Chapter 62

Today is the day of Anjali's godbharai and every member of the house is up on their feet to make this special occasion even more special. The only person who is away from all those hustle bustle of the function is Payal. From the day she was accused Khushi and Akash of something which they can't even dream of in their wildest dreams, she has been avoided by the family. But that doesn't mean that she was left uncared. Manorama would take care of her food and daily requirements and would take her for regular health check-up along with Anjali. She had all the luxuries which she had always wanted but now to her they seemed like thorns which pricks her every moment reason being though she was getting the care of the entire family but she knew the care was not for her, it was only for the baby that she is carrying. She so badly wanted the love and affection of her family and especially of her husband which Khushi was getting in ample and she not even a bit.

Khushi was getting ready in her room when Arnav came in and walking towards her placed a beautiful neck-piece on her neck from behind. Khushi was taken aback by his sudden action and turned around in a hurry and then seeing him relaxing said: "Kya Arnavji, aapne to hume daara diya."

Arnav hugging her sideways: "Khushi, whom did you think it was other than me?"

Khushi moving out of his arms and trying to fix the neck piece properly: "This one is very beautiful. Thank you."

Arnav helping her fix it: "You don't need to thank me Khushi. But yes I want something."

Khushi: "What do you need?"

Arnav: "Today is a special day for Di and I want this special day to come for us soon."

Khushi realizing the meaning blushed and hugging him said: "I too wish the same Arnavji... I too want a little form of you and me to be with us but I want him/her to come to us only after you have found the truth about what happened on that night..."
Arnav: "I am trying my level best to find out what exactly had happened that night but the investigators are not getting any clue... that evening there were more than 1000 persons present in the to be wedding and the investigators have talked to most of them and also the servants who were working there but still they have got no clue... don't know what to do and what not to do."

Khushi: "The only person who can help us know what has exactly happened is Dadiji but we can't ask her anything at this time... she has recently recovered and if she tries hard to think something then it might affect her... we can't risk her health."

Arnav: "I don't want to risk her health in any condition... 14 years have passed and now more 14 months won't matter."

Khushi: "You are right Arnavji. (moving out of the hug and cupping his face) I hope you don't mind waiting for some more months to have our baby... I mean..."

Arnav: "Khushi, we have been married only for 6 months and it is not that we are being too late to have a baby... we have enough time to have a child. Don't worry about that. (holding her palms which was on her face) But can I ask you something?" getting a nod from her "Why is Mallick surname so important for you? I mean in any way the baby will be ours only. Why should the surname matter?"

Khushi sitting down on the bed: "You are asking me this question? Doesn't Mallick surname mean nothing to you? Are you happy being a Raizada?"

Arnav sitting down beside her: "I... I... don't... know... I..."

Khushi: "You don't have to hide from me Arnavji... I know how it feels when you drop you parents surname and pick up someone else's name... I have faced that... the day I changed my name from Khushi Verma to Khushi Kumari Gupta, only I know what I have felt... it felt like I am killing myself... detaching my father's name from me was like dying thousands death." wiping the tear drop that had rolled down her eyes "Didn't you feel the same?"

Arnav: "To be honest that time, 14 years back I didn't feel anything... changing to my mother's name gave me a sense of satisfaction... but now when I think of it, it makes me feel suffocated... it feels as if my breathe has choked... it feels like I detached a part of myself from me... it..."

Khushi: "That is why I want you to be back into your own identity when our child is born. I want him to take pride in being the grandchild of his grandparents... in being the child of his parents... feel proud on being born as a Mallick... I don't want the bitter past to affect our child."

Arnav: "I understand Khushi. Don't worry our child will have pride that it deserves to have... (resting his face on his hands) But I am not able to understand how we will find out the truth... every way seems to meet the dead end."

Khushi too sat with him thinking for some time and then all of a sudden said: "Arnavji... there is a way..."

Arnav anxious: "What..?"

Khushi: "Your Chachaji... he must be knowing."

Arnav standing up: "I don't know where he is now. Last year after getting Sheesh Mahal from him I have no idea to where he has gone and what he is doing... neither have I any interest in knowing."

Khushi: "But he is the only person who can tell us the fact."

Arnav: "And you think the person who threw his orphaned nephew and niece out of the house after his brother's death, that person will tell us what exactly had happened."

Khushi: "I don't know but we can try at least... I mean..."

Arnav: "Khushi, today is a very important day for all of us... it is Di's godbharai, you should be attending that rather than thinking about some person like my so called Chachaji."

Khushi nodded and seeing his mood had turned bad said: "Hum to jaarahe hain, lekin aapko bohot bura lag raha hoga na?"

Arnav: "Bura kyun..?"

Khushi: "Because you are not able to attend your Di's godbharai as it is an only ladies function."

Arnav: "Hmm... but it's okay. Anything that makes Di happy and is good for her I would never have any problem with it and neither would I feel bad."

Khushi smiled: "Okay, I will go and see the preparations and also have to check whether Di got ready or not." she was about to get up when Arnav pulled her and she landed on his lap: "Kya kar kya rahein hain aap?"

Arnav: "Tumhe kuch batana tha... (kissing her cheek) ...today you are looking beautiful... (biting her earlobe he whispered huskily) and remember it on the day of your godbharai I will be present there in the function and no tradition is going to stop me."

Khushi muttered "laad governor kahinke" and pushing him a bit rushed out of the room leaving a smiling Arnav behind.

The Godbharai function went off smoothly except for a lady or two commenting on Shyam's betrayal but Mami was enough to shut them up. But the rest others congratulated the family on two pregnancies and wishing the babies good life left promising to be back again on Payal's godbharai. Payal who too was present there smiled thinking how good it would feel on the special day of her godbharai but instantly got upset thinking that it has been nearly 3 months since Akash had talked to her rather say looked at her. Deciding that it is high time she talks to him and clears everything that is between them she made her mind to talk to him as soon as possible. Over the next few days she tried her best to find an opportunity to meet and talk to Akash but got none. Then finally deciding that enough is enough she walked out of her room where she was staying presently to the room which is actually hers... to the place where she belongs to talk to her husband... the father of her child.


Payal entered inside the room with wobbly steps and after walking 4-5 steps she felt dizzy but controlling herself sat down on the sofa. Akash who was in the balcony attending a call came inside and seeing Payal sitting there right away shouted: "What the hell are you doing here? Didn't I ask you to stay away from me?"

Payal panicked at his loud voice but controlling her sadness and fear she said in a slow voice: "I didn't come to meet you. (Keeping her hand on her slightly bulged stomach) ...but I can't deny my child the right that it has... he deserves to get some time with its father and you can't deny him his right."

Akash stayed silent with the mention of the baby and he looked at Payal's bulged stomach and a small smile appeared on his lips imagining his baby within but the smiled vanished when his eyes fell on Payal's face and the memories of the way she had accused him and Khushi returned back making him feel resentful in her presence.

Akash: "Don't use the pretense of the baby to come and meet me."

Payal wiping the tears that had flooded her eyes: "I want to talk to you."

Akash: "I don't want to. Now go from here."

Payal: "Please... please we need to talk... I know you are angry on me and don't want to see my face but please... please listen to me... not for me but for the baby... our baby deserves to stay away from our differences..."

Akash looked at Payal and could see a slight sense of repentance on it and then he looked at her stomach where his baby was. So, he sat down on the bed to listen to whatever Payal has to say that too only for the baby.

Payal relaxed a bit seeing Akash sitting down and a sense of bliss filled her knowing that he would listen to her even if it is only for the baby and she knew that it is her only chance to clear all their differences.

Akash: "Say whatever you have to say soon. I don't have whole day for you."

Payal jumped a little out of shock hearing his loud voice as she was in her own thoughts but then gathering herself said: "Akashji, I know you will not like whatever I will say but may be you will understand my point of view. I don't know how you felt when Di and Arnavji came to your home to stay with you permanently... I don't know how you felt when your cousins came to share the home with you which was only yours... but I was very happy when Amma brought Khushi home... I had always wanted a sister cum friend who would be with me. So, when Khushi came home I was elated as my wish was granted. I loved her a lot. Amma and Babuji said she needs more love, care and affection as she has lost her parents and we should be there for her so that she comes out of the trauma to lead a normal life with us... my heart cried for her. I still remember those nights when she would have nightmares and scream at the middle of the night... that time I had literally became her mother because I wanted to take care of her, love her... but then everything changed. Khushi came out of her shell with all the love and pampering of the family and I was genuinely happy for that... but things never changed at home. She remained the pampered princess for Amma and Babuji... they loved her more than they loved me. I am Babuji's real daughter but he never discriminated between myself and Khushi and I was okay with it... everyone who came home would praise Khushi, at school she would be given special importance, wherever we went she would be treated more affectionately, it never mattered to me. But how long could I take it. At home, school, outside everywhere she would be praised and I would be sidelined... I had shared everything I had with her, even my Parent's love... I was the only child at home before she came and was never used to be neglected but with Khushi present I began to feel neglected. For some days, weeks, months and years I was okay with it thinking that she needs everything that she is getting but then it became unbearable... Amma would care for me but I could see her worrying more for Khushi though she never vocalized it. Anywhere we went she became the center of attention and I was like nothing... you tell me how could I bear everything. I agree I was never good at studies whereas Khushi was but that doesn't mean that I was useless. When she got selected to study architecture in the best university of India everyone were full of praises for her, I know she deserve to be praised but simultaneously I didn't deserved to be degraded. Right from the time she came into my life she has been getting importance while I was neglected. I adjusted a lot but then I couldn't take it... I began to feel jealous. No one understood me, I too wanted a little bit of appraisal from others but got none. And with time the jealousy took the form of hatred."

Akash who was listening attentively to her said: "So now you hate Bhabi?"

Payal: "I don't know what I feel for her now... maybe I still do hate her. Hate her for snatching my all rights. When my marriage was fixed with you I was very happy that time because for the first time I would be away from Khushi and she would never be able to snatch my rights from here. Here I would get all the love and affection that I have wanted without having to share it with anyone. And then all the bad feelings that I had for her began to reduce but that day... on the day of our marriage she got married to Arnavji and my only wish of being loved more was washed out. I thought no one would forgive her for eloping and marrying but she was forgiven and became the favorite of everyone including Maaji. Everyone goes on Khushi this Khushi that... even you my husband never leaves a chance to praise her, even when I am pregnant and need to be happy and get whatever I wish, I was neglected by everyone including you too... then how do you expect that my hatred or anything that I have for her will reduce."

Akash breathing deeply: "Hating her or feeling jealous doesn't give you the right to accuse or try to tarnish her character."

Payal: "I know. I know I did wrong. I shouldn't have said things which I have said and I know that she could never do something like that (wiping the tears from her eyes) but that time I was too angry... and my pregnancy hormones didn't help it either. I..."

Akash: "I understood your point of view but that in no way gives you the right to hate Bhabi because Bhabi was not the one who asked everyone to love her or praise her... it was only because of her good behavior and ever helping nature that everyone loved her. If you too wanted the same appreciation from everyone then you should have learned from her but instead of doing that you began to act... act to be loving while inwardly you hated her... but I do agree upto some extent it is the fault of your parents too... they should have made you feel secure but they didn't. And how much I could analyze it is more of your Buaji who has spoiled your mind."

Payal: "No. She was the only one who understood me and always stood by my side."
Akash: "And along with that did corrupt your mind by feeding you bad things about Bhabi."

Payal: "Woo..."

Akash: "I will tell you only one thing Payal. Be your own self, don't always listen to others. I know you have a good heart and once you take out the deep down hatred that you have for Bhabi from it you will be a very good person. Bhabi loves you a lot... that day when I made you sign the papers stating that you will have no rights over the baby, everyone was happy with my decision except her... she was the only one who scolded me for separating a child and mother... in spite of all that you said to her she still loves you and said it was only your pregnancy hormones and mood swings that made you say things... She loves you much more than you can think of. If possible try to love her 1% of how much she loves you and you will see how your own life will change. You yourself will feel relaxed and can see how much positivism it will bring to you."

Payal: "I am trying... but..."

Akash: "We will talk next when you will achieve what you are trying."

Payal: "I hope to..."

Akash: "For today this much is enough. Now go to your room and rest. We will talk later. The day I feel you have been successful in reducing your hatred for Bhabi a bit that day I myself will come to your room to talk to you."

Payal nodded and wiping her tears walked away from there. And unknown to both Payal and Akash two more persons had listened to the conversation unaware of the presence of the other. They too wiping their tears walked away to their respective rooms.

Arnav came into the room from office and was expecting to be greeted by an angry Khushi who would be waiting for him and then a long lecture about how he is not caring for himself by working till late and he would secretly admit it to himself that he loves that form of Khushi. But today what he saw was totally opposite. Khushi was lying on the bed with lights off and he became worried thinking that she is sick. With hurried steps he reached near and slowly caressed her hairs and Khushi feeling his touch woke up and he panicked seeing her tear strained face and before he could ask anything she hugged him tight and began to sob murmuring "it is all because of me... sab hamari wajah se hua..."

Arnav caressing her: "Sshh... Khushi... kya hua..? Kisine kuch kaha kya..?"

Khushi: "Arnavji... sab hamrai galti hai... hamari wajah se unhe itni taklif ho rahi hai."

Arnav moving her a bit away from cupped her face with one hand and holding her by other asked: "What has exactly happened Khushi? Tell me in details please..."

Khushi hugging him tightly slowly narrated the conversation between Akash and Payal that she had heard. And then began to sob blaming herself: "Sab hamari galti hai... it is all my fault.."

Arnav caressing her back and trying to console her. "It is not your fault Khushi... it is just the situation that lead to all this... not at all your fault."

Khushi: "No, it is all my fault. Had Amma not taken me to her home that day then nothing like this would have happened. Only because she took me under her wings, Jiji felt neglected and..."

Arnav moving her out of the hug and holding her face said: "Listen to me Khushi. I am telling you for the nth time. It.is.not.your.fault. Whatever happened with Payal was a result of her own insecurity and jealously and if anyone is to be blamed then it is the Guptas not you. They being the parents should have shown equal love and care towards both of you. Payal thought they care more about you and started to hate you... whereas you on your part tried your best to behave well and do things which will make them happy, you forgot your own sorrows and tried to smile for them while you were in pain yourself. This shows that they failed as parents."

Khushi removing his hands from her face: "They didn't fail as parents... they are good parents."

Arnav: "No. They are not. When they got you home they should have made it clear to Payal that both of you hold equal importance for them but instead of doing that they just told Payal that you need more care as you were emotionally weak that time. And that was the time when Payal became insecure about her parent's love for the first time. But she understood that you had lost your parents and need more care so she herself got involved in taking care of yours. But it is natural for a child to feel insecure even when their own younger sibling is born and here in this case it was you.. her cousin, so naturally she began to feel jealous towards you but she couldn't show it as she didn't want to bad in her parents eyes and thus it turned into hatred."

Khushi: "Right... had I not..."

Arnav cutting her: "At that time your Amma and Babuji should have understood her feelings and lovingly should have made her realize that whatever she is thinking is wrong... but they didn't do that and that is why I said that they failed as parents."

Khushi: "Arnavji... now she hates me... I don't know what to do..."

Arnav: "Don't worry. As much I could understand Payal deep down she is not a bad person. Within that hatred she has love for you too... I still remember that night when you were unconscious and I went to drop you at Gupta house. Her anger, her shouting at me, her sadness at seeing you unconscious wasn't fake... she was genuinely worried for you... but now she will forget all her hatred and begin to love you."

Khushi: "How?"

Arnav: "We will do what your Amma Babuji were supposed to do but they didn't. We will make her feel wanted and she should know that she is equally important as you... then she herself will forget her hatred for you."

Khushi like a little kid needing confirmation: "Sacchi."

Arnav nodding his head: "We will talk to the family and then I will personally talk to Akash. Then you will get your Jiji back who has been lost somewhere."

Khushi smiling rested her head on his shoulder. "Shall we talk to everyone now."

Arnav seeing her eagerness nodded but then the loud knock on the door and calling of Nani worried them as they rushed out of the room.

Arnav opening the door and seeing a tensed Nani asked: "Nani, What happened?"
Nani: "Chote, Anjali bitiya has started having labor pain."

Khushi panicking: "We have to take her to hospital. Arnavji, call the ambulance."
Nani: "Akash bitwa has already called. It will be arriving now."

Khushi: "Me and Mamiji will be going with her in the ambulance. Naniji, you get the things that will be needed by her in hospital and come with others in car."

Arnav: "Right, me too will be going in the ambulance."

Khushi: "No. You and Nanheji will take Dadiji along with you and Akashji will take care of Muskaan and come to hospital with others in car." saying she rushed from there to Anjali's room leaving Arnav muttering "What the!!"

Nani: "Khushi Bitiya is right. Chote, you go and help Sumi to get into the car and I will get other things."

The entire family was present in the hospital waiting while Anjali was taken into the labor room. As her health condition was not well she was taken for a C-section and that was worrying them all. Most worried of them being Arnav, who could never see his Di in pain and all his anger was vented on the doctors and the staffs of the hospital but later he calmed down by seeing the scared face of Muskaan who was hugging Khushi tight and crying seeing the condition of her mother. Akash and Khushi had tried their best to console her even tempted her with chocolates and ice-cream but nothing as she kept on crying to be with her mother. Finally after hours of waiting the nurse came out with a little baby in her arms and showing it to the family and informing that it is a girl walked back to the room with the baby.

Everyone was delighted with the news and congratulated each other.

Khushi hugging Muskaan said: "Congratulations beta, now you are a big sister."
Muskaan: "And Maa..?"

Khushi kissing her forehead: "She is fine. We will soon get to meet your Maa and your little sister... (wiping her tears) now don't cry. Okay."

Muskaan nodded and went to her Akash Mama. Arnav held Khushi's arm and dragged her to a secluded corner. "Arnavji... aap... kya kar rahe hain..?' asked Khushi confused with the way Arnav had dragged her away from the family.

Arnav: "Khushi, you had said that Mama will be reborn in the form of Di's daughter. I saw her but she doesn't look like Mama."

Khushi felt like laughing out loud but controlled herself seeing the childish look on Arnav's face. "Arnavji, you saw her for a minute that too from far, so how can you say how she looks like exactly and then had you seen how Mama was looking like when she was born?"

Arnav: "No.. but..."

Khushi cupping his face: "Don't worry Arnavji... the baby is only a few minutes old. Wait for some time and then you will surely see Mama in her."

Arnav: "Okay."

Khushi: "Let's go to the cabin. They will be bringing the baby and Di into the cabin soon."

Everyone was in Anjali's cabin with baby sleeping peacefully on the baby cot and no one was able to take their eyes of the little born as she seemed too cute but at the same time were worried about Muskaan who was crying uncontrollably. Akash was sitting with Muskaan on his lap consoling her as she had started to cry seeing her mother sleeping who was still unconscious because of the delivery. Couple hours later Anjali came into sense and the first word that came from her mouth was "Muskaan" in a hazy voice and Muskaan rushed to her mother's side. Mami and Khushi made Anjali half sit on the bed and a crying Muskaan hugged Anjali.

Anjali caressing her head: "Sshh... don't cry... what has happened... why are you crying..?"

Muskaan still crying and hicupping: "I... thought... you... left... me... I..."

Anjali hugging her back: "How can I leave you dear..? I can never leave you." saying she kissed her head.

Khushi: "Muskaan, now you yourself saw your Maa is fine and is talking to you... so let her rest for sometime... she is a bit weak."

Anjali: "It's okay Khushiji. I am not that weak that I can't talk to my Muskaan."

Khushi smiled understandingly and Dadi asked: "Bitiya, don't you want to see your other daughter?"

Anjali with a smile nodded and Nani picking up the baby from the cot placed her on Anjali's arms. Anjali looked at the baby and happy tears flooded her eyes. She kissed the baby's forehead and with it the little baby opened her eyes and seeing her eyes she said: "Chote, look the baby has got your eyes... her eyes are just like you."

Nani smiling and wiping the tears from her eyes said: "Her eyes are like Chote because she exactly looks like my Ratna... my Ratna bitiya looked exactly like this when she was born."

Dadi: "Yes, Chote has his mother's eyes... he looks like his father except that his eyes are like his mother's."

Arnav: "She looks like Mama?" he needed confirmation.

Mamaji: "Yes Chote... I still remember the day when my sister was born and was looking like this only... (smiling at Khushi) Khushi Bitiya was right. Our Ratna came back to us in the form of Anjali Bitiya's daughter."

Khushi smiled and holding Arnav's arm whispered for only him to hear: "Dekhiye... Mama hamare paas wapas aa gayi... woh aapse zyada din door nehi reh sakti." and Arnav looking at her smiled... a smile which was never seen on his lips... a smile which showed that every inch of his being was feeling bliss.

The family continued talking and NK continued taking snaps of the entire family with the baby till the nurse came in and asked all of them to vacate the room as the baby needs to be fed. Everyone left the room except Arnav who just wanted to keep looking at the little form before him and Khushi had to literally pull him out of the room. After a couple of days Anjali was discharged from the hospital and the little baby arrived at home making RM filled with happiness. Everyone was a bit worried about Muskaan's reaction to the baby getting more attention from everyone but it turned out that she herself turned to be a very possessive sister and was eagerly waiting for Payal's baby to be born, so that she could have a little brother too.