Khushi Kumari Gupta. That was who she was, she was the daughter of Shashi and Garima, and sister of Payal. Payal Raizada. And now she too was a Raizada. She shook her head as she sat poolside unsure how all of this transpired. Just three days ago she was flirting and having fun with Arnav, and now he was her husband. He was so angry and threw her out of the room after they had ambushed their respective families with news of their marriage. While they had disappointed everyone her life was likely the most altered. Her in-laws couldn't look at her, her parents wouldn't even take her calls and her aunt even said she proved she wasn't really theirs. All that for some damn whim. Six months and that was it.
Arnav stared at his wife sitting outside. Wife. Shouldn't that word hold some meaning behind it, have some emotions stirring in him? Well it did have an emotion attached to it, anger; nothing but pure unadulterated anger. How could he have ever fallen for her, he of all people should known better. Trust no one but his Di. He would get through the next six months and never see this home wrecker again.
"Chotey?" Arnav snapped out of his thoughts when he heard his sister approach. "Hey Di."
Anjali walked through the door, "Where's Khushiji? We are having company for dinner and I thought she could make jalebi."
Arnav stared at his sister, hoping she would finally make eye contact, however she continued to avoid him. "Di."
"Chotey. I need to talk to Khushiji."
"No." Arnav walked to his sister and pulled her to the bed, sitting her down, he did what used to do as a child, rested his head on her lap. "I'm so sorry Di. I never meant to hurt you, I just –"
Anjali wiped the tears that were falling, she knew her brother was hurting, but to get married like this, when he never really believed in marriage didn't make sense. "Chotey, why? Why couldn't you wait? Not just for us, but for Khushi? Her parents won't talk to her, we barely acknowledge her, and she's hurting. She deserved better, you deserved better, we deserved better."
"I'm so sorry Di, I did what I could, I'm sorry." While he rarely cried seeing his sister in pain always brought out his tears. He raised his head and shook his head, "I never meant to hurt you."
"CHotey, it's ok. We love you. Ok? We just need time to adjust." She wiped his tears and slowly stood up, "Now where is my bhabi?"
"umm outside I guess."
Shaking her head Anjali moved to the patio, "Khushij."
Wiping her tears, Khushi faced her sister-in-law, "Di. What can I do?"
"Actually the Sethis are coming for dinner, their son and daughter as well, and they love sweets, so I thought –"
"Jalebi?!" Khushi asked excitedly, any excuse to make them.
"Yes. Any any other lucknow sweets you want to make."
"Oh thank you Di!" Khushi threw her arms aroud her sister in law. "I'll go see what supplies we need."
Anjali watched Khushi run downstairs, she looked at her brother before leaving, "in the few days you've been here, the most excited she has been was when I told her to work. It's a strange thing, no?"
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Khushi inhaled the fragrance of the sweets that now surrounded her. Ever since she moved to SHantivan she never felt so at home than she did in this moment surrounded by the sweets that she grew up eating and making. The fact was the sweets were done awhile ago, but sitting here meant being away from Arnav, and that was something she needed. That's when it hit her, one way she could leave without leaving any traces and still survive on her own. She would do this and give everyone the peace they needed.
"Well well well all alone, where's your husband?"
Khushi jumped hearing that sinister voice, "He's upstairs, he'll be here any minute."
"Are you sure, I'm pretty sure he just left."
"No he's here." Khushi looked around trying to find an exit her heart was beating so fast and loudly she couldn't even hear what this man was saying. 'Get out of here Khushi.' She instructed herself.
"Deciding there was only one way out, she noted the pot of now lukewarm oil sitting on the stove. Feigning anger she threw her arm out and 'accidentlaly' dropped the pan right on his feet. "OH NO! Shyamji… Are you ok?" In addition to cooking Khushi was a master at playing dumb, somehow people seemed to fall for it.
"I'm fine!" Shyam yelled and ran out of the kitchen to clean up.
Shrugging Khushi bit back her laughter, unable to contain her laughter. It felt so good to be laughing, she was finally getting back to feeling normal. Her plan just made her feel lighter already.
Arnav walked to the house and stopped hearing a strange sound, laughter. It had been days since the house heard such laughter. Moving towards the sound, he saw his, no he saw Khushi laughing like a madwoman. "what are you doing?"
"Nothing." She stood up and faced him like a student in front of an angry teacher. "Sorry." She turned around and went to the stove and cleaned up the mess she had created. She refued to let him get to her, she found it was best to just apologize and remain quiet. Along with her plan she had decided it was not worth arguing or even borhter to find out the truth as to why he forced her into this marriage. No, she would save herself. NO fairy tales needed, prince charming need not apply.
Cricket
