Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Khushi’s P.O.V.

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I woke up at fazar time and after prayer, I made dua (asking something from creator) to Allah to help me to find solace in my life.

For the first time of my life, I thought of leaving everything behind and live life for myself.

I wasn't sure if I was doing right but I wanted the least to get Arhaan to do something against his will.

When I was done with my prayer, I got on the bed to sleep again for sometime.

I woke up hearing a knock at my door. After a few moments Kaki entered my room and said Abbu was calling me downstairs. I nodded at her and got down from bed. Getting freshen up, I went downstairs only to find Abbu and Vai sitting in the living room making a sad face.

Seeing me, Vai started yelling at me. “Khushi, you dared to say something ridiculous to Arhaan!”

I gave him a confused look and tried to utter something but interrupting me, he spoke up, “What did you tell Arhaan to say NO to this marriage?”

Hearing him, I got all silent and he spoke up again, “Did you remember what I said to you in case Arhaan says no to this proposal?”

I gave him a afraid look and he spoke up, “Get prepared for it. And for now get lost from my sight before I just kill you.”

With teary eyes, I rushed upstairs. While crying badly, I thought of Arhaan. I didn't get to upset with him. As when my own family doesn't care about me, why Arhaan, being an outsider help me out!

Calling Preety, I told her everything. She just suggested me to leave the house at once and go to her place. Hearing her, I got up and packing my luggage, I got downstairs again.

When I was about to leave, Vai came in front of me from nowhere. Seeing me with luggage, he asked while glaring at me, “Where do you think you are going?”

“I am leaving this house.” I spoke up sternly only to get a hard slap on my cheek.

“You, bitch! Don't you dare stepping out of this house.” Saying this, he forcefully took me to my room and closed the room from outside only to open it again after few minutes.

He threw my luggage inside my room and got close to me. He looked at me like he was searching for something.

Before I could realise, he took away my phone and spoke up, “Until I take you out, just stay here locked.”

He left the room and closed the door and I sat on the floor with a thud and started crying badly.

Suddenly I woke up hearing a voice and found myself in bed. It took me sometime to realise it all was a dream though it felt pretty real and even I felt my eyes teary.

Then I again heard a knock on my door. I hurriedly wiped my eyes and Kaki entered my room and spoke up, “Malik Sir is calling you, Khushi. Come downstairs.”

I nodded at her and she left my room. It was happening like the dream. Thinking like that, I got freshen up and went downstairs being all afraid to face the same situation as dream.

But the situation was different. I saw Muhib Vai and Areesha Api were downstairs sitting with Vai and Abbu.

When I got near them, Api asked me to sit beside her. I looked at Abbu and he nodded. I sat beside Api and she spoke up, “I am really very happy for you two.”

Then she turned to Abbu as he spoke up, “So should we start the preparation of marriage ceremony?”

Api nodded at him and uttered happily, “We also don't want to get delay in this.”

Hearing them, I got confused and uttered under my breath, “Did Arhaan really say yes to this proposal?” only to get a sudden answer from my mind, “No rather he just agreed to help you.”

That only made me feel urgent to execute our plan accordingly.

Api gave me a confused look and uttered, “Where are you lost, Khushi?”

Getting hold of myself, I uttered, “Nothing Api. By the way where is Esha?”

Muhib Vai answered then, “Princess is still asleep. Actually Arhaan and me are leaving for a business project out of town in few hours. So we thought of visiting you before that.”

Nodding at that, Api spoke up smilingly but with a little bit of hesitation looking at Abbu, “Uncle, do you have any problem if Khushi stays with me till they are back? We can get to do some of our shopping then.”

Abbu kept looking at me for sometime and then spoke up, “Okay. As anyways she is going to live with you people for the rest of her life, so she should be there when you need them.”

Hearing Abbu, I got shocked. It wasn’t supposed to go like this.

Breaking the chain of my thought, Api spoke up, “Khushi, go and get ready. Esha will be so happy seeing you when she wakes up.”

I was considering saying no for this but Abbu spoke up sternly as if he did understood my plan, “Khushi, you should be with Areesha. Go and get ready.”

Finding nothing to say, I forwarded towards upstairs when I heard Api uttering happily, “Okay then the engagement will be done next Monday and marriage will be two days later from then.”

I heard Abbu saying, “Okay.” and rushed to my room with watery eyes while thinking what is it happening!

Getting to my room, I called Preety and told her everything. When she explained the things, I got calmed for a moment.

I was feeling bad like I was betraying Api and Muhib Vai as they were looking so happy while talking about the marriage.

Packing my luggage, I got out of my room and got downstairs after glancing at my room for the last time. I felt like I was living in my dream but in a good way.

With Api and Vai, I left my house after taking leave from my family.

All the way to Mahmud Mansion, Api kept talking how happy she was as the marriage really got fixed and I did nothing but kept all silent.

Seeing me like that, Api might think I was thinking of Arhaan as she spoke up caressing my hair, “Khushi, Arhaan is really a nice person. I am not saying this just because he is my brother or just for saying but he really is. Once you get to know him, you will feel this yourself.”

Finding nothing to say, I just smiled a little.

Entering the house, I heard Arhaan uttering, “Vai, it's good, you came. We need to leave early. And Api, you don't worry, uncle is on his way home.”

He uttered slowly the last part as he saw me with them and uttered confusingly, “You, here?”

Before I could say anything, Api came near me and spoke up, “While you are gone, Khushi will be with me and Esha.”

Muhib Vai spoke up then, “Arhaan, just 10 minutes. I need to get something and let me meet Esha.” and left for his room.

Smiling at us, Api also forwarded towards upstairs. When they were gone, Arhaan spoke up, “Khushi, what are you doing here?”

I spoke up in lower tone, “Actually Api” only to get cut off as he uttered, “Though I didn't want to do it but still I did. Hope you will also keep your promise.”

I uttered confidently, “I will, Arhaan.”

He again uttered, “If you get to get failed in this then” but got interrupted as Muhib Vai got near us taking Esha in his arms.

Taking leave from us, Vai and Arhaan left from there.

After few hours, a man of early sixties arrived there. Seeing me, he uttered, “You must be Khushi, right?”

With a nod, when I uttered, “Yes but who?”

Before I could complete my say, Areesha Api got there and hugged him happily as she spoke up, “He is my father.”

He also hugged her back and then letting go of her, he asked, “You alright, sweetie?”

Api nodded and uttered happily, “I am all good, Abbu. How's your trip?”

“It was fun but I missed you all. And where is my princess?” He spoke up while searching for Esha at last.

Right then Esha uttered loudly, “Grandy!!” as she came there running.

Sitting in the living room we gossiped for a while. In between Api introduced me again to him and he started talking to me like he knew me for a long time.

I immediately liked him as I always tried to find this nature in Abbu and Vai but they never cared for me.

Time started passing by so lively and happily that I didn't even feel that I wasn't a member of this house and I had to leave from here. We did some shopping in between and went to the park with Esha and Api also.

Api wasn't agreeing at first but I somehow got her convinced and took Esha there. Esha was so happy then.

As everything comes to an end, it was already 3 days and time for Arhaan and Vai to be back home. I was preparing to leave from their place.

Though Preety was trying to get me convinced to leave earlier but I wanted to be with them a little more time until Arhaan got back.

And finally today Arhaan was coming back and I need to leave just not from here but from my family too.

I need to be away so this family remains happy like this and no one gets to do something against his will nor I need to be locked somewhere.

I was packing my luggage when Esha came to my room. Seeing me packing, she asked, “Aunty, are you going somewhere?”

I didn't find instantly what to reply to her but kept staring at her and she again spoke up, “Will you take me with you, please?”

Before I could say something, she ran out of the room saying, “Wait, I am asking Mummy.”

Getting done with my packing, I got downstairs and found Api explaining Esha, “Your aunty is not leaving but coming back to live with us forever. If you don't let her go now, she won't be able to get back. So what will you do?”

Esha kept thinking for a moment while nodding and then spoke up, “Okay. If she promises me, she will come back soon, only then she can go.”

When she completed saying this, I was there. Turning to me, she spoke up, “Promise me, you will be back soon. Okay?”

I smiled at her antique but before I could answer her, she ran towards the entrance. As we heard Arhaan uttering, “Princess, we are home.” and standing by the door with Muhib Vai smilingly.

When api also got near them smilingly, I got back to my room to get my luggage while uttering sadly to myself, “It's time to leave, Khushi.”

Seeing me with my luggage, Api spoke up, “Khushi, dear wait for sometime. Arhaan will drop you.”

I answered sternly, “No api. I will go alone.”

Hearing me, she gave me a confused look but without bothering that, I somehow took leave from them and forwarded towards my destination only to get shocked finding them in my way again........