Friday, 22 February 2013

Accidentally In Love - Chapter 4

Accidentally In Love
Arhi Fanfiction!

BTW ANJALI WILL NOT BE PREGNANT IN THIS FIC :) 
Song of the chapter: Sun Zara - Lucky: No Time For Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORUCGjcedAg

Time had never gone so slowly for Arnav. It felt as though he had been there, in the hospital, for years. The hands on the clock seemed to freeze in place, but rush ahead at the same time. He had no idea what to think. For the first time in his life, Arnav Singh Raizada had absolutely no control over himself. None. 

The illuminated light bulb that signified Khushi's operation, tormented Arnav, taunting him with the possibility that it could easily steal the life of the woman he lo- the woman he... cared about. Countless times, Di had hurried over to him, worried over his lack of expression. 

"Chote, humein aapse kuch zaroori baat karni hai. I need to tell you something very important."
Anjali whispered, as she delicately seated herself beside her brother. 

"Kya hai Di? What is it?" Arnav whispered to his sister, his eyes remaining glued to the lightbulb that was still illuminated. 

"Chote, voh- Shyamji ne humein. Unhone humei- unhone humein aur Khushiji ko marne ki khoshish ki. Arnav.. Shyam he- he- he tried to kill Khushi and I. Hum dono ko itna bada dhoka diya. Khushiji ke purane mangetar, Shyamji hi teh. He deceived us both so badly. Khushi's old fiancee was Shyam. He told her he was single, and forced her to get engaged to him. Khushiji- bechari Khushiji kept quiet for our sake, thinking he had changed. Itna kuch saha hai Khushiji ne humare liye. Khushi has taken so much for my sake." Anjali whispered, breaking down into sobs while Arnav stared at her, horrified.

"Di yeh aap- yeh aap kya keh rahi hai? What are you saying Di?!" Arnav gasped, reaching for his sister, pulling her towards him, as she cried into his frame.

"Haan Chote! Hum saach keh rahe hai! I'm telling you the truth! He did all this to Khushi and I! Pata hai Chote unhone Khushiji ko itna tang kiya, leken unhone kabhi kuch nahin kaha. Unse majbooran sagai karayi thi. Humein to humare liye utna dukh nahin ho raha jitna Khushiji ke liye ho raha hai. He harassed Khushi so much Arnav! I'm not crying for myself, I'm crying for what my blindness put Khushi through!"  

Arnav felt a block of ice settle into his stomach. Khushi- she- she had - he didn't know what to think.  She had kept silent? For how long? Arnav didn't want to think of everything he had said, had done to her when she had been forsaking herself for his sister. 

"Jab tumhari sagai ko tute hue do hafte bhi nahin hue hain. When it hasn't even been two weeks since your engagement broke." 

How he wished he hadn't seen the hurt in her eyes. The way  tears welled up in those hazel depths. She stared at him as though he had put her through hell and he supposed that he, in some way, had. 

How Arnav wished that he had read the pain in her eyes, the struggle. Had mustered up the courage to ask her what was wrong, and why she was upset. 

"Ladka amir nahin hai kya? Isn't the guy rich?" 

Arnav squeezed his eyes shut and balled his hands into fists. He was- how could he ha- Oh Khushi.

"I'm so, so, sorry Khushi." Arnav whispered, feeling the moisture well in his eyes.
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Anjali watched as her brother was overtaken by his emotions. Watching him like this, and seeing Khushi,covered in her own blood, made Anjali so angry. She was hurt yes, very hurt, but more angry that he would stoop to the level that he had.  How dare he hurt her family? Deceive them all? For what!? Money?! Power?! Despicable.

After what had happened to her mother, Anjali didn't understand how she hadn't seen this coming. How she hadn't practised caution. Perhaps, it was a trend for Raizada women to be hurt by the men they had loved unconditionally, the men they had given their all to. 

But how she had trusted that snake. Given him all her faith, never questioned his whereabouts or sudden disappearances. Blind trust. 

More than hurt, Anjali Raizada was angry. Up till today Shyam Manohar Jha had seen her sweet side. Now he was going to see that they didn't call her ASR's sister for nothing.
_______________________________________________________________________

The phone rang in the bustling Raizada house and Akash Singh Raizada, politely making his way through the congregated crowds, hurried towards it. 

"Hello?" He answered, finally reaching it and picking it up off its cradle before it could stop ringing.

"Akash?" A feminine voice said from the other end, and Akash sighed in visible relief upon recognizing the woman speaking.

"Di? Thank god. Kahan hai aap? Aur Khushiji? Aap dono abhi tak ghar nahin ponche? Humne aapka phone kitna try kiya, pata hai hum sab kitne pareshaan teh? Where are you and Khushiji Di? We've tried your phone so many times, the two of you haven't reached home yet. We were all so worried!" Akash rushed out, waiting on tenterhooks for Anjali's answer.

"Voh Akash. Humara accident hogaya. Hum teek hain leken sirf Khushiji ke vaaje se. Unhone humein gaadi se dhaka deke apni jaan khatre mein dal ti. Akash, we got into an accident. I'm okay, but only because of Khushiji. She pushed me out of the car and put herself in danger. She's really badly hurt Akash! We're in Bhai Kanhaiya Hospital. Chote bhi yahin hai. Arnav is here too! Aap sab bhi ajayega. Leken Akash! Shyamji ko Khushiji ke zakhmo ke bare mein mat batana. You all hurry and come too please, but Akash! Don't tell Shyamji about Khushi being injured!" 

Akash thought Di's request to be odd, but complied regardless. Anjali said she was hanging up, and Akash rushed off to find Dadi (paternal grandmother - Arnav's Nani) and Payalji. 
________________________________________________________________________

Arnav paced the halls of the hospital like a caged lion. Periodically, he would glance back up and assess the state of the glowing red bulb or interrogate  a passing by doctor for information only to get a generalized response.

"Doctor! Khushi!? How is Khushi? Voh teek hai? Is she okay? Is she out of danger?" Arnav's tone was rushed and urgent and, unbeknownst to him, his eyes gleamed with his desperation for information.

"I'm sorry Mr. Raizada. It's difficult to say anything about the state of your wife at the moment." The Doctor's tone was sympathetic and he patted Arnav on the shoulder as he passed. His wife? Khushi- his wife? Arnav couldn't bring himself to dispute the doctor and simply nodded in response. 

"Didi ne kuch nahin kiya Jijaji! Didi (Sister) didn't do anything Jijaji! (Brother-in-law)" 

"Main Jijaji nahin hoon. I am not your brother-in-law." 

"Toh honewale hai kya? So are you about to be?" 

If only he had known. Oh if only. 

If Di hadn't asked him to hold off on punishing Shyam, then the first thing Arnav would have done  was pummel him into the ground and destroy his very existence for even thinking about hurting his Di and his- and Khushi. What on earth was Di thinking?! He knew Di didn't think that Shyam was innocent and she trusted Khushi, then why was she holding off Shyam's reward

It wasn't long before Arnav realized that he wasn't going to get any information on Khushi, and Di returned to his side, that he sat down, laying his head on Di's shoulder and let his eyes well up again. 

"Chote, aapko apna gham chupane ki koi zaroorat nahin hai. Aapko to yaad hai na, mama ne kya kaha tha. Agar rohna hai toh khul ke rohdena chahiye. Mann ke liye acha hota hai. Arnav, there's no need for you to try to act strong. You remember what mom said, don't you? If you want to cry, cry openly. It's good for the heart." Di said soothingly, as she stroked his hair back from his forehead and Arnav gave a shaky sigh, managing to pull himself together.

He needed to be strong. Strong for Di. He sat up and straightened his vest, determined to be Di's pillar. He turned towards his beautiful sister and pulled her into his arms.

"I love you Di. It'll be okay. Bhura waqt beet gaya. Bad times have passed Di." Arnav whispered, stroking her hair as she cried silent tears. 

"Hum teek hain. I'm okay Chote. I don't need him. I deserve better." Anjali whispered, taking a deep breath to compose herself. "I deserve so much better Chote." Arnav nodded in agreement and Anjali leaned her head on her brother's shoulder, knowing that he would always be there.

A nurse approached them and said that she needed to check Anjali over, she had a minor concussion, and Arnav stood to assist his sister. He offered to walk Di, but she waved him back, saying he needed to be here in case they had any information on Khushi. 

Arnav slowly walked towards the operation theatre door and peered slowly through the window they had, for some odd reason, placed on the door. There was Khushi, bloody and unconscious. Arnav was reminded of the night he had carried her back to Lakshmi Nagar and squeezed his eyes shut, as images of a terrified Khushi haunted his mind. 

Feeling himself losing control again, Arnav strode into the nearest bathroom, slamming and locking the door shut behind him. He leaned forwards, bracing his hands on the sides of the sink, breathing deeply. He glanced up at his own reflection and was shocked to see tears running down his face. Somehow, the sight of himself with no control, Khushi so badly injured, Di's pain, it all coupled together and sent ASR on a downwards spiral. Arnav lost all self control and let himself sob. He sobbed for the betrayal his sister had undergone. The harassment his love had experienced. His own regret, and guilt for not noticing any of it. 

He thought he was so smart!? He thought that nothing got past Arnav Singh Raizada. Self made tycoon. A Mughul in the fashion world. How had he missed all these signs?! Now because of his stupidity Khushi could d-die. 

She could be taken away from him forever, and it was all cause he was so fucking stupid.

"DAMN IT." Arnav roared slamming his hands down on the porcelain. 

What hadn't he said to her?! How many times had he humiliated her, degraded her, hurt her?! He didn't deserve her. Damn it, he didn't deserve her, but that sure as hell didn't stop him from wanting her. Fuck, he wanted her so badly. 

It was there, staring at his own tear stained reflection, anger flaring in his eyes, that Arnav Singh Raizada made himself another promise. The only other being to protect Di at all costs. He promised himself one essential thing. To care for Khushi, to cherish her, to protect her, to provide for her, and to keep her by his side for as long as he lived. To do whatever was necessary to get her to want to stay by his side. 

Arnav nodded to himself, satisfied by his promise, and splashed icy water on his face to bring himself back. He shook his hair out, sending water droplets flying, and slicked his now slightly wet hair back. 

He walked out of the bathroom and was greeted by the sight of the horrified Gupta's and Raizada's standing before him. Leading the procession, with a plastered on face of concern, was Shyam Manohar Jha. 

Sunday, 3 February 2013

Accidentally In Love- Chapter 3



Accidentally In Love 
Arshi/Arhi fanfiction

song of the chapter: Kaisa Yeh Pyaar Hai - Title Song 
effing love that song. goddamn.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cQqNxnkLPc


Arnav nodded calmly, and shook hands with the man before him.

"Just wait a few weeks, for the files and terms to be finalized and then gentlemen, we're in business." He said briskly, standing up to shake the other mans hand. He smirked, in his signature ASR way, before gesturing for the man to leave his office by opening the door for him, and nodding at him on his way out. 

Throughout the conference, Arnav had been unable to stop his heart from thundering uneasily, as though something terrible was going to happen. He clamped his hand down over his heart, to try and slow down its uneven palpitations. 

He focused his attention on the file before him, before suddenly remembering that his phone was off and that he should turn it back on before Di had another heart attack because he wasn't answering . He reached for it and turned it on, before placing it back on the corner of his desk, once again focusing on his file. Not even a minute after he had put it down, his phone began to 'ding,' rapidly before it began to ring. 

It was almost as though the phone was attempting to convey the urgency of the call on the other side. Trying to convey that someone needed his help very badly. Di and his Khushi needed him badly. 
________________________________________________________________________

"Phone uthaiye Chote! Pick up the damn phone Arnav!" Anjali snarled, trying Arnav for the third time, as she desperately screamed for help down the desolate road, and attempted to shift the wreckage to try and retrieve Khushi.

"Hello? Di? Sab kuch teek hai? Aapke teen missed calls hai? Kya hua?! Is everything okay? I have three missed calls from you, are you okay?" Anjali sobbed in relief, she had never been happier to hear her brothers voice. 

"Chote! Chote voh-"

"Di! Calm down. Di! Aap kaha hai? Where are you? What's happening?" Arnav asked, and Anjali could feel her brothers distress and desperately tried to convey her own urgency.  Her breathing was heavy and adrenaline pumped through her as Anjali desperately struggled to speak the words that Arnav needed to hear. 

"Chote voh Khushiji. Khushiji ka- Arnav.. Khushiji. Khushiji she-" Anjali began but was cut off by Arnav's now horrified, almost shrill tones.

"Khushi!? Kya hua Khushi ko? Voh teek hai? TALK TO ME DI. WHAT HAPPENED TO KHUSHI?!" Arnav roared and Anjali began to sob.

"Voh Chote ek bohot bura accident hua hai. Khushiji gadi ke neeche phasi hui hai. Bohot khoon hai aur voh humari baton ka koi jawaab nahin deh rahi. Chote humein bohot darr lag raha hai. There was a horrible accident Arnav. Khushi she- she's stuck under the car, and there's so much blood! She won't even answer me and Arnav I- I'm so scared!" Anjali sobbed into the phone and she heard her brothers breaths stop. 

"W-Wh-What?" He breathed and Anjali sobbed out a confirmation. 

"Kh- Khush- Khushi!? KAHAN HAI AAP!? DI YEH KAISA HUA?! KHUSHI!? WHERE ARE YOU DI?! HOW THE HELL DID THIS HAPPEN!? Khushi. Khushi? Khushi!" Anjali sobbed harder, desperately pulling at the piece of metal pinning Khushi's tiny frame in place, as she heard her brothers distress, his desperate calls for Khushi.

"Chote humein maloom nahin hai hum kahan hai. Ek sooni si sarak hai aur bohot sare khet hain. Thodi der pehle humne ek bohot badi building dekhi thi jis par KI laga tha. Arnav, I don't know where we are. It- It's a lonely road and there's lots of fields. B-but I did see a large building a little while back, with KI on it!" Anjali gasped, trying to remember everything she could. 

She heard Arnav mutter something before he barked down the phone that he was on his way and to take care of his Khushi and call an ambulance. After Anjali had complied, she sat back and continued to attempt to pull Khushi free from the wreckage.
_______________________________________________________________________

People threw themselves out of the way as Arnav's white Toyota flew over a speed bump and sped down the roads. He honked his car horn furiously  at anybody in his way and drifted over the turns. 

His heart thudded unevenly in his chest and Arnav tried not to cry. 

'Khushi. Khushi. Khushi no- not Khushi.' He thought. It had taken all of him not to scream at Di and demand she give the phone to Khushi and stop this stupid joke of hers. It had to be a joke. She had to be OK. Nothing could happen to her- to his Khushi. 

'She's so stupid. She's probably fine. She has to be. No, nothing can happen to my Khushi. Pagal ladki. She's probably fine. Crazy girl.' 

He heard his tires squeal as he made a sharp turn and sped up as the Khurana Industries, KI, building came into view. His heart rate stopped completely as he slammed on the brakes, horrified at the sight before him. 

It was a murder scene. There was blood seeping into the concrete everywhere and broken choodiyan littered the splattered pavement. Sitting right in front of him, was a catastrophe. A ravaged mess of metal, blood stained metal. 

Arnav threw himself out of the car, hitting the ground on his knees, where he took deep, shallow breaths, attempting to calm his ragged sobbing. 

"No, no, no, FUCKING NO. KHUSHI!!!!!" he roared, cradling his head between his hands as he stared at the blood covered breakage before him. 

He struggled back to his feet, sprinting towards the wreck, throwing pieces of metal left and right, desperately searching for her bright red suit.  It didn't take him long to realize that she- she- she wasn't there.

"DAMN IT. KHUSHI! KHUSHI! NO! NO GODDAMN IT, NO! DI!? DI!? KHUSHI!? DI?! KAHAAN HAI AAP DI!? WHERE ARE YOU DI!? DI PLEASE. KHUSHI- Khushi.... please." he finished in a broken whisper, before letting out a roar of rage, pain, and everything else he could muster.

Where the fuck were they!? 
________________________________________________________________________

Anjali grasped Khushi's hands tightly as they rode along in the ambulance. Her desperation when they had said it would take atleast 30 minutes to get there, still haunted her. It had taken various threats of her brother's position to get them to realize who they were dealing with.  The thought of her brother made Anjali's blood go cold. Chote!? He didn't know they were with the first response team!? Anjali grappled for her phone desperately, hoping Chote hadn't reached there yet. 

"Hello!? DI?! DI ARE YOU OKAY!?! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU DI!? I'VE BEEN SEARCHING EVERYWHERE FOR YOU DI!? DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH!?" She flinched as she heard Arnav roar down the phone, before collapsing into what she suspected were sobs. 

"Chote! Hum- Khushiji aur hum ambulance main hain. Hum teek hai Chote. Arnav, Khushiji and I are in the ambulance. I- I'm fine Arnav." Anjali tried to sound soothing, but she could tell that she had failed miserably. Her voice quivered and broke and tears tracked down her face, that was caked in dried blood.
"KHUSHI?! Di- Khushi- voh- voh teek hai?! How is she Di!? Is she okay?! DI!?" Arnav yelped, and Anjali heard the sounds of his car door opening.

"Nahin." She whispered back, and heard Arnav gasp lowly before he let out a strangled sound of distress. Of devastation. 

"Di?" He whimpered, and Anjali began to sob, feeling her own heart break at his pain. 

"Chote hum Bhai Kanhaiya Hospital mein jah rahe hain. Aap vahee ponch jaye ga. Teek hai? Ab humein rakna pade ga.  Arnav, we're going to Bhai Kanhaiya (A Sikh Saint who started the Red Cross technically) Hospital. Reach there okay? I have to go now." Anjali whispered, already hearing the sound of Arnav's engine revving and hung up, barely managing to ignore her brothers desperate pleas to hear how Khushi was.
________________________________________________________________________

Arnav sprinted towards the doors of the hospital, shoving doctors, nurses, and patients alike out of his way. He threw them open and skidded into the hospital, looking left and right, desperately searching for Khushi. 

He heard a commotion down the hallway and his eyes snapped over to a gurney being wheeled away. A gurney from which a bloody arm was hanging. An arm wearing the choodiyan he had gifted her. 

"KHUSHI!" he roared, sprinting towards the gurney being wheeled towards the operation theatre.

"Sir- si- sir you can't go in there!" The nurse's screamed, trying to hold him back as he wrestled with doctors, nurses, and guards alike.

"KHUSHI! KHUSHI NO! GIVE HER BACK TO ME. MERI KHUSHI. MY KHUSHI. KHUSHI. MUJHE- CHODO MUJHE. LET ME GO. I NEED TO KNOW IF SHE'S OKAY. KHUSHI!" he bellowed, lashing out at the guard who gripped him around his chest. 

"Chote?" he heard Di's voice from behind him, and staggered towards her, embracing her tightly, barely managing to hold himself together.

"Di! Di, aap teek hain?! Di dekho na, yeh logh mujhe- apni Khushi se- KHUSHI!" Arnav yelled, sprinting at the doors again when he realized they had continued to wheel her towards the operation theatre. Wheel her away from him. They were taking her away. Taking his Khushi away from him.

"KHUSHI! KHUSHI NAHIN. KHUSHI. MUJHE MERI KHUSHI DO GIVE ME MY KHUSHI. KHUSHI." Arnav roared, dropping to his knees. "Please, meri Khushi dedo. Please give me my Khushi back." he whispered, feeling Di's arms wrapping around him from behind and he turned and grabbed onto her for dear life. 

"Di! Di, mujhe chod ke mat jaiye. Maa ki tara. Di, Khushi mujhe maa ki tara chod kar to nahin jayegi na? Aur aap? Aap bhi mere saath hi rahengi na? Huh? Di? Di! Di, don't leave me, like mom did. Di please. Di, Khushi's not going to leave me like mom did, will she? You both are going to stay with me right?" 

"Oh Chote!" Anjali whimpered, holding Arnav just as tightly as he held her, and urged Arnav to let go of his restraints. Oh, how he did. Arnav Singh Raizada let go. 

Saturday, 2 February 2013

Accidentally In Love- Chapter 2

Accidentally In Love- Chapter 2!
Oh btw, I have readers that only know English and so I will be typing up any dialogues that are in Hindi in English as well!

Song of the chapter: Sachiyan Sunaiyan- Lembher Hussainpuri Hahahhahahaha ;P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia8wRo63flk





Khushi adjusted her scarlet dupatta, tossing it back onto its place around her neck as she hurried out towards the car. She had told her Amma that she was going out with Anjali and after being cautioned to return back on time, she had been given permission to accompany Anjali. Anjali was sitting in the car, and glanced up upon hearing the sounds of Khushi's approach. She smiled invitingly, and leaned over to open the door for her. Khushi struggled to smile back and slowly sat inside, closing the car behind her, unbeknownst to her that she was about to go for the ride of her life. 
________________________________________________________________________

Arnav had never been more irritated in his life. Well... maybe he had but he was certainly irritated now. 

"Where is she damn it?" he growled, under his breath as he continued to search the crowd of people congregated in his house for Khushi.

"Kaun Nannav? Who?" Arnav mentally groaned in annoyance. He knew that voice. He knew that fucking voice well. He slowly turned around to face NK, who was beaming so brightly that Arnav wanted nothing more than to punch his cousin till he bled from his overly stretched mouth. 

"No one NK." Arnav ground out, sweeping the crowd for Khushi one last time, before he abandoned the cause and began to walk away, hoping he could reach the confines of his bedroom before NK caught up with him.

"Hey Nannav wait!" And it seemed that nobody wanted to fulfill an atheists aspirations today. 

"Kaha ja rahe ho? Where are you going Nannav?"  

"Marne. To die, damn it." Arnav muttered under his breath. He glanced up at the sound of NK's confused inquisitions for him to repeat what he had said.

"Nowhere NK. I have a deal I need to finalize. I'm going out for that. I was looking for Di to let her know that I'm leaving. Pichlee bar, itna bada issue bana diya tha. Last time, she made such a huge deal out of it." Arnav said louder, letting ASR seep into his voice. Already he felt more in control.

The panic he felt at not knowing Khushi's exact whereabouts began to fade slightly, it became a slight throbbing at the back of his head...and heart. 

"Di? Di to Mandir gayi hai! She's gone to the Mandir Nannav!" NK explained and Arnav nodded and walked off, doing the last button to his blazer. ASR was back and had only one thing to say. Boy, was Khushi Kumari Gupta in trouble when he found her. 

________________________________________________________________________

The ride to the mandir progressed smoothly, without a mention of Shyam so far, as Khushi giggled as Anjali recounted the tale of a little boy called Arnav who thought he could jump off the terrace and fly simply because he was Arnav, and Arnav could do anything.

"Toh Anjaliji- Di, voh hamesha se ese hi the? He was always like this?" Khushi asked curiously, trying to hide her burning desire to know everything there was to know about Arnav. A soft, reminiscent smile graced Anjali's elfin features, and she nodded.

"Itne sakht to nahin. Par chote hamesha chote hi rahe hain. Not as strict, but he was always Arnav." Anjali laughed slightly, before the same sly smile from earlier slid over her face.

"Acha Khushiji. Humein aapse kuch puchna hai. I need to ask you something!"  Anjali said and Khushi felt dread well up within her. Had Shyam said something? Did Anjali have the wrong idea?

"Aapko Chote kaise lagte hain? How do you feel about Arnav?" Anjali asked,casting another sly glance at Khushi whose head whipped around to focus on Anjali, cheeks bright red, upon hearing her question.

"Di yeh aap- k-kya?! What?" Khushi spluttered, wringing her dupatta around in embarrassment and Anjali looked gleeful. 

"Haan, aapko Chote kaise lagte hain? Pasand hain yah nahin? How do you feel? Do you like him, or not?" Anjali repeated, and then waited on baited breath. Khushi got the impression that quite a few of Anjali's hopes and dreams rested on her answer to this question. 

"Dekhiye- look-"

"Sach kahiye! Tell me the truth please!" Anjali tacked on as an afterthought. "Humare beech ki baat hai! Just between us!" she added.

"Voh- hum. Di- haan. Yes." Khushi finished in a whisper. She glanced up, shyly, at the sound of Anjali's delighted squeal.

"Really!?" Anjali gasped, in delight and Khushi nodded again before staring at her tightly clasped hands in her lap. 

"Khushiji!!!!!" Anjali giggled happily, hugging her and Khushi smiled, a wide grin that radiated her namesake. However, it didn't take long for her smile to fade and turn to a tightly set grimace. 

"Di. Humein bhi aapse ek bohot zaroori baat karni hai. I have to tell you something very important too." Khushi's tone must have betrayed the seriousness of the situation because Anjali calmed down considerably and grasped Khushis hand tightly.

"Boliye na! Tell me." Anjali said soothingly and Khushi took a deep breath before plunging forwards with the words she knew would change everything. 

"Shyamji-"

"Aapke mangetaar? Your ex-fiancee?" Anjali asked and Khushi didn't answer. How was she supposed to answer? Yes, he was her ex-fiancee, but he was also Anjali's husband. What was she-  she didn't know.

"Humare mangetaar Shyamji, aur aapke pati Shyamji ek hi insaan hai. My ex-fiancee Shyam and your husband Shyam are the same person." Khushi whispered and dropped her head again, this time letting the tears flow down her face. Oh god, Anjali would hate her for sure now. She would- Khushi's thoughts were cut off abruptly as she felt Anjali's hand slap her across her face. She gasped, as the searing pain of Anjali's ring cutting into her face, struck her and she cupped her hand to her face, shocked. 

She glanced up, and her shocked tear filled eyes met Anjali's shocked and furious ones.

"Aapko pata bhi hain aapne kya kaha hai!?! Aapki himmat kaisi hui?! Humne socha tha- aap toh- Do you even know what you just said?!?! How dare you!? I thought- you-" Anjali cut herself off, breathing heavily as Khushi struggled to control her tears and bring herself together. 

"Di-"

"Matt bulaiye humein Di! Aapka koi hak nahin hai! Don't call me Di! You have no right!" Anjali shrieked angrily again, and Khushi reached for her hand only to have Anjali snatch it back. 

"Anjaliji- humari baat to suniye. Humein ek moka to deejye apne aap ki safiye dene ke liye? Please listen to me! Give me one chance to explain!" Khushi pleaded and saw Anjali glance at her, saw the battle that must have been taking place in her head and felt relief stream through her at Anjali's brief, shaky nod.  Khushi stifled a sob with great difficulty, swallowed and began her woeful tale.

Trees flew by, and the driver wound down the road as worlds spilled from Khushi's mouth. Secrets kept sealed. Anjali continued to stare impassively at the seat in front of her for the duration of Khushi's explanation so Khushi was unable to gauge her reaction. 

"Aur humne aapko iss liye nahin bataya kyun ki humnein aapki bechaini aur aapka pyaar dekha tha Shyamji ke liye. Humne socha tha ke voh badal gaye hain. Leken- leken voh- voh nahin badle. I didn't tell you because I saw your devotion for your husband and your love! I thought that he would change. But- he- he didn't." Khushi finished in a sob and buried her face in her hands and cried. 

"Humein maaf kardijiye Anjaliji. Hum nahin chaahte the ke aapke dil ko koi tess ponche. Please forgive me, I didn't want to hurt you. Ever." Khushi buried her face farther into her hands and cried. 

She gasped when she felt a hand on her hair and pulled her hands away from her face to see Anjali patting her hair with tears streaming down her face. 

"Nahin Khushiji voh- galti unki- nahin Khushiji. No Khushiji, no. He- it's his fault- No, Khushiji." Anjali whispered, her voice mostly a sob. Khushi cried out, and her and Anjali embraced tightly. She felt Anjali dissolve into sobs against her and Khushi stroked her hair as she cried, her own eyes glued to outside the window, where she realized with a pang, that this was not the way to the Mandir. 
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Arnav had a bad feeling. A very bad feeling. He didn't know why, but he felt dread rising in him at alarming rates. As though something was wrong .Very wrong. The feeling you got before doing something you knew was forbidden; something that would have serious repercussions, something you knew wouldn't end well. 

Something like- marrying Mami when your mother had told you not to. Or giving birth to NK or bringing Lavanya home. 

Something bad.

But then again, what could it be? There was a wedding going on at home and everyone was happy, Di happier than he had ever seen her. Khushi- she was- she was.... Khushi. They- everything was fine. 

Passing them off as nerves for the 100 crore deal he was about to make in ten minutes time, he straightened his coat and entered the board room, turning off the emotion flowing from his throbbing heart. That was aching for him to go and protect someone. Protect Khushi.
________________________________________________________________________

"Khushiji unhone aapke saath kuch- He didn't do anything to you did he?" Anjali asked awkwardly and Khushi felt another tear stream down her face at the thought of Shyam's sexual harrassment. It made her feel so dirty and unworthy of anyone. 

"Nahin Anjaliji. Humein bohot bura lag raha hai. Hum- aapke saath- agar aap kahe na toh hum humari jaan dedenge. Aapka jee behlane ke liye. No Anjali I- I feel so bad! I would die if it would make you feel better. I just-" 

"Nahin Khushiji, aap esa matt kaheeye! Don't say that Khushiji!" Anjali said quietly, squeezing Khushi's hand.  

"Unhone humein aur aapko dhoka deeya, yeh unki galti hain. Aap- shukriya humein vaapas bevukuuf banne se bachane ke liye. He deceived both you and me, that's his fault. Thank you for saving me for looking like a fool again."  Khushi smiled in relief and squeezed Anjali's hand back before glancing out the window behind her and gasping. What happened next came too fast for either Khushi or Anjali to realize. 

The flashing headlights of a truck shone into Khushi's eyes and she realized with a pang that this entire trip to the mandir had been a set-up and the driver wasn't actually intending to take them to the Mandir.

"Khushiji kya hua? What happened-" Anjali began before Khushi screamed as the truck made a bee-line for them.

"ANJALIJI!" Khushi screamed, acting on pure impulse as she grabbed Anjali by the arm, shoving her out of the car, via the now opened door. Anjali screamed as she flew out of the car, only to tumble onto the grass lining the road. Khushi sighed in relief and vaguely heard the driver curse and jump out himself. Thank God, Anjali was safe. 

The sound of the trucks horn brought Khushi out of her reverie and before she had time to react the truck had made impact with the car, crushing the metal into a heap. 
________________________________________________________________________

Anjali struggled to her feet, feeling blood gushing down her face, from the cut on her forehead, and screamed as she saw the car being crushed to a metal heap. The trailer swung forwards and slammed into the backseat of the car, where Khushi was, and Anjali gave a high pitched shriek of horror as the back was shredded almost completely. 

"KHUSHIJI! NAHIN! KHUSHIJI! HELP! SOMEBODY HELP US! BACHAO!?" Anjali screamed at the desolate road before her, looking back and forth as she sobbed for help repeatedly, rushing towards the wreckage. 

At the last minute she remembered her phone and searched desperately for it, finally finding the  object strewn over the grass, and rapidly began to dial Arnav's number before she dropped the phone in shock at the sight before her.

An arm hung out from the window of the overturned car. A pale bloody arm, clad in very familiar looking choodiyan. Khushi's arm.