Chapter 50
The hard slap wasn't much surprising. He saw anger in Anjali's eyes. He saw how she walked to him and prepared himself for what was about to come before she even reached him. All he cared for, was Khushi's tearful eyes. Her deep pain that reflected in her face and that he was responsible for.
Anjali started screaming. It took him a minute to understand her words.
>>You thought my husband had an affair with Khushi and decided to do what? You thought playing games and creating fake marriage would protect me. Are you insane, Arnav?<<
>>I am not our mother Anrav. I am not that weak. I would never put myself over my children. I would never kill myself because of a man. My life is worth something to me, so is my love for my kids. Why didn't you came to me?<<
>>You were pregnant. I feared you would lose your child if I talked with you.<<
He tried to explain. At least he would try to explain why he did what he did. Arnav didn't try to save himself from the guilt, but he tried to explain why he did what he did because he wanted Khushi to understand the reason for his betrayal. One day she would hopefully realize that his only intention was to protect his sister and he did everything he did out of love for his family.
Anjali slapped him again, this time on the other side.
>>The saddest part was that someone paid for this misunderstanding, because what you thought would be, was wrong.<<
Shiyam walked to them. It was him who spoke suddenly.
>>Khushi came to my office a few years ago and asked for my help to find her biological parents. She was found at the age of five years on the streets of Lucknow and had lived the next years with the Gupta family. Your sister Anjali met her a few times in my office. I didn't hide anything from my wife.<<
>>The last time I saw her, I told her I would continue searching for them even if she couldn't give me any money for my work.<<
Arnav looked at Khushi again who hid her face under her palms and her body trembled.
Anjali and Shiyam stood around him and talked. He heard them and knew what they said. He knew before this conversation that whatever he thought about Khushi was wrong. His instinct has told him the truth so many times, but he chose to ignore his inner voice and now has to face the extent of his stupidity. He knew the truth would hurt but not to the level it actually hurt now.
He told himself again and again that he would work to make it right. His mistakes and whole past will be cleaned again. He promised himself he would do everything to make it up to Khushi and get her forgiveness. He believed every word Anjali and Shiyam said and even if they didn't say one word about the past, he decided long time ago that he didn't care anymore.
If Khushi doesn't leave him and stay with him, they are going to accomplish the whole situation.
They will be stronger in the end.
She just needs to stay with him.
*
Payal listened to the conversation. She thought whole night what to do to separate Arnav and Khushi and here was the solution. She couldn't believe her luck.
Some things made sense that the guy and this woman who was Arnav's sister said, but some things not. Payal knew about Khushi's past, but she never saw Arnav's sister and her husband together with Khushi. Well she didn't care. She prepared herself for the final move to separate them and wanted to concentrate on celebration instead of thinking of unimportant people with stupid name Khushi.
*
Anjali took the collar of Arnav's shirt in her hands and shook him.
>>How could you do this, Chote? And that too, to an innocent girl. I can't believe my brother would do something so foolish, so stupid. I can't believe he was capable of doing something so evil.<<
>>And you know what the funniest thing is? I talked to Shiyam to bring Khushi and you together. I wanted to invite her to our home to introduce her to you, as soon as you came to Lucknow. I was sure you would fall in love with her. She is the nicest girl in this world. Honest. Goodhearted. Beautiful.<<
>>I can't believe I was right about her, but didn't see my brother wasn't good enough for her. Because you know what Arnav? You just proved you are not worth of being her husband.<<
Anjali started to cry and her lips trembled when she asked the question that was so simple, jet so hard to understand the answer on it.
>>Why?<<
She was interrupted by Payal's voice.
>>You!<<
Everyone turned to her, except Khushi who hid her face between inside her palms.
>>You are the one who brought Khushi back?<<
Anjali let Arnav go and walked one step to side looking stunned to Payal.
>>Who is this?<<
>>Khushi's sister, Payal,<< was Arnav's answer.
Payal walked fast to Arnav and pushed him back.
>>How dare you? I thought you were her second husband. You were someone new in her life. I didn't thought you were the person who brought her back and told my parents how cheap she was.<<
>>Payal, wait a minute. Let me explain.<<
>>Shut up! So it was you who married her secretly, just to bring her back and then tell what kind of whore she was. Blaming my old parents for doing something wrong and my innocent sister for being a prostitute. And then you just left, after every one from the neighborhood heard your words. Don't you know what they did to her? Khushi run behind you to stop you and then they hit her with stones and sticks, calling my sister by the same names which you used before you left her behind.<<
Arnav looked at Khushi who was still crying silently behind her palms.
>>What?<<
Arnav felt like someone took him the ground under his feet. He wanted Khushi to look at him, but she didn't follow his unsaid wish. He wanted to feel connection between them again, but with every second he felt more and more losing everything that was important to him.
>>My father and mother tried to stop them, but they didn't want to and then my sister ran away and we didn't saw her anywhere anymore.<<
Anjali took the situation in her hand by turning his head around from Khushi.
>>Is that true?<<
She slapped Arnav again and moved her hand up to do it again, when one voice stopped her.
>>Enough!<<
Everyone looked to the side where the voice came from and saw Khushi standing there with wet face.
>>Khushi?<< came from Arnav who was shocked to hear her voice. Yes, she said his name whenever they became intimate with each other, but she never spoke so loud and clear, like now. Her voice was usually silent and soft but now there was so much anger and frustration in it, that Arnav wondered about her.
Arnav wanted to walk to her but his sister held his collar. Khushi's eyes moved from Shiyam to Anjali and then to Payal.
>>Can you please leave me and Arnav alone? I need to talk to him. Alone.<<
Payal didn't want to leave them alone. After all she did her best to create a deep pit so that they never find a way to come back together. Sadly, stupid Khushi seemed to be weak because she obviously wanted to forgive Arnav. By the thought Payal felt this overwhelming panic that grew inside her chest because of the possible outcome of their private conversation.
If they both find a way out of the situation and come back together, all Payal's efforts were for nothing. And this was something, Payal didn't want to accept.
>>Khushi, don't you remember what Arnav did? Mom and Dad told me what he said. He is evil. Don't trust him. I want you to leave with me. We will go to Mom and Dad. They miss you Khushi. Come with me please and leave this monster.<<
Payal gave her best just to move Khushi to leave with her. Then she planned to make her sister disappear and then, maybe. Just maybe, she would try to win Arnav for herself.
>>I want to talk to Arnav.
Alone,<< was Khushi's confident reply. No one in the room would assume she was not a confident and strong woman.
Then finally, after sometime that felt like forever, everyone walked out of the condo, except Khushi and Arnav. Anjali, Shiyam and Payal didn't wait in the other room like Payal suggested. They simply left the whole place and gave Arnav and Khushi their privacy, after Anjali took everything in her hand and decided to give them much needed space to clear everything out.
*
Arnav was stunned to hear Khushi's speaking. He knew she could talk but to hear her saying one whole sentence shocked him again and again.
>>Khushi, what happened three years ago was a big mistake. I didn't used to know then that you were innocent. I thought you...<<
>>You thought I was a cheap girl and a whore.<<
Khushi ended Arnav's sentence with a firm voice. He didn't see weakness in her eyes after she had said these words.
>>You should understand Khushi, my father betrayed my mother and when I saw you hugging Shiyam, I thought the history repeated itself and feared for my sister. I wanted you out of his reach to protect her.<<
Khushi looked down, probably remembering the past.
Arnav continued explaining.
>>And then we slept with each other and I didn't see any stains on the sheets, so I assumed I was right when I thought you and Shiyam had an affair. And then I read all those messages on your phone from different guys.<<
Khushi looked up.
>>I hugged Shiyam because he was ready to help me to find my parents and that too without money. He wanted to check all hospitals in hope to find some information's about my birth. I was thankful that he and Anjali di wanted to help me.<<
She stopped explaining and breathed in deeply.
>>After you left me at my so called Parent's home, they dropped me out. Whole neighborhood listened to your words and they... they... I hate you.<<
He walked fast to Khushi, totally shattered to hear what she had gone through. As soon as his hand touched hers, she walked one step away from him.
>>Don't touch me. I hate you.<<
>>Khushi, please. Listen to me, please. I did mistakes. I didn't know then what I know now. Please don't push me away. I love you.<<
>>You love me? No, you don't. You never loved me. And even if you do love me, I don't care anymore.<<
Arnav saw the hate forming in Khushi's glance and how she gulped before she spoke.
>>I will never forgive you. I hope to never see you again.<<
Arnav took Khushi by her shoulders and shook her lightly.
>>What does this mean? You want to leave me? No, you can't leave me dammit. You can't.<<
Khushi closed her eyes before she removed his hands from her shoulders.
>>I hate you.<<
She repeated her words.
>>Then hate me. I can make you love me again. I know I can. Just don't leave me. Please don't do this. Stay with me and make my life hell. Please. I can't live without you.<<
She laughed sarcastically.
>>I am leaving you.<<
He fell on his knees and hugged her hips, pressing his head to her belly. He sobbed and it was obvious that he was crying. Khushi's heart was cold. Everything she has been going through was back and she truly hated Arnav. The day she was punished for no mistake of hers was back and she remembered everything.
Every. Single. Thing.
The way he removed the jewelry and sindoor. Also the way he spoke about her in front of her parents. Nothing of these things were ever forgotten. She hadn't wanted to think and dream about him and she was back to this time and knew why she took this decision.
He was the one who took her last hope for love and family. It wasn't her father. Or mother. Not even Payal or her real parents that didn't want her. No, it was him. Arnav gave her little hope and then just snatched everything away. Khushi was a woman who knew how it felt to lose everything and she knew she doesn't want to go through this ever again.
She pushed him away while he was still knelling on the floor, his head down in shame. With last strength he tried to hug her back, but she walked one step back.
>>Please forgive me.<<
His voice was just a mere whisper and so full of pain.
>>What should I do to get your forgiveness? Tell me. I will do everything you want.<<
>>Will you really do everything I want you to?<< asked Khushi with a calm voice.
>>Yes, yes. Tell me and I will do it. I'l do everything you want me to. Just give me a chance.<<
>>Promise?<<
>>Yes, I promise.<<
Arnav's face became so hopeful hearing her words. He was ready to do anything just to get her forgiveness.
>>I want you to stay away from me.<<
His whole world had been shattered with this sentence. Arnav became a man who just lost everything. Who became an empty vessel, without any content. His soulmate separating him, drawing deep and permanent cuts between them. He shook his head, but his mouth was closed and no words escaped to change Khushi's mind. Big tears left from his eyes and renewed the traces of old tears. Her wish broke his heart. It took every life out of him. Arnav knew there was nothing he could do to change Khushi's decision and wish. And he wanted her forgiveness so he would do anything and everything she asked for, just in hope, one day his love will be able to forgive him.
How cruel life could be. In one moment you think everything is well and the life is beautiful and in next moment you lose everything that you hold dear to your heart.
Arnav was ready to accept his faith but there was this small hope and he still wasn't ready to give up his life with Khushi.
>>Please don't. This is going to kill me. I can't live without you.<<
>>Then you will know how it was for me when you left me. I will never be able to forgive you. I will never forget the pain you gave me.<<
Arnav understood Khushi and he understood her feelings. Hell, he hated himself more than she ever could. But still, he couldn't let her slip through his fingers. He couldn't give up, even he knew, in the end he will do anything just to make her happy.
>>Please let me be with you. Please I am begging you. I did everything to make you happy since I found you. I wanted you to forget the past. I hoped to start again and never look back. Please, Khushi?<<
He looked up with tearful face totally desperate, pleading for one last chance. Khushi on the other hand, was totally cold. Everything what happened to her was back and she couldn't suppress the feeling of betrayal. She felt betrayed and let down by Arnav. The memory of those days with him didn't want to let her go. His acting whole time and the way he brought her back to her parents, totally cold and ignorant for her pleas.
It was then that she realized that it was her then that was pleading for his forgiveness too. She was the one, who wanted him to come back to her too. Was he willing? No. He crushed her heart and stomped on it like a cruelest person in the world, never looking back and leaving her in the hell. Because of this, Khushi wasn't able to step back and forgive. What Arnav did to her, was something she couldn't forget.
But today was the day of honesty and truth and she intended to give him these two things as a separation present. Khushi comforted herself that she would at least give Arnav more than he gave her three years back.
>>I stayed with you to get what I want. I hated every second, but I did it to get pregnant.<<
The honesty and truth didn't came with love and care. There were no nice words in this whole scenario. Khushi wanted to hurt Arnav like he had hurt her once. She never saw herself as a evil person but to say cruel words, were part of giving back something that Arnav gave her once. Even her heart told her that she lied. Not only to Arnav but also to herself, Khushi intended to go through this process.
She silenced her heart that already started to bleed for the person in front of her. She prepared herself for the last words before she left to start a new life with her baby.
>>What do you think, why did I cry every time you touched me? Why did I shed tears after sleeping with you?<<
Khushi breathed once in and then out before said the next words.
>>It was because I hated it. And I hated you.<<
The moment Khushi spoke this out, she knew she was lying and knew it was time to leave. If she didn't get the strength to leave him she would never be able to leave and be probably hurt again. Through the experience from her past, she knew how nice Arnav could be. How good he could act. All lies, like his so called love.
>>I wanted a baby and I was successful. That is all I wanted. That's why I slept with you, not because I wanted it, not because I wanted you.<<
She placed carefully her hand on her belly. His eyes followed down till he reached her hand.
>>If you want my forgiveness, stay away from me and this baby.<<
One minute or five elapsed, none of them said anything. They just continued staring at each other. Arnav saw how serious Khushi was. He wasn't angry or hated her for her acts. He had done a big damage to her and he knew he deserved it all.
Then he moved his glance down and closed his eyes. Slowly. Painfully. Knowing that losing her will kill him.
He nodded and agreed with her condition. There was nothing he could do. Her wish was his command. If she wants him to stay away, he would. If she wants him to die, he would. He was ready for his punishment.
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