Foundation of Marriage

Part 25 - Accident

Arnav sat in his office with his mind troubled by the spate of accidents that had plagued him. As he thought back to the time he and Khushi had been stuck in that forest, he remembered Khushi mentioning Lavanya's concerns. Lavanya had hinted that he surrounded himself with enemies and had even said something about his family. Arnav wondered if Lavanya knew something useful and decided to call her. He picked up the phone and dialed Lavanya's number. When she answered, he cut straight to the point.

Arnav: "Lavanya, it's Arnav. Khushi mentioned that you said something about me having enemies and some issues with my family. What did you mean by that?"

Lavanya hesitated before responding.

Lavanya: "ASR what a surprise. It might have been a misunderstanding. I didn't mean anything bad about your family. Please, just ignore it."

Arnav wasn't convinced and pressed further.

Arnav: "No, I need to know. Why did you really break up with me? Was there something said or done by someone in my family?"

Lavanya: "I've told you before, it's nothing. Let it go. I don't want to be involved with you or your family anymore."

Arnav's frustration became palpable.

Arnav: "Look Lavanya, there have been some accidents, and I suspect they might be attempts on my life. I need to know if you have any information that could help me."

Lavanya's tone softened, though she was still wary. She told him everything that she had heard Shyam say. Arnav's silence was shocking to her.

Lavanya: "You're not shocked?"

Arnav: "I'm not surprised about Shyam, but I don't have any proof. If you had recorded it or had any concrete evidence, it would have been helpful. My sister would never believe anything a random person says against her husband."

Lavanya (sighed): "I don't have anything concrete. I just heard Shyam talking and that's it."

Just then, Arnav's phone indicated an incoming call from home.

Arnav: "We'll talk later Lavanya. Thanks for your help."

As he ended the call, Arnav felt a renewed determination to throw Shyam out of their lives. Meanwhile in the Raizada mansion, Manorama and Anjali rushed towards Khushi in shock. "Khushi!" Anjali cried, rushing to her sister-in-law's side. "Khushi, are you okay?" Khushi's eyes were closed, and she was unconscious. Blood pooled around her head, and her breathing was shallow. "We need to get her to the hospital, quickly!" Anjali shouted. Within minutes, Khushi was carefully carried to the car with Manorama and Payal's help and rushed to the hospital. The family followed in a state of panic and distress. At the hospital, the doctors worked quickly. They managed to stabilise Khushi, but she remained unconscious due to the head injury. The doctors had reassured the Raizada family that Khushi wasn't hurt much and would wake up soon. Shyam, having arrived with the rest of the family, tried to look concerned. But inside, he was seething with frustration, his plan had failed. The damage to Khushi wasn't as severe as he had hoped, and his carefully laid trap had only succeeded in causing her a painful injury rather than incapacitating her legs completely. Apparently her legs were fine, the doctors had told them, only a few bruises were found.

Arnav arrived at the hospital with his heart pounding. The words he had heard from Payal over the phone replayed in his mind, Khushi had met with an accident. His voice cracked with worry as he hurried toward the hospital room, "Khushi!" Payal with her eyes swollen and red from crying, met him at the door. Between her sobs, she tried to explain, "Khushi... she fell down the stairs. We don't know what happened. One moment she was fine, and the next..." Arnav's emotions swirled, fear, anger, and guilt. His face hardened with anger and fear as he made his way to Khushi's hospital room, to her bedside. She laid there unconscious, her usually lively face was now pale and still. Arnav took her hand and squeezed it tightly, willing her to wake up. Minutes passed, and then finally, Khushi stirred. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, confusion clouded in them as she looked around the room. When her gaze landed on Arnav, she saw the familiar tightness in his jaw and the anger bubbling beneath the surface. He was angry, she could sense it even in her semi-conscious state and she knew why. She hadn't been careful, and now he was upset because of her. At that same moment, the Guptas entered the room. Buaji, ever the stern voice in Khushi's life, didn't waste a moment before starting in on her.