ARSHI: INEVITABLE CHANGES- CHAPTER 2 UP. DO CHECK IT OUT - Page 2

Khushi heard the sound of a car coming to a halt in the Raizada yard. She walked up to her window to check who it was and noted that it was Akash's car, which meant they were back from the hospital. She also realised that Arnav's SUV was parked in too, which meant he was already home. Gosh! How had she lost track of time?

Khushi rushed down just in time to see Akash with a sleeping Pia in his arms and Anjali walk through the door. She walked up to them.

'Anjali Di you guys must be starving, I'll tell Hari Prakashji to warm the food. I made your favourite curry.'', she said with the best smile she could muster up. 'I'll put Pia to bed while you eat.''

'Hari Prakash!!! Hari Prakash!!!.''

'Ji Bade-Bahu?'', asked the elderly man.

'Cut an apple and have Jai Prakash bring it up to my room. Akash give me Pia.''

Anjali took Pia from Akash and without so much as a glance at Khushi , headed upstairs. Khushi watched on sadly whilst Akash tried to ease the situation.

'I'm sorry Khushi. Anjali will take some time to come around. Just be patient.'', he said with a reassuring smile and headed up behind Anjali. 'Oh! And have Jai Prakash bring my dinner up.'', he shouted over his shoulder.

Atleast Akash didn't treat her like she didn't exist. She was still so confused about Anjali's cold behaviour towards her ever since she and Arnav had gotten married. She knew Anjali was still grieving Payal's death but wasn't she too. For heaven's sake! Payal was her sister. Everyone seemed to forget that. She knew a lot of the ladies in the area were gossiping about her. Stories about her just waiting to get her hands on her sister's husband or that she was jealous of her sister. All of that didn't get to her the way that her family's indifferent behaviour got to her.

Her Amma refused to even acknowledge her let alone talk to her. She hardly left the house and her Bua had gone to Lucknow. So basically she had no one to talk to. There was Dadi but there is only so much that she could talk to her and lately she had been getting the feeling that Dadi was regretting her decision to get them married.

She pushed her thoughts aside and went up to Arnav's room. She peeked in and noticed that he wasn't there. She knew that the only other place he could be was in the study. She headed to it. The door was closed so she knocked and heard a grumpy come in.'

'Hari Prakash I thought I told you no one should...'', but his words caught in his throat as he looked up to see Khushi standing in front of him. She seemed nervous and was playing with her pallu as she looked up and asked, ' Arnavji, can I get you something to eat or drink?''

Arnav was at first taken aback by her question and then it registered in his head and suddenly bursts of anger bubbled in him and he snapped, 'How many times do I have to tell you to stop acting like my wife? I don't need anything from you. This house has servants right so if I need anything I will ask them. If you were so fond of serving people maybe you should have asked for a job as a servant. We would have employed you instead of Dadi bringing you home as her Bahu.''

The tears flowed down her face. Arnav knew he had said too much but he just couldn't bring himself to regret it. Khushi mumbled a sorry and rushed out of the study.

Khushi found herself on the chair by the poolside that joined all the rooms. She sat there under the full moon sky and cursed her bad luck. Definitely not where she had seen herself at the age of 20. She looked to Anjali and Akash's room. Anjali walked to the French doors, Khushi smiled at her but Anjali pulled the curtains closing them. Khushi felt her smile fade along with her energy.

Arnav spoke with Aman on the phone, 'Aman there has to be something. You just not looking hard enough.'', he paused to listen to what Aman had to say.

'Well look dammit! I'm absolutely sure that Jha was not in Shimla like he claims. It clear that it was sabotage. And you are gonna find the evidence. Jha will not get away with what he did. Now get to work Aman and I want something solid by tomorrow. Is that clear?''

He cut the call and put his head in his hands taking a deep breath. He was done in the study and decided that he should retire for the day. So he got up to go grabbing his phone but something on the floor stopped him dead In his tracks. It was shiny. He bent and picked up, scanning it and realising that it was an anklet. It didn't take much effort to realise who's it was. Khushi's tear-stricken face flashed in his mind. He shoved the anklet in the drawer not wanting to dwell on those thoughts any longer.

The Raizada family gathered around the dinning- room table for breakfast minus Khushi. Dadi was the first to start a casual conversation,'' Anjali Bahu, how was Pia's check-up yesterday?''

'It went well Dadi. Pia is healthly little girl.'', said Anjali with a smile on her face.

'And you Arnav? Are you settling in well at the office?'', she asked her younger grandson.

'I'm fine Dadi, don't worry about me.'', answered Arnav in the most convincing voice he could use.

'Bhai, has the Mehta deal been finalised yet?'', asked Arnav addressing his brother

'No not yet, just a few minor details to go through and we'll be all set.''

'Arre, where's Khushi Bahu?'', asked Dadi to no one in particular.

Everyone carried on with their meals as Dadi asked Har Prakash to go call her for breakfast. She was disappointed to see that no one seemed to be bothered about Khushi.

'Chote-Saab, come quick.'', shouted Hari Prakash from the staircase in an alarmed voice.

Within a second the entire Raizada family was up and heading to go see what had happened. Hari Prakash directed them to the pool-side. They were shocked at what they saw. There laid khushi on the pool chair. She seemed to be unconscious. Arnav rushed to pick her up and took her to his room while Akash left to call the doctor.

'Doctor. How is she?'', asked Arnav as the doctor stepped out of the room.

'She is fine. It's just a bit of exhaustion and hyperthermia due to being out in the cold last night. Also I don't think she has eaten anything, that's why her body is weak. I've written out a prescription, one tablet after every meal and she'll be fine.''

'Thank you doctor.'', said Dadi relaxing with relief

Akash walked the doctor out while Dadi touched Arnav on his shoulder and left with Anjali who gave him a brief smile.

Arnav walked into his room closing the door, he pulled his phone out and dialled Aman's number.

'Yeah Aman, email me the info on my home computer. I'll be working from home today.'', he said turning and looking at Khushi who was asleep on his bed.