Part32

Arnav was sitting in the balcony thinking deeply about Ratna and his behavior towards his wife. What a man he is? How could a man be so haughty? No repentance, no remorse, no guilty even after doing treachery? Where is this world going? People learned to do perfidy without regretting it. How does his wife feel knowing his real face? He raised his head sighing only to find Khushi standing, looking at him. Arnav smiled at her.

Khushi: Are you all right?

Arnav nodded yes.

Khushi: Your face does not seem so.

Arnav: My face is like that.

He chuckled.

Khushi: Not all the time... only when you are upset.

Arnav: Maybe...

Khushi: What's wrong?

Arnav explained everything about Ratan.

Arnav: Poor his wife.

Arnav didn't hear Khushi. He looked at her who was thinking about it.

Arnav: What are you thinking?

Khushi: Yes... she is a poor woman who believed his masked face. But what will she do? Do you think she will be staying in her decision of getting separated from him?

Arnav: Don't know but she should not change her decision.

Khushi: Can't we help her?

Arnav: We can... but we shouldn't.

Khushi: But why?

Arnav: there are many women in India like Mrs. Ratan. We can't help everyone. If Mrs. Ratan stands for herself, she will be an example to those women. That's what this society wants.

Khushi: But what if she fails?

Arnav: No one knows how strong they are until being strong is the only option. This is the chance for Mrs. Ratan to be strong. Let her be strong. If she is not stronger, we don't have to feel sorry for a spineless woman.

Khushi(murmuring): The killer should not have killed himself.

Arnav: Did you say something?

Of course, he heard what she said.

Khushi: Nothing.

Arnav: Where is Pooja?

Khushi: She is drawing something. She wants me to be out.

Arnav: Out? But why?

Khushi: Don't know.

Arnav went to her room and slowly opened the door. Yes... Pooja was coloring her drawing.

Arnav: May I come in?

Pooja: No... Please, please...

Arnav: Ohh...ok, ok...

Pooja: Wait outside for a while. I will come soon.

Arnav: Ok.

Closing the door, Arnav came out. He asked Khushi through his eyes like "what?"

Khushi shrugged her shoulders like "who knows?" Sitting on the couch, they waited for Pooja. Arnav gestured Khushi to sit next to him. Khushi moved towards him a little. Arnav pulled her close to him and circled her shoulders.

Khushi: Pooja, will come.

Arnav: So what?

Khushi: She will see us being close.

Arnav: She has to... then she won't feel awkward if she sees us close anytime.

Khushi: Ohh...

Arnav: This is our family, we can't be in distance. Let children get used to it.

He dashed his head with hers.

They saw Pooja coming with the paper in which she drew something.

Arnav: What's that?

Pooja: I want to give it to you...

Arnav: For me?

Pooja nodded yes.

Arnav: Okkkkayyyy... give me.

Pooja passed it to Arnav. Arnav got stuck seeing the drawing. A small girl was clutching her man's finger and a woman standing beside them with a small boy. The pic looked so childish. After all, it was drawn by a child.

Pooja: This is for you... our family pic. Dad, Mom, Pooja, and Ansh.

Arnav: This is so nice... I like it very much. Thank you.

Pooja: Will you show this to Ansh?

Don't know why this girl's thoughts always wandering around Ansh? Arnav nodded yes.

Pooja: When will you bring him here?

Arnav: Tomorrow.

Pooja: Wow... really?

Arnav nodded yes.

Khushi: Is it?

Arnav: Yes... I think so.

Pooja hoped joyfully.

In the meanwhile

Ratan's house

Ratan was shocked, seeing his wife packing her things. Ratan stopped her when she took the file which is having her college certificates.

Ratan: What are you doing Shantha? Have you gone mad? Just think of our children. Don't you want them to live their life lavishing?

Shantha: Stop influencing me by using our children. I'm not ready to get enchanted to your words anymore.

Ratan: What will you do for food?

Shantha: Even though I'm not obliged to answer you, I answer because I don't' want you to think of me wrong. Because Wrong people like you could think only wrong about others. It's not your mistake, it's human nature.

Ratan: You are forty.... Will you work at this age?

Shantha: If you could stoop so low at this age, I can raise high in this age.

Ratan: Stop your movie dialogues. Where will you get the job?

Shantha: You used technology to ruin someone's life. I used it in the right way. I just asked for a job at my college friend's WhatsApp group. You won't believe, I got seven job offers within one hour.

Ratan: it's not easy to work. You would have almost forgotten everything you studied.

Shantha: I will take care of it. you don't need to worry about me.

Ratan: Who else other than me would worry about you?

Shantha: Now... you stop the movie dialogues.

Ratan: Do you think I'm acting? Do you forget how we lived?

Shantha: I don't want to remember the fake life anymore.

She came out taking her bag. Ratan got stuck seeing his son Hritik and daughter Hrithika also were ready to leave the house.

Ratan: Hrithik, you too leaving?

Hrithik: Relationship is based on TRUST... Dad. if you are not loyal to Mom then how could we trust you?

His son left the house not waiting there.

Ratan looked at his daughter. He really felt ashamed to face her. She came towards him.

Hrithika: I adored you like my REAL HERO Dad... but you disappointed me. You can't be my hero... A cheap man like you can't be my hero...

She shouted. Shantha dragged her out. Ratan didn't come out. He sat on the couch distraught. He didn't expect Shantha will be firm in her decision. They got inside the cab. The security called them.

Security: Madamji... may I know where are you going?

Shantha: At present, I'm going to my mom's place.

Security: Where is her house Madamji?

Hrithik: Why are you asking us?

Security: When you were in the hospital, ACP sir inquired about you. He may come again.

Hrithik pressed his mother's hand before she answers.

Hrithik: Get inside the car. Bring him if he asks anything about us.

Security readily got inside the cab with them. Shantha's mother cried seeing her daughter is back... forever. Shantha's father consoled her. The security felt bad for the aged couple. They treated the Security with coffee.

The security reached Ratan's house after an hour. When the security came back he saw the house is locked from outside.

To be continued...