Foundation of Marriage

Part 21 - Post Wedding

Later that day, after all the post-wedding rituals were completed, both the newlywed couples retreated to their respective rooms. In Arnav and Khushi's room, Arnav was seated at his couch, going over some paperwork. Khushi sat nearby, as he explained some bank and account related things to her. As Arnav explained to Khushi, he emphasized the importance of being cautious, especially now that she is Mrs. ASR. Khushi listened attentively, nodding at his advice, still processing the whirlwind of events in her life.

Arnav (seriously): "Khushi, you need to be careful. Don't sign anything without showing it to me first or discussing with our lawyers. People will try to take advantage of you, thinking you're inexperienced in these matters."

Khushi: "I won't, Arnavji. I won't trust anyone easily, especially now."

Just then, Akash and Payal entered the room. They exchanged smiles before Akash spoke up.

Akash: "Bhai, now with the weddings done, we need to discuss, what to do next about Shyam."

Arnav: "We need to be careful, we can't tell Di anything. Plus we have no concrete proofs, she won't believe us."

Akash: "I think you can put a team behind him to find concrete proof of what Shyam is up to."

Arnav: "I already have, meanwhile Khushi and Payal stay close to Di and keep an eye on her, while we dig into Shyam's activities. I don't want anything to harm Di or her baby."

Akash nodded in agreement.

Payal: "I noticed that Shyam was fuming with anger last night after your marriage."

Arnav: "Obviously, not even in his wildest dreams would he have imagined a scenario like this."

Akash: "It's clear that Shyam gets furious whenever he sees you two together. I noticed it over breakfast as well. If we can push him further, he might slip up and expose himself."

Khushi: "How? What do you mean?"

Akash: "If you and bhai behave extra lovingly with each other in front of him, it will push him, make him jealous and he might slip up in his act. He might do something in his anger, and we might be able to catch him red-handed."

Arnav (readily agreeing): "It's a good plan. Khushi stay close to me around him."

As they finalised their strategy, Arnav's mind drifted to Khushi. While he was on board with using their closeness to rattle Shyam, he was also still upset with Khushi for hiding things from him. He was hurt by her actions and felt the need to make her understand the consequences. He silently decided that while he'll play along with the plan, he'll also find a way to teach her a lesson in his own way, ensuring that she never kept secrets from him again. He laughed a little in his own head.

The Raizada family had grown closer, making a concerted effort to ensure both Khushi and Payal felt welcomed and comfortable. From the first week of their marriage, Arnav and Khushi began engaging in public displays of affection, deliberately showcasing their deep love for each other to provoke Shyam. The couple was slowly mastering the art of subtly mocking and infuriating him, turning their affection into a silent weapon. Meanwhile, Shyam remained conspicuously absent from the court, and Arnav was struggling to locate the woman Roy had mentioned, the one who claimed Shyam was her husband. Despite these developments, the underlying tension between Khushi and Shyam continued to simmer, threatening to erupt at any moment. One day, Shyam managed to corner Khushi, confronting her with a sneer,

Shyam: "Khushiji, I know the truth. You don't really love Arnav. There's no need to pretend. Come with me, and we'll leave this all behind."

Khushi: "I am a married woman now, stop bothering me."