Silver Linings

Catharsis 2

Arnav stood up slowly, his mind registering everything Khushi said just now. One look at her face was enough for him to know that she hadn't realised what she had said. The wheels in his mind were turning, running through everything he knew already, and trying to connect it with what Khushi said just now..

- Khushi broke off her engagement right before Akash's engagement... that is what he over heard his Di telling Naani.

- She still visited the man's house... but as far as he knew the Guptas had no other friends or relatives in Delhi, and the entire family has been busy with Akash's and Payal's wedding prep, so there was no likely chance she was visiting any other house, other than Shantivan.

- Her ex-fiancé's name, if he remembers correctly, was also Shyam.. Khushi had mentioned it when Lavanya had inquired. Arnav realised now,  neither he nor anyone from his family has ever met or even seen a picture of this man.

- The day of the Pooja.. he couldn't forget it even if he tried, every detail was burned in his memory. The fateful day, when she had looked so lost and even cried on his shoulder. Now that he thought back, he had even asked her if her fiancé was the reason behind her tears... she had started to say something before she dashed out of the room. That was the day his Di introduced her to her husband... 

So Shyam... his so called brother in law was the man who was engaged to Khushi?
Two of the most important women in his life, His sister and Khushi. Shyam had tried to play both of them?
He took a deep breath, as he felt anger and betrayal coming to the forefront. He needed a clear mind now, he can't have his anger overtake him.
In any case, these are merely his conclusions, he had no proof what so ever. He couldn't ask Khushi directly... Not when his mind keeps repeating the horrific words he over heard her say to her father. That was one risk he was never willing to take.

However, The dots connected perfectly. It all made sense. The hatred he saw in the Gupta's eyes for Shyam would be justified if he had tricked them this way. Khushi's paranoia made way more sense now, given everything that had transpired between them since they met, it was only natural for her to be afraid of his reaction. 

The only thing he couldn't account for, was, how and when did Shyam meet Khushi? She said the man helped her once or twice before becoming a paying guest at Bujai's place...
Paying guest... that man stayed as a paying guest in another woman's house, in the same city where his wife lived... The gall of that man!

Then something struck Arnav, he had a question he wanted to ask Khushi earlier on, he looked down at her, "Khushi" he called out to her, but she was too engrossed in her own thoughts that she didn't hear him.. he slightly nudged on her shoulder, she jerked out of her stupor and wiped her eyes. "Ji?" (yes?)

She was surprised to find him standing... Wasn't he kneeling down in front of me? When did he come stand over here? As she throught over that in her mind, Arnav kneeled down again, in front of her, so she didn't have to crane her neck to look at him "Can I ask you something?" 

She nodded her head warily, "tumhari buaji, ek anjaan aadmi pe itni andh vishwaas kaise rakhi thi?" (How did your aunt have such a blind trust on a stranger?) Khushi looked confused by his question so he laid out his thoughts "Buaji bohot hi conservative hai... tho... jab ghar mei do jawaan ladkiyan hai, woh ek ajnabi ko kaise paying guest banali?" (Buaji is very conservative, so, how did she agree to rent out a room to a stranger, when she had two unwed girls at home?) Khushi gulped... his Harvard brain doesn't miss anything, does it?

"Humne kaha tha na... uss... uss aadmi ne ek do baar hamare madad kiya tha.." (I told you earlier right... He had helped me once or twice..) she hoped that would convince him, but he shook his head... There was something she wasn't telling him... And he wanted to know what that was "doesn't make sense Khushi...Aisi bhi kya madad kardiya woh aadmi ne ke Buaji uspe itna vishwaas rakhliya?" (What sort of help had he done that she trusted him so much?)