Meethe Pal

9. Shubh Shagun - birthday OS May'23

This was originally written for one my most special reader UshaVijay5's birthday, in May. Her endless love and sweetest reviews on my chapters are major driving forces for me to update regularly and on time all these months! Cheers to all those conversations, our mutual love for good stories and for arshi. Love ya, Di ❤

Based on the airport scene from the show when Arnav left for London without listening to Khushi's pleas.

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Arnav freed his hand from her hold. Khushi was clutching it with all her might, desperate for him to believe that she was innocent and had nothing to do with Shyam. But he didn't believe her and went inside the airport. Tears ran unchecked from her eyes as she held the glass partition separating visitors from the travelers while he walked further inside towards the security checkpoint.

Each step he took, she felt herself falling deeper into a dark space from where there seemed to be no escape. His leaving like that despite her stopping him again and again was an apshagun(bad omen). Ideally for the person leaving i.e. him. But she was sure it was her life that was getting ruined, if there was anything left to be ruined that is. Her heart, her innocent dreams, her love, everything was associated with Arnav for the past few months- well, since she started knowing him. But the same man had broken her heart, snatched her dreams and rejected her love. And now gone. As she watched his retreating back from the glass door, an acute pain and agony enveloped her, and her heart subconsciously called out 'Devi maiyya'!

What should she do now? Go back to Shantivan? Was that place really her home? Maybe she can go to Lakshmi nagar, her buaji's house. But even there she would be bombarded with tons of questions. Besides, no matter where she went, Arnavji was not with her; neither would he ever be. And Shyamji- that man was clearly still as vile, as nasty! She had stupidly believed him when he agreed to come and meet Arnav and confessed that Khushi was not involved with him. He never had any such intention. And she was made a fool. Again.

Furiously wiping her tears, she contemplated her next steps. She wasn't the one to run away, nor the one to accept defeats from destiny's blows. Giving her life was out of the question, if not for herself, she knew she owed her life to her parents and her babuji who had sacrificed so much for her.

But what should she do?

She was still standing near the visitors' area outside the airport when someone kept a hand on her shoulder. For a moment, she feared if it was Shyam, that devil in disguise of a man.

'He will not dare to harm you here in public, Khushi.' her mind reminded her.

So, she slowly turned around to face whoever it was. And then she stood confused when she found an old lady looking at her with concern.

"Bitiya, are you ok?" the lady asked.

This stranger's care touched her heart, and she didn't know what to say. If it was her family, she would have lied that she was fine, and they would have believed her. So, either she was a very good actor, or they never saw her pain...But in front of this stranger, she didn't have to act. Or rather couldn't act.

"Nahi." she answered and paused, closing her eyes for a brief second to compose herself but the sobs were incontrollable. So, she spoke with a breaking voice, "hum thik nahi hai (I am not ok)." she replied amidst the hiccups.

The lady took her hand to lead her towards a visitor's lounge where a few benches were kept. They sat on a bench as Khushi continued to try to calm herself. Somewhere she was aware that she was breaking down in front of a stranger, but she was just too defeated right now.