friendship dad? And the lady you are talking payal mittal she is assuming things big time , she said I am interested in her daughter? Not in a million years and she knows that. she also knows that I am with Aa'' he stopped to calm down first before taking arohi's name , both rudra and kumud were taken aback by his outburst they had no idea he would react like this 'that you are with?' rudra questioned arjun , 'allright , I would have told you earlier but I am going through something and so did not want to bring it up until it was all solved' 'stop talking in riddles arjun'. by now raashi and daadi too came to them. 'Dad, I am in love with Arohi' 'Arohi?' kumud asked to reconfirm 'yes mom Arohi, you both know her' Rudra knew about arohi, she had impressed him from the day he saw her, kumud knew who she was and that she was in their house in Bombay, but did not know this development. 'and what about her, what is the that you are going through' his dad asked him 'I know that she loves me, but something is stopping her and I am going to make it allright, I just need a few more days' Rudra couldnot help but smile at his son's choice, after all he was his son, his selection had to be the best one 'I like that girl' he said which made arjun raashi and daadi give a big smile at the same time. Kumud was still not sure how to react, she had no problem with Arohi being her Daughter in law, she looked at raashi and daadi and by their expressions she could make out that they knew before her 'you all knew and did not tell me, I am not that important eh? I am the last one to know who my bahu will be' arjun laughed out loud at his mom's accusations 'sooorrryyy' he tired to pacify her. Kumud said 'now I understand why payal was in such a hurry and kept saying we should not leave the kids alone or else they will stray away '. Now I don't know how to reply her back she had too much hope, maaji will you help me out when she calls next time, how do I politely reject her?' daadi assured she will do the talking , arjun took it lightly at first then he ran his mom's words one more time in his mind and sharply asked her 'what did she say again ? that we will stray away?' 'she meant the youth' kumud confirmed. 'yeah the same thing, she said stray away and she has been calling frequently only recently?' 'yeah from past 4-5 days, she seemed to be in a hurry to get this done' 'I see' arjun said thoughtfully. 'what is it' raashi asked 'nothing , I need to go there and confirm myself about something and if what I doubt is true mom I will reject politely for you' 'to Bombay?' rudra asked him 'yeah, I anyways have to go there for the next conference right? So I will go a day early, you need me here?' 'no I can handle , and jignesh is coming back soon, you go do what you need to do' 'arjun puttar when you are there , in my room there is a wooden box in my wardrobe, it has some of my old things , bring that also , I somehow forgot , now that new bahu will be coming, I want to pass on some of my memories' his daadi asked him with love and affection oozing from her voice. Everyone present there seemed to be experience the hearltfelt happiness with the prospect of arjun getting married and their family being complete, and most of all they all loved the fact that it will be Arohi. 'I will talk to her then' kumud said 'no ma, I have to first solve something and arohi is not willing to talk right now about this' 'oh, then what should we do now' 'I will take care of it' 'we should send invitations to her school, her bua and herself, to both the inauguration and to the party' daadi said 'but will she come to the party at home?' raashi was doubtful 'I will make her come' arjun replied. Daadi told them all 'Arohi is an adorable girl at the same time we must all show the same affection to her sister, she should never feel that we are doing some favour by accepting guddi, we should all be in this together' everyone nodded 'ofcourse, I have always liked that girls spirit , she will be the perfect choice for arjun and her sister she will be like raashi to us' rudra assured. Arjun's eyes blurred witnessing his family's love and support one more time. Kumud saw this 'go get her soon then' she said with a wink and smile. 'I am on it' he said as he went up to his room with double the energy.
By next day he was in Bombay. As he pulled inside the complex, he saw that govind was back on duty. Some other man was standing there talking to him. Arjun was walking past them when he heard the man say 'that madam whom I took to the busstation on Friday, she was really brave but was very upset, what was the matter?' govind saw arjun stopping and tried to shush his friend, but arjun had already heard it. 'what are you both talking about' he questioned govind looking straight in his eyes. Govind tried to do away with some random answer 'nothting arjun sir, we were talking about someone' 'someone who? Did you pick up someone from here on Friday evening' he asked govind's friend. His friend had no idea that he should hide this from arjun 'yes saab, I picked up this madam and dropped her at the bus station outside the city, she was very brave but very upset, that is what I was asking, I meant no harm' he explained. Arjun looked at govind sharply again 'I know it has something to do with the people living here, now tell me what you know govind' seeing arjun's face getting angry govind could not hold back 'yes sir , it has to do with people living here, the most insensitive and rude people who live right in this building, I have seen how they insulted her and how arohi madam cried' arjun felt his heart being ripped apart, she was insulted right here? and he was not even able to protect her from it, govind continued 'she was coming in so happily sir, I had not seen anyone so gentle after your family, what did she do? She was just going upstairs and payal madam and her relative came down and started saying all sorts of things to her' he paused like he did not want to repeat them. 'she cried right here? What did they say to her govind, what did they say to my arohi that gave her the broken heart?' govind had got the chance to show his anger towards the two ladies and with arjun asking him he told everything he had witnessed that day as he ended , arjun was shaking with rage , with his fist clenched 'she was shocked sir, they were very mean to her and in the end that other madam said something that left arohi madam completely shaken' arjun was shocked to hear what that lady had said, 'that cant be true, nobody talks like that' he whispered, 'they did , they insulted her in every possible way, they said she will be bad luck to your family, she is using your family and that the lady was lucky she was not her bahu and called her sister pagal' he summarized everything again. Arjun was furious on hearing all this, he looked at govind's frined 'and when did you come to get her?' govind replied for this too 'arohi madam requested I should not tell anything to you and asked if there is a way to get out of the city, I called my friend , he runs a taxi, he took her and waited until she got on a bus'. Arjun looked at both of them, they had taken care of arohi when she was in need, he had no words to thank them, he took out his wallet and took out whatever cash was in there, he handed it to them both 'no sir, what are you doing, we did not do this for money, we want to see you both happy' arjun was surprised, 'how did you know that..' 'kya saab, we might be workers but we can see and understand things, you both make a perfect couple' govind said shyly. Arjun laughed in that fury too, 'so then this is from both of us, arohi will be happy if you take this' arohi's name made govind and his friend take the money. 'I have to take care of something now' arjun patted both of them and took the stairs.
For each step he climbed his anger doubled. He practically banged on the Mittal's door. It was payal who opened the door and seeing arjun she immediately got a broad smile, finally he had to come to their house all her effort of convincing kumud worked she thought failing to see the state he was in. She moved inside, 'oh arjun come in come in'. Simran who was still there sitting on the couch looked at him curiously. Arjun stepped in and taking in a deep breath he said 'why did you do it?' payal was confused at his question 'do what arjun' 'why did you insult arohi?' payal was shocked to hear him say it, simran like a spring got up from where she was sitting. He repeated again 'why did you HURT AROHI' he screamed with anger and with his hand pushed the media center down , that was at his arm's length , All the things on and in it crashed to the floor along with the stand making a huge noise. Both payal and simran were scared seeing him like this, Natasha and her dad came running out of their rooms. 'arjun what is this, what happened' mr. Mittal asked. 'ask your wife' he said loudly 'ask your wife why she did that' he advanced at payal and simran backing them to the wall ready to hold their necks, 'arjun stop it' Mr. Mittal yelled. 'No I wont, not until I get an answer from them' 'what did they do?' Arjun while still looking at them like he would kill with one blow replied 'what did they do? they hurt my Arohi, they made her cry, they insulted her , they said things no good person will ever say, they not only insulted her they insulted her parents her sister, her family' then turning to the quivering ladies he asked 'what did she do to you, she was to herself, how did she hurt you or bother you that you pounced on her' 'she is not as nave as you think' simran tried to be defiant, he glared at her 'you are the one who said the meanest things to her, why? Because she had the courage to reject your family?' 'that girl she is very clever, she not only trapped your family now she has turned you against us and sent you here like this, she and her pagal sister , they will just ruin you , she is such a bi..' before simran could complete the last word, a heavy hand slapped across her face making her fall to take support of a chair, the blow was so hard that she almost fainted ' one more word and you will see the worst of me' arjun yelled as loudly as he had slapped her. The stinging slap and furious arjun had completely numbed simran. Payal mr, mittal and Natasha all were shocked. He then turned to payal who seemed to be scared now, 'arjun' both Natasha and her dad said at the same time, he stopped from hitting payal 'I am sorry uncle, this is not my upbringing, but what can I do , this has tested my limits. one more word comes from anyone against arohi, then don't blame me if I kill them and I am not joking'. He then turned to Natasha 'have I ever acted like I have interest in you?' Natasha looked like she wished, 'no you havent' he turned to payal, 'you knew I am with arohi, you knew I am not the right person for your daughter and she to me, you had seen how sweet arohi is , and still from where did you get the heart to hurt her?' by now simran was coming out of her shock , she feared to utter even a word, 'I am leaving from here' she said to payal and was about to go in. 'not so soon' arjun said taking out his phone, 'not before you apologize to Arohi' he looked at both of them 'you are both apologizing and ask her forgiveness', they had no other option. He was ready to slap them again if they did not. He dialed arohi's number and without talking gave the phone to payal. Seeing arjun's number arohi took the phone with shaky hands. But all she heard was a woman saying 'sorry, forgive me' before she could ask who it was , she heard another voice a grumpy one 'sorry, forgive me' and then she heard arjun's voice in the background 'good' and then the call got cut. Arohi did not believe what she heard. it is not what she thinks it is she thought. She called him again but he did not take the call. She was left shaky, did arjun find out? What is this all about?. Was he here or in bombay? She just collapsed fearing the outcome of his anger if he finds out.
Arjun took the phone from them and said good and cut the call. He turned to Mr. Mittal, 'sorry uncle it happened this way, but when it comes to my dear ones I wont tolerate any kind of misbehavior from anyone' he continued 'I know you are my dad's friend but now , it is all over, please move out of here' he said without any regret , he turned to payal 'I give few days time next time I visit here, you all must be gone' 'what about your dad, he is our friend' she tried to justify still, 'be thankful it is not my dad who found out and it is me, that is why I have given you the option of few days, if my dad comes to know you have insulted his daughter in law and a guest who was in his house here, he would have thrown you out this instant' 'arjun' mr. Mittal tried to supress his pride and request, 'sorry uncle, you have no fault but I cant let go of this, I want your family moved out as soon as possible, and don't worry I wont tell dad about all this, whether you give him any explanation or not before leaving is upto you'. He turned to payal and simran again 'I love her and she loves me, your evil eyes cannot do us any harm as long as we have each other. Don't do this to anyone else again, not everyone will spare your lives' . he walked out of there, considerably cooled down by now.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
