When Khushi came to, she found herself sitting on a chair with her hands and feet bound and all her jewelry was missing. She looked around fearfully. It was a ramshackle house and in the faint light of the moon she could make out bare minimum furniture and shadowy trees from the windows. Somewhere in the outskirts, she deduced correctly even in her groggy state, probably a lonely area, otherwise they would have gagged her as well. In the dark recesses of the room she could see two men sitting and dozing, they woke with a start stood up with a jerk as the main door crashed open and there stood Shyam leering evilly as always.
He swaggered his way to where Khushi was and said, βHow are you Khushiji, sorry that we have to keep you here in this state.β She jerked away as he leaned in towards her. βThe moment you assure me of your cooperation, you will be released immediately. Hum waada karte hain Khushiji,β his voice took on a pleading unctuous note.
Khushi glared at him. βAap! I should have guessed it! Who else could it be?β
βYes who else indeed?β He smirked, βI couldnβt bear to see you deserted at the altar,β he said piously, βYou see I love you so much! Saale sahab is not worthy of you! Marry me, I will cherish and treasure you as no one else can.
Khushi glared at with disgust and anger. βDonβt talk to me like that! Arenβt you ashamed of yourself?β
βAshamed of what?β Shyam pulled up a rickety chair beside her, βOf loving you? Not in a million years!β He said earnestly. βYou thought that my love was like that of Arnavβs? Weak judgmental and inconsistent? No! My love is strong and pure it can withstand all tests, when you betrayed me,β he swallowed, βpretended to be my confidante and ally, when you hinted that we were a team, a unit,β he paused, his eyes glittering, βDid I get vengeful and angry? No on the other contrary, my love for you increased manifold. Ah here was someone who was worthy of not only my love, but also my respect and admiration,β he shook his head. I am a huge fan of yours Khushiji! Marry meβ¦.β He begged ardently.
βSHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UPβ
βShout as much as you likeβ Shyam shrugged, βthere is nobody in the vicinity who could hear you. Waise why are you so angry as if I have insulted you? It is an honorable gesture. In any case, what will you do now?β The gloating note was back. βYour Arnavji will never accept you now. Who knows he may even start a court case against your mother. Your family will be destroyed, just like Dadiji intends,β He waxed eloquent. βBut donβt worry,β He reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. βI can help you, marry me, forget him, he is not worth it.β
Khushi jerked away. βI donβt want to listen to any of your rubbish anymore, let me go!β
βSo easily?β Shyam mocked her. βYou must be out of your mind. I promised to marry you last year and marry you I will.β He vowed. βAt any cost.β
βYou must be out of your mind,β Khushi sneered. βHow will you force me to marry you?β It was her turn to mock him. βBy putting a gun to my head? Go ahead, kill me, go ahead,β She challenged, βI donβt care.β
βOh I know that very well my dear Khushiji! You donβt care about your death but what if I kill your Babuji? Very simple, I will need just use a pillow to suffocate himβ¦.β
Khushiβs heart stopped. βWhat?β Her voice quavered. βYou are bluffing. You would never do such a thing!β
βDonβt tempt me,β Shyam turned red and snarled. βI can do so,β he threatened, βIn fact,β he was back to his usual calm smiling self, βDid I tell you? I am responsible for your fatherβs condition?β Khushi looked at him in fearful horror. He smiled. βHe underestimated my love for you. I provoked him and precipitated that heart attack when he caught me with Rani Sahiba. I withheld his medications and if your family had not returned just then,β he shook his head, βhe would now be watching us from above.β
βYouβ¦ you,β Khushi gasped, βI canβt believe it!β
βAhhh finally you seem to be appreciating me,β Shyam rubbed his hands in glee and his eyes gleamed with a maniacal light. βShall I tell you more? You and Saale sahab got me thrown out of RM but I forced you to bring me back.β He laughed. βYou think it was destiny that we lost our baby? No that was me I choreographed the miscarriage and all of you danced beautifully to my tunes. I brought back Dadi.β He boasted. βI stole that photograph from your Amma,β he peered into her pale face, βNeed I say more? So will you marry me or should I kill or maim some more?β
Khushiβs world spun and she fainted. When she came to in a while, Shyam was talking on the phone. βWHAT? Khushi is missing? And Saale sahab is angry? Oh, he is asking about me? Donβt worry Rani Sahiba I just stepped outside for a breath of fresh air. I will be back in just 10 minutes.β
Khushiβs heart leaped. Arnavji was looking for her, he was asking about Shyamβs whereabouts. All was not lost. Hey Devi Maiyya raksha karna, she prayed fervently.
Shyam swiftly came to Khushi and leaned threateningly over her chair. βI have to go now. I will be back in the later. There is a temple nearby, everything has been arranged, be prepared to marry me or face the consequences and now I want you to call Arnav and convince him that you no longer wish to marry him.β He advised. βSpin him any yarn. I am sure you can think of something. If you can fool me you can fool anyone, but one wrong word, one hint be prepared to say goodbye to your father,β he hissed into her face his eyes bulging out, βand the others one by one and,β he paused. βI donβt make idle threats.β He straightened. βLallan, Rocky, here take this, her phone, dial Arnavβs number and let her talk to him and let her convince him that their wedding is off. And mind you,β he raised a finger, βone wrong word you call meβ he advised his henchmen. Β Get that?β They nodded. βPay close attention to what she says,β He hesitated, but grimaced as his phone rang again, βI wish I could stay, while she spoke to Arnav, but anyway both of you, keep a close watch on this girl. And let me know if she says anything,β he looked at Khushi, βAnything suspicious, CALL ME.β He vanished through the doorway.
Khushi heaved a sigh of relief and looked speculatively at the two goons. She feigned dizziness and pleaded for water. They looked confusedly at each other, wondering what to do, then Lallan deigned to move and arrange for water.
Khushiβs mind was working at top speed, they would make her call Arnavji soon, what to say to him, would he even listen to her? Would he even take her call? She would worry about that later – first how to pass the message without arousing the suspicion of these two? She shuddered when she recalled what Shyam had just revealed to her and she had thought he was upset at the loss of his child.
Rocky untied her hands and gave her the bottle of water. Then he handed her phone to her, βhere you heard the boss. Call him up and tell him the wedding is off.β Khushi took the phone but as the battery was discharged, she couldnβt even switch on her phone she looked at Rocky, βNow what?β
Rocky was flummoxed and looked at Lallan. Then Rocky had a brainwave and handed her his phone, βCall from this phone. Do you know his number?β For a second Khushi debated lying but decided that would be counterproductive, she nodded her head and took his phone and dialed Arnavβs number all the while furiously planning and plotting.
Khushiβs heart stopped then started beating madly when she heard his beloved voice utter βHello?β
She prayed for strength and said, βArnavji, hum Khushi bol rahe hain.β
The conversation went on predictable lines, as without any further ado, Arnav started blasting her right left and center interspersed liberally with βHow dare you Khushi?β βtum theek hoβ βtum samajhti kya ho apne aap koβ etc etc. He was in full flow and she let him. It was music to her ears, her heart sang with joy. When Lallan gave her a shove, she controlled her tears and reluctantly stopped him. βYes Arnavji. hum theek hain. I just called to say that after yesterday, I canβt marry you.β
βWHAT? Are you crazy?β
βCrazy aap the way you behaved, you left me standing at the altarβ¦ how could you? I could never marry you! I HATE you!”
βKhushi, relax,βΒ Arnav soothed her. βI know you are angry we were all upset. But we can sort this out, come home, we will talk it out.β
βNahi Arnavji!β Khushi was adamant. βI cannot and will not change my mind. I should have refused to marry you on the day of the Bachelorβs party itself, you were so drunk, and the way you were cavorting with so many girls! Chchiii!!!! I couldnβt believe my eyes. I canβt marry such a man!β
βWHATTTTT THE HELL Khushi!β
βYes Arnavji,β Khushi carried on blithely, βI am speaking the truth, listen, can you hear the temple bells? I would not be lying standing in a temple would I? I hate you and I hate Amma also. You can tell her that. I am never coming back home again.β
Arnav was ready to tear his hair out. He had done it. He had driven her over the edge. She had gone completely bonkers and she was still blabbering, βDonβt try to look for me as I am going away. I met an uncle of mine,β she paused, βA Mr Kanahiya Lal, my fatherβs brother. Remember he had come for the wedding? I have gone away with him, he is very nice and he will look after me and in fact he has also promised to get me married to his friendβs son Mr Murli Manohar this evening itself, so it is goodbye from my side. You donβt deserve me and always remember that I hate you. Hamesha, hamesha.β She put the phone down, buried her face in her hands and gave into the luxury of unfettered sobs.
***
Wish you all a great weekend aur agar loose end par ho aur agar yeh nahi padha ho toh thoda idhar bhi nazar is par bhi daal dijiye π
No? Not interested?
Ah well
Click here for Chapter 5
Poor, poor Khushi! π
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Ooh hope ASRβs thick brain manages to unravel the truth from between the lines of Khushiβs ramblings. Shyam deserves to be lynched always
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π thick brain
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Shaatir to “thick” in one fell swoop π² How the mighty have fallen π
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πππ
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Mr.Kanhiya Lal and his son Murli Manohar Lal.Hope Arnav’s Harvard return shatir dimag will decipher what Khushi is saying.Thank you, Dahlia. See you on Sunday or will it be Monday?
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See you on Sunday π
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I think that if Shyam was present Khushi could not have able to give this coded message. He would have realised that she is talking about him. Thank god for clueless Lallan and Rocky.
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Speaking of Rocky, having him silent is a “wayshte” of his talents π
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Yeh Rocky strong silent types nahi tha? π
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He was also very practical. When Khushi had rejected his proffered khaana, heβd sat himself down and started tucking into it himself π βmain hi kha leta hoonβ
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πππ€£π€£ There’s so much I have forgotten. And also love the way everything was a highlightπ
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Khushi is the true shatir, woh manage kar leti! π
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Hello and thank you Dahlia! Khushi’s cryptic clues were too cute :)))) Hope Arnav ke shatter dimaag ki ghantia baj rahi hongi. When Arnav was kidnapped by the same snakewa/ aka murali Manohar lal, Khushi did such a stellar job of rescuing him…wah, khushiji, maan Gaye aapka hosla sur himmat.
Take care my dear. Sunday ka bekarari se intezaar. love and hugs
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Sunday bhi aagaya ab aap jaldi yahan padhariye. Pata hai na aaj the world is going to end? Cheers
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Thanks! Very interesting twists here! Your stories by this blogger where Khushi gets kidnapped: https://bingalaskarma.wordpress.com/ It would be great to see you joint write a story sometime too.
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Thanks Maitri will check out π
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I have every confidence in Arnav’s deducing abilities π after he finishes ranting and venting, of course π
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Haha – you know him so well Ruch! π
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Wow! Even I’m confused with these hints. Will Arnav get them?
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Dekhika padi! π
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Oh I seee….Shaatir dimaag ASR ka nahi, Khushi ka hai. I am thoroughly entertained.!!! Very very intelligent role reversal and can’t wait to read more!
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ππ
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Ahhh, all the skeletons of Snakewa out of the cupboard …. sheesh, Iam heaving a sigh of relief. Hope Snakewa needn’t say any more and Khushi stops being so gullible π₯ π₯
“You left me standing at the altar”… Iam confused here… didn’t Khushi get kidnapped before ASR rushed out? She wouldn’t know, right? Technically, she had left him standing at the altar, before he did π€ͺ … there, I said it π€ͺ π€ͺ
Snakewa’s confidence levels really needs to be appreciated…. too much!!
“Spin any yarn” …. hahahaaa, need I say more on this matter π€« It is heartening to see her getting overwhelmed on ASR’s words and actions.
Hahaa, ….”Murli Manohar”, isn’t that a give away??
I have full confidence on ASR’s logical reasonings π§ …. warna, Dahlia will be sued π
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Bilkul Su Dahlia ko sue karna kyonki hum sabko pata hai ki ASR kitna shaatir hai… Akele uski bas mein nahiππ Aur yeh snakewa ka confidence ASR ke shaatirana pe based hai. Spin any yarn and he will swallow any yarnπππ
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