When Arnav returned to the Living Room, The atmosphere was that of an uncomfortable and erie silence. As soon as they realized his presence, They threw him disgusted looks.

"Baat nahi kar rahe tum dono? (Both of you aren't talking?)" Arnav asked Payash .

Payal gave him a sad smile.

"Bataaya nahi tumne Akash ko? (You didn't tell Akash?)" Arnav asked

"He is not even listening to me" Payal said

"I don't know how to react Akash. Should I be happy that you are standing up to me defending your SIL or should I be that I couldn't keep your trust in myself intact all this while." Arnav said

"Sometimes I can't understand you Bhai. I want to trust you. I do, But the way you have behaved with Khushi throughout. Somehow I can't bring myself to trust you anymore. Not with her" Akash said dejectedly

"You know what Akash? I am so proud of you. The way you have handled both the families. I can't be prouder of you than I am right now. You have been the best husband, Son In law, Brother, Son. Trust me" Arnav said

Arnav kept his hand on Akash's shoulder, "I know you're angry with me.. And with her, for supporting me over her family. Her sister. But have you forgotten, How precious Khushi is to her? Akash.. Khushi is like Payal's first child. And no mother can think bad about her child" He explained softly.

"To be honest that is what surprises me the most. Why are you supporting him over Khushi?" Akash asked

"I am not supporting him Akash. I am supporting her only. The one she is going to support eventually" Payal said 

"Bet it wasn't this difficult with Khushi in there" She whispered.

"No.. Not really. Once she was calmed down enough, It was easy to make her understand. She.. took it sportingly" Arnav said

"So.. You again trapped her into your web of words. She has a reason for your backing out of the marriage, Does she now?" Akash asked mockingly

"Yes Akash, She has my reason of not coming to the wedding alter. She knows and understands me. Hopefully, she forgives me too" Arnav said

"What Will you get now.. You had left her to deal with her situation on her own. What did you get by coming back. By messing her up again" Akash asked

"I don't think he has messed her up Akash. He, has sorted everything out." Payal said

"Oh.. alright. I get it I suppose. You were here to say goodbye was it?" Akash asked

Arnav smiled.

"Good Bye.. Ek yeh hi shabd toh nahi hai humaari kahaani ka hissa Akash. Agar humaari kahaani ek alvida par khatam honi hoti, Toh shayad uss dinn fashion show par hi khatam ho jaati. Ya shayad uss dargaah par. Tum soch bhi nahi sakte Akash humne kitni dafaa ek doosre ko alvida kehna chaaha hai.. Par Akash.. Jitni baar humne ek doosre se door jaane ki koshish ki hai.. Utni baar hamari kismat humein aur qareeb kheench laayi hai. Woh aaj bhi mere Wajood ka hissa hai, Ek aisa hissa jiske mere Saath na hone par.. mein shayad saans bhi nahi le pauin" Arnav said

"Par aap Abhi bhi saans le rahe hain Arnav.. Pichle kuch dinn.. uspar Kya toofaan laaye hain.. Aapko andaaza tak nahi hai shayad (But you're still breathing alright. Maybe.. you don't even know What storms the last few days have brought to her life)" Garima said

"I will never be able to forgive myself for making her go through any of the hurt I've caused her. All of it Amma. Whatever I've done to her in the past, Somewhere I was conscious of the consequences of my actions, But I didn't want her to go through anything like that, this time. I wanted to protect her, From the evils of our interlinked Past. She doesn't have to be accused or degraded this time." Arnav said his shining with determination and sincerity

"The past? What past are you talking about Bhai? The past was fourteen years ago! FOURTEEN GODDAMN YEARS AGO. Your father was a bastard and you know it. Can you not forgive Amma for an unintentional mistake?" Akash asked.

Arnav sighed.

"Maaf unhe kiya jaata hai aakash jinki galati ho. Mein jaanta huin Garima Gupta kaheen galat nahi hai. (Forgiven are those who are somewhere at fault. And I know that Garima Gupta is wrong nowhere)" Arnav said

Akash, Garima and Shashi looked at Arnav shocked

"Yeh uss raat ka kaunsa version hai.. Jismein mere pita ne apni patni ko suicide karte dekh apne aap ko goli maar li thi.. Yeh mein nahi jaanta Akaash. Daadi ne apne bete ki har galati har baar chupaayi hai! Tumhe lagta hai woh insaan jo prostitutes ko ghar laane se pehle do baar nahi sochega.. Woh insaan jo meri maa ko har raat beizzat karta tha.. Usse iss baat se koi bhi farak padta ki meri maa Zinda hai ya mar gayi? (I don't know what version of that night it is in which my father commits suicide on seeing my mother shooting herself. Dadi has always hidden all of my father's foes! You think that a man who wouldn't think twice before bringing even prostitutes at his residence, The man who insulted my mother every night.. Would be affected by the fact that my mother was dead or alive?)" Arnav asked. The disgust he felt for his father evident in his voice.

"Toh.. Dadi? (Then Dadi?) Akash asked

"Was obviously lying. Amma was in a relationship with that man. Yes. But she was not at fault. She was being deceived just like my mother. She had ended everything to do with that man years ago. Garima Gupta wasn't even there that night." Arnav said

Akaash scrunched his brows.

"Toh woh kahaani jhooth thi? Bua ke suicide ki wajah kabhi Amma thi hi nahi? Par Dadi aisa kyun kahegi? Uss raat ka blame.. Amma par kyun dalengi? (So the whole story was a lie? Amma was never the reason behind Bua's suicide? But why would Dadi say all that stuff? Why would she blame Amma for the events of that night)" Akash asked

"Dadi was aware of every fling of her son. And so she knew that once upon a time Garima Gupta was also one of her son's victims. When I didn't show up at the wedding alter, She blamed Amma for everything and said that it was because of her that Mumma committed suicide. Which wasn't true." Arnav said

"Arvind Mallik was murdered that day. Akash and in all the commotion mumma died too. She died because of my father. She died in trying to save that bastard." Arnav said bitterly.

"But.. Who killed him? And why?" Akash asked

"I don't know Akash. I don't know who killed him. But Sumit Vardhaan was dragged into the matter. Most of the people of PehelGaam still hold the Vardhaans responsible for what happened that day. The matter as well as the family has had a lot of negative publicity. Wild rumours had spread. Baseless allegations were thrown the family's way. The community back then had started to hate the Vardhaan Family. The police never investigated the matter seriously. And that had forced the Vardhaans to.. flee." Arnav explained

"I don't know what had actually happened that Day.. But the Vardhaans never fleed." Shashi supplied.

Arnav looked surprised at the piece of information.

"Khushi was eight years old when it happened." Garima said. It was clear from her expression that she had figured something out. Arnav grew hopeful.

"The vardhaan men had been murdered as well. Was it that day only Garimaji?" Shashi asked.

"Yes. It was that day. In the dead of night. They were murdered ruthlessly. By.. some people." Garima supplied

Arnav gasped. Akash looked confused

"Sumit Vardhaan is Khushi's father." Payal whispered.

"Khushi.. knows?" Arnav asked in a whisper

"About how her family died? No. She was too small to understand the gravity of the situation. And later on she just accepted that her parents weren't going to come back. We never had the heart to.. tell her" Garima said

"That night. I hadn't showed up, Not because I held Amma responsible for what Dadi blamed her for.. But because I knew Dadi held Khushi's father responsible for her son's death. She knows Khushi is Sumit Vardhaan's daughter and I also know the extent of the cruelty of my grandmother. Trust me... I would never want Khushi to be hurt. Subhadra Mallik would leave no stone unturned to extract revenge from Khushi and hence I don't want to take Khushi home.. to a place where she would be under threat from not one but two people." Arnav said

"Two?" Akash scrunched his brows

"Shyam Manohar Jha is no saint Akash. And both of us know that!" Arnav answered grimly

"Shyam? What has he got to do with this?" Garima asked

"Subhadra Devi Mallik has an ally on her side Amma. She was the one who brought that bastard back in Shantivan." Khushi revealed coming out of her room with Madhumati in tow. the two ladies had heard most of the conversation

"Khushi" Arnav stood up all at once 

"I am fine Arnav ji" Khushi assured seeing his worried gaze directed at herself.

"You heard everything?" Garima and Shashi asked in unison

"Yes" Khushi replied

"There had to be an easier way for doing this!" Arnav and Akash whispered in unison.

"Khushi.." Payal whispered

"I-I am fine" Khushi assured 

But everyone knew she was not. How could she be? After what she had heard and witnessed. 

Helloooooo again!!! How are you people??

Having fun??

Am I making sense. I can't help but be edgy about the update. I know I shouldn't be questioning my own capabilities. But there's this feeling I can't shake off. 

Second update in a day and I want your response

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Please let me know your views about the update. 

Love
Vinny