16 The Truth
Part 16 The Truth
Khushi took her passport and clutched it. She decided what to do. She didn't want to marry not only Dhruv but anyone. She didn't want to. She wanted to slap Arnav hard for putting her in that condition. How could he do this to her? How she dreamed of her future with him! How pleasant their relationship was until that bloody Anu arrived in their lives! She could not replace him from her mind and heart, but she could not be stubborn in her decision if she stayed there. Taking her passport, she left the house without bidding goodbye to his father.
The next morning
Shashi came to Khushi's room and was about to knock on the door, but stopped seeing it was already open. He pushed the door and saw the room in disarray. He was panicked to find a note on the bed.
"I'm going. Don't search for me. You can't find me."
Shashi was shocked to the core. What did the note mean? Where did she go? He didn't know what to do. Where to search for her. She didn't even have a phone. He called her cousin in Singapore.
"Hello, uncle, how are you and Khushi?"
Her question itself told him that Khushi was not in Singapore.
"Didn't Khushi come there?"
"Here? Is she coming here?" she asked excitedly.
"I don't know, beta"
"What do you mean, uncle?"
"She is upset with me. She left home."
"Uncle, she is not a girl who leaves the house for a simple issue..." She said, yet she was nervous.
"Please call me if she comes there."
"Sure, uncle... sure..."
Shashi disconnected the call disappointedly. He should not have shouted at her and asked her to marry Dhruv. How did he lose his patience so easily? How did he decide on her wedding without thinking about anything, hastily? What would he do now? He paced here and there, tensed.
That was when Arnav came there. Shashi became furious, seeing him there.
"Good morning, uncle." He smiled.
"Why did you come here now? Haan? What's remaining?"
"What happened, uncle? Why are you angry with me?" Arnav didn't understand the reason for his anger.
"Why did you play with my daughter? Why did you do this to her?"
"Me? What are you saying? I played with her?"
"Then whom?"
"Uncle, I think you misunderstood me. I came to see Khushi before going to the exam, as she didn't pick up my call all night. I didn't even study well under her tension. I even refused to go with my friend who is going to meet her in-laws today, but I came here for Khushi..."
Shashi was stuck. About whom was he talking? Which friend did he mention?
"Whaaat? What did you say? Your friend is going to meet her in-laws? Whom are you talking about?"
"Didn't I introduce her to you last evening? My friend Anu?"
Shashi stared at him blankly.
"Where is Khushi? Please call her. I want to meet her. I want to talk to her before sitting in the exam. Then only my mind will get into my exam." Arnav requested her.
"Is she your friend?"
"Who?"
"Anu?"
"Yeah, she is my childhood friend. Her wedding is fixed with the boy she loves."
Shashi was taken aback. He was utterly devastated. If Anu was Arnav's friend, why did Dhruv lie to him that they were in love? If he said that to him, he might have told the same to Khushi too. She was upset with Arnav for the mistake he had not made. What a blunder he had made! How could he conclude something big that would change her daughter's life upside down, without knowing the other side of the coin?
"I'm sorry, Arnav. I shouted at you in some other tension. Go and give your exam well. We will talk after that," he said, composing himself. He didn't tell Arnav about the real situation, as the exam was essential to Arnav. He could not give it perfectly if he had learned about Khushi's disappearance.
"Can't I meet Khushi?" he asked disappointedly.
"What's so important to meet her?" he asked, gulping down.
Arnav took a few seconds and came to his composure.
"Uncle, I don't think it's wrong to tell you. However, I would have told you about it sooner or later."
"What are you talking about?"
"I haven't even confessed it to Khushi verbally..."
"Whaaat?" Shashi was nervous.
"I love Khushi very much, uncle. She, too, loves me. I know that. Just like how she knows my love. We never confessed."
Cutting him off,
"Why didn't you confess?"
"We didn't think it was necessary because our hearts synchronised."
Shashi turned opposite him in guilt. He composed himself and looked at Arnav.
"She went to the temple. She will be here when you come back, completing your exam."
"Which temple, uncle?" Arnav asked, looking at his watch.
"Chandni Chowk..."
Arnav sighed in disappointment.
"I can come only in the evening after checking today's shares status..."
Shashi nodded ok.
"Please tell her, I came to meet her."
"I will surely tell her if she comes,"
Arnav nodded as he didn't notice that Shashi pressed the word IF. Arnav took a step to leave, but stopped hearing,
"Arnav..."
He turned towards him.
"Yes, uncle..."
"Khushi will be glad to hear your verbal confession. Do it right away when you meet her."
Arnav smiled brightly.
"Are you fine with me?"
"Why not? Who won't like you? It's my promise, you are my son-in-law..."
Taking a step, Arnav hugged Shashi emotionally.
"Thank you so much, Uncle. Thank you for accepting me."
"Give the exam well..."
Arnav nodded yes, smiling glowingly, and left. Shashi knew he would do well on the exam. Shashi was furious with Dhruv for playing a dirty game with him and Khushi. He understood Dhruv was the reason for the mess. How dirty his mind was, and how dare he ask for Khushi's hand from him after playing his dirty cards! He wanted to sever all ties with Sudhakar.
Shashi became horrified when he thought about Khushi. Where was she? He called Rahim. He rushed to him.
"Do you know any of Khushi's friends' phone numbers?"
"I don't know, Baba, but I went with Baby to her friend's house, which is in Indira Nagar."
"Is it?"
"Yes, Baby asked me to prepare lunch for her friends and bring it to her house."
"Let's go..." Shashi walked out, taking the car key.
Rahim nodded and followed him.
"Arnav Baba knew all her friends. He could have told you if you had asked him." Rahim said.
"No, I don't want him to know the mess until he finishes his exam." Shashi drove the car towards Indira Nagar, but she was not there. Her friends didn't know about her whereabouts. Shashi was disappointed and helpless.
Evening
Shashi was trying to get information by calling Khushi's classmates. He collected all the numbers from Lavanya. That was when Dhruv came there all smiling. Shashi's blood boiled seeing him.
"Hi, uncle, did you talk to Khushi?"
Without thinking about anything, Shashi slapped him hard, making him shocked.
"Shut up, you bloody bagger... how dare you lie to me?"
He clutched his collar.
"Why did you lie to me about Arnav?"
Dhruv was bewildered. How did Shashi know that?
"I didn't lie..."
"Shut up... Arnav and Anu are friends. Anu's wedding is fixed with her boyfriend. I know everything. Because of you, Khushi left home."
Dhruv was shocked. Did Khushi leave home? How did Shashi get to know the truth? If he knew that, then why did Khushi leave home?
"Because of you, I have lost my daughter...I'm not going to leave you. I'm going to break all the ties with your father. I don't want your relationship anymore. I'm going to get Khushi married to Arnav," he shouted in fury.
Dhruv's facial expression changed. He pushed him with full force. Shashi fell to the ground, and his head banged on the wooden sofa's leg.
"Yes, I lied... so what? I lied to get Khushi because I love her. Why don't you and your daughter give heed to my love? Why was it always Arnav? Just because he earns money, how could he be better than me? I don't care what you think about me. I will marry Khushi by hook or by crook. I don't care even if she is fine with that. Where will she go? I will find her before Arnav does that. It's my challenge." Dhruv shouted and got stuck, seeing Shashi lying on the floor motionless.
To be continued...
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