“I
love you Khushi,” he said leaning forward and resting his forehead against
hers. “I love you too,” she whispered. They were lost in the moment when they
heard giggling. They looked at each other confused then turned towards the door
that led from Arnav’s bedroom to the pool and saw Anjali and Arjun standing at
the door. Arjun was holding back a smile and Anjali was giggling. Khushi tried
to pull away from Arnav but he tightened his grip on her waist and pulled her
back. “If you two lovebirds are done would kindly grace us with your presence
downstairs. I’m sure you realise you have to be there in order for the guests
to leave,” Anjali said acting serious. Arnav nodded, “We’ll be right there,” he
said before Anjali and Arjun went downstairs. “We can do this later,” he said
to Khushi naughtily. Khushi turned red and Arnav smiled. He let go of her waist
and they headed downstairs walking hand in hand. They stood at the door and
thanked all the guests as they left.
Once all the
guests had left and the house was being cleared it was only the Raizadas,
Guptas and Barun’s family in the living room. Yug was fuming at what had
happened and was waiting for a chance to voice his opinion. They were all
waiting for Arnav and Khushi who had been seeing off the guests. As soon as
they walked in Yug saw red. He stood up and stormed towards Khushi. He stopped
in front of her and slapped her hard across her right cheek. The force of the
slap forced Khushi to lose her balance but Arnav caught her. He was fuming and
all he saw was red. How dare someone raise their hand on his Khushi? “You
little-”, Yug was cut off by Arnav. “Mr Gupta!” he bellowed. “Don’t you dare
Arnav! This is between us so stay out of it,” Yug said to Arnav. Yug grabbed
Khushi by her arm and threw her in the middle of the room so that she was
surrounded by everyone. Arnav took a step towards Khushi but Yug pushed him
back. “I told you didn’t I. I had made myself clear that your sister was
marrying him so you were to stay away from him. I thought you would have but
little did we know that you’d turn out to be so deceitful,” he spat at Khushi.
Khushi was now crying and couldn’t believe they were humiliating her in front
of everyone. She could take every humiliation as long as it wasn’t public. The
Raizadas were stunned by what Yug was doing and the fact that no one from his
family tried to stop him. Everyone in the room knew Khushi would never let
herself be humiliated yet she just stood there silently. Yug was throwing
insult upon insult at her and she still said nothing. Arnav’s temper was rising
and so was his anger. Khushi might be able to watch herself be humiliated but
he couldn’t, “Enough,” his voice thundered through RM. His anger could be seen
clearly in his eyes and his family knew better than to calm him down when he
was angry. He stood in front of Khushi as if he was protecting her from Yug.
“You’ve said enough. Don’t even dare say anything else,” Arnav said through
gritted teeth. Behind him Khushi was trembling out of fear. Barun noticed and
stepped forward. How long more would he see his sister like this? “Arnav is
right. You and the rest of your family have used Khushi as a punching bag long
enough. No more. Every time you needed someone to blame or do your dirty work
you used Khushi but no more,” Barun said firmly. Everyone was disturbed by what
Barun was saying so Avani decided to speak on behalf of everyone, “What are you
saying, Barun? What do you mean?” Barun was now just as angry as Arnav. “That
means that no one knows anything. Khushi didn’t tell anyone,” he said looking
at Yug, Sheela and Maya accusingly. “Barun don’t please,” Khushi said softly
behind him. He turned around to face Khushi, “No Khushi. Everyone needs to
know. You can’t keep protecting them and letting yourself get hurt.”
Khushi shook her head but it was no use. Barun wasn’t going to stop. A fresh
burst of tears erupted from Khushi and Arnav immediately wrapped his arms
around her making her feel safe. He could feel her trembling and hugged her
tighter. “Khushi is an orphan,” Barun said speaking to everyone in the room,
“twelve years ago her parents died in a plane crash. They were travelling from
India to London to come and visit my family. They had sent Khushi a few days
before with my dad who had come here for business. They didn’t die immediately
but were rushed to a hospital where we arrived and so did the Guptas. My
Father, Ravi is Garima Gupta’s brother. Khushi’s mama and Yug Gupta is Shashi
Gupta’s brother. Her chacha. They’re not her parents and nor is Maya her
sister. Yug had always had his eyes on his brother’s wealth and saw their
accident as an opportunity. They died within a few hours of the crash in the
hospital and after the funeral Shashi’s will was read out. It said that all his
property, wealth and any other belongings he had all went to his only daughter,
Khushi. Khushi was only ten and so a minor. She had no legal guardian so we
offered to take her back to London with us but Yug realized that all his
brother’s wealth would go with so he wanted to fight for Khushi’s custody. My
father didn’t want to get into any legal matters so he agreed because Yug is
her paternal uncle. We came down to see Khushi once every two months and for
the first few years everything was fine until Khushi turned sixteen. Once she
had turned sixteen she understood why Yug had wanted her to stay in India. They
were living off Khushi and her money they still are even today. Miss supermodel
Maya has an account with all her money she’s made that is untouched while the
money Khushi makes with her albums, concerts and everything else is how they
survive. Every decision concerning Khushi’s career was taken by Yug and if she
did something he didn’t like she got beaten for it.” Barun stopped to look at
the expression on everyone’s face. Barun knew all too well this was how they
would react. “There’s more. Once when I came down to visit Khushi it was an
unexpected visit and it took them by surprise,” he said indicating towards the
three. “I found Khushi crying with marks on her body and when I asked her what
happened she finally broke down. She couldn’t take it anymore. She told me
everything they had done since she had been living with them and how it only
got worse. Khushi was miserable but didn’t want anyone to be worried about what
was happening to her so she told me not to tell anyone. She spent each day in
misery until one day she came face to face with her rival in the industry,
Arnav. They got to know each other and soon enough they fell for each other. I
was happy that Khushi finally wasn’t alone anymore until Yug found out. They
had been all set on using Maya to trap Arnav but it didn’t work because he was
in love with Khushi.” He turned to speak to Arnav only, “That’s why she did
what she did six months ago. To save your career she sacrificed her love.”
Arnav looked at Barun stunned. “Yug threatened her that if she didn’t get out
of your life he’d ruin ASR and he’d make sure everyone knew it was her who had
done it. That’s why she left,” Barun explained. Arnav could hear Khushi sobbing,
her head hidden in his chest and he pulled her closer. A lone tear escaped
Arnav’s eyes. Barun turned back to the rest of Arnav’s family. “When Khushi
told me I couldn’t believe she’d actually done it but I understood that it was
her love for Arnav that made her do it so I didn’t question her decision but
what Yug did after Khushi’s accident was the final straw. He had threatened her
in her own house to break of every tie with Arnav. She was to never see him
again, talk about him or even think about him. He was off limits to her and she
has to forget him. That broke Khushi and knew it but she didn’t tell me
anything so I didn’t do anything about it. But not anymore. She’s been tortured
enough. I won’t let her take anymore.” He spoke directly to Yug this time,
“Khushi is twenty. She’s turning twenty one in two months which means she
longer needs you. She’s also getting married which means she can finally take
over her father’s business that you have run into the ground and everything
that belongs to her. From today onward you are no longer a part of Khushi
Kumari Gupta’s life. She doesn’t need you or your family. You’re not needed
anymore so I suggest you leave,” Barun said determined to throw them out if
they weren’t going to leave. Yug had nothing to say. He had been insulted
enough and took what little pride he had left and walked out of RM with his
family.
Everyone who had
just witnessed the scene in RM was rendered speechless. They would have never
thought that a girl like Khushi could have endured so much yet still be the
girl she was. No one would have ever suspected anything that actually happened.
She stepped away from Arnav and wiped her tears. Ravi came up to Khushi. He put
a hand on her head, “You’ll always have us. Remember that Khushi.” Khushi broke
down. After her father had passed away Khushi had realised that Yug could never
take his place because he could never be like him. Yet here was Ravi who was
just like her father. “Papa,” Khushi cried and hugged him. Everyone had become
emotional upon seeing Khushi’s plight. Khushi had calmed down and everyone had
decided to call it a night. Khushi hadn’t spoken at all and left without saying
goodbye to Arnav. Arnav wasn’t hurt because he could have never even imagined
what it must’ve been like and knew Khushi must be hurting terribly. That night
Arnav didn’t sleep. He just kept tossing and turning and every time he closed
his eyes he saw Khushi crying. Khushi couldn’t sleep. She lay in her bed like a
living corpse. She didn’t move, she didn’t sleep. All she could think about was
what had happened.
The next day
Arnav had come to her house in the morning to check how she was. Barun said
that he would call but Arnav wanted to see for himself. He walked into the
house and saw Khushi sitting at the top of the stairs. “Khushi,” he said pain
audible in his voice. She looked up to see Arnav and ran down the stairs
straight into his arms. For her it was the only place she could find solitude.
The only place she felt safe.
Tu
hai ab jo bahoon mein, karaar hai
Rab
ka shukrana
Saanson
mein hai nasha, khumar hai
Rab
ka shukrana
Tu
hi ab mera deen hai, imaan hai
Rab
ka shukrana
Mera
kalma hai tu, azaan hai
Rab
ka shukrana
Now
that you’re in my arms, I found peace
Thanks
to God
There
is elation and intoxication in my breath
Thanks
to God
Now
you are my religion and faith
Thanks
to god
You
are my chant and prayer
Thanks
to God
Arnav hugged her back not
saying anything. Khushi looked up at him and he could see that her eyes were
red. She’d been crying. Khushi kept her arms around him and Arnav took one hand
away leaving the other around her waist. He led her to the stairs and they sat
down. “You okay?” he asked her. He regretted it the moment he said it because he
saw that Khushi wanted to cry again. He was going to say something but Khushi
beat him, “Promise me you’ll never leave me no matter what happens.” He put his
arm around her shoulder, “I promise,” he said without even taking a breath.
Ab kissi se kya
gila
Tujh mein
simtoon
Aa main bikhroon
Teri baahon mein
Tu mila toh sab
mila
Ab kissi se kya
gila
Tujh mein
simtoon
Aa main bikhroo
Teri baahon main
Fanaa ho jaun
main
Tu hi ab duniya
meri, jahaan hai
Rab ka shukrana
Khwaabon ki
khayalon ki, udaan hai
Rab ka shukrana
Tu
hi ab mera deen hai, imaan hai
Rab
ka shukrana
Mera
kalma hai tu, azaan hai
Rab ka shukrana
With you I got
everything
Now I have no
complaints with anyone
Will embrace you
And get
disseminated
In your arms
With you I got
everything
Now I have no
complaints with anyone
Will embrace you
And get
disseminated
In your arms
I will get
destroyed
You are now my
world and universe
Thanks to God
You are my
flight of dreams and thoughts
Thanks to God
Now
you are my religion and faith
Thanks
to god
You
are my chant and prayer
Thanks
to God
“I don’t think I’ll be able to
live without you. You’re everything for me now. I’ll stay here with Barun but
mamma and papa have to go back to London eventually. I was alone for a long
time. I didn’t have anyone but now I have you and I don’t think I’ll be able to
bear you with someone else or away from me,” she said to him. “Don’t say that,”
Arnav said up in arms, “I told you I love you and only you. No one else can
take your place in my life. And I’ll never leave you as long as I live. You’re
everything to me now and you’re mine,” he said holding her hand that had her
engagement ring. She looked at her ring then Arnav and smiled. She really was
his now.
Sab se ho jaun
pare
Jo ishara tu
kare
Ab toh rehna
Hai tujhi mein
Gumshuda hoon main
Sab se ho jaun
pare
Jo ishara tu
kare
Ab toh rehna
Hai tujhi mein
Gumshuda hoon
main
Oh teri baahon
mein
Jazbon ka ab toh
naya bayaan hai
Rab ka shukrana
Naya rutba nayi,
shaan hai
Rab ka shukrana
Tu
hi ab mera deen hai, imaan hai
Rab
ka shukrana
Mera
kalma hai tu, azaan hai
Rab ka shukrana
I’ll separate
myself from everyone
With a gesture of
yours
To reside within
you
Is all I desire
I will vanish
I’ll separate
myself from everyone
With a gesture
of yours
To reside within
you
Is all I desire
I will vanish
In your arms
Now my feelings
have a new direction
Thanks to God
I have new
status and new honour
Thanks to God
Now
you are my religion and faith
Thanks
to god
You
are my chant and prayer
Thanks
to God
Khushi
hugged Arnav again for the third time before they both stood up and walked to
the dining room where everyone was having breakfast. “Morning,” Khushi greeted
everyone with a smile and Arnav followed suit. They sat down and had breakfast
with her family. They were almost done when Arnav spoke to Ravi, “Uncle,
there’s a multi-artist concert on tomorrow and I’ve been asked to perform at
the concert. I wanted to get Khushi’s mind off everything that’s happened so I
was hoping we could perform together at the concert if you don’t mind.” Arnav
was a little scared to say the least and his fear only increased when Ravi’s
fork stopped mid air. “Firstly Arnav,” Ravi said, “Don’t call me uncle it makes
me feel older than I actually am. I prefer papa and secondly you don’t have to
ask me permission. It’s Khushi’s life and it’s Khushi performing. She’s the one
you should ask. If she doesn’t have a problem then I don’t.” Arnav let out the
breath he was holding. Ravi looked at Khushi, “Why would I mind? It’s what I do
isn’t it?” Barun and his mother chuckled. “Done then. Tomorrow a concert it is
and you all are invited if you want to come,” Arnav said breathing a sigh of
relief. They all laughed and once they had finished left to do what work they
had.
Arnav
led Khushi to the pool next to her room. “Looks like this is one of your
favourite places. We seem to spend a lot of time here and have a lot of moments
too,” Khushi said wrapping her arms around Arnav’s neck. “Hmmm... you seem to
like it too,” he replied, his arms snaking around her waist. He pulled her
close and leaned forward his lips meeting hers. Khushi immediately responded
kissing him back.
No comments:
Post a Comment