I will win you Back ( Currently Being Rewritten)

Tables have turned

"I think something's off between Chhotte and Khushi Bitiya"

Anjali looked at her grandmother in confusion.

" Nani, what are you saying? How can there be something like this? Infact, didn't you see, how today, my chhotte got so panicked when Khushi didn't reach home. And he even tended to her wounds, so carefully. He even scolded her for being careless, just like......"

" ....he scolds you, I know.  It's not Arnav's care, but Khushi's expressions that put me off. You know when she said about her work, she never looked directly at us, and even though she became better while telling me about her parents but throughout dinner, it felt as though her mind was somewhere else. It seemed as if she was holding herself back from something. You didn't see it, but during the whole meal, not once did she look at chhotte."

Anjali pondered over the old woman's worries, but soon cajoled her heart and sat in front of her grandmother to ease the latter's worries.

" Nani you're getting troubled unnecessarily. Remember, how angry chhotte was when he came back. I'm sure, he must have lashed out on Khushi and so the poor girl is upset with him. Once he says sorry, everything will be fine.

Anjali casually made the statement not knowing how far she was from reality while Devyani, though not convinced, decided to let the matter go both to make sure her granddaughter doesn't stress, specially since she was pregnant and in hopes that the matter was just as trivial as she suggested.

As soon as Arnav came into the room, he started pacing from the bathroom door to the bedroom door. Sighing at each end, closing and opening his fists, trying to think without throwing everything on the floor.

The day was definitely more than he could digest, the fear of losing Khushi, his outburst, her retaliation, the worry of something happening to her, the concern of her injuries, the anger at Shyam's shameless try to touch his wife in front of the whole family, her disappointment when he intervened, her repulsion to his touch, Shaym's constant sneaky looks in her direction, her ignorance towards him, everything combined suddenly took a toll on his mind and he again found himself vulnerable because of the same woman. He thought he was strong, stronger after his parents death, but ever since she came into his life, slowly his armour was being stripped away and he hated it.

He never wanted to get married, he was never ready for the responsibilities that came with the bond. But today he realised, that in his irrationality, he not only took the responsibility of welfare of his niece or nephew but also the woman who he had made his or her aunt till their birth. He had never thought about everyone else involved in this arrangement. His in laws trusted him with thier daughter's security, his brother's wife expected him to take care of her.

He wanted to talk to her, yes, ASR wanted to talk. He wanted to make her understand that his Di needed her husband, that she depended on her husband and his child, he knew he'd have to blackmail, threaten or scare her, but seeing the interaction in the evening only added onto his fears. Deciding to attack her as soon as she came in, he stood at the door only to receive Aman's call.

Deciding to pick it up, considering that, as it was, he had been absent from office a lot the last few days, he moved to the poolside, still checking at the door.

Khushi covered the last bowl, and kept it aside on the counter. Anjali's request for sweets, had been the much needed excuse to stay away from her husband for a few more moments. Extending the conversation about the same with her sister, till the latter yawned being tired from all the household chores, only gave her about 20 minutes, so she decided to start preparing for the next day's tiffin. Deciding to use the smaller bowls, she started soaking the Kidney beans in 12 different bowls, measuring out salt and baking soda for each one separately.  But eventually, OmPrakash who had finished the dishes, lent her a hand making the process faster, till everything was finished and she was left with no other choice but to head to their...........his room.

Arnav was still on his call, slightly distracted by it, when he heard the door's light thump. But before he could turn and take a step, she took hold of her hag from the side of the door and all but ran into the bathroom. Arnav decided to continue his call, with his eyes on the bathroom, a little disappointed. Looking at his temporary wife, as she made her way out in a simple white salwar-kameez, hair in a braid, but with an invisible weight on her shoulders, he couldn't move forward.

Words only came when he saw her taking her pillow and blanket to move to her regular 'bed'.

" Uski zaroorat nahi hai. Baarish ka season aa raha hai. Tum yaha recliner par sojaao. "

( No need for that. Monsoon will be coming soon. You can sleep on the recliner. Don't argue,  I don't have.. .. )

He stopped talking as he saw her immediately complying to his instructions and going towards the recliner. 

Both surprised and disturbed with her sudden obedience, he looked at her aghast, only to have his brain remind him about talking to her regarding her affair.The thought brought back his anger and he gritted his teeth.

"Suno, mujhe tumse baat karni hai Shyam ke baar mein. Ghar par thodi toh sharam......"

( Listen, I need to talk to you regarding Shyam . At home, have some shame.....)

Before he could finish his words, she cut him off by switching off the lights. Going back to her new sleeping area, she replied in absolute monotone, no guilt, no hurt, no anger, just indifference.

" In this house, and your life, both, my time is limited. Let's not stretch it with useless conversations."

Before he could retaliate, she had already covered her head with the spare sheet, releasing his anger once again.

His march towards her, just then halted as he took her words in.

" My time is limited"

" In this house and your life, both, my time is limited."

" In your life, my time is limited."

For the first time in the last 6 weeks, it was Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, who reminded Arnav Singh Raizada that their relationship was bound by an expiry, and the clock was ticking.

The table had turned.

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I'm sorry, but I had to stay up on Saturday Night because of an Entrance Test. So I got up really late on Monday and couldn't finish.
I just finished this.