Smitar's: Loving Khushi#4 link to #5 on Pg 1 - Page 67

Read last 4 parts. Wow... that was very touching. Both were miserable when Arnav left Khushi at the school. But Arnav made sure Khushi has everything she needs including bank account and credit card. And the last day they slept in each others arms... God, that was so emotional. You have written it beautifully.

And first day at the new job... Tiwari was a terror. But he loves the children. And the last part when Khushi calls Arnav and talks to him about his initial days was emotional. And when she said It is so strange to sleep alone... was just painful. Wonderfully written. Eagerly waiting for next part.

Smita,😊

Here is the interpretation to Part 16.

This update is about difficult, disagreeable responsibility or necessity, a burden and an obligation however distasteful that needed to be discharged... ONUS.

When Arnav came back from Varnasi, it was HP who let him in. He entered the house to see Nani, Mami, Payal, NK, Di and Akash in the living room. His Di pulling along her bad leg came to him welcoming and stopped short, not seeing Khushi with him. She asked him where was Khushiji. Nani, Mami, Payal, NK and Akash who had followed her stood still, scared at the look on Arnav's face. Nani murmured with a query Chotey? asking for an answer. Arnav told them that he needed to talk to them and requested could they all do so after being seated and led them to the living room. It was his responsibility to own up to everything however disagreeable and he had promised Khushi that he would inform all concerned and she need not worry over it. Others too sat around him. Finally, Mami who could not resist asked what was in everyone's mind in her own style, when both of them had been on honeymoon, why was it he came alone? Seeing the somber look on Arnav's face, in an attempt to lighten the situation, she asked, did Khushi go missing? Nani feeling something was amiss asked her Chotey tremulously, whether, Khushi Bitiyaa was alright? Taking charge of the situation, as Arnav informed them that Khushi was fine and was at Varanasi, all were stumped and Anjali looking bewildered queried, Chotey...?

For Arnav there was no escape from the sin he had committed that hung around his neck like a great millstone. He confessed that he had forced her to marry him both the times. The first time he had used threat as his weapon and the second time he had used her love for him to manipulate her into marriage. He was weighed down by his actions and so when she said she wanted to be free, for a while, he had to let her go as he had no other option. All looked at each other perplexed. He told them there was a lot more than they know and it was a long story. He began owning up his mistakes by narrating the complete story. He told his family about his and Khushi's relationship, his hatred, how he had punished her for breathing, for attracting his attention, her life in his office, her life in RM, Diwali night, Shyam, their contract marriage, how badly he had hurt her, how he had been kidnapped and how she had rescued him twice, how she had decided to leave him after his harsh words, how he had tried to stop her by bringing in the contract, how she had counted the days to the 15^th, how he had persuaded her to marry him for real...and ended his long tale by letting them know of Khushi's desire to go away from all of them, especially him. He also gave an account of where he had left her. By the time he finished his narration there was not a single dry eye in the room. Arnav was relieved by telling it like it is and he took the responsibility of all the things that had occurred, and owned up that the fault lay with him and never Khushi. She had just stood upright doing her duty by saving face of both the families. But, he had not been happy to deceive his family and the circumstances and his clouded thinking had forced him to do so for quite some time. He sighed at the blunder of humongous proportion that he had committed.

Nani coming to know her grandson's behavior straight from the horse's mouth was livid and chided him by letting him know her disappointment in him saying, he has behaved extremely badly with her Khushi Bitiya. Only he was culpable for such reprehensive act. Arnav nodded concurring with her that he had behaved very badly. Anjali who was shedding tears copiously told him that, sometimes he was so censurable, he was just too much. She wondered how did Khushiji put up with him. Anjali buried her head in her hands. NK was staggered to hear that his friend, Khushiji was under such duress that she never even let anyone have an inkling of what was really going on and his Nannav had behaved abominably. He criticized Nannav forthrightly saying that he had made sure that she passed through hell and he had been a husband from hell for her. Payal was weeping silently. Mami exclaimed that he had fooled all of them easily even his Manorama Bond Mami! Akash let out a weary sigh and said, they never knew and had no idea that Bhai was under so much pressure and he was bearing the burden all alone. Arnav told Akash that he was sorry, the minute he had found out about Shyam he should have taken his and NK's help. It would have helped them to deal effectively with Shyam and earlier too. Khushi keeps telling him that he need not do everything on his own, but he was so used to it and she is right. Arnav shook his head in self-depreciation.

The ladies could not stop the stream of tears from their eyes. They kept on sniffing and wiping endlessly. Nani, Anjali and Mami made their views about the whole debacle clear, putting all the blame on Arnav, for he was cruel and his behavior was uncalled for. Nani told him nobody else would have tolerated his behavior other than her decent Khushi Bitiyaa. He was beyond redemption and she was tired of his thoughtless acts that have severe repercussions on others. He never gives it a thought before being overpowered by his anger and his words were so sharp that they lacerated the receiver unmercifully and how Khushi Bitiyaa took it all was something she could not even comprehend! Nani made it loud and clear, that he was the perpetrator and her Bitiyaa the victim. The fault lay solely with him and she was ashamed of his act. His Di berated, when he himself was sensitive and would get hurt if anyone even spoke about their past and their parents, how could he stoop so low as not to be sensitive to others feelings, especially Khushiji's feelings. She who always sided with him and consoled him was extremely angry with him this time and was in no mood to pamper him. She thought that it was a blot on his character for having hurt Khushiji using her parents. Mami too joined the chiding brigade and told her mother-in-law, that Khushi did right in going away. Let her go, at least she may then find some peace that had eluded her in this Shantivan. Shantivan, instead of being a place of peace as the name suggests, it had been a mine filled battlefield for her. At least let her escape this nightmare and live in peace wherever she is.

Arnav looked at his hands, held locked between his spread knees. He knew that he richly deserved all they said, but it was nothing in comparison to what he felt. He had fallen in everyone's eyes and more so in his own. Finally, the sister in Payal could not control herself, fearing to voice out, yet braving it out, she asked what was on the tip of the tongue of every member of the family there, but had held back in fear, lest it came true, will Khushi ever come back? Her voice was broken when she asked, but Arnav was firm and definite when he replied, that she will. NK who was feeling extremely bad for not comprehending what was going on with his friend, questioned why should she, Nannav? Was it to be yelled by you? Nani too joined him, with a glint in her eyes that spoke his actions and words did not bode well with her asking, was there anything more left for him to shout at? Any more insults and incisive words left over to tell her? To allow such disparagement would be an unfortunate lapse on their part. Arnav told his Nani that she will come back because she loves him more than her own life and also because he loves her more than his own life.

All the four ladies were relieved to hear it. It had for once robbed them of their speech. It was NK who broke the silence. He was flummoxed to hear that Nannav loved Khushiji! Scratching his head he told Naniji that, so far he had thought being in love meant giving roses, going on dates, candlelight dinner, and romantic walk in the rain... But Nannav shows his love by shouting at Khushiji, being angry with her... She told him that his Nannav was a specimen, one of his kind and of a rare breed! So his love will also be special, filled with abuses and shouting. Khushi Bitiyaa's love for Chotey and Chotey's love for Khushi Bitiyaa were both liability as well as an asset! She sympathized from her heart with her Khushi Bitiyaa. She told Chotey that she could understand Khushi Bitiyaa wanting to go far away from him, but how could she decide to leave them all? Nani was overcome by sadness while Anjali and Mami nodded. In fact all the three were filled with guilt of varying degree for making Khushi move away from them. Payal asked her Jethji, whether Khushi was happy and was she safe? When Arnav nodded, a thought came to Payal and her face drained off its color. She told them Amma, Babuji and Buaji are yet to know and Arnav told her, that it was his duty and responsibility to let them know and he was obligated to do so. He would go to Laxmi Nagar and talk to them now and stood up to go.

Arnav Singh Raizada who never shirked from taking responsibility for his actions, who always had the innate sense to respect the truth once he sees it, the basic traits of a good businessman, was not averse to owning up to his mistakes even in his personal life. As acknowledged by him the sinister hand of his uncontrollable anger was far reaching. It was a liability that caused him to do things without a thought at the repercussions on others. But his sense of fairness did not allow him to ease out without taking the deadweight on his shoulders. That was what this update was all about, a difficult, disagreeable responsibility but a necessary one that he was obligated to bear.

That is why this update is titled ONUS.

"The right thing to do and the hard thing to do are usually the same"

~ Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it.