Arshi SS: Love or Marriage Pt8, Pg 67, 26/01 - Page 33

Earlier that day.

Shortly after Arnav and La left for their class, Khushi slumped into the sofa in front of the TV. She turned on the TV and stared at her plate of parathas. She tore a piece of the paratha, dipped it in yogurt and closed her eyes as she placed it in her mouth. This is so good, just like Ma used to make. Her eyes flew open, as she remembered the first time Sunita made parathas for her.

Flashback.

"What do you want to eat, bitiya?"

Khushi remained quiet and stared at the plate in front of her. Her foster mother had slapped her and thrown her out into the yard in the rain because she had asked for food. She was worried Sunita would do the same, if she said anything.

Sunitha smiled and looked at Shyam. Shyam pursed his lips and said, "Chole batoore?" They looked at Khushi, who was staring at the plate. "No. How about pulav?" Sunita asked Shyam. Khushi remained quiet.

"Parathas?" Shyam said, looking at Khushi. Khushi looked up at Sunita, her eyes opened wide. Sunita smiled and touched Khushi's cheek and said, "Paratha it is." As Sunita made the parathas, Shyam played hide and seek with her; he had let her win, to cheer her up.

A tear rolled down Khushi's cheek. She switched off the TV and picked up Arnav's phone from the coffee table in front of her. Should I call Ma? Memories of Shyam's slap flashed in her mind, startling her. She threw the phone on the coffee table and shrunk back against the corner of the sofa, pulling her knees close to her chest. She stared at the phone, shivering. Ma will be so disappointed in me, if I call her. After everything she did for me, how can I disappoint her? She bit her lower lip, confused about what to do. Suddenly she sat up straight. What if Shyamji already told Ma. She must hate me. I should call her and explain what happened and beg for her forgiveness. Yes, she nodded and leaned forward to pick up the phone from the table. She dialed the number and gulped as she placed the phone next to her ear. The phone rang twice, before she heard Sunita's voice.

"Ma", she stammered.

"Khushi bitiya. How are you? Why didn't you call yesterday dear? Is everything alright? I was worried." Khushi closed her eyes, trying to control her tears.

"Khushi? What is wrong. Is Shyam alright? What is it? Why are you crying?"

Khushi raised her eyebrows. How did she know I was crying? I can't lie to Ma, she will know I am lying. She will know something is wrong. She burst into tears. "Ma, I am sorry. I ' I ran away. I.. I was so scared. Shyamji' he hit me. I ran away, like I used to when I was .. I wanted to run to you, Ma. But I forgot that I was no longer living near you. I.. I didn't know what to '"

Sunita finally spoke, interrupting Khushi. "Khushi? Bitiya, calm down. Please. Where are you now?"

Khushi sniffled, "I am staying with a friend. But I' I don't know what to do. Why did Shyamji do that, Ma? Why did he hurt me?"

"Sshh.. bitiya, don't cry. Let me talk to him. Your Ma is here for you. She will make sure you will never be hurt. I promise. Now please, stop crying. Can I see a smile?"

A faint smile appeared on Khushi's face, before the call went dead.

Khushi looked at the phone in her hand and sniffed, again. What had she done? She told Ma about everything. Now she will call Shyamji. How will he react? He will hate me.

Shyam stepped out of the library. He exhaled deeply and looked at the slip of paper in his hand. His phone rang and he picked it up. Fear clouded his face, as he realized it was his mother. Did Khushi tell her?

"Ma?"

"Shyam. Did you hit Khushi?"

"Ma.. it was an accident .. I'"

"Apologize to her this instant."

"Ma, I was going to. I will find her and apologize her and take her home. I promise Ma. I think I found a person who might know where she might be.." He looked at the slip of paper in his hand. Arnav Singh Raizada, Apt #2, 20 Allery St.

Flashback.

Shyam was frustrated. All his mom talked about lately had been about babies.

"It's been 4 months, beta. When will I hear good news?" Sunita had asked him again that morning. Shyam had immediately cut the call, quickly giving an excuse of a meeting. He had never wanted to marry Khushi. He had known her for ten years, ever since she was adopted by the family living next to him. He had loved her, but she had always been like a little sister to him. When his mother had brought up the topic of marriage, he had refused stating the same reason.

"Beta, I know you love her. Yes, right now you have not seen her as anything more than a sister, but once you live with her, get to know her, you will realize she is a beautiful and kind woman. You need some time together that's all. Get to know each other better."

"But Ma. I don't think it will work .."

Sunita's eyes had filled with tears, as she took her son's hands in hers. "Beta, I am begging you. I want to save her from that horrible family. If she stays there, they will kill her one day or they will sell her for money. If that were to happen, I will die of guilt, knowing that I could have saved her. Maybe I could find a boy suitable for her, but what guarantee do I have that that boy will treat her well, give her the love she deserves? But I know one thing, my son can take good care of her. Please marry her for your mother's sake. Save that innocent girl's life. Please, I beg you."

Shyam had finally given into his mother's request and had married Khushi. After the wedding, he had taken a walk, wondering how he would face Khushi. He was embarrassed. What would she think if I were to show any interest in her... that all these years, I was in love with her? He had decided then that he would keep his distance from her, but make sure that she got everything she wanted.

But when his mother insisted on grandkids, Shyam freaked out. He couldn't even bear to look at Khushi. She was his wife, so he couldn't treat her like a sister either. But he had to try and make the marriage work, for his mother's sake, so that she would stop troubling him. He reserved a table for two at a fancy Indian restaurant. Shyam knew Khushi liked Indian food, even though she had insisted on eating Italian for his sake. Even that had worried him. Shyam never wanted her to change for his sake. He had simply refused to eat the pasta she had made for him few days ago and had ignored her, in the hope that she would go back to making Indian food.

Shyam felt nervous a few hours later when he left his office. He had never been on a date before, and this date was different. He was going on a date with his wife, who he was not attracted to. She had been trying her best to make him comfortable around her, but no matter what she tried, it made him feel more awkward to be in her presence, because it reminded him that he was not attracted to her. He didn't want to hurt her feelings. Shyam wanted courage and he found it in a bar next to his office.

Shyam was drunk by the time he reached home. When he saw Khushi in the saree, all he could think of was that she looked beautiful. His mother's words were echoing in his mind as he saw her. The alcohol had given him more courage than he needed that his brain told him to skip the date and move straight to the goal. Before he could realize what he was doing, Khushi had run out of the room. It was then that Shyam realized that he had hit Khushi. He had collapsed on the bed, completely disgusted with himself. He had slapped her .. the girl who was abused as a kid, who he and his mother had rescued and taken care of ... He wanted to run after her, but he couldn't figure out how to face her.

Ten minutes later, he ran out to look for her. He stepped out of his house and looked around, expecting her to be right outside his house. He had searched for her in all the streets nearby, till he reached the T station. Maybe she went to her friend's place, he thought. He tried hard to remember her friend's name .. Khushi had told him about the friends she had made, how she had met a guy at the library. Shyam ran back home. He searched for the library book in the kichen. He found it on top of the fridge. It was the same cookbook that Arnav had checked out in his name for Khushi. Shyam opened the book and saw the check-out receipt in it.

"Arnav Singh Raizada", he read aloud. He closed the book and walked to the living room. Shyam collapsed on the couch and put his arms around the book, looking at the door. He stayed that way all night. He couldn't sleep; he was worried about her. All night, he prayed that she had reached her friend's house safely.

Shyam went to the library as soon as it opened in the morning. He managed to get Arnav's address from the address book in the library while the librarian wasn't looking. He wrote the address down on a slip of paper and ran out before the librarian saw him.

Shyam walked up to the door of the apartment and paused. What if Arnav doesn't know where Khushi is? Devi Maiyya, please help me find Khushi. Please let her be safe. He gulped, controlling tears. He rang the bell and waited. The door opened; it was Khushi.

Khushi was startled hearing the doorbell. She jumped up from the couch, a smile on her face. La must be here already. She ran to the door and pulled it open. Her eyes opened wide, seeing Shyam.

"Khushi" Shyam's voice broke Khushi from her trance. She took a step back, looking horrified, as she remembered what happened last night. Shyam remained calm as he softly said her name again. "Khushi." Khushi looked at him, scared. But something in his eyes surprised her.. she saw guilt, repentance and shame.

Shyam continued, "I am terribly sorry for what happened last night. I don't know what came over me. Ma has been constantly asking about grandchildren and I .. I just am not ready for that. But I.." He gulped and took a step closer to her. She stared at him, but didn't move back. "All I can say is I am sorry. You know I will never hurt you. I was .. I was drunk last night. I promise you I will never drink again. Please just come home with me. I will not touch you again. I will just stay away from you. Just come home. I won't be able to live knowing you are out there alone with no one to take care of you."

The stammer in Shyam's voice brought tears to Khushi's eyes. Before she knew it, Shyam had fallen to his knees. Khushi raised her eyebrows and watched as he looked at her, his eyes filled with tears. "Khushi, please. Let me take care of you. I am your husband, and more than that I have been your friend for the past ten years. Please give me another chance. I want to make this marriage work. I want you to be happy. I want to give you all the happiness in this world. Ten years ago, I promised you that I will always be there for you and I want to keep that promise. Please." He closed his eyes, and a tear rolled down his cheek.

Khushi fell to her knees and took Shyam's hand in hers. "Shyamji, what are you doing? Please don't embarrass me. I am the one who should be apologizing. I don't know why I ran away, when I should have known that you would never hurt me on purpose. You have always been so good to me and I.. Please, Shyamji." She wiped the tear off his cheek and touched his chin. "Please don't worry. I will come home with you. I trust you. I know you will never hurt me again."

Shyam looked at Khushi. He was so lucky. He had never thought that he would ever marry a girl like Khushi. She was wearing a simple red kurta and had absolutely no makeup on her face, but she looked more beautiful than any girl he had ever seen. She was kind and innocent and always putting others' happiness before hers. And yet, all her life she had been ill-treated by her loved ones. He would not let that happen again. From now on, he will love her .. he will give her all the love she deserved. He touched her cheek and she closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. She touched his hand that was on her cheek and opened her eyes. Their eyes met and Khushi burst into a smile.

A lot of you had asked me at the beginning not to make Shyam a bad person ... so there you go, he isn't a bad guy. Did you like the twist? It makes it difficult now doesn't it, for Khushi to make her choice.. now that's what will make it fun. I hope you guys still like the story! Please leave your comments.