Nothing dared move as the echo of a slap resounded through the Raizada Mansion. He didn't look up from where the force of motion had turned his face, not daring to lift his eyes and meet the enraged glare of his sister.
"Please tell me," Anjali said in a deathly low voice, "where I went wrong. Where on earth did you learn that the great Arnav Singh Raizada's actions have no consequences?"
Arnav lifted his head slowly, pleading with his eyes as he began to defend himself instinctively, "Di please, I didn't know she was-"
"Do NOT try to explain yourself Arnav," she bit out. His body froze at the loathing that shot forth from her eyes, forcing him to choke back a sob as he tried to approach her retreating form. "I'll make things right," he promised, "I'll get her to-"
"Don't you dare say you'll bring her back," she shouted at his beseeching form, "why would she come back? How could you even think about forcing her to come back? What were you thinking Arnav?"
His throat choked up again at the addressing, he had always loathed to hear her call him chote, but now all signs of that endearment were gone, he'd been exiled to the land of Arnav.
"Di-"
"Don't call me that, please, I don't think I could take it," she continued glaring at him, eyes continuously accusing him of his grievous crime.
"I was only trying to protect you," he admitted with sorrowful eyes, "I thought-"
"You thought? Where in this whole process did you stop to think? Where?"
He winced as she screamed at him, it was all so alien, Di never shouted or screamed.
"Why are you quiet now Arnav, don't you have an answer? Arnav singh Raizada always has an answer doesn't he? Go on Arnav, answer me, what were you thinking when you forced that poor girl to marry you?"
"I," he said hesitantly, "I thought if she was with me then I could keep her away from Jeejaji and you-"
"In the same house," Anjali asked incredulously, spite spewing from her eyes. "You find out something so big and instead of telling me, you decide to punish an innocent bystander without even telling her why? You put her in the same house as him?"
"I came to tell you!" he exclaimed, "I was going to, I did, but you told me you were pregnant and-"
"You thought that would stop him from leaving. And Khushi, she told you she loved him too I suppose. O wait, you didn't even ask her about that. The poor thing thought you would stop her sister's wedding, again."
He looked down again shamefaced and angry; once again unable to meet anyone's eyes as regret hit him like shards of glass. How was he going to explain this one away?
"I would appreciate if you didn't speak to me again," Anjali's firm voice came, "until you tell me how you thought any of this was right, not until you tell me where I went wrong, so that my child can be raised right, I suppose, so that he does not grow up to be like you."
He stared after her, tears streaming down his face as she limped off, away from him.
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