Part 14 Agitated Khushi

After Arnav left GH, Khushi didn't stay there. She went to her room and locked the door.

"Who is he to interfere in our personal matter Aunty? Who gave him the right?" Naveen tried to hide his fear and showed himself strong.

Garima was silent. It was clear Khushi was the one who gave Arnav the right. Naveen also knew that. that was what made him irritated. Khushi should have told Arnav about Naveen. That was why he spoke about being helpless if Khushi would marry Naveen. Garima didn't expect Khushi would speak to Arnav about Naveen. She thought Khushi would keep it personal as it was a sensitive matter.

"This is how she insulted me in the office also" Naveen fumed.

"Naveen beta, after she talked about filing a case, I think we should not nag her. I don't think she will change her mind"

"What are you talking aunty? Just because she said she would file the case, she will not file the case. She is angry. That's why she said so. We should give her time becasue she will definitely change her mind" he said even though he was hopeless.

Garima sighed.

"From here on, don't talk to her... be on strike... don't cook, don't eat... she should know the seriousness of her behavior. How could she say she would file a case against us? Won't she respect you?" he provoked Garima.

Garima nodded yes.

"I too didn't expect that kind of outburst from her"

"Aunty, the man who came to give her phone back is her Boss. He showed himself a supporter only because the situation pushed him to. No one will come for her help. It's all eyewash. She has no one other than us. She will understand that"

Garima sighed.

"You may be right but for a few days, please keep your distance from her"

"Aunty, try to understand. If I keep my distance from her, we can do nothing. She will become free. Then we will have to start from the beginning... it's a waste of time, aunty. You please leave it to me. I will manage"

"What if she really calls the police?"

Naveen was stuck. He too had the same fear.

"She won't... she is not that brave. If she once stepped into the police station, she would face unpleasant questions not only from the police but also from people. Our society will not let the girl be peaceful who takes a courageous step, Aunty..." He said confidently.

Garima's face brightened because she had a point to control Khushi now. She nodded yes. She would corner Khushi with the one valid point.

Preeto who was supposed to enter GH stopped, listening to all of their conversation. She silently left the place and reached her house which was three houses away from Khushi's house. She called Khushi. She saw Preeto's number and attended to it after making herself.

"Hi, Preeto..."

"Khushi, what's happening in GH?"

Khushi was silent.

"Being my best friend, don't you feel like sharing your grief with me too?" Her voice was sad.

"I feel ashamed to talk about it, Preeto. I feel ashamed to be a harassed victim. Do you think it's a matter of sharing?"

"Then how did you share it with your Boss?"

Khushi was stuck.

"He spoke about your helplessness to your mother, Khushi"

Khushi managed herself. She didn't want Preeto to know she shared the most sensitive matter of her life with Arnav that she even felt ashamed to share with Preeto.

"How do you get to know about Naveen?" Khushi asked.

"Not only me but everyone in our area got to know about him as you shouted at him"

"My Boss should have also got to know in the way only. He would have heard my outburst. More than that, Naveen came to our office today. He created a big scene there. My Boss should have connected the dots"

Preeto sighed.

"I'm sorry for whatever happened in your life, Khushi"

"Leave it Preeto. I don't want to talk about it"

"But they are not ready to leave it, Khushi," she said miserably.

"What do you say?"

"I heard them talking about you. Naveen is not ready to leave you easily"

Khushi rolled her eyes, gritting her teeth.

"he asked your mother to be on strike, without eating, cooking, talking..."

Khushi wanted to bang her head on the wall. She didn't know what to do with her mother.

"Khushi, Naveen thinks you will not file the case against him at the police station"

"Oh..."

"Yes, he thinks you are not brave. I don't know how he thinks so even after witnessing your outburst" Preeto wondered but it was not hard for Khushi to understand what made him think so. She had been hiding the issue from her parent for more than seven years. She would not have told Garima about it if he had not asked her to marry him. She sighed.

"Will you really file a case against him, Khushi?" Preeto asked.

Khushi was silent.

"Naveen was right. This society will not let a girl live peacefully once she steps into the police station, Khushi. That's why he is so confident. He is not wrong. Please find some other solution to face him. your mother is with him. I don't think she will understand. Don't you know her?"

Khushi closed her eyes. Yes, she knew Garima. She belonged to a poor family in a small village in Lucknow. Shashi liked her and married her without minding about status differences, without knowing how greedy she was. She never got satisfied with anything. She spoke about what she didn't have, leaving what she had behind. Even though Shashi was rich she needed more. She was so adamant too. She never changed her mind if she fixed something.

"I will manage, Preeto"

"Khushi, you can ask me for any help. I'm here for you"

Khushi smiled. She knew Preeto could do nothing. Yet, her words soothed her.

"Thank you, Preeto"

"The situation is not good now. That's why I didn't come inside. Will meet you tomorrow"

"Mmm"

Preeto disconnected the call.

Khushi became considerate. Preeto's words made sense. She never thought of sharing her grief with even Preeto who was her best friend. Then how did she share it with Arnav? She didn't know. Could not she avoid it if she wanted? She was sure Arnav would not have nagged her to tell him the issue. She could have stayed quiet. Even though he asked about it, she could have said she was not interested in talking about it. But she spoke to him even before he questioned her about Naveen. Though it was not his concern, how gently he paid attention to her...! He tried to find a solution and also advised her mother too...! Her respect for Arnav became tenfold. How nice he was...! Poor his wife, she was not lucky enough to live with him! She felt bad for his wife who did not exist...!

Khushi didn't like to eat anything. She had no mood to meet her mother again who decided to be on strike. She was exhausted. Though she showed herself bold she was broken inside because there was no one for herself. She felt like she was left in the world alone. Even her mother was not understanding her. Then what would she do? Where would she go? Her eyes tear up. She didn't know what to do. She felt helpless. She felt like running away from everyone where there were no humans. She wanted to make a decision immediately about the problem. She could not tolerate the torture.

She lay on the bed, switching off the lights. Tears rolled down from the corner of her eyes. She sighed with annoyance when her phone rang. She thought it was Garima. She would call her for dinner to show fake concern. She was supposed to disconnect the call but widened her eyes seeing Arnav's number flashing. She knew he would ask her if she was all right and it was obvious. He would have thought she was a brave girl. He might appreciate her for facing Naveen gutful.

She sat on the bed and attended the call.

"Hello, sir..."

"How are you, Khushi?"

"I'm all right, sir"

"Khushi, I know you can't be all right. You should be broken down. Don't feel bad. The situation may be harder. It may lead you to think you have no one and it's obvious. Don't lose hope. Sometimes, life pushes us to the edge. You already faced a more terrible situation in your life. It was a cruel phase in any girl's life. There was nothing more than that that could strike a girl... but you withstand it. You don't know how brave you are...! Be strong and show nothing can shake you. you can do it, Khushi..."

Arnav stopped. He didn't get any reply.

"Khushi..."

No reply. He sharpened his ear as he heard a slight whimper. He was shocked.

"Khushiiii... are you crying? Khushi..."

Cutting him,

"How do you know I'm broken down? Even my mother doesn't understand me, sir" She choked.

Arnav was stuck.

"Yes, sir, I'm broken down. I'm not as brave as I show. I'm so scared and helpless because I have no one as mine to support me. I don't know what to do sir" she sobbed.

"Khushi, don't cry. Every problem has a solution..."

"No, sir, I don't think they will leave me peacefully..."

Arnav felt bad for her. He didn't know what to say but Khushi decided what to do.

To be continued...