IPKKND FF: Winning You Back (Ch.16,pg.106) UPD:2/16 - Page 47

Originally posted by: srujie

nope that definitely wasnt the end! arnav still has to win khushi back. ive just been very busy with school. i promise to update in the next two weeks.

I am so sorry this is so late.. I've been very busy with exams but I'm all done now so the updates should be coming a lot faster.

Chapter 13

Consider sleep for a long moment. Sleep is a chance for the body to rest, a chance for a respite from the humdrum of our everyday lives. Most of us take from six to twelve hours a day just to sleep. That is a quarter to a half of our day that we lie inactive. This may seem like an extravagant waste of time but sleep is necessary to maintain one's health; it provides an opportunity for the body to rejuvenate, to recharge. But sleep is also the doorway to an alternate universe. That universe is one of our own making. It can be anything we wish it to be, a place made up of dreams, of desires. Sleep is an escape from reality, a reality that might not represent those dreams. In dreams, we can achieve that which seems impossible when awake and confront that which we are too scared to even think about when conscious. Sleep is the secret hideaway that we visit every day. As innocent as this hideaway may seem, there will come a time when we cannot escape from it. There will be a day when we realize that we are stuck forever in the hideaway that we were so eager to get to. But by then, it will be far too late, for we have already fallen asleep.

"You can deny it all you want, but there is no changing the truth Bhai: you are truly your father's son." As Arnav heard the echo of his brother's words, he heard the hollow ring of truth. He had been asleep for far too long but those words had awakened him. He realized now that he had been cocooned in a state of unconsciousness of his own making. Self-preservation and sleep were necessary, yes, but he had taken it a step too far. He had closed his eyes to the blatant truth and ensconced himself in a virtual reality where he lorded over everyone else, arrogant in the belief that he was always right.

"Laad Governor kahin ke." She had always muttered that under her breath, her twinkling hazel-green eyes shining in mischief. And the name had irritated him beyond measure but that characterization was a far better alternative than what his brother had reduced him to. The parallels Akash had drawn between him and his father could not be brushed off. It would have been so easy to just ignore what Akash had said and continue living in comfort in his dream world. But the ramifications had been too great. He had almost lost Khushi. It was painful, walking through reality. Di's betrayal, Payal's silent recrimination, NK's condescension, and worst Akash's honesty. "You are truly your father's son." He would never forget those words. He got up and slowly walked to the men's room around the corner. He slowly made his way to the mirror and closed his eyes, afraid to see his own reflection. As he stood there, with his eyes tightly squeezed shut and his head bowed, Khushi's face flashed before his eyes. His beautiful doll, the tear tracks frozen on her still face. For you Khushi. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to open his eyes. Chocolate brown pools gazed back at him, a torrent of fear, apprehension, anxiety, and guilt in their depths. But there was also a hint of stubbornness, of denial in that whirlwind of emotion. He continued to stare at the glass in front of him, a glass he had never really looked at before and seen the truth reflected in its surface. He saw now, the harsh planes that made up a face lined with a streak of arrogance that had somehow remained unbroken. It was that arrogance that comforted him. He was his father's son. But he was still Arnav Singh Raizada. And Arnav Singh Raizada always won. He would win Khushi back.

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As she stared at her the myriad of questioning faces, Anjali knew it was time to step off the pedestal. But she would not miss the ivory tower. There was something so much more satisfying in being human. And it was time for her family to realize she was just a human being with flaws, not a perfect idol.

"My husband, Shyam Manohar Jha, did this to Khushi."

"Hello hi bye bye! Anjali betiya, what are you saying?"

"Manorama, let Anjali finish." Devyani Raizada silenced her daughter-in-law, recognizing the need for Anjali to tell her story without intermittent interruptions. Perhaps it was an asset that came with her age, but her wisdom-lined face betrayed no emotion, though her mind spun with unanswered questions. Damaadji? What did he have to do with Khushi betiya?

"Shyam is not the kind-hearted, devoted, husband you all think he is. He has had numerous affairs, with countless women. He married me for the money. I discovered his infidelities early on in our sham of a marriage. But I was weak. I chose to keep silent, hoping he would eventually change. I was a fool. Men like him never change. But I loved the image I had created of him. I loved his saccharine-sweet lies, his showers of praise, his endearment of "Rani Saheba." I loved the lies and even though I knew the truth, I did not want to acknowledge it. And Khushi paid the price for my cowardice."

The words had been stilted up until now, as though being forced out of her. But now she became impassioned, and the words began to overflow, spilling out in a frenzied rush.

"I knew what he felt for Khushi was beyond the fleeting fancies he had for the others. This was more, it was raw, unadulterated lust that knew no bounds. He had to have her. I knew this but I ignored my conscience. I convinced myself it would pass. But when Khushi told me she was engaged, I knew I couldn't let her be sacrificed for my own selfish reasons." Noticing the confused looks from her grandmother and aunt, Anjali explained. Akash, NK, and Payal merely listened on; this was a story they knew.

"Shyam went to Khushi's house as a paying guest and he soon convinced her family to get her engaged to him. I knew the farce had to end at this point and I decided to confront him. I saw him on the terrace with Khushi the day before Akash's wedding. He was hugging her forcibly and she was struggling to get away from him, but she couldn't. And then she asked him to divorce me, if he was so in love with her. And of course he couldn't do that, could he? Then he would lose the money, his first and foremost love, more important than anything he ever felt for Khushi. I was going to end everything that day but then.. but then I found out about my rajkumari. How could I deprive her of a father? I chose to keep quiet once again and pretended all was well in my dream world. And because of my silence, today, Khushi, she tried to... to.." She couldn't bring herself to say it and so she subsided, tears leaving a glistening trail, marring the beauty of her face.

There was utter silence in the hospital room. Some things are beyond words, and this was such a situation. But Devyani Raizada eventually broke the silence, the silence that had ravaged their home. "Thank you Anjali for telling us the truth. You could have feigned surprise and continued the pretense but you chose to speak up. That requires courage and I am proud of you for stepping forward. But you were late in doing so, and Khushi betiya paid the price. And for that, I will never forgive you."

Anjali bowed her head as her grandmother walked out, followed by the remaining members of her family. Only one person remained outside the room, in the shadow of the corridor, his face a mask of shock. He remembered now, that the terrace had two doors to it. He had been at one door while his sister stood at the other. He had seen Shyam hugging Khushi, and he had immediately drawn his conclusions. He had been judge and jury, condemning Khushi in an instant. His sister had watched Khushi struggle, condemning her just as he had to a miserable fate. They had both decided her story but it was not complete yet. The time had come for the princess to be swept into her prince's arm. It was time for her happily ever after.

*THIS IS MY ENTIRELY MY OWN WORK. PLEASE DO NOT COPY OR REPRODUCE.*

Once again, sorry for the wait! Hope it was worth it though.. please do like and comment!

Yay! The truth is finally coming out and Arnav is realizing! Time to go win her back!!! Loved the scene where Arnav looks at himself in the mirror. It was so true to his character.

had to go back and re-read before I could read this. But I am really glad you decided to continue. It is a good story. Satisfies you infinitely, espeicially given the way the serial developed. Thanks for the PM.

soo the truth has hit the shore with such a intensity tht it has shocked the hell out of raizada's life...

Khushi deserves a better life...preferably without Arnav.

Wow! Its been months. Welcome back.
This was a great update. I want to see how they work it out now. I had expected him to lash out at akash but him accepting the truth is different, glad to know he has changed.
Great one. Can we expect regular updates now?

Loved it great update, thanks for the pm...

Finally you updated.. thank you so much..

atlast an update! dis was dhamakedar nd i luvd d fact dat d truth is out nd dat 2 thru anjali.. update soon