Chapter 3

Lucknow

   Payal and Akash sat inside the car in comfortable silence. This is her favorite time of the day. Night drive towards their home from her Parent's house. Sometimes they will stop by for a late night tea. 

    Payal gazed at her husband with pride.  His eyes are fixed on the road. She always thought of Akash as a shadow of his brother. How wrong she was....

In the past 3 years she came across a different Akash which made her fall in love with him all over again. 

   When the remarriage of Arnav and Khushi got cancelled.  Akash convinced her parents and buaji to move back to Lucknow. At first her parents were not ready to take his help but he made them understand there is nothing wrong in accepting his help. They were against the idea of Akash and Payal also leaving Delhi. But Akash calmly explained he decided to be with Payal and also discussed about it with Nani. 

 After relocating to Lucknow, Akash arranged for Babuji’s treatment. He did not want to be a ghar Jamayi so they decided to stay in one of the AR guest house in Lucknow which was close to her parent's house. He is taking care of the Lucknow Branch of AR Designs and paid visit to Delhi once in a month. He looked after Delhi office affairs also in Arnav's absence. 

    Relationship between Arnav and Akash were not the same. He never asked any explanation to his bhai, he knows there is no use of it. So he decided to fix things to a certain extend by himself. 

     Three weeks after that fateful day Garima found Khushi unconscious in her bedroom. They took her to hospital, and doctor told she is pregnant. Buaji suggested an abortion as raising a kid without it's father and marriage can bring shame to their family. Hearing buaji's suggestion Khushi burst out in anger and declared she will not let anyone harm her baby.

     Akash and Payal made her calm her and promised her no one will take her baby from her. After few days they took Khushi to Kerala. There Akash arranged her stay with the parents of his close friend.  He assured Gupta’s that Khushi will be safe, and it is better if she stays away from everyone. Maybe a new place will help her heal. And thereby she can avoid the hurtful and sympathetic comments of neighbors. 

    Payal was also not sure about the decision of Khushi staying away from everyone. But she trusted Akash, he will never do something which can harm her family. And moreover, he considers Khushi as his own sister.

Khushi started living with Mr. Srikanth Verma and Dr. Veena- A Malayalee couple in their early-fifties. Mrs. Verma is a gynecologist and also the trustee of their own hospital. Their younger son Vivek is Akash's best friend. 

Verma’s were in construction business since last 70 years. Their business is now taken over by their elder son Vijay Verma. He is staying in Delhi while his parents and younger brother along with his grandmother lived in Kerala. Vivek, the younger one was not interested in their family business. He is the city police commissioner in Ernakulam district of Kerala. 

 When Akash thought about shifting Khushi to a different place, the first option came to his mind were the Verma’s. He was sure they will take care of Khushi like their own daughter. And since Mrs. Verma is a doctor, Khushi will be in safe hands.

"Where are you lost?" Akash's voice brought her back from the memories.

" I was thinking about Khushi.. I don't think she will be staying with Amma Babuji, she is still angry  " Payal's voice filled concern

"If she don't want to stay there then she can stay with us. And Payal don't force her for anything.. Its high time we all should stop taking her for granted" 

"I know Akash... but I am tired of this....  I want everyone to be happy. I want everyone to let go the past and move on. She says she is happy in her life, but I know she is not. She still love him. And I feel we are not doing anything to help her." Payal said impatiently.

"what to you mean by that..? you want bhai and Khushi to be re-united? When last time we asked her about this, she made herself clear to us" 

"The truth is Khushi's happiness is with your bhai. But I don't know about him.. We never informed him about the things happened here, but sometimes I wonder, if we have informed him then he might have came back to her. Maybe he just wanted someone to guide him" 

"I can't believe you are still thinking about bhai. He just ran away Payal. He ran away grabbing the first opportunity he got. He never cared for anything else. He can't love Khushi the way she loves him. If bhai comes back to Khushi then the reason should be his love for her, not other things .Maybe he will come back if we say he has a kid with Khushi or if we tell him  the actual story of your mother. But that doesn't make him worthy of Khushi. And she deserves the best, we are not going to let her settle for anything less. What he did to her cannot be forgiven."

"That is not what I meant Akash.  My concern is for Khushi and Muskaan only. what I meant was if someone was there to make him see the truth then their life might have been different. "

" We all were here only Payal. he is the one who needed to be left alone.  I also worry about my brother. But that doesn't mean I will go and make them patch up. He had the luxury to run away to London without facing anyone. But Khushi didn't have that. She had enough from bhai for this lifetime. " his words reflected anger towards his brother and worry for Khushi.

"Akash I was just thinking from Arnavji's  side,  but that doesn't mean that I support the mistakes he made. He is the only person who can fill the void in the life of Khushi and Muskaan. She love him more than anything else in the world. And no one knows it better than me" Payal tried to reason

"Yes She love him. I can also see that. But she chose her dignity over her love for him. And if there is a re-union , it will be her call not bhai's" His words held a tone of finality that warranted no argument.

Payal sighed in defeat. They had this discussion several times before. It is not that she is justifying Arnav. But as a dutiful daughter in law she cannot stop worryong for her in laws just like for Khushi. Arnav is the backbone of their family. She knows everyone is missing him including her husband.  After the departure of Arnav and revelation of Shyam's truth the change in everyone was unmissable. Anjali emerged as stronger independent women. She knows Arnav will be living in grief somewhere in London alone. This is merely impossible but she prayed.. she prayed everyday to her beloved goddess to make the life in Shantivan back to normal. When she was immersed in thoughts she heard Akash answering his mothers calls and his expression changed to panic all of a sudden.

Love,

ST