Part 12 Real Story?

There was a wild storm in Arnav's mind. He was driving the car and Khushi's words were echoing in his head repeatedly. He could not conclude anything about her problem. Khushi was a nice girl who got satisfied with every simple thing she got. But today, she asked him something that didn't suit her.

WILL YOU MARRY ME LEAVING YOUR WIFE IF I'M NOT HAPPY?

She would not have told him so if she was truly happy. But, her husband looked like a generous person. Then what was her problem? Or... Did Suman pretend to be good in front of others? What if he was pretending to be good? What could he do? Would he marry Khushi then?

He jerked when baby Khushi shook him.

"Daddy..."

"Haan?" He looked at her.

"How many times I called you daddy..."

"I... I'm sorry... I didn't listen to you and I was thinking about something beta" he literally apologized.

Baby Khushi pouted.

"Tell me, what did you say"

"Are not they so happy...?"

Arnav swallowed hard.

"Why are we not happy like them?"

Arnav drove the car looking at the road without answering because he didn't have the answer.

"We would also have been happy if mummy is with us, right?"

No answer from Arnav.

"Where is my mummy, daddy?"

"She is not with us. She won't come to us, beta" Arnav said, didn't want to beat around the bush.

"Shall I ask Khushi teacher to be my mummy?" Baby Khushi asked innocently.

Arnav pressed the brake, making baby Khushi jerk.

"Ok, ask her..." Arnav said.

"Is it? Shall I really ask?"

"Mmm"

"Shall we go to their house now?"

"No... It's too late. You can ask her tomorrow but make sure she is alone"

"Why daddy?"

"Someone may ask her to be his/her mummy... That's why"

"Ohh... You are right. All my classmates like Khushi teacher very much"

Arnav nodded yes.

They came home. Fatima was waiting for them.

"Shall I bring dinner to the table?" She asked.

"No chachi... We already had" Khushi said.

"Oh.. Did you guys eat in the restaurant?"

"No chachi, we had dinner in Khushi teacher's house."

"Oh... Really?"

"Yes... Aloo and pori... "

"How did your daddy agree to eat at their house? He never likes to eat in anyone's place?" Fatima asked.

"Oh... I could not deny it as Khushi liked to have aloo and poori" Arnav said.

"Ohh...! Khushi beta, shall we go to your room?"

"Okiii... Good night, daddy"

"Good night"

Clutching Fatima's hand, she walked to her room.

Fatima brought Khushi to her room and changed her dress.

"How did your teacher greet you?"

"She greeted us well. You know they were dancing when we went to their house. Khushi teacher was wearing a lungi that time" she giggled.

Fatima looked at her disappointed. That meant Khushi was happy with her husband.

"Then?"

"Uncle prepared aloo and poori"

"Didn't your teacher prepare?"

"No... She was talking to daddy"

Fatima's face lit.

"What did they talk about?"

"I don't know. Khushi teacher talked with daddy angrily."

"Angrily...?"

"Yes..."

"Then?"

"Uncle asked me to come to their house whenever I want"

"Mm?"

"Yes... I'm going to ask Khushi teacher to be my mummy"

"Whaaat?" she shouted in shock.

"Yes... I want Khushi teacher as my mummy"

"Do one thing. Before asking her that, get your daddy's permission"

"I already got it. Daddy permitted me to ask her" she said cheerfully.

That confused Fatima. It seemed Khushi was happy with her husband. If she had been happy with her husband, Arnav would not have told baby Khushi to ask to become her mother. What did that mean? Was Khushi not happy? Why did Arnav want baby Khushi to ask her to be her mother? Fatima didn't get anything.

The next day

Khushi reached the school as usual. She smiled at baby Khushi who was constantly looking at her. She brought the children to the assembly after the school bell rang.

Arnav hoisted the national flag and came to the mike.

"I would like to announce something. I got a new idea from our school teacher yesterday." He stopped.

All the teachers looked at one another as if they didn't understand what he was talking about.

"I saw a teacher distributing peanut candies instead of chocolates to the children on her birthday. Peanut candies are better than chocolates because it's healthier. So, from here on, our school students are not allowed to distribute chocolates on their birthday but only peanut candies. You can also provide pencil, pen, erasers, and scales" Arnav said glancing at Khushi, who was stunned.

There was chatter between students and teachers.

"We should appreciate Mrs. Khushi for the healthy idea" Arnav added.

Students started clapping and the sound raised high and echoed, hitting the wall of the school.

Khushi stood embarrassingly as she didn't expect this flatter whereas Arnav smiled mildly.

On the other hand, Manju was surprised. Arnav never took any ideas forward like he did that day. It seemed Fatima thinking right.

The school dispersed. Lavanya came to the sports room to meet Manju as she wanted to discuss with her the independence day arrangements.

Manju handed her the program chart.

"Follow this... Ask the respective teachers to get their class students ready for the dance program" Manju said.

"Yes, madam" Lavanya got the chart from Manju.

"If you have any catchy idea, share it with me"

"Ok, madam"

Lavanya stood up.

"Shall I ask you something?" She asked hesitatingly.

"What?"

"I saw Arnav Sir's daughter Khushi's identity card. There was no mother's name in that. Doesn't she have a mother?" Lavanya asked.

Manju got stuck. What Lavanya asked for was not a simple thing. She should have told her the whole story of Arnav and Sheetal but she could not do... she didn't want to... Because it would spread all over the school. She could not believe Lavanya. That won't be good for anyone. So, she wanted to keep it secret.

"She has a mother"

"Then, why doesn't it mentioned in her identity card?"

"It's their personal matter. They don't want to put her name on Khushi's identity card. I think we should not discuss it"

Lavanya nodded yes with disappointment and came out of the sports room. She got stuck, seeing Shyam. He smiled at her. Lavanya smiled at him awkwardly. She knew Shyam was eyeing her but she didn't show interest in him. Lavanya walked crossing him.

"Do you want to know why there's no Khushi's mother's name on her identity card?" Shyam asked.

"Oh... No sir... I just" she was embarrassed because she knew Shyam was Sheetal's relative.

"It's a big story... I don't have a problem telling you if you have time to listen" he grinned.

Lavanya didn't know whether she should listen to him or not. But, before she decided, Shyam started telling the story.

"Sheetal had bad friendships when she studied in college. Due to that bad friendship, she got addicted to alcohol. Sheetal's father was a BIG SHOT in their village but he had no ego. He wanted Sheetal to get married to Arnav whose mother was his servant. There was no second thought in Rishab Kapoor's mind other than Arnav. He didn't want to get compromised in that. So, he got them married even though Sheetal was not ready. Sheetal married Arnav only for her father. She didn't want to have a child because she could not be without alcohol. She was stern in her decision. But, she could not... She became pregnant. She tried to abort the child because she struggled to be without drinking alcohol. Rishab Kapoor didn't let it happen. Then only Sheetal understood Rishab intentionally got her married only to get her out of the drinking habit. That angered Sheetal. She didn't accept the child as her daughter because her father and her husband defeated her with the help of the child" Shyam finished the story.

Lavanya could not believe the story but did because it was Shyam who told her the story.

She rushed to Khushi and told her the same story told by Shyam which disappointed Khushi. So, Arnav married Sheetal undoubtedly for money and wealth. She struggled to gulp the tears that were supposed to pool in her eyes.

Manju who crossed Khushi's classroom shocked, hearing the FAKE story told by Shyam. She became furious. She didn't know Shyam would lie to this extent. She would not have denied telling the truth to Lavanya if she had known the story would reach Khushi this way. She felt bad for Arnav as Khushi would think low about him. She had to do something no matter what. She wanted Khushi to know what REALLY happened in Arnav's life. She would do that by hook or by crook.

To be continued...