Chapter 19

    Khushi checked the time for the fifth time, it was 1.30 am, She hadn't been able to sleep properly in the last few days. The changes she saw in Arnav overwhelmed her. Gone that arrogant & fractious man who had zero tolerance towards dissenters. But when he talked to his employees through phone, he was the ASR.

    He was surprisingly serene when she lost her cool few times, she expected him to retort but it didnot happen. Everyday he visited Gomti Sadan and spent time with her & Muskaan. Few times they took Muskaan to the nearby park also. He made her feel like they both are center of his universe. 

    He carried Muskaan's bag whenever they took her out, helped her to make her bath and feed her, he hugs and kisses them when he leaves while leaving. She can list out many things Arnav did for them. That helped to soothe the pain  she felt in the last 3 years to some extend.

    Tomorrow She will leave for Delhi and after 4 days will return to Dubai. She will visit Nani once before leaving. Muskaan should get blessing from her great grandmother. The thought of leaving made her restless and sad. She hated to admit it but she started looking forward to meet him everyday. The anger she carried inside her was slowly diminishing.. What if she is the only one feeling that way? Maybe he was just being nice to her ,to have a good time with them.

    After 4 days she will be alone again.. It was before 3 years she realized ,she was indeed an orphan. After the death of her biological parents, there was no one in her life who loved her unconditionally. Her foster family never considered her as their own. She always thought , she owe her life to them for adopting her. But what she gained in return? Her thoughts went back to a bitter memory from the past.

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    It was one month since she started living with Verma family. They tried to make her open up to them , but she had built a wall around her.

    Seeing Khushi in distress Veena invited her family to come over to make her feel better, which she regretted later.

    Veena and Vijay was shocked to hear the conversation between Khushi and her foster family. The loud voice from Khushi's room made them reach the door. 

"Do you have any idea what are you saying now?" It was Khushi's buaji  who was shouting at her.

Hearing no reply from a sobbing Khushi she continued.

"Since the time we adopted you, you have caused us only troubles. You brought shame to our family by eloping with Arnav, still we forgave you ... How you are going to survive with a fatherless child? That is why I was saying you to do abortion. But you are not ready for that also. How you are going to take care of this child? Do you have any support? Because of you Akash had to face many trouble with his family. Payaliya's also faced wrath of her inlaws ..   Now see you are causing trouble to these people also. They are kindhearted that's why they are letting you stay here for now. Until you give birth to your child you can stay here, after that where will you go with the kid? you cannot stay here forever..  we cannot let you stay with a baby out of marriage in our house also. It is not too late for the abortion, there is still one month left for the the first trimester to finish. Meri baat mano aur abortion karo.. After that come home with us.  If you have a slight gratitude in your mind for us then obey me. "

    Khushi was standing there taking all the accusations thrown at her with tears coursing down her cheeks unchecked. Garima reached by her side and placed a hand on her shoulder. 

"Khushi.. We are not your enemy.. you are our daughter.." Hearing those words from her mother  Khushi lost her patience, she removed her hand angrily from her shoulder.

"Really? I am your daughter? Since when? You people never accepted me. I was always an outsider.  If Payal was in my place, would you have suggested the same thing to her? you would have supported her since she is your own daughter. I tried my best to gain your love, but you people proved that blood is thicker than water. This child is my blood, I am choosing my child over you. hereafter there is no relation between us. You don't have to live in shame because of me. Please leave from here."

Khushi was literally screaming at them without care.

"Thik hai.. Baad mein wapas hamare paas mat anna apne bache ko lekar."  Madhumati retorted.

"mar jayegi lekin apke paas kabhi wapas nahi ayegi" Khushi replied her flinching.

"Yeh ladki pagal hogayi hai... " Madhumati was not in a mood to stop.

 "I think she made her stand clear.. you both can leave now" 

Madhumati turned to see a furious looking Vijay and Veena at the door. Seeing their faces Madhumati understood that they should leave from here. 

After Madhumati and Garima left from there they saw Khushi turned towards the cupboard and started to put her stuff inside the travel bag wiping away the continuous tears flowing from her eyes.

"Yeh kya kar rahi ho tum? "  Vijay asked her snatching the clothes from her hand.

"I am leaving"  She replied crying.

"Where will you go from here?" he raised his voice at her.

"Pata nahi.. I am leaving from here. "

"Khushi beta don't take your buaji's words to your heart. Please calm down.... It is not good for your baby.."  Veena reached by her side and held her close.

"Sahi toh bol rahi thi woh.. I am being a burden to everyone.. " She slumped on the floor crying bitterly.

Veena came and sat close to her on the floor. Her heart wept along with the young girl who went through too much. She didn't know how to console her.

"Aunty .. I don't know what to do or where to go. Pata nahi yeh sab sirf mere saat hi kyon ho rahi hai?"

    And again she began to sob, more bitterly than before. Veena hugged her to herself and consoled her. Vijay sat on the bed and looked helplessly at her. 

After sometime crying subsided to sniffs and quiet sobs while Veena held her tightly and stroked her hair . 

" You know Aunty .. that night when he blackmailed me to marry him, I thought he was going to confess his love.  But he told I am a cheap women who seduced his brother in law. He married me for save his sister's marriage. My parents disowned me that night for eloping with him. He made me go through hell in those six months, but still I felt somewhere deep in his heart he loves me. that's why I forgave him when he apologized. I knew no one in my foster family loved me the way they loved Payal. I thought after marriage I will get a husband who will love me the way I craved. I started dreaming a new life with him forgetting the painful memories. But he proved me wrong again. He never loved me. He ran away leaving me alone. He did not think about me even for a second. Now what will I do? I don't have anyone in this world other than my child... "

And she started to cry out again. Veena gently cupped her face and wiped the tears. 

"Shhh... Bas karo abhi.. If you cry again, it will have a bad effect on your baby. Do you want that?"

Seeing her struggling to stop the sobs she continued.

"Khushi you know, I had a daughter.  Her name was Ananya. She died in an accident before 10 years. When you came to our house, I knew God gave our Ananya back to us. You are our Anu from that day. So don't even think that you have no one. you have us."

 Khushi raised her head to look at Veena whose eyes were filled with unshed tears.

"Haan Khushi, she is right. I never mentioned about her to you but you are in her place . And why are you sitting and crying like this? you are a strong girl.. leave all those rubbish thoughts out of your mind. you need to give birth to this baby and need to take of him/her .. right?? 

Vijay's words provided her some strength,  Khushi nodded vigorously at him. 

"Then complete your studies and find a job.  Education is very important dear. You want to be independent right? Then groom yourself. World is not a nice place. You have to be strong enough to survive. we all are here to guide you. Call Payal and ask her to get your certificates. We can enroll your name for the final year exams. Internship you can do in our company itself. what's say? "

He suggested her.

"That will be very nice. if you get engaged in these things, unwanted thoughts won't come to your mind" Veena seconded his suggestion. 

"Lekin itni jaldi? Final exams are in 3 months time . how will i prepare ? " Khushi asked them in worry forgetting the other things for a moment.

"Take it as a challenge beta. I have a friend whose daughter is appearing for the final B.com examination. I will ask her to come over here. she will help you."  Veena took her hand inside her warm hands and assured her.

"Please ... Ab ye rona dhona band karo.. Cheer up.. there are lot of preparations to be done before the exams. there is no time to waste. " Vijay tried to lighten her mood.

After that day she immersed herself in studies and internship. She was grateful to this family for accepting her wholeheartedly. Once Muskaan was born she expressed her wish to take the job offer came from Dubai office. They supported her decision of moving to Dubai.  Veena arranged a full time help Sabita to accompany her . After She shifted to Dubai they visited her in every 3 or 4 months. If it was not because of them she would never have reached so far. She is deeply grateful to this family for supporting her.

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A lone tear escaped her eyes as she closed her eyes in despair. She turned towards Musakaan who was sleeping soundly. She hugged her daughter to herself and kissed her hair. She can't let Arnav hurt her this time. Because this time along with her , her daughter will also get hurt.

Love,

ST