The Tales of Arshi

2. Stalker?!

Khushi took a deep breath as she stood in the living room, her heart pounding. She knew the confrontation was inevitable, but she had to tell her Bua ji and Tau ji about her decision to call off the engagement. Arnav's words had given her the strength to stand up for herself, but she was still terrified of their reaction.

"Bua ji, Tau ji, mujhe aapse baat karni hai," Khushi began, her voice trembling.

Her Bua ji looked up from her knitting, a frown creasing her forehead. "Kya baat hai, Khushi? Tum itni pareshan kyun lag rahi ho?"

Khushi gathered all her courage. "Bua ji, Tau ji, main yeh sagai todna chahti hoon."

There was a stunned silence. Tau ji's face turned red with anger, and Bua ji's eyes widened in shock. "Yeh tum kya keh rahi ho, Khushi?" Tau ji's voice boomed.

Khushi took a step back, her resolve wavering but she pressed on. "Mujhe yeh sagai nahi karni. Advansh ka behavior,unka bartaav-... woh mere liye sahi nahi hai."

Bua ji stood up, her face contorted with rage. "Tumhe pata bhi hai tum kya keh rahi ho? Humne tumhare liye itna accha rishta dhunda, aur tum yeh todna chahti ho?"

Khushi nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Ji, Bua ji. Mujhe lagta hai yeh mere liye sahi nahi hai."

Before Khushi could react, Bua ji raised her hand and slapped Khushi across the face, the sound echoing in the room. "Tumhe sharam nahi aati? Itne saalon tak humne tumhara khayal rakha, aur tum yeh badle mein deti ho?"

Khushi clutched her cheek, the sting of the slap mingling with the pain in her heart. "Bua ji, please... meri baat samajhne ki koshish kijiye. Main yeh apne liye kar rahi hoon."

Bua ji's eyes filled with tears, but they were tears of anger and betrayal. "Tumhare liye? Aur humare liye? Tumne humari izzat mitti mein mila di."

Tau ji, who had been silently fuming, finally spoke. "Khushi, agar tum yeh rishta todna chahti ho, toh tum hamare ghar mein nahi reh sakti. Tumhe apne faisle ki keemat chukani padegi."

Khushi's heart broke at her Tau ji's words, but she stood her ground. "Agar yeh hi keemat chukani hai, toh main tayaar hoon. Par main apni zindagi apne faisle ke saath jeena chahti hoon."

Bua ji turned away, her shoulders shaking with sobs. "Khushi, humne tumhe apni beti se badhkar samjha. Tumne humari saari ummeedon par paani pher diya."

Khushi felt a wave of guilt and sorrow, but she knew she had made the right decision. "Bua ji, Tau ji, mujhe maaf kar dijiye. Par main apne faisle se piche nahi hatungi."

With a heavy heart, Khushi packed her bags, the pain of leaving her family mingling with the relief of escaping an unhappy future. As she stepped out of the house, she felt a mixture of fear and freedom.

Arnav was waiting outside, his eyes filled with concern. "Khushi, aap theek toh hain?"

Khushi nodded, her voice trembling. "Haan, Raj. Main theek hoon. Par maine sab kuch kho diya." A tear cascading down her cheek. 

Arnav gently took her hand, his touch comforting, "Nahi, Khushi. Aapne apni zindagi jeet li. Aur main hamesha aapke saath hoon." He vowed in his mind to never let her go as his  gaze lingered on her features knowing well he can never be just her friend but trying his best to help her in such a difficult situation.

Though sick part of him felt elated of her breaking off the engagement, it was a call from him to the Lord which had been received but not how he predicted or wished for.

As the days turned into weeks, Khushi found herself growing closer to Raj (Arnav). His kindness, understanding, and quiet strength made her feel safe and valued. Yet, there was always a sense of something unspoken, a mystery that lingered around him. Khushi couldn't shake off the feeling that Raj was hiding something significant.