Rabba Ishq Naa Hove - Season 3 - Part 14

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Chapter 14


Khushi’s POV


Whatever happened I cannot even tell my father because this is going to spoil things further so when he asks me why I am suddenly home, and I tell him I have no intentions of going back to Arnav Singh Raizada ever again, he is not happy.

“Khushi, you know you can’t do this. We had decided until I find a way to get you out of there, you can’t stay in this house.”

“Why now?” I snap. “This is my house too, Dad. And I come here anytime I want.”

“Not when your husband is a revenge freak. You know he has challenged us of exposing my black business to the media.”

“So, you do have involvement in black business?” I query him annoyed and astonished by that revelation.

“Where do you think his extra perks that you get to enjoy being my daughter come from? Businessmen like me have to ensure we invest in the right places which can make us richer in little time.”

I don’t want to comment on that. In fact I have no energy left to argue with dad either. I want to sleep. Something which I didn’t get last night at all and just the remembrance of that night, heats my body again because along with it I also recall how Arnav casually told his sister that he doesn't have any feelings for me anymore. If that’s true, what was he doing with me last night? Why did I even agree to let him go to that extent? He is not at fault alone, I am equally to be blamed. I’m still wondering how this is going to shape our future hereon. I don’t think he is ever going to think differently about me nor I care even if he does it.

“Go back to Arnav, Khushi.”

Dad’s voice breaks my reverie.

“I don’t want to.”

I try walking to my room when Dad blocks my way.

“You have to. I can’t take the risk of losing my business or get defamed. Whatever has been done so far is enough.”


Tears brim in my eyes. Is he really my father? I cant share my current pain with him but can’t he see how much I need his support at the moment?

“You won’t let me stay here??” I ask again.

“I am helpless for now. Just stay with Arnav and later-”

That’s it. I walk away from him without letting him finish. He doesn't want to let me stay here, I wouldn’t beg for it nor would I go back to AR Mansion where the man who claimed me last night like I belonged to him by heart, body and soul is now proclaiming to his sister that he doesn’t have feelings for me. What a terrible moment of my life. I am homeless too now.


I don’t know how far I walk alone on that road, in the sun, alone, dejected and confused what to do, where to go? This is not how I wanted my life to be. For the world, I am the daughter of a rich businessman and wife of the most handsome tycoon, but in reality both these men have ruined my life. My future. Dad didn’t let me pursue what I wanted to do as a career and Arnav… he literally crossed every line by marrying me for his revenge, for something I am probably not even fully responsible for.


I suddenly hear the horn of a car coming from behind me in speed. Oh God, I am almost walking on the middle of the road. I quickly move to the side but while escaping the accident, I fall down on the road and hurt my leg. Just then another car parks before me and Lavanya Kshyap gets down.


“Oh my god, Khushi? Are you alright?”

She reaches me and helps me get up.

“Your leg looks hurt. You need medical help.”

“No thanks,” I try to shrug her away. “I’ll manage.”

“Khushi, please. Don’t act unaffected when I know you are in need of some help.”

How does she know? What does she know? Did Arnav tell her what happened between us last night?

“I’ll answer all your queries, first let me take you away from here. C’mon.”

She helps me get in her car and then she drives us to her villa. My leg is swollen by now and I can’t even walk on my own. Lavanya helps me get down the car and she had already called a doctor at home while driving us back who is here.


I am taken to her guest room where she helps me lay on the bed while the doctor inspects my leg and gives me the needed medication. He suggests a few tests to ensure there is no fracture which Lavanya asks him to send his team here to do the needful. I am in tears by the time the doctor leaves and its only me and Lavanya in the room.


The moment she sees me in tears, Lavanya reaches me and gives me a hug.

“It’s okay. Ssshh. It will be alright. Everything will be alright.”


I wish she is right but my heart knows nothing can be right again. The next few hours I rest, probably because of the sedatives the doctor injected me with. The team of doctors come here and do the tests whose reports they promise for the next day. Lavanya even ensures I eat meals though I have lost my appetite. By night, when I am alone again and she comes to check on me, I speak to her.

“Lavanya, thanks for doing all this for me. You didn’t have to. Not after the way I have always treated you.”

She smiles.

“That’s okay. Any woman would be jealous seeing her husband so friendly with some other woman.”

“I wasn’t just jealous, I was mean to you.”

“That happens Khushi.”

“Maybe but I am still sorry.”


She exhales and nods in agreement.

“Alright, I accept your apology. Happy? To be honest, it’s strange to see you apologizing. Is it the medicine effect?” she teases me but I don’t smile.

I don’t think I want to smile or feel happy because there is no reason for it. Lavanya turns serious again.

“Khushi, I don’t know what exactly happened between you and Arnav but I just want to tell you that I am on your side.”

“My side?” I smile sarcastically. “You don’t even know anything about me..”

“I do know a lot..” she interrupts. “I have an idea now that Arnav tricked to marry you for revenge. I know he doesn't treat you like he loves you but…”

“He doesn't love me, Lavanya, nor do I. I can never love a man who after spending a night with me tells his sister the next morning that he never had any feelings for me.”

Lavanya looks hurt. I keep venting out my anger.

“He is so blinded by revenge that its hard to get him back to his old self and I would never try and waste my efforts in doing so. Yes I have done wrong to him in the past but I admit it. But whatever Arnav is doing to me now no one would ever do to the woman he loves.”

Lavanya presses my hand to assure me.

“I agree. So, what have you decided? Will you go back to your father?”

“No. He doesn't want any further issues in his business if I go there. He thinks Arnav will not like it and he wants no defamation. Can you believe he is my father? He’s given me everything so far and now he’s made me homeless?”


Tears brim in my eyes again. Lavanya looks depressed hearing it all.

“Don’t worry. We will find a way out of this. For now, you should rest. If you need anything, I am here.”

“Don’t tell him I am here” I plead and she nods in assurance.

“You don’t have to worry about that. Just rest. You look really tired.”


I am tired. My body is aching for all the odd reasons of last night. It needs rest. I need rest. So once Lavanya leaves, I shut my eyes to sleep but Arnav’s face as he made love to me keeps flashing in my head. Those eyes can’t lie. It really felt like he loved me last night. It wasn’t because he was degrading me or something. It was like we both had minus the old issues between us for that period to devour each other. Why Arnav? Why did you not accept you lost your control for once? It wouldn’t have hurt me if he had told me today morning that whatever happened was a slip of moment for him and he would never repeat it. What hurt me was the fact that he confronted to his sister that he didn’t have any feelings. That was a cold brutal lie.


*********************

The tests come negative. I can even move my leg freely and the swelling is gone. The whole day Lavanya keeps looking after me at regular intervals and I wonder how could I judge her so wrong all this time. She is a good woman. I am also thinking what is Arnav doing at this moment? Did he call Dad and searched for me? Is not even bothered about me? Where I am or how? Or maybe he never checked with my father to know if I am there at Gupta Villa and according to my father I am with Arnav at his mansion. How sick of them. My mood is sour. I can’t stay here for long. Lavanya has done enough favors already. I don’t want to be a burden for her.

I step in her bedroom to speak about the same but realize she is in the bathroom. I decide to wait for her to come out and that’s when I see an envelope on the table. It looks like some medical reports. I quickly look at them thinking they are mine but it has the name ‘Asha Raizada’ mentioned on it. Raizada? Who is… Oh… Arnav’s mother’s reports? I quickly check the address and its New York’s address of a special care home. So, his mother is in New York? I take a picture of it from my phone, and then keep the reports back and leave the room so that she never comes to know I am aware of this.


An hour later, we meet at the dining table for dinner and that’s when I speak to her.

“I will leave tomorrow from here.”

“Leave?” she looks surprised. “Why?”

“Because I can’t stay here forever, Lavanya.”

“Why not? We are friends now.”

“I don’t think I am even ready to trust a friend now..”

She looks disheartened.

“I am sorry if this hurts you, Lavanya. But that’s my problem. After what my father and Arnav did, I don’t think I can trust anyone so soon.”

“I understand that and to be honest, I knew this was coming. That’s why I have an offer for you.”

“Offer?” I am confused.

“Look at this..” she shows me some link of a modelling agency. “These people are looking for some fresh Indian faces for their upcoming shoots. Arnav had told me once that you wanted to take up modelling as your career. So I thought maybe you would like to take this up.”

I am stunned. Is she serious?

“But… why would they hire me? I mean.. I might not even be perfect for what they are looking for.”

“Whats the harm in trying?”

She is right.

“Where is this?”

“New York..”

“What?” I shout.

“I know.. But that’s the only way you can get away from Arnav and your father for some time. Stand on your feet and show them that they can’t rule your life.”

“But Lavanya, New York?”

“What’s the problem with that? Do you have passport with you?”

I recall where it is.. And it happens to be in AR mansion as the day I was marrying, I had carried it with me in my purse. I tell that to Lavanya who smiles again.

“Perfect. Tell me where exactly it will be and I will get it for you. Don’t worry, ASR wouldn’t come to know I sneaked in your room. And then I will apply your visa. Plus, I have a few friends in this agency who will assist you there to fill up the form and also join them. And I have a penthouse in New York. You can stay there”

“Are you sure?” I see hope. “I mean.. can I really fly there and do what I always wanted to do?”

“I am one hundred percent sure. Now c’mon have your meals, we need to do some basic shopping for you.”


Oh my god, If this happens, I cannot even thank Lavanya enough. She is the first person who has done something out of the box for me. God bless her.


*******************

One week is all Lavanya takes to arrange everything for me. Seems Arnav thinks I am in Gupta Villa and for now my father is also out of the city to worry about me. This is the right time for me to fly to New York and start a new life. So I take it up as a challenge. Lavanya comes to drop me at the airport. I give her a tight hug.


“Thanks for everything, Lavanya,”

“Oh please. That’s the least I could do. You don’t have to thank me.”

I don’t have words further to say.

“You stay in touch and yes, the penthouse has a maid who comes to clean but the food you will have to manage until I find someone who can cook.”

“No. That’s not needed. You have done enough already. I’ll self manage the cooking part and once I start earning, I will shift to a different accommodation.”

“You don’t have to. That’s your house too now..”


Whatever she says, I am not going to listen to her on this. I will really shift from there once I earn. I don’t want luxury anymore. I want real people, freedom and simple life. I promise to stay in touch with Lavanya and then waving her a goodbye I leave for my flight.

********************

New York is the city I always dreamed for starting my modeling career. Lavanya had give me some cash which I use to hire a cab, reach her penthouse, shower and then start calculating how to spend this money wisely until I start earning. This is the first time I am ever thinking in that angle otherwise so far I treated money like it was my right to use and spend. Now that I would earn some myself, I don’t want to misuse it. Once again, my thoughts wonder on how Arnav would have become rich in 6 years? What did he do? And that reminds me of all the golden moments I spent with him in that one night. Wish, he hadnt abandoned me by his hurtful words. He didn’t even think of apologizing to me? And he think he loves me? What an irony!!

The thought of Arnav also reminds me of his mother who seems to be in New York only. I quickly recall the address of that special care home and look out in google maps to see how far is that place from the penthouse. It’s hardly five kilometers. So? I don’t know. Should I go and check on her? She’s in a trauma and being treated for the same. Arnav wouldn’t like it if I meet her again but do heck with his liking. I just want to go check on his mother and if she happens to recognize me, I would even explain that I had no intentions of hurting her. I was only protecting myself that day when she confronted to me about Arnav’s possessiveness.


But is this a good option? What if things don’t turn up well and she becomes more ill seeing me? No. I cant risk it. So, I give up the thought and go to sleep. The next day, I enroll myself in the modelling agency and meet Lavanya’s friend Pam who is also a model. She is beautiful, tall and very sexy. We click instantly as we talk. Pam is from India too and is enjoying her modelling assignments here from past two years. She takes me out to show me the New York city and I like it. We drink too but I am in my limits considering there is no Arnav Singh Raizada here who would come to help me out if I overdrink. Strange, but I am always thinking about that man who hurt me so much. Maybe because he is the only man who has been so intimate to me, I am having these feelings for him. They will go away with time. I hope.


It’s been a week more. My modelling training has started and in three months I might get some assignment where I get to earn a few bucks. Even the thought of earning on my own thrills me. I want to do it so I give my best in the training.


Three weeks pass and there hasn’t been a single day when I haven’t rethought of meeting Arnav’s mother. Finally, I take a call. I‘ll go see her from far. That way I would get to see her and she would never come to know I was there.

******************

The Special care center is like a private hospital where only VIP patients are treated and taken care of. These people here need love, attention and some medical help. I pity for them.

“Yes? Whom are you here to meet?”

I turn around at the male’s voice. He is young, and a doctor.

“Umm.. Asha Raizada.”

“Oh, Asha Aunty?” he smiles. “But she is denied to have any visitors without permission.”

Permission?

“Whose.. whose permission?”

“Arnav Singh Raizada’s.”

“Oh.. I… I didn’t know that. I mean, he didn’t tell me that and..”

“You know him?” he curiously asks and I go blank again.

I know him in and out.. Every inch of his heart, soul and body by now..

“Yes. I am… I’m his… his wife.”

He looks even more startled.

“Oh so you are Khushi Raizada?”

He knows my name? How?

“Yes..”

“Then you don’t need permission.. C’mon. I will show you her room.”

“How do you know my name?”

“Anjali had told me. She wasn’t happy that her brother got married so suddenly without informing her.”

Oh god! This man knows Arnav and Anjali too?

“Anjali is here?” I purposely ask.

“No..” he looks a bit surprised now. “She didn’t tell you? She’s gone on a medical camp to Malaysia for three months. Wouldn’t return here until then.”

“Medical camp?” I repeat, a bit confused.

“She is also a doctor, like me.”

Oh!! I didn’t know. Now he looks even more confused that being Arnav’s wife I still don’t know so many things about his family.

“That’s her room. You can go see her.”

“No.. I am fine here.. I mean I will see her from the window.”

“She’s not going to harm you. She never has.. She’s the kindest person in this facility. Go meet her while I return in few minutes.”


I think I would meet her. Coming all the way here and not meeting her in person is not good.

“Sorry, I didn’t ask your name.” I tell him and he smiles.

“Shyam Jha… I am the lead Doctor here.”

“Shyam…nice meeting you..”

“Same here..”

He shakes hands with me and leaves. I wait at the door for a minute before making my mind to go inside and confront Arnav’s mother and then then I barge in. She is knitting and the moment she sees me, she gets confused as if she is trying to remember my face.


“Who are you?” she asks. “I never saw you before here..”


She doesn't remember me? My face? Is that trauma so bad?

“I..” I pause.. “Should I tell her?”

“She is your daughter in law, Aunty,” Shyam returns. “Khushi Raizada”


The moment Arnav’s mother hears that, I fear she is going to lash me out but she puts everything away and then marches to me and pulls me into a hug.

“Oh god, you are my daughter-in-law? Arnav married? Thank God he did. Otherwise he was sulking for some other woman all these years.. You are so pretty. And such nice name.. Khushi.. I love it.”


My heart skips a beat. She doesn't even recall the name of the woman her son loved and who he thinks is the reason for her trauma. And now, instead of being cold to me, she is showering all love upon me? What … what should I do?


To be Continued.

NEXT PART

Note: So? How was this chapter? I know many of you will keep backlashing Arnav now, but let me tell you, there's a lot more to his character too. His POV will come up in next chapter. 

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