Chapter Nine

Khushi made her way to the back of the house and ran out. She continued to run until she reached the servant's quarters. There were a few houses that housed several of the workers. Some had enough money and owned their own place. Others who weren't as fortunate, or needed to be at the house quick and early, lived here. Khushi and another maid, Bhromor, lived in their own cottage.

Khushi went running up the steps and entered the house. She went dashing into her room, passing Bhromor on the way.

"Khushi," Bhromor called after her, but Khushi didn't stop.

Khushi ran up to her room and shut the door behind her. She leaned back on it and caught her breath. 

Bhromor came up and knocked on Khushi's door. "Khushi? Are you okay? Open the door."

Khushi calmed her racing heart and opened the door slightly. She peeked out and looked at Bhromor.

"Are you okay," Bhromor asked. "Avantika told me about what happened."

Khushi nodded and gave a meek smile.

"Why did you run in like that?"

Khushi shook her head, brushing off the topic.

"Well, you better get ready quick."

Khushi nodded and shut the door behind her. Bhromor looked at the door dubiously for a moment and then she left. Khushi heard Bhromor's footsteps getting fainter and fainter and then she sighed. Knowing Bhromor, she definitely would've pushed her on, but lucky for Khushi, she hadn't.

Khushi went to her bed and bent down. She pulled out her trunk and opened it up. Inside it were numerous diaries, all hers. Once she finished the pages of a diary, she would lock it up in this chest. She would also keep her current diary in there, just to be safe. Khushi took out her diary, grabbed a pen off of her desk, and began to write:

Dear Diary,

Today started off in the weirdest way ever. Last night that happened again.... I ended up sleeping in Di's room. It took a while to fall asleep but eventually I did. 

I don't blame Arnav - he didn't know. But now... I can no longer hide it from him. Now that Avantika has told him, he knows everything! I just know he won't stop bothering me with this now!

But the main reason why I'm writing so early is because of what happened earlier. I woke up and found Arnav asleep in front of me! He had his hand in my hair, almost as if he were blessing me or something. What I don't get is why he was there. Was it out of guilt? Regardless, I know what he thinks of me and how he feels for me. There's no need for him to act all mighty and caring -_-

Anywho, off to work I go! 

Khushi put her diary away and quickly got ready. Ready for the day ahead, she dashed out of the house and went running back to the mansion. She went straight into the kitchen and helped out with breakfast.  Once it was ready, she took it to the dining room. No one had come down yet...

Or so she thought.

"Khushi?"

Khushi stilled at Arnav's voice.

Arnav entered the room and walked on over to Khushi. "How are you feeling?"

Khushi pursed her lips and glanced back at him. She saw the concern on his face but she remembered his words from years before. Turning away, she walked back to the kitchen. Arnav scrunched his eyebrows in confusion.

Why'd she make that face, he wondered.

"Good morning Chote."

Arnav turned and saw Deviyani walking in with a smile.

"Morning Nani," he replied.

Her smile turned into a frown. "Why do you look so confused?"

"It's-"

Khushi came walking in with more food in her hands. Arnav looked at her and she paused and glanced at him. Deviyani noticed the small exchange, but she said nothing. Khushi looked at her and gave her smile, her way of saying good morning.

"Good morning Khushi," Deviyani smiled.

Khushi placed down the bowl in her hands. Just as she did, Vijay and Amoli came in.

"Good morning Khushi," they both said.

Khushi gave them all a smile. She was about to head back when Deviyani held her hand.

"Avantika told us what happened," she said softly. "How are you feeling now?"

Khushi gave her a smile, reassuring Deviyani that she was completely fine. Amoli went over to Khushi and placed her hand on her head with a small smile. Khushi gave her a small smile back and went back to work.

“She shows so much strength to us, but on the inside, she broken,” Amoli said sadly. “She yearns to be loved…. Won’t my child ever get that?”

Vijay placed his hand on his wife’s shoulder. “Someday.”

Anjali and Avantika, who were standing in the doorway had heard what their mother had said. The two glanced at each other and then looked at Arnav, who was looking in the direction Khushi had gone. The both turned away and leaned against the wall.

“There just might be a way mother,” Avantika said mischievously.

Anjali nudged her arm. “No need to sound like a villain. Take this seriously.”

Avantika rubbed her arm. “Geez, okay.”

Anjali shook her head. “We need to get a way to Chote get interested in her.”

“Uh, hello? Did you not just see him gazing the way Khushi went?”

“I mean more. Just gazing at her won’t do anything. They need to be around each other more. Who knows… maybe he’ll get her to laugh.”

Both girls were quiet for a moment and then gasped. “That’s it,” they shrieked.

Making up a plan, they both headed into the dining room and took their seats. They both glanced at Arnav and then looked at each other. Their lips quirked up and before anyone could notice, they began to eat their breakfast.

Unfortunately for them, someone had noticed the exchange.

Chapter Eight

Arnav barely slept that night. All he could think about was of what happened to Khushi and her family. Memories of them played in his head and with each memory, his heart pitted more and more each time.

It was seven in the morning and Arnav was still awake. Curious about Khushi, Arnav got up and made his way to Anjali’s room. When he reached her room, he found Anjali’s door opened. Arnav knocked anyway and Anjali came walking over.

“Oh. Good morning Chote,” she smiled softly.

“Morning Di. How’s Khushi?”

Anjali looked back at Khushi, who was sleeping. “She slept peacefully for once.”

Arnav scrunched his eyebrows.

“Sometimes when this happens, she cries out in her sleep,” she clarified.

Arnav nodded in acknowledgement.

“Come in.”

Both entered her room and looked at Khushi. Arnav opened his mouth to say something, when Anjali’s phone rang. Anjali quickly dashed towards it and quickly picked it up.

“Hello,” Anjali whispered.

“Rani Saheba, how are you?”

“Oh, it’s you Shyam. I’m fine.”

“Um, why are you whispering?”

“Khushi….”

“Not again,” Shyam sighed.

“Yeah,” Anjali said sadly.

“What happened?”

Anjali looked at Arnav and Arnav nodded, gesturing that he’d watch Khushi while she finished up with her call. Anjali smiled lightly and left the room to finish her call. When Anjali left, Arnav looked down at Khushi. She was sound asleep, looking very peaceful. Arnav crouched down and ran his hand through Khushi’s hair. He continued to do so and within a couple of minutes, Arnav fell asleep with his hand in her hair.

As soon as she woke up, Avantika made her way to Anjali’s room. She found her Di in the hall, twirling her hair as she smiled away. Anjali was totally lost in her own world and Avantika planned on taking advantage of it. She walked on over to Anjali and as she got closer, Anjali turned her back to her, still twirling her hair. As soon as she got close to Anjali, she quickly snatched the phone out of Anjali’s hand.

“Hi Jeeja,” Avantika grinned.

“Avantika,” Anjali hissed, trying not to be loud so that Khushi didn’t wake up.

Avantika chuckled. “What’s up Jeeja?”

Shyam chuckled. “You’re never gonna grow up are you?”

Avantika tilted her head. “Why does everyone keep saying that?”

“Because it’s the truth.”

“Jeeja! Not you too!”

Anjali snatched the phone. “Until you stop it, everyone will continue to say it.”

Avantika twitched her mouth.

Anjali went back to talking with her husband and Avantika turned to go check on Khushi. When she opened the door, her eyes widened on the sight of Arnav and Khushi.

“Di,” Avantika hissed.

But Anjali was too wrapped up in her conversation.

“Di look,” she hissed, but Anjali still didn’t budge.

Shaking her head, Avantika caught Anjali’s arm and pulled her over.

“Avantika-!” Anjali’s eyes widened when she saw the two. “Eh. Ma. Gawd.”

“I know,” Avantika squeaked.

“What’s going on,” Shyam asked.

“Shyam, I’ll call you later babe, kay? Bye love,” Anjali said.

Before Shyam got the chance to say anything, Anjali hung up. Both she and Avantika looked at Arnav and Khushi, their eyes staying on them like a hawk’s.

“I can’t believe Bhai fell asleep like that,” Avantika whispered.

“Neither can I,” Anjali said. “I had noticed that he looked really tired but oh my gosh!”

They saw Khushi shift and quickly quieted down. Khushi moved her head slightly and then she opened her eyes. She blinked several times, clearing her vision, and when she saw Arnav, her eyes widened. Arnav had his head resting on his arm and Khushi realized that his hand was in her hair. Khushi blinked several times, shocked by their position. She tried to move his hand but as soon as she touched his arm, Arnav shifted. She withdrew her hand and watched as Arnav slowly woke up.

Arnav lifted his head slightly and looked around. His vision was blurry and once he blinked it out, he saw Khushi looking at him. Arnav’s eyes locked with Khushi’s. Neither of them could tear their gaze away from the other. They just looked at each other, stuck in their position.

Arnav then remembered the night before. “How are you feeling Khushi?”

Khushi pursed her lips and looked down, nodding her head.

“Did you sleep well?”

Khushi nodded again.

“Why didn't you tell me?”

Khushi looked up at him.

“Why didn't you tell me what happened to your parents and Buaji? Why did you stop my family from telling me?”

Khushi looked back down.

“You told him,” Anjali hissed to Avantika.

“He has the right to know,” Avantika hissed back.

Both Arnav and Khushi heard the two bicker. Arnav looked at them and the two shot up immediately and hid. Arnav shook his head and looked back at Khushi. Khushi felt awkward and she slowly sat up. Arnav just watched her, forgetting that his hand was on her hand. When Khushi looked back at him, Arnav once more got stuck in gaze. He just gazed at her and Khushi felt a bit uncomfortable. She looked up at his hand and Arnav followed her line of sight. That’s when he remembered and removed his hand. Khushi took this as her chance and quickly got up.

“Khushi!”

Khushi stilled and looked back at Arnav.

“Why did you hide everything from me?”

Khushi looked away and deciding not explain her reason, she quickly left the room.

“Khushi!”

But Khushi had already left. Anjali and Avantika watched as Khushi dashed down the hall and turned at the corner. The two ladies looked at each other and then at Arnav, who was looking down at the floor angrily.

Chapter Seven

Arnav was sitting on his bed, resting his chin on his folded hands. He couldn’t stop thinking about how Khushi had reacted from him just shaking her shoulders. The image of her shaking and shuddering was haunting his mind.

What happened to her, he wondered. She was fine earlier this evening. In fact… she looked beautiful. She… I don’t think I’ve ever seen nor met anyone as beautiful as her.

“Bhai?”

Arnav snapped out of thought and looked up to see Avantika at the door. She walked in and shut the door behind her, then went over to Arnav and sat down beside him.

“How’s Khushi,” Arnav asked, his voice low.

“Di managed to help her fall asleep. She kept refusing to fall asleep, but Di convinced her that there was nothing to be afraid of.”

Arnav remembered how his Di kept soothing Khushi. Remembering how scared Khushi was made him angry and wonder what happened to her.

Arnav stood up. “What the hell happened while I went away? Why isn’t Khushi talking to me? And where’s Kaka, Kaki, and Buaji? Why is Khushi all alone here and how come they’re not here.”

Avantika gulped. “I’ll tell you everything from the start-”

“Well tell me!”

Avantika looked down. “After you left, everyone noticed how Khushi had become... gloomy. We all thought that it was because you left, you being her best friend and all. But as the months passed, her mood didn’t change. She was upset, and although she tried to play it off, her eyes always betrayed her. The way her eyes looked… it was as if her heart was broken.

“More time went on and you called home for the first time. Khushi wanted to talk to you, but you didn’t have time to talk. I guess she took it personally, even though Di tried to explain it wasn’t so. She tried to call you, saying that she had something urgent to talk to you about, but you never picked up her call. Papa said he’d try and when he called, you picked up. It made Khushi angry and she decided that she wouldn’t talk to you. After that we didn’t see her the rest of the day. Later on we realized that she was… missing.”

Arnav’s eyes widened. “Missing?”

Avantika nodded. “Everyone got really worried then. Papa called the police and they said they’d go out to look for her. Kaka was impatient and wanted to go out and look for her himself. Papa and Ma tried to reason with him, but he simply refused and ran out. Kaki was very worried and she couldn’t help herself and ran after him. We tried to stop her, but she already ran out and was with Kaka. He told her to go back, but she refused to. In the end, both went…”

"What happened next?"

"Somehow, Kaka and Kaki went to that rundown factory. The one down by the bay? When they got there, they heard Khushi screaming. They ran towards her voice and when they saw her...."

"What?"

"A... a guy..."

Arnav's eyes widened.

Avantika took a deep breath and released it. "A guy had torn up Khushi's clothes and was trying to force himself on her."

Arnav shut his eyes and turned away. He clenched his teeth and fists, trying to control his anger.

"What happened," Arnav growled, opening his eyes.

"Kaka fought the guy off and his men attacked. Kaki went running to Khushi to protect her. They saw Kaka fight that guy and his men but Kaka wasn't strong enough...."

Arnav had a feeling he knew where this was going.

"One of the men had a really big knife, almost like a sword... and he... he-" Avantika's voice cracked. "He stabbed it right through Kaka."

Arnav shut his eyes and clenched his fists tighter, tears forming in his eyes.

"Both Khushi and Kaki screamed and Kaki went running towards Kaka.... And they- they shot her," Avantika cried.

Arnav opened his eyes and the tears streamed down. He turned back towards Avantika and looked at her in disbelief.

"Right after they did that, the guy tried to attack Khushi again. Khushi was screaming and crying, looking at her parents' dead bodies in a pool of blood.... Just as the guy was about to force himself onto Khushi, the police had arrived since they heard the gunshot and Khushi screaming. They pulled off the guy and arrested him and his men and when they turned to Khushi, they saw that she had fainted."

Arnav wiped his tears away. "What happened afterwards?"

"The cops told us and we all rushed to the hospital. They put Khushi in the ICU and figured out what happened. Due to trauma, she had fainted. Medical reports showed that Khushi was clean and that the guy didn't get a chance to do anything, though he did manage to hurt and bruise her."

"And Kaka and Kaki?"

"They were declared dead. Nothing could be done for them. Buaji went into shock and had a heart attack on the spot.... Unfortunately, she couldn't be saved either...."

Arnav pursed his lips.

"When Khushi finally came around, she was going crazy to see Kaka and Kaki.... Ma saw how she was acting crazy and unable to take it, she told her that they were dead and that she would never see them again. Khushi didn't believe it and she ran out of the room and found Kaka and Kaki's bodies down the hall where the cops were talking to the doctor. Khushi saw a third a body and when she revealed Bauji's face, she screamed out really loud.... She fainted on the spot."

Avantika sighed. "After that, Khushi stopped talking. She just wouldn't speak. We all tried so hard to get her to talk, but she wouldn't budge. The doctor said that it was due to trauma and depression,  and that her vocal were fine. Khushi chose to stop talking after that day. For a long time, Khushi was distant and she barely smiled. All she did was work around that house, and that was it. She was gloomier than ever! Ma, Papa, and Nani showered her with love, and we told her that we were her family before, then, and forever. That we were her parents, grandparent, and siblings. But that didn't make Khushi budge."

"Then how did she?"

"Ma was the most desperate for wanting her to speak again. She was going crazy and she began to fall sick. Worried for her, Khushi tended to her all day and all night. In the end, Ma got better and she finally managed to make Khushi smile.

"After that, Ma decided to take things slow. Through the years, Khushi began to smile again and she formed a way of communication with us. And if anything, she could always write it down for us, like she did with the police report.... But even though it's been three years, she still can't get over that day."

Arnav sighed and sat down beside Avantika. "All of this stuff happened... why didn't anyone tell me," he asked angrily.

"Because Khushi didn't let us."

Arnav looked at her. "What?"

"She wrote down that she didn't want anyone to tell you anything. We all begged her to reconsider, but she wouldn't budge. Taking her wishes into respect, no one ever told you anything."

Arnav shot up. "What the f-? Why?! I would've came home! I would've made sure those criminals paid for their actions! I would've made sure they were punished! I would have-"

"You would've left and would've come straight back home."

Arnav looked at her.

"Which is why Khushi probably didn't want us to tell you."

Arnav looked away.

Avantika stood up and placed her hand on her brother's shoulder. "What's done is done Bhai. Now we can only hope that Khushi recovers and will someday talk again."

Patting his shoulder once more, Avantika turned and left. Arnav stood there alone, processing the information in his head.

I can't believe all of that happened while I was gone! And Khushi didn't let me know anything? Why?! Why didn't she want me to know? Why didn't she want me to know about what happened to Buaji? Why didn't she want me to know about what happened to Kaka and Kaki? And above all, why didn't she want me to know about what happened to her?

Arnav shut his eyes.

Doesn't she care about me the way I care for her?

Arnav felt his heart beat.

Dhak-dhak! Dhak-dhak!

Dhak-dhak! Dhak-dhak! 

Why Khushi? Why, and another tear escaped and fell down his cheek.

Arnav shut his eyes and his mind played a vision of Khushi in his designed choli. The second he had gottem a full view of her in it, everyone else in the room had vanished. All he could see was her and he could hear his heart thump in his ears. At the moment, he thought he was being crazy, but looking at Khushi, he thought nothing more than how that choli was perfect for her.

Arnav opened his eyes and went over to his nightstand. He pulled the drawer open and took out his diary. Opening it to the first page, he gazed away at Khushi.

Do I mean nothing to you Khushi?