Love Me Like You Do

Do you know what's at stake?

"Anjali ji..." Khushi whispered.

"Shyam is my brother-in-law."

Khushi's head was spinning. "He's married..."

"He's a cheat, Khushi. When I saw him at your house yesterday, I didn't know what to do. Then I heard him coming out and I wasn't ready for confrontation. So, he doesn't know that I know."

"He's arriving here." Khushi was angrier than upset at the betrayal.

"Yes."

"Does anyone else..."

"No. I haven't told anyone. It's why I made sure everyone is here today. Khushi, we should go down. He will be here any minute."

They were on the stairs when the familiar voice rang out. "Omprakshji, Rani Sahiba kaha hai?" (Translation: Omprakash, where's my Queen?)

"Arey aap aa gaye." Anjali smiled on seeing her husband. Everyone was in the living area. (Translation: Finally you arrived. )

 ***

"Shyam babua?" Buaji's voice brought Shyam to a halt and he looked up. Mausi, Bua, Payal were all looking at him shocked. But not Mausa ji, as if he expected this. How were they all here? Why?(Translation: Shyam, my son?) 

"Aap inhe jaanti hain?" Nani asked. (Translation: You know him?)

"Haan. Lekin aap kaise?" (Translation: Yes. But how do you know him?)

"Yehi to hai humaare Damadji. Anjali ke Pati." Nani said. (Translation: He is our son-in-law. Anjali's husband)

"Haaye re nand kishore! Tumm... tum shaadishuda ho?" (Translation:  Oh my lord! You... You are married?)

"Buaji, aap aise kyu puch rhi hai?" Di asked. (Translation: Aunty, why are you asking like that?)

"Kyuki ye Jijaji ki shaadi Khushi se karwane wali thi." Arnav said as he reached his sister. (Translation:  Because she had made up her mind to get brother-in-law married to Khushi)

"What are you saying? Buaji why would you?" Anjali accused the entire family, while only addressing Buaji.

Before anyone could say anything more, Khushi lashed out.

"Aapki himmat kaise hui Anjali ji ko dhoka dene ki. Bhagwan manti hain wo apko. Aur aapne apni patni ke saath... This kind of betrayal is the lowest, Shyamji. Jo apni patni ke na ho sake wo dusro ke kya honge." (Translation: How dare you betray Anjali? She thinks you are god, worships the ground you walk on. And you betrayed your wife! You can't be anyone's if you can't be honest with you wife)

"Khushiji, bas... humne nahi kaha tha buaji ko..." Shyam was on edge. He was caught completely unaware and was not thinking straight. (Translation: Enough Khushi... I didn't tell Buaji to fix this...)

"Maante hain. Par ye kyu nahi bataya ki aap married hai. Ye kyu nahi bataya ki apka pariwar Delhi ka hai, Lucknow ka nahi. Ye kyu nahi btaya ki Rani Sahiba apki patni hai, client nahi." Khushi thundered.  (Translation: Agreed. You didn't also tell her you're married. You didn't tell her you have family in Delhi, you're not from Lucknow. You didn't clarify the Queen is not your client, but your wife!)

"Client?" Anjali was looking at Shyam in horror. At that moment, all his masks were gone, and her veil of love lifted for a moment. She saw him for what he truly was. She fainted immediately.

Shyam was quick to catch her. Everyone hovered around her.

"Hand her to me." Arnav's voice was authoritative. Shyam knew his game was over, so he let her brother cradle her to the sofa.

"Hum paani leke aate hain." Shyam intended to run away with that excuse knowing well that this verbal match could easily turn into a physical one if given some time. (Translation: I'll get some some water)

"Like hell you are!" Arnav got up and grabbed Shyam's collar. "What were you thinking? Was my sister just a plaything for you? You find a new toy when you saw Khushi?"

"Dekhiye saale sahab, it's not like that. I love Rani Sahiba. That alliance was done under pressure because her Babuji wanted to. I wasn't able to say anything because of his situation." Shyam tried to save face. (Translation: Listen brother-in-law...)