Khushi’s POV
I pace in the waiting area of my father’s office. He is in a meeting and until that’s over, I can’t see him. This wait is killing me because ever since Arnav has pointed out that Dad has done something unknown to me, to destroy his family, I have been restless. Yes, I do realize my fault too but…
“Ma’am,” the receptionist breaks my thoughts. “Sir is available to meet you now.”
I rush to the door and barge inside only to find my father speaking to someone on phone. He gestures me to sit until he finishes the call.
“What do you mean what to do? I don’t care what you do to threaten them, but I want them out of this city tonight. Am I clear?”
I stiffen as Dad disconnects the call and look at me.
“I don’t have much time, Khushi. Whatever you are here for, just say it fast..”
For a second, I am nervous. Hearing Dad speak to someone asking to threaten a family to leave the city makes me believe he did something similar with Arnav and his family too.
“What did you do with Arnav’s family six years back dad?”
My query disturbs his mood for sure.
“I need the answer, Dad. What did you do to them that Arnav is avenging us for today?”
He leans back on his chair, giving me a stern look.
“Why are you asking me that suddenly?”
“Because I need to know..”
“Really?” he smirks. “Now you need to know whereas at that point you were hell bent on forcing me to do anything to keep Arnav away from you..”
I swallow painfully recalling that time. Yes, he is right. After that confrontation night that I didn’t love him, Arnav stalked me for almost a week. Every time I went to pub, club, dinners and shopping he was always around and it scared me. I was meeting new people, making new friends and his presence was making me feel like a cheater, like… like I had done some sin by breaking a man’s heart. So, one week later I told dad about this and asked him to ensure Arnav stops following me. What did he do though?? I can’t wait to know.
“What did you do, Dad?” I shout this time. “Did you hurt his family?”
“I hurt his family??” he growls. “How dare you ask me that question, Khushi? In fact, I am the one who tried to sort your mistakes.. just like every other time. You met Arnav’s mother, didn’t you? You literally insulted her and threatened her and walked away from the spot without even turning behind. Do you even realize what happened to her after that? You didn’t even care to check once..”
My heart skips another beat recalling that night. My car had got punctured just before a temple when I was returning from my Yoga classes. Whilst the driver was fixing it, I met an elderly woman who had got down from the temple stairs and who headed straight to me.
“Khushi?” she smiled at me whilst I kept looking at her confusedly.
“Yes.. I .. I didn’t recognize you..”
“I am Arnav’s mother”
The moment she introduced, I stepped back and then crossed my arms at front.
“Oh..”
I didn’t know what to say. But the look she gave me was so calm that I was ashamed again knowing she was aware what happened between her son and me. That I ditched him.
“Arnav is really in love with you, dear,” she said. “He doesn't sleep well at night. All I see him is looking at your pictures.”
“Many men do that Aunty. They find me beautiful, they love me. That doesn't mean I love them all..”
“But you gave him hopes..”
“I was just spending some good time with him.” I argued.
Tears brimmed in her eyes.
“You told him you wanted a future with him..”
“I want a future with him… But that doesn't mean I am going to marry him. Why are you middleclass people so stuck with the idea of marriage?”
She took a step towards me and touched my face.
“You are too young to understand that. I don’t blame you for what happened. But I wonder… what will happen If Arnav doesn't get your love. This is not easy for him, Khushi. Arnav is different. He has been different ever since he lost his father. He gets too attached to people if they give him hope and love and parting from them becomes difficult for him. He can do anything to make sure he gets those people in his life.. I don’t want him to do like that with you. He wouldn’t hurt you but…”
Whatever she told me about Arnav surely scared me and I lost my cool.
“Excuse me? Are you threatening me?”
“No.. I am not threatening you, Khushi. All I am asking you is to understand his side too. If you need time to accept his love, I will convince him but don’t push him away. We might be middleclass people but Arnav’s anger.. his craze to set things right scares me.. I just want you to…”
“Enough” I stepped back again. “I don’t want to listen to your speech anymore. And one more thing. Tell your son to stay away from me if he doesn't like my stand about us. If he keeps stalking me, I’ll turn him to the police.. Just like I lied to your son that I love him, I would lie to the police that he tried to molest me and I don’t need to do much to prove them anyway.”
“Khush.i….” she cried touching her heart.
“yes… I will do exactly that and your son will go to jail for a minimum seven years, I will ensure that. So ask him to stay away from me henceforth..”
I realized the driver had fixed my car so giving Arnav’s mother a final glare, I made my way to the car. I probably threatened her too much but that was needed so that she could put some brains in her son. I got in the vehicle and drove away without even looking behind..
As soon as those memories fade, I turn back to Dad to know what he means?
“What happened after I left? And… how did you know what happened after I drove away from there, Dad? You were keeping an eye on me?”
“Not on you..” he sighs. “On Arnav’s family so that I could know what they were doing.. to learn their weaknesses so I could use those to fix the situation. Arnav was already gaining attention at office by his hardwork and dedication towards the client. So removing him from office without a solid reason was not possible. I had to aim on his family”
I swallow hard. I can sense it.. Something worse happened from us which is why Arnav is blaming us so badly today.
“My men were keeping an eye on his mother that morning when she met you. After you drove away, seems that woman was so scared and upset that she didn’t realize she was crossing the road without looking out for the vehicles coming from the other end. Before my men could save her, a car hit her and…”
I almost collapsed on the chair unable to hear the next… Dad rose from his chair and passes me some water to drink. It was all because of me that happened? I scared her that much? I made her upset? Damn!! I never had a filter on my mouth when I talked to people, especially the ones whom I didn’t like.. It’s not that I didn’t like Arnav’s mother but the way she was scaring me telling me about Arnav’s possessive traits, I couldn’t think any less of not threatening her back. I didn’t want her to meet with that accident though. Had I known, I would have never said all that..
“She survived..” Dad adds and I stare at him blankly..
“She?? She survived?” I repeat, feeling a bit relaxed but dad just nods. He has no other expression on his face.
“She just survived Khushi but her brain…I mean… she is mentally not very fit anymore..”
“Not fit anymore? What… what is that supposed to mean, Dad?”
Dad exhales and then shows me a file. They are some medical reports.
“After Arnav stepped in our lives again recently, I started digging his past too, so that we know about his family and their status now.. Seems after that accident, his mother got into a trauma.. Now she remembers her family, her son and all but she is still stuck to that same period when all this happened. She still thinks that Arnav is unsafe.. that some woman is out there who will harm him and… send him to jail.. And all that… She is over worried for him.”
My heart sinks. Trauma??
“Where.. where is she?”
“I don’t know that yet. Arnav has kept her in some secret location and only he knows.. Could be in India or abroad but she is still undergoing medical treatment and probably he still hopes that she will be alright someday..”
Tears spring in my eyes. Though unintentional, I know this is enough reason for any man to hate a woman for a lifetime. I am the one responsible for his mother’s weak mental state. Just not him but even I can’t forgive myself for this situation.
To be Continued.
Wow poor arnav khushi needs a filter on her fast mouth
ReplyDeleteAwesome Update. Khushi isn't bad. Arnav loved Khushi passionately but Khushi's immaturity didn't let her understand his love. She felt guilty after behaving badly with Arnav's mom proves it. Khushi immaturity ruined it all. Khushi behaved really rude with Arnav's mom and she couldn't take the rejection partially Khushi is responsible. Now that Khushi knows her fault and Arnav's mom condition will she apologize to Arnav and meet his mom. Eager to know where Arnav has kept his mom. Arnav will surely not like if Khushi tries to meet his mom. Thanks for the Update😍😍
ReplyDeleteThink before you act. Khushi shouldn't have said those things. Feeling really bad for Arnav and his mom . But I have a feeling only Khushi can bring Arnav's mom back from her traumatized state.
ReplyDeleteOho poor them. As expected and reliving that khushi didn't do anything. As said and explained by the writer that everything was so natural and unintentional. I Got remind of lawful sins 2. The same had happened there too and khushi had got struck or better say got trap in between a game of fate but just like it wasn't her fault at that time of arnav's mother accident this time too she wasn't. I don't think there was any cause of arnav's mother to gets so hyper by khushi's mere words of hollow threat. Obviously when someone would get stalk so intensely + you have a nail to prick with that man + getting so much of warning about the daring of the same man, any girl would freak out and bring the police name.
ReplyDeleteIm wondering! can someone gets traumatized so easily i mean by such words? Calling police threat is so common. i mean on one side you are telling or warning or threatening a girl about your son's strong willingness, his passion, his determination, his dedication and his unhindered esteem and on the same hand you gets afraid by such mere words of his failure and him facing trouble? is that even make sense!!! was that even a thing to get so anxious so much as gets traumatized? or was it got aggravated because of accident? accident makes sense though but not the former. And yes it wasn't khushi's fault btw. The mother was scaring or threatening or whatever she was doing wasn't a pleasant thing for khushi upon that arnav's stalking stunt had to scared the shit out of her and so she just retaliate in the most natural way any victim of being stalking would do. How would one know how the other is taking its words or in which sense especially when doing the same thing by themselves too. Khushi was wrong in previous chap but not here. Period.
ReplyDeleteI thought iam the only one thinking like that... I saw some comments dissing khushi like she had done something wrong.. Someone is stalking her for weeks and meeting his mother out of nowhere and hearing about his possessiveness will scare any lady
DeleteAbsolutely
DeleteThere goes some sh*t reason to defend Arnav's horrible behaviour!
ReplyDeleteAll tries to make Khushi guilty for no mistake of hers just so that we can pity Arnav?
HE stalked, HIS mother 'threatened'. Ofc she'd ask her for help, anyone who's sane would.
Man
ReplyDeleteKkg has long way now
Seriously madhu if only this is really the reason of ASR behaving such towards KKG than im sorry but he needs a good reality check and alot of good sense stuffed into him. If only this is the reason, he has messed a big time. This can't be neither he can be justified by this. I hate immature KKG but here she wasn't neither anything wrong. Someone was scaring the daylights of her and we want her to not ask for help neither answer back nor burst out? And the accident part! KKG not glancing back for once, why would she? How many does that? How does make it a difference? How does make it her faulty? I can't seem to understand. How often it happened that we met someone, have a talk, share a moment, promise of next meeting, or get into an argument or fighting sort of things and walk away only to hear they are no more after sometime! Does that make us responsible for their death? Its just like milk, the milk which got spilled on gas in a blink or moment of distraction even though you were gawking at it the whole time but still it got its own fate and had to spilled anyway, haha. But its not our fault that it ot spilled, its just the moment and a thing which had to happen.
ReplyDeletePity ASR. I really feel sorry for him. He got hurt without any of his fault. He can blame anyone of his mother's state BUT it would be a wrong blame game, we have to keep in mind and it have to be corrected. No any other can be blame for his mother's accident, especially KKG.
Long way to go khushi and it's better you leave your immaturity now and understand seriousness of situation.
ReplyDeleteA mother who is in absolute love for her child can be upset but the accident could have caused memory loss and paranoia. Is Kushi guilty and was she justified in behaving the way she did time will tell as MAdhu weaves her magic. Is Arnav justified once again this is a son who is hurting for his mother? And lastly there is fiction and real life and while there will be overlap we cannot justify fiction but only applaud the creativity of the writer.
ReplyDeleteHmmm Khushi’s arrogance and immaturity spoils not only Arnav’s life but his mum’s too. That’s sad 😔 Khushi have to do something on her mistakes to rectify it.
ReplyDeleteImmaturity.
ReplyDeleteImmaturity.
Immaturity.
Immaturity....
Thts all mature people have to say about khushi. Im bored and getting sick of this same copy pasting. I want new names plz.
I never knew being immature can be such a sin and worst thing to be. I never knew immature people don't deserve to be mistaken or understood or taught or let go or considered.
Dude, for real!
DeleteOmg poor Arnav mum .. Khushi is childish person .. awesome written
ReplyDeleteJust read the update and while I understand Khushi was completely wrong to lead Arnav on and her behaviour triggered off a series of events but both Arnav and his mom come across as a little creepy...
ReplyDeleteHe stalked her for over a week, appearing everywhere and then his mother tried to warn her to return his love otherwise he would do what it took to get her.. that it enough to spook anyone...its like being coerced into a relationship...so she reacted, maybe even overreacted but I don't blame her for this episode though unfortunately it cost Arnav's mom her sanity... both mother and son come across as obsessive compulsive!
That's y they say one should be careful of what one speaks ...i guess kush got freaked out and over reacted.
ReplyDeleteArnav is acting more out of sadness than anything
Hope both find peace
This is a message to peeps who are making harsh comments ..
ReplyDeletePlease understand Madhu makes time out of hard schedule and updates these for us and makes it available free of cost.
Do appreciate her efforts.
Again this is writer POV if u don't agree don't read or make harsh comments.
Please don't spam multiple harsh comments it de motivates
This is a request from a long time reader.
I don't think disagreeing with the writer or follow reader and putting your opinion is wrong or the writer don't appreciate that. I also don't think that writers just like to hear "great update" , "awsom update" , "excellent update" , "good writing". These are just formality. I as a writer likes to see my reader giving their opinion, views, beliefs, thoughts no matter if they are same to mine or not. According to me writer deserves these kind of long and detailed comments rather than one word or one liner.
DeleteDisagreeing with the writer and making harsh comments both are different thing.....
DeleteJust remember it's an imaginary story and not a real incident. Giving your opinion is other things.but it's like intentionally demotivating her.....
And it is sad to know that you are a writer and still don't know how to put your opinion, views,beliefs, thought in a polite way😔
Why there some comments have same content......do they like plot so much
ReplyDeleteAwesome fabulous update dear
ReplyDeleteThis comment section is not passing the vibe check. Appears like some group of people have a agenda
ReplyDelete...
ReplyDeleteHello Madhu, hope you are doing fine. Commenting for the first time so plz don’t mind me. First of all, you are a great writer and I know you know it. You don’t need others to tell you that. I just wanna be the voice from some people here who are being judged and are consider offenders. I wanna tell you that you are loved here. By everyone. And you matter, good or for bad but you did and that’s why there are people who are coming here and pouring their heart and mind here. And it’s upon the receiver how to take that. I wanna tell you that it’s just your story not you, people can connect to your creation that’s why they want to give and make it correct according to their right way. No one wants to demotivate you or harm you because no one is gonna get anything from it. We don’t know anyone personally here neither this fictional platform makes any difference to our personal life so thinking that people are here to cause you any harm is irrational. You are doing this from ages and have been receiving same response all through these years, so if one time there is a difference; there might be a reason to it. Nothing remains same and no one is perfect. We are human and we ought to make mistakes or be imperfect. Kindly, never take things the wrong way instead make it your strength.
ReplyDeleteAnd, to those “peace maker” who are targeting and stigmatizing others about their inconsiderable behaviour-according to them- plz stop. Your this approach is itself seems a “go ahead” to debate. Let people do and say what they wants to. It’s madhu blog and it’s her right to answer back and fight. You guys are admonishing them and asking them to not voice their opinions and stop reading instead if they don’t agree with the fiction but you yourself is doing the same to them. And also this type of action-reaction commenting is making the blog a war zone which shouldn’t be the case. Your this behavior is highlighting the "harshness" and making it seems a big deal where it might not be the same if not for you guys reacting to them like this. Kindly, don’t argue with the commenters to whom you are getting offended. Just comment your content and let others theirs. If madhu will have a problem with the criticism, she should and would put a note about it, which is a right way to stop that.
Hey, thanks or your advise and don't worry. I am aware many of them are not happy with this plot but I have full faith in my creativity and that I will be able to do justice to this difficult story despite all the criticism I have been receiving over it. I have no issues with negative comments as most of you said here they have right to put forth their opinions. I as a writer appreciate that. Until the comments are not bashing me on personal grounds I have no qualms. Regarding the story, I would still say, don't judge it by the 9 parts posted so far. A lot many good updates are yet to come.
DeleteMost welcom. Exactly, no one wants to cause personal harm. Its just your creation not you. Just like how one intention can be right but now the way that doesn't make the person bad. Regarding the story, again its just a particular character's way which isn't fitting right with some people, and that doesn't make your story or plot bad or wrong. Plz know that. As always your plot, idea and story is great but just a character isn't. Plz continue and update soon, waiting eagerly for the good updates<3
DeleteJust the way it was your opinion it was mine...i am struggling thru some illness and i have been a reader since FB days maybe you may feel i overreacted but for me Madhu is my friend a part of my fam who i felt compelled to defend. Now that she has clarified i will not say anything
DeletePeace out
Angel... get well soon dear. And all my wishes with you..
DeleteKhushi was very harsh 😣
ReplyDelete