Hey fellas...

Back with the update...

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Sheetal smiled evilly looking at the mobile in her hands.

She knows she has shot the arrow right at the target that too standing thousands of kilometres away from it.

Just a few lies from her end & the already wavering trust of Khushi on her Arnavji must have broken to pieces she would never be able to recollect.

Though yesterday night she couldn't implement her plan as Arnav had ditched her & had gone to stay God knows where.

But as per the saying 'Where there is a will, there is a way', her strong will gave her an unexpected chance to set her plans into action in the form of Khushi's call to Arnav.

Roaming her eyes in the meeting room she saw Arnav coming back after using the washroom.

Before he could notice she placed his mobile back on the table where he had forgotten before going to the washroom.

His negligence had proved to be her unexpected profit.

The meeting with the dealers was set at 8:00 am.

As per Arnav's last night instructions before leaving her at the apartments, Arnav had indeed sent a car with a driver to pick her for the meeting at 7:00 am sharp today morning.

Although she had hardly managed to get some 4 hours sleep owing to the anger & frustration she had been feeling due to Arnav's departure failing her plans, she was unwilling to leave the bed & wanted to catch up on some more of her beauty sleep.

But she knew that she has to shrug off her sleep & laziness if she doesn't want to loose any more chances to stay near Arnav & work her plans out successfully.

So she had left the bed, had gotten ready & reached the place where meeting was to be held to find Arnav already reached & seated on one of the chairs around the round table set for the meeting.

She had went & occupied the empty chair on his right side & had greeted him with her best of smiles which was reciprocated by a tight lipped smile from him coupled with restlessness & edginess, reasons definitely known to her.

She smirked inwardly as her played tricks back in Delhi were showing its results here & now she just needs to exaggerate more.

She so wanted to ask him about his last night whereabouts & why had he avoided to stay in the apartments with her but seeing at his strict business like demeanor she had thought better of it, not wanting to irk him with personal questions. She can get her answers later on.

She took the meeting related file & faked to be busy going through it.

There were a few minutes for the meeting to start.

The peons were serving hot beverages & breakfasts to all the occupants present in the hall.

As usual Arnav settled for his black coffee & she herself for green tea but her complete concentration was on the man of her interest & not on the green tea or the file she was faking to read, but of course without making it obvious.

From the corner of her eyes she saw Arnav taking his coffee mug in his right hand & his mobile in his left.

After unlocking his mobile she saw him opening speed dials & the first number was of the person she so wants to wipe out from Arnav's life.

Khushi ofcourse.

He was just about to press her number to dial when Sheetal turned the page from the file giving a little push to Arnav's right hand deliberately causing some of the coffee to spill on his pants at his thighs making him place the mobile & his coffee mug back on the table.

Fortunately the fine material of his pants helped him not to feel the burn much but still he did hissed lowly.

Oh my God. I am so sorry Arnav. I don't know how it happened. I was just turning the page. I am extremely sorry Arnav. Sheetal apologised & rushed to get the tissues from its box kept some distance away from their chairs.

Repeating her apology she started to wipe the stained part over his pants but Arnav stopped her feeling uncomfortable.

Its... Its ok Sheetal. I will manage it. He replied moving her hand away.

I am so sorry Arnav. How can I behave so clumsy?? I ruined your clothes. I am so sorry. She again apologized with a fake rueful face.

That's ok Sheetal. It was just a mistake. Don't bother. He replied standing up from his chair. I will just be back in a while. He said & moved towards washroom.

Unfortunately for Arnav & fortunately for Sheetal his mobile which he had forgotten on the table rang with Khushi's number & pic flashing on the screen.

Taking it as a chance, glancing once towards the direction Arnav went, she picked the mobile & moved towards a quiet corner of the room.

Accepting the call she held it to her ear & was a bit taken aback hearing Khushi taking Arnav's name delightfully as through a phone call with Arav last night she had come to know about Khushi being unwell.

But when she heard Khushi further apologizing to Arnav for not being able to attend any of his calls last night it gave her the idea that Khushi has no idea of Arnav staying overnight at a different place then her (Sheetal) & also no idea about the meeting timings otherwise she wouldn't had disturbed him now.

So taking this as a perfect chance she intentionally told Khushi some intimate things regarding her husband which are supposed to be privy to only a wife. Also which could definitely create a very negative & shattering impact on Khushi's already broken heart.

Also to be on the safer side she had asked Khushi not to call Arnav back. Lest her plan backfires revealing her game plan & by the palpable, stunned, shocked silence from Khushi's side Sheetal understood that she had succeeded on whatever she had intended to do.

After cutting the call from her side Sheetal saw Arnav's mobile getting locked which she again unlocked applying the pass word she had seen & memorized from the corner of her eyes when Arnav was applying a while before to unlock his phone to dial Khushi.

HAPPINESS was his password & it doesn't need any rocket science for her or anybody else for that matter who knows his love for his wife Khushi which means happiness.

She was burning from insides by the importance this chit of a girl was getting from Arnav. But this wasn't the right time to lament on such petty issues. She needs to clear out the proofs which could go against her.

So unlocking Arnav's mobile she immediately deleted Khushi's call from the incoming call history so that Arnav never knows about Khushi calling him back.

Keeping the mobile back on its place where Arnav had forgotten, she sat on her chair fiddling with her own mobile.

As Arnav reached his chair near her's she started apologizing again.

I am extremely sorry Arnav for staining your clothes. I hope I haven't burnt your skin over there as well. She asked guiltily looking at the stained part which wasn't that much visible now after cleaning.

Now Arnav was getting irked due to her constant apologies as it was grabbing unnecessary attention of the other people present over there.

Sheetal, enough of your apologies. Its not that you did it deliberately. As I said its ok. Its just a human error. It can happen by anybody. So stop feeling guilty & no more apologies. The meeting is about to start. Lets concentrate on it. He said slowly yet sternly taking his seat.

The meeting got started & Arnav had to push his mobile back in his pockets making Sheetal sigh in relief inwardly.
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After making hot poories Payal thought to make some hot jalebis too for her sister.

By the time HP had also returned from the market. He offered his help to Payal but she refused as she wanted to make everything on her own for her baby sister.

HP moved out of the kichen to complete his other chores.

Quickly preparing the batter & sugar syrup, she fried some jalebies & dipped them in the syrup. To make them more tastier she had added some kesar in the syrup.

Removing the jalebies from the kesar syrup she bent a bit & smelt its aroma.

Khushi is going to love these jalebies. She said to herself with a satisfying smile while transferring the jalebies in a plate.

Taking the vessels of hot poories & jalebies, Payal moved out of the kitchen towards the dinning table & arranged them on it alongwith the aloo ki sabzi.

Then moving towards the temple in the living room she prepared for pooja & aarti both the sisters have planned to do before breakfast.

After completing her work there she came & sat on one of the sofas in the hall waiting for her sister.

Taking a magazine kept on the centre-table she started turning its pages, occasionally glancing towards her sister's room upstairs.

Dread filled her heart not finding any signs of her sister even after an hour of her leaving her (khushi) to get ready & come down.

Throwing the magazine back on the table, glancing once at the devi maiyya's idol & praying to keep her sister fine she rushed towards the stairs.

Taking two steps at a time, with various scaring scenarios in her mind she reached outside her sister's room door.

She knocked hard & frantically on the closed door to get it opened immediately.

Khushi Payal called pushing the doors wide open to get her own eyes wide open in shock.

Her sister was lying almost lifelessly in the middle of the bed. Her eyes closed. Her head resting on right side. Her legs dangling from the edge of the bed.

It seemed as if.... as if she is dea....

No, no, no. How can she even think something so so terrible for her sister & that brought her back to senses.

Khushiiiii....screamed Payal rushing to her sister to get pricked with something pointed in her feet.

Raising her leg she saw a broken piece of mobile under her feet alongwith other broken pieces spread there.

It was Khushi's mobile. But how did it break?? she thought.

Shrugging her thoughts immediately as she had more pressing matters in her hand to worry for, she climbed on the bed near her sister's face & patted her cheek trying to wake her up.

Khushi... Khushi wake up. Wake up Khushi please. You are scaring me.

She was patting Khushi's cheek frantically, scared, on the verge of crying.

Not getting any response from Khushi, Payal checked the pulse at the hollow of her neck with shivering hands.

Finding the pulse pulsating she sighed in relief.

Raising herself a bit, she took the water jug placed on the table besides the bed.

She sprinkled some water on Khushi's face a few times, calling her name again & again.

Still getting no response from Khushi scared Payal to the wits & she did what a sensible person should do in such situations.

Climbing down from the bed, keeping the jug back on the table, she picked the cordless, dialled their family doctor from the emergency list & asked him to reach RM as soon as possible as its an emergency.

Replacing the cordless Payal climbed back on the bed. Holding both of Khushi's hands she pulled her completely on the bed.

Placing a pillow under Khushi's head payal set near her, rubbing her hands & legs.

Khushi please wake up. Why are you doing this to me?? See your jiji is so scared. Do you like me seeing this way?? No na. Then please wake up, please. Payal was urging her unconscious sister. Tears flowing from her eyes falling on Khushi's hands.

Payal kept rubbing Khushi's hands vigorously. Her tears flowing endlessly down her cheeks.

Her heart beating erratically, fearing for something worst.

She started chanting devi maiyya's name to make her sister fine as before.

After a terrible & painful wait of around 15 minutes, ringing of the doorbell alerted a crying Payal.

Jumping down from the bed she rushed out of the room.

HPji, it must be our family doctor. Please bring him to Khushi's room immediately. Payal shouted to HP from top of the stairs & then ran back in the room to her sister.

A confused & somewhat scared HP ran to the door to open it to find the Raizada's family doctor standing there with his checkup bag in his hand.

Taking the bag from the doctor's hand HP led him straight to his Khushi bhabhi's room as per Payal bhabhi's instructions.

As the doctor entered the room Payal bombarded him with her worries & fears.

Doctor please check my sister. I don't know what happened to her. When I entered her room I found her lying unconscious on the bed. I sprinkled water on her, patted her cheeks, rubbed her hands & legs but she didn't respond at all. Please do something. Please make my sister alright doctor. Please. Payal requested crying helplessly, pointing towards her unconscious sister.

Mrs. Raizada, please calm down. Don't panic. She will be fine. Let me check her first. The doctor consoled Payal sitting besides Khushi.

Taking his bag from HP he opened it.

Putting the stethoscope in his ears he checked Khushi's pulse & heart beats, checked her eyes raising her eyelids, checked her tongue opening her mouth a bit. Finally he checked her BP with the machine & caught the reason of Khushi's unconsciousness.

Payal was standing aside not disturbing the doctor, fidgeting with her hands restlessly. Her mind busy thinking of the possibilities the doctor would say for her sister falling unconscious.

The doctor injected Khushi on her arm & wrote some medicines on his letter pad supposed to be given after she is conscious.

Closing his bag, doctor handed it back to HP who was standing near the door, equally scared for his Khushi bhabhi.

Taking the bag HP moved out of the room giving privacy to Payal to talk to the doctor. Though he is somewhat aware of the reason of his Khushi bhabhi's distress state he can't do anything being a mere servant of the house.

The doctor handed the prescription to Payal.

Doctor, how is my sister?? What happened to her?? Why did she faint?? Hope there's nothing serious?? Why isn't she gaining conscious?? Payal asked the doctor frantically, still scared for her sister.

Mrs. Raizada, your sister's BP had dropped completely, leading her to fall unconscious. The doctor explained.

Payal gasped clasping her mouth. Her breath hitched in her throat.

Is... Is she ok now?? Payal managed to ask the doctor through her constricted throat.

I have given her a high dose injection which will bring back her BP to normal. She will gain conscious in half an hour or so. Once she is up feed her something healthy & give her the meds. She needs proper rest as well. Doctor instructed Payal glancing at Khushi.

Doctor, she will be fine right?? Payal asked still worried.

See Mrs. Raizada. Dropping of BP to this extent is possible only in two scenarios. One physical exertion. Second mental stress & trauma. Payal was listening carefully to the doctor.

If its due to physical exertion then it can be cured with proper rest, healthy food & medication. But if its due to mental stress & trauma which I am sure of looking at her pale visage, then she needs to be cared well. She should be kept away from the issues causing her distress. Anymore mental trauma can lead her to depression. Doctor said bluntly, shocking Payal to the core.

Mrs. Raizada I don't intend to scare you. I am just stating the factual possibility. Doctor stated but seeing Payal's horrified state he couldn't help from consoling her.

Don't worry Mrs. Raizada. Just take good care of her. Give her lots of love & keep her away from any kind of stress. She will be fine soon. After all she has such a loving sister. Doctor said with a smile trying to lighten the atmosphere & Payal's worries.

Only if the doctor knew that this same sister is somewhere responsible for her Khushi's traumatic state thought Payal coming out of her shocked state.

Composing herself Payal thanked the doctor for coming at such short notice.

Stating it as his duty, the doctor took his leave instructing Payal to call him anytime if again needed.

Payal stood at her place recollecting whatever the doctor said.

Fresh bout of tears flowed from her eyes grasping her sister's condition.

Wiping her tears, glancing once at her unconscious sister, Payal moved out of the room to ask HP to get the medicines from the medical.

After instructing HP Payal returned to her sister's room & sat near her.

Taking in her sister's pale face which was pricking her insides she caressed her cheek lovingly yet painfully.

Helding her sister's hand in hers she kissed it & held it to her cheeks & broke into sobs.

Amidst her sobs her mind reeled to the possible reasons which reduced her sister to this state in just an hour of time she had left her happy, smiling.

Was her smile, her chirpiness at that time just a momentary facade to send her jiji away??

No, it can't be as she herself had seen the genuine twinkle in her sister's eyes that time which was no where a pretence. She can vouch on that.

Then what just happened in such short span that her sister's BP dropped this bad & she felt unconscious??

Suddenly she remembered the broken pieces of the mobile.

Getting up, coming around the bed she came to the broken mobile pieces still lying on the floor.

Taking them in her hands carefully, she inspected them.

Its indeed Khushi's mobile she thought.

What happened that the mobile was subjected to this state & then Khushi falling unconscious!! Are both the things linked to each other?? She frowned staring at the broken mobile & then at her still unconscious sister.

Yes, quite possible. At this point of time there are only two people who can cause such severe stress to her sister that she could even faint. Assessed Payal.

Her Arnavji & his ex girlfriend. Both of them are not present here. So the chances of either of them calling Khushi & saying something hurtful, cutting are quite maximum. She assumed confidently.

Putting the mobile pieces on the table she went back & sat near her sister.

She should be kept away from the issues causing her distress. Anymore mental trauma can lead her to depression. Doctor's words resonated in her mind bringing back the fear Payal had felt witnessing Khushi's similar condition 12 years back when Khushi was just 8 & she herself 12.

Khushi had lost her parents in an accident. Her (Payal's) babuji & amma who happens to be Khushi's maasi had brought a very scared & vulnerable Khushi into their family.

At such a tender age, not knowing the meaning of death, all Khushi used to do was wait for her parents, cry heartwrenchingly & then fall unconscious.

Payal herself was small but not that much to not understand the meaning of death. She knew, Khushi's wait would never end as her parents would never come back.

But Payal could do nothing accept seeing Khushi crying & fainting.

It had pained her, hurt her equally seeing Khushi in that condition who was by the time no less then a dear, younger sister to her.

Doctor's too were scared due to her worsening condition & had said the same thing that she might go into depression if stays this traumatic & distressed.

Then Payal with her parents had made it a mission to pull Khushi out of her misery by giving her lots of love, care, kinship, happiness & a new family.

They did succeed & got a very happy, bubbly, chirpy, crazy & lively Khushi as a result, who then became the life of their family.

Payal would never let Khushi to reduce herself to that same scared, vulnerable & lonely Khushi again.

She will bring back her Khushi by beeing her pillar of strength & giving her lots of love & care.

I promise you Khushi I will bring my Khushi back. Payal said determined caressing Khushi's cheek & kissed her forehead lovingly.

Payal saw Khushi's eyelids flutter. She was coming back to conscious.

Khushi. Payal called her softly holding her hand.

Khushi opened her eyes slowly, moving her head around taking in her sorroundings, her eyes settled on her jiji who was hovering over her with misty, scared, concerned eyes.

Khushi. Payal smiled painstakingly.

Jiji. Khushi said slowly trying to sit up.

Payal helped her holding her shoulders, arranging two pillows at Khushi's back to let her sit comfortably.

How are you feeling now Khushi?? Payal asked controlling her tears.

Khushi could just nod her head, scared to answer her jiji's questions.

Payal offered a glass of water to Khushi which she drank in a go wetting her parched throat.

Taking the empty glass back Payal said Khushi, I will just be back. You rest for a while till then. Ok.

Surprised for not getting scolded or inquired by her jiji, Khushi just nodded her head like an obedient child.

Caressing Khushi's hand Payal got up & moved out of the room.

Khushi sat resting her head back on the head rest.

In a few minutes Payal came back holding a tray with a plate of food & a glass of milk in her hands.

She sat near Khushi keeping the plate on her lap & the milk glass on the table besides the bed.

Khushi saw the plate filled with aloo puri & jalebies but the sight of her favourite food failed to please her like just the names of them did, before she fainted.

Taking a morsel of aloo puri in her hand, Payal raised it to Khushi's mouth who was about to deny but one look from her jiji & she opened her mouth obediently.

As it is she was too weak to protest.

She let her jiji feed her to her hearts fill.

Both the sisters were glancing at each other occasionally to read the other's expressions.

After feeding her sister to her hearts content Payal popped the tablets from its strips which HP had handed her when she had gone down to the kitchen.

She passed the meds with the milk glass to Khushi who gulped them down her throat finishing the milk as well.

Are you feeling better now?? Payal asked Khushi keeping the empty plate & glass aside.

Yes jiji. Much better. Khushi replied with a smile.

Do you want to sleep?? Payal asked concerned.

No jiji. Khushi refused shaking her head.

Both the sisters sat in silence for a while with Khushi looking down at her lap & Payal figuring out, how to start the conversation.

Do you want to talk Khushi?? Payal asked slowly, carefully.

Khushi looked up at her sister. Their eyes meeting, trying to convey without words.

But words have to be said. Feelings need to be conveyed. Thoughts need to be opened up. Pain needs to be shared.

Its high time everything comes out in the open between the two sisters.

Yes jiji. I want to talk to you. Khushi replied calmly, confidently.

I am all ears for you Khushi. Payal said moving closer to Khushi, helding her hands in her own.

Payal knows that unless Khushi lets everything out she won't be able to help & support her baby sister.

Just let out everything today. Even if it includes your jiji's negligence, ignorance & carelessness towards you, then be it. Let it all out today Khushi. Start from your first meet with Sheetal & Arav till your fainting episode. Payal said caressing Khushi's hands, taking her in confidence.

Taking a deep breath Khushi started with the incident causing Khushi's first meet with Sheetal till her phone call before she fainted due to the same.

By the time Khushi finished, the front of her dress was soaking with her tears & she was shaking with sobs.

But Payal, she was shocked, flabbergasted & very very angry on herself.

How she couldn't see all these painful, heart breaking things happening with her sister??

From whatever Khushi told her now, Payal could deduce only one thing that Sheetal was doing all these deliberately yet cleverly without letting anybody have any iota of doubt on her intensions & everybody including her (Payal) fell in her trap like fools & became her pawn in her game plan of cutting Khushi from entire family & taking her place in the family & particularly in Arnav's life.

She was taking advantage of her acquaintance or friendship or affair whatever it was with Arnav in Harvard.

Payal berated herself for not understanding Sheetal's game plan & Arav's major role in it.

A tug at her wrist by her sister brought Payal from her dumbstruck, self loathing, thinking mode.

Jiji, why aren't you saying anything?? Khushi asked amidst her sobs.

Payal gulped hard seeing her sister's wet, tear streaken face & agonized eyes.

This must be happening since days. My Khushi must be crying to herself everyday, every night, alone, with nobody around to console her, support her. Payal felt very low infront of her sister to not understand her sister's anguished predicament.

Gulping hard, contolling her own tears & emotions Payal wiped Khushi's tears with both her hands & hugged her tight, caressing her back to calm down her sobs.

After Khushi calming down a bit Payal detached herself from her. Wiping Khushi's face with her veil, setting her loosened hair properly behind her ears, cupping her cheeks Payal asked her slowly, carefully, looking into her vulnerable eyes Khushi, do you really doubt on Arnavji with Sheetal??

No jiji. Neither I doubted him then when I did the DNA test nor now after Sheetalji's disgusting talks on phone. Pat came Khushi's reply without a second of delay.

The previous vulnerability had vanished immediately & all Payal could see was love, confidence & downright trust for her Arnavji in Khushi's eyes.

That gave a huge relief to Payal's skeptical thoughts.

Jiji, I know I did wrong with Arnavji by going for DNA behind his back. He felt that I don't trust him & his love which was never the case nor my intensions to make him feel so. When he had told me that his & Sheetal's relation in Harvard was completely platonic, I beleived his words then & now as well. Khushi said genuinely.

I didn't trust Sheetalji's words on phone but what hurt me was that unknowingly or unintentionally Arnavji gave her a chance to take advantage of the situation. His negligence can prove more fatal to our relationship & that whirled my mind & I collapsed. Khushi revealed her doubts on Sheetal. Her anguish squeezing her heart painfully.

Why Arnavji's shrewd ASR mind can't understand his ex girlfriend's atrocities?? Why he is not able to understand my miseries due to his indifferent behaviour towards me due to Sheetalji?? Why can't he let go of my one unintentional mistake?? Khushi explained exasperated, breathing hard after her outburst.

Khushi, calm down. So much anxiety & stress is not good for your health. Just relax. Payal explained rubbing Khushi's forearms to ease her.

Jiji, I would had never even thought of doing the DNA test if our family wouldn't have been this inconsiderate towards my feelings & emotions. The striking similarities & their constant comparisons between Arnavji & Arav forced me to go for the DNA tests I regret doing, which pushed my Arnavji away from me. Khushi confessed. Her eyes filled with tears of regret & guilt.

And I should be the one to be blamed here the most. Came a voice startling both the sisters.

Payal & Khushi darted their eyes to the door shocked, stunned, mystified.

To be continued....

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That's it dearies...

Waiting for ur votes & reviews...

I would like to inform my dear readers that now I won't be able to update any of my stories till 17th November as I m at my inlaws place for Diwali & I won't get time to draft.

I would humbly request my understanding readers not to expect or demand updates till then. Hope u would understand & co operate🙏

I would like to wish A VERY HAPPY DIWALI in advance to all my lovely readers & their families ☺️

Meet u all after 17th. Till then goodbye, take care & have a safe Diwali 😃