Next Day

Early Morning

"Rags, where exactly are you going?" asked Manorama while packing her daughter's bag.

"My friend is currently in a nearby village to visit her relatives. I'm just going to spend some time with her."

"But which village?" Manorama sounded worried.

"Mom, I'm not sure about the place. My friend told me she'll guide me once I reach the mentioned landmark. You don't worry; I'll call you as soon as I reach. Besides, guards will be there to protect me, right?" Ragini tried to convince her mother.

"Yes. Else, why do you think I agreed to let you go? Guards will surely accompany you. And it's better if you stay in a changed environment for a few days. I'll see to that witch!" Manorama said, hinting about Khushi.

----------------------------------

"Rags is not in the palace? But where did she go?" Rani Maa frowned when the maid informed her that Ragini had gone somewhere for a few days.

Manorama heard that and before she could come and reply, Khushi entered the dining hall.

"Maa, I know where Ragini has gone. Her friend met with an accident, so she had to leave without informing you. Isn't that right, Chachi?" Khushi raised her eyebrow, glancing at Manorama.

Manorama was confused. Why would Khushi lie? Ragini didn't tell her about any accident, so she just kept mum.

"Maa, why didn't you inform me? I could've accompanied Rags!" Akash displayed his concern.

"Don't worry, Devarji. The accident wasn't serious. Ragini has taken guards with her for help," Khushi said in a clipped tone.

Akash simply nodded and focused back on his plate.

"And where's Arnav?" Dadi asked, glancing at her bahu.

"Seems he still hasn't returned from his jog," Rani Maa said, to which Khushi just nodded.

"Mano, what happened? Come, have breakfast with us!" Manohar called his wife.

"I'll... I'll just call and check on Ragini. She must've reached by now," Manorama murmured, looking at Khushi's smirk.

"Witch... I mean, which hospital is her friend in, Chachiji?" Khushi asked, faking extra concern.

"I've no idea," whispered Manorama before she went away to call her daughter.

----------------------------------

"What?" Manorama shrieked loudly.

"Yes, Mumma. My friend met with an accident, so we're in a hospital. But don't worry, it's not that bad," Ragini's voice came from the other end of the line.

"Did you say this to someone else too?" Manorama wanted to confirm her suspicion.

"No, Mumma. Why would I inform anyone else? Thank God, the guards were accompanying me. They helped a lot," Manorama gulped hearing Ragini and thought it's better not to reveal that she had already heard all this from Khushi.

"Okay, beta, you take care. I'll check on you later," Manorama murmured and ended the call.

She wiped her forehead, which had beads of sweat, and sat with a thud, thinking it's better to stay away from the puzzle named Khushi.

---------------------------------------

"So? Why was Dadi calling you a ghost?" asked Arnav while Khushi sat beside him, passing him the tea cup.

"Seems Maa told Dadi that I refused to enter the temple. And Ragini read something in her novel about a witch who doesn't worship God... This forced Dadi to behave superstitiously. But it's all right; that's in the past," replied Khushi with a shrug.

"Did you clear it with Dadi?" he asked, observing her.

"No. Actually, last night, Maa talked to me about this. She had a conversation with Dadi, who told her the reason for her misunderstanding," said Khushi after taking a sip from her cup.

"Hmmm. Why did you refuse to enter the temple?" asked Arnav after hearing her response.

"What's the matter? Today my husband is in an interrogating mood? Does he also doubt that I'm a ghost?" Her eyes glinted as she smiled teasingly.

Arnav smirked, holding her hand and pulling her closer, which wiped off her smile.

"If I even had the slightest doubt that you are a ghost, I would've done this to check," he said, suddenly taking a knife from the tray beside the fruit plate and pricking her finger a little with it.

"Ouch!" Khushi took back her hand, while a drop of blood oozed out from her finger.

Khushi glared at him angrily, while he realized what he just did.

"Oh... I'm sorry... Let me," he said, taking her hand while she pushed him back, but that only made him tighten his hold. Though she kept struggling, he wiped the blood and sucked the spot to stop the bleeding.

While he soothed her finger, he noticed a lone tear escaping Khushi's eye, which she hurriedly wiped off.

"Khushi... I was just teasing you back... I didn't mean to," he whispered, feeling guilty.

"I understand," she whispered back.

Arnav raised his hand to cup her face; he didn't know why, but he felt a sudden ache in his heart after seeing her moist eyes. But before he could do or say anything, they both heard a knock.

"Bhai... Um... I came to discuss something about work. I'll come later..." Akash stood beside the door, avoiding eye contact with his brother.

That's when Arnav noticed how close he and Khushi were sitting. He stood up and went forward.

"No, Akash, let's go to the study room." Akash went away after nodding, while Arnav glanced at Khushi, who sat with her head lowered, before he followed his brother.

------------------------------------

"Reports," Akash handed the envelope to his brother.

"What's the result?" Arnav asked with hesitation, glancing at Akash.

"I didn't open it yet. It's your call," Akash said, turning away.

"Akash, what you saw before... It's not what it looked like... I unknowingly hurt her and she..." Arnav thought his brother was feeling awkward after witnessing his closeness with Khushi.

"Bhai, please, I trust you... I remember we decided that we wouldn't reveal our true selves to her until we know who she actually is... And now is the time. This report is the answer to her identity," Akash pointed towards the envelope in Arnav's hand.

"I don't know why, Akash, but I feel it's her. Those eyes, they speak the truth," Arnav said after taking a heavy breath.

"I'm sorry, Bhai, but I don't feel the same. But whatever it is, we can find out after reading the report," Akash said in a no-nonsense tone.

"Okay," Arnav tore the envelope, took out the report, and sat down with a thud after reading its contents.

It was an identification test, for which something like a person's hair was needed. Arnav had managed to pluck a hair from Khushi while faking his friendship and asking for a hug

"So... What I guessed all along was right. She is not Khushi... Our Khushi is no more. She is an imposter. A bloody lookalike of Khushi!" Akash gritted his teeth while muttering those words after reading the report. While Arnav was too stunned to speak.

"Bhai... Bhai, please... I told you not to hope. Still, that girl managed to trap you into thinking she's Khushi," Akash said, sitting beside his brother and holding his shoulder.

"If she's not Khushi, then who the hell is she?" Arnav asked with so much hatred, his eyes red with anger reflecting in them.

-------------------------------------

"Sister... Yes... Your sister will take revenge for your death. I promise... I will punish your culprit," she said, glancing at the photo in her hand, in which she's standing with her sister, who is exactly her lookalike.
_______________________________

From this Update, The Story genre will be turned into Mystery/Thriller, until Ghost knocks the door, again! 😉

Hope you all like it!

With Love, ❤
Uzma