Battle within Hearts

Chapter 12

Khushi woke up later in the evening, the effect of sedatives fading away, and found Devyani sitting next her with her head rested on the head board.

A slight movement from Khushi to wake up, instantly alerted Devyani leading her to open her eyes.

'Khushi bitiya? Are you okay?' She asked, helping Khushi to sit straight.

'Jee Dadi', Khushi passed a weak smile, fatigue still enveloping her.

Devyani studied her features closely and cupped her cheeks, placing a tender kiss on Khushi's forehead.

'You need to have something, otherwise you will fall weak', Devyani advised and Khushi had no strength within her to resist.

She gulped the soup slowly as Arnav's Dadi fed her, all the incidents of the other night coming back to her mind, especially her encounter with Arnav.

That brought the gloominess back on her face and Devyani did not fail to notice that.

Sighing, she decided to put an end to the miseries that the two lovers were undergoing. She had felt that Arnav was wrong to do all these, but she had no option. But that did not mean that she would not try to drill some sense into Khushi's brain. If not to Arnav who would anyway not pay heed to her, she could do that to Khushi, who would atleast think.

After finishing her soup, Khushi rested her head on Dadi's lap, while she caressed her hairs fondly.

'Khushi bitiya! Something is bothering you isn't it?' Devyani asked softly.

She felt Khushi's arms tightening and probed further. 'I have seen three generations and I can make no mistake in judging someone. Even if you deny the fact, I know better.' She stated and Khushi gave up her struggle to remain strong. Silent tears escaped her eyes, freely flowing out, wetting Dadi's saree on their way. But both of them did not mind them. After all there is no better way than to let the pain wash away in the form of tears!

'All I can do is advice you, Khushi. Life is never in our hands. But sometimes it gives us opportunities to mend few things. To have a closure. A closure that would bring peace to everyone involved'. Before she could further continue, Khushi interrupted, 'And what if that closure destroys lives?'

Smiling, Devyani replied, 'There is nothing that can satisfy everyone Khushi. But in the due course, we will understand that whatever happened, was for the best!'

Khushi could relate her words perfectly. Payal had advised her to confront Arnav and put an end to all the doubts. But Khushi denied them all, with the fear that Pankhuri will be left heart broken if Arnav chose Khushi. Moreover, she could never think of betraying her sister!

As Dadi said, a closure was important, she realised. As she could not go on with any more ifs and buts! She had to have a proper conversation with Arnav and clear this mess. Though he was marrying Pankhuri, she could still feel something connecting them, whenever they were together.

And the most fascinating fact that still did not convince Khushi was, 'How could Arnav move on so easily?' As far as she knew him, he was emotional and sensitive. But then she had an answer for that too. May be he did not truly love her! He had confessed to marry her out of sympathy. If that was true, then there was nothing wrong in marrying Pankhuri.

Its the psychology of human mind that it wont rest until it finds its answers. Khushi had two major questions running in her mind, that did not provide any peace to her. And the only person who could answer them was Arnav. Dadi was right! She needs to have a closure. Unless she understands what Arnav's thoughts are, she wont be able to live in peace. The sense of regret for not confronting him would forever remain in her heart.