The silence in Arnav’s study was deafening.

His eyes remained glued to the paused CCTV footage, where Khushi's voice echoed over and over again:

"Mujhe aap se koi matlab nahi! Aap ek dhokebaaz insaan hain!"

His chest tightened. The blood drained from his face.

Arnav (softly, to himself):

“Maine jo suna tha… woh pura sach nahi tha…”

(What I heard… wasn’t the full truth…)

He leaned back in his chair, shaken. Khushi had rejected Shyam. She wasn’t involved. His breath came out harsh as regret coiled in his gut.

He stood abruptly.

-×-

Later That Night – Kitchen

Khushi quietly lit the stove, preparing tea for Buaji, who wasn’t feeling well. She stirred the boiling liquid absentmindedly. Suddenly, a deep voice cut through the silence.

Arnav:

“Khushi.”

Startled, she turned around. Her eyes narrowed immediately.

Khushi:

“Aap yahan kya kar rahe hain?”

(What are you doing here?)

Arnav (quietly):

“Mujhse baat karni hai.”

(I need to talk to you.)

Khushi (sharply):

“Humare beech kuch baaki nahi, Arnav Singh Raizada.”

(There’s nothing left between us.)

She tried to walk past him, but he blocked her gently.

Arnav:

“Please… sirf ek baar meri baat sun lo.”

(Please… just listen to me once.)

Khushi (trembling, frustrated):

“Sun li thi maine… us din, jab aapne mujhe bina kuch samjhe zabardasti shaadi ki! Jab maine har baar sach bolne ki koshish ki, tab aapne meri ek bhi baat par bharosa nahi kiya!”

(I did listen… that day, when you forced me into this marriage without a single question! Every time I tried to speak the truth, you never trusted me!)

Tears welled up, but she refused to let them fall.

Arnav (guilt-heavy):

“Maine woh video dekha… jo terrace ka tha. Pura.”

(I saw the video… from the terrace. All of it.)

She froze.

Arnav (voice breaking):

“Mujhe lagta tha tum—tum uske saath—par tum usse mana kar rahi thi… tum usse thukra rahi thi…”

(I thought you were—with him—but you were rejecting him… pushing him away…)

Khushi (whispers):

“Toh ab yaqeen aaya? Jab dard de chuke ho, tab yakeen aaya?”

(So now you believe me? After you've already broken me?)

Her voice was soft but sharp like glass.

Khushi (coldly):

“Aapne toh ek baar bhi nahi socha ki jis ladki ko aap itna neecha samajh rahe ho… usne aapki Di ke liye khud ki zindagi daav par laga di thi.”

(Not once did you think the girl you judged so harshly… risked everything for your sister.)

Arnav’s eyes glistened, but he didn’t interrupt.

Khushi (quietly):

“Aapko apne Di ki parwah thi… par kya kabhi meri parwah ki?”

(You cared about your sister… but did you ever care about me?)

A heavy silence hung between them. Arnav looked down, broken.

Arnav (whispering):

“Mujhse galti ho gayi…”

(I made a mistake…)

Khushi:

“Galti toh insaan se hoti hai, Arnav ji. Aapne toh inteqaam liya hai mujhse.”

(Mistakes are human, Arnav ji. But what you did... that was vengeance.)

She walked past him.

-×-

Next Day – Shantivan Living Room

Anjali was beaming.

Anjali:

“Chhote, kal maine ek pandit ji ko bulaya hai. Aap dono ki shaadi ke baad pehli baar ek havan rakha hai. Bahut zaroori hai. Tum dono ko ek saath baithna padega.”

(I’ve invited a priest for a havan tomorrow. It's important for newlyweds. You both have to sit together.)

Arnav (uneasy):

“Di—”

Anjali (smiling):

“Koi bahana nahi chalega, Chhote.”

(No excuses, Chhote.)

Khushi entered with tea and heard the last line.

Anjali:

“Khushi ji, aap bhi ready rehna. Kal havan hai.”

(Khushi, be ready for the havan tomorrow.)

Khushi managed a small nod, her eyes not meeting Arnav’s.

-×-

Later That Night – Arnav’s Room

Arnav stood by the poolside, restless again. He remembered Khushi’s broken voice, her trembling hands, her eyes filled with betrayal.

He clenched his fists.

Arnav (to himself):

“Main sab kuch thik karunga, Khushi. Tumhare liye… tumhare liye main sab kuch sahunga.”

(I’ll fix everything, Khushi. For you… I’ll bear anything.)

-×-

To be continued…

Next up: Chapter 7: Havan Ki Aag Mein Kasmein

By

Muskan Tarway

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