Betrayal Part 5

~~~~~~~~~~~~PART 5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Find him wherever he is, and arrest him!" Arnav ordered. Trying to keep himself cool.

"Mr. Raizada are you sure he is the one who...?" officer asked.

"That is your job to force him to tell the truth. He shouldn't escape," Arnav said getting little angry. His hold on the chair back tightened.

"Not a problem, Mr. Raizada. Stay care free. I assure you that in just few hours will be arrested. And he would get the worst possible punishment."

"Now I should leave and I will keep you updated!" Police officer said to Arnav and forbid his goodbye to Arnav and Mr. Gupta.

"Son, I am with you. I will help you in every possible way," Mr. Gupta reassured. "If you want, I can talk to Khushi and tell her about him."

"No need of it," he snapped coldly. Mr. Gupta nodded his head slowly and put his hand on his shoulder. "Take care," he said and turned on his heel to leave.

"Mr. Gupta," Arnav called. Mr. Gupta stopped. "Yes." Arnav's back towards him.

"Khushi shouldn't know anything about Aditiya."

"Don't worry!" he reassured and left.
***
"Mrs. Gupta," Mr. Gupta called.

"Dad," Khushi said and she and her mother both came out of the room to the living room.

Khushi looked at her dad. His expressions were hard to read. She was afraid if Arnav had told him about the child. Bile rose to her throat. And she felt sick. But she saw change in his expressions. A fade...It was a smile. Not anger.

"Congratulations," he said and approached towards his daughter. Mrs. Gupta smiled too. "So, are own little daughter will be a mother now!" he said.

Khushi felt someone has punched her stomach.

What was the sick feeling inside her all of sudden? Guilt? Why would she be guilty, she thought. She didn't have to.

Or she had too? Guilt is there when you know you have done something wrong. And she tried to tell herself she hadn't done anything wrong. The child in her womb wasn't a mistake. It can't be.

Her breathing was uneven. Tears at the brink, but she tried to trap them.

"Khushi, whatever had happened between you, try to eliminate it. Arnav needs you at the moment!"

Khushi had no single ounce of idea, why did he say that?

"You both need each other. Take care of yourself and your baby and Arnav!" Mr. Gupta said.

Huh? She wanted to say. I don't care about him.

But she stayed mum. "Let's go, Mrs. Gupta!"

"Take care Khushi. If you need anything just let us know."

More than anything, relaxed knowing Arnav hadn't said anything about the baby, Khushi was confused. Her dad hated Arnav, wasn't he? Then why did he say Arnav needed me, she thought. Why such a concern, from his side if he hated him?

"Whatever, Arnav could have anything, but not my care. I don't care about him!" she tried to convince herself.

The very small part of her mind told her that in order to punish Arnav, she cheated her parents. And she had never thought about them.

They will never forgive her. If they get to know the child wasn't Arnav's. Doesn't matter if they care for him or hate him, they will never like the fact that their daughter...

"No," she yelled and clenched her hair. She was already so stressed out.

Arnav came in quick strides as she was going to collapse. Khushi found a support in Arnav's arm. For a brief amount of time when she looked in his eyes. It seemed like he had been crying. Was he?

But what has happened, inside? She was searching his eyes, looking for answers. Today, instead of feeling angry at him, she was feeling an emotion that she hated more than hating Arnav.

Arnav made her stand. He didn't ask if she was okay, nothing as he would usually ask. Today, even his hold was unfriendly. There wasn't a deep concern for her either.

Why it was affecting her? Why all of sudden her father's uttered words made her think twice, she thought. It shouldn't be.

But then at the same time she had to know the reason behind his ambiguous behaviour. She didn't like it.

Her head hurt thinking as someone was hitting him with hammer. She walked to the sofa and sat there.

***
It was 8:30 PM in the evening. And there was no sign of Arnav. He didn't even come and ask her to eat her dinner. Even during the lunch servants had asked her.

She wanted to know where Arnav was, but she scolded herself. Urggh! she growled.

Why she was expecting him to come and ask her if she had her lunch or not? Or to have her dinner?

"Thank god he isn't here, finally a breath of fresh air, without him," she said as calmly as she could to make herself feel that she hated him.

She heard footsteps and unknowingly a smile lingered on her face. She knew it was Arnav. He might be here to ask her for food.

"Hello, mam dinner is ready!" the servant said as he showed at the door of the room.

Her smile faded, she was annoyed as she looked at the door and found servant.

"I am not hungry," she retorted.

"But mam..."

"I said I am not hungry, just go and close the door," she shouted angrily this time.

Servant nodded and left. She threw the pillow towards the door angrily. This time it was Arnav, and he caught it on time.

Khushi looked at the figure, "didn't I..." she immediately stopped seeing Arnav standing. Her heart pounded. "Go and eat the food."

He kept the pillow back on the bed.

She felt her anger returning. "Why do you care? I don't want to eat anything." she said and furiously sat on the bed. Her hands crossed over her chest.

Unintentionally, she was waiting for Arnav to force her. But nothing came as she expected.

"As you wish," he said and left to the washroom.

It wasn't that Arnav didn't care. He did more than before. But he was shattered from inside. He didn't want to look at her, because Khushi now reminded him of his own sister. He couldn't do anything to help his sister. Neither he was able to save Khushi from the person who ruined everything in his life.

Her sister was a victim, but Khushi? She herself...He didn't want to mutter the words or think about them. He removed his clothes and let the ice cold water gushed on top of him. He shivered, but didn't care. He leaned his palms against the wall.

The person whom he was searching for so long was right in front of him, everytime, but he couldn't recognize him.

First it was about punishment, but now it was a betrayal for him. He thought he might have done wrong coming in between Aditiya and Khushi. But now, he knew he did right, unintentionally. He had a reason to keep him away from khushi. Although, harm was done.

Also his feelings for Khushi had been damaged. It would never ever be the same, he was sorry to think, but he himself wasn't going to forgive her.

What in the world she was thinking when she crossed her limits?

Khushi's mouth opened wide. She didn't expect it.

She laid on the bed. Her face towards the washroom door.

She wanted to feel the strong feeling of anger, but she couldn't recall it. It was as it had died. Arnav's behaviour towards her now somehow affected her. It hurt.

She closed her eyes, tear fell from her eye.

Her pregnancy hormones were taking toll on her, she was aware of it. But the way Arnav's behaviour made her feel was no playful hormones. Hormones doesn't make a bad person look good all of sudden, especially when their behaviour changes towards you.

When Khushi saw the knob of the washroom door turned, she closed her eyes. The smell of Arnav's body wash that Khushi hated, felt like a relief to her nerves.

She felt Arnav's eyes on her. She somehow knew he was looking at her. She was curious to know if he was, she playfully opened her eyes, but he wasn't standing there. She looked around. No, he wasn't. He was gone.

Only thing she knew was she will go insane. If for a few more second she thought of Arnav or his attitude.

***
"Did Khushi eat her lunch?" Arnav inquired from one of his servant as he served him the food.

"Yes, sir. But very little," servant replied.

"Didn't I say that you have to make sure she eats everything?"

"I am sorry sir, I asked her she only refused."

Arnav kept the spoon back on his plate. And let out a long sigh of exasperation.

"Put the food in the plate and bring to the room!" he ordered as he stood up.

"Yes, sir!" servant said from behind.
***

When he returned back, Khushi was still lying on the bed. Her soft toy in her hand, cuddled tightly.

Shortly after, servant came with the food.

"You may leave!" he said.

Khushi immediately looked over her shoulder. "Eat your dinner," he said without looking at her.

"I am not hungry," she said. Her voice easy shaky.

"I hope that I don't have to repeat myself," he said.

She sat up and looked at him. "Why are you behaving that way?" she asked, not angry.

Arnav now looked at her. A look of disbelief. His heart sank. But wait what behaviour she was talking about?

"Why do you care if I eat or not?" she asked, suddenly realizing what nonsense question she had asked him.

"I don't care. Do you get that? But I promised your dad I will take care of you!" he answered not even looking at her.

She kept on looking at him.

"If you want me to stay away from you it's better you do as I say. Otherwise, I am sorry I have to force you to see my face that you don't want to see."

"Better," she retorted holding her emotions.

He put the plate that he prepared for her. "It better be finished by the time I get back," he ordered.

"Who you are to force me?" she said.

"I don't care what you think of me. As I said it's better that I don't have to repeat my words."

"What would you do?"

"Shut-up and finish your food."

"Fine," she said. "At least you would go away from here!"

As soon as, Khushi took the plate, Arnav turned on his heel. His behaviour indeed was really different. Never he behaved as he didn't care. Until today, he was sorry, but now? It was difficult to say if he was or not?

Atleast, she had observed he cared for her.

He was ignoring her, it was the only way she could put his behaviour towards her.

She didn't care, but she was curious to know what really happened during the afternoon.

"Did you eat?" she asked. Arnav stopped immediately. He was surprised, but he showed no sign of it.

"It should be least of your concern, Khushi!" he retorted. Was he angry at her, he couldn't tell. But her image in his mind had changed.

Love? Too hard to tell.

Another unexpected answer from Arnav. That left her in tears. However, wasn't that the only thing she wanted?

She somehow did finish her food, for her baby, although she had lost her appetite. Usually, if she would be sad. It was Aditya whom she would talk to, however, he wasn't even on her mind. She didn't want to talk to anyone.

Hours passed by, she laid on the bed. Past midnight, Arnav hadn't come back to their room.

Where he was? She got up the bed and went downstairs. She went to the study to check if he was there. It was obvious at this time he will there only. The door of the study was opened. She went in, but no he wasn't there.

"Why did she care?" the very question kept on buzzing in her head. She had no answers to it. And had no idea why it mattered.

She had seen the pain when he came to know she was pregnant, but not with his child.

However, the pain she saw today was so crystal clear. Prominent to even a child.

Oh yes, he might be behaving because she had said he had forced her. That brought a smile on her face. Perfect, she thought.

Of course, she didn't care about him. And she shouldn't forget she hated him and she still does.

She was now confident that she wasn't at all affected. He was angry because she had excused of being forceful.

Phew!! She took a sigh of relief. So her words did have affected him. Great, he needed it.

"But why did dad say he needed her."? She again couldn't help thinking.

She shrugged her shoulder as if she didn't care. She could feel normal again.

"How stupid I was?" she said. "That sop will never have a soft corner in my heart. Never." She muttered to herself and as she was going back to the her room. She saw the light of the room on.

As far as she knew she never saw the doors of that room opened. It wasn't locked either, but she never saw anyone going in there.

Out of curiosity, she started walking towards the room. As she reached, she saw Arnav. Sitting on a chair. She first stood outside the door. Then looked if he was up. He had a picture frame tugged against his chest and it seemed like he was sleeping.

His cheeks were wet. Her heart beat like a drum. No, Arnav never cried. She never saw him. For all this time he was here?

She slowly opened the door and tip toed. Whose picture it was? She remembered Anjali had told that it's their elder sister, Ananaya's room, who lives in Holland. Never she had seen her. It was weird for her because they never ever talked about her.

Neither she had ever heard from her. Even she hadn't come to their wedding.

She didn't actually know about Arnav's family. They had studied in England, since their studies had finished they were back to India. And it was third year when she had joined Arnav's university. And there she had met Aditiya too.

Anjali had told her that Ananaya had studied only for a year at Arnav's university and later she was married off, that was it.

Arnav was fast asleep. She slowly took the picture and turned it over. Was she Ananaya? She couldn't tell. But she could guess it. It looked like she could be Ananaya. If she was, she looked exactly like Arnav. Her eyes resembled Arnav's, her facial feature same as Arnav's and little bit of Anjali's. Same jet black hair as Anjali's, she had. Beautiful and taller just like Arnav and Anjali.

But why Arnav had hugged her picture? Was he missing her? Was she fine? Was it anything to do about her? That's why he had mood off?

Darn. She looked at Arnav and may be Ananaya's picture. She could feel his pain. That was so visible in his face. He looked extremely tired.

Arnav was a tough guy. No emotion ever gotten to him so easily, especially pain. But it is never true. He never showed his pain. She abused him, yes, she agreed she abused him. Then also, he never said anything.

Something was wrong. It was something she thought her father knew. His statement was still buzzing in her head. Then Arnav's behaviour disturbed her.

She was a confused child.

One thing she could deduct was, there was something wrong with Ananaya. Was she fine? Even Anjali wasn't here so that she could ask, what really happened to her? Or what was troubling Arnav about her?

She was angry at him, because he had ruined her life. It was crazy, she thought, she was guilty. She hadn't done good.

She wanted to scream, she wanted to be the Khushi who hated Arnav.

"Then why now, she couldn't? Why? Why? Why?" she screamed inside her head.

A tear fell from Arnav's eye. There was a smile on his face for a second, she noticed it. But then his eyebrows furrowed in uncomfortableness. Like he was having a bad dream.

"I am sorry, Arnav..." he could hear. He saw blood...All over the marbled floor.

A blurred picture of a girl. Ananaya it was. She was screaming. Crying.

"Arnav..." he could hear screams, getting louder and louder.

Khushi put the photo frame aside on the bed. As she knelt on her knees. She put her hand on Arnav's knees as she called him to tell him he was dreaming.

"I am sorry...Arnav...Please take care of yourself..." Arnav heard his sister saying...He had no idea what was happening. His dream was vague.

Khushi got up and cupped his face. She had no idea why she was doing it? But she knew it was needed. She had to wake Arnav out of his bad dream.

Arnav was trying hard to open his eyes, but he couldn't, something was holding him back. He wanted to save his sister. But his sister was going further and further away from him.

He ran, as fast as he could. Just when he was going to hold her hand from falling, she had jumped off, from the building.

"Di..." Arnav woke up with a loud of screaming.

"Arnav what happen? You okay?" Khushi asked. Her voice sinking.

Arnav looked confused, his breathing laboured, cold sweat formed on his forehead.

"Arnav it was a dream!" she told him. But he couldn't seem to focus.

"I couldn't save her..." he muttered, Khushi couldn't sense what he was saying.

He didn't even know it was Khushi in front of him. He wasn't even seeing her, but interrogating his surroundings.

No blood. Nothing. His sister was gone. It was his dream. The same dream that had been haunting him since her death.

Khushi immediately ran to the kitchen to fetch the glass of water.

"Arnav here drink water," Khushi said.

He was shaking his head. "Arnav it was just a dream," she again told him. "Here I am, Khushi!"

As soon as he came out of trance, he paid his best attention. He pushed the glass of water and got up the chair.

"Arnav what's wrong you fine?"

"Go from here!" he said. His breathing was still laboured. He had hold onto the bed pillar for support.

"Arnav you don't look fine!"

He wiped his tears roughly with his hand. Sniffed and tried to be normal.

"Arnav is Ananaya di fine?" Khushi asked.

"I said go!" he shouted. Khushi quivered and put the glass of water on the night table. She quickly left the room. Her fears were true. There was something wrong with Ananaya she concluded.

Unaware, that she was already dead. 
__________________________________________
YOU CHANGED ME!