Tumse Na Jaane Kyuin✓

Chapter- 9

"You heard everything?" Garima and Shashi asked in unison

"Yes" Khushi replied

"There had to be an easier way for doing this!" Arnav and Akash whispered in unison.

"Khushi.." Payal whispered

"I-I am fine" Khushi assured

"You had your dinner?" Arnav asked

Khushi nodded.

"I need to leave for Pehelgaam. You will take care of yourself won't you Khushi?" Arnav asked cupping her face.

"Can I come with you?" Khushi asked.

"No. You are not coming with me" Arnav said

"I want to.. Please." Khushi pouted

"Try to understand jaan. Let me handle this" Arnav explained.

"Biwi hain na hum aapki? Phere hue ho ya na hue ho Arnavji, Hum dono dil se toh ek hain na? (I am your wife Right? Whether we took the pheras or not we're one by our hearts right?)" Khushi asked

"Of course we are" Arnav said

"Do I not have the right to be there with you when you are struggling to get both of us out of this mess?" Khushi questioned

Arnav sighed.

"I don't want to worry you jaan" Arnav said softly

"You think I can live in peace here while you're out there?" Khushi asked

"She's right bhai." Akash said

"You aren't in peace till she is.. And the same would go for her" Payal interjected

Arnav looked expectantly at the rest of the family.

"Khushi, He will be unnecessarily worried if you accompany him" Madhumati said softly

Khushi nodded in understanding

"I'll take her with me. She's my strength, Not my worry. But right now she needs to rest. We leave tomorrow morning Khushi" Arnav said softly

Madhumati stood gaping at him wide eyed.

"Arnav babua!!" She exclaimed

Arnav's lips lifted upwards in a small smile.

"Pagal ho tum dono (You're both mad)" Garima chuckled

Khushi looked at Arnav, The smile on his lips was that of an child who had just been forgiven by his parents for a crime he actually never committed. She moved closer to him and wiped a tear which had rolled down his cheek.

"Mein darr gaya tha Khushi (I was scared Khushi)" Arnav whispered

"Jaanti hu. Vaise ek baat toh prove ho gayi, Sab mujhse.. aapse zyaada pyaar karte hai (I know. This at least proves that everyone loves me more than they love you)" Khushi winked playfully

Arnav nodded with a smile. "Right" He said

"Di kaisi hain? (How is Di?)" Khushi asked

"Angry with me. But fine." Arnav said

"Dadi? Shyam?"

"I have no idea"

"How far have you reached with your investigation?" Khushi asked

"Not much. I am trying but no one in or around Sheesh Mahal wants to talk about that incident" Arnav said

Khushi nodded sighing

"So.. What next?" Khushi asked

"Are you not taking Aman's help?" Akash asked

"I am. I and Aman are working together" Arnav informed

"You were going to do all this alone?" Shashi asked.

"No.. Babuji. On the day of the wedding, That is three days back. I had written a letter to Khushi explaining everything that I am doing and my reasons behind it. But unfortunately, The letter didn't reach her. If Khushi would have known what was going on, You would've told you about it too. Making the job slightly easy for me. But nothing of that sort happened." Arnav said sadly.

"You intended to make her aware of all this beforehand?" Akash asked

"Yes Akash, Why would I intentionally leave her uninformed about such an important development. She's my wife for God's sake" Arnav exclaimed

"Why didn't you tell Di or Nani or anyone from back home?" Akash asked

"Payal knew, Payal could tell you after you were out of lucknow so that Dadi and that Snake shyam don't get to know anything. I had wanted Amma Babuji and buaji to know.. But Akash Nani is old and ill Akash.. I didn't want to worry her, And Anjali di is clinging to that snake like her life depends on it. I couldn't take the risk of telling Anjali Di anything cuz she would most definitely convey it word to word to her husband like a parrot. That leaves Mami, And Akash believe it or not, Mami isn't that fond of our wives" Arnav explained

"Yeah. I guess you're right" Akash acknowledged.

"But.. What do you think are you going to do now?" Khushi asked

"I'll try and convince people to talk. I guess" Arnav answered

"There's no use. That night is considered to be a night of curse back in your ancestral village, I know its.. superstitious. But they refrain themselves from talking about everything related to that night and the next few days that had followed at any cost. You will get nothing but disappointment from.. Pehelgaam" Shashi said

"Night.. of curse. But then what should I do?" Arnav asked

Shashi sighed

"Bhoomika" Garima suggested

"You think she will help?" Shashi asked

"She could. If we try hard enough. I mean.. Khushi is her niece. Besides she's the only person who had witnessed everything first hand and is.. alive." Garima said

"I'd do anything" Arnav said firmly as soon as the couple looked at him in the eye

The duo smiled.

"And here we were cursing him for leaving her alone to suffer" Madhumati said in a small voice.

"You had all the right to do that Buaji. She's your daughter. But she's my life too. I would never in my sane or insane mind even dream of hurting her" Arnav assured holding her hands in his.

"Jeeyat raho babua. (Live long son)" Madhumati blessed him keeping her hand on his head.

"I told you people he would never break his promises made to me. But you all were hell bent on making me think otherwise" Khushi pouted.

"We are sorry my child." Shashi patted her head affectionately. He handed Arnav a paper

"This is.. Bhoomika's address. But there are high possibilities that she doesn't live here anymore. It's been years we've lost contact" Shashi explained

"I can manage." Arnav smiled.

How is it??

Let me know what you think of the story.

Leave reviews

Good or bad

Vote & comment

Love
Vinny