Part 26

At the poolside:

"Khushi. What is this ?" asked Garima.

"What Amma ?"asked Khushi.

"You talked soo rudely with Anjali Beta and you even supported us over Dhruv. I can't believe this" said Garima.

"You are my parents Amma. How can I be calm ?" said Khushi. She can say her mother is directly taunting her for her belief over Dhruv than her parents.

" When we said about him, you didn't believe us, now what happened" asked Garima.

Shashi made Garima shut and turned to Khushi, "Did something happen beta ?"

Khushi nodded her head.

" You both sit. I will explain everything" said Khushi.

After Garima and Shashi sat, she too sat down beside them and narrated everything from the start. How Dhruv fed her about Arnavji being a playboy, then how she hated him, how she turned down Arnav's proposal, then how she came to know about Dhruv's truth from Lavanya, Payal and finally Nithya.

Garima and Shashi sat there too shocked to react. Khushi didn't say anything to her parents how she treated Arnav after marriage.

" I didn't believe anyone. I was soo blind in that man's love. But now, I am glad that he died" said Khushi.

"I have always said that he is not someone who shows himself to be." Said Garima.

"He spoiled soo many girls lives. God gave him punishment" said Shashi.

"Ok leave all that. Khushi, you still didn't learn from your mistakes" said Garima.

"What Amma ? What are you saying ?"asked Khushi.

"You talked soo rudely with Saachi coming to conclusion soon. And you didn't even apologize to her" said Garima.

Khushi understood her mistake.

"I will apologize to her amma" said Khushi. Garima nodded her head. They both talked with Khushi for sometime and went away.

After her parents went, Khushi went towards Saachi's room. She stopped hearing Payal's words.

"What!! So soon. Saachi. You just came today morning and you are leaving" said Payal.

"Payal. This is important. She is my Harvard friend and I have to attend the marriage. Or else she will kill me" said Saachi.

"So, you came for her marriage and not to see us. You said you came here because you missed us" asked Payal.

"Both are correct Payal. I came for her marriage and I missed you all too" said Saachi, " I will be back in a week"

"Did you said to Arnavji ?"asked Payal.

"Yeah. Just now I called him and informed him. He scowled at first but later understood it" said Saachi.

"Ok. Your wish then" said Payal.

"How is Kriti ?"asked Saachi.

"She is fine now. There is a lot of improvement now in her. But still she feels afraid of strangers. She doesn't allow any male near her even Akash too but she is very much comfortable with Arnavji." Said Payal.

"That's good. Arnav keeps everyone happy but don't know when happiness knocks him. The person whom he loves soo much always betrays him. He loved Ratna aunty, she was no more. He loved Anjali, she hurt him with her words. He loved Khushi, she too hurt him soo much just like Anjali. Initially, when I came to know the Arnav loved a girl, I felt soo happy that someone comes in his life who loves him more than anyone in this world but it turned out to be a night mare. You know what I was really fond of Khushi earlier when I came to know Arnie loves her.. She looked soo innocent.. But when I came to know about that she loves Dhruv and is going to get married to him , I felt pity for her.. Of all the men in this world, she got only Dhruv to love and marry.. I advised Arnav to stop this marriage but he didn't listen.." Saachi was going to continue but Payal asked, " But why ? Why didn't Arnavji even tried to save Khushi from this marriage ? Even I too have this question from long. When he loved Khushi, then why didn't he tried to save Khushi from this marriage with Dhruv. Me and Shyam Bhai asked him this question many times but he didn't said anything."

Saachi continued "Yes.. Even I asked the same question. Do you know what happened ? Anjali came to know even Arnav too loves Khushi. So, she took a promise from Arnav that he won't interrupt Dhruv and Khushi's marriage. She only forced him to leave for London. Dhruv and Khushi's marriage happened. I felt very sorry for Khushi. But after I came to know that Dhruv died I felt relieved that Khushi's life got saved.. But I never expected Anjali Jha to blackmail Arnie and make him marry to Khushi.. After that, I thought Khushi will fall in love with Arnav seeing his nature but no. That bastard fed soo much venom in her heart for Arnav. She too hurted Arnav. But all the hell broke on Karwachauth's day. I just called him and the way he talked I understood something happened which hurted him again soo much. Then I called you and came to know what happened. Arnav is soo much hurted by Khushi's act. I am afraid whether he will accept Khushi and love her again when she knows the truth and apologize to him. That day, he talked as if all his feelings for Khushi died.. I don't know what will happen. But I am happy that atleast Khushi didn't like Dhruv forcing to sell their shop. How can he even do that ?"

"He is Dhruv. He can do anything beyond our expectations" said Payal.

" You can't believe this Payal but even I tried to stop Khushi and Dhruv marriage. I wrote a letter to Khushi narrating about Dhruv's bad deeds. I even called her anonymously and said to her but she scolded me. I still didn't give up. I again tried calling her but she warned me she will complain to police. Don't say this to anyone. Even I didn't say this even to Arnav too." Said Saachi.

Payal nodded her head as OK.

Again Saachi said, " But I am still afraid for Khushi after she knows the truth..Arnav is someone who won't forget the pain easily caused by others soon. He isolates them from him totally. He completes the responsibility towards the person but love and care won't be there. That is the same case happening with Nani now. She too didn't cared for Arnav then. Because somewhere she thought Anjali's blames are true. She only took care of Anjali and Dhruv. She didn't even object once when my parents said they will take Arnav with us. I still remember the look in Arnav's eyes. He was expecting his nani to stop my parents and assure them she will take care of Arnav well from then but it didn't happen. Nani happily let Arnav come with us. Even after that, she didn't cared for him. By the time she realize her mistake, it was too late. She lost Arnav. He is just doing duty of a grand son. I can see Nani is repenting but Arnav already isolated her from him. So, there is no question of becoming old Arnav to her. Now, from the talks of Arnav, from Shimla, he started isolating her. I don't know what happened there between them. From karwachauth day, I understood he already isolated her from his life. Even though if Khushi now knows the truth and apologize him, she can't get anything other than heart break." Said Saachi.

Khushi was too shocked hearing the talks. So, it was Saachi who called her before marriage with Dhruv and warned her.. And she thought it was Arnav. She didn't informed Dhruv thinking he will be upset if she says. She too didn't paid any attention to this matter. If only she had thought for once. She left from there silently to the terrace.

Khushi stood at the terrace lost in her thoughts.. Saachi too tried to save her from the marriage but she was blind eye. From childhood, she was always like this. She thinks what ever the matter, she is right. She can never be wrong. Her this attitude brought her to this stage. It ruined her life.

Khushi doesn't know how much time she sat there thinking. She didn't realize it until darkness surrounded her. She soon went downstairs to Saachi room but she was not there.

She saw HP and asked about Saachi.

" Saachi Bitiya went to Shimla already." Said HP.

"When did she left ?"asked Khushi.

"About an hour back" said HP.

"Where are others ?"asked Khushi as she can't see anyone.

"Payal Bhabi and Akash Bhaiyya went to send off Saachi beta. Anjali Di, Naniji and Mamiji went to satsung" said HP.

"OK" said Khushi sighing and went upstairs to her room.

Arnav is in the room and his hand is bleeding. He is trying to clean the wound and bandage it.

Khushi gasped seeing the wound and rushed to him.

"Arnavji. How did it happen ?"asked Khushi.

Arnav was startled for the interrupt and looked up at her. He didn't say anything and continued his work. It is making him difficult to clean the wound with one hand. Khushi observed it.

"Arnavji. Let me dress your wound" said Khushi and sat opposite to him. Arnav looked at her frowning.

" I can do that" said Arnav cleaning the blood from his palm.

" It is not easy to clean and bandage with one hand. Give me. I will do it. Also, it will pain a lot" said Khushi and tried to take his hand but he shrugged off her hand.

"Why are you being stubborn Arnavji ? Let me help you." Said Khushi and forcibly took the first aid kit in her hand smiling to Arnav.

Arnav closed his eyes in despair. He remembered how she didn't even care in Shimla to tend his wounds when he was in pain.

"What the hell is your problem woman ? I can take care of myself. No one is there in the house for you to act as caring for me. I know how to tend my wounds. Why are you even worrying now ? As far as I remember, you said in Shimla that the beasts like me doesn't deserve any humanity. You were happily eating apple while I was trying to tend my wounds with single hand on that day.. What happened today ? What are you trying to show and to whom ? For your information, this wound is very small compared to the wound I got in Shimla. You didn't care that day then why today ? Leave me alone" shouted Arnav angrily and left from the room without bandaging the wound.

Khushi stood there with tears in her eyes. He is right. She didn't cared for him in Shimla. She clearly saw he was writhing in pain but she didn't tried to help him. He begged her to stay but she shrugged him off and went to shopping. Even then she didn't felt sorry for him knowing his sugar levels dropped. She was more concerned about what should she answer family about her absence. Now thinking about it, she was disgusted of herself for her behaviour. She left a person to die on his own. How could she even forget humanity ? All these days, she termed Arnav as a beast but in reality she behaved like a beast.

Then she remembered Saachi's words. Did Arnav isolated her from him just like Nani ? Did she realize her mistakes too late ? Can't she get back Arnav's love ? Love!! Does she even love Arnav in the first place to get Arnav's love ?

Thanks to those who have voted and pressed thank you button