Part 31 Happy Tears

My father gulped down hard, seeing Akash at Mini Palace. He blabbered about Mithra Gupta, unaware of Akash's presence. Mr. Arvind Singh Raizada was shocked like hell. He looked at me like, *why didn't you tell me about Akash's presence? * How would I tell him when it was purely my PLAN?

I didn't want to list out Mrs. Gupta's deeds to Akash. He might think I was exaggerating. I wanted SOMEONE to do that on the behalf of me. Who could do that perfectly more than my father? So, I brought him to the Mini Palace, switching my phone OFF. I knew he would come here if I was not at the office. He would have called the office landline and got to know I was not at the office. This was why I didn't deny it when Akash wanted to drop us at Mini Palace. So that, he would hear something about Mithra Gupta from my father too. As I planned, my father got trapped in his own web.

Akash descended the stairs, looking at him with a shocked expression... Of course, Khushi also. She didn't expect this issue would extend to this extent. She would have understood by now, why I asked Akash to park his car in the carriage. To HIDE Akash's presence in the Mini Palace from my father only I asked him to do that. I didn't want my father to get ALERT, seeing Akash's car.

"Damadji, you here?" My father stammered.

"Didn't you expect me here?" Came from Akash.

"No... actually, I came to meet Chotte..."

"How do you know he would be at home at this hour?"

Even I didn't expect, Akash would raise the question.

"I... I called him and he said..."

"Lie... I came with him to Mini Palace. I know he didn't attend your call"

"He won't attend any call when driving"

"It was me who drove the car"

My father got stuck as he didn't see Akash's car outside.

"What did you say about Mrs. Gupta?" Akash asked addressing Mithra as Mrs. Gupta instead of MOM.

"Me...? Nothing... I just..."

"Uncle, I have a huge respect for you... so, stop lying" Akash said irately.

I wanted to laugh. Was that day of lashing IN-LAWS? I just did that to my in-laws and now, it was Akash's turn.

"No, Damadji... I won't lie... actually, I want Arnav to be careful"

Akash folded his hands and looked at my father sharply.

"Don't you trust me? (my father looked at me) Chotte, tell him,"

My father probably expected me to help him. I was supposed to say something, Akash showed his palm towards me, not taking his eyes from my father, and said,

"I want you to be out of this, Arnav. This is the matter between me and my father-in-law,"

"Ok..." I said coolly and my father looked at me disappointedly.

"Why did you say Payal is under her CUSTODY?"

My father was embarrassed.

"Do you know what is mean by CUSTODY?" Akash asked.

"I didn't mean it... I mean, she will be safe with Mrs. Gupta"

Akash glared at my father.

"Talking to you is a waste of time. I know with whom to talk" He walked toward the door to leave Mini Palace not wanting to talk to my father anymore. My father became nervous.

"Damadji, please don't ask your mother anything. Please..."

Akash stopped and looked at my father.

"Why? Why should not I ask her anything? What will she do?"

"She put a few conditions before your marriage. I accepted them to save my business. She may get upset with me if I don't keep my words" My father pleaded.

"Who are you to give words that control my sister and brother-in-law? How could you control their lives? Would you do anything to save your business? What do you think of my sister? We wanted her to be like a QUEEN... do you know what it means? You made my sister a SLAVE by torturing your son. Is this why we gave her hand to your son?" Akash who was already upset with Mithra lashed him mercilessly. He just let out his frustration on my father who was the right hand of Mithra.

I so wanted to kiss my brother-in-law for doing that. Didn't Mr. Arvind Singh Raizada dance a lot to Mrs. Gupta's tune? Then he had to face this. No choice.

I looked at Khushi who was gazing at me. I raised my brows. She gestured for me to console them. I nodded NO controlling my smile. She dropped her jaw. She moved to me slowly and asked me whispering,

"Is this also a part of your plan?"

I smiled. She chuckled unbelievably.

"Go and save him from my brother, Arnav"

"Let him get it..."

"Arnav..."

"Save him from your brother if you want"

Without thinking of anything, Khushi spoke.

"Blaming him alone is not right, Bhai" Khushi said.

Akash and my father looked at Khushi.

"He did what was asked... anyone would have done the same if his daughter's life was at stake"

My father looked at Khushi gratefully.

"He is afraid because she threatened him... What would he do, Bhai?"

I knew my father was pleased. That was why I asked Khushi to spoke because I didn't want ANYONE to be upset with Khushi no matter what. I walked to them because Khushi finished what I wanted her to do. They looked at me.

"I'm sorry for whatever happened to Khushi, Akash"

"Why are you sorry, Arnav? I'm thankful to you because you failed their expectations. I was a fool who could not understand the pretext. I fell into a trap and thought I was in the hands of love" Akash said painfully. I felt sorry for him.

"I can understand. Please don't stress yourself. Khushi will be happy. I promise I will give her the life she wished for" I said looking at Khushi who became emotional because ONLY she knew what I meant. Didn't I know what kind of life she wished for?

"I promise, Payal will not face any problem in the Palace. She will be happy," Akash said.

I hugged him gladly. He tapped my back. Breaking the hug,

"Could you do me a favor?" I asked.

"Anything..."

"Don't show your mother that you got to know everything."

"But why?"

"I have reasons, Akash. I will let you know that soon. Please"

"Ok... I won't ask her but, at the same time, I can't be like before"

"Of course, you should not be... to do that, what happened in the Palace has enough reasons"

Akash nodded and my father looked at me frowning as he didn't know what happened at the palace.

"If anyone tortures you again, let me know," Akash said looking at my father who looked down.

"Sure... I hope from here on, no one will dare..." I said.

"I have to go... I came leaving an important work" My father said as he didn't want to be in the Mini Palace.

"Did you come LEAVEING an important work?" Akash asked, mocking.

My father smiled awkwardly and walked off.

"I'm really sorry for whatever happened to you, Arnav. I'm really sorry"

"That's ok, you understand the reality. That's enough"

"I'm leaving"

I nodded. Akash looked at Khushi who smiled at him. I and Khushi sent him off going to the carriage with him. Akash left the Mini Palace.

I smiled at Khushi. Clutching my hand, she started running towards our room, dragging me with her. When we came to our room, she pinched my cheek and said,

"You nailed it..."

I felt pain as she pinched hard. Yet, I was silent as I didn't want Khushi to feel bad. She lowered her hand from my cheek with a cute pout.

"What?" I asked.

"I'm right... this is a dream... that's why you don't feel pain" She said feeling sad.

I was like what the... this was why she pinched me? the next second, I pinched her upper arm... of course, slowly.

"Auch..." She hissed and looked at me rubbing her hand.

"This is not a dream" I smiled.

Khushi became excited.

"Oh my God... oh my God... I'm not dreaming... this is not a dreeeeeeeam..." She shouted joyfully.

I smiled at her.

"What... are... you... man...! What a play...! To conceal my brother's presence from your father only you asked him to park his car in the carriage, right?"

I nodded yes smiling.

"You didn't attend his call because you know he would come to the Mini Palace if you didn't attend his call, right?"

I again nodded yes.

"You have torn the mask of Mrs. Gupta without accusing her...! You even talked about COOKING...! I just can't believe all this. You made the woman speechless...! she was tongue-tied, in front of you... wow... just wow..."

She sat on the bed and smiled again and again. I adored her joyful form with a smile. She looked at me and tapped the bed, asking me to sit next to her. I stepped towards the bed and sat on the bed. She looked at me with a bright smile.

"Whaaaat?" I smiled.

"You are amazing..." She became emotional and disbelief was visible in her face. She could not believe all had truly happened.

She closed her face with her palms and stayed, keeping her elbows on her thighs. I was looking at her and time passed. I didn't want to disturb her because she was emotional. She lowered her hands from her face and looked at me, gulping down.

"After a long time, I feel like being with my MOTHER, so safe and secure..." She smiled with teary eyes. The girl who took an oath not to cry had tears but it was happy tears.

I gulped down. According to me, that was the greatest credit I could ever get from Khushi. I didn't think she said that just because she was emotional. But, her next question made me emotional.

"Will you... will you let me lie on your lap?"

I was dumbfounded. I tightened my jaws. She was looking at my face for my reply. I extended my right hand and touched her shoulder. She lay on my lap and closed her eyes. Tears rolled down and obviously, I wiped it. Khushi smiled without opening her eyes as if she expected it.

To be continued...