Accepting Reality ✔️

Part 1 - Stranger turned Saviour

"Kholo, Darwaaza kholo please, kholo!" 

("Open, open the door, please")

Khushi had been banging on the door for the last hour, but there was no response. Everything had happened so quickly that she couldn't make sense of it. One minute she was looking for Abhishek, her soon-to-be brother-in-law, and the next minute she was thrust onto a stage. She had never known such a world, only having seen models and actors on television. She froze and fell into the arms of a charming stranger. His close embrace had sent jolts through her body. Raised in a conservative household in Lucknow, Khushi had never been so close to a man. During her college graduation years, she had interacted with a few male classmates, but she had never been close to any of them. While she was struggling to get down, the stranger looked angry and pushed her away. Before she could understand what was happening, a few guards came and locked her in this room.

For the last hour, she had been crying and pleading, but no one answered her cries. Suddenly, the door opened, and her tears subsided as fear overtook her. The angry stranger walked in with his expression stern. He moved towards her with predatory steps, and Khushi, not knowing what to do, crouched beside a wall as if trying to hide from him. She wrapped her dupatta tightly around her body, trying to stop herself from shivering. Arnav was shocked to see the crying mess in front of him. Why would she be crying? Her work of ruining the show was done; she should probably be counting the money and rolling in it. Determined to give this intruder a piece of his mind, Arnav reached her.

Arnav: "How much money did you get for causing all this mess? Who sent you here?"

Khushi: "What? Money?"

Arnav: "Yes Money. How much did you get to ruin the fashion show?"

Khushi: "I didn't get any money nor did anyone send me here. Listen sir, please believe me, I came here to meet my would be brother-in-law. It's my sister's wedding today and I have the papers that need to be given for dowry. Please let me go!"

Aman: "That's a great story, don't believe it ASR. These girls can stoop to any level, won't even spare their family"

Khushi (hiccupping and sobbing): "I am not lying, I have the papers in my vehicle, you can find it"

Arnav gestures Aman to go find her vehicles and the papers. Meanwhile he gives Khushi a glass of water which she hesitates to take.

Arnav: "Don't be scared, I won't eat you up, you are safe here. You have nothing to worry about if you are not lying! But if I get to know that you are playing games with me, I won't spare you"

Khushi couldn't understand that whether he was scaring her or calming her but she took the water and quickly gulped it down. Then he offered her a sandwich which she ate quietly. Just at that moment, Aman came in.

Aman: "ASR the papers"

Arnav: "Thanks, Aman. Abhishek Mehta?"

Khushi: "He is the groom, my would be brother-in-law"

Arnav: "This mishtaan bhandar?"

Khushi: "It's my father's shop, he is a sweet maker"

Arnav: "Aman, why does this name sound so familiar, especially in the last few days. Can you check him out please?"

Aman: "Sure ASR"

Arnav: "And you.. what is your name?"

Khushi: "Khushi"

Arnav: "Come with me, show us the way to your house, Aman get the cars ready"

Without much explanation, Khushi was shown the way out. She quietly walked behind this ASR person, who exuded a sense of royalty and effortless grace, making everyone around him feel both awed and intimidated by his presence. Soon, three black luxury SUVs lined the parking lot. Khushi had never seen such cars, nor so many people with guns. A whole car was dedicated to those armed men. He seems like a big shot, thought Khushi. Obviously, if that entire fashion show was his, he had to be someone important. His people opened the doors to one of the cars, and he gestured for her to get in first. Clumsily, Khushi got in as she had never seen such type of vehicles before, sitting in it was all together a new ball game. He got in after her and asked Khushi to direct the driver. She did, and now they were standing outside her house, Gomti Sadan. The air outside her home was thick with tension. The luxury SUV parked outside her modest home drew curious and judgmental stares from neighbours and relatives alike. As they stepped out, whispers quickly spread like fire. Arnav had noticed the shocked expressions of a few of her neighbours which led him to understand that leaving from here was the best course of action. He had noticed the decorated house for the wedding and understood that Khushi was indeed innocent.