Iqraar

Chapter 3

Note

Bear with me as I set the stage for the story before moving on to our couple. Also please note that I have made a change to the previous chapter. I wrote a small part for this chapter which I thought fit better in the previous one as I gave it a read. The flow felt better that way. Sorry, I'm no professional writer or editor. It's in the beginning and can be easily spotted.

Thank you for reading again!

Chapter 3

The morning sunlight filtered through the windows of the Gupta household, casting a warm glow on the modest kitchen where Khushi's family gathered for breakfast. Everything seemed normal—the clatter of cups, the clink of metal on metal—but beneath the surface, tension simmered.

Shashi Gupta, ever the calm and measured patriarch of the family, sipped his tea thoughtfully while Garima sat beside him, glancing nervously at the folded newspaper on the table. Everyone kept casting furtive glances at each other, their brows furrowed with unspoken worries.

Khushi, aware of the anxiety rippling through the room, was busy in the kitchen, preparing the day's breakfast. Her heart felt heavy when she thought about what she had brought upon this family, the only family she knew.

She remembered this morning's newspaper that rested on the table now, the bold headlines causing a sinking feeling to settle in her stomach. The moment Khushi had seen the front page, her heart had plummeted. There, beneath a sensational headline, was a photograph of her from the night before, Arnav Singh Raizada holding her firmly, and she firmly holding on for support. The image captured her vulnerability, her eyes wide with uncertainty, her hand clutching him as though seeking comfort.

The headline read: "Mystery Girl from Sheesh Mahal? Who is the Woman in Arnav Singh Raizada's arms?"

Khushi's eyes had scanned the article, the words blurring as panic began to rise within her. The piece speculated about her identity, linking her to Arnav Singh Raizada's past—his family's roots in Lucknow, his connection to Sheesh Mahal, and now, a supposed romantic entanglement with a girl from the same village.

"Could the ruthless business mogul have a secret soft spot for a woman from his hometown? And why did he go out of his way to shield her from the press after the fashion show fiasco?"

The article dripped with innuendo, twisting the truth into a salacious narrative that left Khushi breathless.

"How... how can they say these things?" Buaji broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper.

Garima exchanged a worried glance with Shashi, her hands wringing nervously. "These... these people... they make up stories. But... what will happen now? People are going to talk. They always talk."

Shashi, ever the voice of reason, reached out to calm his wife. "Garima ji, we know the truth. Khushi hasn't done anything wrong."

Buaji spoke, her voice heavy with concern. "But the world doesn't care about the truth, Shashi. They see what's printed in black and white, and they believe it. This... this could affect Khushi's future. And Payal's. Her reputation... it could suffer. The news has already spread like a fire," She finished.

On the dirt roads of this aloof little place, this event had been like a delicious source of excitement. This latest piece of gossip was already being discussed and savored as best as it could.

"Just today morning, I had that Savita who professes to be a well-wisher and yet hasn't stopped recounting the event with delight to whoever would listen." Buaji made no secret of her mounting annoyance.