HWGA Chapter 14: Payal's Voice

Before you read this chapter please read my one shot Things That Keep Me Away From You. Seriously go and read it now because some bits in this chapter won't make sense without it. I know this is a short chapter but if you read the one shot it will look longer. Can you see how I'm subtly asking you to read my one shot? Anyway, purple bits are Hindi, bold bits are past memories and italics are thoughts

Chapter 14: Payal’s Voice

Everyone, in the immediate vicinity, was shocked to say the least. But Anjili was the first to recover.

“What are you saying Chote?”

“I know I promised not to go after her. And I know that a couple of years ago you gave me permission but I didn’t want it. Well I want it now.”

Anjili’s eyes welled up with guilt. “Of course you can go after her Chote but isn’t it a bit late now.”

“I don’t think so Di.”

“I think so.” Voiced Payal.

Everyone turned to stare at Payal.

“Why Payalji?” asked Anjili.

“You think you can ignore my sister for 22 years and she’ll come running back to you? You think my sister will pine after you for all these years? She has some self respect Arnavji and she moved on ages ago. I told you, remember?”

Arnav thought hard and finally remembered what Payal had said to him.

“She has a family now, even a daughter. I’m sorry Arnavji but she moved on.”

“If she’s truly moved on, what’s the harm in me seeing her?”

“She doesn’t want to see you.”

“And how do you know?”

“Because…” Payal was stuck. She didn’t want him to know that she had just come from seeing her sister.

Unfortunately for Payal, Arnav decided to finish her sentence for her. “Because your father isn’t really ill, is he Payal? You only made that up because Khushi was coming to India and you didn’t want anyone to know. And currently she’s living in the Gupta Haveli.” Payal’s mouth fell open. She couldn’t fathom how he knew all of that. “Oh don’t look so shocked Payal. I’m the greatest business tycoon in India for a reason. And nothing gets past Arnav Singh Raizada. And you!” He turned to look at NK. “You think I don’t know why you go to the UK every year.”

“I go because-”

“You go because of Khushi. You may go to your friend Karan’s house for a while but I know you spend the majority of your time over there with Khushi.”

NK knew the situation was bad but at least Arnav thought that Karan and Khushi didn’t have any connection to each other. Maybe there was a way to save this somehow.

“You’re absolutely right Nanav. I do only go there for Khushiji.”

Arnav gave a triumphant smile. “Does Daine know? You know NK, after the speech you gave to me all those years ago about how I make you sick, you’re the one that actually makes me sick. You’re married yet you still lust after your Bhabi.”

“How dare you?! I love Diane and I’d never cheat on her. And for your information Diane does know about Khushiji. In fact she’s met her a couple of times too. Khushiji is nothing more than a friend Nanav. And one more thing, she isn’t my Bhabi because she isn’t your wife.”

“How dare-”

“Oh shut up! You never acted like her husband. Hell you never acted like you loved her. I’m not surprised she divorced you.” With that NK stormed off to his room leaving Arnav to fume.

“Jai Prakash!” Called Anjili and a young man came running to a halt in front of her. “Please, take all the children to the garden.”

“Which one?”

“The one furthest from this room.”

He nodded and began to gather up all the children. They were all moderately glad to leave. Half of them wanted to know what was going to happen next and the other half didn’t want to stay for more screaming matches. But Priti being Priti wanted to stay for the rest of the show so when Jai Prakash came to take her away she wouldn’t budge.

Anjili saw this. “Priti go!” She said in a tone that suggested that she wasn’t messing about.

Priti rolled her eyes at her mother and exited the room followed by Jai Prakash. Arnav had, thankful, calmed down considerably and turned to Payal.

“I’m going to go see her tomorrow and you can’t stop me.”

Payal’s eyes filled with fear but before she could muster some words out someone else spoke. “No you won’t Bhai.”

Arnav, Payal and Anjili turned to see Akash and Viren at the door. Viren went to stand next to Anjili.

“What’s going on?" He whispered in her ear.

“I’ll explain later.” She whispered back.

“Akash. So you knew about this too?” asked Arnav.

“Of course I did. My wife doesn’t keep anything from me.”

“But you kept this from me.”

“Yes. Firstly because Payal made me promise not to tell another living soul and secondly for Khushiji’s well being.”

“Khushi’s well being?”

Akash ignored Arnav and turned to Payal. “So he doesn’t know what happened to her?”

“No but he seems to know quite a lot.”

“We might as well tell him then.”

Arnav was well and truly irritated by now. “Tell me what?!” He yelled.

Akash turned to Arnav and calmly said “Khushiji was in an accident and now she can’t remember any of the past 24 years.”

“What?”

“She can only remember the morning of Payal’s first wedding.”

“She doesn’t remember my fashion show.” He said quietly.

“What?” asked Akash.

“Nothing. Akash, seeing me might help her memories come back.”

“No! You won’t go see her or talk to her. If you do her memories might never come back and I won’t let you do that to my sister after all you’ve done to her.” Said Payal.

“Payal-”

“I don’t care what you have to say. You’re not meeting her.”

“If you don’t care what I have to say, why should I care about what you have to say.”

Payal stormed right up to him, looked him right in the eyes and poked him on the chest. “Listen here Mr Raizada and listen carefully. I am Khushi’s elder sister. I wasn’t able to protect her before but I’ll be damned if I let you ruin her again. So if you have any intention of going to meet her before she gets her memories back, whether it’s today, tomorrow or next week, then I have news for you. I will stop you in any way possible because she deserves happiness and I know for a fact you’re not the man to give it to her. So you can try but you’ll have to go through me first.” With that Payal stormed away followed by Akash, leaving a gaping Viren, Arnav and Anjili behind.

As soon as Payal and Akash were in their room, Akash said “That was very hot.”

“Shut up!” growled Payal. Akash smirked and raised his hands in surrender. “I want you naked and on the bed when I come back.”

“Where are you going?” he asked but Payal gave him the look. He shut up and began to strip.

Payal went to NK’s room and knocked.

“Who ever it is, just go away!” shouted the voice from inside.

“NK it’s me, Payal.”

The door opened. “What do you want Bhabi?”

“Have you informed Karan?”

“Yes I have. He said he’d handle everything.”

“I know what you’re thinking but I swear to Devi Maya that I didn’t tell Arnavji anything.”

“I want to believe you Bhabi but then how does he know everything?”

“The same way he knew the reason you kept on going to the UK. You really thought he wouldn’t have found out? It was probably you who actually sparked his investigation.”

“You know what, it doesn’t matter who did it. What matters is how we’re going to keep Khushiji safe.”

“You said Karan will handle everything.”

“He’s only one man, he’ll need our help too.”

“Of course we will but it doesn’t help that Amba doesn’t know anything.”

NK sighed. “It’s best that Karan and Khushiji tell Amba when her memory comes back.”

“I’m going to get up at 4 am to monitor Arnavji movements, if he goes some where I will follow.”

“Bhabi take Akash with you.”

“Ok, goodnight NK.”

“Night Bhabi.”

Gupta Haveli

It was 11pm and Amba had just finish her presentation and checked over it. She wanted everything to go smoothly tomorrow. She had just gotten into bed when there was a knock at the door. Amba groaned and contemplated whether or not she should answer that. But the knocks grew more urgent so she dragged herself out of bed and flung open the door.

“Amba I need you to do something for me.”

“Dad!” whined Amba.

“Amba please.” He begged.

She sighed and rubbed her eyes. “Fine, what do you want?”

“I want you to take your mother to the Mandir tomorrow.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry it’s before 8. Just get up at 5, leave and come back at 7. That’ll give you enough time to get dressed and go for your meeting.”

“Oh joy!” she said sarcastically.

“Amba please.”

“Can I ask why?”

“All the women are going.”

“So?”

“So I don’t want Khushi to question why you’re not going so you’re going.” Amba groaned and slammed the door in his face. “So are you going?” Yelled Karan from outside the door.”

“Yes!” yelled Amba from inside the room.

“Thank you!”

Amba burrowed under the cover and tried to get some sleep.

The things I do for family, honestly.

Amba closed her eyes but she could hear someone was banging on the door. She opened her eyes to find light spilling into her bedroom. She grabbed her phone and checked the time. It read 05:00 am.

“Shit!” She rushed out of bed and opened the door.

“Good morning Amba.”

“Good morning mu- I mean Khushi aunty.”

“Karan told me that you want to come to the Mandir with me, amma and buaji.”

“Yes I did.”

“Ok, well get ready because we’re leaving soon.” She handed Amba a bundle of cloths. “I noticed that you were my size so I decided to give you some of my cloths.”

“Thank you but that’s not necessary. I have my own cloths.”

“Do you have any salwars?”

“Umm no.”

“Then what are you planning to wear at the Mandir?”

“T-shirt and jeans.”

“You’ll still need something to cover your head.”

Amba sighed and took the cloths, making a mental note to go shopping for desi cloths since she was in India. “Thank you.”

“No problem. You have 30 minutes. Meet us in the courtyard after you’re ready.”

“Ok.”

Amba showered and got ready in 20 minutes, she then proceeded to the courtyard. She saw Khushi, Garima, Buaji and Karan.

She passed Karan and said “I hope you’re happy.”

“I am, thanks. And Amba, you look good in desi wear.”

“Shut up.”

Karan called them a cab to take them to the Mandir and waved them off. He then waited for the storm to come and sure enough a white car pulled up outside the Haveli and Arnav Singh Raizada got out. Karan took a deep breath.

This is going to be a long and hard morning.