She woke up at midnight.looked up with curiosity in hre eyes.this all must have been a dream,she thought.she hoped most dearly,but to her vain,she saw the absence stars she had once hooked above her like she had in her old room….dejected,she turned around to her jiji.she sighed.jiji wasn't there near her anymore….she could see the only layer of pillows seperating him from her….
She slowly got up to see him fast asleep his back facing the ceing,a hand on the pillows and legs straight.he wore a blue shirt that strictly complimented his fairness and his mouth was slightly opened.
So this is how Arnav slept….she thought smiling to herself.sure this way of sleep deceived him.he talked like a man,walked like one,even sat like a man,with dignity in every movement of his,but no way had she thought he slep tlike this.he slept like a child,with no worries.Khushi adoringly shook her her head thinking this with a smile on her lips.
What had happened between them in the past few days?She had come to know the truth about Shyam,how he was anjali's husband and still agreed to marry her.she had to tell this to someone,but he had blackmailed her with her sisters marriage.he had told her that if she did tell anyone at her house he would do everything in his power at the RM to break of jiji's marriage.So she had to keep this from buaji and her amma,but not jiji……how could when she always knew what troubled me…and the wonderful sister she was offered me help.She told me to go the mandir and wait there while she got help.
Naturally she went to the mandir willingly enough since it was the only place she could get peace,just when she thought she would bring aakashji for help,she saw none other than the last person whom want to face right now,marching towards me.Apparently jiji too had crossed over to the other side,she had liked arnav from the moment he had said sorry to her and she always told me how I misunderstood him.
I should have known she would've send him.i watched him come towards me with concern in his eyes,concern which I knew would turn to pure hatred when I tell him the truth.I did not want to tell him anything.the thought of losing him for ever when he knew……..i knew he would blame me…..
But there was nothing I could do.this was not the time to be selfish.anjaliji had a right to know and if there was anyone to tell her it was arnav…tears had betrayed once more as I saw him blurr right in front of me.the very thought of his blurred vision sent an ache in my heart.but with all the courage that I had I waited him to speak first.
"khushi what happened?why r u crying.your sister told me that you needed to talk to me about something,what is it"?arnav
"i….want …….to"khushi started.
"its ok.calm down ok.jus tell me wats wrong….."arnav.
Apparently the friendship between them which had arised when they helped payal and aakash was showing in his words.he was more kind to her,he acted less strangely and his anger was more or less gone…..
"my shyam……."khushi blurted in between the tears
Arnav froze.he clenched his fists.he so did not want to hear anout her fiance.not directly from her.it caused him pain which he was unwilling to accept.
"if you had problems with your fiance,u should talk to him not me"arnav said angrily turning to leave.
'her shyam?' so now she was claiming him hers in front of me? Arnav thought..
"no wait" khushi said still crying.
"please you have to hear me."she retorted
Arnav started walking back to his car when she yelled after him."MY SHYAM IS ANJALIJIS SHYAM……….."
She said in a hurry without thinking about his anger.
Arnav stopped dead in his tracks.
Khushi felt weak.her legs could no longer hold her,she sat down immediately at trhe steps of the mandir crying,that was all she could do right now. Soon arnav would start unleashing his fury on her which she was destined to take all the time.she felt numb all the way to her heart.she looked down to the ground tears from her eyes falling down……
Arnav wasn't sure what he heard,did she just say that?he thought.what did she she mean?he turned slowly towards her shocked to see her sitting on the ground.
"what?"arnav asked.
Khushi didn't hear a thing,she was too weak.arnav came closer,shook her from her inner thoughts.
"what?your shyam is di's shyam?what?"arnav asked.
"yes.the man I am…….i mean was engaged to is your jeejaji"khushi replied
"how……I mean when did jeeju….."arnav started.
"he was our paying guest,I didn't know……I didn't know…….."khushi whimpered.
Minutes passed.all the while arnav looked down at khushi not knowing what to say.
"he told if I tell anjaliji or my family he will break jiji's engagement.i didn't know…..didn't know……"khushi kept on saying thinking if she tells that she didn't know over and over again he would believe her.
Perplexed arnav looked again into her tear stricken eyes not knowing what to do.
"give me a day"he told and left abruptly leaving khushi stunned.
The next day,the worst day of her life cam with the solution from arnav.
"Contract marriage "he had said.hehad promised her,jiji's marriage for he wanted to save his di's marriage.Contract marriage to save the most important person of their lives.
Khushi knew her sister couldn't have another marriage failure.she had agreed to this thinking that.
Their marriage was short.just them.her family except jiji were fussing about breaking their shyam babua's heart.she knew they would never forgive her.jiji cried hearing the news.only she knew what I gave up.
Still thinking it was painful khushi thought.he did manage his house by simply saying that he fell in love with khushi and khushi too had the same feeling towards him.everybody felt it was natural that he would fall in love with some one like khushi.mami was still angry with that.lavanya left without looking back.khushi did try to explain.but she was far too mature.she said that arnav said he never loved her.she said that she was a deal.she had nothing much to say nor to look forward to in this house so she left……
Deal…….khushi thought.that was what this was………after their so called "marriage" he never spoke to her.all he said after they came to his house was "left side of the bed is mine"
She looked at the clock.it was 1 am.She once agin looked towards her left towards him before falling to sleep.the first day of her marriage was over………….…………..