Part 15

Part 15

It was unbearable for her.  She was seeing Arnav ji losing. She too was losing the battle.  Sham was behind Anjali wrapping his hand around her to support her.  Nani was rendered speechless with Lavanya’s allegations.  Anjali did not see anything beyond her Chote’s anguish.  When he said “Yes!” she believed him at once.  She looked at Khushi pacing backwards in shock.  “How could she do this to my brother?” she had a question in her eyes.  She looked back at her husband and he too looked shocked.  Aakash came a step ahead to stop Khushi.  She had already reached the threshold.  Arnav clenching his fists had closed his eyes.  

“Khushi couldn’t take it anymore.  The love once she had seen in their eyes was replaced by hatred.  She would never betray Lavanya ji.  She would never hurt Anjali ji.  She would never stop loving her Arnav ji and she would never stop hating Sham ji for putting her in this condition.  Arnav ji had taken a decision for her life.  He truly written her destiny.  She woke up from the nightmare.  One step backwards...and...! She paused there for a second... and took the step..

She darted out of the door and came out of the house, crossed the garden where she enjoyed being with the family members and Arnav ji; Crossed the gate... Looked back once at the Raizada House and came on the road. There was a little movement on the road. Someone was dialing the number. Without noticing anything, she started pacing down the road. She did not know where her feet were taking her.

"Do not lose the sight".. ordered the person called Sir, Give me the location... Follow her.. Stop her by force if it goes out of your control... Keep me posted every minute. I will reach there right now. wait for me. ."

Khushi, looked like a ghost in that dawning sky. She failed to notice... The dawn was declaring the arrival of sun and the moon was watching her along with bright Venus star.. Both the sun and the moon were about to share the same sky.... Somewhere some FM radio was playing "Rabba mere kya hai teri marzi?" Oh god, what is in your mind for these poor, lost souls?".

She started walking down, did not know for how long... winter sunlight rays resonating from her pale face, she was exhausted, defeated...She was trying to recollect what had happened in the house... She remembered when Arnav married her.. He had said "..."Khushi now you are tied in this relationship, forever..." He had said "YOU" not "WE" she knew his views about marriage.. and he also had uttered the same even after marrying her.  She was unable to hold her heart strong... even after all this proof her heart was not ready to take in the reality. She still felt Arnav's Warmth .. She said "Hey Devi Mayya.. why do I still want to believe his touch when his words express otherwise? Why do I feel he genuinely wanted to marry me. Why am I not taking the meaning of his words. He tied ME up setting himself free. He does not believe in the rituals... but why do I still want to believe him?”

" He made a decision of my life.. who gave him this right? " Strong Khushi came back... she inadvertently touched the black thread... she was doomed. She had nowhere to go.. She had lost it completely..."Buwaji was right.  I should go away... I am a bad omen...!” she muttered running down the road.

A black car was following her... she sensed it and stopped dead. She looked back. The car had stopped just behind her. She hurriedly moved aside. But the car did not move. Two men got down and came in front of her she looked at them, blankly. "Madam ji" one of them spoke. "Do you need any help? .. they were closing in. They were careful as movement had started on the road. Morning walkers were on the road. She looked at them aghast...

"No." She started walking away... One of them stepped forward and said. "Madam ji please stop..." "Please do not move forward.." Another white car stopped near her. She was trapped between the two cars. She swung around scared to the core... She felt a hand on her head. Looking at the person she blurted "AAP?" "You?". He said, "Yes, puttar, (girl) and its time to move" The white car paced away with Khushi....
Arnav swung around...

... He stared at the blood red sindoor droplets... He had a hollow look on his face. He could not believe his eyes. "Khushi? Where is she?

“Khushi..!” he screamed at the top of his voice.  His heart gave up.  “She is gone... Bu..But  She understands... she can’t be.." he thought incoherently... emptiness filled his mind. "No way, I had her with me. She is mine. She will not do this to me. " His mind was unable to think logically anymore.. He gaped at the wide open ghostly main door.

It was Lavanya, who came back to her senses first. "Chamakili...!" She blurted...

Arnav, still looking lost, looked at her like he was in some kind of trance. He could not take in anything. He looked at the droplets and again stared at the empty space where he had his treasure of life a moment before... "Khushi.." he blurted... he thought he heard some movement at the pool side, Khushi's favorite place. There she had pulled him in the pool with her.  He shouted "Khushi, come back here..!" , pacing forward towards the pool. "Bhai, She's gone.." Said Aakash in a deep mournful voice. His eyes filled with tears looking at his bhai's state. He felt sorry for Arnav.

Arnav, did not listen to Aakash, leapt forward but Aakash stopped him putting his hand on Arnav's shoulder from behind. That touch made Arnav realize the situation. He gave a hollow look at Aakash, looking at Aakash's hand on his shoulder. "What... ? Why...? Khushi.." His voice trailed. His eyes went hazy, throat dry, his jaw fell.. his shoulders drooped.. " The reality was sinking. Khushi had left him, everyone in the house!
Lavanya ran forward towards the front door, calling "Chamakili...!”
 She went to the door leaned against it, looked around hopefully, but could see only the deserted garden and ajar gates of the house." She understood, she repented, regretted having said all that she should not have said to Khushi!

 She muttered, "Chamakili.. I am sorry.. I am sorry, chamakili! Please.. please come back!!" With a fury she turned back to Arnav, said "See, what have you done.." He was aghast, looked at her and ran past her and out of the door. Aakash followed. Nani, walked up to the door and stood there ...

Anjali, tried to be with nani, but Sham pulled her back saying "Rani Saheba, wait.. wait we will do something." He sighed. He had done it. He had escaped .. With Khushi's departure, he was safe. He had managed to save his gold mine by blaming an innocent girl to be a gold digger. He did not move. He wanted Khushi out of Raizada house, out of everybody's life. No one will have her, if he cannot have her. He thought. Smirk appeared on his face.

"Its time for my early morning tea" Mamiji muttered indifferently and went inside.
Arnav, came out of the house, looked around in the garden for traces of Khushi,
"Khushi!... come back.." he yelled desperately. He crossed the gates came on the middle of the road, looked around... Nothing..... no trace of Khushi. He ran down the road to the corner then came back calling "Khushi..." relentlessly. He was calling her at the top of his voice. He looked devastated. Morning walkers started staring at him stopping in their tracks. Arnav, had forgotten who he was, started asking them, whether they had seen her. He ran in the opposite direction hoping she must have gone there. "Khushi... Khushi.... Khushi..." Every small movement on the road made him jump towards hoping to see his Khushi there.

Aakash could catch him up. He held him from behind by putting his hand on Arnav's shoulder and pulling him back. "Bhai,  she must have gone home. Let me call Payalji and ask.." ASR stopped at once.
"No" Arnav cut him off. "I will go myself to get her back" he said in a determined voice.
"For this we need to go back and get the car" Said Aakash in a consoling voice. They already had come half a kilometre down the road.

Arnav, pacing back broke into a run to get his car. He muttered, "She better be at home.. I will get her back. I will do anything to get her back..!"

**********   ******   ********
"Where do you want to go first, girl?" Asked the person in the white car, watching Khushi staring blankly out of the window. "Hmm?" She shuddered hearing his voice. "Do you want first to go home?" He asked. She shook her head.  “I don’t know!” she said dejected losing all her energy hiding her face in her palms.
***********  ********

Arnav, broke into a run to get his car, his thoughts keeping up with his pace, “Why did she do this? Why didn’t she stop? I could have explained, we could have sorted this out together”. ASR paced back home gritting his teeth muttering furiously under his breath!... his thoughts racing with him. "She didn’t wait! She didn’t wait for my explanation. She turn her back on me, Again!! She didn’t let me finish! Khushi Kumari Gupta! You turned your back on me! Again!  You will pay for this!" His anger started taking over with every leap he took towards his car.

"No..She did not trust me. She did not trust that I would handle the situation! You turned your back, Khushi! You always do! I will show you what it means!!” His rationale had left him. He slowed down...
Aakash, felt it difficult to keep pace with Arnav. When ASR slowed down, he caught up with him. "Bhai, lets go, he said panting and clutching his stitch.

"No" declared Arnav Singh Raizada. "you were right. First you need to call her home and ask if she has returned. Then may be..." He again was lost in his thoughts. Aakash gaped at Arnav. He was puzzled with his changed stance.

He thought hopelessly,  "He is stretching the situation to breaking point... he still allows his ego to take over..." He looked at Arnav once and said, "Bhai.. fine I will call Payal and ask."

Khushi was lost in her own thoughts. "Why did he say it was I who tricked him. It was his decision. I just went to tell him the truth.  I wanted to come back letting him decide what to do with Sham ji.  He didn’t trust me! He never does! He thought I am a gold digger! I tricked and blackmailed Shamji. But I didn’t! “ A sob left her as she let out her breath at once.  

“He blamed me for tricking him! No!” she sobbed hard with the thought of Arnav not trusting her anymore!  “Why did he not talk to me before. Why did he not ask me for my explanation? And why was I not able to speak when Sham ji was putting up the drama? I felt weak.  I ... I thought  he will understand! As he does always..!”  “ Anjaliji would have been shattered. No!... I cannot let this happen. I cannot withstand the injustice either... I must be out of their lives.. that is the only solution...!"

Khushi collecting herself to the situation with the question where she wanted to go... looked at the person. His eyes conveyed kindness and concern. She smiled at him faintly. She thought of going back home, and then remembered only her Amma and Buwaji would be there. She could not face the thought of parting with her Amma. She thought of her babuji. He was hospitalized. She looked around and said
"No. My babuji is in the hospital. I want to meet my babuji, my jiji, and ...and...Avinash" She thought, "I need to talk to them. I need to assure them, that I will take care of them." I need to talk to Avinash, need to tell him everything. I need his advice before I take the step I wish to take." She told the person in a faint voice. "Uncl... amm Sir, can you take me to the city hospital? I want to meet my babuji" The person smiled.

He said "You can call me uncle, Khushi puttar...!" He gave her a broad smile and stroked her head, offering her tissue papers to set right her face. She felt his hand soothing. A faint grin appeared on her face.

Her mind was racing... she needed to do so many things in such a short time. Uncle, dialed a number and ordered to get one more flight ticket on the same flight which would fly Delhi airport at 12.00 noon.
He had made up his mind to take Khushi with him. No matter what she wished. He thought it was the best solution at this point of time. Again, someone else was taking a decision about Khushi's life....