The Fated Ones: Chapter One

Asad and Zoya were sat on the steps, the song had faded out long ago and a short while before Yash and Aarti too had left for their room. Zoya couldn't look at Asad, the way he'd been looking at her, could it be...no, Asad Ahmed Khan had no room for such silly things as love. The man who couldn't take a sip of coffee from a mug with the slightest stain, how could that man take the leap of faith needed to love? Impossible. Zoya kept trying to assure herself of this. But the truth was, he had risked his life to save her and he was still doing so. Why?
"Allah miyah, what's wrong with me?" Zoya muttered to herself quietly.
"Apne kuch kaha?" Asad said and Zoya turned to him surprised he'd heard.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Woh baas, woh haat ki choht dukhri thi, issiliye..." Zoya said and Asad tensed. It was his fault she was hurt, he always did things with the best intentions, but whenever Zoya was involved everything always ended up going wrong. Even by the simple act of sitting down, he was now responsible for the cut in her wrist. He sighed heavily.
"Chalo." Asad said as he bobbed his head left.
"Kaha?" Zoya asked.
"Kamre main." He said and Zoya froze. "Khabraon maat, shahid undaar first aid kit hai, tumhari woh, choht ki liye." He said, Zoya nodded, Asad rose slowly and gave Zoya time to stand too.


When in the room Asad found a box and walked towards the bed he sat down and looked at Zoya who was still standing despite the hand-cuffs pulling on her skin.
"Zoya, zakhm aur gehra ho jayega, betjao." He said and Zoya had this look in her eyes, Asad had only seen it a few times before, for instance when she'd seen a cockroach, it was fear in her eyes. She'd never feared Asad before, not when he shouted, not when he forbid and not when he lectured...so why now? Zoya sat down. Asad opened the box and removed some TCP to disinfect the cut, just in case. He ripped up some cotton wool and began to pour the substance.
"Kya baat hai, usually tumhe chup nahin kar sakta, kohi shayari nahin aari aaj raat? Ek dum khamoshi, its not like you Ms. Faqrooqi." He said, Asad was hoping that he could distract Zoya's attention away from the fact he was about to apply a disinfectant that would sting her and knowing Zoya, she would Hai Tobha this whole Dhabba down!
"Allah Miyah, what's wrong with you? Usually you like women to sit quietly and say nothing, aap kya kehte hai usse, haan, tameez. You know Mr. Khan, apki problem kya hai, aapko yehi lagta hai ki zindagi bas ek hi tarike se jeesakti, aapki tarike se. Lekin aaj jab main chup chap yahaan pe bethi hoon, apko phir bhi problem hai, I mean apka problem kya- OW!" Zoya said and began to pull away, when she realised Asad's hand simply pulled along with her.
"Yeh tumne kya kiya, Mr. Khan?!" Zoya shouted.

"Dheere se bhol, varna voh saab gunde yahan ayenge, aur mujhe haatkhadi meh larne itne uchi se aathi nahin hai. Chup chap behti rahon. Let me." Asad said as Zoya shielded her wrist from him. "Bacho ki tarha maat beshakaro. Kya kheri thi uss raat, ki tum bhade bahadur ho, toh dikha apne bahaduri, do mujhe tumhara haat." Asad said and as he said it he realised the other meaning to what he'd said and he knew Zoya had thought the same from the slightly shocked expression she had. Asad bowed his head slightly, he wished he was more careful with his words, what was he saying? It had been a long day, he was tired, that was it.
He placed the plaster on her wrist and looked up at her.
"Abh kaisa hai?" He asked.
"Tik hi hoga, khabriye maat Mr. Khan, mamooli kharojh hai, tik hojayage. Ishi baat peh ek shair sunati ho-" Zoya was silenced by Asad's sudden closeness. He leaned over, raised his hand and gently placed his index finger on her lip.
"Tum chup hi zyada uchi lagti ho." He said, he'd meant it light heartedly but suddenly he could sense an undertone to this evening. This night had the same air as that moment he had with Zoya after he'd saved her from Akram. He remembered the moment well, it was the first time Zoya, in her frail vulnerability had called him Asad and she had taken his hand. In that moment, Asad had little to no control over himself and he could feel that same overwhelming feeling in the air tonight.

Zoya could hardly even control her thoughts, her brain had launched into over-drive. This was Asad Ahmed Khan a.k.a Jahan Pana a.k.a the biggest problem she'd faced since coming to Bhopal. He never gave her a chance but maybe now he was. There wasn't a trace of cruelty or malice in his eyes, only confusion and maybe even longing. Zoya knew how lonely Asad was but she had recently put that down to the fact that Ayaan and Asad could not interact openly. That was part of it but Zoya felt that there was something else also. There was something in his eyes that pulled her forward, despite his stiff stance and his harsh jaw his eyes were pure and innocent. She was slightly lost in them.
"Asad-" Zoya didn't have a chance to finish her sentence they both heard the gunshots.
"Zoya chaal." Asad said as he helped her stand. They heard voices and they were looming, closer and closer. "Zoya bhaag!" Asad urged.

Even Stars Burn: Chapter Four (Long overdue I know)

Hi all, I'm sorry I haven't updated in so long. I have my personal reasons why I didn't update, I had an overload of work and felt any update wouldn't be to my usual standard and I didn't want to dissapoint everyone. I am sorry for that and hope you will continue to support and read my work. Thanks for your patience, now....let's get back to the FF :) 


Khushi chewed on the inside of her mouth, her hand was itching to grab the pallu of her saree and whirl it around in her hands. But she knew he'd identify that action and realise she was upset and she didn't want him to have that satisfaction. If she had the batter and the fryer she could make a mountain out of jalebis and throw them over Arnav's head. The way he shamelessly surrounded himself with those half-naked models. Did he not feel any remorse, did he really have no respect for her? The grin he gave her answered her questions.
"Chee." Khushi said.
"Apne kuch kaha Bhabi?" Akash asked, Khushi looked up smiled and shook her head. What could be wrong except the fact that she was married to a pig?
"Main abhi aayi." She said and she excused herself. She saw there was a garden area, she walked through the french doors and as she did so she wiped a tear away. The cool air hit her and she breathed it in gladly. She needed it. She felt a-light with rage and pain. She had left him. But that didn't mean she didn't love him. The fact she did made her hate herself. How could she love such a thing? To love something that will never love you with the respect and intensity you deserve, well its a shame on love. Maybe it wasn't love at all.
"Yahaan akeli khari kya kharri hai?" An all too familiar voice said. She refused to turn, seeing his face would tip Khushi over the edge at this point in time.
"Dekhiya, mujhe kohi tamaasha nahin chahiye. Main baas. Abhi nikhalrahi thi, mujhe ghar jaana hai. Aur waisa bhi, tum yahaan kyun ayein, apni kohi time-pass ki saath waqt guzaariye na? Humara haal kyun poochre ho?" She asked, venom spewing from her voice, to mask the pain she felt cripple her heart.
"Oh come on Khushi, biwi ho tum meri. Aapka haal nahin poochonga toh phir kiska poochonga?" He said, she could hear the smile in his voice and she couldn't help herself. She turned-

And blew Arnav's breath away, even with rage in her eyes she was a vision in red.
"Dekhiye, tum humara paati ho toh phir kuch hi dinno ki liye. Uske baad tum aur main, hum dono iss choote rishte se azaad. Lekin! Tab tak, tab tak Mr. Raizada aapko iss rishte ki izzat karna padenga." She said and Arnav rolled his eyes. Really, she'd gone back to that? After all they'd been through? Arnav felt his blood boil.
"Oh really? Jaise tumne kiya? Tell me Khushi how many wives that respect their husbands leave their home to live with their parents? Bolo, abh chup kyun hai, come on, bolo na, tell me DAMMIT!" He said as he grabbed her wrists and shook her. Those doe like eyes looked up at him and he instantly regretted it.
"Main shuru main sahi thi." Khushi said.
"What?" Arnav asked baffled.
"Aap pyaar kar hi nahin sakte, aap pyaar ki kaabil hi nahin, tum toh sirf aukaad dikhana aur haq jaatana aata hai. Aggar tum such main mujhe pyaar karte, toh aap-" The tears streamed down Khushi's face, Arnav raised a hand to wipe him, the apology ready on his lips.
"Chodiye, tumhe bataana main kya faida? Tumne mujhe khabi samja, meri nazaariya se khabi dekha? Agar dekha hota toh tum khabi mujhe shaadi hi nahin khi hothi!" Khushi said with a cold laugh.
"What does that mean?" He asked.
"It means Mr. Raizada, aggar ek bhar, tumne mujhe khabi bhi samja, you would have never thought I would have an affair and with your brother-in-law of all people. But you thought that and for your sister you married me. Tumne mujhe galaat teheraiya, aur khabi mujhse saach bolne ka mauka hi nahin diya. You want respect?  You don't get respect by demanding it, your actions should make people respect you. Lekin afsaus ki baat hai, itna bade aadmi hokhe tumhari soch bilkul choti hai. Mera pyaar toh dhur baat hai, aur meri chaapal bhi tumhari izaat nahin karti." She said and before he had a chance to even defend himself she ran away. Arnav began to run after her but as he ran inside, he was dragged to his seat as his fashion show had began. Where once at a fashion show their love story began, could it be possible that today, here, when Arnav loved Khushi, their love story would end?


Khushi made it home, just about. She locked her doors and collapsed onto her bed and cried all those tears she had held back and let out the pain she'd been holding in. How could he be so cruel? Khushi could see the bruises on her wrists and was haunted by Arnav Singh Raizada the monster. When she'd fallen in love with Arnav Singh Raizada the man. Was it possible that she'd made him up? In love she'd been blinded and only now she could see his reality? Maybe this divorce was for the best....

Even Stars Burn: Chapter Three

Khushi paced around her room, waiting, thinking, trying not to go insane. She wished so badly that Arnav had not visited her that night because since he had, he was all that plagued her thoughts. It had been a week since his visit and yet she could still feel her heartbeat pick up whenever she thought of him. He'd come with huge proclamations and promises but what had happened? Nothing, he did not call, he did not visit, he didn't even seem to care whether she was alive or dead...it pained Khushi more than she wished to admit. Why? Why was it that if she was here in turmoil and pain that he could so easily go on with his life? Why was it that he could make her life into nothing less than a living hell and he could go on leading his privileged life? Khushi was working herself into a state. Payal would come to visit her regularly and although Khushi didn't ask she always informed her about Arnav. Apparently he was very busy with meetings and models, he was burying himself in work...more like distracting himself with women. Khushi couldn't believe that at one time she had actually love-...it didn't matter any more though did it? Her eyes stung as unwanted tears began to stream down her cheek. She quickly wiped them away. This was not a time to feel sorry for herself, this is what she wanted. She wanted him to give up. To let her be....but was she really not worth fighting for? Was everything they had not worth it? To give up so easily....it made Khushi second-guess whether what they had was real or not? Was she just another name on a list? She had thought she was more than that....

Arnav was in the office, pretending to work...truthfully he didn't have the concentration or the energy for any of this but he needed the façade to evoke something from Khushi. He knew that if he smothered her in attention, flattery and gifts she would only accuse him of flaunting his money. So he decided instead to deprive her, starve her of love. It was what she was doing to him, he would not bend to her immature whims, if she cared, she would come to him. He knew she wouldn't come back to the Raizada home, but she'd find a way of getting to him.

Khushi was busy re-arranging her bedroom for the hundredth time, anything to keep herself busy, anything to stop herself from thinking about him. That's when her eyes fell on today's paper. Her eyes widened and her mouth was wide open, she lifted it, digested the knowledge and then tore up the paper. She barged into her room, opened the wardrobe and found a red lace saree, she'd bought it when she and Arnav were together and she'd been saving it for a special time, an anniversary, birthday or just a special time shared together. Instead she would use it tonight.

There was a slight chill in the breeze tonight, Arnav decided to keep his suit jacket on as he walked towards the hotel. He walked into the banquet hall and began to talk to dignitaries and established business men such as himself, when his eyes caught sight of something. At first he thought it was his mind playing tricks, the sleep deprivation had finally got to him. But he was wrong, he knew that face, he knew those eyes, he knew that girl.
"Khushi." The word escaped his lips without his intention to do so. Her hair was out, her eyes smoky and her saree hung from her petite frame in a way that only Arnav felt he could and should appreciate fully. Arnav couldn't believe it had worked, he had made sure that in all the papers it clearly stated that he was holding an exclusive party to show off the "AR Fall Line" however he never anticipated that she would actually come...hoped yes, but the fact that she was here...

Khushi was walking around the room, smiling, laughing and talking to anyone that would engage with her. She had managed to swindle an invitation from Payal on the pretence that she meant to make up with Arnav tonight, but she had no intention of doing so. She had spotted Arnav from the corner of her eyes and regretted coming here immediately  She'd forgotten the effect he had on her, her heartbeat picked up, her thoughts began to jumble around in her mind, she felt all those feelings flood back to her which she had intended to bury deep within. She was fully aware that their contract marriage was due to expire soon but while they were still married there was no way she would allow him to be unfaithful to her, he owed her that much. In the papers they insinuated that there was a model whom he had a special interest in and Khushi was here to put a stop to that, that was all. She had no interest in his deep brown eyes, or that coy look he would give her when they would talk about romantic things and she didn't care that he looked especially dashing today in his crisp black suit. No, Khushi was just here to ensure that he did not further insult the joke of a marriage between the two of them.

Arnav couldn't believe that she had fallen for the bait, really, was she so sceptical and insecure of their love that she truly believed he could so easily replace her. Khushi really was pagal if she believed that? Well, let the games begin...

I'm so sorry

My sincerest and most genuine apologies to all of you. I am very aware that I have recentley neglected my blog and been seriously unfair to all of you guys my great readers. But my life has been super hectic, I've just started working and I work 9-5 Monday-Friday, which is exhausting. However now I am more adjusted to this I think I can go back to updating. I just wanted to say sorry to you all for this. It isn't fair and I feel awful for it! So expect updates soon :)

Jas

Even Stars Burn: Chapter Two

It had turned to evening and as the dark sky covered Delhi city, two very alone and very sad people looked out onto the same night sky. When Khushi had arrived at Buaji's she was welcomed with a hoard of questions. Garima and Buaji refused to believe that the Raizada's had committed a mistake and it was obviously Khushi's fault that she had to leave home and so from frustration, Khushi told them the truth. The whole truth. She told them about the 6 month contract marriage, how Arnav had threatened Khushi by saying he'd make Akash leave Payal and then she told them about Shyam, Arnav's kidnapping and then Anjali's cold reaction. After Khushi's statement, Garima and Buaji were left speechless and let Khushi proceed with the step she'd taken. Khushi spent the remainder of her day lying on her bed, unsure of what else to do at the minute. It was only when night fell that she decided to go to her window and seek comfort in the stars...Arnav on the other hand was not as calm, his reaction to Khushi's departure was a side to Arnav none of his family had seen. After she left he stormed into his room, as everyone expected. Later Anjali came up to his room with some sugar-free kheer and she was shocked to see the sight in front of her. Arnav had gone onto the poolside, he'd taken every single last living plant and cut them from the roots, he had thrown large pots onto the ground, small clay fragments scattered around the poolside and standing in a corner looking angrily up at the night sky was a broken Arnav Singh Raizada.
"Chotte, yeh sabh...?" Anjali asked and Arnav turned to face Anjali, his red raw eyes exposed, his expression set into a tensed grimace.
"Di, leave me alone." He said, Anjali faltered, had he really just said that?
"Maggar, Chotte-"
"I said GO!" He shouted, Anjali, on the verge of tears left the room. Arnav knew he'd hurt Di and that was wrong but he was sure it couldn't even match his pain.

Khushi was on her bed, thinking about everything that had happened and finding herself unable to sleep when she heard it.
"Nikalo yahaan se!" Buaji bellowed.
"Buaji, I respect you and I mean no offence but I need to speak to my wife. Khushi kaha hai?" He asked, Khushi sat up and she felt her heartbeats increase. He was here. Why was he here? If he was here to take her back, he would be unsuccessful, Khushi would not step in that house until Di accepted their relationship and started treating Khushi the way she deserved to be. Khushi sat back down and killed her eagerness to see Arnav.
The doors to her bedroom burst open and she saw not Arnav but ASR burst through her doors, angry, rash and selfish Arnav Singh Raizada. Buaji was pulling on him trying to prevent him from seeing Khushi, but her efforts were in vain as Arnav easily slid Buaji's grip away from him. Khushi stood up alarmed to see Arnav here and in this state.
"Arnavji?" Khushi said in a cautious way, Arnav walked over to her, he grabbed her wrist and began to tug her. Khushi clawed at his grip.
"Arnavji, rukhiye, tum aisa nahin kar sakte. Yeh aise, zabardasti, humari maarzi ki kilaaf-"
"Khushi I don't give a damn right now, all I know is your my wife and you belong with me. Not here. This isn't how its supposed to be!" He shouted and Khushi forcefully pulled herself away from him.
"So how is it supposed to be? I sit in that house and let each and every one of your family members insult me and slowly eat away at the little confidence and integrity I have? Sorry I'm not a matyr. I don't want to go somewhere where I'm unwanted. When Di-"
"When Di what? When Di accepts you? Khushi if your my wife she has to accept you." Arnav argued.
"No, she tolerates me Arnavji...and until that changes, I'm staying here." She said adamantly. Arnav looked behind to see Garima and Buaji still standing guard. He walked close to Khushi, leaned down to her ear and whispered, "I will bring you back to that house, you are my wife and we belong together. You'll see. If I don't make you see then my name is not Arnav Singh Raizada." He said, his words seemed to linger in her ears and his breath made her neck tingle. She looked up into his dark soulful eyes and her resolve weakened slightly, but before that could happen, Arnav stormed out leaving a rather fragile Khushi in her room trying to decipher up from down.

Even Stars Burn: Chapter One

Khushi didn't give anyone time to appeal or appease her, she ran up to what was, her's and Arnav's room, but after tonight it would go back to being Arnav's room. Everyone heard the door shut behind her and they stood in silence. Arnav was shocked, how could she? Why would she? She can't leave him. This was unacceptable for Arnav. He began to move to go stop Khushi from leaving when he felt a hand claw at his wrist.
"Chotte, usse jaanedijiye." Anjali said, her face was completely blank, it was as if she was numb inside. Devoid of emotion, she didn't even realise that she was putting the family, her brother in particular through hell. Payal was looking to Akash to say something, to do something but if Arnav was hesitant to say anything to Di then Akash didn't have much of a chance to stand up for Khushi.
"Di, I...you can't expect me to do that?" Arnav said, almost pleading. Anjali turned to him.
"Kyun? When my husband was leaving this house, did I say a word? Did you hear me go to stop him? Aggar main sab kuch sehsakti toh tum bhi sehna parega. Let her go, only then will our house become a home again." Anjali said. Arnav looked at his Di shocked. Was she serious right now? He understood her being upset but Khushi's leaving was not the answer to the problems going on at the moment.
"Di, I love and respect you, but, your husband was in the wrong, not my wife. He got the punishment he deserved, so why are you punishing Khushi when she hasn't done anything to deserve punishment?" Anrav said and Anjali gave him a cold look. "Maybe your forgetting Di, your husband had me kidnapped, he planned to kill me and take all of our wealth, Khushi was the one who risked everything and got me back here. So don't. Don't you dare tell me to just let her go." Arnav said as he shook his Di's hand off of his wrist.

Arnav stormed into the room to find Khushi furiously packing her stuff into a suitcase. Arnav walked towards her but she ignored him and continued to pack.
"Khushi, yeh kya pagalpaan hai? Stop behaving like a child, neeche ajao and we'll all discuss this rationally like adults." Arnav said as he grabbed her by the shoulders, his eyes looked straight into hers, while his were burning with the intensity of love Khushi's burned with rage. Khushi recalled the months of torture she had endured in the beginning of this marriage, all the abuse, all the hate and isolation she endured all those months. She looked at Arnav, she felt the love for him in her heart but it was clouded with these unpleasant memories. Khushi wanted a loving and happy marriage...this wasn't it.
"Choriye humain Arnavji, humko kisi se baat nahin karni, nahi kahi par jaana hain, kaas kar ke tumhare saath toh bilkul bhi nahin." She said and Arnav tightened his grip on Khushi.
"What do you mean especially not with me? Kya aap bhool gayi ki main tumhara-"
"Pati hoon? Kaisi bhool sakti, woh contract jo hain jo humko roz yaad dilati hoon." Khushi said as she tore herself from Arnav's grasp. "Pehle toh main sochti thi ki itne mahine bakhi hai Arnavji ki saath, abh toh baas itne haafte hai Arnavji ki saath, abh toh baas kuch hi din bahki hai. Lekin humko maaf karna abh hum kuch aur nahin sehsakte. Arre joh shaadi hum khabi karna nahin chathe teh, usko bachane ki kya zuroorat hai, jab kuch hi din main tutnewali hai." Khushi said and Arnav felt his arms go slack, had she really been counting the time till she was free from him? Was she so miserable in this marriage.
"Khushi, I-"
"Nahin Arnavji. Apne hamesha bhola aur hamesha maine suna, lekin aaj tum meri baat sunoge. All I wanted was a marriage full of love and happiness. I wanted to come into a home where I could be part of a haasta khilta parivaar. Lekin tumne mere saare armaan, mere saare khwabon ko tordhiya! Kyun kiya aisa? Kyun?!" Khushi shouted at him, but before Arnav could find the words to say to Khushi, Khushi had errupted again.
"Of course, you did it for Di. Your great and wonderful Di, you thought that I was having an affair with Shyam. Me? Did you really think I was that characterless? That I had no morals? That just proves that you never knew and you never understood me! I'm going so that your Di can be happy, so do me a favour and just let me go, spare me the dramatics." Khushi said as she lifted her suitcase and pushed past Arnav.

Something in that moment snapped inside Arnav, he grabbed Khushi's wrist and spun her around so that their bodies were pressed against each other.
"Listen to me Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada. I love you. I admit I made mistakes but I am trying here. I am trying my best for you, for Di, for me, hell for us! Does that mean nothing to you? Does this-" Arnav took her hand and raised it to his chest. "Does this mean nothing to you?!" Arnav said and Khushi closed her eyes as she could feel the rough, heavy and fast heartbeats of Arnav's. She opened her eyes.
"There was a time when it did matter...but not any-more." Khushi said as she removed her hand from his chest. Arnav still held her close to him, he could feel the rise and fall of her chest as they both breathed heavily, Khushi never meeting Arnav's eyes, but Arnav always had his eyes locked on Khushi.
"This is not over." He said, a tone of defiance and an air of arrogance were clear. Khushi took a deep breath, she could smell his cologne, she could feel his tight grip on her wrist and his body, so painfully close to hers. She looked up at him.
"Yes it is Arnavji. I can't take any-more of this. I wont. Goodbye." She said and she began to pull away, she turned away from Arnav, when she felt a slight pull as he still refused to let go of her.
"Khushi, you are my wife, the one and only wife I plan to have. This. Is. Not. Over." Arnav said, possessiveness ebbed out of his every word. Khushi clenched her jaw, she knew engaging in any-more conversation with him would lead to a weakening in her resolve. Instead she shook her hand free and proceeded to leave the Raizada Mansion. Khushi was walking through the living room and although the majority of the family members were pleading for Khushi to stay, asking her to be reasonable and patient, Khushi did not listen. This is because, one very important member remained still with a stony silence and Khushi knew that until Anjali was convinced of Khushi's innocence, Khushi could never live peacefully in Shaantivan. Khushi paused at the doorstep as a flood of memories hit her like a wave in the ocean. She remembered her accidental visit for the first time to Shantivan, the time she spent working here, the jokes and fun she had here and then the moment she was forced to live here through her contract marriage, the way that nobody spoke to her, the way everybody shunned her, then the way she was insulted by Shyam and finally how Anjali had belittled her today. A solitary tear fell from Khushi's eyes, which she quickly wiped away. She opened the door and left, she didn't even look back because if she had, she would have seen a very broken Arnav at the top of the stairs willing her internally not to leave...

Read other parts to this here.

Even Stars Burn: Prologue

The whole Raizada family were gathered in the living room, it was the evening after Khushi's birthday. Arnav had attempted to placate Khushi but he had realised that again and again his sister was purposefully getting in the way. Arnav knew he had to tread lightly in this situation, after all this was a matter that involved his sister and his wife, he didn't want to hurt either, but most definitely one was clearly in the wrong. Khushi was stood next to Payal, who was holding her and NK was close to the two sisters, feeling that they needed someone in their corner. Khushi had tears running down her face, first Shyam had attacked her and now Di...it was too much.
"Chotte! Apko zara si bhi andazza hai ki mere dil peh kya bheetri hai! Aap sabh ko bhas Khushiji nazaar atta hai, mujhe aur mera gum nahin? Aapko yeh nazaar atta hai ki Khushiji udaas hai, lekin apko meri udaasi ka koi parva nahin? Aap toh badhi badhi batein kartein teh ki main hoon sabse important, duniya jayein jahaan jaana chahein lekin meri Di mere saath rehein, aisi baatein kartein teh na aap?!" Anjali screamed, the rage that had been brewing in her since Shyam had been thrown out the house was finally unleashed and it would leave an explosion in Arnav and Khushi's relationship.
"Di..." Arnav began.
"NO! NAHIN! AAP MUJHE DI MAAT BULAH! Di paata hai ki kya hothi hai? Behen hothi hai, main apki badi behen hoon, aur tumhara bhai hone ki naatein responsibilities hain. Sabse important responsibility yeh hain, ki meri aur meri khushiaan ki raksha karo. LEKIN TUM! Tum ho ki meri kushiaan iss ghar se bahar nikaldia, jaise koi kachara hai!" Anjali cried, Arnav reached out for his sister, to touch her arm, reassure her that he was still there for her. "NAHIN! Chotte abh tumhe faisla karna padega! Abh yahaan Khushiji rahongi ya mein!" Anjali said, her words seemed to echo through the house, leaving a heavy weight on Arnav. Had she really just demanded he choose between his wife and his sister? What kind of ultimatum is that? This was extreme especially for Anjali. Arnav couldn't seem to find a voice, he didn't have the words, the eloquence, the tact to deal with this situation. How could he?

"Di...I...I...I ca-" Arnav had started.
"No." It seemed only as loud as a whisper, but Khushi's voice was heard by all, Anjali and Arnav turned to Khushi who had previously been stood, sobbing quietly, a meek and mild character in this argument. Khushi looked up, her eyes wild and defiant.
"No. I've had enough." Khushi said as she freed herself from her sister's embrace.
"Khushi what are you say-" Arnav said, Khushi raised her hand, silencing him.
"No more, I cannot handle anymore. You all think the worst of me, you never give me a chance to defend myself, even if I did none of you would believe me. You take it turn by turn to belittle and degrade me, but I, I carry on, I smile, I try to make the best out of a bad situation...but not anymore." Khushi said and Arnav looked confused and shocked at her.
"Khushi, what do you mean?" Arnav asked, as he stepped towards her, he had his arm out, he meant to hold her but she stepped away.
"I mean, I'm making this decision a lot easier for you. Congratulations Di. You win. I'm leaving. I hope you'll all be happy now." Khushi said.

Read other parts to this here.