Previous Part: Page 70
Recap: Khushi makes up a story about the accident for the family to believe. Arnav tries to explain his position but Khushi refuses to listen and tells him that he has destroyed everything. Seeing the tension between Arnav and Khushi, Payal decides to talk to Arnav about it. Akash and Khushi overhear the conversation as Arnav confesses to Payal about what he has done. Payal and Akash are furious with him and are supporting Khushi. In the present, Arnav has postponed his meeting with his clients and is determined to get Khushi back.
Part 13: Shock or Surprise?
The next day, Arnav found himself sitting just outside of Khushi's office, waiting for his appointment. Anjali, Khushi's personal assistant, had greeted him with a smile. Arnav's eyes scanned the tiny waiting room, looking for signs of Khushi but there were none. The decor was much like his bedroom before the wedding. White walls, dark coloured furniture--mainly browns and blacks.
After what seemed like an eternity, Anjali called out to him.
"Go ahead Mr. Raizada." She gestured towards the door.
Arnav thanked her and stood up, taking a deep breath. Readying himself to face the mirror that reminded him of the beast he had once been. When he followed Anjali into Khushi's office, Khushi was focused on the laptop screen. Her fingers worked at a speed that could set a world record in typing.
"Have a seat Mr. Raizada." She stopped typing and pulled out a file. "Anjali. Can you just walk through the playground? Make sure everything is fine."
Anjali nodded and walked to the French doors in Khushi's office. Khushi worked quietly as she filled the empty folder with some papers. She picked up the phone and dialled a number.
"Kripa? Mr. Raizada is here. I'll need that guarantee letter of yours since you don't want me to do a background check on him." She said flatly.
They both knew that his criminal record was clear legally because she hadn't reported him. Arnav knew the real reason behind her upset mood. She didn't trust him to take care of a child.
"Khushi..." Arnav started but Khushi glared at him. He went on, ignoring her reaction. "I will take care of the child I adopt." He said calmly.
Khushi scoffed. "I'm sure you will. The man who can put his own wife through something so torturous and agonizing will definitely take care of an adopted child." She said, every word dripping with sarcasm.
Arnav was at a loss of words. After a few seconds, "I will, I promise" was all he could come up with.
The word 'promise' earned him a disgustingly angry look from Khushi. "Yes. Because you follow through on your promises. I believe out of the seven promises of a marriage, one is about protecting your spouse...you've done a fantastic job at that."
Arnav's heart shattered again at her words. She pushed the file towards him. He picked it up and looked through the papers. After he had finished reading, Khushi stood up stiffly and pointed to the French doors of her office that led into the playground.
He followed her and stood next to her when she opened the door and stood there. She didn't walk into the playground. Arnav looked at the children, an inkling of joy forming in his heart. Looking at all these children playing outside, he remembered something from his past that he had locked out.
He looked at Khushi, wondering if he should ask her about it but then he changed his mind. He decided that he would question her regarding that after he had signed the adoption papers and officially had adopted a child.
He turned back to the children and his eyes caught the boy he had seen yesterday in the hallway. Arnav pointed at him. "How old is he?"
Khushi looked at the boy and then glared at Arnav. "He's not up for adoption." She said flatly.
Arnav was disappointed. He liked that boy. He reminded Arnav of his childhood and the days when he would prank Akash. His eyes immediately started scanning for the girl the boy had pranked. He saw her on the swings and smiled. He pointed to her.
"That girl in the red and white dress...what's her name?"
Khushi looked at the girl and her heart sank. "She's not up for adoption."
Arnav was starting to get angry. He looked at Khushi and frowned. "Khushi...I promised that I will take care of my adopted child! Are you going to tell me that every kid in here isn't up for adoption?" His voice was a little louder than he had wanted it to be.
Khushi glared. "Don't raise your voice at me. This is my office and you--" her words were interrupted by a scream.
Both Arnav and Khushi turned in the direction of the sound. The little girl on the swings had fallen off.
"Amber!" Khushi exclaimed and ran out towards her.
Arnav watched on as Khushi went to the girl, gave her a hug and checked the wound on her knee. Anjali entered the room at that moment to get a first aid kit.
"Ms. Anjali...how come those two kids aren't up for adoption?" Arnav pointed to the girl and boy again.
Anjali looked at the kids and giggled. "They're Ms. K's kids..."
Arnav's world came crashing down, shattering at his feet. His knees felt like they were made out of jelly. His eyes burned as tears formed behind them while he watched the kids.
"H--How old are t--they?" Arnav stuttered.
"They're four year old twins." Anjali answered as she walked past him into the playground.
His heart was thudding in his head, his breaths bated as his eyes zeroed in on the two kids. His lips trembled as he whispered, "My kids..."
The next moment, Khushi glanced at Arnav and she knew right away that he knew. After a few seconds, she looked away from his stunned face and helped Amber up. As they walked towards Khushi's office, Khushi looked in Arnav's direction but he was no longer there.
She let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding and continued leading her daughter across the playground with the help of her son.
*
Khushi paced back and forth in her office at the end of the day. She had asked Kripa if Amber and Aditya, her son and daughter, could stay over for the evening. Kripa had sensed Khushi's stress in the past three days and she agreed.
Anjali knocked on the door and walked in.
"Anjali...why are you still here? You should go home!" Khushi said in a quiet voice.
"I was just making sure you don't need anything."
Khushi walked to Anjali and put a hand on her shoulder. "You should really take some time off. You fainted yesterday and today you're back at work again...you have to remember that you also have to think for your baby."
Anjali smiled lightly and shrugged. Khushi sighed.
"I'm sorry for my bad mood lately...the past three days have been...stressful. It was wrong of me to take all that anger out on you." Khushi tried to smile.
Anjali giggled. "I think everyone here just sees the angry side of you...Angad sir, Kripa ma'm, and I have seen the calmer and softer side of you..."
"Yet, you're terrified of me throughout the day."
The two giggled among themselves and Khushi convinced Anjali to go home and rest. After making sure that Khushi didn't need anything, Anjali left. Khushi went back to her pacing.
She was worried, now that Arnav had seen Amber and Aditya. She was pretty certain that he had figured it out. The kids were the reason why she'd left. They were the reason why she'd found enough courage to lock away the past and start a new future.
She recalled Akash's words from the day when he had found out what Arnav had done. Khushi had run away from their bedroom after overhearing Arnav's confession to Payal and Akash had followed her into the kitchen. He'd found her preparing jalebi batter.
Akash forced her to put the spoon and spatula down. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and embraced her friend and cried her sorrows out of her system, temporarily.
"I'm so sorry Khushi...I promised you that he would keep you happy...I promised you that I always had your back...I've failed you as a friend...It took me two weeks to figure out that you were depressed about something! How could I have not seen it?!" Akash said with choked voice.
"It's not your fault...you weren't even here..." Khushi said stifling a sob.
"But now I am...and I promise I'll be by your side." Akash pulled apart and wiped her cheeks dry.
Khushi tried to smile at him. "Akash...don't tell Nani or Mamaji and Mami about this..."
Akash frowned at her. "But..."
"No Akash...that's why I lied about the accident. They would be devastated if they found out. Promise me right now that you won't tell them anything." Khushi held out her hand.
"You know...they'll see the growing tension between you and him...they'll see the strains in my relationship with him...eventually they will question us...have you thought about that?" Akash explained calmly.
"I haven't been in the state to think much, Akash." Khushi said bitterly. "I'll take it as it comes but for now, promise me that nor you or Payal will tell them anything."
Akash reluctantly agreed. He felt guilty for whatever happened to Khushi. If he hadn't modified her pros and cons list, maybe she would have said 'no' to this proposal and this would never have happened. Khushi tried to reassure him that it wasn't in his control.
The next couple of weeks, Khushi, Payal, and Akash kept their distance from Arnav. Khushi had come to terms with the fact that the rest of her life may be spent in the same way unless she found enough in her to forgive him overtime but as of then, she didn't see it happening. It had only been a month since the incident and it was still too fresh in her mind.
She had dismissed any efforts from Arnav at any explanations, any clarifications. She could see the guilt in his eyes, she could hear the pain in his words but her own pain, heartbreak, and depression didn't allow her to let him give her any explanations.
She walked into the bedroom and found him waiting for her like he did every night. He wore the same expression of worry and caution as he approached her. She rubbed her temple when a quick burst of pain started in her head.
Her distraction had given him enough time. When she opened her eyes, he was standing within arm's reach. She opened her mouth to tell him off but he didn't give her the chance.
"Please Khushi...I don't expect anything from you but just hear me out! I'm not using it as an excuse...it's just an explanation for why I acted the way I did...please...just listen to me once."
She looked away and started walking away when he grabbed her hand, for the first time after the unfortunate night. She looked at him, shocked. He pulled her towards him and held her by the shoulder.
"You don't have to forgive me Khushi...you don't have to forget any of it...but please just listen to me."
Khushi shut her eyes tightly as another burst of pain shot around in her head. He started speaking while her eyes were closed. She only heard half of what he was saying. The other half of his explanation was silenced by the weird buzzing in her head.
"Believe me Khushi...I would have never done that if I were sober! It kills me every time I look at you...it's like walking barefoot on a path of razor blades...but I'll do it. I deserve it...but if you shut me out of your life completely...I don't know what I'll do!" His voice was edging towards hysteria.
Khushi opened her eyes and was surprised to find her vision blurred. She blinked to clear her vision and after a few attempts, her vision cleared. She saw him looking at her with the same old expression of regret and guilt.
She pushed his arms off of her shoulders and took a few steps away from him. From the corner of her eyes, she saw his hands clench into fists--fists that trembled dangerously. She looked at him and saw his eyes filled with tears. He looked away quickly and walked out of the room. A couple of minutes later, Khushi heard his car screech away.
The next morning, Arnav had already left by the time she stepped out of the shower. She remembered his explanation from last night and a sudden urge to make some jalebis took her to the kitchen, where she found Payal rummaging through the fridge.
"I keep getting hungry!" Payal complained, patting her pregnant belly shyly.
Khushi smiled a little and got to work. Payal was chatting away about random things while Khushi nodded and provided one word replies when appropriate.
"And then Nani, mom and dad went to the temple...Akash is still in the stupid study...being boring..." Payal ranted.
Khushi smiled half-heartedly. She was almost done making the pasta for Payal when the irritating headache came back and Payal's voice started fading in and out like a badly tuned radio. Khushi touched her temple and the last thing she remembered was Payal's startled yell of 'Khushi'.
When she next opened her eyes, she found Nani's face beaming at her accompanied by Mami and Mamaji. She looked to her other side and saw Akash and Payal, looking at though Khushi was wearing a time bomb which would go off any second. She tried to prop herself up but Nani stopped her.
"Don't worry Khushi Bitiya. Everything is fine..." Nani looked towards Akash and Payal. "It may be possible good news in fact."
Khushi looked at Payal again and that was when she realized that they weren't home. Khushi took in the pale walls and pale furniture of the hospital.
"Payal bitiya will explain. We'll go out" Nani said understandingly. "Akash...can you try calling Chotte again? Maybe now his phone will be reachable."
"What happened?" Khushi said thoroughly confused, once Akash, Nani, Mami, and Mamaji left.
"You fainted in the kitchen. Akash called the ambulance right away and we brought you here..." Payal sat next to Khushi nervously. "The...The doctor checked a few things and took a blood sample to do a quick test." Payal reached the side table and picked up an orange coloured container and handed it to Khushi. "He wants a urine sample."
Without much thought, Khushi let Payal help her to the bathroom and Khushi did as the doctor had instructed. The nurse had taken the sample away while Khushi made a face.
"Nasty job...carrying around people's pee samples." She said to herself--since Payal wasn't in the room--wrinkling her nose as she sat down on the bed again, feeling exhausted.
A few minutes later Payal and Akash came back, following the doctor. The three elders of the family followed Akash and Payal. Khushi saw Payal and Akash exchange a nervous glance and suddenly Khushi realized that they hadn't told her something.
"Mrs. Raizada...How do you feel now?" the doctor beamed at her.
"A lot better, thank you."
"Well, I won't delay this suspense any longer but nothing is particularly wrong with you...in fact, all the symptoms are accurate. Nothing to be alarmed about...this is typical in early pregnancy."
The rest of what he said was drowned out by the loud ringing in Khushi's ears. Her brain floated in a sea of nothingness, surrounded by the painful memories Arnav's actions had engraved into her life, and by the news of the symbol of his torture.
She didn't comprehend anything being said to her. She was vaguely aware of Nani, Mami, and Mamaji being joyous about her pregnancy. She felt Payal's and Akash's comforting and reassuring gestures but she didn't make an effort to reciprocate.
A couple of hours later, she found herself sitting in the living room of the Raizada mansion while everyone waited for Arnav. Payal and Akash stole several glances at Khushi and shared several nervous glances amongst themselves.
Arnav walked in then. Holding his briefcase, wearing a neutral and unreadable expression. Nani, Mami, and Mamaji beamed a smile at him. Payal stiffened in her seat and Akash put a hand on Khushi's shoulder.
"Chotte!" Nani exclaimed excitedly.
Khushi's head jerked up and turned in his direction. Khushi didn't know what her expressions showed but she knew that whatever he saw on her face had startled him. She knew that the mere sight of him had infuriated her.
She stood up and charged towards him while tears filled her eyes. The next moment, to everyone's surprise, she had grabbed him by the collar and was shaking him madly.
"WHY?" She yelled. "WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME?! DID MY EFFORTS LACK ANYTHING? DID I LACK ANYTHING?" She sobbed, her vision blurred by the tears. "Why did you do it?" she choked as she lost control over her legs and started to collapse.
Arnav threw his arms around her and caught her. Everyone watched wide eyed at her outburst and obvious anger at Arnav. Akash walked up to them, put his arms around Khushi's shoulder protectively and moved her away from Arnav, giving him a slight push.
"Stay away from her." He said in a stern voice.
Arnav continued to look at Khushi, stunned out of his wits. He had no idea what the hell was going on.
"Khushi...What happ--" Arnav started.
"DONT TALK TO HER!" Akash screamed, interrupting him.
"Akash! Chotte! What is going on? Why are you two fighting?" Nani was appalled at their behaviour.
"Nani...You have no idea what he has done...he--" Akash started again but Payal interrupted him.
"Akash...take Khushi upstairs...she needs rest." Payal warned him with her eyes.
"How can I stay quiet Payal?! I kept quiet for the sake of this family but I can't see my best friend go through this! As if what he did to her wasn't enough..." Akash's rage knew no bounds.
"Akash...it's not the right time...we'll discuss this later...for now, take Khushi upstairs." Payal urged.
Khushi suddenly turned on her heels and ran upstairs. Everyone followed her, Arnav and Akash in the lead. Arnav reached a second too late and Khushi had shut the door and locked it behind her.
"Khushi! Open the door!" Akash started knocking on the door.
Worried to bits, everyone knocked on her door repeatedly, requesting her to open the door.
"Just leave me alone!" Khushi yelled and got back to what she was doing. She didn't want to give this anymore thought. She had made up her mind--she was going to leave.
Twenty minutes later, the door opened again and everyone--still waiting outside the door--turned to look at her. Arnav's expression turned from relief to horror as he registered the bag in her hand.
Without a word, she started marching towards the stairs and everyone followed her again, telling her to stop and speak to them. At last, Arnav's depression reached its peak and he held her free hand. She tried to wrench it out of his grip but there was no way he was going to let go. Akash started advancing angrily towards Arnav but Payal stopped him.
"I can't do this anymore. Let me go!" Khushi said quietly.
"Where are you going?" Arnav questioned, ignoring the lump forming in his throat.
"I'm leaving. I can't tolerate this anymore." Khushi threw her bag to the floor with a thump. "I can't bear seeing your face every single day of my life. You have no idea how I've spent this last month! It was like dying a little bit every single day! Not anymore. Not after today." Khushi glared at him.
"Today?" Arnav asked, clearly confused. "What happened today?"
Khushi let out a sort of maddened laugh which soon flowed into tears. "Nothing new happened today. It's just a continuation of what you started a month ago."
Khushi walked to the coffee table and picked up a file. She flipped through it, found the page she was looking for and ripped it out of the file. She walked back to Arnav and slapped the page into his hands. She watched his face as he read the pregnancy report. She watched as his expression went from confusion, to shock, to bewilderment.
Khushi smiled sadly. "My first pregnancy...my first baby...is a result of anger and lust..."
"Khushi...I..." Arnav started.
"Don't! I don't want any explanations. No matter how many explanations you give me...it doesn't change the fact that you raped me! It doesn't change the fact that I'm pregnant because of it!"
Khushi immediately regretted her outburst when she heard gasps in a corner of a room from where the rest of the family was watching.
"Don't go..." Arnav's voice trembled. "Please don't go...I know what I did was wrong...I'll do anything to make it up to you! Anything! I'll do anything you say...but don't go...I won't...I won't be able to live with myself without you Khushi...You can punish me anyway you want but don't leave me..." Arnav fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing his face against her stomach, crying freely. "I'll be the perfect husband...the perfect father to our baby..." he tightened his grip. "Don't leave Khushi...please...I beg of you...Don't go...I...I Love you Khushi..."
Khushi stood there for a couple of seconds as the words sank in...As his confession sunk in. Khushi's hands reached Arnav's and she pulled his hands away from her waist. She took a couple of steps while he looked at her with a guilty and heartbroken expression, tears streaming down his eyes.
"I can't forgive what you did...even if I manage that, I will never forget it...and I don't want a man like you be the father of my child." She wiped her cheeks and looked at him again. "You said you'll do anything to make it up to me, right? Then don't try to stop me. You said you'll accept any punishment I give you...this is my punishment for you. I'm leaving...and you're not going to come looking for me."
She walked to her bag and picked it up. Arnav had gotten to his feet again, still clutching the pregnancy report tightly in his fist. He was about to stop her again when Akash spoke.
"Let her go. I've already made a mistake once by convincing her to marry you...now I won't let you stop her if she wants to leave. Give her a chance at happiness." Akash said quietly.
"Akash, what are you saying?!" Payal exclaimed.
"If I raped you and you got pregnant from it, would you still want to live with me?" Akash shot the question at her and Payal flinched.
Khushi didn't turn back to look at them and started walking towards the door. She could feel six pairs of eyes boring into her back but she couldn't turn back and see them all. She had a strong feeling that if she did, then she wouldn't be able to leave.
At the threshold of the mansion, her determination wavered a little bit and she turned around to look at Arnav. He stood there, the pregnancy report in his hand, his jaw set tight, his eyes bloodshot, tears streaking down his cheeks. This was how she would remember him. Khushi stepped out of the house and closed the door behind her with a thud.
She blinked and looked around in her office. She looked at the photo frame on her desk--a photo of her twin children. Aditya looked a lot like Arnav--the eyes, the skin tone, the hair colour, the way he smiled. As far as behaviour and personality went, Aditya was better matched with Khushi.
Amber was a lot like Arnav in that sense but looked a lot like Khushi. More serious and mature than most girls of her age. Amber was the one with the temper where as Aditya was the one with the pranks and jokes. Amber was the kind who preferred dark chocolate over other candies and treats while Aditya gobbled up jalebi after jalebi. Amber chose to dress in sober colours and elegant looking dresses while Aditya loved his graphic t-shirts.
Both children were two halves of Khushi's life. Just like she was their world. The children weren't too difficult, or fussy. Khushi had absolutely no hard time with them.
Khushi smiled to herself as she thought of her children but the smile faded just as quickly as it had come. She had moved to a different country and had laid low so that Arnav wouldn't get a whiff of her location and now, thanks to her fate, he was before her again. She had gone to lengths to make sure that her kids were kept secret from the Raizada's. She had even gone to the extent of making it seem to the Raizada's as if she had gotten an abortion done.
But now he knew the truth and that scared Khushi.
Hey guys! This is the part! PMs will be sent out later. I must run to work!
Love,
Katie
Edited by love_iqbal_khan - 12 years ago
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