Arnav pov

Having heard enough, I sat interlocking my fingers, fixing my vision on nothing. I've been fed enough of puzzles for a lifetime. We were living in a wise manner thinking we're doing justice but suddenly out of nowhere Khushi came and says everything is an illusion on her first day itself. There's no doubt she's a clever woman but...

I shared a look at Dadi who seems into the same mess as am I. If Khushi was right about Meghna, then we both are culprits in her case. Dadi blinked her eyes at me before looking ahead with determination.

"Enough is enough. We believe whatever Khushi beta says but there're things which only you can enlighten us Meghna." Dadi said meeting Meghna eyes.

Meghna took a sharp breath and looked back at us unabashed "Yes, he's my stepfather. My mother married him when I was barely able to understand anything and divorced him as soon as I got married. I was kept in dark all these years. I was in an illusion that he is my blood father and my mother has some differences with him but... truth can't be hidden for a long time right? That's what happened. After Iniya's first birthday post-divorce, my father's visit to our house got increased. I thought my parents are going to reconcile their relationship. But... my mother warned me not to have any relationship with him. I frowned upon her. Like you believed him dadi, I too believed him. Come on, he served a father figure for almost all my fathomable days. I can't see him in a bad light all of sudden. But I didn't ignore my mother words either. I started to keep an eye on him whenever he visits us. After constant scrutinizing, I started to notice something different in his eyes whenever he sees me. When it becomes unbearable for me, I confronted my mother and came to know the ugliest truth of that man...

He's also a divorcee when he married my mother. Everything was smooth till I entered into adolescence. His... vision towards me changed and I was unaware the whole time. It seems my mother has noticed his changes and started to fight with him behind the blinds. He had denied the accusations outrageously and kept quiet for few years. In between, he started to go out often after his work hours. His work trips increased. My mother was happy as often he started to stay out. When I informed my love affair to them, my mother accepted without any grudges much to my astonishment and he denied. He tried to find many faults in Abhay but at last, he had no choice but accept my marriage since you guys urged everything and my mother had him threatened, saying she would commit suicide putting the blame on him if he creates any trouble in my marriage.

After my marriage, she divorced him right away. She could've done that earlier, but she believed she cannot raise me on her own. And she dare not to leave the man whom she married for the second time fearing for the society...

And then my divorce happened when Iniya was just born. Like I said earlier, his visits to our home increased. My mother many times stopped him from meeting us. But it doesn't last long as his advances increased after he found out that I started to keep a distance from him. However, the truth was much harsher than what I or my mother had thought. He was involved in human trafficking. I got alarmed and immediately came here to get some guidance and help. But alas, you are more concern about pushing me away than hearing me out. I thought you guys are angry with me for divorce but only now I got to know that it's all because of that good for nothing father who filled you with his lies.

Hmphh... It was a long journey. At a certain point, I don't know what to do. One side you guys never gave me a chance to say the side of my story and on another side, he tried every possible way to stop me from meeting you. I had to fake illness or show sick Iniya to avoid him. That's when the biggest fear arose in my mind. Iniya...

What if he uses her as a pawn? Or worse what if he trades her? Aren't we reading newspapers, how a three-year-old has been sold abroad and how an eight years girl is brutally raped? And there are many more untold realities... That house is totally unfit to lead a safe life and I can't even imagine the amount of danger hanging above Iniya head as she grows up. No mother wants her child to grow up in such a hazardous environment. You can ask me why hadn't I took police help. Sadly, most of the times our judicial system favour towards money. My complaints are fed to the dustbin and he became alert. I fed him with all the money I got from the company profit and sometimes I used Arnav money also to keep him at bay. Meanwhile, I tried to convince Arnav but again you guys are interested in pushing me away. That's when in one argument Dadi accused me of trying to trap Arnav.

I gave a better thought about it. I can't keep my step-father in limits by providing money always. And reconciling with Abhay is not even an option to protect Iniya. I felt taking another route which Dadi unintentionally showed was a better option. I know Arnav has no plans to settle in his life after his heartbreak. And he will never able to accept me and that's what I wanted. I wanted a protective father figure for Iniya. Who better than he can love her like his own daughter? Arnav will give his life than making her feel unloved and fatherless. Only he can love her unconditionally like his own daughter.

Killing my morals, I dare to lure Arnav for marriage. I went against my conscience to safeguard our future... I don't know when it turned habitual that I continued my act even after he went behind the bars when he tried to sell some big shot daughter... I can understand, It must be disgusting for you to bear all this but I am not ashamed of my doings. I did what I felt right at that time. I did for my baby's future. I will continue doing it till I took my last breath."

More than her past, her last confession took me off guard. What does she mean by she'll continue doing it?

"Meghna, what do you mean?" Dadi's stern voice stopped me from thinking further.

Involuntarily my eyes went towards Khushi. Surprisingly, she sat calmly patting Iniya back. As if sensing my gaze, she looked up at me. Her eyes... Her eyes held a proud smile as if she won the world.

"Ohho Dadi don't think on those lines. I lost my chance to grab the opportunity. I guess, your daughter-in-law will murder me if I lay my eyes on her possession. Moreover, she allowed me to stay here providing a safe environment for us. Maybe things are not going to be the same like before. But... you can sigh in relief that you won't be getting any more annoying demands from me. Since I'm free from worrying about our safety, I'll manage our monetary issues by our company share itself."

Silence prevailed the room as I and Dadi were trying to digest the new story. Is this what Khushi mentioned that everything has another side? Are we ignorant these damn years? What should I do now? Should I be happy that I'm free from Meghna gestures and advances? Or Should I feel sorry for her state and accept her in our house? But shit... How can I forget that I've no say in this? That girl already allowed Meghna to stay as if she's the owner of the house.

"You've gone through so much and we've no idea."

I could only sigh at Dadi's emotional trauma. Though the air is clearing up, I couldn't accept that Khushi somehow managed to solve this issue so fast. She's already one step ahead on everything and this one incident itself going to mark her permanent place in this house. One thing is sure, Dadi is going to keep her above her head and she gonna make everyone dance on her fingers. And it's going to complicate things further in my already messed life.

"Let's concentrate on our future Dadi." I vaguely heard Meghna voice. She's going to stay here. She's gonna be in front of my eyes from the very morning to night.

"Relax. Everything is gonna be fine Arnavji." I glanced her cluelessly as Khushi gave me a warm smile. What is going to be fine? Maybe Meghna chapter is clear but my life is still hanging in the middle. How stupidly we believed what our eyes met? If only I had paid little attention to Meghna, I wouldn't have married Khushi, dragging her in my colourless life who's hell-bent on filling colours in my life.

"I can understand you Meghna but you still not came clear with the reason for your divorce... at least with me?"

A gasp involuntarily escaped my mouth at Khushi question. Everything started there. Our downfall... My heartbreak... Our financial struggle... Humiliation...

My eyelids closed automatically as the vague images of past happenings danced in front of my eyes.

"He's a narcotist."

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Thanks for your patience and support!

Next part will be published after I finish my on-going one HER UNEXPECTED HUSBAND.