Chapter 10

"BECAUSE I KILLED HER PARENTS"

"What?" "shyamji..."everybody present there exclaimed.

Flashback

(The day shayam came to gupta house to explain his reasons.)

You could have said to us about them and still be a friend to me or seek the love which you claimed to be got from Buaji.

"No, I couldn't...I Have some other reason for that..."

"And what is that?"

"I don't know whether you will hate me after hearing my reason or even you will like to see me after that ,but I have to tell you that now ,I think...

Khushiji I...he heaved a sigh then took a long breath and said

I am the reason ,that you lost your Parents Khushiji. It was me who caused that accident.

Present

Did you all hear ,I killed her parents. Made her an orphan even though it was an accident, it was me who caused it."

Everything stilled at Raizada house. Every single being was shocked with the truth even the ASR himself.

"What are you saying shyamji?"

"The truth. I was just 22 that time when I went out with friend in my father's car, while driving back I realized there was some problem with breaks and to make it worse there was heavy rain on that day. Before I could do something I lost the control over my car and hit another car which was on opposite way .The last thing I remember before losing consciousness was a girl heavily wounded begging her father to wake up, shaking her mother to please look at her. The face of that girl covered in blood and tears crying for her parents in rain. I don't know who took us to hospital but when I regained consciousness after 3 days all I came to know was the car involved in accident had a family from which only their 10 year old child survived, making me the culprit of the girl who turned to an orphan just because of my Mistake. I Searched for her after getting discharge from hospital only to know that some relative of her took her with them but couldn't get more details .That face of the girl hounded me for past so many years, I use to get nightmares .Anjali you know I have nightmares, you have seen me waking up in night having bad dreams."

Anjali nodded, "but you didn't tell me anything about this"

"You never tried to know Anjali, All you say was it's okay and to get back to sleep. You never tried to know what was disturbing me"

"That's because I didn't want to make you remember about it" Anjali quickly tried to explain.

Shyam gave a sarcastic laugh, "oh yes, I understand" But everybody present there realized it was a mockery. Then Shyam continued

"I was returning from a client meeting in Lucknow when I saw some street thongs misbehaving with a girl and her father getting beaten. Out of humanity I tried to save them only to realize that the girl is none other than the one I was searching for past so many years. How will I not recognize her face which I couldn't forget even in my dreams? And do you know why she was harassed at street Arnav?.

Because a business man in his ego released a video of her falling in his Arms with a nasty comment which made the roadside thongs think that she was easy catch" Arnav closed his eyes tightly knowing what his thoughtless actions has led to. If the thought that his previous words will come back biting him after shyam's revelation, this added up to his fear that he may have done a grave mistake. What if he is wrong how he will face Khushi, His Jijaji? He couldn't think of anything.

His thoughts was disturbed by Shyam who continued

I saw her again in Delhi, as she was forced to shift here because of the video release tarnishing her character. I approached her , begin to mingle with her and her family. Why will I not, I wanted to do anything in my power to make her life better. It was my way of redemption. So when she was in need of a job I recommended her for a job in A.R not knowing I was adding up to her miseries. You made her life hell there sale Saab (Arnav was neck deep in guilt remembering all the things he has done to her.).But during these interactions I found a family with them which I have lost years back. Buaji treated me like her own son, cared me, fed me, and scolded me for not taking care of myself slowly making me greedy for their love. Khushiji and Payal ji always treated me like a friend more like an elder brother. For Which I have craved all my life. So I became greedy and I hided the facts about me to them. Buaji wanted to have both me and Her titiliya with them self and seeing me taking special interest in Khushiji, thought of getting us married without knowing that I was already married. We both never agreed to her request as Khushiji never thought of me in that light and I being a married man. But during puja Khushiji came to know about my lies and became angry and asked never to show my face at her home"

Arnav remembered the seen, yes they were in a heated discussion before he disturbed them.so this was they talking about and he mercilessly insulted her then too. How much more to come to bite at his back. Arnav desperately held his hair.

Shyam continued. I couldn't back way without saying my truth to her family. I owed an explanation to her for hiding things. so I went to her home the next day as she stopped coming here. I told her every truth and the guilt I carried all these years. She heard me ,pacified me, forgave me saying I didn't do that purposefully. It was Destiny .Taking me out of my own guilt. She had it in her heart to even forgive her parents murderer but with a condition that I will always be a son to her buaji, who loves me to core and treat me like her own son there by generously granting making my wish to be a part of their family .I expressed my wish to help her but she declined it all and outright denial to any help in monitory terms.

But look how I have helped her. I tarnished her image ,made her exposed to verbal abuse and character assassination. What a great way of redemption to a person I have snatched everything off. shyam sat in the sofa with her hand on knees cupping his face. He was guilty. The Raizada or a certain Jha couldn't look at Khushi's face. They mercilessly abused her without knowing anything.They have damaged so much.NO body's eyes were dry .Arnav's eyes glazed with tears of redemption and guilt. They don't know how to redeem the mistake they committed; they don't know how to ask sorry to the poor girl .They abused her without bothering to find out the truth.

After a long silence mami found her voice, "but damadji why did you hide about your relation with Anjali bitiya."

"why wouldn't I mami,how will I go and tell her that if I have not done enough damage to her , people who were making it all the more difficult for her to live is none other than my family. It's my brother in law who mercilessly telecasted a video even after knowing that she was misled and was pushed by one of his staff to stage ,which resulted in her fall making her life in Lucknow difficult that she has to come to Delhi. what about the cruel ways of him when she was working as his PA. If that all was not enough, Anjali has to go and blackmail her to train Lavanya even after knowing how much her brother loathed Khushi. I told her not to do so. But have Anjali Singh Raizada ever given heed to my words.(told while glancing Anjali who couldn't even lift her face.)So tell me Mamiji how I am supposed to tell her.

Shyam stood up and slowly approached khushi and held her hand which she quickly draws back with the fear of getting blamed again.

"I am so sorry Khushiji" that's when Shyam noticed her face which was swollen due to all the crying. "OH my god .You were sick and down with fever and above that all these" Shyam exclaimed loudly making Arnav jumped from his seat with worry (what was the use of this worry after doing everything possible to never let her live peacefully )

Even before anybody approach khushi

"I want to go home "she said and left without giving heed to Shyam offer to drop her or Nani's loud call of Khushi Bitiya.

At Raizada mansion

Shyam sat at the same position for a long time ,When he couldn't contain any more he asked,

"why? Why did you all do this ?Can't you all just ask me or Khushiji for the truth before accusing her."

Arnav don't know how to explain

"Jijaji, when I heard about the engagement and then saw you there, I was worried for Di"

"I understand that you were worried for her .All I ask is can't you just spare few minutes to ask us for the truth or you could have at least waited till I come before hurling abuses at her"

"I am so sorry Jijaji" I didn't thought of anything that time"

"Leave Arnav, as I know he never leaves a chance to torment her. But what about others. Nani? Didn't it occur you that all this may be a misunderstanding. After all you believed Khushi to be sanskari enough to train Lavanya.So what happened now that all those where conveniently forgotten.And you Anjali you went to the extent of blackmailing the poor girl to train your Brothers girlfriend about sanskar.

Did you all even think for a second if all these were a misunderstanding, what will happen to mine and Anjali's relationship or how you will ever face Khushiji or her family?"

"Shyamji" came a cry from Anjali who was afraid of the consequences of all this in her relationship.

At the last Akash found his voice. Jijaji you could have told us about Khushiji "He was now really worried as his chances with Payal seem to be non existent.

Mami and Anjali nodded frantically agreeing to him,with the thought none of this would have happened if they knew about the accident.

"Really Akash ;people don't go and announce things like these to everybody Akash. These are one's personal baggage which people share with only someone who is willing to support him, willing to unburden him, pacify him and give moral support. I expected that from your sister which never happened. She was so caught up in her past to even care what bothers me". That shut everybody there as they knew what shyam said is true.

"shyamji' It's not like that. I always cared about you. It's just our past.." Shyam didn't let her continue

"Stop Right there Anjali, Everybody has their own baggage's. Me, you, Arnav, Mami, Khushi everyone. But that doesn't give you right to blackmail someone, torment someone and to accuse and malign someone.so stop accusing your past for your every actions" he stood from where he was sitting and said" I just need some time.so please leave me alone."

Shyam didn't wait for more conversation. He just left to his room packed his bag and left the house without giving ears to Anjali's cries or His brother in laws calling.