When she reached home Khushi went straight to the kitchen and got busy, taking out ingredients, she went about making a bunch lode of jelibees, stuffing them in her mouth once they were ready, her hands worked furiously while she let her mind wander back to the night she had left a sleeping Arnav in the bed they had just made love in.
On the way home she had decided she would tell everything to buaji and amma. She would stop what was going on and tell them the truth, she could not marry Shayam not now, she belonged to another. Arnavji would accept her; she knew he would after what had happened between them there would be no other choice. Besides she loved him and though he had not said it aloud she was sure he loved her.
When she got home it was like a mad house, buaji was raving and fussing, at first she thought that something had happened to babuji running in she asked, Payal "jiji, what happened is babuji ok, did he get another attack"
"Khushi thank God you are here, what took you so long." Payal asked.
Khushi felt the blood rise in her cheeks as she thought of where she had been and what she had been doing. Ignoring Payals question she asked. " jiji what is the matter? Babuji?"
"No, no, babuji is fine, it is Shayamji, I think he is having an allergic reaction of some sort"
"Allergic reaction, what are you talking about"
"the neighbours send some sweets, and I think it had pineapple bits in it, and you know Buaji, without thinking she fed Shayamji some, and he started sneezing and has not stopped till now" Payal giggled thinking of Shayam sneezing like that was so funny and bauji hopping around yelling to happyji to fetch the doctor. She turned to Khushi who face had gone white.
Worried she asked. "Khushi, what is it?" thinking she was worried about Shayam "don't worry about Shayamji; the doctor just left. He gave him anti allergic tablets, it was just an reaction to the pineapple" shaking her head she inquired "did you know that Shayamji is allergic to pineapple?"
Khushi only shook her head, her mind was reeling how could it be possible. She had walked to the room where Shayam sat with Buaji. Watching them with a sense of dj vu. Shayam was partially covered by buaji broad frame and behind her Shayam held his handkerchief to his face sneezing loudly over and over again. She had seen this very scene just a few weeks back on Diwali night . In another house with another lady.
Without entering she turned around and went to her room, sitting on the her bed. It could not be a coincidence. The happenstance's of the past few months came back to her, incidents she had forgotten, on gogul ashtami, Anjali telling Lavanya that her husband's name was Shayam, while she at the same time had told them that the man who was a PG at her house was also named Shayam. The voice of Anjali's husband on the phone when she had answered that one time thinking it resembled Shayam's, his awkward behaviour on the time she had met him outside Raizada house, and how she never seemed to meet Anjali's husband.
Khushi could not believe that two separate men had the same name, were in the same profession and had the same allergic reaction to pineapple. Her instincts told her that something was not right and she had to get to the bottom of it, her life and that of the people she loved depended on it. Khushi made her way to Shayam's room.
"Are you ok Shayamji" she asked.
Pleased that she was showing concern for him he said, "Don't worry Khushiji I will be fine." He sneezed again. Embarrassed at this show weakness he undid his wrist watch took a towel and went to the bathroom, "I will just go and freshen up, I have to meet with a client in a short while." He said thinking of Anjali and the excuses he had to make for the next three days so that he could attend his wedding with Khushi without bringing suspicion on himself. In three days Khushi will be his and he could still keep his gold card of a wife and enjoy everything of both worlds, sweet innocent and beautiful Khushi would his conquest, his trophy wife he could enjoy in privet for he knew Khushi would never be introduced to his professional or his social live in high society.
The moment Shayam entered the bathroom Khushi raced to the cupboard and started searching through it for any clue she could find, but there was nothing, she went to Shayam's laptop bag and searched almost giving up. Frustrated she had dug through another pocket when she found at thin wallet pulling it out she opened it to see a picture with Anjaliji in the photo compartment and a wedding ring with a ruby stone hidden between the folds.
Stunned to the core Khushi felt her body go cold and numb. What was she to do now, if the truth came out what would her family do, her parents and her buaji would die of shame and ridicule that they were marrying her off to a married man. How could Shayamji do this to her and her family. And what about Anjailji this would destroy her; questions flooded Khushi's mind.
Hearing a noise from the bathroom she quickly put the wallet away and left the room thinking, as anger took over her at the thought of what Shayamji had done, she could not face him at this moment; she would explode. Going back to her room she sat on the bed thinking about the time when babuji had that heart attack. She had been in Nanital with Arnav, that was the time that bauji started forcing her to accept Shayams proposal, when she had spoken to Shayam telling him that she was not ready to marry, Shayam had agreed with her and that he could talk to the elders about this, thinking the matter settled Khushi had not bothered about it, she had been struggling with her own new emotions for another man, drawn to him like a moth to a flame; she had been totally absorbed with her feelings for Arnav Singh Raizada.
Once again when buaji had brought the topic up; and Khushi had outright refused to marry Shayam, but after Diwali night, heartbroken by Arnav's cruel rejection after he had tried to kiss her and seeing her fathers ailing health she had said yes under duress . What exasperated her was that Shayam had not tried to convince buaji that he did not want to marry, he could easily have told her family the truth that he was already married, instead he had kept this fact from her family on purpose , pretended that buaji was forcing him to this marriage. She thought of her father and his sudden illness. Was Shayam responsible for this as well.
Going to her father's room, she found him still awake "Babuji do you really want me to marry Shayamji," she took the fathers hand in hers "just press once if 'no' and twice if 'yes' ok babuji." Babuji nodded slightly and squeezed her hand once.
"Did you know that Shayamji is married?" she asked. Tears ran down his face as he pressed her hand twice. Khushi brought her hand to her mouth to keep from crying out loud.
She dreaded to ask the next question but she had to know "Babuji is Shayam responsible for your condition now." Her father cried silent tears and his helpless body shook with grief and frustration that he had not been able to protect his daughter.
He squeezed Khushi hand twice. Drawing all his strength he uttered one word "run."
Khushi sat with her father as he looked at her with pleading eyes, begging her to run, now she understood Shayam was a Snake and he had already bitten her father, she understood that such a man would do anything to protect himself. If she left without letting the truth come out her buaji and Amma will blame her for her irresponsible and impulsive nature, with Khushi out of the picture Shayam would blend into the woodwork like the termite he is, and leave her family alone.
Shayam would go back to Anjaliji and she would never have to find out about her husband's betrayal, And the two timing scum he is. For everyone's happiness Khushi had to make this sacrifice. So her had left.
Coming back from reminiscing about her past Khushi was surprised to see tears running down her cheeks. She looked at the picture of her son on the wall. Oh god! She thought this was an even bigger secret she had kept from Arnav, and she had no idea how he would react to it once he found out. She knew that Arnav was not found of kids. But Arush was his own flesh and blood.
With her hands splatter with batter Khushi set on the floor against the kitchen counter digging her dirty hands through her hair, smearing batter in her hair as well. As despair washed over her, she had hidden important facts from Arnav Singh Raizada and now the universe had brought her face to face with him so that she could pay the prise for hurting him. And she knew he would make her pay she sobbed.
This was how Malini found her an hour later. She had taken the crying trembling Khushi in her arms and consoled her as she told her everything that happened that day, how the new owrner of the resort is none other than Arnav Singh Raizada.
Malini then made Khushi her specially brewed tea to helped her relax, and while Khushi sat at the dining table she told her about her conversation with Arnav and how he had manipulated her into having dinner with him. Malini mixed batter for a fruit cake and put it in the oven. The simple task and the smell of vanilla had a magical effect on Khushi. From being depressed and scared she shifted to being angry and indignant.
"How dare he try to control me, I am not the old Khushi he could push around whenever he felt like it." Khushi stormed.
"So what are you going to do? Not go" Malini inquired. Being a wise woman Malini knew the one day this day would come when her dear Khushi would have to face Arnav. In all her wisdom she had done everything she could to prepare Khushi to face Arnav as a mature and confidant woman. She had always wanted to see Khushi united with her Arnav.
As Malini washed Khushi hair in the kitchen sink, she lathered her hair with shampoo she waited for Khushi to answer. She knew she had done everything to mould Khushi into a worldly and confidant woman who would be worthy of Arnav Singh Raizada. And he would have no reason to push her away. And Khushi would have all the self confidence to not run away again. She knew that if they still loved each other and they would overcome all and any problems between them.
"May be I shouldn't go, it would serve him right to be stood up" said Khushi mutinously. Crossing her hands over her chest.
"Well if you think it is the right thing to do." Malini said calmly rinsing Khushi hair gently.
"Of course it is not the right thing to do." She conceded, "and knowing him; he would find our house and break down the door by midnight." She pouted with indignation. "No, I will go to dinner with Arnav Singh Raizada, and I will only talk business," she said with more conviction. "I will be a beautiful and sophisticated lady of society, who has gained the respect of her pears, and even though I was born in a middle class family, I am not living a middle class life, I will show him I didn't have to marry a rich man to be where I am today, all I have attained is from hard work and dedication."
"Now that is the spirit, go show him what he has been missing." Malini cheered Khushi.
Later as Khushi dug through the wardrobe for what to wear to dinner, Malini sat on khushi bed.
"what do you think maa, this gray or the green saree."
"Gray does nothing for your complexion, it will make you look more pale, the green is fine and it will look beautiful on you." Said Malini.
"hmmm! No, green gives all the wrong messages, like green single. No, no I want him to know that I am attending this dinner under duress and not by choice." Khushi contemplated.
"ok, so tell me what colour could you wear if you want to please the 'great Arnav Singh Raizada.'"Malini inquired slyly.
"Red." Khushi answered immediately, thinking of the encounters she had with Arnav, and the way his eyes could become warm and admiring whenever she wore a red saree. She blushed instantly.
"Hmmm!! The colour of love, the colour of the bridal dress and Sindoor." Malini teased making dramatic depictions to compliment her words.
"Yes, and it is also the colour of blood that Arnav Singh Raizada drinks of his unsuspecting victims, in a fit of rage." Khushi said sarcastically.
"oh! I see; and are you sure that you don't want to please him right now." Malini said cheekily
"No I have no desire to please him Maa, I only want him to sign the contract. I have found the perfect saree for this occasion." Holding a black shimmering lace saree on a hanger she turned around to face Malini.
Malini smiled yes this was perfect, despite being black the colour complimented Khushi Cream and peach complexion. "perfect, just like when the revolutionaries wore black to make Mr.Simon go back."
Khushi looked at her puzzled "who?"
"Never mind it happened a long time ago. People would wear black to show their displeasure with the British." Malini explained.
Khushi eyes shown, "good then, I will wear this black saree to show him I protest. Besides Arnav Singh Raizada in nothing less than a British tyrant" And she went off to get ready.
Arnav sat in his resort hotel suite going over the file that his assistant had given him on Khushi Metha. The information was sparse, all it told him that Khushi was Malini Metha's widowed daughter-in-law. She worked for Malini for sometime, later becoming a partner. Khushi at the moment was running the company, as Malini Metha was semi retired. And presently spend most of her time with an NGO for young street kids. Their company's credit with the bank was very good and business was blooming. Their personal accounts also had good credit, both women were upstanding citizens and respected in the Udaipur social and business community.
Bade Acche Lagte Hai 3
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