Part 6 Gutful decision

It was a Diwali. Khushi was in her house. Her brother Trimurti's friend Manoj came to her house. He also resided in the same area. Manoj signaled Khushi to come out. She raised her brows questioningly. He gestured that Arnav is waiting for her outside. She became excited and rushed out, forgetting everything. She saw him with NK. It seems NK came to meet Sharmila. He smiled at her. Manoj joined them as he was in their department. Khushi came and stood with them as if she was talking to Manoj. Passing a cover to Khushi, Arnav left the place. Khushi came in, hiding the cover. It was a Diwali Greeting card. Her face lit up, seeing the card. She hid it in her collage book.

Time fled... These kinds of meetings happened between them often. But they didn't know they had been watched by someone... he is Khushi's brother Trimurti. In the first place, he didn't like to study in the same college as his sister because he wanted to enjoy his life with friends and wanted to be independent. He always complains about Khushi and made her get scolded by his father and mother. At first, Khushi got irritated but after falling in love with Arnav, she didn't care about his tricks and started ignoring him completely.

Trimurti became furious when he got to know about their relationship. Of course, he didn't like their relationship. He thought their relationship will not continue once Arnav completed graduation as there were only a few days for him to finish UG. He thought Arnav will forget Khushi after his college days. But...

Arnav kept a few application forms in front of his friends.

"What's this?" Aman asked.

"I'm going to join a Banking Exam coaching center. If any of you are interested, you too join me"

"Whaaat? Banking exam coaching class? How do you make this decision all of a sudden?" NK asked.

"I want to settle down in life. I have only two years until Khushi finishes her graduation. Her father is an Engineer you know."

"Ok... but why Bank?"

"It's a riskless job... just ten to six... can spend time with Khushi... can get holidays... can take her somewhere in holidays... can enjoy life with my love..." he looked at his friends who were looking at him awestruck.

"When did you plan all these?" NK asked.

Arnav smiled.

"Did you notice one thing?" Aman asked.

"What?"

"His every plan is to be with Khushi"

"Yeah... it seems after their wedding he won't allow us to enter his house..." NK said.

"NK, it's not good to roam after your wedding. So, be with Sharmila... ok?" Arnav said like a good boy.

"See, how beautifully he says don't come to my home...!"

Arnav chuckled.

"Don't worry, Arnav, we will come in the DAY time only..." NK teased.

"You no need to say that. I will lock the door from outside at night times..."

"Then how will you go inside?"

"I will build a house with two entrances"

"he is fully set to live his life with Khushi yaar..." Akash laughed.

"All the best, yaar..." they hugged him.

Their exams got over. Arnav joined the Banking coaching center as he planned. Arnav and Khushi didn't get a chance to meet. They suffocated without seeing one another as it was a semester holiday for Khushi. she was not allowed to come out of the house without a reason and she didn't get any reason.

After a month

The college reopened. Khushi knew Arnav will come to meet her. Arnav didn't disappoint her. When she came out of the college, he was waiting for her at the bus stand. Khushi was regenerated, seeing him. So did Arnav. Khushi spoke to him without carrying about their surroundings. she didn't hesitate like before. which made her bother fume. He could not bear the truth that Arnav had not forgotten Khushi. He didn't expect him to come to meet her after the completion of his graduation.

His anger was raised when Arnav visited the college the next day also. He decided something to stop the nonsense. (According to him, it was nonsense)

Trimurti did what he planned. He told his father about her relationship with Arnav. Her father, who was so fond of caste became furious. He felt like his prestige fled away. He didn't allow Khushi to go to college. Trimurti went to college with a fulfilled heart as he achieved what he wanted. He smiled devilishly when he saw Arnav at the college bus stop. Arnav didn't know why Khushi didn't come to college.

Trimurti avoided answering Preeto when she inquired about Khushi. Arnav didn't like anything. He didn't get an answer from anyone as Trimurti didn't spill the beans and stayed his lips zipped.

On the other side, the torture started for Khushi. Her family members started treating her like garbage. She was not allowed to even EAT peacefully. Her mother Megala pushed the plate as if she is not a human but something else... she spat on Khushi's face for loving another caste guy. Yes... falling in love with a guy is not their problem but the guy was not their caste. That's what made them barbarians. Khushi thought they would send her to college after giving this kind of warning. But they didn't. They didn't change their mind.

Khushi saw Trimurti coming from college.

"Are you happy now?" she asked with teary eyes.

Without caring about anything, he kicked her stomach strongly making her inner organs collapse. She curled, clutching her stomach, and could not bear the pain. He left the place and said nothing. This torture continued for a few more days. Khushi could not tolerate it. she lost her hope of meeting Arnav. That's when she heard something from her father that killed her alive. Her father was warning her mother Megala.

"Make sure she sleeps alone. If she sleeps in the same room with her brothers, she may LOSE her CONTROL as she has THAT kind of FEELINGS... be careful..."

Khushi closed her mouth not to cry louder. Are they thinking LOVE means losing control? Is she a human or an animal? Doesn't she know the difference between her lover and her brothers? What do they think of her? They didn't insult her but they insulted their own upbringing. Khushi was done. She wanted to die or she wanted to go to Arnav. She was not ready to try the first one without giving a chance to the second option. She decided what to do.

The next day

Khushi waited. Her father went to the office. Her brothers also left. Her mother went to take bath and she always takes a long time to finish bathing. This is the chance she waited for. She walked away from her house... towards Arnav's house... towards his life... towards him...

To be continued...