An hour later, Siddharth dropped Khushi in Shantivan and gave her some usual last minute instructions and advices.
"Don't roam around late at night. The car will be waiting for you whenever you want to go home. Eat well and..."
"Siddhu, relax. I will be fine.'
"I know, sweetheart. But I won't be unless I tell you everything."
"Okay. Go ahead."
"Take care."
She hugged him and said, "You too."
He kissed her forehead and said, "I'll call you as soon as I reach Mumbai."
He left and Khushi watched until his car disappeared around the corner.
"Andar chalein?" Anjali, who had been a silent spectator, asked her. [Shall we go in?]
Khushi nodded and followed her.
Akash was the first one to see her. He masked his surprise and welcomed her. Mamiji arrived a little later after dinner was served. She had changed a lot. She took care of Payal as her own daughter and she was happy when she saw Khushi. Arnav arrived when they were in the middle of their lunch.
There were two empty chairs. One next to Khushi and the other one next to his sister. He occupied the one next to Khushi as he didn't want to give the chance to Shyam.
"Di, jijaji kahaan hai?" he asked Anjali. [Di, where is jijaji?]
"Kaam ke silsiley mein Shyamji bilkul aap ki taraa hai, chote. He is busy with a client and he is having his lunch in the room." [As far as work is concerned, he is just like you, chote.]
Arnav gave Khushi a cold shoulder. Neither did he look at her even once nor did he seem interested in what she said.
"Khushiji, if your work is over, can you meet us daily?" Anjali asked her.
"You are working?" Akash asked her in surprise.
"It was Arnavji's idea," she replied.
"Akash, you should see her designs," Anjali told him. "It was just awesome."
"Looks like I have missed it. Have you seen it, Payal?"
"Haan, Akash. Humne bhi dekha." [Yes, Akash. I have also seen it.]
"Bhai, it's not fair. Everybody has seen it except me."
Khushi couldn't believe her ears. Arnav, who was always rude to her, showed it to his family. She looked at him but he didn't see her. It was more like he didn't want to see her.
"Don't dream, Khushi," she thought. "It is because the show means a lot to him. It is not because you designed it."
After lunch, they settled in the dinning room. Arnav excused himself saying that he had some work.
"Chote, you can sit too," Anjali told him.
"Sorry, di. The show is nearing and I don't have time to waste."
With that he walked to his room. He stopped only when he heard his sister asking Khushi about their photos.
"I was cleaning my room today and I found a few albums. Want to see them?"
Khushi smiled and nodded.
"I'll get them, di," Payal told her and left to get them.
She was back within a couple of minutes.
Albums meant that Shyam would be there. Arnav knew that he wouldn't get a much better opportunity. He stood in the same place and looked at Khushi. Nobody noticed him.
After a while Naniji and Mamiji went for a small nap. Akash had a few business calls to make. Anjali and Payal looked at the photos with Khushi. Anjali told her the story of how mischievous their cousin NK was. Akash was silent as always. Khushi's eyes lingered on Arnav's photo for a little longer that the rest. Anjali closed the album and reached for the second one.
Akash called Payal and asked her for a file. She went to their room to search for it.
It was just Anjali and Khushi.
"This is my wedding album," she said with a smile.
Arnav heard the happiness behind the smile and wondered whether he would be able to retain the happiness in her voice after everything was over.
"Anjaliji, you look beautiful in this photo," Khushi told her as she pointed to the first photo in the album. "Aap ki pathi ka naam kya hai?" [What is your husband's name?]
"Shyam."
The name sent a chill down her spine.
"What does he do?" she asked as she tried to hide the fear from her voice.
"He is a lawyer."
Khushi's brain worked over time. Was it a coincidence that the person who asked her to marry him was a lawyer by the name Shyam? Anjali missed the shocked expression on Khushi's face.
She turned another page and said, "This is Shyamji."
Khushi felt the colour draining from her skin. She knew that she turned pale. How was it possible? Why did he lie to her? Why did he want to marry her when he was already married to a wonderful woman?
Khushi bit her lips to stop the tears pooling in her eyes to flow down her cheeks. Her thoughts then turned to Arnav.
She thought, "He saw me when I was having lunch with Shyam that afternoon. Was that why he was so angry with me? If he saw Shyam, then why didn't he tell me that he is his jijaji? What must he think of me? No wonder he always shouts at me. If only he told me the truth..."
Anjali didn't notice the turmoil Khushi faced.
"Anjali di," OP called her.
"Kya hua, Om Prakashji?" [What happened, Om Prakashji?]
"Arnav bhaiya ne dhavaai nahi liya." [Arnav bhaiya has not taken his medicines.]
"Iss chote bhi na... Aap isse chote ka kamre mein rakhiye. He will remember." [You keep the medicines in his room.]
"Theek hai, Anjali di." [Okay, Anjali di.]
Anjali asked Khushi to wait for a moment and went to the kitchen to give the medicines to OP.
Khushi closed the album and followed Anjali into the kitchen. She had to tell her the truth. She fidgeted with her dupatta and walked into the kitchen.
"You have to tell her, Khushi," she told herself.
Unknown to her or anyone in the house, Arnav watched her every move and her every little expression.
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