Evening, Shantivan

Khushi entered inside Shantivan and saw the entire family alongwith Sheetal and Arav sitting and having evening snacks and beverages. They were having a gala time. Nobody bothered about her absence. In fact she will be surprised if they even noticed that she was not at home.

She sighed and walked to her room. No, his room. She didn't know if she has anymore rights to call all these hers or not. She entered inside the room. After taking a bath and changing her clothes, she sat on the recliner, relaxing. She didn't realised when she dozed off.

Her eyes opened due to the continuous knocking on the door. She lazily got up and opened the door. She saw Anjali standing there. First she frowned, then realising that it was almost time to make dinner, she sighed. Obviously the Raizada princess would have come to place her and their special guests orders.

After all that's the only time they remember her. When they have some work for her. She mentally rolled her eyes. This woman is the synonym of pathetic. She has never seen someone who ruins their own life in such a worst way. All she does throughout the day is either sit crying at a corner, or do stupid poojas or entertain and pamper those worthless guests of theirs.

She doesn't even lift a glass of water on her own. And if by mistake someone says something to her, then her pathetic sob story starts. She will cry over her cheating scumbag of a husband, her dead child and sorry excuse of a limp.

"Khushiji, were you sleeping? Oh sorry. Actually it was time for dinner making. So I thought to call you." Anjali said with an apologetic tone.

Khushi looked at her blankly. Seriously woman, it's dinner making time. And you came for calling me. What a joke. You are saying as if you are going to make the entire dinner and you need me for little help. Don't I know, who makes dinner everyday, when it's dinner making time. Why don't you just say that you came to place your order. Just spit it out and get lost. She mentally thought.

But didn't say anything. She just faked a smile at Anjali. Lest she say something and this Drama Queen's drama starts. Then the whole family would pounce on her for making their glass doll cry. So let's spare the drama and smile. Eeee. Glass Doll happy and whole Raizada clan happy.

Anjali smiled at her. "Actually Khushiji, Arav was saying that he wishes to eat fried rice and butter chicken for dinner. So can you please make it for him. Also Sheetalji was saying she didn't wanted to eat anything heavy due to dieting. So make some healthy food and salads for her. And if you don't mind can you make some Gajar ka halwa. Actually I was craving to eat that. I hope you don't mind. And make some with sugar free too. Chote and Arav would also taste it then. And ya please make Kichdi for Mamiji. She was saying that her stomach is upset." She said with sickly sweet smile.

Khushi felt like banging her head somewhere. Really woman, is this hotel that you are saying different different menu for each and everyone. Do I look like a machine to you. But she kept quiet and smiled widely. "Sure, Anjaliji. Anything else." Khushi asked fighting her urge to grit teeth.

"No. You know what to make for Chote and Naniji. Akashji and Payalji have gone out for having dinner. So you might have to make it all alone. HPji is there. But still. So no worries. Just make only this much. We will adjust for today." Anjali said smiling.

Great. So she has to cook alone and Her highness only wants her to cook six different menu for six different people. Just great. What an awesome adjustment.

Anjali smiled and left from there. Khushi sighed. Just few more days, then she will leave from here forever. Her highness can then keep ordering her sweet Sheetalji after that. She is done with this family and that man.

Sighing she went to freshen up and went downstairs for making dinner. Entering inside the kitchen, she saw HP making arrangements for dinner. She smiled at him genuinely. The only person in this house who has little bit of humanity left in him.

She quickly discussed the menu with HP and gave him the necessary instructions. Then she started her work.

"HPji, from now onwards, you start keeping a record of the things available in kitchen and what is to be bought. Also daily you have to ask everyone what they wish to eat. Otherwise start asking Jiji." Khushi said.

HP frowned hearing her unusual instruction. The record of kitchen supplies was always kept by Khushi since she got married. Also daily she decides the menu or others tell/order her what they wish to eat. Then why she is asking him to do all these?

"Why, Bhabhi? Are you going somewhere? Always, you do all these, then why you are asking me? Sorry in advance if I crossed the line." HP asked genuinely concerned. Something is wrong. Dread filled him.

Khushi gave him a painful smile. She didn't know why, but she felt like she can show her real feelings to only this man. Somewhere only he understood. Only he was left with a heart inside him to understand her in this house. Otherwise the people of this house have lost their ability to feel anything for her long back. She is just invisible for them.

"HPji, I am taking divorce. I have met the lawyer today. The divorce papers will be send to Arnav in few days. I don't know how long I will be staying here anymore. But all these duties and responsibilities, I won't be able to fulfill from now on. So that only I am asking you to do it. It will be helpful for them to get used to it. Otherwise you will feel difficulty." Khushi said emotionlessly.

HP stared at her for few moments, then nodded his head silently. He didn't question her. In fact, he had nothing to question. He somewhat expected this. Only that he expected it months back. He is still shocked that Khushi survived here for so long. It was eventually meant to happen.

They cooked dinner in silence. It has been like this from a long time. The old bubbly, chirpy, talkative girl was lost or rather she died. Now in place of her stood a silent, emotionless, composed woman who just kept to herself. After making dinner, Khushi had something to eat in kitchen itself and left to her room to sleep.

She has stopped serving for the Raizadas or waiting for them to complete food to eat on her own. She just cared for herself and her unborn child. It was not like Raizadas cared if she ate with them or not. In fact the only outcome of her presence was they had to find some way to taunt her or demean her. Better she avoid that.

She came back to her room and did some office work. She joined as an architect in a reputed firm one month back. She had a masters degree in architecture with her MBA, which she has completed online before one and a half years from her university. (M.Arch from UCL (University College London) as fulltime course and MBA as online course. Her studies completed before Payal's first marriage. Hope it's clear). So getting a job wasn't difficult.

Her boss is impressed by her work. She is getting a good package with handsome paycheck and other things. Overall she is satisfied with her job. She now has to find a house to move in. She can move into her family home in Delhi but she is not so sure about living with her mother anymore. Not that her mother is going to have a problem.

Her mother stays with her paternal grandfather, with whom she has a very good rapport. Her father stays in abroad for years. She hasn't met him since he left. The house belonged to her grandfather but he has transferred it to her name long back. Even then she has never really stayed in that house.

She was always off to boarding and hostels during her young age, mainly due to her ruined equation with her mother. Only during vacations, she comes back home. But then also she will be travelling with her grandfather who is always on one or other trips. Her mother is always busy, considering she is one of the famous lawyers and women rights activist. So they both never bothered about this distance.

And right now, she is not in a mood to change anything between them. She has to find another house. Maybe an apartment. A cozy apartment near to her office would do. It would save her from the daily travelling and also she might be able to make some arrangements for her babies also after they were born.

She need to find a broker soon. She knew things are going to go downhill soon. Arnav is going to throw a fit as soon as he receives the divorce papers. She is not hoping for a divorce on mutual consent. Arnav wouldn't agree for it.

But still she wanted to give it a try before she files for contested divorce. What if Arnav actually wants divorce. She doesn't trust him anymore. He could do anything. In their current situation, she no longer knows what he wants. If he really agrees for a mutual divorce, then it will all be over without getting ugly. She would prefer that than an ugly long court battle. But as she said the possibility of it is less than 1%. So she should anyways be ready for anything.

She completed her work and packed her things in her bag. After freshening up and changing into her night clothes, she laid down on the recliner to sleep. Her husband would take more time to come to room. It didn't affect her anymore. She has stopped sleeping in her marital bed one month back. And her husband was least bothered about it. She laid down and slowly sleep took her in her arms.

Next day morning

Khushi got up and looked around. At once, she felt her morning sickness catching upto her. Cupping her mouth, she ran to the washroom. She retched up the contents of her last night dinner. After emptying her stomach, she felt tired. She sat on the bathtub step taking long breaths.

Finally feeling better, she brushed and then took a bath. After getting fresh and changing her clothes, she left to the kitchen. Though she was in no mood to cook, she decided to do the duties for the last time. She will no longer do anything for them. This is the last breakfast she is going to make for them.

Once again, she made the breakfast in complete silence with HP's help. After instructing HP that she will no longer be making meals, she had her breakfast and left for her work. Her last meal in that house. She might stay there for more days but she has no plans to eat from there anymore. All these days, she worked around the house, so she used to have meals there. Now onwards she has no plans to be their servant, so she will not be eating from their kitchen also.

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

One week later

Today was the day, Arnav Singh Raizada was going to get the divorce papers which Gayathri has filed in the court. Khushi was all ready for the bomb to explode. She stopped doing her daughter in law duties one week back. She left for work early and came back late, and ate outside. Nobody bothered except her sister Payal, who was annoyed with the extra workload due to her absence. But she dismissed her sister citing office work. Payal wasn't pleased but was helpless.

Khushi decided to talk to Arnav and maybe prepare him for what was to come. She will talk to him about divorce. Maybe that way, he get less shock when he receives the papers and doesn't go completely bonkers.

She didn't go down for breakfast but stayed upstairs. She waited for him to finish breakfast to talk. As soon as he completed breakfast, she came down. He was getting ready to leave with Sheetal and Arav. She stood at the living room as he came to leave.

"Arnavji, I want to talk something with you." Khushi said directly with an expressionless face.

All three Arnav, Sheetal and Arav stopped and stared at her. The rest of the Raizada clan also looked at her from dining table.

Arnav shook his head and said with a blank face, "Khushi, it's getting late. We will talk later."

A feeling of Déjà vu hit her. It almost made her stumbled and her control slipped for a moment. But she soon composed herself.

"But...." Khushi tried to say something.

But ignoring her, Arnav, Sheetal and Arav left. Khushi didn't try to stop them. She didn't felt it necessary. She tried to talk to him, make him ready. If he doesn't want to talk, so be it. Anyways, he will get divorce papers soon, then let's see.

Sighing she left for her work. She had no more work there. She only waited to talk to Arnav. Also she was feeling hungry. She has to eat something fast, can't afford to keep her little ones hungry.

Same day, late morning

Arnav entered his cabin after completing a meeting. He saw the posts kept on his desk. He started going through it. An envelop from court addressed on his name caught his attention. He opened the envelope and started reading the contents.

The title of the legal documents saying "DIVORCE PETITION" made him shocked. Reading the first page, he started boiling in anger. Divorce on mutual consent on the grounds of incompatibility. Without bothering to read even the second page, he stormed out of the cabin.

Aman came to him seeing him walking out of the cabin with extreme anger. "ASR, where are you going? The next meeting is in fifteen minutes. Clients will be arriving any moment." Aman tried to say.

"F@#$ off, Aman!!!" Arnav screamed at him.

"But ASR...." Aman didn't get to complete his sentence because Arnav clutched his collar and shouted at him. "I said shut up and get lost. If you say one more word, I will kill you."

Aman looked at him wide eyed. He has seen his boss in extreme situations. His anger is something he is used to. But this is a whole new level of anger. His boss always fires him in anger but threatening to kill, that has never happened before. He looked at Arnav keenly. His entire face has gone red in anger. His eyes were bloodshot, he could see the nerves at his temple ticking due to extreme anger.

What the hell had happened in five minutes for his boss to go such insane with anger. Aman wondered. But before he could say anything, he saw Arnav storming out of the office. He tried to run behind him. But by the time, he reached down, Arnav was already zooming off in his car. He sighed. Guess he has to handle the clients. He just hoped whoever is at the receiving end of this anger, comes out alive.

Arnav's car entered inside the premises of Shantivan. Without even bothering to park the car properly, he jumped out of the car and stormed inside the house.

He entered inside calling out Khushi's name loudly. Nani and Anjali, who were sitting in the living room talking, stood up startled hearing his shout. Mami and Payal came out of their rooms. All four ladies stared at him as he kept shouting Khushi's name. HP stood away watching the scene unfold silently.

"Chote, what happened? Why are you shouting Khushi's name?" Gaining courage, Anjali asked.

"Where is Khushi?" Arnav asked her gritting his teeth.

"Chote, what happened?" Anjali again tried to ask.

"I asked where is Khushi?" Arnav shouted at her.

Anjali staggered back in fear. The four women looked at him startled.

"Khushi... Khushi went to her work." Payal said stammering.

"Dammit." Arnav bellowed in anger. He breathed heavily trying to control his anger.

He took out his phone and started dialling Khushi's number. He frowned hearing the telephone operator say the number does not exist. He cut the call frustrated and then turned to Payal.

"Give me Khushi's number." He said gritting his teeth trying to control his anger.

Payal fumbled with her phone. Then somehow opening her contact list, she mumbled Khushi's number to him. Arnav dialled the number and kept the phone on his ear. But next second, he screamed in outrage as he heard the telephone operator's words repeating. The ladies moved closer to each other frightened.

After few minutes of walking here and there and mumbling curses, Arnav again took his phone and started dialling Shukla's number. (Shukla - Canteen in charge at AR. With whom Khushi used to do her Dabba service previously)

As soon as Shukla picked the phone, Arnav started talking, "I am ASR. Give the phone to Khushi. I want to talk to her."

"Khushi Madam? She hasn't called me or met me in months. What happened? Is she alright?" Shukla asked confused.

"Doesn't she work with you?" Arnav asked confused.

"No, Sir. Madam has stopped working with me four months back." Shukla said.

Arnav cut the call and turned to Payal. Payal moved close to Manorama in fear. "Where does Khushi work?" Arnav asked to Payal.

Payal looked at him confused. "She work at your office Dabba service." She said not understanding what he is asking her.

"She doesn't work there anymore. Where does she work now?" Arnav asked trying to control his bubbling anger.

"I... I don't know." Payal stammered terrified.

"Dammit." Arnav screamed.

He again started pacing around in the living room like a wounded lion, murmuring, cursing. The four women sat on the couch feeling scared. They have never seen him so angry. They couldn't understand what made him so angry. They wanted to ask but kept quiet not wanting to face his wrath.

After few minutes, Payal slipped from there for making lunch. Arnav just stayed in the living room waiting for Khushi. The other three ladies also sat with him silently. Soon it was lunch time, they didn't knew what to do. They were afraid to approach him.

Finally Anjali asked him for lunch. He denied straightaway. After little coaxing, he had lunch with the ladies and came back to living room waiting for Khushi. Minutes turned into hours. Soon it was evening.

Other men, Sheetal and Arav also came back home. They were confused seeing Arnav's mood. He was again pacing around in living room. Mami and Anjali softly conveyed them what happened. They were also confused thinking about the reason.

Anjali once again coaxed Arnav to freshen up and change. Though, he tried to protest initially, finally gave in. Within few minutes, he freshened up and changed, then resumed his position in living room. All others also came down after getting fresh to know about the matter.

Akash tried to ask Arnav regarding the matter. But the intensity with which Arnav glared at him made him feel like he has turned into ashes. After that nobody tried to talk to him. All sat with him waiting for Khushi.

But Khushi didn't reach home even after six o' clock. All began to worry somewhat. HP continued his duties silently not bothered about the drama happening outside. As the time passed, all started getting worried. Arnav's anger also cooled down somewhat and worry engulfed him.

Two more hours passed with no sign of Khushi. As clock striked 8, Arnav began loosing his patience. Worry and anger clutched him completely. With the intention to go find Khushi, he took his car keys and started walking out.

Thank you for the live that you gave this story. I know all are waiting for my other stories. I will update them one by one soon. Till then enjoy this story.

So back to story, a glimpse into Khushi's life in Raizada Mansion. Arnav has received the divorce papers. Let's see what happens. And Khushi didn't reach till now. What do you think is the reason.

And please please please vote and comment. It means a lot.