One Step Closer (IPKKND FF | Complete)

Chapter Twenty

"Hey, Khushi," Priya turned on her side to face her friend's bed, just a few paces away in her bedroom that she'd started sharing with Khushi nearly two months ago.

"Hmm?" Was the sleepy response.

"Is your boyfriend coming again tomorrow?"

Even in the dim evening light one couldn't miss how scarlet Khushi's cheeks turned at the scandalous question.

"Priya, you know I don't call him that," she pleaded, pulling the covers over her head.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry! I just think it's sooo funny, I mean he is obviously your boyfriend, whatever you call him," she giggled.

"I... don't know what to call him," Khushi emerged from the blanket with a sigh. "But yes, I think he will come for dinner again tomorrow... Oh NO, I forgot to ask Aunty!"

"Haha, you know Amma now just expects him to show up anyway, every Thursday, like clockwork. I think she likes him! I can't get over it, he's not at all like I imagined Arnav Singh Raizada from TV," Priya babbled on. "I mean, he toootallly acts like a rich man, but he's also so polite, and he brings so much pani puri and jalebis, every single time! I heard he was really arrogant and mean..."

"He can be mean," Khushi interjected. "He is so quick to anger. But... but he has a kind heart."

"And the way he looks at you! Wow! You really do love him, don't you?"

Khushi whispered the answer very quietly, blushing up to her ears.

"Yes... I really do."

"So weird, I can't even imagine being in love! What do you talk about so much, anyway?"

At first, Arnav had been disappointed that they couldn't go out, that 'dates' were not something Priya's family would allow - not that Khushi felt comfortable with the idea, anyway. Painfully, she had to remind him about the gossip she would have to endure at Gomti Sadan, and they found a compromise.

His weekly visits to join them for dinner, and that hour after the meal when they were allowed to sit in the small courtyard by themselves, it was now the most precious time Khushi had each week.

"Oh, well, we have so much to talk about. Our parents, our families... everything!" Khushi smiled. "We have a lot of catching up to do - we didn't use to talk at all, we only argued! I mean, we still argue... but not like that."

"You know Khushi, I never believed all that nonsense about you at his fashion show last year. I told everyone, 'our Khushi would never do anything like that, if you only knew her, you wouldn't believe this ridiculous gossip!' How crazy, the way things turned out... I still can't believe that Payal is in Italy... I've always wanted to travel..." Priya drowsily mused on for a while, until a yawn overwhelmed her and she finally bid her friend goodnight.

If only you knew, how things have turned out, Khushi sighed to herself. She hadn't told anyone about Anjali-ji's broken marriage, about why she herself had been so intent on running away from Delhi, and how much she regretted it.

Delhi... To think that when she had first moved to that sprawling city, she couldn't wait for the dust to settle in Lucknow so she could come back home to her parents.

But now home was not Lucknow any more. Home was Arnav.

***

Anjali sat on her bed, chin on her knees, staring at the large arrangement of fresh flowers at the opposite end of the room. Chhote sure had great taste. She thought about getting up and smelling them, but she didn't feel like getting up. She didn't feel much like anything; even the tears had dried up by now.

Suddenly, the door was unceremoniously pushed open. A jingling sound and the clip-clip of hooves announced the arrival of Lakshmi. Anjali sighed, she knew the little goat was just the portent of another visitor about to knock on her door.

"Come in, Nani," she quietly said.

"Bitiya, how are you feeling today? Have you had afternoon tea yet?" Her grandmother fussed, the same she did every time.

"I'm not hungry," Anjali shook her head.

"I really wish you would eat more, Anjali-bitiya. You have been hiding here for nearly three months, it's not good for your health."

Devyani's fingers brushed the edge of her ghoonghat as she paused and composed her thoughts for a moment. Then she sat on the bed and took Anjali's hand.

"But I know you're sick of me repeating that, and I actually came to talk to you about something important. You know that Shashi has been recovering at the therapy clinic in Lucknow, yes?"

Anjali drew a sharp breath and nodded, not sure where her grandmother was going with this.

"He's been recovering really, really well, bitiya, he's started to move his legs already, and he can speak a little again; it's such good news, Garima is so relieved. Now, Chhote didn't want to tell you this - in fact, he made it very clear to me earlier, the stubborn boy - but I'm your grandmother, and you need to know."

"What... is it, Nani?" Anjali's heart started pounding faster.

"Bitiya, the police was finally able to take Shashi's testimony about Shya-- I mean Suresh. Shashi said... he said that Suresh threatened him and attempted to take his life, because Shashi found out about his relationship to us... to you, before anyone else in their family did."

Anjali balled up her fists, nails digging into the soft flesh of her palms. Oh, how she hated that man. She didn't even know she was capable of so much hatred, until Suresh Manohar Jha had so thoroughly shattered her life.

"There's something else I wanted to tell you," Nani pressed on with relentless determination. "About Chhote. He's unhappy, Anjali-bitiya."

Even though Anjali hadn't left the guest room since the night of the arrest, the echoing bustle of Raizada Mansion was still there, right behind that door, seeping in through the cracks and through the endless rotation of household members trying to cheer her up.

She knew very well what Nani meant, she could hear it every day - whenever he was home, an irritable Arnav roamed the house in a dark mood, erupting at anyone in his way.

"Khushi-ji is also in Lucknow, I know he hasn't told you. He never mentions her around the house because he doesn't want to upset you. I'm quite certain he visits her every week, that's why he's never here on Thursday nights. I can't even imagine what Khushi-bitiya is going through, knowing now why her father nearly died."

Anjali's eyes were brimming with tears now, but she shut them as tightly as she could and bit her lip.

"Chhote is not telling you anything, he's trying to protect you. You know how he can be. But I think you're stronger than that, my dear Anjali, and you had a right to know," Nani stood up and lightly adjusted her ghoonghat again.

"That is all I wanted to say. Now, time for afternoon tea! If you don't feel like coming to the sitting room, I'll get Hari Prakash to bring you the gulab jamuns fresh from the markets this morning, they are delicious."

As the door finally closed behind Nani and Lakshmi, Anjali was left alone with her thoughts again.

She got out of bed and walked over to the flowers. 

------------------

Thank you so much for reading!

Next update: 22 February. It will be the last chapter (after which there will be an epilogue). Can you imagine!? I can hardly believe we're almost at the end of the journey.

As always, I absolutely love getting your votes & comments, they mean a lot! <3