Part 5

Since then Khushi had not met ASR.  She had avoided every contact with Raizadas.  Sham was happy.  He finally was very close to winning.  “Yeh shaadi ho jaani chahiye, bass!” he only wished.

And on the eve on new year, 31^st December party, Arnav couldn’t control himself in that darkness of ten seconds before the new year.  The flame in his heart had enlightened him completely and he realized, he couldn’t live without her.  

“Khushi Kumari Gupta, you will come back to me! I know! I will compel you!” he was damn sure!

“I will never go to him, no matter what happens to me!” he kept saying, but missing him badly.

The magical moments in the brief darkness of 31^st December night came as realization for her that she actually was in love with the monster, for whatever he did to her.  She had accepted all his care, compassion, rescue, hatred, humiliation, insult... everything he did to her.  It didn’t matter for her.  

She was floundering under the blanket on 31^st December after coming from Lavanya’s party.  Payal came and slept beside her.  She didn’t bother to open the blanket.  Payal’s breathing was steady after some time indicating that she was fast asleep.  Sleep was far far away from Khushi.  His hazy face kept flashing before her eyes...! She tried closing  her eyes shut tightly.  He became more clear and came more closer, holding her tightly, caressing her cheek, putting his arm around her shoulder, holding her to his heart.... every time giving her the pain in her heart.  

“I know, it cannot happen.  We will never meet!... but I just can’t stop thinking about him...! I should move on! I am getting married and so is he! This is not done!” she reprimanded herself several times.  Payal couldn’t bear her anguish.  She kept suggesting that Khushi should just elope! Khushi refused. 

“I just want to forget everything, Jiji~ .. I just want to get married and go away from this house.  That’s the only way to set the things right!” She kept telling Payal breaking her into tears.   She sat up with a jolt.

“Hey devi mayya, I did it again...!” she joined her hands closing her eyes in panic.  Payal looked aghast.  “What? What did you do?” she asked in panic too.  Khushi had got up and was pacing the room nervously.  She picked up the phone and kept it again.  Payal looked on to Khushi’s dilemma.  “Khushi..!” she opened her mouth to ask.  Khushi stopped her raising her hand.  She picked up her phone.  

“Arnavji!”, she called. Hame maaf karana hum ne aap ko itani raat jagaya. Lekin hum ne shayad phir se kuch piche choda hai, aap ki gadi me. I think I have left something in your car!

Lekin rukiye.. chillanese pehele hum bataa denge ki hum use lene nahi aaenge aur aap ko bhi use lautane ki jarurat nahi. Woh to aap ka hi gift hain! Aap use phek dijiye.”

“But please, you don’t have to return it.  Just throw it away!  Bus itanahi kehena tha.
And before Arnav could say something she hung up.

“What the!” he looked at the dead screen and got out of the bed.  He stopped infront of the mirror for a second and came back.  But his curiosity took better of him and he glided down to the main door.  He opened the car door to search what she had left behind.  When he looked under the seat, he was shocked to see a packet in a polythene bag.  He bent down and lifted it. Next moment he was back in his room with the packet holding his breath!

Khushi went to sleep determined not to think about the 31 Dec Party where Arnav caught her unaware and ... in a short span of the darkness... he...She felt helpless that she was unable to resist.  “Why couldn’t I pushed him away? Why did I feel so secure and safe in his arms?” she had no answer. 
She closed her eyes tightly and prayed devi mayya...!

Arnav opened the packet to see the red saree he had exchanged with the lemon yellow bought by Anjali, gaping at him.  He crumpled it in his hands in rage.  “You left it on purpose, I know!” he threw it at the corner angrily.  

“I will burn down everything...!” his destructive mind pushed him to shatter everything in the room.  The red saree still was gaping miserably.  He picked it up only to throw it away several times.  “She is right.  I should throw it away!” he couldn’t! He clutched his head helplessly gazing at the saree.  No way, he could throw it away.  He had to keep it.  He had gifted it.  He had told her the price of such an expensive saree.. he had bought the matching jewellery.  He had exchanged it with the lemon yellow one.  He had pulled broken her necklace. He had thrown her out of the house in the midnight.  He pressed the saree against his chest.  “Khushi...!” he screamed in anguish.  Khushi woke up with a start in her bed.

“Arnav ji?” she felt he was calling her.  “No! That’s not true!..” she pulled her blanket over her head, closing her eyes.  The hot tears rolled down from the corner of her eyes. “Its over! Its all over, Arnav ji!” the residue of her trapped breath left her with a faint sob! 

“Khushi...!” Buwaji yelled and she woke up with a start.  Payal was already in the kitchen and Khushi ran inside the bathroom.  her phone rang in the morning.  It was Avinash.  She felt better.  “Avinash?...  

“Avinash? Yes... I will bring him!” she said looking at Payal. Payal nodded smiling.  They both decided to take babuji to the hospital.

“Khushi... Don’t worry! I will send the ambulance!” Avinash assured and Khushi smiled broadly.  Now she wouldn’t want any help from Sham ji!

“Sanaka devi, take this list! Go with Sham Babua and get the things.  There is very little time left and you have all the time for partying and getting up late in the morning...!” Buwaji went on yelling at the top of her voice.  Khushi didn’t bother and got ready. 

“I will go in the afternoon, Buwaji, I have to take babuji to the hospital!” she yelled back from bathroom when Sham was at the door.  

“Hospital? What happened? How is uncleji?” he faked concern and Buwaji left Khushi and Payal alone to attend to Sham Babua.  His phone rang.  “Hello, Ji! Ji Rattan saab.  Don’t worry! I will handle it!” he said moving out of the house for that day.  Khushi looked at her Buwaji and Buwaji shook her head smiling.  “Bahut Kaam Karataa Hain, Babua! He is a very busy man..!” she said looking out of the main door.  Khushi shrugged.  “Get everything as per the list!” Buwaji yelled as Khushi went out of the door with mithai containers.  “Ok!” Khushi yelled back.  

Arnav had a very disturbed sleep and when he woke up, he found the red saree pressed against his chest.  He threw it away immediately and got up.  He came back, picked it up and hid it in his wardrobe deep inside, never to pull it out.  “This is all because of you, Khushi..!” he blamed her for his condition.  “You will pay for this...!” he clenched his fists with vengeance.