ArHi OSes: When I Knew | Ugly Chaise | PG 53 | NEW UPDATE (21/8) - Page 23

When Anjali Knew

Anjali Raizada Jha had been speechless very few times.

Especially when it came to the matter of her younger brother.

As a young child, she had often wished her brother was less serious. She would try everything to break his shell, to twist that straight line of his mouth up into a smile. She had tried tickling him, teasing him, goading him... everything.

But nothing ever seemed to work.

After the death of their parents, Arnav had withdrawn into his shell further.

She had never felt that Arnav didn't care about her. Quite to the contrary, she knew that he cared about her more than he cared for anyone else. Despite his aloof attitude, she had seen the way his eyes would soften around her, the hardened lines around his mouth creasing into a barely there smile.

But he was still the same reserved brother she had always had, snapping at everyone. He never snapped at her, and talked to her almost... reverently. He gave her everything she wanted, and more.

He didn't question her twice when she had brought Shyam home, only giving her a tight hug and warning Shyam not to hurt his Di. He bought her the finest saris, the best jewels, and made sure she lived like a queen.

Despite his overwhelming affection for her, Arnav had never let his guard down. She knew he was hurting inside, and she longed to help him. He had always been there for her, taking care to bandage the wounds carefully and help her heal.

But he had never afforded her the same. He was distant when it came to matters of his own heart, keeping her steadfastly away. He refused her help, and never broke down in front of her.

Even on the fifth anniversary of their parents' death, Arnav hadn't cried. She had sobbed in his arms, collapsing to the ground in a heap of devastation. Arnav had held her close, wiping away her tears as his jaw tightened in pain.

He hadn't broken down, not even then.

Instead, he had disappeared into office, staying there until the next morning and coming home with reddened eyes.

Anjali had reached out when he stormed in, but he had brushed her away, insisting he was fine.

She had watched as Arnav flitted from woman to woman, never allowing anyone in to alleviate his pain. His inner circle consisted of Anjali, and Anjali only.

And that was something she treasured, jealously guarded. Because even though he wouldn't show her his weaknesses, Anjali Raizada Jha was the only woman who had the coveted spot in Arnav Singh Raizada's heart.

And selfishly, she simply couldn't allow anyone else to take that place.

***

The minute Anjali had seen Khushi, she had felt that something was different. Khushi brought out a side of Arnav she had never seen, even though she had spent her entire life around her younger brother.

With Khushi, Arnav was different. She had seen him angry many, many times- but with her, the anger was different.

It was almost as if he was mad at himself, rather than mad at her. He goaded her in a way he never goaded anyone else, and his eyes would flash in something she couldn't place whenever she was around.

She chalked it up to the two of them being too different to get along. Khushi was everything Arnav wasn't, bubbly and full of life. She knew Arnav didn't take well to people like Khushi, and had assumed it was just him being his usual, crabby self.

But then the sangeet had happened.

Anjali had watched in amused horror as Khushi lifted the bright, yellow ponpom, pulling back the rope and squinting her eyes. She had followed the neat curve with her eyes, watching as it hit Arnav squarely in the forehead.

Arnav's eyes had narrowed, focusing in on the girl in the royal blue lehenga, smirking mischieviously.

And then, she had done what no one else had done before.

She had made fun of Arnav Singh Raizada.

She watched as Khushi pinched the cheeks of the female Arnav Singh Raizada up on stage, patting his front pocket as she pulled out the lock. Anjali could scarcely contain her laughter when Khushi had imitated his walk, lifting her hands dramatically out to the sides in fists and stalking forward.

"Kya karein, yeh hasna bhi na jaane"

She turned to Akash, leaning in to whisper in his ears, her brow furrowed in worry. She liked Khushi, and didn't want her to be the unfortunate target of Arnav's anger.

"Humein lakta hai... Chote ka gussa toh saatve aasman tak paunch gaya hoga."

Anjali carefully, nervously watched Arnav, twisting her hands in fear for Khushi. The poor girl was simply having fun, and she didn't want Arnav's likely fury to ruin the entire show.

"Arey gusse ke yeh dhoonde bahane... Kya karein, yeh hasna bhi na jaane!"

She watched as Arnav doubled over, his hands covering his face as his shoulders shook. For a second, she stiffened in fear, worried that he was shaking in anger. She poked Akash worriedly, turning his face towards his cousin.

But then his fingers slid apart, and to her shock, he was... laughing.

Khushi fluttered her eyelashes at the audience just as Arnav removed his hands, his eyes filled with tears of laughter as his shoulders continued to shake.

Anjali's eyes had widened in amazement, her mouth stretching into a wide grin.

She was speechless.

In all of her years, she had never seen Arnav laugh with such abandon. It was as if he was a different person, his furious face transformed into one of someone much younger, much more lighthearted.

The lines of worry that had creased his face at having gone through something so traumatic at such a young age had ceased to exist, the facade of Arnav Singh Raizada completely broken and leaving...

Arnav.

Anjali simply shook her head as the final strains of the song drained away, Khushi sitting on the floor with her head in her hand. Her hazel eyes had immediately flitted to Arnav, who had quickly capped his laughter and given her a single stare.

Anjali watched as Khushi stiffened, panic flitting through her eyes for a split second.

It didn't matter that the entire audience was on their feet, cheering on Khushi. It didn't matter that the judges were certain to give her a perfect score, and that the Raizadas were certain to lose.

Anjali could see that in that moment, all that mattered to Khushi was Arnav's reaction.

She looked over to Arnav as he slowly raised his two hands, beginning a slow clap amidst the raucous cheers for "one more!".

And then, Khushi smiled, a true grin blossoming on her face as he gave her a slight nod, accepting that this time, he had lost.

When he acquiesced, Anjali knew.

Arnav never gave in, never admitted defeat. His success was a part of his carefully constructed mask, as essential to him as his Bluetooth and anger. Arnav had worked his entire life to defeat the pressing need to give into his devastation and hurt, and as a result, was competitive to the point of dangerous.

But today, Arnav Singh Raizada had bowed to one Khushi Kumari Gupta, the girl with the ridiculously bright clothes and the incessant chatter.

Anjali had to hand it to her.

What she hadn't been able to do in all of her years, Khushi had single handedly achieved it in a matter of months.

Seeing the smile light up her brother's face, Anjali couldn't muster up the envy to begrudge her of that fact.

And so, Anjali Raizada Jha did exactly what her brother had done just minutes before.

She stepped away to allow Khushi Kumari Gupta into the exclusive inner circle of Arnav Singh Raizada, and admitted defeat.

***

Note: Anjali has always been a mystery to me, and I can't deny that I've been thoroughly annoyed by her character and her tendency to act like Arnav should only be close to her. I was able to indulge my desire for her to step back and allow Khushi to take precedence with this oneshot, and I hope you enjoyed it!

Love always,

Choti