Video.

Khushi walked into the house as a camera rushed up to her and one could see she wasn't herself.

"Khushi didi..... Let go and play cricket. " The boy squealed and Khushi kneeled to his level with a smile.

"Am sorry Atul.... I can't play today but I promise to play with you guys tomorrow. " Khushi said and Atul nodded and moved out but stopped at the window and moved the focus of the camera on Khushi.

"Hey Nandakishore..... You are finally here..... Garima and I spoke to Shyam about our finances and he said he wasn't going to collect any dowry if you marry him. " Madhumati squealed in happiness and an equally excited Garima nodded at Khushi looked at them in disappointment.

"How many time have I told you I don't want to marry that man..... I don't know him and I don't love him..... I can't and won't marry period. " Khushi yelled at them in anger as the humiliation she faced took a toll on her shocking Madhumati and Garima as she had never raised a voice at them before.

Payal and Shashi from their expression knew something was wrong.

"Hey Nandakishore..... This is the thank you you give us for adopting and taking care of you..... We are in this financial mess because of you..... So don't you yell at us...... Ungrateful child..... I regret ever allo...... "

"Enough." Madhumati was immediately interrupted by Khushi.

"Enough of all of you...... You regret  allowing your brother adopt me right..... And yet I saved your niece here from being used as an ATM by Abhishek and his family and at what cost..... At the cost of my dignity..... At the cost of constant nightmare since the day I was nearly raped by those men because of Arnav  Singh Raizada. " Khushi cried . "He released that video which motivated those men to nearly gang rape me in broad daylight....... Yes Shyam save me and I thank him for that but do you know how traumatized I have been since. " Khushi marched up to a crying Payal. " But you knew jiji...... You knew how I couldn't sleep because of nightmares from the molestation I went through ever since that day." The Guptas looked shocked at the revelation. "Why jiji?...... Why did you change so much?...... Do you also blame me for your broken marriage because if you do then it will finally explain why you have never defended me since your broken marriage...... I didn't mean for your marriage to break..... I just didn't want you to become a victim of dowry and babuji to run into debts which he has after they refused to give back what we've already gave them ..... I was late because ASR locked me up in the dark because his people pulled me onto the stage and thought I was a model...... He manhandled me and tore my dress which means so much to me because it belonged to my mother...... You know how scared I am of the dark...... When I came back and told you all the truth instead of buaji and Amma consoling me, they rather blamed me and I let it go...... We had to move away because of my molestation and taunts from the community and I had to leave college midway and when I thought I have finally gotten rid of the monster in the form of Arnav  Singh Raizada..... I ended up working for him and that monster never felt remorseful for what he did to me and harassed and maltreated me even more....... He pushed me off the top floor to die. " Khushi cried and the women gasped in shock and Shashi cried silently at the revelation. "If not because of the boxes on the floor.... I would have died...... I thought he will still stop hurting me but no..... He again sent me to the building to die....... He always found way to humiliate me and hurt....... He ordered Lavanya and her minions to harass me when he wasn't around..... They put sand in my lunch box and salt in my water knowing perfectly well I can't afford the food at the cafeteria because I had to save every single penny..... I starved many times because of their stunts on me on the orders of that monster........ I always felt fear and the only time I felt safe was when Akash and Aman were around but their work normally meant them not being around all the time...... With Aman and Akash around, I never went hungry or felt thirsty because they always took care of me..... Constantly humiliated and taunted........ And do you know why I endure it all..... It was because of us..... Because I wanted to provide for us...... I wanted to make it up for us..... When I finally had enough and thought to leave his sister had to show up and blackmail me...... I thought she was different but now I know she is no different from her monster of a brother...... He never hid his disgust for me but she hid behind an angelic face which make her more deadlier than her brother...... I agreed because I couldn't give him the money I saved up for babuji's treatment and you have no idea how much his aunt and fiancee humiliated me in these past few days...... But I still endured for us but no more because I am done...... I won't let you people or them snatch the little dignity left for me." Khushi  kneeled in front of a crying Shashi who looked at his little girl with so much helplessness. "Am sorry babuji..... I can't do this anymore ....... I have to leave before I kill myself which I almost did because of the Raizadas. " Khushi confessed and everyone was shocked at this and Payal pulled Khushi up.

"It's not true...... You didn't try to kill yourself..... Right. " Payal cried shaking Khushi who looked straight into her eyes in silence and Payal stumbled backwards in tears seeing Khushi eyes.

"I almost did by jumping of the bridge into the ravine today but I stopped remembering my parent and babuji....... " Khushi paused and looked at Payal.

"I know you didn't want to help me by getting a job as we planned you will after graduating from college and helping with the finances but you didn't I know it's because it was your punishment for me for the taunts you got in the neighborhood and not because of the broken marriage because you never loved Abhishek like you love Akash...... I don't blame you for that...... Because it's normal and I would have done the same....... But   am done...... And am leaving...... I need a new environment because this is too toxic for my physically, emotionally and psychologically..... I will go and pack my stuff now. " Khushi said in a broken voice and walked away into her room.

Madhumati, Garima and Payal were crying after hearing everything and Payal stood up and moved to the table and took her phone and sent a message while sobbing.

Garima was confused and snatched the phone from her and checked the message and she was shocked when she read it.

"Payal what have you done..... You broke up with Akash. " Garima said and Madhumati gasped in shock.

"It's for the best Amma..... I love Akash in ways that I never thought I will ever love anyone but I can't marry him because he belongs to the family who have hurt my baby sister so much but most horrible of all is Khushi was right about the reason I never got a job to help..... I wanted to punish her because I did blame her because of societal taunts..... And I know again it will happen but this time am prepared..... I know Akash will be hurt but I can't live in the same house as those people...... Our relationship will be plagued with guilt especially from me and Akash doesn't deserve that..... He is a good man who deserves the best and not me. " Payal cried.

Khushi then came out with her bag and an envelope and handed it to Madhumati.

"This money is enough for babuji's treatment...... I will send more after I find a job. " She said without emotion and Payal was about to speak when Khushi stopped her. "Please don't..... I heard what you said and you are wrong..... You and Akash are meant to be together...... Akash is my friend and I know he will stand by you thought thick and thin...... Don't punish him because you feel guilty..... Marry him and live your life..... If ever the Raizadas ask of me tell them I left to take care of a relative who needs my presence. "She then turned to Shashi and wiped his tears. " Don't cry babuji..... Am sorry for my stupid mistake of wanting to take my life because of that monster..... I will come back one day and make you proud, that I promise but please make Payal marry Akash because he is a good man and get well soon for me okay. " Khushi said with a smile and kissed Shashi who nodded and placed his hand on his head and blessed her.

"Where are you going? " Payal asked.

"I will figure it out on my way but I just can't stay here anymore. " She replied.

Khushi then smiled through her misty eyes and looked at them for the last time and left.

Video ends.

The Raizadas were all shocked and the women cried as the men stood in hurt silence and with teary eyes.

"This is what you people have done to a pure soul like Khushi..... If Atul hadn't recorded this and run here to show it to me, I wouldn't have believed it...... Akash you are indeed a good man but unfortunately I have to ask you all to leave my shop because you are related to these vulgar people. " Happy said hurt that he had to behave rudely to a good man like Akash.

Akash with a sad expression nodded and they all moved out of the shop and Anjali limped fast towards the direction of the Gupta.

"Stop right there Mrs Jha. " Akash uttered in anger shocking Anjali who stopped in her track and turned to Akash. "You and your brother have done enough..... So please let's leave from here...... The Guptas are already mourning for their daughter leaving them...... Let's not make it worse by showing up there..... It will be like rubbing salt on their wounds...... It's better we go back. " Akash concluded and a crying Anjali looked at an emotionless Akash with hurt and remorse.

"But Akash..... What about Payal? " Manohar asked and Akash tuned to his father and sighed.

"I will speak to her alone because she needs me now more than ever...... I will speak to her tonight..... We better leave now. " Akash said and walked away from them into the car with Manohar trailing behind.

Mami and Nani then followed and Anjali limped closer to his broken and sad Arnav .

"Let's go Arnav ." Anjali said breaking his reverie and he looked at her shocked because of the way she called him.

He nodded and followed Anjali and entered the car.

The drive home was every silent and when the got to RM, everyone dispersed to their respective rooms.

Immediately Arnav entered his room, he sat on the floor closer to his recliner and started crying so hard like he never did in his life and he closed his eyes remembering everything he did to Khushi.

From imprisoning her at Sheesh Mahal and harassing, the release of the video and everything he did to her when they met again in Delhi.

He raised his head and opened his eyes and saw a file on the table.

And reached out for it and opened it and saw Khushi's photoshoot pictures.

He looked at it and run his hand over it.

And he kissed it and hugged it to his chest and started crying again.

"Am soo sorry Khushi..... I never ordered Lavanya and her minions to harass you..... Am so sorry for hurting you..... I didn't mean it..... I just thought hurting and challenging you will make you stay away from me and make my heart stop beating for you. " Arnav cried.

"And how did that work out for you? " A male voice from behind asked and Arnav turned to find Akash walking up to him and stood in front of Arnav who couldn't answer his question. "Why did you do this to Khushi?...... Why did you hurt Khushi so much? ....... What crime did she commit that you treated her that way? ..... Answer me Arnav Singh Raizada. " Akash yelled out the final sentence and Arnav stood up and marched up to Akash.

"You really want to know Khushi's crime!...... Then listen..... She made my heart beat for a woman for the first time the day she fell in my arms...... How dare she make my heart beat for her!...... After the incident at Sheesh Mahal, I couldn't stop thinking about her..... She evaded everything and when I met her again at the temple she dare challenge me and it made me like her even more..... I couldn't let her make me weak like maa so I had that video released to punish her....... I thought coming home to Delhi and overworking myself will make me forget her but no..... It got worse and she had to come to Delhi and and work for me...... I thought if I hurt her she will go away but she always found a way back to me........ She wants to make me weak like maa whose love for Arvind Malik killed her." Arnav cried.

"I love her Akash....... I know what I felt for Khushi the day she fell into my arms is love...... But I can't fall in love..... I don't want to be weak. "Arnav continued and paused looking at Akash who was shocked hearing Arnav confess he loves Khushi.

"But I can't love Khushi because I don't want to be weak like maa whose love for Arvind Malik made her kill herself...... Love hurts Akash...... I didn't want to get hurt so I thought hurting her will make the feelings go away but it didn't...... It didn't Akash. " Arnav wailed and fell on his knees crying.

Akash with misty eyes was so numb that he didn't know what to do.

At one point he didn't want to console Arnav remembering what his best friend went through because of him and his family and at another point he wants to console his brother whose past had destroyed a beautiful future he could have had only of he let the past go.

"Arnav! " A voice called from behind.

To be continued.

Don't forget to hit the ⭐✨⭐ button, comment and follow for more.

٩(ര̀ᴗര́)ᵇʸᵉ.

xoxo xoxo.