Sometimes the darkest corners of our minds hold the keys to peace. And sometimes, they reveal monsters we never knew existed.

-×-

Shantivan – Arnav’s Room – Afternoon

The room was dim. Arnav sat silently on the edge of the bed, staring into nothingness. Khushi stood by the door, watching him, her heart aching.

Khushi (gently):

“Arnavji… kuch toh kehna hoga. Aap aise khud ko… khamoshi mein khone nahi de sakte.”

Arnav (barely audible):

“Maine unhe kho diya, Khushi. Maa ko… Papa ko. Aur shayad apne aap ko bhi.”

Khushi:

“Unki maut aapki wajah se nahi hui. Woh toh—”

Arnav (interrupting):

“Tumne dekha… vo video… main unke khoon ke paas khada tha. Mujhe yaad nahi… par sach toh camera ne record kiya hai, na?”

Khushi:

“Kya aapko lagta hai main aapse itna pyaar kar ke bhi yeh maan loongi ki aap—?”

Arnav (whispers):

“Main toot raha hoon, Khushi…”

She walks up to him, kneels, and places her hand over his heart.

Khushi:

“Tootne do… par akele nahi.”

-×-

Later That Day – Khushi’s Mission

Khushi sneaks into Arnav’s study, searching through old family files. A name keeps popping up—Dr. Madhavan Mehra, child trauma specialist.

Khushi (thinking):

“Yeh doctor hi Arnavji ke bachpan ka raaz jaante honge…”

She notes down his address and decides to go see him, without telling anyone.

-×-

Dr. Madhavan’s Clinic – Evening

A quiet, elderly man opens the door.

Dr. Madhavan:

“Yes?”

Khushi:

“Mera naam Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada hai. Aapne kabhi ek patient treat kiya tha… Arnav Singh Raizada.”

His face tightens.

Dr. Madhavan:

“You should not have come here.”

Khushi (firm):

“Mujhe Arnavji ki madad karni hai. Uske past se uska aaj barbaad ho raha hai. Please.”

He watches her eyes, full of determination.

-×-

Inside the Clinic – Files Room

The doctor sifts through dusty files and pulls one out.

Dr. Madhavan:

“Arnav was ten. Witnessed his parents’ suicide. His mother was clinically depressed. His father—drowning in debt. The boy saw too much, too soon.”

He opens a page—a hand-drawn image of a broken house and a woman crying.

Dr. Madhavan (softly):

“He blamed himself. The blood you saw? He tried to stop the bleeding. But by the time help arrived, both were gone.”

Khushi’s eyes well with tears.

Khushi:

“Toh yeh sab kuch… Shyam ne us guilt ko weapon bana diya.”

Dr. Madhavan:

“Exactly. But Arnav never got closure. The family buried the truth and shut the trauma away.”

Khushi (resolute):

“Ab waqt aa gaya hai ke sach samne aaye.”

-×-

Shantivan – That Night

Khushi returns, exhausted but hopeful. She finds Arnav by the pool, still lost in thoughts.

Khushi:

“Main Dr. Madhavan se mili.”

Arnav looks up in surprise.

Arnav:

“Tum—?”

Khushi:

“Arnavji, aapke maa-baap ki maut aapke wajah se nahi hui thi. Aapne unhe bachane ki koshish ki thi… par aap sirf ek bachche the.”

She hands him the file. As he flips through it, memories resurface—his mother’s lullaby, the sound of sobbing, his own cries…

Tears fall from his eyes.

Arnav:

“Mujhe yaad aa raha hai…”

Khushi wraps her arms around him as he breaks down.

Khushi (whispering):

“Aap woh bacche the jise pyaar chhup gaya tha… par ab… main hoon.”

He holds her tight, like a lifeline.

-×-

Elsewhere – Shyam’s Hideout

He watches another feed… and frowns.

Shyam (muttering):

“Khushi… tum baar-baar meri chaal ko nikal kar rakh deti ho. Lekin agla kadam… usme tumhara sab kuch kho jaayega.”

He picks up a new file—marked:

“Khushi Kumari Gupta – Lucknow Orphanage – 1994”

His smirk returns.

-×-

To be continued…

Next Up: Chapter 27 – The Orphan’s Secret

By

Muskan Tarway

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