ArHi FF: October 6 ~ *discontinued* see pg 56* - Page 31

He returned back to Delhi, where he was just few days back, and where will spend the coming 6 months. He did not loss his job as he expected to. The managers decided to give him another chance as he was one of most efficient employees.

But being a result for wasting that important deal will not pass without a punishment! and his punishment was to work in the company's new branch in Delhi for 6 months. So he left his city, his family, friends, his colleagues, and his office, and most importantly his love " Neha". He left all that and came here to serve his punishment. For sure, he will visit them during these 6 months, but he is already missing them and he is eagerly waiting for April, when he will return back to his life, to his love permanently.

" Abhay Redgij" he introduced himself to his new boss.

***

" Bhaai .. Ermm.. Have you read today's news, Delhi today?!"

" No.. Is there is anything important ?"

" ermm .. Actually .. Bhai.. they mentioned the .. rape incident !.."

Arnav froze as he heard what Akash said.

" w..what exactly they mentioned?"

Akash gave Arnav the new paper to read it:

----

A Famous Businessman Suspected in " Rape Crime"

Delhi - One of the famous and successful businessmen i is a suspect in a rape crime that took place on Oct 6' night. Our source informed us that the victim of this heinous crime were found unconscious in a very bad condition on the corridor of the hotel where the unfortunate incident happened. Both the sexual assault medical forensic's report and the DNA test proved that ( 29 years) is the rapist. The victim (20 years) field the case against this "businessman" and the court will look into the case very soon. We will disclose more details of the incident and the name of the rapist as the court issues its decision on this case.

----

He threw the news paper and ran his fingers into his hair angrily. His worst fears came true!.

" Bhai .. You should solve this issue as soon as possible .. You know what will happen to us, and our business if the press disclose your name, and most importantly, what also will happened.. to the family reputation !"

He took a deep breath before saying:" I'm trying my best Akash ! but ...Shyam told me that winning the case is very difficult if it not impossible. And I talked to the claimant and tried to offer her anything she want but she refused. Damn it .. I don't know what she want exactly!, I don't know what I should do !"

They heard, Deviani, his Nani's saying angrily: "I will tell you what to do .. I think that there is only one solution, it will be good for us and for her and her family!"

Arnav looked at his Nani, who talked to him for the first time since the DNA result was out ! .. His Nani was very angry and disappointed with him as the DNA test forthright proved that he was the "rapist".

" What is it !" he said helplessly.

"You should marry her !"

Arnav immediately stood and was about to open his mouth but his Nani was faster than him ..

" yes chotte you heard it right ! .. Don't tell me that you haven't …. …. You were drunk and you said that you don't remember anything … and all the evidence against you!.. so it's obvious ! …. The most important thing now is that you should recover what you have done by marrying her. "

" but Nani, I'm sure that I ..."

"Chotte, I heard this thousands time from you .. I'm not hear it again nor to discuss that with you .. I'm here only to think about a solution before our family name, our reputation will be ruined .. again, after 11 years !" She completed her sentence with a tears on her eyes.

He squeezed his eyes shut. He understand what his Nani said said , she was right.

He still remember the long years of shame, socially ostracism, and insults that he suffered with his sister, and the Raizadas, who took them in when their closest people disowned them.

He still remember that day, when his efforts paid off to recover their reputation, their honor in the eyes of society!.

After all that, he cannot allow anything to tarnish their reputation again. Because of him, again.

***

There was an uncomfortable silence in the living room. Garima and Madhumati were waiting for these people to introduce their self and tell them what they want and what they came to their house. They were discussing Khushi and the case that she raised, and the effects it may have on Khushi, Payal and their reputation, when the ball rang, and they found 3 women at the entrance door.

Finally, the older lady introduced her self, her daughter-in-law, and her grand son. Then she talked about they came her for, a marriage proposal for Khushi.

As much as Garima was waiting for this moment since Khushi has graduated from the secondary school, it was like an electric shock for her!.that was the last thing that she want right now. She turned to Madhumati, they exchanged a confused looks between them, they were sharing the same thoughts. Garima couldn't say anything, the tears filled her eyeballs, and Madhumati decided to control the situation.

Madhumati insincerely laughed, and hit her forehead, : " Khushi and marriage?! hey re nand Koshir ! .. If she was here she will tell you about her dreams about being a chemical engineer, then taking a master and then the PhD.. This girl think about everything except marriage!.. many men from good families asked for her hand before but she refused , we tried to convince her but she ..."

Deviani interrupted her, she said feeling of shame: "we are …. Arnav.. Arnav singh Raizada's family"

Arnav Singh Raizada ?!, they know this name, how can they forgot! .. He was the reason of their troubles. Garima and Madhumati looked at 3 woman. Anger and disgusts were shown in Garima and Madhumati faces.

They heard the youngest lady, Anjali saying: " we came to know about what ch,-Arnav did ..! We are very sorry for what happened to your daughter, we can understand your .. f .. feelings towards us ... But we are here, in your house, wanting to recover Arnav's mistakes."

The other lady, Manorama said after long moments of silence : " This case has leaked to the press, today they talked about this case in the newspapers and they promised to give more drtails and to disclose names soon!!"

" what!! .. they talked about it in the news paper !" Madhumati said, shocked. She turned to Garima and said: " Garima, I told you that if the incident reached to the court. People will know and our reputation will be down the drain! Didn't I tell you that !"

Manorama said, exploiting the situation: " exactly, people will know and will talk about you. So for both your daughter and our son, our and your family's reputation, it's better to settle the issue amicably between us ... So what you think about marriage?"

" Marriage ?! .. you want me to give my daughter to the man who shattered her?! Who ruined her life ?! who turned her to a new person !" Garima said angrily.

" We know that what happened is bad, very bad. we can understand your feelings ... " Anjali said before being interrupted by Garima : " No you don't understand !. No one can understand what we are going through, no one can understand what my daughter is going through .."

She stood, walked and stopped in front of the" family picture" which was hanged on the wall. she pointed at Khushi on the pic, tears flow from her eyes.

" This Khushi that I always knew .. my cheerful, funny lovely daughter ... she was filling our life with her laughters and her pranks... and now.. Do you want to see the new Khushi !?" She said as she wiped her tears.

" Come I will show you the new Khushi" She ordered Anjali. Anjali stood and walked with Garima.

-

Garima opened Khushi's room door slowly, and pointed toward a depressed yet beautiful girl. The girl was setting on the windowsill, pulled her legs to her chest tightly, as if she was trying to protect herself from something . She was dressed in a white Churidar, matching her colorless and lifeless state. She was staring at the blank with moist eyes.

Deviani joined Anjali. They both felt bad for the girl. If the " rapist" wasn't their "Chotte" and if their reputation wasn't in jeopardy, she would curses him, they would support this girl in punishing him.. but he was their " Chotte". they were selfish, they were contradictory, they knew!. Deviani put a hand on Garima shoulders. and the three ladies returned back and sat.

There was another gap of silence, before Deviani said: " I know that .. that what happened was not easy, believe me , I understand your sentiment ….. but ... we should think about future instead of thinking and busy ourselves with the past. We are here today to open a new page.. trying to recover Arnav's mistakes "

" if they got married, no one will know about it and no one can talk about your family and our family, no one will talke about our son as well as your daughter ... and Arnav .. he will get another chance, he was , he was drunk that night, he was out of his sense... he is not this type of men , but I don't know how it happened!.. I was and still under the shock after knowing what he has done !!!"

She continued:" If they both married, they may found a happiness in future together, who knows ... but if she is still determinant to punished him. they both will be harmed, you know how people think and talk about these situations."

Madhumati: " Garima, sh.. she is right .. "

Garima: " I know that. I know how people think , and that what is killing me .. but I cannot let my daughter live with that .. criminal .. I cannot !"

Anjali felt hurt when her Chotte has been called criminal, she knew he did a big mistake , she knew that he did a crime, but still , her chotte was not like that. She said with few tears on her eyes:

" Aunty ji. I cannot justify what Arnav did, nothing can justify it. but .. but believe me , he is not like at all .. he has a soft heart, he is a good human being .. but the circumstance in that night ! if you know what ..."

" Soft hear ?! good human being ?! Are you kidding me ?!... he not only destroyed my daughter completely! .. but also he came here and accused her that she is plotting against him, he accused her that she ... that she sold her honor, her dignity for money !" Garima interrupted angrily.

" What !!!" the three women said all together. They were awkward after hearing what Arnav said. Anjali couldn't believe that, she was numb for long moments !

Garima looked at the Raizadas confused, don't know what she should do, which side she should take , her heart or her mind. She leaved them silently and walked to her room, distracted, confused, don't know what should she do, Madhumati and the Raizada have a valid points, if Khushi insisted about the case, he might be punished by law, but she will be punished by the society, by people for something which is not her fault !. Her future will be ruined more than its already ruined. and also their reputation!

Madhumati was thinking about what the Raizadas have said. Thinking about the best solution to be out of this chose without any losses for her family. She found herself agreeing 100 percent with what the Raizadas's ladies said. and agreeing to the solution that they suggest .. Marriage !

The Raizada Ladies exchanged looks, realizing that " Chotte" made the mission very hard, more than what they has expected. They stood and walked with heavy steps toward the entrance door.

" Wait " they heard Madhumati saying!

***

" Payalia .. go and help Garima with house work .. I want to talk to Khushi "

Madhumati ordered firmly.

Payal looked at Khushi worryingly, she knew that the upcoming moments will be tough at Khushi. She know her mother, she knew her perspective about what happened, and she know that she would confront Khushi one day, and this say seems to be today.. Now!

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* Sorry for mistakes

Scroll down for chapter 6

Chapter 6: Pg 46

" w..what happened , did you reach a settlement ?" he asked them as the entrance door opened and the three women showed up.

No !. He got the answer from their faces. He waited in a hope that someone will say something. But no, no one did. His Nani was looking at him angrily, more than any time before. Anjali was looking at him with tears on her eyes, while Mami was avoiding looking at him.

He turned and walked up the stair to his room.

He don't know what he have do now, he tried every possible thing but he failed! !. It's not about him, it's about the people who took him and his sister in when all people abandonment them!. It's about the people who help him to be what he is today!. and he cannot be the reason for their suffering , again.

He felt a soft hand on his shoulder. her turned . "Di.."

He hugged her tightly. Wanting her to provide him with strength, wanting her to guide him and help him in this trouble, big trouble.

" There is still a slight ray of hope. Her bua told us that she will try to convince - Khushi, and her parents. Her bua believe that marriage will be the best solution for them as well."

He pulled back and looked into her eyes.

Tears started to flow down her cheeks as she said: " But Chotte .. I .. I cannot believe you have done that ! .. you .. you assault her,and then shamelessly accused her that she .. she sold her honor and dignity for money !! you said that Chotte !! you?!! ..."

She took a step back, away from him, and continued: " I and you know very well how it feel when people say that ! .. for many long years, we were hearing many people accusing us, our dead Mamma of that ... how.. how can you be like those people, how can you say something like that when you know very well how much it's hurts ... I'm disappointed , very disappointed with you.. What happened to you are not my brother that I know "

Anjali said and left his room.. leaving him, with a thinking about what she said , remembering those painful memories, feeling very low that he was like " those people " ..

***

After he read the news " A Famous Businessman suspected in a Rape Crime" , he knew that they were talking about that girl who he scarified that deal for.

He was happy, he was proud of that girl ! ..

He remembered her state when she was hospital, and he wanted to see how she was now, and also he wanted to know if she need his help in this case. but. he don't know anything about her, except her name " Khushi", so it's very hard to reach her. but he still have a hope, he believe in destiny !

Abhay smiled, and resumed his work.

***

She pulled her legs to her chest. she start to cry ! .. remembering what her bua had said to her, before few hours !

-

" Your Babuji and you Amma gave you everything you wanted. They tried and still trying to make all your dreams a reality. They pampered you, they cared about you more than any parents did for their REAL children."

" You wanted to become an engineer ?! .. Shashi babua sold his Dukan that he worked hard for for 25 years .. and he rented out his house in Lucknow to provide some of your education fees , and we all left our city and came here in this small, old house where the collage is.. this all for you, because of your dream of being an engineer. "

Khushi knew Bauji is absolutely right .. Her Babuji and Amma, gave her every thing ! .. She knew that if her real parent were alive, they would not treat her and do for her what Babu ji and Amma did and still doing for her.

" Khushi, I know what happened to you was very hard, the worst thing that can happened to any girl. I know you are suffering a lot ... but you will make us, all of us suffer if people knew about what happened, if the case reached the court and the media"

" Our reputation, Payal chance of marriage, and also you ... Do you think that you will win if you send him to the jail ! ... No you will not , in fact, you will be punished by the society, you will be harmed more than him ! .. many people will said you trapped him, other people will said that give him a reason to do that, and some people will say that you - did it willingly, and when he left you, you accused him of assault..!"

"I know that you are strong, you are independent, you are educated .. and you don't care about what will people say about you .. But at least think about Payal !you sister, your twin soul as you called here .. She will be affected as much as you will be, people will talk about her because of you .. No one will want to marry her because she is related to you ! .. think about her, she always supported you, won't you sacrifice a little bit for her!?"

" forget Payalia .. at least think about you babuji, who is almost bedridden. he hasn't moved from his bed since that day, and his state getting worse day by day!. he is thinking about you, about your future."

" What will happened to him when he will hear people saying cheap things about his daughter ?! He lived his whole life with his head held high . and he has high hopes on you since you was young, he was always saying that you will make him proud of you, people will call him Khushi Kumari Gupta - the engineer's -dad .. what will happened to him, when people call him Khushi, the.. the ..." She stopped as her eyes filled with tears ! .

Khushi was crying. her heart bleeding. Yes she know that people talk, she know people love to compose their own dirty stories about girls. She know how they blame girls for every thing. she know that .. but ... " what should I do ! give up my justices for these people who talk? encourage men to abuse, to assault girls as they know that the girl and her family will keep silent in fear of people cheap talks !! why should I do that for those people why?!" Khushi asked !

her bua immediately replied" You will not do that for those people.. you should do it for us .. for your self, for your parents, for Payalia , and for our repudiation !"

" For once sacrifice something for your parent as they did for you their whole life ! for once give us , as we gave you .. for once think about others, don't be selfish Khushi ! .."

Her Bua said, pressing her palms together , pleading her to not be selfish, and then she left.

-

She thought about each word that her bua said. she was right .. in many thing !

She should chose. between her justice, or their reputation.!

She wiped her tears, and stood. she took her decision, and she will inform her bua with it,

she will prove that she is not selfish!

-

She knocked her bua's room's door.She entered. she saw her bua lie down the bed. Her eyes red and Buffy.

Khushi sat on the edge of the bed.

" I - I will .. drop the case ! " Khushi said in a trembling voice, she felt defeated, empty, her life become meaningless as she said that.!

Her bua sat and pulled her into her embrace. " I'm sorry Khushi. I was harsh with you !. but .. but I wanted to make you understand the reality of the situation .." she said.

She added: " I knew that you will not be selfish. I knew that your choose our reputation over your justices. Thank you Khushi .."

Khushi pulled back slowly, she was depressed, she lost every thing!. She stood and walked away slowly.. as slow as she can, in hope than her bua, will tell her now that there is no need to drop the case, no need to gave up her rights, her justices, no need to let a criminal get away with his crime.

But .. nothing like that happened.

***

It has been two days since she decided to drop the case for her family's reputation sake.

She was always wondering, why girls always keep silence about sexual harassment and assault ?! why families doesn't support their daughters! why they care about other people talk when they trust their daughters !!

But now she know why ! Now she understand why !

It because of the people, the people mentality. It's because people like her bua, who is not ready to stand for their rights against the society and people, instead, prefer to gave up just for them!

If it was on her hands, she would continue this case no matter what, no matter what will people say about her, no matter how sick and disgusting their thoughts will be . But she cannot! she cannot harm Payal, her Babuji, her Amma who care - who will be affected by these people said, who may tolerate it silently for her, but deep on their heart they will be hurt, people talk will kill them slowly!

She gave up the case. She was feeling that her life become meaningless. She lost the interest in every thing, she lost the interest in this unfair life!!

She heard a knock on the door, and she saw the door opened by her bua.

she sat next to her on the bed, she caressed her cheeks and said: " Are you fine ?!"

Khushi squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath. giving her bua a clear answer.

" Khushi, I know .. I know you are depressed, you are hurt that you couldn't take your justices .. I know you are depressed that he will got away as if he didn't do anything .. so .. I'm here to suggest something that can make him pay for what he did !"

Khushi's eyes sparkled for the first time since October 6.. she looked at her bua's eyes and said: "What ?!"

" You should ,,, marry him !"

Her heart pluses increased rapidly, she said : " M..Marry?! whom ?!"

" Him .. A.. Arnav singh Raizada !"

Khushi's eyes widened, almost popped, her body started to shake and lips trembled, her breath became heavier. She wanted to shout, but she couldn't, she couldn't utter any word. she was under trauma.

Madhumati griped Khushi's shoulder and said: " Khushi .. listen to me before saying anything. I know it's hard .. but just listen to me and think about carefully !"

" You are an adult girl .. you know your situation , you know the difference between you, and other girls .. it's hard if not impossible to find a man who will agree to marry if he knew what happened to you.."

" So marry him, and if you want, get divorce after some years, at least one year."

" I know that people talk about divorced women too , but not as much as how they talk about girls, like you .. and unmarried girls, girls who refuse many good proposal without reasonable reasons.. "

" Marry him and and then if you got divorced you may find another man .. or maybe ... maybe thing will get better between you and him and ..."

" Bua Ji .. s - stop p-ple..." Khushi said out loud,

" I haven't finished yet.. listen, beside your future and marriage, you don't want him to get away from what he did, right ?! .. then marry him, you will create a chaos in his life by marrying him. you will change his life in one way or another, he will pay, even if it a small price .."

" The ball on your court Khushi .. you can make him live normally as if he did not do any thing wrong, or you can change his life as he changed your life.. "

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* Sorry for mistakes ..

Hello my dear readers.

I was late on updating because of my final exams, so today, there is two updates. 😆

Thanks you for all your comment and feedback for the previous update .. 🤗

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