~Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings. ~ Anais Nin
His harsh, hateful words are still echoing in her ears. Khushi claps her hands over them as if to ward off his words.
You are having an affair with Shyam!
I know middle-class girls like you! You will do ANYTHING for money.
You are the one with NO CHARACTER!
You are nothing but a gold-digging wh**e.
She writhes in pain as if she is being pricked by thousands of needles. Over and over and over and over again till she feels nothing but an aching numbness. Khushi slips slowly to the floor. Her eyes dry but held a world of pain. She still can't believe it. Her Arnavji said those words about her? He holds such a LOW OPINION of her. He thought that she is capable of cheating him and his Di?
Arnavji...I loved you so much that I was even willing to sacrifice my life for your happiness. But you have wronged me, played with my heart, injured my self-respect, insulted my values and made a mockery of the sanctity of marriage. Hang your damned contract! I am done playing by your rules. The time for Khushi Kumari Gupta starts now!
Khushi stands up from the ground like a phoenix rising up from the ashes. The ice around her veins melts and an inner fire takes hold, lighting up her lifeless eyes. With a new resolve in her heart, she reaches up and wipes the sindoor on her forehead. She yanks the mangalsutra off her neck and throws it on the ground with the rest of the scattered beads. The contractual marriage no longer holds any value in her heart. For months she has been nurturing hope that this is a real marriage. That deep down, perhaps her Arnavji loves her. But the last of her hope died today. She will no longer wear sindoor and mangalsutra as a symbol of married status, because she no longer considers herself a suhagan.
Feeling strangely light and unburdened, she marches off to buaji's house. It's time to put Arnav Singh Raizada in his place!
Khushi barges into house like a storm and thunders into her room. She spots Arnav packing his bag for HIS return back to Shantivan. And as always, he is on his Bluetooth, shouting at poor Aman.
Arnav: Dammit Aman! I want the deal with Mr. Khanna finalized today! He is doing business with Arnav Singh Raizada and I won't stand for subpar standards. He needs to agree to ALL OF MY TERMS OR THE DEAL IS OFF!
Khushi looks on scornfully.
With Laad Governor it is either his way or the highway. He thinks he can bully his way into winning every single deal? I'll show him today!
Khushi marches up to Arnav, yanks the Bluetooth off his ear and throws it on the floor. She looks down with satisfaction as she heard the distinct sound of the damned device shatter into several little pieces.
Arnav (startled by her actions): What the...! (He reaches out and grabs Khushi's shoulders in painful, vice-like grip) Who the hell do you think you are, huh? What the hell do you think you are doing?!?
Despite the pain in the shoulders due to his grip, it is nothing like the blow he has already delivered to her heart and soul. She defiantly looks him straight into his eyes, ready to burn him with her inner fire.
Khushi (defiantly): I'll tell you WHO I AM! I am Khushi Kumari Gupta. You're not the only one who can DARE TO BREAK THINGS AT WILL!
Arnav (tightens his grip reflexively and speaks through clenched jaw): How dare you Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada?!? Did you forget that I am still your husband? Though it sickens me to breathe the same air as a gold-digger like you, YOU ARE STILL BOUND PER OUR SIX MONTH CONTRACT! (He pushes her on to the bed) So stop with your nonsense (looms over her threateningly) or you know what I can do. (Sneers) Do you want to be responsible for your sister's marriage to fail?
