Chapter 29: A Blow
to the Face
For the longest time after Khushi left, no one spoke. There
was not a sound made, except for the servants cleaning up somewhere in the
house and the crunch of Priti’s popcorn. Everyone was staring at Arnav who was
staring into space. He hadn’t moved from that position since Khushi had
finished her story. The look of defeat and heartbreak was etched all over his
face, he looked like a dead man. Even though they all wanted to comfort Arnav,
they knew that no matter what they said, it wouldn’t make anything better.
The silence was deafening and Aarav had had enough of it. He
got up from his chair and slowly approached his father.
“Dad?” he asked tentatively. When Arnav didn’t move from his
position, Aarav moved closer and put a hand on his shoulder. “Dad?”
Arnav raised his head. The look in his eyes just said it
all. There was no life in them, just emptiness and drops of melancholy. He
looked at Aarav like he was seeing him for the first time.
“Everyone go to bed.” He said.
“Dad-”
“Now!” he thundered.
The kids quickly scampered off to their rooms leaving the
adults to deal with Arnav. Aarav squeezed his father’s shoulder in support
before leaving too. Anjili approached him.
“Chote-”
“What Di?” he snapped. “What do you want now?”
Anjili was taken aback but she understood why he was lashing
out at her. “Chote, I am genuinely sorry. I had no idea Shyam was capable of
that.”
Arnav let out a laugh. “You had no idea? You had no idea!
Even after everything we told you about him, you still had no idea what he was
capable of?! Even after everything he did to you and Neha, you had no idea?” he
began to clap slowly. “Well done Di. Well done. You are the densest person on
Earth.”
“Chote-”
“What more can you say Di? You’ve already said you were
sorry. Well sometimes sorry isn’t enough. Sorry isn’t going to bring Khushi
back. Sorry isn’t going to give me back all the years I spent without her.
Sorry isn’t going to undo what Shyam did to her daughter. Sorry isn’t going to
get Khushi to love me again.”
“If she really loved you then why did she have a child with
another man?” Anjili reasoned.
“She was raped!” screamed Arnav. “Amba is a child of rape!” Anjili
stopped dead in her tracks. She didn’t know what to say. “What? You have
nothing to say? Have I finally shut you up so you can’t cause any more damage?”
Viren came to his wife’s side. “Arnav, I know you’re angry
and you have the right to be but you need to calm down before you do or say
something you’ll regret.”
Arnav stared hard at his brother in law. “How can you defend
her after everything she’s done? Wait, don’t tell me, it’s because you love her,
right? You know I’ve always liked you Jijaji. I’ve always admired the way you
took care of my sister. But like your daughters, you’ve spoilt her. It’s not
your fault, I spoilt her before you did and so did our family and Shyam.”
Viren was about to speak again when Anjili stopped him.
“It’s ok Virenji, Chote has the right to shout at me. I’m really sorry Chote, I
didn’t know Khushiji was raped. I know it’s all my fault and that nothing I can
do will change that.”
Arnav stared at his sister before smiling sadly. “Do you
know what the sad thing is Di? I forgive you and I still love you. Because no
matter what you do, did or will do, I will always forgive you and love you and
I hate myself for that.”
“Chote-”
Arnav held up his hand to stop her. “No Di. Just please be
quiet. I’ve forgiven you haven’t I? Just go to bed ok? It’s all in the past,
forgive and forget, let by gones be by gones and etcetera etcetera. I’m going
to bed.”
Diane, NK, Viren and Anjili all watched in concern as Arnav
walked away. They watched as he climbed the stairs and disappeared from view.
Arnav walked and walked, not really looking at where he was going. He didn’t
stop when he passed the floor to his room or the next floor or the floor after
that. He just climbed the stairs until he reached the roof. When he finally
became aware of his surroundings, he pulled his phone out of pocket.
“Arman?”
“Yes sir?” replied a groggy voice.
“Contact my lawyer and ask who all my possessions go to when
I die.”
“They go to your son.”
“Contact them now and get back to me. ”
Then Arnav cut the call.
Arman didn’t want to argue, he knew the faster he got his
work done, the quicker he’d get some sleep. After contacting the lawyers, Arman
phoned his boss.
“As I said before, everything goes to your son sir.”
“Thank you Arman.”
He cut the call and got up on the ledge of the roof. He
really didn’t have anything to live for anymore. His sister was happily married
and so were his cousins. He’s son was an adult now and an excellent businessman
so he knew his business was in safe hands. He’s family was wealthy and well
taken care off, they didn’t need him anymore and he didn’t want to live in a
world where Khushi didn’t love him. This was for the best.
Just as he was about to throw himself off the ledge, a
strong pair of arms wound around his waist and pulled him on to the roof.
Before he could comprehend what was going on, he received a blow to the face.
