The Sinner- 1

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

["Ha, hua hai, yeh sab tumhari bajaw se hua hai..jabse tum aye ho tabse..tum mery zindegi me aye kue,main tumse mila hi keu, sab kitna achha tha, sabse badi baat, di kitna khush thi, sab tumhari galti hai Khushi, keu ki agar tum nehi ati, Shyam ayesa harkat nehi karta,aur di aj bhi pehli ki tarha khush hoti, you are the biggest mistake of my life Khushi Kumari Gupta, Kash Main tumse kabhi mila hi nahi hota.."]

"Every thing, Every bad thing happened because of you..

Since the day you came in my life.. Why you came in my life? Why I even meet you? Everything was so good, most importantly, Di was so happy...

Every thing, Every bad thing happened because of you....

Because if you were not there, Shyam would never betrayed, Di would have been happy like before....

You.. YOU... you are the biggest mistake of my life Khushi Kumari Gupta... I wish, I would have never met you...."

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

How long it has been?? Two or three hours or even more??She does not has the time count...

For her, as if everything stopped in a stand still.. The world around her seems long forgotten.. Only the words hurled by the person she loves the most, ringing in her ears.

The words..

The words, slash her soul like a sword, she bled silently.

The words, which were spat like a venom by the man, co incidentally who is her contracted husband, but whom she considered as her Everything...

It's not the first time, no It's not...

The uncountable verbal abuses, the emotional torment, the physical assault, it's not for the first time..

Khushi Kumari Gupta had faced all those again and again, in last 1 year, since the cursed night of Sheesh Mahal, when she mistakenly arrived in Arnav Singh Raizada's Fashion Show..

That night the Devil Arnav had almost molested her... Khushi was scared but she had fought holding her head high and since then she is fighting, fighting for herself, against all obstacles which that particular man had laid before her path.

Khushi closed her eyes in sheer agony.. The incidents of past 1 year played before her eyes like repeat telecast of a disaster..

Her first meet with Arnav at Seesh Mahal when he almost molested her..., Then her argument with Arnav at Dargah followed by the release of the scandalous tape which chased her out of Lucknow...

Next at road of Delhi where their vehicle clashed and then in AR, Khushi shivered remembering those horrible one month she had worked in AR...

After that, the most agonizing experience in Santivan when Khushi entered as a trainer of Lavanya Kashyap, Live In Partner of the ASR..

And then there was a brief period of time of calm and solace, during Akash and Payal pre marriage, Khushi had thought something had changed... No she was sure, definitely something had changed.. Lately she recognized, she had fallen in love with Arnav, and she dare to think that may be Arnav too had loved her, but alas...

The night of Akash and Payal marriage, Arnav slammed her with a six month contract forceful marriage.

Next six months are the nightmare Khushi Kumari Gupta had gone through.. The forced marriage and the abandonment, negligence, abuse, accusation, manhandled and what not...

But still her heart had beat for Arnav..

Khushi clearly remember her devastating state during Arnav's kidnapping.. Irrespective of his mistrust and his accusation of her as "characterless" and " Middle class gold digger", she was lost without him.. and when finally Khushi found Arnav in that God Forbidden place, she felt all the agony left her and she relive again..

That moment had changed many things...

She had become a married woman, from a Girl, in all senses..

They had consummated their marriage in that Hut...

But after that, again the dark clouds had covered their sky and left Khushi alone.. She had fought and lastly risking her own life, she had saved her husband, her lover..

After few days, back to Shantivan everything was coming back to place.. Shyam was kicked out from the house after his truth revealed, though everyone was shocked but they accepted the truth except Anjali Jha..

Khushi, being a woman, knew it will hurt, specially a lady like Anjali who devoted her whole life to her husband and worships him.. Khushi thought time will heal everything but NO..

Some wound can never heal...

Some memory can never be erased..

Just like today's incident few hours ago..

Upon knowing that Anjali is not taking food, Khushi just wanted to make her understand and wanted her to focus on her unborn child, forgetting the restriction the Raizada family had bestowed upon her... but later, she came to Know Anjali tried to commit suicide..

Shocked would be an understatement for Khushi.. Anjaliji and Suicide??

When whole family was worried sick for Anjali's well being, crying vigorously, She just prayed.. She kept her faith intact and her Devi Maiyaa listen her true prayer..

Anjali came back home safely with her unborn still living healthy within her womb, Khushi felt proud that Arnav successfully gathered the pieces of Anjali in time.. She wanted to run and engulf Anjali in bear hug, to take away her all pain and misery, she felt so sorry for her...

But within few moment her new found world shattered by the very same man.. Who like a saviour saved his sister's life, destroyed her own wife's existent with few words...

Khushi still feel the disgust in Arnav's eyes and regret in his voice when he came in the room and uttered those words...

"You.. YOU... you are the biggest mistake of my life Khushi Kumari Gupta... I wish, I would have never met you...."

Disgust upon Khushi Kumari Gupta's existence and regret that he, the Arnav Singh Raizda, had met and married a "characterless, middle class gold digger" like her...

Khushi open her eyes looking at the starry sky..

She is still standing at the same place where he had left her after mercilessly killing her spirit and hope...

Khushi looked at her reflection at the pool...

Hopeless, Helpless and Worthless..

"Throughout my whole life, I just lived for others.. After losing my parents, when I taken under the wings of Babuji, I tried hard to gain their love.. They also tried to cherish me but alas, in the time of crisis, again and again I was reminded that I am not their own.. that I am an orphan.. Except, you, Sashi Babuji, nobody seems cared for me enough to stand beside me except you.. Again and again I was abandoned.. The family so easily remind me that I am an orphan when I was forced in a contract marriage, the sister for whom I sacrifice myself, so easily turn her support from me when I was desperately was searching someone's support.. and my in laws, they ignored me, showed me their cold behaviour because I did a runway marriage, where as they forgave their son for the same. What a bunch of two faces people... and I being the fool, always felt guilty when I was myself, unaware about the reason why THE ASR forcefully married me.. Irrespective of everything, I tried to hold on a single hope, to survive to a new beginning.. But today everything is finished..

"Biggest Mistake??" Khushi smiled ruefully, " after all that happened between us, after all that I tolerated for last 1 year since our meeting, Arnav Singh Raizada called me the biggest mistake of his life?" the certain part came out as an agonizing whisper..

" If that's you think Mr Raizada, then be it.. I will not bother you or your precious di or your valuable family any more.. I will leave you and your family for Good and for myself also.. Just the way you detest me, I also loathe you and it has began.. But wait for another 12 days.. Our contract will be end officially and then you or your family will not be able to blackmail me in any way..."

Khushi looked at the sky and searched for the two stars which had always gave her solace.. looking at them, Khushi whisper, " This time, your daughter will keep herself above everything...She will find happiness in true sense... No more tears, no more sacrifices..."

With the new determination Khushi entered in their ...correction.. " His" room and call in for the night...

**********

Same time..

Deserted Road at Delhi..

Hours had been passed, since Arnav Singh Raizada had left the house after verbally abusing his wife, sorry, contracted wife Khushi Gupta, once again.. When Arnav found that his precious sister was hell bend to destroy the unborn and her own life.. Arnav felt his world shook violently and he only knew how he had convinced his sister and saved her.. After safely transferring her in the cocoon of nani, Arnav was finally about to return to his room, to his wife, after so much eventful day.. But his mami's interference changed everything... The information that Khushi met Anjali today and after their interaction, Anjali took the drastic step make Arnav lost his all rational thinking.. A rage like never before erupted within him and he blasted like a volcano, and the receiving side, as always Khushi Kumari Gupta...

And this time Arnav knew he had crossed all the boundary...

" I am so so sorry.. After all that transpired between us, after all that we both had to go through, I should have known that you can never take any life, rather you just spread happiness... But Khushi, believe me it was just my words.. You are and will never be the "Biggest mistake", instead you are the "Best Gift" that life had blessed me with... Please understand, it was my anger spoke , not me.." with that Arnav closed his eyes while tears of regret roll down from his eyes..

Since for long, Arnav was gathering his courage to go back home and ask for forgiveness from the only woman, whom he loves yet whom he broke mercilessly again and again.. But he was always a coward, so since then he is sitting in his lavish car, wailing in a deserted Delhi road but did not gather the courage to go back and face Khushi...

Arnav's thought was broken by a shrill ring of his mobile...

" Did Khushi call?" With a dying hope Arnav hurriedly look at his phone, but was somewhere disappointed seeing his brother Akash's name on the screen..

" What is Akash?" Arnav tried hard to control the harshness in his voice.

" Where are you Bhai? Di is...." Akash was unable to complete the sentence when Arnav cut him midway..

" Di?? What happened to di? Did she alright? I..." now Akash's next word make Arnav's rant stop..

" Di is absolutely fine.. Infact she is much better.. We all are in her room and she is asking for you.. Actually di wanted to tell us something.." Arnav frown hearing Akash words..

" Will his di tell him that how disappointed she is with Khushi? Or anything worse?" Arnav could not help but thinks the worst, and immediately shakes his head..

" I am coming home within half an hour, wait for me.." Arnav rushed towards Shantivan thinking all the possibilities why his sister still awake and wanted to talk with everyone in this hour of night, and after the insidious day? Anything more serious happened in his absence?? Arnav speed off towards his home, towards his dearest sister, almost forgetting the guilt and due forgiveness he was supposed to ask from his wife...

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

Half an hour later..

Shantivan...

Arnav rushed towards Anjali's room where every other members were already present...The moment Arnav entered in the room, Anjali looked at him with her teary eyes and spoke, " Chote..."

Arnav rushed towards her bedside and holds his sister's hand, " di, what happened? Why are you still awake? Are you feeling sick? Anything happened further?"

In return Anjali smile while nodding her head in negative.. and her next words were unexpected for not only Arnav but the whole Raizada clan..

" I am so sorry Chote.. I am sorry nani, Mamiji, mamaji, Akash, Payalji.. I acted so weak and selfish.. I should not have done that.. It was a moment of weakness.. I just..." Anjali closed her eyes thinking what would have happened if Arnav did not stop her..

" No Anjali, it's not your fault.. It's that Phati Saree who came in front of you and you acted irrational.." Manoroma clearly expressed her dislike towards the elder daughter in law of the house.. But to Manorama's surprise she was stop by two voices, One is Devjani Singh Raizada and Another Is Anjali Singh Raizada, herself..

" Manorama... Stop it..." Devyani frown her eye brows looking towards her daughter in law, " why are you dislike Khushi Bitiya so much? Don't forget she is also a victim here.." this words were slaps to not only Manorama but a certain Raizada who happened to be Khushi's husband..

Arnav closed his eyes but jolted open when he heard his sister voice,

" Mamiji.. Nani is absolutely right.. Khushi was also a victim like me.. Shyam had lusted over her.. He betrayed me as a husband, breaks me, used me as a money giving machine and tried to kill me, and he is the same person who not only lusted over Khushiji but tricked her and her family in an engagement.. We all did mistakes big time, by trusting that vile man over Khushiji... Please mami, try to think from a woman point of view and you will understand..." Anjali said making Manorama averted her eyes, knowing very well Anjali is right...

Arnav felt too ashamed.. If Shyam deceived Khushi by hiding his true identity and getting engaged to her, then he had betrayed Khushi by mistrusting her, breaking her to pieces and snatching her dream of a proper wedding by a contract marriage.. Arnav mentally vowed that he will fulfil Khushi's all unfulfilled dreams...Now that his sister is coming out from the shock and within few days she will be normal with the care and love of the family and definitely with his presence, then Arnav will fully focused on Khushi.. His inner thought was broken by Payal's voice,

" Then Anjaliji why did you took that drastic step?" Payal asked the question which actually every occupant wanted to ask..

" It was a moment of weakness.. I was disgusted over Shyam and the thought that the child also carries Shyam's blood, made me lose my rational thought.. I am so so sorry..." Anjali said genuinely..

" What Khushi bitiya talked with you?" Manohor suddenly asked making everyone surprised.. Why it is important what Khushi and Anjali talked??

" Khushiji told me how precious my Rajkumari is.. She told me how everyone, every member of my family adores me and waiting eagerly to welcome my Rajkumari... She just wanted good for me, for this family, nothing else... I am sorry, I was a weak woman... so sorry.." Anjali folded her hands to everyone with teary eyes and Arnav engulf his sister in a bear hug..

" Everything will be fine now.. The cloud had gone, we will fight it together and over the dark phase.." Akash said smiling towards his sister..

" so, can Khushi now come infront of Anjaliji and can mingle with every family member like before Naniji?" Payal asked looking at Devyani who had restricted Khushi , made her isolated without any fault of her just to safeguard Anjali...

" Definitely bitiya.. Anjali wanted to talk with Khushi today itself but she is asleep.. I am sorry, though I knew Khushi bitiya and you are at no fault but you both Gupta sister were misjudged.. But Devi maiyaa had shown us the light , the darkness will disappear soon.. Forgive this old lady bitiya to not stand besides you two sisters on time.." Devyani said while Payal smile half heartedly.. From the corner of her eyes she saw that Akash was shifting in his place uncomfortably and Manorama probably feeling ashamed..

"Well, all is well when the ends goes well and hopefully our bad days had gone.. It's already late night, let's take rest everyone.. and Anjali bitiya please sleep.." Manohor said while everyone were agreed.. Manorama decides to sleep with Anjali and rest leave the room hoping for brighter days ahead..

Arnav placed a soft kiss on Anjali's forehead and bid bye.. He is feeling a turbulent emotion within him.. He is happy his sister is well, and he knows from now onwards Anjali will regain herself.. But what about Khushi? What about his and Khushi's relationship? After everything happened and after all the hurdle Khushi faced till date, the way he insulted Khushi today, make him ashamed.. How will he ask forgiveness? Will Khushi forgive him? If not.. Then... Arnav shook his head.. No... He has to apologize to Khushi and have to start a new life with her, just the way he had promised her few days before when he came back at Shantivan defeating Shyam and his men...

With determination Arnav walk towards the room where Khushi is asleep..

To be continued....

Author note:

Hi everyone...

I hope all of you are doing well and safe... I am a little better now.. After a long time I tried to write something.. and though I promised myself, that I will not write anymore on IPKKND1 serial track, but a random thought came and I could not help but to pen it down.. It will be a 2 or 3 shot..

Waiting for your precious opinion..

Regarding " Distance between hearts" and " TPOML", I need some more time, as I have to go through the whole stories again to reach where I had left.. Hope you will understand..

Thank you all once again for you love and prayer..

Take care, stay safe..

Love,

Your Storyteller,

Mamree

01.11.2021