Silver Linings

Turmoil

Khushi hurried down the stairs, she didnt seem to notice who was in front of her, she just wanted to be alone, her head was spinning with all that happened in the terrace.

She had happily gone upstairs thinking it was her ArnavJi that left her the message on the mirror. He had, after all, used that very mirror earlier in the day to remind her to wear a bindi, so she didnt think twice when she saw the words inviting her to the terrace.

She went there expecting her prince charming but turns out it was the devil! She had immediately tried to leave, but that vile disgusting man cornered her! He had hugged her and held her tight while he professed his love for her.

Khushi felt bile rising up her throat at the memory. She vigorously rubbed her palms over her arms where he had touched her, she wanted every trace of him off of her. She looked down at her clothes.. She had to get rid of this! She could never wear this again.

How dare he? How dare he touch her like that? She felt absolutely disgusted. Hot tears brimmed in her eyes as she dashed into the guest room reserved for the bridal party. She felt a sense of relief that no one else was pesent. She quickly picked up her outfit and made a dash for the washroom and locked the door behind her.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror, her cheeks had streaks of tears along with her mascara, her hair was all messed up during her struggle to get away from Shyam's hold. She turned her face away in disgust as the memory of him holding her tight came back.

She discarded off her clothes almost ripping them in the process and stood under the shower. She let the water wash away the ugly memory. She needed to hold it together for now, after her Jiji's wedding is over she can think of a solution, right now she needed to focus on her Jiji.

A few minutes later she stepped out of the bathroom wearing the red and blue lehenga, she looked at her reflection in the mirror and there was no trace of the turmoil she had been through just minutes ago. The sounds of her Buaji and amma reached her, she immediately snapped into action, placing her shawl neatly around her body and corrected her hair.

She turned just in time to see Amma and Buaji enter the room "arey sankadevi, tum yahan ho? Tayyar hogayi hai Paremeshwari? Hum tumhe poore ghar mei doondathe rahe, chalo jaldi chalo, sabko Anjali bitiya ne bulaya hai unki kamre mei" (Hey SankaDevi... you are here? You have already dressed up Parmeshwari? I was looking for you all over the house... Come quick.. Anjali has called all of us to her room)

Khushi was confused but still followed her elders silently, as she stepped into the main hall, her heartbeat picked up, letting her know he was somewhere in the vicinity. She scanned the area, maybe if she saw him her mood would get better! But he was no where to be seen.

She frowned and was about to step towards Anjali's room when the main door opened and in walked Arnav. She smiled despite herself, her heart always knew when he was around. One proper look at his face and her smile faltered, he looked upset, VERY upset.

She stood there hoping to ask him what was bothering him, but he walked right past her, as if she wasnt standing there and went into Anjali's room. Inhe kya hua, Khushi thought to herself as she followed suit.

Khushi entered Anjali's room and saw that everyone was present, she looked towards the bed and panicked seeing Anjali having a bandage around her forehead "Anjali Ji, kya hua aapko? Yeh chot kaisi lagi?" (Anjaliji.. What happened to you? How did you get hurt?) she took a few steps towards the bed but stopped just short of sitting on it when she saw Shyam seated next to Anjali.

The look in his eyes almost made her squirm in disgust, it took all her will power to not openly react. She heard Anjali's voice and forced herself to listen to the words "ab hum teek hai Khushi Ji" (I am fine now Khushiji) she had a beautiful smile playing on her lips.

Anjali looked around the room "hum aap sabko ek baat batane ke liye yahan bulaaya" (I have some news to share.. which is why I called all of you here) saying so she turned towards her husband who looked just as confused as everyone else in the room, it made her chuckle. She took his hand in hers, before she could say anything Arnav sat beside her, taking her hands off Shyam and held them in his
"Kya hua di? Sab teek hai na? Sorry maine aap ke calls miss kardia" (What happened Di? Everything is okay right? Sorry I had missed your calls)

Anjali stopped Arnav before he could continue "Hum teek hai chote, actually hum bohot hi khush hai..." (I am fine Chote.. actually I am very happy) she smiled at her brother's confusion and looked at everyone once again before returning her gaze to Arnav "Doctor ne kahan, ki hum maa banne wale hai" (The doctor told me... I am pregnant) she dropped the bomb.

Arnav felt the ground beneath him slip away. No... No this cannot be happening! He looked at his brother in law, and saw the fake smile that he had plastered on his face, he wanted to punch that face into the wall. As if things weren't complicated already, now his sister is pregnant? With this cheater's child?

He saw Anjali looking at him expectantly, he hugged her immediately so that she couldnt see the disappointment on his face "I am so happy for you Di" he lied.

Khushi tried to smile and be genuinely happy, but she just couldn't muster it, as she looked around the room, she saw that her family were also struggling to put on a happy front. They kept glancing at each other, their worry clear as day on their faces. She just prayed that no one noticed their lack of enthusiasm.

Little did she know...

The elder ladies went to Anjali one by one and blessed her, Payal and Khushi hugged Anjali simultaneously. Payal tried to put on a smile while Khushi tried to stop herself from tearing up. From the corner of her eyes she saw Shyam openly ogling at her. She felt bile rising up her throat again. This is going to complicate things even further.

Naani had asked every one to let Anjali rest for a bit, "thodi der mei shadi ki muhurat hai, aayiye hum baaki ka kaam karlete hai" (It will soon be time for the wedding... lets go complete the pending works)Madhumati and Garima agreed, one by one everyone left Anjali's room.

Khushi announced that she would take Babuji to their room so he could rest for a bit as well, in reality she didnt want to be in the crowd, she couldn't hold in her emotions anymore.

Arnav looked on as she wheeled Sashi away from the hall and into the guest room. He looked around at everyone else, The Gupta family's reaction to his Di's news confused him. None of them had a genuine smile on their face. He saw how Buaji and Babuji were almost staring daggers at Shyam when they thought no one was looking.

What on earth was going on??

He had to get to the bottom of this. He was about to go after Khushi when Naani called out to him.

Dammit! This is going to have to wait.