They were seated in a private lounge in the Sheesh-Mahal Hotel. Arnav had picked her up from near her house an hour ago. The ride from Gomti sadan had been so quiet that Arnav was forced to check from time to time whether he still had Payal with him in the front seat of his SUV.

"Bhai.." Payal whispered

"What is happening Payal?" Arnav asked

"At least in front of me... At least here don't act like you don't know anything Bhai! Not when I know everything!" Payal exclaimed

"Payal.. I swear on Khushi I don't have any idea what you're trying to say" Arnav explained patiently

Payal looked at him confused.

"What? You honestly think I'll sit idle in my room or interact with my family instead of doing what I'm supposed to do?" Arnav asked amazed

"You.. Mean?" Payal tried to grasp the meaning of his words.

"I haven't been staying at home for more than 3 hours a day Payal.. I have constantly been working through all this.. I want this mess cleaned too" Arnav said softly

"So.. You have no idea of what a ruckus has been created in your absence. You.. You don't know what Khushi is going through do you?" Payal asked audibly shaken

"What's... What's wrong?" Arnav asked

Flashback

"Kuch nahi hoga Amma... Chot se farak nahi padta ab.. Pehle se bahut zakhm khaa chuke hain hum (Nothing will happen Mother... Wounds don't affect me anymore.. I'm already too bruised)" Khushi said weakly. Just then, A small piece of glass pierced her hand.

"Khushi... Didn't I tell you to let me do it" Garima said

"Arnavji..." Khushi called her eyes searching that one face everywhere and failing

"Arnavji..." She got up.

"Khushi... Aage kaanch hai, (Khushi... There's glass ahead,) Don't move" Payal said while clearing her path taking away any glass pieces.

"Arnavji... Kahaan hain aap!(Arnavji... Where are you)" Khushi asked frantically searching the source of that voice

Payal and Garima shared a horrified look

"Khushi... Koi nahi hai (Khushi... There's no one)" Payal said

"Jiji... Aapko awaaz nahi aa rahi?(Jiji... Don't you hear the voice?)" Khushi asked

"What voice..? There's no one Khushi" Garima said

Khushi looked up to meet her mother's eyes. "Par... Abhi woh mujhe- (But... He just-)" She said

"Koi nahi hai.. Khushi. Koi awaaz nai hai (There's no one.. Khushi. There's no voice)" Payal cut her off

"Jiji... Woh-(Jiji.. He-)" Khushi swayed and collapsed on the floor 

"Payal... Is she-?" Arnav half asked

Payal shook her head in helplessness

Arnav sighed "What the hell!!!" He whispered

"Payal.. But. She.. Why's she behaving.. She's not supposed to behave like that Payal... She knows... She knows everything!!" Arnav exclaimed shocked

"She.. She.. Does?" Payal asked surprised.

"Of course.. She does. I've confided in you. Isn't it obvious that I would.. Most certainly confide in her.. She should know" Arnav said

"Of course... Of course she should Bhai.. But she doesn't... She has no idea about any of this. She wouldn't be hallucinating like that if she did." Payal said in a matter of fact way.

"Payal.. Okay, Were you with Khushi.. Before I'd called you.. In the backyard?" Arnav asked.

Payal nodded

"Did NK come to your room.. Before the wedding had started with some papers? To get them signed by Khushi?" Arnav asked

"Yeah... But Khushi couldn't read the contents as he was in a bit of a hurry" Payal said

"Yeah.. He was supposed to give them to me.. But with those papers.. I had kept a letter too.. Did Khushi read the letter?" Arnav asked scared. What if.. No!!

"There wasn't a letter Bhai... There were just those papers.. She didn't read anything!!" Payal informed him

A horrified gasp left him. "What the actual hell!!! What the hell...!!" He exclaimed inwardly

"She.. Doesn't.. Know.. Why.. I didn't come. She.. Thinks.. I.. I abandoned her!! She.. Thinks I.. What have I done!!! What.. Have I done Dammit!!!" Arnav whispered terrified to no end!!

"The whole world.. Thinks you've abandoned her Bhai!!" Payal said grimly

Arnav looked at her with a blank expression.

"The world.. Can go to hell for all I care!!! I don't bloody care what they think or do. The only person that matters to me.. Is Khushi. My Khushi!! The only person I will ever feel obligated towards is her. She deserved this explanation... And she didn't get it." Arnav said

"Bhai.. It's Okay. We'll figure out something" Payal tried to console him.

"Payal.. She's.. Hurt. I hurt her again Payal.. I never wanted to.. Make her cry. I am so sorry" He apologized

"Bhai.. It wasn't your fault. You tried. It's just that what you had intended to do.. Didn't happen!" Payal explained

"Everyone.. Must've said so much to her.. Dadi.. Must've cursed her.. Badmouthed her to no end. This time.. I wasn't even there with her. To stand by her. To.. To defend her" Arnav said guilt-ridden

"Oh.. Bhai, Don't blame yourself like that Bhai.. You're doing everything you can to set things straight Bhai." Payal said

Payal's phone rang to life

"Akash" Payal mouthed

Arnav nodded and gestured her to take the call 

"Would you mind keeping the phone's speaker on?" Arnav asked

Payal nodded and took the call, Keeping the Phone's speaker on

Normal: Payal  

Bold: Akash

Phone conversation in center alignment 

"Akash.. How is everything? Is Khushi Okay?" 

"Where are you Payal? You told me you are at your friend's Place.. How long will you be out?"

"What's wrong Akash? You're not the kind of husband who restricts their wives, You always let me be"

"Who said I'm restricting you Payal.. I'm just asking how long are you going to be out of the House" 

"I'll be home soon Akash.  I'm just returning. Is Khushi fine? I am having weird intuitions."

"She's just the way .. She was when you left Payal. Stil in her room"

"Are you checking on her Akash... How do you gather she's fine, If she hasn't stepped out of her room for hours??" 

"She's not fine Payal, I thought you know that. I... I Payal of all the people don't need to tell you how Khushi is. And she's refusing food. Please come home soon and see if you can talk her into eating something. She needs to take her medicines as well"

Payal looked helplessly at her brother-in-law, Who had tears in his eyes. He was busy self loathing.

"Payal, Are you listening?"

Akash's voice snapped Arnav into reality, He chanced a glance at his wife's elder sister and found her face drenched in tears. 

"I-I am.. I'll be there in a few more minutes, I'm just leaving from my freind's place" Payal answered Akash

"Do you want me to pick you up Payal Dear?"

"No.. My friend is going to drop me home"

"Oh, You sure?"

Payal glanced meaningfully at Arnav, Who blinked in assurance

"I am. I'll be there"

"Have a safe ride back home Payal"

So peoples!! What's up with you??

The last target wasn't met!! I'm really sad about that. Anyway, Here's the next update

Hope you like it!!

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Vinny