Study Room,

Abhay studied Akash as he stood before him contemplating whether to tell him or not. Akash reading his mind "There is no need to hide anything jija ji. I've heard enough to understand what had happened with Khushi bhabi and Bhai. But I wish to know the entire truth before jumping to conclusion. Do tell me jija ji?"

Looking at the determined person before him he knew there is no escape, nodding his head he asked "What do you want to know?"

Giving a twisted smile "everything jija ji......Nothing to be left out"

With each word and the incidents narrated to him, his blood turned cold as he listened to what happened with Khushi, how Arnav saved her, and the loss of their child. Gupta's ill behavior turning him Ice. How could they do such a thing? Aborting a child and nearly killing the mother. And how could Payal stayed silent....not stopping them from doing such a crime?

Abhay "Now you know. Khushi does not wish anyone to know about it. First because she did not want anyone to know what happened between her and Arnav? Nani will not take it lightly. And second because of what Gupta's had done, if it comes in open then it can have repercussion on your marriage and she does not want any problem in Payal's marriage"

Akash "She thinks for their welfare even after all that happened with her" he is amazed at her heart. Abhay shrugged helplessly "that is Khushi you are talking about."

Nodding his head "but don't you think our family deserves to know about what happened?"

Abhay "did you not hear me? Nani, Maami, and Maama ji will not take it lightly. We will not get too judgmental on Arnav and Khushi's shared intimacy but for them it will be a shock to know Khushi got involved with Arnav before marriage and was pregnant. On the other hand, they would not take lightly to the abortion forced on Khushi. Everything will be a mess and your marriage.....did you think about what will happen to your marriage with Payal"

Akash giving a sarcastic smile "Leave them jija ji......I don't think so I can be able to accept the people who had done such a crime against the woman, who happens to my bhabi....my bhai's love"

Abhay looked at him stunned, Akash continuing "How do you think it will be for him? He is tolerating everything for me. How can I go blind and watch him suffer when every time he encounters one of the Gupta's"

"Fool the marriage is only a day away. Don't do anything foolishly" blasted Abhay.....gritting his teeth "And what do you think Arnav is keeping quiet for? For Khushi, the girl wants her sister's marriage to go with peace. Do you really think Arnav would keep quiet and watch them scooting freely? He is just willing the time till your marriage.....he knows what to do and where to hit the Gupta's. You stay away from it. Marry the girl you love and be happy."

Akash "Love? I don't know Jija ji......I really don't know now what I want."

Abhay holding Akash's shoulder, in a gentle tone "Forgot everything and enjoy your D-Day. Arnav will later handle Gupta's in his way."

Akash "how do you think I'll feel? The woman I loved is one of the Gupta's who was driving Khushi bhabi to death. How can I forgot it and live my life with her? It is not easy."

"I know.....I know.....but think from Payal's side too. She is putty in her family's hand. She could not go.........."

Akash shrugged his hands away "don't....don't take her side....she should have opposed it....should have helped Khushi bhabi....should have saved her child....but No, all she did was keeping quite. On the other hand, even after everything happened to her, Khushi bhabi is looking out for her." saying it he left the room leaving behind worried Abhay. He could understand what Akash is feeling for he too is sailing in same boat. But Khushi will be unhappy if she became the reason for any mishap in Payal's marriage. That is the only reason why Arnav's hands are cuffed along with his. It will not take them a minute to destroy the Gupta's but it is Khushi who is restraining them.

Next day, ArShi's room,

Khushi "Why?" her disappointed gaze looked at Abhay, he swallowed thickly, he had as soon as possible relied the information to Arnav and Khushi of Akash coming to know of the entire truth. And now he is facing the disappointment from them.

Abhay "I'm sorry, Khushi but Akash had heard Arnav's talk with Payal in the function"

She sat on the bed worried, her heart thudding "Now what will happen? You said Akash ji was so angry. Arnav......."

Arnav wrapped his arm around her shoulder, caressing her arm "Hush Love, we will talk to him' she burst out crying 'I don't want jiji's marriage to stop or have any hindrance second time. Last time too it was because of me her marriage......"

Putting a finger on her lips, he shushed her "Last time if anyone was fault then it was the boy's side who demanded the dowry at last moment.......if anyone was at fault other than them then it is me, if I've not locked you up in the room you would have at least reached the boy and his family nor the hallabulo in her marriage would have happened."

Abhay "I just hope he does not spill the bean before the family. He is not agreeing to keep the family in dark" Khushi panicked at that....Oh what will Nani ji and others will think of her.

Arnav "we should talk to him, now" Abhay agreed with him. The three left the room towards Akash room.

The three men stood looking at each other; Khushi sat on the single sofa looked wordlessly worried at her brother in law's question. It happens to be an hour the three of them came to Akash's room who greeted them sourly. And the rest of the time it was mostly Akash who expressed his disappointment in not being shared about the storm his brother was facing in his life. No one has anything to say, it felt at the moment very wrong to have had hid the things from Akash but what could they do. They just do not want Akash or anyone in the family to be put in a position of distress when there is a marriage in the card.

Khushi raised her eyes to look at Akash "Akash ji please don't think we did not trust you.....we do.....Arnav ji trust you....how can he not? You are his brother. The brother, who stands always with him and was there for him when he needed you. You are one of his strength he prides on. But we certainly did not wish to cause a distress on such an occasion. Everyone will be shattered to hear what had occurred in the past few months."

Akash kneeling before her "How can you think anything that matters when comes to family will cause distress? You are my family Bhabi and being my family, I certainly did not like the fact of you all hiding the problem you were going through. I had to stumble upon the truth myself rather than to hear it from Bhai. Occasion or no occasion nothing is important then you people. I agree I was shattered hearing it......all will be too hearing it....... but don't you think it would have been best if you both had shared everything with us. What are we family are for, if we cannot be there for you in your dark time? Have you both stopped to think what if this came out in future? Along with sadness they will be hurt too like I'm today."

Khushi "No.....no they should not come to know.....never"

Akash holding her hand in his gently "Bhabi, Gupta's should be punished for what they did to you. How can we forget that and move on? Bhabi they killed your child.....and they would have killed you too."

She paled.....the loss of her child at the mention of what Gupta's did to her striking like a blow. He squeezed her hand "I did not want to cause you distress in bring up this but.....but Bhabi how can you forget it all.....how can you believe I should accept Payal even after knowing she too was involved in such an unpleasant action of events occurred."

Khushi clutched his arm "Please......please don't say that......she....*swallowing the dryness in her throat* she could not go against buaji.....she is..."

Akash shaking "Come on Bhabi I bet if she was in your place you would certainly not allowed your buaji to do such a crime. I know it well; you would have fought for her."

He got up looked toward Arnav and Abhay "You tell me, what if it was Payal in Bhabi's place? Would bhabi have let all that happen to her?" Arnav looked at Khushi, his gaze intent on her. She swallowed as he said slowly "she would have fought for her tooth and nail"

Akash "Exactly!!!! She should have fought for her. Why her and Garima aunty if you had said I believe kept quite at all the assault. They should have spoken against it but all they did is watch and take part in the program."

Arnav sighed harshly, sitting beside Khushi, taking her hands "and they were giving you that......that medicine.....I would have lost you too Khushi."

Khushi looked at him, pain brimming in her eyes "they don't know that.......jiji would not have known about it.......trust me....she would not have known what the tablets were for. It was bought by Shyam.....he used to buy medicines." She does not want to believe her jiji would cause her death, jiji can be weak before her family but she can't think of her jiji sending her to death.

She looked at Akash "and you love jiji......you love jiji...."

Akash "Love? Now, I really don't know what Love is Bhabi. *shocked she looked at him* I don't think so I'll be able to forgive her for all the pain she and your family has caused you, I really could not take all the reasons of Whys you are giving for her."

Khushi "No....no...no....don't say that....Jiji will be so hurt. Please don't say so.....Arnav ji....Jija ji....tell him....he should not let the incident come in the way of his affection to Jiji. Nothing is worth. Loving a person is to accept them wholly with their good and bad, to take them as they come, to steer them to right way, to be there with them holding hand in every ups and down. Then why can't you accept her mistake too."

Akash knelt before her again, seeing her getting agitated, cupping her one cheek with brotherly affection "What do you want me to do? How can I accept the girl who is one among the people is cause to my bhai and bhabi's pain? Do tell me Bhabi?" He had always liked Khushi from the start, and when she came to the house marrying his brother he had been happy even though shocked but genuinely happy for her coming in his brother's life. The days that flew after they have come married, he had come to see her as one among the people, his family, and his loved ones. Even though Khushi is younger to him in age, he loved to call her Bhabi......a sense of feeling enveloping whenever he calls her that.....a second mother figure. Now hearing what happened to this lovely woman he could not accept anyone could be so stone hearted to destroy her, more so hurt with the knowledge how his own fiancé had been part to this destruction. He really is shocked to believe how he can love the stone hearted woman who should have took up a stand for her sister. How can he bring the girl to this house when he knows the girl will be the remainder of what happened with Khushi? His brother's pain, hurt, and agony, and he cannot overlook it however he tries to compose himself putting on alright face.

Khushi "Jiji is not bad.....really trust me. She is just scared of them. Please don't take her one mistake to count for not supporting me. Marry her....don't hurt her. I don't want her to get hurt. Jiji is really not bad" Arnav pulled her in his embrace....nodding at Akash and Abhay he took Khushi out of the room as it has become too much for her. He too agrees with Akash but he cannot see Khushi getting hurt and worried on her sister's life too.

Abhay sighed "Akash!!!!"

Akash looked at him; his eyes held sorrow "What should I do Jija ji? I don't really know what I should do."

Abhay held his shoulder, looking at the man before him, accessing him "Marriage stopping a day before will not only affect Payal but also our family too. Think about it" patting on his shoulder consolingly he left the room.

Two days later,

Akash entered his room, his marriage had ended smoothly as one could say but only the turmoil and confusion inside his heart ran havoc behind the calm demeanor. Not that anyone noticed except Arnav and Abhay. They could sympathize with him but at the end they too in the heart had the consolation of Akash's love for Payal. As they believe, one would not certainly throw the affection and love you felt for the person in a brink...........he is angry and hurt, that's all........and all they hope at the end he will find his way.

He looked at his bride ducked in the heavy finery with ghunghat on her head in a bridal style, nearing the bed, he sat beside her.

"Can you please remove the ghunghat?" he ordered her softly.

Disappointed at that and hearing his dull voice she looked at him wryly. Akash "I want to talk.....no let us talk"

Confused she replied "Ji!!!"

Akash "Do tell me how can a sister abandon her sister when needed her support? How can she be in a part knowing well how wrong it is? *looking at Payal's scared face* How did you have let that happened? Have you ever saw yourself in her position? Oh don't be shocked now. I had heard on our sangeeth ceremony night Bhai warning you to stay away from Bhabi. I know now what happened in Gupta house with her. Did your heart did not fear killing a child even if you had been a mere watcher? How can you all be so cruel to the unborn baby? My bhai lost his child....my bhabi was nearly to death. All because of you people"

Payal "Akash ji......"

Akash "No, don't......I don't want to hear any reasoning about you could not go against your family...blah....blah.....blah......For one thing I know Khushi bhabi would not have let you face the hell if you were in her place. You were her elder sister and could have saved her but no....."

She sat stunned.....stunned at the accusation hurled towards her.....it stung so badly not because he is accusing her but because it hurts....very badly because it is the truth.....her guilt for not standing for her sister.....witnessing the ugly plan of aborting Khushi's child without her knowledge. If only she has not behaved as coward.....like a coward she and her mother had watched their buaji manipulating to keep their family name from getting ruined. But she never wished bad for Khushi. No, she would never have wished it but had been putty in the hands of the elder due to the sheltered life she had lived. She is not brave like Khushi, for Khushi had always been a fighter whereas she had always been the meek girl following the path set by the elders. But again like every second like she thought maybe she should have stopped them. Her conscience every minute of her life pricking her....maybe it will always for the rest of her life.

Now, looking at her angry husband she wished she had not been weakling....if only...

Akash shaking his head disappointed "I need time....I need time for accepting US *watching her teary eyes* after knowing the truth I could not turn blind. The man hurt is not someone I could brush it off, he is my brother....the brother who had always been my support and pillar......the brother who had even if he got hurt never let a storm hit me. And now hearing about how he suffered at the loss of his child and the later discovery I don't think I could just say let's forget all about it and start anew. He would not show the loss but I know him well enough how much he is suffering from inside. Only a man with no heart or devil himself will be emotionless but my brother at the end is human. No, I need time for our relationship." He stood up; breathing shakily "I'm going to change for the bed."

As he walked to the closet, he stopped and turned around looking at her "Stay away from Bhabi. I don't want another thing to upset them. Bhai would not like it if you try to go any close to her" not waiting to see the hurt flashed in her face and eyes brimming with unshed tears he left with his night clothes dashing into the bathroom.

The night was long....very long for Payal.

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