IAL Chapter 20: The Bitter Truth

 

Chapter 20: The Bitter Truth

 

Khushi had a smirk on her face. Even though she was telling Arnav the bitter truth about the way he and Shyam managed to turn her life upside down, she was enjoying this greatly. Mainly because she’s never had the upper hand before and it was fun to watch Arnav squirm as his whole being flushed with guilt.

 

“Has your hearing gone? I said he asked for my hand in marriage. My family wanted to accept. He was a great person. He saved me from the thugs, found me a job and helped the family around the house. Who wouldn’t want him as a son-in-law?”

 

At this point Arnav was getting physically sick because he knew what a great son-in-law Shyam was and how he could charm any one.

 

“What did you want?” he asked in a quiet voice.

 

Khushi wanted to laugh in his face. After all this time of being inhumanely cruel to her and not sparing a thought for her feelings, he finally wanted to know what she wanted.

 

“I didn’t want to marry him. He was like a brother to me and I couldn’t see him as anything else. But my Babuji went into paralysis and his wish was to get me married to Shyam, so we finally got engaged.”

 

“How is any of this possible? You were working in my house, you must’ve seen him around in Diwali or at poojas?”

 

“I can honestly say I never saw him until the day Anjiliji was hosting the pooja for Akashji and Jiji.”

 

“The day you ran into my arms crying?”

 

“Yes. I wanted to tell you but I knew you’d never believe me so I went home and told my family. We broke off the engagement and threw him out. The next day I was going to tell Anjiliji the truth but her mangulsutra broke and she freaked out and thought it was a bad omen. Plus I didn’t want Jiji and Akashji’s wedding to break off.”

 

Arnav frowned. “So let me get this straight, just because Di’s stupid mangulsutra broke you didn’t tell her? I don’t think so. I think this has everything to do with your sisters wedding. How could you be so selfish?”

 

Khushi shrugged. “So what if it does? I think I can afford to be selfish after all you’ve put me through. Besides, this is all your fault, if you hadn’t released the tapes, none of this would’ve happened. How does that feel Mr Raizada?”

 

Arnav was silent for a minute before he turned to her, stood straight and looked right at her.

 

He casually said, “It feels pretty good. In fact, I don’t regret anything.”