"You're his...
elder brother?" Khushi asked in a mere whisper. Arnav smirked at her,
"Yes. Do I need to produce a birth
certificate now, Your Royal Highness?" Khushi looked at him, and even without a
birth certificate, she could tell that the two of them were brothers by blood.
Both of them had the similar physique and bore strikingly similar features;
both the brothers had pale yet deep eyes, a strong square jaw, a straight
aristocratic nose, and perfectly sculpted lips. Apart from that, both of them
were arrogant and had an aura of power around them. The man in front of her,
though, was slightly more muscular and taller by few inches than her husband.
"Looks like you have no problem in staring at another man while your husband's
dead body is placed in front of you!" Arnav said as he gritted his teeth,
shocking Khushi with his words. She was about to retort when he said again,
"Spare me the speech, woman. I don't want to waste my time on someone like you,
who can do anything for money and fame. Today, you've come here as my brother's
wife to claim for his mortal remains. Yet, I do not see you mourning for the
loss of your husband. Was he really your husband? Or were you just one among
those who entertained him, if you know what exactly I mean?"
Khushi froze;
she stood rooted to the ground as the man spoke in pure hatred. She could see
the rage in his eyes and taste the venom in his words. "How dare you accuse me
of being a wh**e!" she screamed, and in the very next minute yelped in pain as
she clasped her belly. "Seems like another drama coming up? I must say, you can
give the Bollywood actresses a run for their money." Arnav said with his mouth
contorted in displeasure. Shyam rushed to her side and helped her sit on a
nearby bench. Offering her a glass of water, he said in a meek voice, "Arnav
ji, my sister is pregnant with Arjun's child. Please do not speak to her in
such manner. She was married to your brother in my presence. We do have proof
of their wedding. And..." "Oh yes!" Arnav said rolling his eyes, "I forgot
about proof! Where did you get it? Photoshop?"
"Arnav ji,
enough! Just because Khushi isn't saying a word, it doesn't mean you can say
whatever you wish. If you weren't Arjun's elder brother, I would have smashed
your teeth for talking such rubbish about my sister!" "Shyam Gupta!"
Sub-Inspector Wagle said, "You've spoken enough in my presence. Constable,
arrest this man" he asked one of his men to handcuff Shyam. "Wh... What did I
do Saheb?" Shyam asked, and Wagle glared at Shyam. "Don't try to act smart, you
leech! We've found out about all your dealings and how involved you were with
Arjun Singh Raizada in the drug dealings." Shyam joined his hands and
stammered, "But... but Saheb, I did not..." Gowtham Wagle slapped Shyam across
the face, which drew blood at the corner of his lip. "Throw this filthy fellow
behind bars" his voice boomed and the constable dragged Shyam away.
Khushi's eyes
were shut tight until the pain in her abdomen subsided. She heard Shyam calling
out to Khushi while being dragged away. She had seen this day coming, when
Shyam would pay for his illegal dealings, but she did not know it would happen
at such a time when she would have no one around her, causing her to be so
helpless. Even before she could stand up or even look at her brother being
dragged away, she heard another arrogant voice saying, "Now that your brother
is behind bars, I believe no one's there to support your pretty little act? I'd
suggest you pack your things and get the f**k out of here as soon as possible.
Who knows, you too may be put behind bars for prostitution? Save your ass, and
move out of here while there's still time." She looked up at Arnav, with her
eyes glistening with tears. "How can you be so insensitive, Arnav ji? Could
you, at least, be a little polite and humane? How can you call the mother of
your brother's child as a prostitute?" She closed her eyes and let the tears
fall off her face as she curled up on the bench and cried her heart out.
Khushi never
wanted to marry Arjun, in the first place. She never asked for this painful
life. All she ever wanted to do was complete her college education and take up
a decent job. But even then, her greedy brother did not let her live in peace.
"My friend is really interested in you. He says he is crazy about you and wants
to marry you. You know who he is? His name is Arjun Singh Raizada, from Raizada
Industries. He's really wealthy, and he can set our lives. You don't even have
to work for the rest of your life, Khushi. You will have maids to even bring
you a glass of water! Think about it Khushi." Shyam had forced her to consider
marriage with Arjun. She hadn't given in and had told him that her studies and
her career were a priority. "But Arjun said he would let you study after
marriage. Khushi, have I ever asked anything of you? I have always looked after
you like my own little baby, after Amma-Bauji passed away. I promised them I
would get you married into a very good and well-settled family. Now, Arjun has
come asking for you. Won't you do this for me? Please say yes, Khushi. That
way, I can fulfil my promise to Amma-Bauji, and their soul can rest in peace
too." After a lot of persistence and even more emotional blackmail from Shyam,
Khushi gave in. She finally agreed to marry Arjun.
However, in
spite of being married to Arjun Singh Raizada, she did not accept him as her
husband in all senses. He had never spoken about his family, and neither was
she interested in knowing about him. She hated the way he stared at her, with
that lustful gaze. She did not let him come close to her. He had not given up
though, and was equally stubborn. He tried to touch her body when she was
asleep. And when she would walk away with her pillow to sleep on the couch, he
would speak filth as to what he would do to her if she would just allow him.
She was dying a little, every single day. A relationship that was supposed to
be the most beautiful one, had become a noose round her neck that kept
tightening every day. It was that fateful day when he came into the bedroom,
drunk to the brim. Her pleas had fallen on deaf ears, and he did not care about
her anymore. "Shut up, you bitch. I'm your husband and you're supposed to
please me. It's your duty" he had said, to which she had slapped him. His
control had snapped. He had held her by her hair and spat on her face, "Now you
will know what it means to defy Arjun Singh Raizada." He had then physically abused her and raped
her. He had left her wounded and bleeding.
Two days
later, after recovering from her physical wounds, when she had spoken to her
brother, after much hesitation, he had told her that she shouldn't be
complaining about her marriage and must live with her husband as his wife, in
all true senses. "What else is Arjun going to do?" Shyam had said, shocking
Khushi beyond limit. "Arjun has a beautiful wife like you, and you do not let
him close to you. How much of self-control is he going to exercise? After all,
he is a human; not a divine sage. So what if he made you his wife, by force.
After this, don't give him any chance to force himself on you." She had cried
for hours after that. The only person on whom she trusted had betrayed her.
When she spoke of walking out of the marriage, Shyam said, "You will do no such
thing, Khushi. What is society going to say about you? Who will accept a woman
who has left her husband?" "But Shyam, he abused me." Khushi pleaded him for
some sympathy, "Why can't you understand?" "Khushi, why can't you understand?
People are going to talk about us. They are going to look at you as if you're a
filthy creature. Didn't Amma say- A woman's paradise is at the feet of her
husband? Amma would definitely be hurt if she saw you defying your husband! Khushi,
get one thing clear. If you do anything to break this marriage apart, you will
have to do it over my dead body!" Khushi
was left with no option. She had to walk back into the fires of hell. Once in a
few nights, Arjun would come to her and satisfy his lust while she would lie on
her back, as still as a dead body. She was merely breathing; she had lost her
life, long back when the man put his filthy hands on her.
However,
unknown to anyone, Arjun had other plans. "Marriage? Oh please!" he cackled as
he spoke to a friend, "I had to tie that nuptil chain round her because her
brother wouldn't let me sleep with her before marriage, even if I paid him a
huge sum, I had to convince him that I
am madly in love with her. Moreover, Khushi is just convenience. I like her in
bed. It's just a matter of some time, until I am bored of her, which does not
seem anytime soon. Once I am done with her, I will find another convenience."
But, over the time, Arjun's visits at the Gupta House reduced. He would come
once in a while, stay the night and would leave in the morning. Khushi was the only
one who was most relieved. Her relief did not last long though, and it was just
last week she discovered she was pregnant. She did not get a chance to tell
Arjun about her pregnancy, at all. Not that he would care; he would have asked
her to get rid of the baby. But being the father of that child, he would
deserve to know. And before she could learn his whereabouts, he was shot dead
by the police.
"What is
happening in my station?" Gowtham's voice almost shook the walls when he heard
Khushi and Arnav's argument. "Complete the goddamn formalities and get out"
Arnav stood in front of the sub-inspector with his hands in the pocket of his
slacks, "Fine. But, Raizada Family gets
to take the body home. No one else." Gowtham glanced at Khushi, who was not in
a position to say anything. She was just weeping, and Gowtham decided it was
best if the Raizada's claimed for the body. If the media learnt about Khushi
Gupta's involvement in the case, they would eat her alive. And somehow, Gowtham
Wagle did not want that to happen. He had a sister of Khushi's age, and it
would shatter the man if, God forbid, his sister were to be in Khushi's place.
Gowtham walked into another room to complete the procedures and Arnav followed
him without another glance at Khushi.
Khushi sat
crying as she recalled her entire life. Her eyes flew open when she felt a warm
hand on her shoulder. It was Arjun's mother- Ratna Raizada. "Dear, tell me
nothing but the truth. Are you carrying my Arjun's child?" she asked with tears
in her eyes and Khushi nodded. Arvind's eyes grew wide, "Ratna, how do we know
if she's not lying? She could be a cheat, scheming for money!" Ratna looked at
Khushi, who kept crying bitterly at the accusations everyone was throwing at
her. Ratna shook her head, "No Arvind, she is not lying." "We will have a DNA
test. Only then we can believe her." Arvind spoke, and Ratna nodded as she
hugged Khushi- the mother of her deceased son's unborn child.
Arnav returned
to where his parents were standing and saw his mother hugging the woman who
claimed to be his brother's wife. He was about to comment something, but Arvind
placed his hand on his shoulder, "Arnav, let them be. Your mother is in a very
fragile state of mind. She feels that the woman bears Arjun's child- the only
keepsake left behind by him, apart from memories." "But Dad, this woman may be
a fraud and..." "I know, I understand. I've spoken to the IG of Police. He said
he'll look into the matter without the Raizada name being maligned. Also, he'll
help us find out more about this young woman." Arnav nodded, with his gaze
fixed on the woman. He could not even defend his brother because the whole
family knew Arjun's way of life. They had tried their best to bring him out of
his reckless lifestyle. But that made him all the more determined to do his own
will. Smoking, drinking and girls were a part of his carefree life. Arnav,
being the older and responsible brother, tried talking him out of it, but Arjun
always misinterpreted his concern.
Arnav recalled
the time when Arjun had announced to start a new business. "It's not easy to
start up a new business, Arjun. It takes a lot of effort and dedication" Arnav
had told him to which Arjun had replied that he was not asking anyone's
permission. "Arjun, first mend your ways and become a responsible person. I'd
suggest you to start your own business, after you've learnt more
responsibility!" Arnav had told him. But Arjun had retorted, "Only bad habits
ought to be changed. I don't find anything wrong in my lifestyle. I enjoy
myself and it makes me happy. Moreover, I'm not asking you to help me in my
business. I don't need a rupee from you. I have a few shares that Dad has
bought in my name. I'll sell them and I'll do my own thing. And once I am
successful, you're going to burn in jealousy!" Arnav had only shaken his head
at his brother's thinking. He never knew why Arjun always felt that he was
jealous of him. And as expected, the business did crumble down; it went on a
loss due to Arjun's wicked ways. Arnav did try to help him, but he plainly
refused, "I do not want favours from you!" Arnav then recalled that, since a
year, Arjun had never asked for any money from Dad or him. He never even
operated his bank account. Yet, he had the money for his same old lifestyle. It
was then that Arnav had learnt that his brother was into dealing with drugs,
and did make him understand that he was going on the wrong way. "Arjun, please
understand. You're not going to prosper if you continue this way. You know
what? Give up all of this drug business. You can work at Raizada Enterprises."
Arjun had smirked, "You want me to work at your office? Why? So that you can
watch me beg you for money? No, dear brother. I cannot give you that
satisfaction of watching me work below you. You are saying all this because
you're jealous that I am making much more money than you, while enjoying my
life to the fullest." Arnav had been hurt back then, but as always, he brushed
it aside, hoping that Arjun would learn from his mistakes, at least one day.
Presently,
Arnav's eyes glistened with tears as he thought about his dead brother. Even if
he was just two years older to him, he always treated Arjun like his baby
brother. When sub-inspector Wagle had asked him to identify the body, for
formality sakes, he hadn't prepared himself for the sight. His brother lay
there, pale and lifeless. And no matter how much Arjun had hurt him, and how
much Arnav had tried to correct him, he wished to take back every damn thing he
said that had unintentionally hurt his little brother. Watching his dead body
was the worst thing that he had ever experienced.
Once again, Arnav's
eyes surveyed the scene as Ratna helped the woman stand on her feet. "No dear,
please don't cry. I know you're heart-broken because Arjun has gone ahead of
us, but you need to gather yourself. This baby depends on you" Ratna told
Khushi. Khushi nodded; she was in a fit of tears. Not because she had lost her
husband, but because she had absolutely no clue where to go and what to do. The
only means of support, her brother, was already behind bars, and even though
she was grateful to him for all the years he had looked after her, she could
not defend his deeds. He had called trouble upon himself, just like how her
husband did. Wiping away her tears, she stepped out of the station, not
expecting the huge crowd to flash their cameras in front of her face.
"What is your
involvement with Arjun Raizada?" "Sources say that Arjun used to visit you
quite often. Is it true?" "What is your relationship with Arjun Raizada?" "We
have heard that the two of you are married. Is it right?" "Did you know about
his drug dealings? If so, why did you not inform the police?" "How is your
brother involved with Arjun Raizada? Is he a part of the drug deals as well?"
Khushi stood in front of the cameras, almost lifeless. Each question was like a
stake to her heart. Even before she could react and answer the questions,
Khushi felt her hand being grabbed and she looked up to see Arnav Singh Raizada
ushering her into the car, followed by his grandmother. Arvind and Ratna drove
away in the other car.
Once Khushi
was inside the car and after the car moved away from the group of journalists
hovering around, Arnav bellowed, "What the hell is wrong with you? Why the f**k
did you have to go out and stand in front of the media? Do you know how many
questions will rise now? Who the hell asked you to show your face out there?"
"Arnav, that's enough!" Devyani said sternly, looking at Khushi shivering in
fear, and Arnav looked outside the window; his jaw muscles still bulging in
anger. "Khushi dear", Devyani said to her amidst her own tears, causing Arnav
to look up at the two women. "I know this must be a difficult time for you. It
is, for us all. But time will heal everything. Devi Maiyya will make everything
right." Khushi nodded, absorbing every single word of positivity.
In no time,
the driver drove to the locality where Khushi was staying. "Thank you, Daadi"
she mumbled, and Devyani caught hold of her hand. "I'll be sending the car
tomorrow, for you to come home, for... Arjun's funeral" Khushi nodded in
silence. When she got out of the car and walked to the gate of her house, she
felt someone walk behind her. Turning around, she saw Arnav Singh Raizada
standing behind her. "I don't know what exactly is in your mind, but I know you
have some intention behind this goody-two-shoes act" he said to her in a harsh
whisper. "Know one thing, Miss. Whatever, I will not let you win so easily. You
think you and your scheming brother can get away with anything? You're
absolutely wrong. I will find out what you two are up to, and I will make you
pay for it. Also, get one thing clear in your head. Don't even think of coming
to the Raizada House tomorrow. If I see you there, then even I am not
responsible for what I will do to you. Don't blame me later for being the
insensitive jerk, which I am." Khushi almost pushed herself into the cement
wall behind her, as she heard him speak. The man intimidated her to no limit.
Arnav couldn't stop from smirking when he saw that the woman was pretty shaken
up with his talk. He was sure she wouldn't even think of turning up at the
Raizada House tomorrow. Just like that, he turned his heel to go away. Just as
Khushi relaxed herself, he turned around again, and this time, he stood only
inches away from her, with rage-filled eyes. Snapping his finger at her, he
said to her in a cold, hushed tone, "Don't forget, I will be watching you, very
closely" And with those words, he was gone, leaving Khushi behind in a bundle
of nerves.
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