Part 33

Khushi was sitting in the backyard of GH listening to the song "kuch na kaho" that was floating in the air somewhere. Her eyes were closed yet tears rolling down from those while her lips were curving into a beautiful smile. This song sank her in old memories.... their blissful "swing" moment.... She was crying for her fate at the same time she couldn't resist herself from smiling while thinking that ecstatic moment.

Khushi felt a touch on her shoulder. Garima was standing there looking at her painfully. Khushi hurriedly wiped off her tears and smiled at her. Garima sat beside her.

Garima: I know you are thinking about Arnav.

Khushi(nodded yes): My Arnav is like this MELODY, always sweet and soothing.

Garima: why are you suffering like this Khushi? You can go to him...

Khushi(cutting her): I promised.

Garima: Shyam forced you to do so. At least tell him about Arnav.

Khushi: He won't believe. He thinks that I have been abused. So let him know about Arnav by his own experience.

Garima: what do you mean?

Khushi: Whatever you know about Arnav is just 1%. You don't know to which extent he will go. He dares to do anything to get me back.

Garima: what if he fails?

Khushi(smiling): He won't. he will win me back at any cost.

Garima: I can understand Khushi, but what if...

Khushi(sternly): He will leave his breath rather than me. He needs me like breathe. He can't survive without me.

Garima: Don't you know, Shyam has filed divorce in court?

Khushi: Let him do whatever he want. Arnav will be the one who is going to win at the end.

She said proudly with raising head.

Garima: but Arnav is alone Khushi.

Khushi: Do you think Arnav kidnapped me?

Garima(touching her hand): I don't know what to say Khushi. But honestly, I don't care if it is Arnav because Akash and his mother made us think in a different ways by their worst behavior. And about Arnav, we were very satisfied with him...

Khushi(cutting her): Not now?

Garima: No one can change what happened. Then what's the use of thinking about PAST? And definitely not after we got to know that you are happy with Arnav.

Khushi: Thank you Mamma.

Garima: That's why I'm saying don't care about the promise. Go to Arnav.

Khushi: Don't worry Mamma. This is a simple cyclone. Why should I worry when our roots are strong?

Garima: I can't understand what's in your mind.

Khushi: Arnav is the only thing which occupies my heart and mind. She smiled.

Garima handed her phone to Khushi.

Garima: Arnav wanted to talk to you.

Khushi snatched the phone and dialed. Arnav received it in first ring.

Arnav: Khushi....

Khushi: Arnav....

Arnav: Aunty told me that you are not eating properly? (Khushi glared at Garima and she left smilingly) Why Khushi? Try to be wiser. You can do nothing other than spoiling your health. (Khushi was silent) Khushi.... don't you trust me?

Khushi: I don't want to think anything that what will you do to get me back.

Arnav: Means????

Khushi: I know what I should do. I'm going to say everything in court tomorrow.

Arnav: Are you sure?

Khushi: What do you mean "Are you sure?" Of course yes.

Arnav: Really? Will you say "EVERYTHING" which happened between us?

Khushi couldn't hold herself from blushing and Arnav know that.

Arnav: Khushi.....

Khushi: Mmmmm

Arnav: Relax. Ok? Why are you frustrated when you yourself are the solution?

Khushi: Because I miss you.... She cried making Arnav's eyes teary. He wanted to say "me too like hell". He called her to make her confident. He didn't want to make her weak.

Arnav: Everything will be alright. Ok?

Khushi: Mmmm. I love you.

Arnav: I know.

They didn't disconnect the call. They couldn't.......

Next day

Khushi came to the court with Guptas. Akash was also with them. Khushi's eyes roamed for one person who did not come yet. Shyam's lawyer Nakhul Kulkarni came to him. He looked nervous.

Shyam: Anything wrong?

Nakhul: Damn wrong.

Shyam(nervously): whaaat?

Nakhul: The judge.

Shyam: Means?

Nakhul: She is so strict, so patriotic, so traditional. She finishes all the cases as quickly as possible.

Shyam: But it's good for us right?

Nakhul: yes, but she doesn't give damn to "laws but truth". When it comes to divorce cases, she will try to make the couple understand each other to avoid divorce.

Shyam(shockingly): What? Is she a judge or a social worker? why not we appeal to change her?

Nakhul: She will finish the case before we do that. Now everything is in your sister's hand. Her each and every statement will be watched.

Shyam: Don't worry; she will say the truth.

Nakhul: Then leave it on me. We will win the case for sure. He smiled in relief.

Their number was called. Khushi looked for Arnav restlessly.

 Her eyes got halted when she saw Arnav who was smiling at her seeing her searching for him. She sighed in relief and went inside. Arnav followed her.

Arnav looked at Shyam who was smirking at him standing with Akash. Arnav's blood boiled when he saw Akash. What is this heck doing here? His concentration went to the Judge who was getting inside. Yutheka; the judge was looking stern in her facial expression. She was looking like coming from the temple finishing pooja. Vermillion on her forehead, a lot of bangles in hands.

Akash and Shyam passed a weird look at each other.

Judge: Proceed.

Nakhul: My Lord, I would like to call Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada to the witness box.

Arnav's name was called "three times". There our HERO came into the witness box. The first thing what he did was, looked at Khushi and smiled at her who was already looking at him nervously.

 He blinked his eyes like "I will take care of everything". 

She nodded yes smilingly with tears.

What is this? Are they both here to get divorce? Couples who usually want to get a divorce would not like to see each other's face. Even if they look at each other, there will be a dislike on their faces. But they are exchanging comfort through sight? Unbelievable...

The judge adjusted her specks amazed.

Nakhul: Your honor, this man, Arnav Singh Raizada Kidnapped Khushi kumara Gupta on her wedding day making her family face humiliation. I don't need to say how badly they would be treated in the society. Her marriage was stopped. Then he pretended like he was sympathetic towards her. Finally, he asked her hands to satisfy his lust for her. (Arnav gritted his teeth hearing his statement. so did Khushi.) Without any option, left Guptas agreed for the marriage as they believed his acting. Because of him, Guptas faced the very worst period of life. When Khushi Gupta got to know about his drama, she wanted to get separated from this cheater. That's all, your honor.

Judge: Mr. Raizada, would you like to say anything about this?

Arnav: My lord, I didn't kidnap my wife.

Nakhul (cutting him): My lord, then how did he get the anklet which she missed at the time of kidnapping?

"I gave him" Everyone looked at the direction where a man was standing. Shyam gritted his teeth while Arnav smiled at him.

Judge: Who are you?

Aman: I'm Aman.

Judge: You can say anything from the witness box.

Aman came to the witness box.

Aman: I gave Khushi's anklet to Arnav.

Nakul: So is it you who kidnapped her?

Aman: No it's not me.

Nakul: Then how did you get it?

Aman: I got it when Khushi was kidnapped. It fell from her leg.

Nakul: Did you see when she was kidnapped?

Aman: Yes.

Nakul: why didn't you stop them?

Aman: They left the place before I reach them.

Nakul: But why did you go there?

Aman(seriously): Just to make Shyam nervous.

Nakul: But why?

Aman: Shyam helped my sister to elope with her boyfriend. I just want to threaten him. So I intentionally took anticipatory bail and got vanished for two days. Then I came on the marriage day so that I could keep him restless.

Nakul: Don't you know it's wrong?

Aman: Why should he be nervous if he was strong?

Nakul: Don't you know who kidnapped her?

Aman nodded no.

Nakul: Your honor, According to his confession, he is Shyam's enemy. His testimony did not help find the true culprit. I would like to enquire about Shyam, your honor.

Judge: Permission granted.

Shyam was called to the witness box.

Judge: Mr. Shyam, What he told is true?

Shyam: yes your honor. He and Arnav are college mates. He is lying to save Arnav. He wants to take revenge on me because I helped his sister.

Aman: Your honor, he helped my sister to live her life as per her wish. But why does he not think so when it comes to his own sister? He advised me that day when he helped my sister "When she is happy, you too should feel happy. As a brother what do you want more than her happiness?" Does it not apply to him?

Shyam: Your honor, his sister was in love with her boyfriend. But the case is different here.

Aman: My lord, How can he say that without asking her?

Judge: I would like to know Mrs. Raizada's stance.

Everyone's gaze turned to Khushi who stood up. She moved to the witness chamber and wished the judge with joining hands.

Judge: Mr. Roy, you can start questioning.

Roy stood and came to Khushi who was looking down all the time.

Roy: Mrs. Raizada, do you believe he kidnapped you?

Khushi(nodded no): No.

Roy: Mrs. Raizada, How did he behave with you? (Khushi looked at him bewilder and bowed down) I mean, did he man handle you? Did he force you to do things which you didn't like? Did he do sex torture?

Who stood bowing down lifted her head and looked at Arnav. She couldn't hold her tears which spilled uncontrolled. Arnav's lips curved into a painful smile. "Man handles? Forced? Sex tortured?" Damn. How will she tell how he worshiped her? How he made her feel like a queen? How he always fulfilled her wish even before she utters? Khushi nodded no without breaking her gaze from Arnav.

Arnav, who was looking at her, panicked seeing her swaying suddenly. In no time he jumped over the witness box, screaming Khushiiiiiiii. He rushed to her in a swift and held her on his shoulder before she falls down.

 Khushi looked at him smilingly as she was seeing him so close after many days. She closed her eyes on his shoulder with the same smile.

Judge: I want a court medical officer to check up on her and give a full report in the next hearing and the court is adjourned.

Arnav and Guptas were waiting in the court campus as the Judge ordered to submit the report of Khushi's condition. She was inside the room with the doctor.

Shyam: Is it necessary to do it today itself?

Nakhul: Didn't I tell you she finishes her cases as soon as possible?

Shyam: But won't she give sometimes considering her health condition?

Nakhul: No one can guess, what's going on in her mind.

Shyam was getting irritated about this Magistrate.

GH

Khushi was lying on the bed in Gupta house. She was too weak as she is not eating properly these days.

Shyam: Mom, make sure she eats properly. Or else that judge may give judgment against us just because we are not taking care of her. Don't forget she is anemic. Fainting is not new for her.

Garima: I will take care of her.

She came to Khushi and gave her apple juice. Khushi turned to opposite side denying.

Khushi: I don't want anything.

Garima: Don't behave childish Khushi...

Khushi sat on the bed and gulped the juice in one go.

Khushi: Enough?

Garima: why are you showing yours angry on me? Who asked you to obey your brother? What's in your mind Khushi? Because of your worst health condition, you got fainted in court. If it did not happen then you might have said your stance in court today and everything would have got finished.

Khushi hugged Garima and started sobbing. She caressed Khushi's hair lovingly. Doesn't she know Khushi's heart? After all, she is her mother.

RM

Arnav was sitting on the swing, Khushi's favorite place. He was restless thinking about Khushi's health. It's not so hard to understand for him why Khushi fainted in the court.

 She wouldn't have eaten properly. He knew she couldn't live without him, of course, he too. He caressed the swing chain gulping. His forehead rested on the chain. He didn't get any sleep after Khushi left. She would also think about him. Although this separation is temporary, it seemed to be an era. He received the call, it was from Aman.

Arnav: Yah Aman...(pause) ok. (pause) that's great (pause) I have no words to thank you. (pause) yah. he cut the call and a winning smile decorated his handsome face.

To be continued..............