Chapter 58

Sashi Gupta who was undergoing treatment at a naturopathy camp was now able to stand on his own feet and walk a few steps with the help of walking stick and speak few lines properly had returned to Delhi with his wife so that he can celebrate this happy news with his sister and both daughters. Having the anxious urge to see his daughters at the earliest he had asked his sister to reach RM as he will be reaching there directly and give a pleasant surprise to his daughter but little did he knew that a shocking surprise was waiting for him.

Akash came out of the bathroom with a smile on his face and seeing him Payal asked: "What is the matter Akashji..? You seem to be very happy..."

Akash: "Yes, I am too happy today... Muskaan finally went to school that too a co-ed one and adjusted well there... I am so happy for that."

Payal: "Haan... it is good that she had no problem in the school... I was worried that she will have problem adjusting in school with the boys around..."

Akash: "I too was a bit worried about that but I had faith on what Bhabi had said... and Muskaan is right you know... her Khushi Mami is always right..."

Payal who was feeling happy that Akash is finally talking normally with her felt irritated with the mention of Khushi's name but still controlling herself said: "It has nothing to do with Khushi... Muskaan just..."

Akash cut in: "What do you mean by it has got nothing to do with Bhabi..? It is only because of Bhabi that we all agreed sending Muskaan to a co-ed school at the first place and it was only because of Bhabi that Muskaan's fear of boys is now almost gone... it was Bhabi who..."

Payal lost her cool: "BHABI BHABI BHABI... WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU...? WHAT HAS THAT KHUSHI DONE TO YOU THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS SINGING HER PRAISES..?"

Akash: "What are you saying..?"

Payal: "What I am saying...? I AM SAYING WHAT MAGIC HAS KHUSHI GOT THAT ALL ARE GETTING TRAPPED BY HER...?"

Akash: "Why are you shouting..? And what rubbish are you talking..?"

Payal: "I AM TALKING RUBBISH...!! I AM..!! SERIOUSLY..!! DON'T KNOW WHAT SORT OF BLACK MAGIC SHE KNOWS... FIRST SHE TRAPPED SHYAM, THEN ARNAVJI... AND NOW YOU..."

Akash: "PAYAL..."

Payal: "DON'T PAYAL ME... I KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT YOU AND YOUR SO CALLED BHABI... YOU HAVE A ILLEGETIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HER AND..."

Further words couldn't come out of her mouth as she felt a sudden stinging and burning sensation on her cheek. Right... Akash had slapped her hard. "HOW COULD YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS...? YOU ARE NOT THE PAYAL I KNEW... I WAS THINKING THAT YOU WILL CHANGE AFTER COMING TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE A MOTHER... BUT I WAS SO WRONG... YOU ARE NOT THE PAYAL I HAD LOVED..."

Payal: "Your slapping and shouting at me proved that whatever I had said is true... I won't stay silent today... I WILL LET THE ENTIRE FAMILY KNOW ABOUT YOUR AND YOUR SO CALLED BHABI'S TRUTH." Saying she marched out of the room screaming for everyone.

In anger people are not able to distinguish between right and wrong and they don't think about the consequences of their doings... and later when the anger dies down and they realize their mistake, everything would have gone out of hands... right now the condition was same with Payal... in her anger and hatred for Khushi she was forgetting that she is burying her own happiness by her own hands.

Everyone came out of their room listening to the shouts of Payal. Anjali pushing the wheel chair of Dadi was the first to reach there. "What happened Payalji..? Why are you shouting like this..? What's wrong..?"

Nani who too had come out said: "Kya hua Payal bitiya..? Aap aise chila kyun rahi hain..? Aise halat ma chilana acha nahin hai... bache par bura asar hota hai."

Mama and Mami too came out followed by Arnav, Khushi and NK.

Mami: "What has happened khoon-bhari-taang..? Why are you shouting..? Do you know or not... it disturbed my beauty sleep..."

Payal: "YOU ALL ARE ASKING ME WHY I AM SHOUTING..!! WHAT DO YOU EXPECT A WIFE TO DO WHOSE HUSBAND IS HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH ANOTHER LADY..?"

There was pin drop silence followed by loud gasps near the door. The Raizadas turned to see the Guptas standing with their mouth wide open in shock. Khushi was the first to come out of the shock and then her eyes travelled to Sashi who was standing on his own. She ran towards him and hugging him said: "Babuji... aaap... thik ho... gaye... hum bohot khush hain..."

Sashi patted her back and asked: "Bitiya, what is happening here..? What all is payalia saying..?"

Payal who by now had reached them pulled Khushi from Sashi's arms and shouted: "STAY AWAY FROM HIM... HE IS NOT YOUR FATHER, HE IS ONLY MY BABUJI... UNDERSTOOD." Saying she pushed Khushi who would have fallen down had it not been for Arnav who had walked behind Khushi holding her at the right time.

Arnav now furious with the way Payal behaved with his wife screamed: "HOW DARE YOU...!! HOW DARE YOU PUSH MY WIFE..!!"

The Guptas too were shocked seeing the behaviour of Payal and Garima recovering from the shock enquired: "What is wrong with you Payalia..? Why are you behaving this way with Khushi..?"

Payal: "Amma, you are asking me..? Ask this so called daughter of yours what she is doing behind others back..."

Buaji came to Payal and holding her asked: "What has happened Payalia... what did this Khushi do now..?" Payal hugged her tight and started to cry loudly. "Payalia... hamari bacchii... bolo kya hua..? Khushi ne kya kia...?"

Nani walked towards them and said to the Guptas: "You all please come inside..." The guptas obeying her came in and Nani cupping Payal's face asked: "Payal bitiya what has happened...? Did Akash bitwa say anything..?"

Payal in an angry tone: "Why don't you ask that to your Akash Bitwa..?"

By now Akash too had come down and Anjali walked to him and holding him by his shoulder demanded: "Akash, what is Payalji saying..? She accused you..." she looked down not able to continue.

Akash looked at his family and then to the Guptas and then holding Anjali's palm said: "Di... you trust me... you trust your brother... don't you..?"

Anjali cupped his cheeks: "Of course I trust my brother... I do trust you Akash... I know there must be some misunderstanding between you and Payalji... you should clear it Akash..." turning to payal "Payalji... sometimes misunderstanding does happen but you should discuss and clear it not make an issue of it..."

Payal: "I AM MAKING AN ISSUE... AM I..? Answer me Di... you found your husband cheating on you... what did you do..? you divorced him right... now what do you expect me to do..?"

Mamaji: "Payal beta... how can you compare that man with Akash Bitwa..."

Anjali: "Payalji, you know that man was a fraud, a cheat... how can you compare him with Akash..? There is a hell and heaven difference between the two..."

Payal: "You think there is a difference between the two...? But I don't think so..."

Anjali: "Payalji... what..."

Payal: "How can this man be better than Shyam when he has an illegitimate relation with his own Bhabi..?"

Akash: "PAYAL... I AM WARNING YOU... SHUT YOUR MOUTH... OR ELSE..."

Payal: "OR ELSE... OR ELSE WHAT WILL YOU DO..? THROW ME OUT OF THIS HOUSE... THEN DO THAT... I DON'T WANT TO STAY WITH A HUSBAND WHO CARES FOR HIS ILLEGITIMATE REALTIONSHIP MORE THAN HIS LEGITIMATE WIFE AND CHILD..."

Garima both confused and worried: "Payalia... what has happened..? Why are you accusing Akash Babua..? With whom is he having a relationship..?"

Payal sardonically: "With your dearest Khushi..."

The entire hall fell silent and Khushi with tears rolling down her eyes hugged Arnav's arm tight who pulled her close to himself. Nani recovering from the shock: "Payaaal... bitiya... ye... aaap... kyaa..."

Payal: "Shocked...? Are we..?? This is the truth..."

This time the ASR roared: "PAAYAALL.. MIND YOUR TONGUE..."

Payal: "Why are you shouting at me when it should be your so called wife upon whom you should be shouting at... (laughing sarcastically) ...but how can you shout at her when she has bewitched you and turned you into a puppet in her hands..."

Akash: "ENOUGH... I AM WARNING YOU PAYAL..."

Payal: "NOOO... today I won't keep quiet... I will show the true colors of this wicked woman to everybody... (walking to Anjali) ...Di, you think this one was trying to save your marriage and hence didn't inform you about the truth of Shyam... but no it is not that... she herself wanted it to be a secret so that she can enjoy her relationship with him... then she trapped Arnavji as he is richer than Shyam and now that Shyam is out... she has trapped my husband... she is a wh**e..."

Before she could speak more Akash pulled her harshly and slapped her hard making her tumble. "I PITY MYSELF... I PITY MYSELF TO HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH A LADY LIKE YOU... I PITY MYSELF TO HAVE FOUGHT WITH MY MOTHER FOR A PERSON LIKE YOU... I WISH I HAD SEEN YOUR TRUE FACE BEFORE MARRIAGE THEN I WOULD HAVE NEVER MARRIED YOU... YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE A WIFE..."

Buaji holding Payal: "HOW DARE YOU SLAP HER...? DON'T FORGET SHE IS GOING TO THE MOTHER OF YOUR CHILD..."

Akash: "Usi baat ka rona hai... that I am going to parent a child with this lady... if I am tolerating her then it is only for my child or else..."

Buaji: "Oho... so you just want the baby from her... why can't your Khushi give you a child... an illegitimate child..."

Khushi cried even more and Sashi slowly walking towards his sister said: "Jiji... what... are you saying... how can you blame Khushi Bitiya..?"

Buaji: "Khushi is not your daughter... did you forget that she is an orphan who was adopted by you...? Had you not taken her under your wings that day then today she wouldn't have destroyed your daughter's happiness..."

Sashi: "JIJI... FOR ME BOTH PAYAL AND KHUSHI ARE MY DAUGHTERS... both of them hold equal importance for me... but today I am very upset with the way Payal is behaving... (cupping payal's face) ...Payalia... my child... what has got into you... why are you behaving this way... don't you know your sister..? Do you think she can do something like that..?"

Payal removing his hands from his face: "You too think that I am over reacting... why do you trust that orphan over your own daughter..?"

Sashi: "PAYAL..!! REMEMBER KHUSHI IS NOT AN ORPHAN. SHE IS MY DAUGHTER."

Payal clapping her hands: "WOW..!! (looking at Khushi) Well done Khushi... you played very well... from the time you have come into my life you have snatched everything from me... because of you I had to share my family with you... you snatched my parent's love... now you have snatched my husband from me... what else do you want..?"

Khushi: "Jii..ji..."

Payal: "I AM NOT YOUR JIJI NEITHER ARE YOU MY SISTER... YOU ARE A HOME WHEAKER..."

Arnav: "ENOUGH... YOU SAID ENOUGH AND I HEARD ENOUGH... NOW DON'T YOU DARE TO SAY A WORD BAD ABOUT MY WIFE... ONE MORE WORD BAD AND YOU WILL BE OUT OF THIS HOUSE."

Buaji to Akash: "Good then, ask your brother to throw my Payalia out of this house and with that you will have to say bye to your child for ever too..."

Akash: "MY CHILD IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE..."

Buaji: "And you think you can keep your child with you... you can't... even law won't allow it... and over that the way you have behaved with her in this pregnant stage the court won't allow you to keep the child."

Garima: "Jiji... aap ye kya kar rahin hai..? Aag bujhane ki jagah aap usme ghee dal rahe hain..?"

Buaji: "Garima... Payal is not your own daughter that is why you are saying those things... had she been your own daughter then instead of saying this you should have supported me..."

Garima was too shocked to even react. Sashi: "JIJI... what rubbish are you saying..? Garima has always loved Payal like her own daughter..."

Buaji: "NO SHE HASN'T... she has always cared about her orphaned niece more than Payal... (turning to Akash) ...I am going to file a case against you in court for hurting my niece, for hurting your pregnant wife and mentally harassing her by having illegitimate relationship with Khushi..."

Sashi: "ENOUGH JIJI... you know what Khushi is... still you are accusing her... I didn't expect this from you... you know that Garima though hasn't given birth to Payal but still she has cared for her more than a real mother could... still you said things to her... I don't believe this... I can't believe that you are my sister... (looking at Payal) ...and you, don't you know how much Khushi has done for you... she has always sacrificed all her wishes for you... still you are accusing her...? (wiping his tears) ...I had had enough. Now I won't tolerate a word bad about my Khushi Bitiya... my daughter is a gem..." He walked towards Khushi and seeing him Khushi moved out of Arnav's arm. He cupped Khushi's face and kissing her forehead said: "Bitiya... I know what you are... I trust you... I don't know why Payalia is saying all those things but I know all her acquisitions are baseless... there is no truth in it... (wiping her tears) ...today I had come here to surprise both my daughter with the happy news that I can stand and talk but I had never known that reaching here I will be losing a daughter of mine... (pointing to Payal) ...the girl standing there can never be my blood... had she been my daughter she would have never uttered those words... and my Jiji I never knew she had so much poison inside her... from now I have only daughter and that is you... always remember that no matter what but your Babuji will always trust you and will always be there for you."

Khushi hugged him and he caressing her back said: "Bitiya... I and my wife will leave from here... we will go back to lucknow where we have happy memories of yours... and along with that memories will lead our life..."

Khushi still crying: "Babuji... why..."

Sashi: "I can't stay in this city where I lost my sister and a daughter... I need to go back to my own home..." looking at Arnav "Babua... thanks for getting me my shop back... now that I have recovered I will start that shop again and be financially sufficient... I have only one request to you... please take care of my daughter... she has faced enough and I just want her to be happy..." Arnav nodded.

Garima walked near him and he said: "Let's leave Garima..." Garima nodded and hugging Khushi cried and then she and Sashi folding hands and saying bye to the Raizadas left. Khushi sobbed hugging Arnav who kept caressing her back to calm her.

Nani breathed in deeply to calm and compose herself and said: "Payal Bitiya, go to your room and rest... you have taken enough stress for the day and it is not good for the baby..."

Buaji: "You still only care for the baby... isn't it..? It doesn't matter to you to what happens to Payal..."

Nani: "I do care about Payal too Madhumatiji..."

Buaji: "You do... but it doesn't look like... but why I am I saying those things to you...? Payal is not going to stay here, she will go with me and stay with me... none of your family member will get to see or meet her child..."

Akash: "MY CHILD IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE..."

Buaji: "AND WHO ARE YOU TO STOP ME..?"

Akash: "I AM THE FATHER OF THE CHILD..."

Buaji: "The father who has got an illegitimate relationship with his Bhabi..?"

Akash was about to shout again but stopped when they heard Muskaan's sleepy voice as she walked towards the hall calling for her Maa. Anjali wiping her tears walked to her and said: "Beta, aap uth gaye... now go and be in your room... HP Uncle will be taking snacks for you..."

Muskaan looked at everyone and enquired: "What has happened..? Why are all so upset...?"

Anjali: "Nothing has happened... you go... we will talk afterwards."

Muskaan nodded and was about to leave but Akash stopped her and walking to her kissed her head and said: "Everyone knows that I love Muskaan a lot... probably more than I have ever loved anyone... (Keeping his hand on her head) ...I swear on her, for me bhabi is just like my Di to me... I do respect her and adore her just like a sister... I..."

Arnav: "Akash, you don't need to swear on Muskaan... we all trust you..." (looking at Muskaan) "Muskaan, dear, go to your room now..." Muskaan nodded though confused and went to her room.

Buaji: "You think I will trust you when you swear on that orphan girl..."

Akash now furious: "NOW IT IS ENOUGH... YOU SAID BAD ABOUT ME I TOLERATED... YOU SAID BAD ABOUT MY SISTER LIKE BHABI I STILL TOLERATED BUT I WON'T TOLERATE A WORD BAD ABOUT MY NIECE... (he marched towards Buaji) ...and what did you say, you will file a case against me? Well then, go ahead and file it... I too will see what you can do... you think the court will give the custody of the child to Payal... you think she has rights over the child only because she is the mother... but she won't get any rights as she is not good enough to be a mother... when she can do things to harm others how can she be trusted to keep the child safe..? Forget everything... you said you will be taking Payal with you... but where will you take her... you only answer this question of mine... where are you going to take her..?"

Buaji fumbled for the first time: "I... I... will take her to my home..."

Akash laughed mockingly: "your home... really...!! are you talking about the house at Laxmi nagar..? but then that house isn't yours as much I know... Bhabi is the owner of that house... and after all that you have said about Bhabi I don't think neither she nor Bhai are going to allow you to stay in that house."

Buaji: "I will find a new house."

Akash: "And how are you planning to do that without any income..?"

Buaji: "I... I..."

Akash: "STOP FUMBLING AND LISTEN TO ME... PAYAL IS STAYING IN THIS HOUSE TILL THE BABY IS BORN SAFE AND SOUND... after that she is free to go anywhere because I don't want my baby to be the sufferer because of her... and after its birth it will have better people to take care of him than this so called mother of his."

Payal: "BUT I WON'T STAY UNDER THE SAME ROOF WITH KHUSHI... I CAN'T EVEN BREATHE PROPERLY WITH HER AROUND..."

Akash: "You will have to stay here and with Bhabi in the same house under the same roof."

Payal: "Fine then... but don't blame me if anything happens to your baby..." saying she smirked in mind knowing that now Khushi will be out of this house or else she will be going out with her husband which she had always wanted.

Arnav: "You don't need to worry Payal... I want Akash's child to be safe and if his safety is related with Khushi staying away then I and Khushi will move out of this house."

Akash: "NOO... Bhai you and Bhabi are not going anywhere... this is your house and..."

Arnav: "No Akash, I don't trust Payal... and I want the baby to be safe, so it will be better for us to leave this house. (looking at Khushi) ...Khushi, I will pack our bags, you go and pack Dadi's bags, we will leave soon..."

Mamaji who was standing silently till now said: "No one is going anywhere... Chote, Khuhsi Bitiya, Maasiji... you all are not going anywhere..."

Arnav: "But Mamaji..."

Mami: "You Mamaji is saying right Arnav Bitwa... you can't go anywhere... (hugging him) ...how can you think of leaving me and going bitwa..?"

Arnav: "Mami... we can't risk the baby..."

Mamaji: "Nothing will happen to the baby... We all want the baby to be safe and the baby will be safe... (giving an angry look to Payal) ...Payal said that she can't stay with Khushi bitiya, so she won't... Khushi Bitiya will stay away from her... but for that she doesn't need to go out of this house..."

Arnav: "But Mamaji..."

Mamaji: "Khushi Bitiya will stay in this house... she is the laxmi of this house... she won't go anywhere but she won't come near Payal... where ever Payal will be around Khushi Bitiya will stay away from that place and if she will be at some place then Payal won't come to that place..."

Nani: "You are right Bitwa..."

Arnav: "But Nani..."

Anjali: "Mamji and Nani are right Chote... in this way neither you or Khushiji will have to leave home nor will Payal have any problem as she will be staying away from Khushiji..."

Payal: "It is good that she will be staying away from me... (glaring at Khushi) ...and stay away from my husband too..."

Khushi looked down shedding tears and this time NK who was a shocked spectator said: "Khushi Bhabi will stay away from you and your husband... and you too stay away from her husband and me... when you can go this low and accuse something like this then god knows what you will accuse us of..."

Dadi pushing her wheel chair reached near Khushi and caressing her hand said: "Bitiya... always remember that we all trust you and love you a lot... now you go to my room I have got to talk to you..." Khushi looked at Arnav who nodded and she left from there. "Chote, ask the lady (pointing to Buaji) where she wants to go and make arrangements for her to leave this house as the earliest... I don't want the person who insulted my bahu so much to stay in this house for a moment longer... and I am tolerating Payal only because she is carrying Akash Bitwa's child."

Payal: "Buaji is not going anywhere. She will stay with me."

Akash: "No she is not... she has to leave from her at the earliest... and remember we are bearing you only for the child, so don't do anything that will harm the child." Saying he walked away from there.

Mami: "And you Madhumati... didn't you hear what Maasiji said... tell us soon where you want to go so that the arrangements will be made... we want to say bye bye to you soon."

Buaji: "I have my own legs and can go on my own..." holding Payal's shoulder "Payalia... stay here and be safe... and any problem do call me... Okay." Saying she hugged her and whispered in her ear: "Remember, this baby is your trump card... do something so that all the Raizadas will dance to your tunes."

She gave a nasty glare to the Raizadas and left.

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