Self Love

Part 4

NK: (he is the one who composed himself from the shock first) contract..marraige? (And his voice brought everyone from their shock state)

Payal: khushi contract marriage?? Six months? What is this about?

Khushi: (looking at Arnav and then at payal) what can i say and from where should i start?... (after a pause) should i start from the time how shyam is harassing me during your wedding time as i shut my mouth because YOUR mother took a promise from me or when i went to terrace thinking Mr. ASR has left a message on the mirror but shyam came and hugged me confessing his love and i asked him to leave Anjaliji as she is better off him... or when ASR heard only a part till leave anjaliji and left from the terrace ... or he has a GREAT HEART to ask shyam about it who confessed he has an affair with me and we both love each other.... or ASR believing him and ordered me for a contract marriage of six months... or when i refused he threatened me that he will stop your and akash marriage.... say me payal from where should i start? (Everyone eyes are in tears hearing her, as eventhough she asked in the form of question from where should i start, she has explained everything briefly) or should i start how he treated me after the marriage.. i mean the contract marriage... like how is asked me to sleep on pool side without even bothering about the cold, or how i was mentally and physically harassed one side by shyam and from another side by ASR... or How i was about to do sucide or how he called me charaterless, gold digger, biggest mistake of his life, regrets meeting me and what not... common payal now why are you silent, tell me from where should i start?

Payal is shaking her head as no, as she could not control her emotions hearing Khushi sufferings because of her...

Akash: bhai?? (Looking at his bhai) did you blackmailed Khushiji with my marriage? (He asked hopping his bhai will say no, but arnav did not even looked at him, he is only looking at khushi seeing her changed behavior and remebering the days how he hurt her)

Seeing arnav not responding everyone understood what khushi said is right..

Payal: you should have not accepted it Khushi...

Khushi: I wouldn't have done if i am in right set of my mind payal... (after a pause she added) and anyways if I didn't accept his proposal at that point of time, Your family would have blamed me again for your broken marriage..

Akash: no Khushiji I would not have left payal even if bhai said that...

Khushi: oh really then why did you sigh the divorce papers?

Payal: div..orce..pap..er..s? (She asked looking at Akash, where as Arnav closed)

Akash: no i did not..

Khushi: you did.. you trusted your bhai blindly that without reading you signed a divorce papers within one week of marriage.. (she said looking at akash disgustingly,  where as payal has taken few steps back)

Akash: bhai? You didn't play with my life right? (He asked hoping his bhai will atleast say no now, but this time to arnav did not said anything confirmation again that whatever khushi said is right)

Nani: (composing herself, moving towards Arnav and slapping him) are you out of your mind arnav? How can you do this?

Khushi: oh please Mrs. Deviyani Raizada don't act as if you care...

Nani: Khushi betiya.. (she called being shocked as Khushi called her Deviyani raizada, and that was a big blow to everyone)

Khushi: what? Don't act okay... atleast he showed his dissatisfaction with me on my face not like you who call me betiya but consider me a culprit....

Nani: betiya what are you saying I never consider you one..

Khushi: oh really then why did you ask me to avoid coming infront of YOUR anjali betiya? (Came her pat reply) you should have asked her to accept the reality, not treat me like a culprit... (nani looked away as she know she did wrong in treating her like that) now who will slap you? (She asked with a shrug, everyone gasped hearing her question of slapping nani)

Anjali: khushi.. (khushi cut her off)

Khushi: oh please.. first of all i can't alone blame him, I should I have shared about shyam to Mrs. anjali immediately but i did not, then the next day I should not have stopped myself from sharing her the truth just because her mangalsutra broke, and then i should have shared atleast after that not giving ears to Mrs. Gupta promise..

Amma: I took that promise because I am afraid they will not trust us.. (cutting her off)

Khushi: and break payals marriage right? (She asked Amma looked away as it is true) I am not talking about trust here, i just simply said we should have said, trusting it or not is their headache.. who are we to bother? And for that if payal marriage is broken then isn't it good that she was not married to a family who don't even trust her? Now see the result yourself.. where it has lead.. but yes I blame myself for that..

Nani: don't blame yourself betiya.. it is arnav mistake not yours.. (raizadas nodded their heads as if agreeing with her)

Khushi: you know what deviyaniji even after he did this to me, I still feel pity for him.. (everyone looked at her in confusion) you know why? Because whatever he did is for your family happiness, for Mrs. anjali happiness, (after a pause she added) but everyone are blaming him without accepting your own fault.. till yesterday you all behaved like it is my fault, but when today i really meant that it is my fault you are all against it.. i can't believe this.. (after a pause she added) but what he thought proved to be right na.. I mean common he  proposed contract marriage as he feared his sister will follow his mother steps when she gets to know her husband is cheating her... (looking directly at anjali) and she proved his fear right... (anjali looked at her with wide eyes) his mother killed herself when she got to know her husband's truth and she (pointing to anjali) tried to kill her baby.. (anjali sobbed heavily as she remembered what was she about to do in her emotional state)

Note: Arnav has shared his past to khushi the night when he throwed shyam out of house...

Khushi: (after a pause she added) he did to protect you by suffering himself but what you did Mrs. Anjali, backstabbed your own brother by meeting your husband secretly behide his back.. (anjali looked at her in shock, whereas others gaps in shock, while arnav paled listening this) don't look at me in shock, yesterday I have seen you and your shocking expression before i slip... so no need to act..

Nani: anjali betiya?.. you met shyam?... how could you? ( she asked holding anjali shoulders, Khushi chuckled and nani looked at her) betiya?

Khushi: so according to you what Mrs. anjali did is correct? (Nani nodded as no in confusion as she could not understand why khushi asked that question when she is scolding her anjali betiya, but khushi cleared her confusion by asking next question) then why did you not slap her? When you thought arnav did wrong you slapped him, but you did not slap anjali? (Looking at arnav) he is my culprit so slapping him is my right but (looking at anjali) she is your culprit so you were supposed to slap her... but you didn't.. you suprise me Mrs. Deviyani? (After a pause she added) is ASR only a money making machine to you? (Everyone gapsed, while nani felt like someone slapped her eventhough no one physically did but ofcourse Khushi words slapped her to face the reality of her bias between her grandchildren)

Anjali: no khushi.. (khushi dismissed anjali with her left hand)

Khushi: Nanhe will you pay the bill or should i arrange someother way.. don't worry i will return it..

NK: no..no.. khushiji... i will pay for you, you are my friend you no need to return it..

Arnav: (recovering from his state) Khushi let me pay... please (he added after a pause)

Khushi: (ignoring Arnav) thanks Nanhe.. (NK went to pay bill after taking a glance of his favorite couple) i don't consider you as money making machine raizada..

Khushi closed her eyes and started massaging her neck and head as they started paining..

Arnav: khushi.. should i call doctor? Is it paining a lot? (He asked panicky)

Khushi: no need.. (she closed her eyes, no one said anything as they are all still too shocked to react)

After 30 min NK came back completing the discharge formality..

NK: Khushiji we can leave... (he said looking at Arnav and Khushi)

Khushi: (nodding her head, she went to NK and took the discharge papers, and then kneeled down infront of Shashi and asked) can I stay with you for few days mama? (She asked throwing another bomb on arnav, as she don't want to come with him)