The deepest wounds aren't made by weapons-but by those we once trusted with our hearts.

-×-

Night - Shantivan - Arnav's Study

Arnav slammed his fist against the desk.

Arnav (muttering to himself):

"Bas ab aur nahi, dammit! Ab yeh Shyam zyada door tak nahi jaayega."

(No more, dammit! Shyam won't go any further.)

He opened his laptop, pulling up the security backups. Within minutes, he tracked the unedited CCTV footage from the terrace-the one where Shyam had approached Khushi.

He played it... and froze.

Shyam's voice (original recording):

"Khushi ji, main Anjali se sirf naam ka rishta nibhata hoon... aapke bina jee nahi sakta!"

Khushi had clearly backed away.

Khushi's voice (on the video):

"Shyam ji! Yeh kya keh rahe hain aap?! Aap Anjali ji ke pati hain!"

Arnav (whispering):

"She was telling the truth all along..."

He clenched his jaw, pain flashing in his eyes.

-×-

Next Morning - Gupta House

Khushi had left Shantivan early. She needed space, clarity. But her mind wouldn't stop spinning.

Buaji and Garima noticed the change in her.

Buaji (concerned):

"Titliya... subah se kuch bola bhi nahi... sab theek hai na?"

(Titliya... you haven't said a word since morning. Is everything okay?)

Khushi (smiling weakly):

"Haan, Buaji... bas thoda thak gayi hoon."

(Yes, Buaji... just a little tired.)

-×-

Shantivan - Arnav's Room

Arnav was pacing when NK walked in.

NK:

"Nanav bhai, sab theek? Tumne kuch khaya bhi nahi."

Arnav turned, holding up a pen drive.

Arnav:

"I need your help. I have proof... the real proof against Shyam. I want you to play it in front of the whole family. No drama-just truth."

NK (serious for once):

"Bas bolo, bhai. Main hoon tumhare saath."

(Just say the word, bro. I'm with you.)

-×-

Shantivan - Living Room - That Evening

The entire family had gathered. Anjali, still glowing from her godh bharai, looked around curiously.

Anjali:

"Chhote? Sab ko yahaan kyun bulaya?"

(Chhote? Why did you call everyone here?)

Arnav (calmly):

"Mujhe sabse zaroori baat karni hai. Aur is baar, sach sirf mere muh se nahi, saboot se saamne aayega."

(I need to say something important. And this time, the truth will come not from my mouth, but with evidence.)

He nodded to NK, who inserted the pen drive into the TV.

The screen lit up-showing the original terrace footage.

Anjali gasped.

Shyam (on screen):

"Main sirf tumse pyaar karta hoon, Khushi ji!"

Khushi:

"Nahin! Aapke mann mein kuch bhi ho, main aapse nafrat karti hoon!"

Gasps filled the room.

Devyani (shocked):

"Yeh kya dekh rahe hain hum?!"

Shyam stood frozen, sweat beading his forehead.

Manorama:

"Arnav bitwa... yeh sab kab se chal raha tha?!"

Arnav (coldly):

"Jab se Khushi meri zindagi mein aayi thi... tab se yeh har kadam pe jhooth bolta raha. Aur hum sab andhe the."

(Ever since Khushi entered my life... he's been lying at every step. And we were blind.)

Anjali (voice trembling):

"Chhote... yeh... yeh sab..."

She looked at Shyam, then back at the screen. Her hands clutched her stomach.

Arnav (softening):

"Di... mujhe afsos hai ke main yeh sab pehle nahi kar paya. Lekin ab ek aur jhooth tumhari zindagi mein nahi aayega."

(Di... I'm sorry I didn't do this earlier. But no more lies in your life now.)

Anjali looked at Shyam.

Anjali (tearfully):

"Tumne mere saath yeh sab kiya... aur main tumpe andha vishwas karti rahi?"

(You did all this to me... and I blindly trusted you?)

Shyam tried to speak-but before he could, Anjali raised a hand.

Anjali (with steel in her voice):

"Chale jao, Shyam. Ab mere bache ke aaspaas bhi mat dikhna."

(Leave, Shyam. Don't even come near my child.)

-×-

Later That Night - Gupta House

Khushi sat by the window, eyes staring out blankly.

There was a knock at the door.

She opened it-and froze.

Arnav stood there, drenched in rain, holding a single red rose.

Arnav (quietly):

"Main tumse maafi maangne nahi aaya. Main tumhara shukriya ada karne aaya hoon."

(I'm not here to apologize. I'm here to thank you.)

She looked at him, surprised.

Arnav (stepping closer):

"Tumne sab kuch saha... phir bhi sach ke saath khadi rahi. Mere liye, meri Di ke liye... hum sab ke liye."

(You endured everything... yet you stood with the truth. For me, for my sister... for all of us.)

Khushi (softly):

"Lekin bharosa... woh ek baar toot jaaye toh..."

(But trust... once broken...)

He placed the rose in her hand.

Arnav:

"Wapas jeeta jaa sakta hai. Agar tum chaho toh."

(It can be earned again. If you'll allow it.)

Their eyes met-stormy, tired, but filled with something fragile... hope.

-×-

To be continued...

Next up: Chapter 14: Rishtey Ki Dehleez (The Threshold of Love)

By

Muskan Tarway

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