Written in stars (Discontinued)

Confessing my wrongs

Khushi came back from mandir and saw chandhini sitting on bottom step of staircase. Khushi went to chandhini who was so lost in her thoughts that khushi had to nudge her,'' chandhini?''

Chandhini blinked,'' Sorry Ayi, I didn't see you there.''

Khushi,''What are you so deeply thinking?''

Chandhini looked down at her hands,''Nothing.''

Khushi looked at time, when she left chandhini was still sleeping under the influence of her medications,'' Did you eat anything for breakfast yet?''

Chandhini,'' It's just an hour until lunch, I will wait.''

Khushi frowned,'' That won't do. You can eat lunch too but you need something now and why are you sitting on steps. Come sit over sofa.''

She bent to help chandhini but chandhini refused,'' I am better now ayi, I can walk easily.''

Khushi watched her closely as she walked over to sofa, she did seem to be walking better,'' I will get something light made for you.''

Chandhini nodded.

When khushi came back with soup, chandhini gulped it down hungrily. Khushi was surprised again. Why didn't she get something to eat from kitchen if she was so hungry?

Khushi got up and brought another bowl for her and Chandhini drank that too but slowly this time.

Khushi watched her puzzled.

...

Chandhini felt irritated, Advay was looking at her again. She felt his gaze on her throughout the day. She managed to avoid him when she could but other than creating a huge fuss and letting everyone know, she couldn't do anything. Like now, he was there with Arnav, megha, veer and ayi. He had sat down beside her and he had put his arm on the back of sofa, every now and then, his fingers gently played with her hairs. Since Megha was sharing the sofa with them, chandhini couldn't move away from him or his touch or his gaze.

Khushi,'' Chandhini is now walking on her own and I think she is ready to shift back to her room.'' She beamed at chandhini in happiness.

Chandhini felt her heart give a panicked jolt. She didn't want to move back with him. She just couldn't share his bed after the way he treated her on exam day. She was not a wh**e, he could take his pleasure with and then, just leave not caring about her.

She clutched her fingers tightly. She felt like she was about to have a panic attack.

Advay,''That's good. Sooner she is better, sooner she can get back to life. One of her teacher called at our house in Delhi. She was asking why chandhini isn't coming to college.''

Khushi frowned,'' That's a bit too soon.''

Arnav,'' I think Chandhini passed all her exams. Chandhini?''

Chandhini,''I told you baba, I needed to improve my grades.''

Arnav,'' Since you have already got a job, there is no point going down that route again and I think it's better if Chandhini stays here in Mumbai with all of us.''

Chandhini looked up at baba hopefully, she didn't want to go back to Delhi.

Advay,'' I agree baba, she needs care. I will see what I can manage.'' This surprised Chandhini. He was going to let her stay here?

Advay,'' chandhini, you don't have any issue with it? You want to stay here?''

He was asking her opinion? Since, when she had any say in these matters?

Advay,''chandhini?'' he lightly urged her.

Chandhini,'' As baba says.''

Advay,'' What do you want?''

Chandhini was forced to answer the question directly,'' I want to stay in Mumbai.''

Advay,'' That's final then. I will start to look for someone to handle Delhi's branch.''

Chandhini chewed her bottom lip, just like that he was ready to move back to Mumbai? But if he was here then she wanted to go to Delhi.

...

Next morning

Chandhini woke up early because she didn't took the sleeping tablet last night. The doctor has been tapering off her dose and now she didn't need it anymore.

Throughout breakfast, she felt restless and anxious. Khushi had said that she will move her to her room today. She didn't know what to do.

Khushi gave Kavya to chandhini who happily chatted with chandhini before running to Sheekha to get ready for school.

Khushi smiled brightly as she handed chandhini's bags and things to servants to be carried to her room. Chandhini will be so happy when she will see the room.

Khushi looked up to ask chandhini what she wanted to eat for lunch but chandhini was not there anymore. Khushi frowned and looked around, where did she go?

...

Chandhini ran up the stairs fast and went toward Arnav's study. She knocked the door. Arnav usually spent an hour in his study to catch up with his reading and then, he went to office.

Arnav,''Come in.''

He looked up as Chandhini came in, a smile broke out on his face.

Chandhini walked over to the table,''baba I need to tell you something.''

Arnav looked at her panicked face and nodded,'' hmm, sit down.''

Chandhini sat down on chair and then, got up again. She felt too restless. She looked at baba's face, will he hate her too if she told him the truth? But she couldn't go back to Advay. She couldn't share his room.

Arnav got up from his seat and came over to her, he took her hands in his and said,'' Calm down. You know you can tell me anything. '

Chandhini,''You will hate me. I did something really wrong.''

Arnav looked at her and said,'' I may get disappointed but I will never hate you.''

Chandhini,''You promise? You won't throw me out?''

Arnav blinked in surprise,'' You are my daughter. Why would I throw you out?''

Chandhini bit on her lip and sat down on chair. Arnav let go of her hands and pulled the other chair closer to hers,'' Now tell me what happened?''

Chandhini lowered her eyes and slowly started to tell him,''After my marriage, I heard advay and Veer talking, advay wanted to divorce me and I told aditi that and she said she will help me...'''