9. Shubh Shagun - birthday OS May'23

1 months ago

manjiri

@m4manju

This was originally written for one my most special reader UshaVijay5's birthday, in May 2023. Her endless love and sweetest reviews on my chapters are major driving forces for me to update regularly and on time all these months! Cheers to all those conversations, our mutual love for good stories and for arshi. Love ya, Di ❤

Based on the airport scene from the show when Arnav left for London without listening to Khushi's pleas.

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Arnav freed his hand from her hold. Khushi was clutching it with all her might, desperate for him to believe that she was innocent and had nothing to do with Shyam. But he didn't believe her and went inside the airport. Tears ran unchecked from her eyes as she held the glass partition separating visitors from the travelers while he walked further inside towards the security checkpoint.

Each step he took, she felt herself falling deeper into a dark space from where there seemed to be no escape. His leaving like that despite her stopping him again and again was an apshagun(bad omen). Ideally for the person leaving i.e. him. But she was sure it was her life that was getting ruined, if there was anything left to be ruined that is. Her heart, her innocent dreams, her love, everything was associated with Arnav for the past few months- well, since she started knowing him. But the same man had broken her heart, snatched her dreams and rejected her love. And now gone. As she watched his retreating back from the glass door, an acute pain and agony enveloped her, and her heart subconsciously called out 'Devi maiyya'!

What should she do now? Go back to Shantivan? Was that place really her home? Maybe she can go to Lakshmi nagar, her buaji's house. But even there she would be bombarded with tons of questions. Besides, no matter where she went, Arnavji was not with her; neither would he ever be. And Shyamji- that man was clearly still as vile, as nasty! She had stupidly believed him when he agreed to come and meet Arnav and confessed that Khushi was not involved with him. He never had any such intention. And she was made a fool. Again.

Furiously wiping her tears, she contemplated her next steps. She wasn't the one to run away, nor the one to accept defeats from destiny's blows. Giving her life was out of the question, if not for herself, she knew she owed her life to her parents and her babuji who had sacrificed so much for her.

But what should she do?

She was still standing near the visitors' area outside the airport when someone kept a hand on her shoulder. For a moment, she feared if it was Shyam, that devil in disguise of a man.

'He will not dare to harm you here in public, Khushi.' her mind reminded her.

So, she slowly turned around to face whoever it was. And then she stood confused when she found an old lady looking at her with concern.

"Bitiya, are you ok?" the lady asked.

This stranger's care touched her heart, and she didn't know what to say. If it was her family, she would have lied that she was fine, and they would have believed her. So, either she was a very good actor, or they never saw her pain...But in front of this stranger, she didn't have to act. Or rather couldn't act.

"Nahi." she answered and paused, closing her eyes for a brief second to compose herself but the sobs were incontrollable. So, she spoke with a breaking voice, "hum thik nahi hai (I am not ok)." she replied amidst the hiccups.

The lady took her hand to lead her towards a visitor's lounge where a few benches were kept. They sat on a bench as Khushi continued to try to calm herself. Somewhere she was aware that she was breaking down in front of a stranger, but she was just too defeated right now.

After a minute, the lady spoke, "bitiya, I won't ask you what has happened or who has hurt you. But I will tell you this, do not cry over something when you can correct it."

Khushi wiped her tears hearing and asked the lady, "But how? I don't have anything to help me. I don't know how to play cunning games, or to blackmail someone, nor do I have money. Then how can I do anything to help myself? And for whom? My family doesn't understand my pain nor does the man who I love so much."

The lady smiled at that, and spoke again, "You have something that is the mightiest of any other power, my dear. Your sharp mind!" she said, and Khushi blinked her eyes, trying to process her words.

"Aur rahi baat kisi aur ke liye kuch karne ki(and about doing it for someone), toh bitiya sabse khas wajah toh tumhare paas hai (then my child, you have the most special reason). That organ that is beating in your chest, telling you it is worth fighting for! Your heart. You just answered yourself that you are a good person, then what are you afraid of? Take control of your life and lead yourself to a path of happiness."

Khushi felt her courage reappear hearing those words. She had never thought of it this way until now. Yes, she owed her amma-babuji-, her jiji even the Raizadas and the man she loved, something. But she owed herself the most! And the time had come to fight for herself.

"Shukriya chachiji (thanks aunty)." She thanked that kindhearted lady and got up.

She had no time to dwell over anything else. She had a few things to take care of. And for that she needed to make some calls.

.

.

The very first call was to Nanheji. She asked him to go to Anjali and put the phone on speaker which he did.

"Di, hum aapse ek sawal puchenge kya aap uska sahi sahi jawab dengi (I'll ask you a question, will you answer truthfully)?" she asked.

"Ji Khushi ji, par baat kya hai(what is the matter)?"

"Who do you love the most, your baby or- or your husband?" Khushi asked directly.

"Of course, my child, any mother loves her child the most and I do the same." Anjali replied instantly.

Khushi heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank you di. Nanheji, can you turn the speaker off and come outside the room?" Khushi requested, and then told him what she wanted him to do.

The next call was her jiji and a request to be with Anjali if God forbid something untoward happened after what she planned to do.

"Khushi, sach sach bata tu kya karne ki koshish kar rahi hai(tell me truthfully, what are you up to)?" Payal asked hearing her weird request, but Khushi refused to answer.

"You will have to trust me jiji. I am doing something that I should have done a long time ago. I'll talk to you later, bye." saying so she cut the call.

And finally, it was to Shyam ji. If her guess was right, he would know by now that Arnav had left.

"Khushi ji. Humein maaf kar dijiye, hum traffic mein phas gaye the(I am sorry, I was stuck in traffic)." the vile man lied.

Khushi smiled hearing that. If she was her older version, she would have either believed him or felt angry. But now, she felt only an overwhelming need to bring justice to herself. And for that, it was needed to bring this man to her!

"Koi baat nahi (It's ok) Shyam ji. But can you still come to meet me? I am waiting in Aazad maidan(ground) near the airport." she said in a fake sweet voice!

Shyam let his infamous half smile appear on his face. Khushi ji herself was asking him to come meet her alone. What else would he need? Maybe this was his lucky day.

Oh, he had no idea what day it was!

"I will be there as soon as I can Khushi ji."

Khushi cut the call with immense joy.

.

.

Meanwhile, Arnav's heart wasn't allowing him to go further towards the waiting plane. He was constantly thinking of Khushi and her pleading eyes. His heart was saying she was not lying but his brain that had always seen worst of the people wanted to guard him in case she also turned out be an illusion of naivety.

At the end, his heart won. And he came out of the airport, in search of Khushi...

.

.

Ironically Arnav and Shyam found Khushi at the same time. But Arnav was still some distance away and seeing Shyam nearing Khushi, he paused in his steps and stood at a distance from where he could clearly hear their conversation.

And just as Shyam reached out to probably hug her, NK came there and stood between them.

"What is he doing here?" Shyam hissed. Such a mood spoiler this guy was!

Khushi didn't answer that, rather asked NK with her eyes if his phone was ON and Anjali and other Raizadas were on the line from another end. When he confirmed that, she was satisfied.

With that, she answered her most hated person on the Earth!

"Aapne sahi kaha tha Shyam ji, Arnavji hamare liye sahi nahi hai (You were right Shyam ji, Arnavji is not right for me)." She said and saw Shyam smile victoriously.

Arnav fisted his hands hearing that but stayed on to hear the entire conversation so that his mind wouldn't manipulate his brain again...

"See? I told you! But you didn't listen to me before. It's ok, it's still not late. You can make the right choice now." his dark smile made her sick. And not just her, NK also felt disgusted.

"Yes, I am making the right choice now. So, I am going with nanheji." she said giving a sweet smile to NK.

Her words had hit the right target, and Shyam's smile dropped, "What? Khushji, is this a joke? You have to choose ME, not that fool Arnav or this cartoon NK." He said defensively.

Using NK had of course been a bait to get a reaction from Shyam. She had only seen Nk as her good friend, nothing else.

Meanwhile, Shyam's words made Anjali gasp on the other end, and she kept her palm on her mouth, lest Shyam became alert. While Arnav started realizing Khushi wasn't entirely wrong about Shyam manipulating him. But what was she saying about NK?

"Yes, Arnavji is a fool Shyam ji, but I can't choose you either. Because you know what you are?" she asked instead, and answered herself immediately, "naamard(impotent)!"

Hearing that even NK flinched beside her, while Shyam fumed in anger. But Khushi had just begun! If a girl's weak point was her character, a man's weak point was- well- his manhood! And she took a hit at precisely that point! Pun intended!

"Asli mard toh hai hi nahi aap (you are not a real man). Someone who has never valued his wife, insulted his unborn child and not to mention claimed to love me while still being married, he is not a man! And I will ensure to let at least Anjali ji know your true face before I leave."

And that was all Shyam could take. This girl had taken him too much for granted. She had to be told that Rani saheba trusted him blindly!

"That will never happen, Khushi ji. Rani sahiba will never trust you."

Hearing that, Khushi folded her hands on her chest, and gestured NK to do the needful.

NK took out his phone from his pocket, putting the speaker phone on. Anjali took Khushi's name from the other side. Shyam's face paled seeing Anjali was on the line and had heard everything.

"R-Rani Saheba-"

"Shut up! You have nothing to do with me, my family, or my child from here on. You are dead for me, Mr. Shyam Jha." Anjali said and cut the call.

Now Shyam was furious. Khushi ji had not done this right. He loved her so much and she did this? Called him names, ignored him and lastly, blew his cover in front Anjali? Not fair. She had to be punished now!

"If I am going down, I will take you with me Khushi ji." Shyam marched near Khushi. Seeing that, Arnav came out of his hiding spot while NK held Khushi protectively.

"You can't." Khushi answered, looking at him straight in the eye!

"Oh? Who will stop me? This joker?" Shyam pushed NK away, who fell on the ground by that impact.

And then two things happened at once, Arnav who reached near them, and Shyam who held Khushi in his arms with her back against his front and took out a pocketknife holding it near her neck!

"Khabardaar aage aye toh(Don't you dare come ahead)! I am taking her with me, and if anyone stops me, she will die." Shyam threatened NK and Arnav, as well as a few bystanders who had come forward to save the girl from this maniac.

The attack had been sudden, and Khushi was unprepared. She was trapped in this man's hold. Did she make a mistake? Her heart started beating furiously in her chest while she started feeling nausea with Shyam breathing down her neck!

Khushi closed her eyes. Was this really it then? Was her life going to be over like this? Was Shyam going to win? Once again?

No! She had to save herself.

And then she remembered that lady's words. Her sharp mind was her weapon, and her heart was worth fighting for. And with that, taking Devi maiyya's name, she slightly turned and hit her assailant with her knee in his most 'prized' and 'sensitive' area, his groin! It all happened in a fraction of a second, in the blink of an eye, before Shyam understood what hit him!

He cried out in pain and left her. The excruciating pain traveled straight to his abdomen, and he was doubtful if his testicles also got ruptured by her blow! Shyam held his crotch with his both hands, the unbearable pain making him feel near death experience.

Why had he ever messed with this girl? He so regretted it now!

Khushi had immediately stepped away from him. Towards safety. No, not Arnav but towards NK and the gathered crowd. By then the guards on duty on that ground had called airport police who also informed the local police and they got there within a few minutes. Shyam was lying in a helpless state and couldn't do anything when he was handcuffed and taken away.

His chapter was closed from Khushi's life. For forever.

.

.

Arnav watched as Shyam was taken away and NK congratulated Khushi on her success of her plan.

"I guess, I am no longer eligible to say anything." Arnav said in a low voice.

Khushi didn't say anything.

"Fine. But let me at least apologize." He requested and still met with a dead silence from her side. He took that as his cue to continue, "I am really sorry Khushi, very sorry. For every single time that I hurt you, didn't trust you, I'm so sorry. If you gave me one chance to repent, I will show you how much I regret breaking your heart."

After hearing that Khushi looked at him, her gaze matching that of a wounded tigress. Not that he had ever faced a tiger let alone a wounded tigress! But if he ever had to, Arnav knew it would resemble Khushi at this moment!

"Kyun dein aapko mauka(Why should I give you a chance)? kyun sune aapki baat(why should I listen to you)? Did you listen to me, give me a chance? You didn't even give me a place in your heart, you made fun of my feelings then why do you want to repent now?"

"Sab manzoor hai (I accept everything). But except for one thing. It's not true that I don't have a place for you in my heart." He said and saw her huff in annoyance and disbelief.

He raised his hands in surrender after that, "You have every right to not believe me right now, I have been my absolute worst. But Khushi, my name is also Arnav Singh Raizada, and one thing that is common between us is we never accept defeat, especially when it's about something we really care about. I will also not accept defeat until I work on redeeming myself in your eyes. And I promise, whatever you decide to do in your life next, whoever you decide to call yours and whichever way you go, Arnav Singh Raizada will support you. As your friend."

"I won't count too much on it." She said, wiping the remnants of tears from her face and went away. She had her life to take control of, make her happiness her priority and find the same chirpy girl she had been who was lost in the past few months.

Arnav watched her go, not stopping her but as per his promise, started to think of his plan to refine himself.

The day had indeed turned out to be a good day and that moment of goodbye was indeed a good omen! Sometimes, it is just about realizing the immense power you are already blessed with and taking a bold step, instead of finding the strength from outside...

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A/N - Hope you enjoyed reading. Do vote and review, pls :)