Hey guys....
I m back with an update....
Hope u would like it....

So here I go....
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Anjali was standing outside her Chhote's room, fidgeting with words in her mind, to approach him. She has decided not to let overpower Chhote's di on Anjali today, who always gets convinced with his explanations, no matter how absurd they are. But this time he has to give proper explanation for ruining Khushiji's & his own life over a prejudiced decision. Determined Anjali opened his room door without knocking & found him sitting on his recliner, working on his laptop. His face expressionless. 'How can he appear so nonchalent after doing such a horrendous deed' thought Anjali, which was enough to enrage a mostly calm & composed Anjali.

She entered inside & walked towards him. Stood near his laptop table. She knew he was very much aware of her presence but was pretending unaware. She broke the silence. "Chhote!" Arnav looked up straight into his di's fiery eyes but stayed silent.

''Why Chhote?" questioned Anjali. "Why what di?" Arnav continued with his nonchalant behavior & took a file from besides his laptop & pretended to be reading it. Which fuelled Anjali's anger more.

"You very well know what I am talking about Chhote!!" fumed Anjali. Arnav tightened his jaw, closed the file, placed it back on its place with a thud & stood up arrogantly.

"Fine. If you are asking about me canceling the marriage, then I don't want to discuss anything as I have done the right thing" replied Arnav with same arrogance. "Breaking your marriage, ruining your & Khushiji's dreams, shattering that innocent soul, just because of some dead skeletons of the past came alive after years, is a right thing Chhote? How could you do this to her, who you claimed to love?" retorted Anjali.

"Skeletons of the past!! Really di!! That woman was the other woman in our father's life, destroyed our family, forced mamma to commit suicide & made us orphans. Your marriage broke, our inhuman uncle got a chance to throw us out of our own house & roam on streets like beggars". roared Arnav, reminding Anjali of those painful days.

"Chhote, whatever happened between papa & Garima aunty years back was all papa's doing. She was unknown to the fact of papa being married. He falsified her. She was as innocent as mamma. Both were cheated by papa" Anjali tried to make him see sense.

"Don't you dare compare her to our mamma di, she isn't worth." His anger reached one notch higher. "I don't care whether she was innocent or not. For me she is the reason, our mamma is not with us." His voice laden with hurt & pain.

"She was not a small baby to get falsified. She did everything in her senses. Arvind Mallik was not a small name in Lucknow. He held a big name & place & so did Sheesh Mahal. How come she never heard about him?? That's completely unbelievable." he said making it loud & clear.

Anjali understood its useless making him believe about Garima's innocence. So she tried the other way.

"OK, fine Chhote. But what is Khushiji's fault in all these?Why are you punishing her for what she is not guilty of? " asked Anjali looking straight in his eyes.

"Her biggest fault is that she is the niece of that other woman & shares the same filthy blood". shouted Arnav with no trace of guilt or regret on his face. "How can you even think like this Chhote?" shouted Anjali back, not believing to what her Chhote just said.

"That's the truth di.Whether you believe it or not & I can't make her my mamma's daughter in law, making a mockery of my mamma's love & her death as well." That was unacceptable to him.

"I don't believe you are the same person, who accused my Shyamji for bigamy, for betraying me for Khushiji.You even raised your hand on him & threw him out of the house because you believed Khushiji's words over my faith on Shyamji, which was nothing but Khushiji's misunderstanding. Still you stood by her & I am happy for that because that's how it works. Your life partner always stands by you, through thick & thin & I hold no grudges regarding that issue. In fact I am thankful to Khushiji for bringing my Shyamji back to me."explained Anjali.

"You stood against dadi for Khushiji. You even agreed for a proper marriage with all the rituals you dislike, only for khushiji's sake.You yourself told me that how much you love Khushiji & can't live without her." Arnav fisted his palms tight & then turned away.

But Anjali grabbed hold of his shoulder & turned him around "Tell me Chhote. When you love her so much then how can you accuse her & punish her for a crime she isn't involved in." asked Anjali in a bit softened voice.

Arnav shut his eyes tight for a moment & then opened them, again having the same rage in them. "Di, all these happened because I didn't knew about her & her maasi's true identity. But now when I know, then how can I have same feelings for her di." replied Arnav through gritted teeth. "But Chhote" Anjali tried to interrupt. "Enough di." continued Arnav. "Why are we even discussing this in the first place & I don't understand why are you defending her? Have you forgotten what all mamma & we suffered because of her maasi." asked Arnav with painful voice, reminiscing their childhood sufferings.

"I have not forgotten anything Chhote. But you have definitely forgotten that Khushiji was the one, who pulled you out from the dark abyss of our horrible past & brought you back to life. She filled your life with happiness & hopes. Hopes of a happy present & future. Hopes of having a loving family. She accepted you with all your flaws. Please don't push her away to the limit of no return Chhote." Anjali tried to explain him with soft beseeching eyes.

"Don't let your prejudice dictate your actions Chhote. Please don't let our past ruin your present & future. Still there is time Chhote. Go & apologise to her. She is a very kind hearted & a forgiving soul & loves you very much. She will definitely forgive you. Go & bring your life back Chhote, before it's too late." almost pleaded Anjali looking deep into his eyes, with a hope of getting some positive response from her brother.

"Enough is enough di" shouted Arnav flaring his nostrils, crushing her hope of positive response. "I have made my decision & I am not going to change it for anyone & I want entertain any further discussion on this topic as this topic is over for me, here itself." declared Arnav with intense rage, wanting to put an end to the discussion.

But Anjali was not done yet. She continued with same intensity "You will regret Chhote for letting a gem like Khushiji, slip through your fingers like sand." She stared him for a moment & then she asked a million dollar question, looking deep into his eyes. "Will you be able to live without her Chhote?" Arnav stared at his di's hopeful eyes, tightened his jaw & fists, turned away, shut his eyes tight & answered, "Yes, I will. Just the way I used to, before she entered my life." with that said, putting a full-stop to the discussion, he marched out of his room with his car keys for a long drive, to calm his restless form & get some solace for his raging mind & heart.

Hearing his reply Anjali stood rooted to the spot, tears rolling down her eyes she murmured to his vanishing form "You will regret Chhote. You definitely will. Khushiji's tears & her family's curses won't let you live in peace. Hell, your own treacherous heart & mind will berate you for this abhorrent betrayal to Khushiji. But by the time you would accept it, it would be too late Chhote, too late." she shut her teary eyes, joined her hands & prayed to her devi maiya to give sense to her Chhote & save her family from this catastrophe.

To be continued.....

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So guys, how was it. Hope I lived to your expectations regarding the brother - sister heated conversation.

Please hit like 🌟 & do comment whatever you felt after reading the update.

Love - Kavita 💟