The rest of the day went in slow motion for Arnav as he had so much time to think about his present and past mistakes. His sister turns a blind eye to the truth and accuses him and Khushi, which is something he had never imagined in his wild dreams. Lavanya's words also kept haunting him - he could see how Khushi would start hating him in the future, in a way he was the reason for all the misery in her life. Her ramp walk fiasco, constant insults at the workplace, and again insults from Lavanya and him in RM after his misunderstanding about her and Shyam and the abuse that followed.
Though he loved her he also hated her when he had misunderstood her about having an affair with Shyam, now despite him doing so many things if he blackmails her or forces her to stay with him - she will have no choice but to hate him for that. There is a threshold for every person that he or she could tolerate. When the things told by his sister are unbearable for him for a single day, how many insults, and accusations had she endured from him and his family from day one? Why couldn't he see the truth from her perspective?Everything he did was for his sister - but Khushi was someone's sister and daughter too and his wife and he couldn't live without her, despite that he kept treating her like that - he knew deep inside he had taken her for granted. He liked to control things in his life and it gave him immense pleasure when she lost and he won and she would unwillingly do things because of her helplessness. He realized that was a characteristic of a sadistic person. This hit him hard realizing - Why and how did he end up being like this ? which left him deep in thoughts the entire day.
In the other corner of the house, Mama had asked Payal, Akash, and Manorama to come to Nani's room as he had to tell them something.
"I am going to London next week! and I will be there for a couple of months" - surprising everyone.
"Why now? Manohar? this is not the right time for it Manohar" told the eldest member of the family.
"Amma, I and Mano had already planned to go to London and because of the issues, we had to stay back and get it postponed. But now I see no reason. Me and Arnav Bitwa wanted to keep Manorama out of this house and kids so that they get time to spend time with their wives and sort their personal life and professional life first. This daily drama and Akash not doing his work properly, constant fights between him and Payal because of Manorama is not something that any father wants to see daily"."But I guess Arnav Bitwa took this decision very late like other things when things are already out of control. I realized yesterday that Anjali despite being married was treated like a princess in the house which I have no problem with, but was given so much importance that everyone started neglecting all the other problems in their lives for her".
"You amma, Manorama, Akash, Arnav, and somewhere both DILs also thought it their responsibility to do so and kept taking care of her and husband's wishes without any complaint. Now she is pregnant and we can't make her see the reality BCS reality has always changed as per her wishes to make sure she remains happy. If she can tell all those things to her brother who has lived and sacrificed so much for her, I don't see who else she loves in the house".
"I am tired, I can't see Arnav Bitwa's relationship ending, the other son is stuck in between his mom and wife and turns blind when it comes to his sister and does not treat his wife fairly, and the daughter is in her self destructive mode and trying to destroy not only her life but others".
"On top of it, nobody wants to say a word to her, so I am going - Mano can choose to come with me or not. It's her life, but if anything happens to our kid's marriages because of her, I will end my marriage with her that instant. I don't want to associate myself with a woman who is hell-bent on ruining her children's marriage".Everyone could just gasp at the things Manohar said and the mirror he showed to them.
"I am coming with you wherever you go. I don't want to die with guilt of ruining someone's life and I never realized the extent of my blind love for Anjali has turned into a different person altogether. Akash bitwa and Payal bitiya if possible forgive me, I never had any ill intentions but kept hurting you and Bahu which created a rift between you both.
"Sasuma, I have treated all 3 kids with love and I have stood by you in all tough situations and also for Anjali Bitiya. I am sorry I can't do this anymore, if I continue on this path - I will be left with no one, neither my husband nor my kids, and Anjali Bitiya doesn't care for anyone anyway.This left not only Devyani Singh Raizada surprised but Akash and Payal too. Both Manorama and Manohar walked out of the room, and then slowly Akash and Payal dispersed to their rooms lost in thoughts thinking about their own life and decisions that needs to be taken.
Arnav had thought a lot about what happened in the past few days and decided he would come clean to everyone and take some decisions about the happnenings in the life.He had rested for the whole day and Mama ji and Mami ji had paid him a visit and enquired him about his health and that was followed by Akash and Payal who kept it minimum but made sure he is resting and is doing better and finally even his Nani came and asked him to take rest for some more time.
Khushi stayed out after the class studying in a park close to the house not wanting to enter the house and subject herself to the people who never really cared for her. She also had early dinner at a restaurant and retuned home around 8 pm.
From HP she got to know Lavanya went out in the afternoon after lunch and will be arriving late after dinner. She understood that even Lavanya didn't want to be holed up in the house when the RM doesn't feel like a house anymore more like a haunted house with complete silence from all the corners.
She wished Arnav was asleep by the time she returned but he was waiting for her to return and had already finished dinner not wanting to agitate anyone more.
Seeing her enter in, he couldn't resist asking - "Khushi, did you have your class till late?"
She sighed and chose to keep it just on point - "No, I wanted to be alone so I stayed out willingly".
He just nodded his head when she didn't initiate anything anymore and headed straight to washroom for shower.
After bath Khushi headed to her side of bed to sleep making Arnav wander if she had food or not."Are you not going to have your food, Khushi?"
"I already had my food" - answered Khushi
"But when?"
"I already had food while returning, I have stopped having food in RM from the day your mami thought I don't deserve to be fed with your money. I have used my money for my food. Nothing to worry. I am sleeping. Goodnight!"
Arnav again felt a pang of guilt feeling almost choked seeing the girl who would smile for anything and everything be so broken all because of him and his family.
Tomorrow he is going to let her know, how sorry he is and he would respect her decision whatever that is - he thought and slept hoping that things would get better in some aspect by tomorrow.
Arnav woke up and found his bed empty and it was just 7 am. He thought may be Khushi has gone downstairs and called for HP to call her as he wants to talk to her. But HP said she was not present downstairs.
He called her and her phone was switched off! thinking of asking about her wherabouts from NK ,he decided to go to his room and check but found a letter on his coffee table in the room.
With fear in his heart he opened the letter to read that Khushi had returned the amount that she owed which she took during holi and had also paid for the other expenses which he had spent on her when they had gone out during 6 months of their marriage.
He kept the letter and envelope aside and went to check the closet with trembling hands to see it was back to his own clothes and accessories, bathroom with none of her toiletries, her bindi and bangles were all gone including her blanket he realised.
It took a moment to realise that Khushi had actually left without a word and without a goodbye!
He sat on his knees feeling devastated and helpless. He laughed at himself for thinking he writes his own destiny infact he did! he changed his destiny from best to his worst with his own hands!
and Arnav Singh Raizada realised he indeed wrote his destiny but not in the right direction!

YOU ARE READING
LOVE OR SELF RESPECT??
FanfictionTHE STORY STARTS FROM THE POINT WHERE ARNAV ACCUSES KHUSHI OF THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE IN ANGER AND GOES OUT FOR A DRIVE LEAVING A SHATTERED KHUSHI BEHIND (HONESTLY, I DID NOT LIKE KHUSHI BEING BLACKMAILED EVERY TIME TO STAY WITH ARNAV IN THE...