The place suddenly turned silent hearing a harsh voice. Everyone head automatically tilted towards the source of the voice.
“Lavanya…” Whispered Arnav in shock. Not only him, everyone looked at her with the same shock written over them. Tucked on a loose plain kurta, she looked weak with a pale face and dark circles around her eyes. Though her appearance is not matching with her voice, she looked the very sight of Khushi with disgust through her red puffy eyes.
Meanwhile, Aakash who has seen the look of Lavanya foreseen the upcoming storm and dispersed their friends wisely.
“Lavanya needs rest. We should give them space. Rihaana, Maria, Rakesh… We should be going.” Aakash gestured a nod and walked out showing his eyes. He didn’t fail to pat Arnav shoulder and give an encouraging look to Khushi before leaving.
Meanwhile, Meera gripped her sister arm in fear after hearing Lavanya name and her looks are not passing good vibes either. She’s not up for the consequences which disturb her sister life by this meet. Whereas Khushi gazed Lavanya keenly trying to read her emotional state, calculating what should be done to set things right without hurting anyone in the process. And the third person Arnav gave an angry stare to his parents as if accusing them of bringing Lavanya here. Raj, his dad instantly met Arnav eyes and gave a helpless look in reply.
“What is the need to come here? Lavanya should be in hospital now taking rest.” Arnav himself initiated the conversation breaking the brief silence.
“Lavanya is dying there and here you’re partying with your new wife.” Came an accuse from none other than his mother.
Arnav looked at her with disbelief, feeling betrayed by his mother’s choice of words.
“Rekha stop it. You’ve no right to accuse him of enjoying his life. He has already done his part for Lavanya. Don’t try to drag Arnav in this to lessen your guilt.” Raj scolded Rekha, staring at her angrily for chiding their lovely son.
“He doesn’t care if I live or die. How’ll he when this witch did her black magic on him?” Lavanya interrupted taking the situation on her hands.
Angered by her mention, Arnav took a step forward with gritted teeth “LAVANYA. Watch your tongue.” His eyes burned in rage. He couldn’t bear his angel being tagged as a witch by someone.
“Why should she watch her tongue? It’s you who is responsible for her state.”
Khushi looked at the new voice with a frown.
“Excuse me? Have I ever promised her for marriage vows? Tell me, Ratna aunty, Had I once given you all false hope? NOPE right. So practically, I’m not responsible for her state. You and your illusions are solely responsible. Don’t try to load me with your sins.” Arnav answered firmly looking at his and Lavanya parents.
“See Rekha, how your son is washing off my daughter? It’s you equally supported my decision and now you’re not saying anything.” Lavanya mother joined Ratna in the blame game.
Rekha felt guilty seeing her friend’s teary eyes and looked at Arnav yearningly, “Arnav...”
“Don’t mom. Don’t… Don’t demean yourself in my eyes by supporting wrong.” Arnav voice comes out desperately, hoping to get his mother in right track despite the disappointments brewing in his heart. Do a mother really need any push after this? No parents would like to degrade themselves in front of their children. Rekha is no less. She zipped her mouth not wanting to lose her son and as her husband said, she tried to wash off her guilt by involving Arnav. She believed only Arnav can help them in this situation. But seeing the desperateness on Arnav eyes seeking her support, she couldn’t think beyond inclining towards her son.
“Will you all stop your family drama and tell a way to retrieve my daughter life? Either marry her with Arnav or give her our old Lavanya back.” Lavanya dad who’s silent till now said loudly drawing the attention of everyone.
Before anyone could answer, Rekha herself come forward, “Marrying her with Arnav is not even an option henceforth Bhai. We accept it or not, Arnav is married. You should keep in mind before putting forth your options.”
Her words eased off the tension for one family whereas Lavanya gritted her teeth, “Our marriage is the only choice you have aunty.”
“Marriage is not about only you that you can marry of your choice with anyone Lavanyaji.” Khushi finally opened her mouth, feeling annoyed by Lavanya words.
“I didn’t ask your opinion Miss. witch. Everything is happening because of you.” Lavanya spewed angrily, stretching her hand to twist Khushi arm.
Before her fingertip touches Khushi Arnav shoved her hand, “LAVANYA… You’re crossing your limits. Aunty take her from here.”
“She’s saying right. Everything is happening because of her only.” Lavanya mother second her daughter words and turned towards Khushi “Agreed he helped you in a crucial situation. But What should have you done after that? Acknowledging his noble action, you should’ve left him knowing your status. But here you’re enjoying his money and usi…”
“Shut up Ratna. You’ve no right to speak about my daughter-in-law like this.” Raj intervened her angrily.
“See Rekha, even your husband is supporting this girl. Be careful.”
“RATNA. Enough of your shit. Only because you cried and Lavanya acted stubbornly we brought her here without having any choice hoping Lavanya would come out of her illusion. But that doesn’t give you the right to badmouth about my family. Get lost with your daughter.” Rekha shouted surprising everyone.
Meera clutched Khushi arm tightly and Khushi clutched Arnav arm sensing him shivering in fury. She couldn’t believe Lavanya mother said those words. Tears formed on the back of her eyes hearing those harsh words. She gulped feeling tangled in a situation, finding no way out. She can easily throw Lavanya out but that does not be a permanent solution considering Lavanya mental health. She can come back for revenge or do something drastic which she can’t afford. She needs a permanent way out like plucking the whole dirt from the very root. For that, she needs to read the pattern of Lavanya obsession. Before she can come up with a solution, the living room is resonated with a loud declaration.
“I WILL NOT COME ANYWHERE WITHOUT ARNAV.”
If Lavanya shocked everyone by her demand, Khushi shocked everyone with her answer.
“SHE CAN STAY HERE IF SHE WISHES TILL SHE GETS FINE.”
“Are you mad? Stop your stupidity Khushi.” Arnav reacted almost instantly bewildered by her answer. Here he is trying to send her out and Khushi is inviting her to stay. Like Arnav even his parents and Meera looked at her with open mouth.
“See, she has realised her place finally. Wise girl.” Lavanya patted Khushi cheeks with a winning smirk while Khushi met her eyes determinedly.
“Khushi dear, you took the wrong decision. Let us handle this.” Raj tried to convince Khushi.
Khushi nodded negatively earning a sharp glance from Arnav who clearly disapprove the very idea of Khushi. Khushi wiped the corner of her eyes seeing Arnav indifference. She knows she took such a big decision without family input especially Arnav. But she also knows without taking risks, goals cannot be achieved. She looked at Arnav yearningly with her puppy eyes. Arnav ignored her royally and looked blankly at Lavanya who’s wandering their house. He can easily throw Lavanya out but when Khushi allowed her to stay and stood firm even after his father suggestion, he knows he has to agree to her demand to keep his vows intact. He has always said to her, they’re equal partners. And when it comes to action, he has to respect her decision. As the head of the family, she has the right to decide for their family like he has the right. He sighed still angered by her decision.
Lavanya family rejoiced Khushi decision contrary to Arnav family. Lavanya parents also decided to stay there till morning considering Lavanya health and Raj decided to stay there not trusting Lavanya family. He wants to make sure that Lavanya and her family doesn't disturb his son or Khushi though that seems inevitable. Since everyone decided to stay there Rekha also obliged. And like that everyone went to bed without taking dinner. Since Lavanya is still under sedatives, she slept without throwing tantrums.
Arnav parents took Arnav room and Lavanya family took Meera room much to her dismay. Being youngest, she has no say in the issues. Left with no option, Meera, Khushi and Arnav settled themselves in the living room itself. Khushi spread the bed sheet conveniently on the floor and placed three pillows. Meera took the corner and Khushi lays beside her patting the right side of her for Arnav. Arnav grimaced at the arrangement and took his pillow to sleep on the sofa. He’s both uncomfortable and angry with her to sleep on the floor beside her. She pouts at him and pulls him over her when he is about to move away taking his pillow. He balanced himself by placing his elbows on either side and glared at her.
“Arnavji…” She whispered his name garlanding her arms around his neck. If it was other time, she would’ve noticed Meera and avoided any kind of physical exchange. Since Arnav is not speaking to her after she announced her decision her thoughts are fully occupied by Arnav. She’s on a desperate mission to make him speak to her.
He looked at Meera once, before shoving her hands and laid next to her, showing her his back and closed his eyes. Khushi who has noticed his vision earlier looked at Meera and bit her lips. She quietly placed her pillow vertically creating a block and placed her comforter over Meera face for safety.
Further, she stood on her elbow and showed her hands in front of Meera eyes to confirm her sleep. Once she’s satisfied, she turned towards Arnav.
She pouts and nudges his back with her fist. Arnav shrugged his body resisting her touch. She bit her lips, feeling shy to implement her next move. Nonetheless, she’s eager to break his silence that she doesn’t find anything to stop. She further trailed her index finger on his spine, waking his sleeping desires. He clutched his jaw to stop himself from reacting. He didn’t know his angel has little vixen inside her.
She grimaced seeing the null response. Clutching his shoulder, she supported herself on her elbow and bend towards his ear.
“Are you angry with me Arnavji?”
She whispered innocently not knowing her effect on him. She pouts again getting zero response and this time she took a strong weapon to melt her Raizada husband who dumbfounded in surprise.
“A... R... N... A... V...” She peppered soft kisses on his ear for each letter stressing his name without ‘Ji’ as he wished. And… the Raizada is too shocked, astounded, overwhelmed by his wife’s sweet surprises. The day couldn’t be better for them even though the evil struck.
NEXT PART
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