Chapter 15

VJ’s home:

Khushi comes into VJ’s room after getting ready and sees VJ standing in front of his window: Big B? I’m ready to go.

VJ hurriedly wipes angry tears from his eyes and then turns with a big smile: Hey, Chutki… Give me 2 minutes to get ready okay? I lost track of my time checking emails.

Khushi gives him a confused smile and nods her head slowly before walking out of the room.

VJ composes himself and comes out after getting ready.

VJ decides to take her to a home décor store to pick up some things for his guest room to make her feel comfortable there.

ASR’s Office, ASR Designs:

Angad hangs up his phone and turns to ASR: If you are serious about getting Khushi, now is your time. VJ just left his place with Khushi. Whatever we have to do, we have to do it now.

ASR nods curtly: Let’s do it. Get your men and let’s go.

Angad nods back before picking up the phone again to call his people.

Home Décor Store:

Khushi and VJ were busy shopping in the store when Khushi asks VJ: Big B, I think we should call Amma and Buaji and let them know where I am.

VJ tells her: I was going to call them this morning. But I forgot about it. Why don’t we call them when we go for lunch?

Khushi nods in agreement and turns a corner when she bumps into a guy. Her purse falls from her shoulder. The guy quickly apologises and helps her pick up the scattered items.

Khushi nods her forgiveness and moves on to the linen rack.

After Khushi picks up some decorations for her room, they leave the store. They never notice that someone was clicking their pictures.

After loading the shopping bags in the car, VJ asks: So Chutki, where would you like to have lunch?

Khushi thinks for a moment and then suggests a Dhaba close to Karol Bagh.

VJ agrees and they leave for the Dhaba.

A black SUV follows them closely.

To reach the Dhaba, they had to take Shankar Road through Central Ridge Reserve Forest. As it was a weekday afternoon, the road was mostly empty.

Suddenly VJ veers on the side and parks the car on the side of the road.

Khushi jerks at the sudden stop and asks: What is it Big B?

VJ looks at the dials on his dashboard and says incredulously: I ran out of fuel. But I don’t know how it is possible. I just filled the tank this morning before going out. Let me go out and take a look.

Khushi nods.

VJ gets out of the car and opens the bonnet to check the fuel tank.

Khushi also gets out and comes forward to see what’s going on when she notices oil drops on the road behind the car. She points that out to VJ: Big B, look.

VJ bends down to see under the car and sees that the oil line has a small hole that is dripping oil.

VJ gets up from the road: God dammit. I can’t believe I didn’t notice that hole. It must have happened from some stone on the road.

Khushi asks: May be we should call someone to pick us up.

Khushi looks for her phone in her purse but couldn’t find it. She thinks for a moment and says: I think the guy who bumped into me in the store, might have stolen it.

VJ tries a brave smile and goes to get his phone: Crap, its dead.

Khushi gets worried: What should we do then?

VJ says: Let me think about it.

Khushi nods.

They were thinking a solution to their problems when a Black SUV stops by their car.

A muscular and tall guy comes out of the car and asks: Is there a problem?

VJ turns and says: Yes, it seems the fuel line had a small hole and now my tank is empty. So we are stuck here.

The guy says: Well, there is an easy solution to that. Why don’t I give you both a lift?

VJ hesitates looking at Khushi when a pregnant woman comes out of the Black SUV: What’s going on, hun?

The guy turns to the woman and says: Their fuel tank is busted so I was offering them a lift.

VJ smiles at the couple and says: It was very kind of you. Thanks. We’d like to accept your offer. I will call a tow company once I get home.

The guy smiles and leads them to his car.

As they reach the SUV, the pregnant woman offers to move into the back seat despite VJ’s protests that it was not necessary.

The man starts the car and continues driving.

Suddenly, VJ feels a pin prick sensation and sees the man driving the car was holding a small needle on his spare hand that was over the gear. Then he loses consciousness and slumps back in his seat.

Khushi notices VJ’s slump and leans forward to see what happened when the pregnant woman by her side holds a handkerchief on her mouth and she too faints on the back seat.

The pregnant woman pulls out the pillow from under her maternity top and uses it to support Khushi’s neck.

Lana then turns to Angad and says: The mission is successful.

Angad turns the car and drives back to VJ’s car. He then puts VJ in his car, takes out VJ’s phone, calls the tow company and leaves from there with Khushi and Lana.

ASR’s helipad, ASR Designs:

As Angad drives the SUV to ASR’s private helipad, ASR runs to the SUV and gently lifts Khushi in his arms.

Then he looks at Angad and Lana: You guys leave the town for a few months. In the meanwhile, in case if anyone enquires about me, spread the news that I left the town this morning.

Angad nods and leaves with Lana.

Then ASR walks with Khushi to his helicopter, gently puts her in the luxurious seat. Puts a pillow to support her back and instructs the pilot to fly to the East.

Chapter 14

The next morning, Shaantivan:

Anjali walks towards Arnav’s room to talk to Arnav about his marriage with Khushi when she sees Aakash heading that way as well.

Anjali asks Aakash: Are you here to talk to Chotey about his marriage with Khushiji as well?

Aakash nods: Yes. I need to know for both the families’ sake.

Anjali nods and knocks on his door. When they don’t get any response, they ask HP about Arnav. He replies that he left for work very early in the morning.

Aakash consoles Anjali: Don’t worry, Di. I will talk to him at work. Now I have to leave for work as well.

Anjali nods but her heart beats faster expecting upcoming storm.

VJ’s home:

Khushi wakes up and makes VJ a big breakfast.

VJ notices Khushi’s sad eyes and tries to cheer her up: Hey Chutki, you know how long it has been since I had your delicious cooking. I really missed it.

Khushi gives him a small smile: Thanks Big B.

VJ gives her a big smile: Why don’t I take a day off from work today and take you out? We will do some shopping and eat out. It will be fun.

Khushi replies: I don’t feel like it today, Big B. Can we do it some other day?

VJ insists: Come on. Do it for your Big B, please?

Khushi thinks for a moment, then nods in agreement.

VJ exclaims: Awesome. Just let me go check my emails and inform the hospital. Then we will go out ok?

Khushi nods and starts cleaning up the kitchen.

Arnav’s Office, ASR Designs:

Angad walks into Arnav’s office and gives him a file: Here are all the details you needed regarding Vishal Jaiswal aka VJ.

ASR glares at Angad: Not interested in his favourite colour. Give me the dirt.

Angad sighs and sits down: There is no dirt, ASR. He is an upstanding citizen and well-respected doctor. He had a few girlfriends in the past, but even they speak of him fondly. He has no hidden skeleton in his closet, not even a parking ticket. This guy seems the rebirth of freaking Gandhi.

ASR growls in frustration: But there has to be something. Something we can use to take him down. I can’t let him take my wife away from me.

Angad looked at ASR: ASR, we have been friends for a long time. I hate to rub it in your face, but I had warned you against doing this contract marriage. I had told you that if Khushi is indeed guilty of having an affair with your brother-in-law, send her away. But you decided to do this contract marriage and tie her to yourself.

I also asked you what you would do if your feelings get involved. You said that there is no way you will ever love her. Do you remember that conversation?

ASR grimaces: Yes, fine. I was a hotheaded idiot. Now we have to figure out how to get Khushi back.

Angad rubs his forehead: I don’t see how you can manage that, ASR. The contract had expired long back. Now you have no right to her. Secondly, there is no witness to your marriage. The only person, who could confirm the wedding other than you, is Khushi and she has lost her memory. Now tell me ASR, how will you prove that this wedding actually happened?

ASR grimaces: If I can’t prove my marriage to Khushi, then I guess we will have to get married again. This time, it will be permanent marriage.

Angad sneers: Oh yeah? And remind me, how are you going to convince Khushi to marry you? She doesn’t love you, you know?

ASR sneers back: She will love me once I kidnap her and keep her to myself.

Angad gasps: Listen, that’s a very bad idea. Let’s not get into trouble with the law, ok?

ASR leans on his table and gives Angad a deadly smile: Forget Law, I can take the entire world for her. If VJ tries to keep me away from Khushi in this country, then I will take Khushi to some other country out of everyone’s reach. But Khushi will always be mine.

Angad groans and rubs his forehead to get rid of his headache.

VJ’s Room:

VJ switches on his laptop to check his email and sees a new email with attachment from ADA. He opens the attachment and there is all the information he needed on Arnav Singh Raizada.

He reads the file and as he continues on, his face gets grimmer and grimmer. He gets up from his chair and paces in his room. He could not believe how cruel this man was to his Chutki.

He clenches his fist: You will pay for this, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada. You just wait and watch what I will do to you.

Arnav’s Office, ASR Designs:

Angad was arguing with ASR when he gets a call from one of his associates: Hi Rajesh.

Ok.

Uh-huh…

(Stands up agitated) What?

How dare him do that without asking me?

Tell him he is fired.

Shut up.

Then he hangs up the phone.

Angad looks at a surprised ASR: ASR, we got a problem.

ASR raises his brow.

Angad sighs: It turns out, VJ hired my company to get dirt on you and one of my associates took the case and gave him all information about you. Now VJ knows everything and if I am guessing correctly, soon Khushi will know everything as well.

I fired the idiot for not discussing the case with me first, but he didn’t know we were friends.

ASR pales thinking about Khushi’s reaction. He won’t be able to live if Khushi starts to hate him. He closes his eyes for a moment coming to a decision.

He looks at Angad and tells him with a deadly calm voice: Then now we just have to kidnap Khushi before VJ gets to her.

Angad hesitates and then nods slightly.

ASR gets up from his chair: Get me some of your best men. We will get Khushi today.

Chapter 13

The same night, Shaantivan:

That night, the house was as silent as a tomb. Not even the leaves were rustling, such eerie was the silence… As if some evil spirit has sucked out the life from a body, leaving a corpse in its wake.

No one came downstairs that night to eat the food Khushi had so painstakingly prepared to bring Anjali and VJ closer. The food just sat on the table, congealing and rotting like memories turning bitter.

Payal & Aakash’s Room, Shaantivan:

Payal was sitting still as a statue on the bed. Aakash has fallen silent after trying to make her talk for hours.

Suddenly, Payal turns to Aakash: Aakash?

Aakash gets startled out of his thoughts: Yes, Payal?

Payal says: You are the guy who always did the right thing, even when it was difficult. What will you do, if it turns out that your brother ruined my sister’s life? Would you leave Shaantivan with me? I won’t live under the same roof of the man who destroyed my sister’s happiness.

Aakash gets worried: Payal, I understand your pain. But we don’t know the truth yet. I’m sure bhai was just surprised by VJ’s claim. He must have some proof that he married Khushiji. Why else would he try so hard to keep her under the same roof? You know him. He doesn’t care about anyone, yet, he loves Khushiji. We all know that. Let’s go to bed tonight. I’m sure everything will be sorted tomorrow. We will get the proof and then we will go get Khushiji. VJ just can’t take away Raizada family’s eldest daughter-in-law like that.

Payal walks up to Aakash: That didn’t answer my question. If your brother has wronged my sister, will you walk out of Shaantivan with me or are you going to stand by your brother?

Aakash looks at Payal’s calm but deadly expression and slowly closes his eyes in pain: If my brother is responsible for your sister’s pain, I will walk out of Shaantivan with you. But I believe he has an explanation and I will ask him tomorrow.

Payal nodded: Good enough. Remember your promise tomorrow.

Then she lay down on bed and closed her eyes. But Aakash couldn’t sleep the rest of the night.

Mamiji’s Room, Shaantivan:

Mamiji was crying silently in bed.

Mamaji asks gently: Manorama, are you crying?

Mamiji nods tearfully.

Mamaji asks gently: But I thought you hated Khushi bitiya. You always wanted her to leave Shaantivan. Now that she is gone, you are crying for her. Why?

Mamiji turns to Mamaji: Yes, I wanted her gone. Because she reminded me too much of myself. The chirpy, odd, eccentric Lucknow girl that I had left behind to try to blend in this high society. And then there was Phatti Saree… She never blend in, never changed a hair; yet everything changed around her to fit her. She stayed who she was and yet everyone loved her. It made me feel like I was a failure. So I tried to show her that she was wrong. She can never fit in. But I knew that it wasn’t true. She showed me that you need to be true to yourself and then everything will change around you.

In a way, if I had a daughter, then I think I’d have liked her to be like Khushi.

Mamaji smiled painfully and hugged his Manorama closer: You are who you are Manorama and I don’t love you any less today than I did before. You never had to change.

Mamiji smiled painfully: I know. I wish I knew that when I first met Khushi. Our relationship would have been different now.

Mamaji smiles: It’s not too late to fix it yet.

Mamiji closes her eyes: I hope not.

Naniji’s Room, Shaantivan:

Anjali was lying on Naniji’s lap, crying: Why this happened now, Nani? Everything was going good. Chotey and Khushiji were getting closer. Why did VJ take away Khushiji like that?

Naniji caresses Anjali’s head slowly: But he was not wrong Anjali bitiya. He asked the questions today, we should have asked when they got married. We should have asked Chotey the reason behind their sudden marriage. But we all were scared of his temper, so we took it out on Khushi bitiya. We knew that this wedding couldn’t have happened that way without Chotey’s consent, but it could have happened with Khushi bitiya’s. But we all blamed her. It’s like we used that poor soul as the scape goat for our hurt feelings and took out our displeasure on her. I hope Chotey has some proof of his marriage that he can show to Vishal and bring Khushi bitiya home. This house is not a home without her.

Anjali nods: I will talk to Chotey tomorrow and ask him to bring Khushiji home.

VJ’s Home:

VJ brings Khushi inside and shows her the guest room: Chutki, this is your room. Go inside and freshen up. I will go get something to eat.

Khushi looks up at him with tear-filled eyes: Why Big B? Why did you bring me here like this? I didn’t even get to say good bye properly.

VJ puts down Khushi’s suitcase and walks over to her: Chutki, do you trust me?

Khushi looks at VJ and slowly nods.

VJ holds her face in his palm and says: Then trust me when I say that it’s for your own good. I will tell you everything very soon. But right now, don’t ask me any questions because I don’t have all the answers.

Khushi hesitates, then nods slowly.

VJ pretends to be cheered up: Awesome. Now, I don’t know about you. But I’m very hungry. So how about I order some food and have dinner?

Khushi tries to smile: Big B, I ate before you came to Shaantivan. So I’m not hungry. You eat dinner. I will give you company.

VJ grimaces: You know what? I am having a tummy ache. May be I should skip dinner tonight too. We will have a big breakfast tomorrow. Okay?

Khushi nods and then goes to her room.

VJ goes to his room after Khushi leaves and picks up his cell phone to dial a no.:

Hello?

Is this ADA?

I heard that you are the best detective agency in town.

My name is Vishal Jaiswal and I’d like to hire you.

Money is not a problem, but I want every single detail about a guy.

His name is Arnav Singh Raizada.

The poolside, Shaantivan:

Arnav was still sitting by the poolside when Naniji comes there with a glass of milk and some cookies: Arnav bitwa.

Arnav looks at Naniji and Naniji’s heart breaks at his pain: I brought you some milk. You can’t take medicine if you don’t eat.

Arnav shakes his head and then turns away.

Naniji calls him sternly: If you get sick, how will you bring Khushi bitiya back?

Arnav turns to Naniji then.

Naniji extends the tray and he takes the food and his medicines.

Naniji was about to leave when Arnav calls out: Nani?

Naniji turns: Yes?

Arnav asks: Will I ever get Khushi back?

Naniji replies: I don’t know Arnav bitwa. But I know this, that if you really love her, then you won’t give up until you do.

Then Naniji leaves his room.

After Naniji leaves, Arnav gets up from the poolside and picks up a phone to dial a no.:

Hello?

Hi, Angad…

This is Arnav Singh Raizada. I need you to find out everything, every dirt about a guy named Vishal Jaiswal and I need it by tomorrow morning.

Then he hangs up his phone: Mr. Vishal Jaiswal, you made a big mistake when you took what was mine. Now the battle is on…

Precap: The Clash of the Titans…

Chapter 12

Living Room, Shaantivan:

ASR storms downstairs and furiously whispers: Khushi, come here…

Khushi got startled out of her childhood reminiscing.

She turns to ASR and whispers back with a frown: What?

ASR grits his teeth: Come here. I want to speak with you.

Khushi frowns and shakes her head: No, I’m busy.

ASR’s temper takes the size of a thunder storm: What did you say?

Khushi sniffs and turns to gaze at VJ again.

ASR storms to Khushi, pulls her by the hand off the couch and drags her to the poolside.

The poolside:

Arnav drags Khushi and growls at her: Who the hell is he?

Khushi pouts and says: That’s Big B.

Arnav frowns: Who?

Khushi explains excitedly: Well you see, his name is Vishal Jaiswal. Everyone calls him VJ. Now Vishal means Big and B is for…

Arnav shouts: Shut up. I don’t care if B is for freaking Teddy Bear… I want to know why you were fawning over him.

Khushi explains: I know him since my childhood and we practically grew up together. He used to get me sweets and take me around in his motorcycle. (Then frowns) And I was not fawning over him and even if I was, what’s it to you?

Arnav comes closer: You will stay away from him, do you understand?

Khushi growls back: No I don’t. Why would I stay away from him? He is my Big B…

Arnav replies sarcastically: Well, isn’t that cozy… My Big B, is it?

Khushi frowns: Of course, he is my Big B. I’m the only one who calls him that. Jiji calls him VJ bhaiyaa…

Arnav growls: And of course, you can’t call him VJ bhaiyaa. Because calling him brother would not suit your purpose.

Khushi gets frustrated: What purpose? And why would I call him VJ bhaiyaa? He was the one who asked me to call him Big B. So that’s what I always called him.

Arnav sneers: Oh, so that smartass neatly made up Big B for you and Bhaiyaa for Payal. Why that jerk…

Khushi growls: Don’t call my Big B jerk…

Arnav growls back: Try and stop me…

The air between them sizzles with current as they stare at each other furiously.

Living Room, Shaantivan:

VJ gets up from the couch with a scowl: Who is that jerk and why is he dragging my Chutki like that?

Anjali gets up and says: Urrmmm… VJ that is my brother, Arnav Singh Raizada, also known as ASR. He is errrmmm… Khushi’s husband.

VJ turns and looks at Anjali: What? Chutki didn’t get married. If she did, she’d invite me.

Anjali turns to Payal with a pleading look.

Payal clears her throat and tries to explain: VJ bhaiyaa, errmmm you see, we never got a chance to invite anyone to the wedding. Khushi actually married in secret on the day of my wedding. She and Arnavji went out without informing anyone and when they came back, they were married.

VJ stalks to Payal and asks: Payal, how long have you known Khushi?

Payal gets confused: What do you mean? I knew her since she was eight.

VJ nods: Correct. So tell me, what is Khushi’s most cherished dream? What did she dream about and talked about since she was a child?

Payal says: Well, she wanted to have a dream weddin… (She suddenly stops when she realizes what point VJ wanted to make)

VJ exclaims furiously: Exactly. All her life, this girl dreams of one thing… A dream wedding with each and every ritual where everyone she knows will be present. Didn’t it appear even a tiny bit odd when that same girl goes away without telling anyone and comes back married?

Payal stammers: Well, we thought maybe she fell in love with Arnavji and couldn’t wait any longer.

VJ shouts: Are you nuts? If she had said that she loves that guy who belongs to the same family that you got married into, do you think your parents would have objected? Would they deny sending their other daughter to the same home where they sent their elder daughter?

Payal dismayed: No. They wouldn’t have said no.

VJ exclaims: Exactly. So then why would Khushi not tell anyone and get married? Have you met any witness that the marriage actually happened? Is there any photograph of the wedding? What proof do you have that the marriage actually took place? Also, if Khushi was married, being the kind of traditional woman she is, why isn’t she wearing sindoor or mangalsutra?

Anjali intervenes: I can answer that VJ. Actually, a few weeks earlier, my brother got kidnapped and Khushi got shot while saving him. Even my brother was in coma for a few days. When she gained her consciousness, she forgot the past year of her life. She has partial amnesia.

VJ turns to Anjali and asks: Really? So Khushi lost her memory. But you all didn’t lose yours. So can I see the picture of her wedding? Any proof that it actually happened? I mean something that would explain why would a girl like Khushi would agree to a secret marriage?

Anjali tries to calm VJ: VJ, we asked Khushi why she got married like that when we would have agreed to it anyway. But she never answered our question.

Payal nodded: Yes, VJ bhaiyaa, even I asked Khushi. But she never told me anything either.

VJ looks at both of them and asks: Ok. So Khushi didn’t answer. Did you ask the other half the same question? Did you ask ASR, why he married her like that?

Everyone thinks dismayed that they never asked any question to Arnav whether the wedding actually took place or never bothered following up about why this wedding happened. They kept badgering Khushi and making her feel like the guilty party.

VJ looks at them in disgust: I can’t believe this. This man is obviously in a position of power in the household, so none of you opened your mouth against him. But kept asking Khushi all the questions who was obviously the weaker of the two. But you know what? Never mind. She was alone until now. But not anymore. Her Big B is here.

Then VJ storms to the poolside where Arnav and Khushi were still arguing. The rest of the family follows him anxiously.

He opens the poolside sliding door with a bang startling Arnav and Khushi: Chutki, pack your bags. You are coming with me.

Khushi gets scared at VJ’s tone: What happened Big B?

VJ growls: Do as I say Chutki.

Khushi nods her head and goes to her room.

ASR growls at him: How dare you? Who the hell are you to come here and demand to take her away?

VJ comes closer to ASR and growls: I’m her Big B. She knows me. Who the hell are you to her?

ASR growls back: I’m her husband.

VJ growls in answer: Oh yeah? Show me the proof of your marriage.

ASR grits his teeth: Don’t you dare try to remove her from my home.

VJ grits his teeth back: Oh, I dare anything Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada and I’m taking her away. If you have any proof of this marriage, come and show it to me. If not, then stay the hell away from my Chutki.

Khushi's Room, Shaantivan:

VJ storms behind Khushi to her room, pulls out a suitcase and starts throwing Khushi’s things in it.

Khushi is standing scared in the room wondering what is going on.

ASR storms inside and tries to stop VJ: Stop. I will destroy you if you dare to touch one more thing.

The family come running behind him.

VJ growls: I’d like to see you try. You know, I have a better solution. Let’s call the police and see whether they let a young woman stay in a stranger’s house whom she doesn’t remember or let her leave with a man she knew since childhood?

ASR turns to Payal: Payal, tell her that it’s her sister’s house and she can stay.

VJ turns to Payal: Payal, you can only stop Khushi if you have seen any proof that she has a right to be in this house. If you have no proof, then don’t ruin your sister’s life.

Payal looks at ASR with tear in her eyes: Arnavji, please give me a reason to stop VJ bhaiyaa. Please show me a picture or a document that says that she has a right to live here.

ASR’s eyes burn in pain and he looks away. The contract marriage that seemed like such a good idea on a vengeful mind is now a noose around his neck. The contract has expired long back and now he has no right to Khushi anymore.

Payal gasps realizing that there is no proof that Khushi was ever married to ASR.

She turns to VJ and tells him tearfully: Please take Khushi away VJ bhaiyaa.

VJ nods his head and takes the suitcase: Come Khushi.

Khushi tearfully looks at Payal: Jiji?

Payal gently holds her face in her palm and says: Go Khushi.

Khushi folds her hand looking at everyone and leaves with VJ.

Anjali turns to Arnav in tears and leaves the room followed by rest of the family members.

As everyone leaves, ASR falls down on his knees in grief by the poolside with only moon and stars as his silent witnesses.