PART 17
Shyam was busy playing with his baby on the bed.. The baby was covered with a thick cloth to ensure she doesnt feel cold..!! Her eyes were still wide open seeing her father here.. Though she wasnt knowing him much, she still remembered his touch and started smiling.. Shyam was very delighted to see his baby remembering him.. He kissed her thin forehead and started talking to her..
Shyam: You recognized your Paapa? You know how much I missed you all these days.. I have got so many toys for you.. When you come back home, I will show them to you. Okay Sweety?? He kissed her again and she had no idea what he said to her but she still smiled happily.
Anjali who was noticing all this wasnt happy seeing him showing so much of concern and love towards their baby for no reason. She could feel its all fake.. Shyam Raizada can never love anyone .. She started continuing her work of folding the baby's clothes when he turned to see her..
Shyam: Rani Saheba.. How is the name Shreya for her? He asked casually like there was no problem between him and Anjali, like they were still a good couple..
Anjali (In Anger): She is my daughter.. You dont need to think about what to name her..
Shyam: What??? Your daughter? She is my daughter too Rani Saheba..!!
Anjali got up angrily and replied back..
Anjali: Dont call me Rani Saheba again and again.. I have a name and its Anjali.. Call me that.. You dont need to pretend that you love me and treat me like a Queen..!!
Shyam: Talk Slow Rani Saheba.. This is your house.. I dont want your mother or anybody else to know we are fighting..
Anjali: Why do you care? And whom do you care here Shyam?? I myself am going to clear this thing between us soon.. I dont wish to step there in Raizada Mansion and be your wife..
Shyam (Shocked): Rani Saheba.. You are dragging the topic unnecessarily..
Anjali: No I am not Shyam.. I have seen a lot there.. I cannot bear your affairs anymore..
Shyam was hell angry when she said that.. The baby started crying hearing their fight.. Shyam rushed to pick his daughter and calm her down ignoring everything. For sure Anjali was confused seeing his so much concern for the baby.. Was he changing by any chance? She had no idea and infact she didnt even wish to think about this..
Shyam: Ohh my Baby cried.. Okay ..Mumma and Paapa wont fight.. Now.. Smile..!!
He started loving his daughter while Anjali stood their looking at him..
Anjali: Why are you lieing to the baby..?? You can never stop fighting with me.. Especially now that I know all your cheap secrets.. .
Shyam: Rani Saheba.. This is enough now.. If I am not saying anything here, doesnt mean you continue this..!!
Khushi entered the room with the Tea cup at the same moment and was surprised to see this couple fight.. Anjali moved to him and took her baby back .. Shyam was helpless..
Khushi: Di.. What is wrong? Why are you both fighting?
Anjali: Nothing Khushi.. Ask him to have his tea and leave..
Khushi: What? She was totally confused seeing this side of Anjali's behaviour
Shyam (Gettting up): If you wish me to leave.. I will. I dont need to drink tea here before you when you clearly dont want me to stay even for a moment..
Saying that Shyam walked outside the Room leaving Khushi all blank.. She kept the tray aside and walked towards Anjali to know what was going on here between them..?
Khushi: Di.. What has happened with you two? He is your husband and I dont think you should be talking in that level with him..Whatever it is we can sort it out.
Anjali: Please Khushi.. You better dont tell me how I need to behave with my husband.. I have taken enough tortures from him.. But not anymore..
Khushi: What does that mean Di? He is the father of your child.. I know you are still under stress because of this delivery..This is not the time to rest peacefully. She placed an assuring hand on Anjali's shoulder but she moved it away and walked to the bed to put the baby down..
Anjali: Its not Stress Khushi.. If I was all quiet till today, it was only for my baby to be born.. Now that she is with me safe.. I dont need to think much about him anymore..
Khsuhi was really confused what Anjali was trying to point out.. She too sat on the bed beside Anjali and started caressing the baby..
Khushi: Di.. Every couple fight.. But forgive and forget is the logic for a happy married life.. I think you should forget your old quarrels and start a new life with Jeeju and the baby..Havnt you seen how happy he is these days ? You know how happy he was when he came out of the operation theater to announce about your delivery. He came here just to see you and the child.. He is trying to be a good father Di.. And I think you should be appreciating that..
Anjali: Dont take his side Khushi..All these Raizada men are the same.. I am not sure about how Akash is but I can see NK too falling in his elder brothers' category. They can never love anyone seriously. They just show off to the world that they are the best Husbands anyone can get.. But only we know what the reality is..
Khushi was very much angry when Anjali started blaming all the 4 Raizada brothers and not just Shyam..
Khsuhi: Why are you including Arnav too in it? I dont know how Shyam Jeeju is but Arnav is surely not like him.. So please dont speak ill about him Di.. He is my husband.. !! And I know what he is..
Anjali (Getting up ): You dont know anything Khushi.. Infact he is ahead of Shyam in some matters..!!
Khsuhi: Di. She roared in anger for hearing such a comment from Anjali for her husband.
Anjali: Dont think I am talking baseless things Khushi.. Its true.. Do you know what all your husband did? Do you know what relationship he shared with Shalini? He was engaged to her khushi.. Can you believe that?
Khushi: Yes I know it Di.. I know about him and Shalini.. Arnav had told me everything. I know they were engaged and then something didnt work and they broke off.. !!
Anjali got shocked : What ? He told you about her?
Khushi: Yes He did.. Because he isnt wrong.. He shared every bit of his past with me Di.. I know him completely and I trust him ..He is not the one for whom I should find baseless arguments and fight with him. He loves me more than anyone in this world and that's a fact.
Anjali (Chuckling Sarcastically): Then you must also be knowing why he broke up with her.. Dont you?
That sentence surely made Khushi blank.. Till now Arnav hadn't disclosed the real reason for his break up. Everytime he was about to tell her more about it it was she who diverts it with the intention of not hurting him again. But naturally he too stopped in course of time and didn't feel like revealing the exact reason.
Anjali: What happened? Why arent you replying to that now ? Didnt he tell you why he broke up?
Khushi: I.. I didnt ask him that.. But I know my husband.. It had to be some genuine reason for sure.. Or else he would never cut off such relationships for his own benefits..
And for a girl like Shalini she does not deserve a gentleman like my husband. She is not deserving to even stand near him.
Anjali: I am happy to see the trust you have in him Khushi.. I just hope its the same way how you expect it to be.. But let me tell you one truth.. The real reason why he married you..!! Anjali wasn't in a mood to let this go off as she was on a mission to let out her suppressed thoughts after dadi's demise.
Khsuhi wasnt sure where this conversation was leading to.. But she knew that today she had to clear all the doubts that Anjali had in her mind against Arnav..
Anjali: He married you because SHyam had wrong intentions for you. !! He married you not because he thought of giving his life a chance to bind with some new person after Shalini in his life.. But He married you because he wished to cover up for his Brother's acts..And another person who knew this and who had planned your marriage was Daadi.
Khsuhi had nothing left to speak after this...Was her sister even in her senses for telling all this about their husbands? She blindly kept on looking at Anjali who started explaining her what the past was.
Anjali: Shyam Raizada was always like this.. A Casonava.. He only knew to spend money in the wrong things.. Girls, casino, horse races, he never cared for anything while spending his family's money lavishly on them.. His parents were very aware of his wrong deeds and hence they wished him to get married and settle his life.. But before that they wanted to put a stop on his money usage.. And they did it.. His father stopped giving him any money which made him angry on everyone.. He was in London for some days then when suddenly they also put forward my Marriage proposal to him. He agreed.. Not because he thought I would be a good life partner.. He agreed because he wanted my property as well.. The same property which was also linked to you.. He said a Yes to this marriage only because he could have our money , a housewife like me who is of no use with physical retardness and he can eye on his Wife's sister which is You..
Khsuhi got the shock of her life.. Her Jeejaji's character was really worse.. And he eyed on her ? When he had his wife Anjali? How sick?
Anjali (Almost sobbing): Daadi was well aware of his intentions.. She didnt wish Shyam to do anything which could mess up with everyone's life.. So she planned to ask your hand for marriage with her other Grandson Arnav who was least interested in tieing a knot.!! Arnav Singh Raizada lived with Daadi those days in London and he could never cut his Daadi's decision. He agreed for the marriage after knowing the truth behind it, after knowing his brother would lust on his Wife's sister and will end up using all of his inlaws property as he wasnt getting it from his own parents..!!
Khushi sat on the bed in shock.. Not that she was upset with what Arnav did.. She was happy that he wished to secure her life.. This proved his sanity.. This proved that he had a pure heart. Otherwise he would have left his brother do his deeds by never interfering in between.. Now she realized why Arnav always wished to keep her away from Shyam .. Now she understood why Arnav was so protective towards her.. But what she failed to find out was why didnt he tell her all this..?? Why did he hide it from her till now? And the next question that arised in her mind was Why he broke up with Shalini.. What was that reason which made him break his engagement.. This obviously created a big mystery in her mind which she wished to sort out as soon as possible..
Anjali saw her sister lost in thoughts. She was sure that Khushi is matured enough to handle her life but as a sister she couldn't hide any thing from Khushi anymore. All these days she was scared that Khsuhi's life would be the same like hers. Now its time for Khushi to clear everything in her life. She sat with Khushi caressing the strands of hair falling on her forehead.
Anjali: Khushi.. your life is not like mine. You can still have a chance to sort this out. I know how much you love Arnav. I feel he might have changed after marriage may be your love might have made him to fall for you. And I am sure you would clear it with him without any problems in your life.
Khushi : Di what about yours? You are not alone now? You have a daughter. She needs her parents. You cant live alone.
Anjali : I know Khushi.. I am taking a bold step in my life. Whatever way it paves to I will believe in God and stick on to that. I am sure I would get back my married life back with full respect that I and my daughter deserve.
Anjali smiled and moved towards the bed to take rest. Khushi smiled at the confidence her sister possessed and left the room. She had to move to office as she had been off for some days. Still her mind was traversing along all those thoughts and questions she had in mind which only one could answer. Her husband - Arnav.
************
Lavanya gets a call from Arnav and she continues to talk to him about the urgent requirements of their new client. She explains how much his presence is needed but Arnav is in a mood to convince that Lavanya can handle alone with his team.
Lavanya : But Jeeju.. they are still adamant on this issue. If you don't turn up they might even think of cancelling the deal. See what matters for them is not the quality or the product they want to meet you first the owner whom they have eyed for this deal. Cant you make it for tomorrow please?
Arnav : I am really caught up Lavanya. Last night I had to convince your sister now its you. Just make them understand that I need four days time minimum. Or else leave the matter to me. Message me their contact details. I will deal with them personally. You can sign off the agreement tomorrow without any hassles. Bye.
Lavanya hung up the call and turned to find her mother in law standing behind. She didn't know that how she reached the kitchen while talking to Arnav on these matters.
Nandini: You have all time on earth to talk to your jeejaji but no time for your husband? Since how many days have you spoken to NK?
Lavanya stuttered for words and the sudden doubt in her mother in law made her fidget her duppatta. She was asking her the reality its been days she had spoken to NK and many are aware about this at home. Either she had given them the reason of work or her mood to talk to him later. She knew many were watching their actions and it was no where to be hidden anywhere.
Lavanya : Voh.. NK was busy.. I had talked to him yesterday. But.
Nandini: Don't try to lie. I know about my son. He wont give importance to his work than his family. He knows to keep priorities unlike you. You have been the one who was behind career and your dreams. You hadn't given a thought about my son who is struggling alone in a foreign land. Nandini interrupted before Lavanya could finish her line.
Lavanya closed her eyes in anger and gulped her emotions to control herself.
Nandini : I know you wont have any answers for this. Why would you bother about my son and his life? I told him to think about this love affair twice before turning into relationships. All that he believed in his stupid affair and fell for it.
Lavanya was on the verge to explode and she couldn't hold back.
LAvanya : Enough Aunty. Please consider your son to be responsible on this matter too. When ever I try to talk to him its he who ignores me. It's not the way you think. I am also brought up in a well behaved family. I have aspirations and dreams doesn't mean I would ditch my husband. I might be wrong in my decisions but not in my character. Now if you could really help in this regard please ask the same questions to your son on why he refuses to even consider my pleads to talk to me I would be really pleased. Thanks
Lavanya rushed out of the kitchen leaving behind a fuming mother in law for her rude behaviour and lack of respect to elders.
*************
Khushi was unable to concentrate on anything at office. On the top of her confusions regarding Arnav and his decisions, Shyam and Anjali there were lot of pending work which even SHalini had left behind without finishing. She leaned back on her chair keeping a palm on her temple to soothe her headache which was troubling her. The next worry was she had ignored Arnav's call many times today on account of successive meetings while in reality she wasn't ready to talk to him as she would blurt out whats in her mind. As she leaned back and thought about it. Her door flung open with a young man in his late 20s entered into her cabin. She suddenly straightened herself and was about to shout at the stranger who entered her cabin uninvited.
Khushi : Excuse me? Who are you to enter into my cabin? Out! Khushi roared in anger while he sat down with a smirk infront of her.
Man : Hey.. chill down sweety.. Not good for your skin. You will lose your complexion. See how red you look. We shall talk peacefully.. Who are you by the way? He asked casually.
Khushi stood up in anger to roar at him again while he started to admire her face and other features. She could clearly see his eyes roaming shamelessly over her.Soon she straightened her saree and glared at him with fire emitting through her eyes.
Khushi : Who the hell are you Mr? What are you doing in my cabin?
Man : uff. So much hotness. I mean anger. Well I am Shravan from London. And much interested in cute girls like you. He winked at her making Khushi furious again.
Khushi's voice rang at the top of the voice when she called her security and asked to throw the person sitting on her cabin out of the office.
Shalini entered her cabin on time and saw the mad Khushi trying to kill that man with her looks while he was enjoying her expression with his half smile.
Shalini : Shravan.. what are you doing here? This isn't my cabin. When did you come?
Khushi : Shalini who is this ? Khushi asked with retort at Shalini who was paying much attention to that jerk.
Shalini : umm. He is Shravan my brother . He has just landed from London. Sorry Khushi. I mean Ma'm he might have mistaken this as my cabin.
Khushi : What? What is your brother doing at my office during office hours? This is not place to conduct your family reunion. Now just out with this guy.. I shouldn't see him anymore at my office.
Shravan got up angrily and looked at her.
Shravan : Hey just hold on.. Why are you jumping so much in anger? We haven't done any crime here.
Shalini held him back and pleaded to stop.
Shalini : Shravan. She is the CEO of this company. Shalini whispered in his ears.
Khushi : Did you hear that.. I am the CEO of this company and I have every right to jump at stray dogs entering into my office unnecessarily.
Shravan : Hold your tongue Ms.
Khushi : Mrs. Khushi Arnav Raizada. Hope you got the answer now.
Shravan got stunned to know that this girl was Arnav's wife. He turned to Shalini who nodded in approval and turned her face. Khushi could see the transformation of his expression from casual to the most horrified expression. She knew something was wrong between Arnav and Shravan that had made him more stern at his face. She didn't wish to continue her speech as she needed much peace at this point.
Khushi : Now before my security comes and throw you out Shalini better take him out with much respect.
Shalini didn't wait for the reaction and dragged her brother out of the cabin. Shravan didn't leave his eyes from Khushi . His eyes showing an arrongance and revenge which was clearly noted by Khushi. She wasn't affected by all these.She knew she would battle everything in this world when Arnav was by her side. She continued to do her work forgetting all those happened now.
****************
Four days later
Akash drove his car towards Gupta Mansion from the airport as his brothers Arnav and NK were more keen to meet the new angel. Akash was stunned to see his bhai in casuals and ruffled hair look like NK.
Akash : Bhai this NK changed your appearance totally. Now I look elder to all of you.
NK and Arnav laughed at Akash's pout.
Arnav: Come on Akash. It was just for a change. Now I am in a mood for holiday. Enough of work.
NK : Akash did you hear that? He is smart. He is hinting at you that you are still plunged at work and he is taking off.
Akash: I wish I could too bhai.But too difficult now.
NK : oh Akash.. Don't worry .. You can take a break now. I will handle things for some days. I want my brothers to enjoy some break with their partners.
Akash : Hello Excuse me. Mr.Nandkishore. You are married too. You have a wife waiting for you. Now you have to take her for a holiday. She must have missed you so much these days.
NK's face fell as soon as he heard about Lavanya. Arnav noticed his expression but didn't mind to extend the topic as he had promised NK that he wouldn't take up that topic to him.
NK deviated the talk as they reached Gupta House and all of them got down with much excitement.
Sashi hugged his damaads while Buaji and Garima welcomed them. They got their blessings and entered the house.
NK : Now where is my angel ? I want to see her right now... I am going to take her with me now. I am desperate to meet her. .. Nk said enthusiastically turning towards Buaji.
Buaji smiled and blushed at him.
Buaji : There comes your angel. You can take her wherever you want now. BUaji giggled with Garima pointing at Lavanya who brought juice for all the damaads.
Arnav smirked at the embarrassing face of Lavanya and NK but kept quiet. She served juice to NK who took it without looking at her face and turned towards Arnav with a bright smile.
Arnav: How are you Lavanya?
Lavanya : I am perfectly fine Jeejaji. Now that you have come back I am little relieved from office work.
Garima : Lavanya.. Our NK babua is desperate to meet Anjali's baby. Take him to the room.
NK saw how the family were happy in seeing the couple. He had no intentions to shatter their dreams. He nodded and stood up to follow her. She was a bit taken back when he listened to them. She gestured the way to the room while he followed her. Arnav stayed back thinking it was better if he left them alone for a while. He saw Akash and Sashi talking official matters and Garima BUaji making list for the next day ceremony. His eyes started searching for the hazel pair of eyes which would be waiting for him desperately. He had a big task to finish. He had to woo his angry wife who is adamant on not talking to him for delaying his travel. He purposely stood up to keep the juice glass inside. Buaji understood while he searched for someone.She blushed.
Buaji : Babua.. You can meet your wife in the kitchen. Madam is very busy in cooking for you.
Arnav thanked her with a smile which Garima and Buaji noticed and got shocked. They hadn't noticed how he smiled all these days. He quickened his steps towards the kitchen to meet his angel.
Dressed in dark blue saree his wife was preparing roti cautiously. He could view the almost bare back and couldn't resist his feelings. He tiptoed into the kitchen not wishing to let her know about his arrival. Khushi was preparing roti but her thoughts were wavering with all those questions in her mind. He slowly started to untie dori which she didn't even realize. He started placing butterfly kisses all over her shoulder and by wrapping her waist from behind he lifted her from the ground making her gasp in horror. She could feel his lips all over her face and neck playing with her senses. She tried to struggle from his grip but he tightened it more making her irritated. He leaned on to her ears nibbling it hard and whispered. " I missed you so much Wifey"
To be continued.
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