Closing Note

Dear Readers,

Thanks for being along for the journey. As I have mentioned a few hundred times now (Are you sick yet?), this is going to be my first complete SS, ever! I have written a lot of OSs, and mini stories, but the satisfaction of completing a multi chapter story, and typing up that little bow up at the end, and saying “The End”? That’s quite something else.

I thought I would share a little about how this story came to be. I was coming home from university one day, and I was contemplating the latest track that IPK has taken, which was one of a million Anjali dramas we were subjected to. I used to joke with my friends that she was “obsessed” with Arnav, quite the same way Shyam is with Khushi. At times, it felt like she depended on him a little too much, took him for granted way too often, and wanted him to give her what she wanted all the time. So I thought, what if we added a little bit of psychosis to that, and voila, we have a manipulative, crazy, psycho Anjali. The first scene that popped into my head was quite literally the last scene, Arnav asking Anjali why she did it, and Anjali saying that she did it for them, because Shyam and Khushi were taking them away from each other.

And so it began…my first ever “thriller”. I don’t think it was a great detective story, but I came to love it just the same, because I loved the characters I had created with it, especially Khan and Aman.

This story started after I have moved most of my work to blogs, due to personal reasons. Despite that, you have all welcomed it, and gave it and me all your love. Thank you for that. It means alot to me.

Hope to see you all again with another story.

Love,

Ridz

 

Epilogue

“It’s believed to be the wettest summer in a decade, Audrey,” said the reporter. The television was mounted high on the wall, unreachable to the viewers, but always filling the silent cafeteria with the chatter.

Audrey went on to talk some more about the weather report, and the woman watching the television disinterestedly until then, turned her head away to focus on the windows next to the table she was sitting at. She could see the mountains far away, beautiful despite the obstruction created by the fence around it, preventing the people from trying to climb out of it.

She sighed, wishing she could go outside and drench herself in the rain like she used to, despite the protests from…she let the thought trail off, not wanting to feel the disappointment and pain she experienced every time she thought of him.

Just then, a nurse walked up to her, and as if her thoughts had materialized him, told her that he was here to visit her. Her eyes widened in disbelief, she hadn’t heard so much of a peep from him in so long that she thought he had forgotten all about her.

A smile broke free on her face, and the nurse blinked in surprise and thought, she looks much prettier like that. Rushing up, she walked over to the door in the cafeteria, waiting for the guard to open the door. She felt another guard come up behind her to escort her, reminding her of her lack of freedom. She sighed, but said nothing as he led her through the various doors, finally coming to a stop in a room with glass walls.

She spotted him sitting in the corner of the room right next to the one she was standing in, and paused a moment to take him in. She noticed that he looked tired, like he hadn’t slept in a while. Seeing him run his hands through his hair, she smiled, remembering his tendency to do that when he was unsure or nervous. The guard stopped at the door, giving them an illusion of privacy.

She walked over to the chair right next to him and took a seat. The noise of the chair scraping made him look up and an unknown emotion flashed through his eyes before he controlled himself and put on the blank mask he had come to perfect.

“Chotte,” she said, smiling warmly at him, failing to notice the slight flinch at the endearment. “I knew you would come to visit me.”

He stared at her unblinkingly, and remained silent. Unfazed, she went on, “How are you? How is nani?”

A slight ‘v’ formed on his forehead, as his gaze turned contemplative, “Won’t you speak with me? Has Aakash returned from US? How are mamiji and mamaji doing?”

His eyes turned to stone, realizing that she was going to pretend that everything was alright.

“Won’t you ask about Khushi? About how my wife is doing?”

He, unlike his sister, didn’t miss the way she cringed, “Are you taking care of yourself? Taking your medicines?”

“I am doing okay, considering my wife was shot a few days ago by my sister,” he said, testing her.

Anjali’s smile didn’t reach her eyes, “Are you still….”

“Enough about me!” he screamed, getting up from his chair and punching the glass that was separating them. “Why don’t we talk about you? About what the fuck possessed you to do what you did?”

“Chotte, don’t speak like that…” she started, getting angry herself. Why was he behaving like that?

“Why did you do it, dammit!? Why did you set Khushi up?” He paid no heed to guard who was standing at attention, ready to take action if this went down-hill. “Why did you shoot her?”

“Khushi! Khushi! Khushi!” she screamed too, banging her hand against the slab in frustration. “This! This is why I set her up, and that bitch couldn’t just let it be, could she?”

“Don’t you see, chotte?” Anjali pleaded. “I did it for us. I was blind for three years, letting Shyam get the best of me. I didn’t see him for the scum he was, but I wasn’t going to make the same mistake with that bitch. So, when I saw the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, I took it.”

Her eyes flickered over his face, looking for a sign of understanding, and when she didn’t find it, she went on. “She was coming between us, chotte. They were coming between us. Don’t you realize that the only time we ever fought was when it concerned her? Don’t you see that she was driving a wedge between us?”

He stared at her, disbelief taking the place of the calm mask he was wearing, “I…”

“I did it for us, chotte,” she repeated, smiling at him, encouraging him to see her truth.

“Don’t call me chotte,” he said, his voice spewing venom, even though his tone remained calm. His eyes swam with tears he refused to shed, as he severed their bond forever, “Only my di can call me that, and you aren’t my di.”

Anjali started crying, stumbling over her own words in her haste to explain herself, “Chotte, please listen…”

“I don’t know who you are, but you aren’t my sister,” he said, shaking his head, and moving away from the glass. “We are done. I…we are done.”

He turned his back to her and walked away, leaving her screaming at him to listen to her. She paused, shocked, when she saw him hold out his hand for someone, when he was a little farther out. When she saw the woman she hated more than anyone, place her hand in his, she gave out a cry of anguish and broke down into sobs.

—–

Arnav walked away from the woman that had once meant the world to him. His eyes filled with tears, remembering the conversation he had just had. But he meant what he said, the woman in there wasn’t his sister, and he couldn’t hold on to her anymore, not when something precious was waiting for him on the other side.

He walked over to the one person that was holding him together and extended his hand towards her. Khushi placed her hand in his, and squeezed it once, letting him know that she was there for him. He clasped her hand tightly as they walked out of there.

They weren’t healed by any means, Khushi still had to deal with the scars Shyam left behind, Arnav has to come to term with the fact that he no longer had a sister, their loved ones have to accept the tragedies that happened to their families.

As they walked into the parking lot, the rain receded and the sun broke through. He hugged her to him, as she placed her hand on his heart, and kissed her forehead.

They would overcome this too, like they had many times before, with love and strength.

—The End—

And that’s a wrap! I posted a closing note, do read it 🙂 And please drop a comment to let me know what you think.

PS: Added an image for Aman, finally! 🙂

Chapter 10

Arnav Singh Raizada paced the length of the hallway in the police station, running his hands through his hair in frustration. He looked like a caged lion, and Singhania, who had just had talked to Khan, was afraid that he would get his head bitten off for the new he was about to deliver.

“Mr. Raizada,” he called out, steeling himself for the inevitable. “I talked to Mr. Khan.”

“Well, what the bloody hell did he say!?” asked Arnav, immediately looking over to Khushi, who had flinched at his tone, but was unresponsive otherwise.

Singhania remembered the conversation he had had with the man in question.

“Mr. Khan,” Singhania called out, as soon as he saw Khan walk into the station. Running to catch up with the man, Singhania said his piece, “Mr. Raizada wishes to speak with his sister. And since she is not yet charged with anything, you can’t deny him access to it.”

“Who said she isn’t charged, Singhania?” replied Khan, without looking up from the file one of his assistants had just handed over to him. “I thought you were in the interrogation room? She obstructed our investigation by deliberately keeping information from us; I’d say that’s enough to hold her for a while.”

“You know I can easily her out on bail,” said Singhania, hoping it wouldn’t get to that.

“Then do that,” said Khan, still not looking at him. “Oh, and you might want to get the paperwork ready for a bail petition on the murder charges too.”

With that parting shot, Khan walked away, leaving the other man standing behind, speechless.

“He refused to grant you permission to see her,” Singhania said, internally cringing at the rage that was taking over Arnav’s face. “They are charging her with obstruction of justice.”

Arnav let out of a string of curse words, “And you can’t do anything about this?”

“I’m trying, Mr. Raizada,” Singhania said. “Not many judges are around this time.”

Arnav shook his head in exasperation, and turning around, he pulled out his phone and called someone. As he walked away, his voice faded, “Hello Judge Shah, I need a favor…”

Singhania shook his head; of course Arnav would know his fair share of influential people.

Before Singhania could fully sigh in relief, Khan walked back into the main lobby, barking orders at his assistant as he came, “Get that report down here right this moment!”

Singhania rushed over to the interrogation room, so that he could warn Anjali, once again, to not say a thing.

Khan barged into the room, the swinging door slamming shut behind him.  Anjali flinched at the sound, tears streaming down her face, and turned towards Singhania, “When can I go home? Why are they still holding me here?”

“I’ll take that question, Mr. Singhania,” Khan said, slamming a couple of files and evidence bags onto the table, before pulling out the chair opposite Anjali and taking a seat.

“There are a couple of reasons, actually,” Khan said, pulling out the evidence bags. “We found this in the dumpster near your house,” he said, showing Anjali the evidence bag that contained her saree. “This has Mr. Jha’s blood all over it, and our analysts tell me that the pattern is not smudged, which means it could only have been on the person who was either stabbing or getting stabbed. And you look perfectly fine to me.”

Anjali’s eyes widened at seeing the saree, no blood was visible to the naked eye due to the color of the saree, but the light Khan was pointing at it, highlighted the drip marks.

“I don’t…” she started, only to be interrupted by Khan.

“And then there’s the DNA test results,” Khan said, plucking up a report from the table and flipping through the pages dispassionately. “Turns out that cut on your finger isn’t from a railing after all.”

Khan returned the report to the table and looked straight at Anjali, “There’s no point in lying now, Mrs. Jha. We have what we need and more to make an arrest. At this point, the only thing you could possibly do to help yourself is confess.”

Singhania sighed in frustration, everything was getting out of hand, and he couldn’t do anything about it. The minute Anjali had confessed to being at the murder scene, she could very well have been digging her own grave.

“Why did you do it, Anjali?” asked Khan, genuinely interested about her motives, dropping the façade of respect he had been maintaining until then. “Why kill you husband? And why did you set up Khushi to take the blame?”

At the mention of Khushi’s name, Anjali’s face took on a look of disgust. Her eyes flashed with determination and pride, for what, Khan didn’t know.

She leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table, and spoke, looking directly into his eyes. “It was such a great plan, Khan.”

Singhania blanched at the change in her, and stumbled over himself in his haste to stop her from damaging her chances further.

But Anjali paid no heed to her lawyer, “We were supposed to meet there, you know?” Anjali said, in a calm tone, as if discussing one the weather. “He called me that morning and begged to see me, told me that he missed me, which is why I took an auto instead of the car.”

She snorted, “You see, Chotey didn’t know that I was still visiting Shyam, which is why I couldn’t take a car, lest the driver tattle on me.”

“Mrs. Jha, please, listen to m…” Singhania started, only to be ignored again.

“And that bastard of a husband,” she said, her body shaking with rage. “How dare he cheat on me!? With that…that bitch, no less. I devoted three years of my life to him! I hung on to his every word and gave him everything he asked for, and he repays me by cheating on me? I don’t think so!”

“So yes, I killed him. It was the least that bastard deserved,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “He was confessing his love to her, telling her that I meant nothing. What would you have done?”

Khan raised an eyebrow at the question, Not get married, to start with, he thought but didn’t reply to her question verbally.

“Mrs. Jha, You are under arrest for the murder of Shyam Manohar Jha,” Khan said, getting up from his chair, and indicating the officer standing guard to arrest her. “You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you. You have a right to a lawyer, and if you can’t afford it, one will be provided to you by the state.”

Khan read her the Miranda rights, mentally thinking that she had denied all of them already.

Anjali’s confidence seemed to leave her in a single moment, as she realized what she had just said and what the consequences would be. She started tearing up, pleading with Khan to not arrest her.

Khan just shook his head and asked the officer to transfer her to a holding cell, until she could be booked. He walked out of the interrogation room, ahead of her and Singhania, and was met with Arnav’s angry face.

“I want to speak to her,” Arnav said, getting in Khan’s face. “The bail papers are on their way. You can check with Judge Shah.”

“You might want to call him back,” Khan said, not backing down. “We just arrested her for the murder of her husband.”

Khushi walked up behind Arnav, her expression in stark contrast to the one her husband was wearing.

“Wha…but…no!” Arnav screamed. “There must have been some mistake. Di wouldn’t kill him, no matter how much of a bastard he was!”

Seeing Anjali walk out the room, crying, Arnav turned to her, “What is happening, di!? They are saying you killed that man.”

“Chotey!” Anjali sobbed as she saw her brother. “I don’t know chotey! I didn’t do anything wrong!”

She looked to be on the verge of a mental breakdown, her plan had tumbled down around her, bringing her along with it. She turned her eyes to Khushi, who was standing right next to Arnav, with a dispassionate look in her eyes.

“It’s all your fault!” Anjali screamed. “You made me do all this, you bitch!”

“Di!” Arnav exclaimed in shock.

“I guess she’s disappointed that I didn’t take the fall for her crimes,” Khushi said calmly, not looking at him.

“Khushi, please,” Arnav pleaded, not having the slightest clue as to how to handle the situation he had found himself in.

He turned towards Anjali and said, “Why did you do that, di? Why did you say you saw Khushi killing Shyam?”

Anjali had never felt rage like that ever before in her life, not when she found out that her husband was cheating on her, not when she came to know that her brother had married the same woman her husband was having an affair with, and not even when she found Shyam and Khushi together near the temple that day.  She had done it all for him, how dare he take her side? How dare he question her actions?

“This is all your fault,” Anjali repeated, looking straight at Khushi, before pulling the service firearm the officer escorting her hadn’t secured correctly.

Everything happened in a matter of seconds then. Khushi stepped in front of Arnav, slightly, so that he doesn’t get hurt. The bullet shot rang loudly, echoing through the station. Khushi stumbled back into Arnav, blood coloring her clothes.

Khan pulled out his weapon, and aimed it at Anjali, asking her to drop the gun.

But it was too late, and the damage was already done.

—–

And that’s the last chapter! The epilogue will be up next week! 😀

God! The first last chapter of my story! That sounds so nice and weird at the same time! LOL!

Let me know what you think! 😀 I am sure you have quite a few things to say after this 😉

Chapter 9

“Hello Shan,” Khan greeted the man on the other end.

“Two calls in two days? I feel special,” joked Shan.

“I need another favor from that judge friend of yours,” Khan explained without beating around the bush.

“Oh, he’s not gonna like that,” breathed Shan. He owed Khan for getting him out of the bind more than once, but it was difficult enough to get the judge to bend his rules the first time around. Apparently the loose morals the judge practiced when it came to his marital life did not transfer over to his job.

“He wouldn’t have to bend his rules again, I just need to put a rush on a warrant,” said Khan, indicating a junior officer to fax the documents over to Shan. “I am going to fax you the evidence now.”

Shan sighed in relief. Now that he could do.

“You’ll have it in an hour,” assured Shan and hung up.

Khan wasn’t, by nature, a helpful person. But it was extremely useful to have a man like Shan on his speed dial.

—–

Arnav paced in the waiting room, not knowing what to do or how to get di out of the bind she had gotten into. He hoped the lawyer was doing his god-damn job and making sure that Anjali was not saying anything that would implicate her. He turned to glance at Khushi who hadn’t said a word ever since Khan had almost arrested her. She was staring at the floor, locking and unlocking her fingers, looking deep in thought. Arnav was worried that she had gone into shock, but she had come with him and Anjali when they started for the station, not saying a word, but getting into the back seat and staring out the window all the way, as Anjali had cried and pleaded with him not to take her to the station.

Seeing the door to interrogation open and Singhania walk out, Arnav cleared his thoughts and rushed over to him.

“What happened? Can she leave? Did they clear her yet? This is absurd, Mr. Singhania, di couldn’t hurt a fly!”

Singhania sighed, not wanting the deliver the news he was about to, which would surely make Arnav lose his temper.

“They are seeking a warrant for Mrs. Jha’s DNA and her possessions,” explained Singhania. “Despite my advice, Mrs. Jha had given away information that might be detrimental to her innocence.”

“What the fuck, Singhania?” screamed Arnav. “I am not paying you a shit ton of money so that you can send my sister to jail. What do you mean evidence detrimental to her innocence?”

“Anjali admitted to seeing Khushi kill Shyam,” explained Singhania. “And she had blood on her hand according to Mohan’s statement, and they found blood on the knife which didn’t belong to either Shyam or Khushi. Since Anjali admitted to being there, in addition to Mohan’s testimony against her, they have enough evidence for at least a preliminary search and DNA warrant.”

Khushi had looked up when her name was mentioned, and other than a small confused glance, said nothing to either Arnav or Singhania.

“Di was there? And she said she saw Khushi kill Shyam? Why would she say that?” asked Arnav, agitated.  “Even if Khushi did do it, why would she tell that to the police?”

“It might have to do with the fact that she hates me,” said Khushi quietly, speaking for the first time in hours. “Right, Mr. Singhania? Is that what she said?”

“I really can’t discuss…” started Singhania, only to have Arnav cut him off.

“Cut the crap, Singhania. I am the one paying the bill, either tell me what the fuck happened in there or I will find her a new lawyer, one who can better protect her and give me the information I need.”

Singhania sighed, “She said Mrs. Raizada killed her husband in a jealous rage because he loved your sister and not your wife.” Even as he said it, Singhania realized that might not have been the best way to deliver the sentence.

Arnav gave him a sharp look but said nothing, and Khushi gave a snort that did not fit the atmosphere of the room at all. Arnav gave Khushi another worried look before turning towards Singhania and saying, “I don’t understand what’s gotten into her and I need to speak with her, right now. Make arrangements, and Singhania, you better get her out of this.”

With that he turned around and walked over to sit by Khushi, and tried to take her hand. She moved her hand away subtly without looking at him. Singhania didn’t miss the look of hurt that passed the man’s face before he turned around and went to talk to Khan.

—–

“Search the premises,” Khan said, walking into RM for the second time that day and handing over the warrant to a startled mamiji. “Especially Mrs. Jha’s room, I want to know everything there is to know about her, do you understand!?” he asked his scared officers.

 

“Yes sir,” they yelled in reply and scattered.

 

“Ram, come here,” he called the man who was about to leave. “Take a couple of other people with you and search the outside, and tell the rookie to go search the dumpsters.”

 

Ram hesitated, the outside was freaking huge and he wasn’t sure a couple more people would cut it. Khan raised an eyebrow, “Would you like to switch roles with the rookie?”

 

“N..no, sir,” answered Ram, and disappeared into the house, to get his friends and poor John.

 

“What’s going on?” asked mamaji once Khan was standing alone in the living room. “Why are you searching bitiya’s room?”

 

“Looks like you missed all the fun earlier,” said Khan, taking a seat as if he owned the place. “Turns out your bitya is even more khatarnak than your bahu.”

 

“What are you talking about?” questioned Mamaji, the famous Raizada temper showing itself on his usually calm face.

 

“Mrs. Jha is being investigated in the murder of Shyam Jha, other than that I really cannot share any details on ongoing investigations,” said Khan, getting up and walking over to the officers who had come out of Anjali’s room.

 

“There’s nothing in there that would connect Mrs. Jha to the murder, sir,” reported one of them. Khan nodded and told them to help Ram and John.

 

“We’ll keep in touch,” Khan said and walked out of RM, leaving mamaji and the other family members who had entered the room speechless.

 

As he walked out the house, he heard John come running over to him, evidence bag carrying something in his hands.

 

“You combed through all the dumpsters already?” asked Khan, surprised.

 

“No sir,” replied John. “But I…”

 

“Then what are you doing in front of my eyes, John!?” screamed Khan. The stupid case and his officers were getting on his last nerve.

 

“I found something, sir,” replied John, without backing down. Growing up in the slums, he had come across bullies like Khan many a times, and showing fear to them would be the worst thing he could do to himself. “I think I found Mrs. Jha’s clothes that she wore the day of the murder.”

 

Saying this, John handed over the evidence bag to Khan which contained a dark red net saree, that looked similar to the one Anjali had on right now. “I was on my way to search the dumpster when I came across two woman fighting over the saree, it looked similar to the one Mrs. Jha has on now and it looks really expensive, so I don’t think someone would just discard it in a dumpster,” explained John, blushing slightly when Khan raised an eyebrow at John’s extensive knowledge of sarees. “On closer inspection, I found that it had some stains on it, but it is hard to see what it is due to the dark color. I thought we could get it back to the lab for testing?”

 

Khan looked up at the rookie officer steadily for a second before nodding, “Not too bad. Take this over to the lab,” he said, placing his sun-glasses on and walking towards his car. He glanced over at the small group of officers talking among themselves and glancing at him and John occasionally, “Oh, and tell Ram and his colleagues to comb through the rest of the dumpsters to see if they can find something you missed.”

Those idiots were getting way too relaxed around him.

 

—–

 

One more chapter and then epilogue! This is going to be my first complete story! I am so excited! Let me know your thoughts!

And I shall be pruning the invite list tonight or tomorrow, depending on how sleepy I am! LOL!

Chapter 8

“I guess you’re free…” said Khan, taking off the cuff he had put on her. “…for now.”

 

He turned towards Aranv and said, “Where can I find Mrs. Jha? Or should I say Mrs. Raizada? I heard they were separated for a while now.”

 

“You aren’t taking di anywhere. She has been through a lot already and I am not about to let you drag her name through the mud,” Arnav said.

 

“Well, maybe you should have discussed that with your lawyer, Mr. Raizada,” said Khan, looking up the stairs as Anjali walked down. “He didn’t seem to get the memo.”

 

“What’s the meaning of all this, Aman? I hired you to defend my wife not prosecute di!”

 

“You’re right, I was hired to protect Khushi and that is exactly what I am doing. I don’t know why your sister did the things she did, Arnav, but I am not about to throw my client under the bus to protect someone else, and since it would be a conflict of interest to represent them both, I suggest you get her a lawyer right now.”

 

“What’s happening here?” asked Anjali, walking over to Arnav and placing her hand on his shoulder. “Chotey?”

 

“Nothing di, Mr. Khan was just leaving,” Arnav said without looking at her.

 

“Actually, I was just looking for you, Mrs…Jha, is it?” said Khan. “Mr. Raizada here seems to be suffering from short term memory loss.”

 

“Me? Why do you want to speak with me?” Anjali asked, her tone even.

 

“Some new information came to light, Mohan here, unfortunately, had to cut his trip short and come tell us all about your car ride home the day your husband was killed.”

 

Anjali looked at Mohan for the first time since she entered the room and some unknown emotion passed through her eyes before she pulled herself together.

 

“I don’t know what that has to do with anything,” she said, looking at Khan.

 

“That means you were either a witness to the murder or the perpetrator,” said Khan slowly, as if explaining to a child. “In either case, you can be charged with obstruction of justice in the least and first degree murder at the worst. Depends on you co-operation, of course.”

 

“Mr. Khan this is completely preposterous,” Arnav started, only to be interrupted by the man in question.

 

“Enough chit chat, either Mrs. Jha comes to station voluntarily or I will take her there myself,” Khan said, getting irritated.

 

“Chotey?” Anjali asked, tearing up, losing her calm façade completely. “What’s happening? I didn’t do anything wrong!”

 

“Di, it’s fine,” he said, trying to calm her down. “I know you didn’t do anything wrong.”

 

“I don’t want to go to the station! Why should I when I did nothing wrong?” she cried, looking at him.

 

“Fine then, we’ll do this the hard way,” he said, motioning to the female officer he had bought with him to take Anjali into custody.

 

“No, no! Let me go,” Anjali screamed, moving away from the officer.

 

“That’s enough,” yelled Arnav. “I’ll bring her there myself, you can leave now.”

 

Khan nodded, “Don’t make me make another trip, you won’t like the consequences,” he said, walking out the door.

 

The whole damn family was nuts!

 

—–

 

“I don’t want to go in there, Chotey,” Anjali said, clinging to Anrav’s hand.

 

“It’ll be fine, di,” Arnav reassured. “Mr. Singhania is the best defense lawyer out there, don’t worry.”

 

“Ready when you are Mrs. Jha,” said Khan, coming out of the interrogation room. “Actually, scrap that, I am ready to interrogate, let’s go.”

 

Anjali walked into the room apprehensively, and took a seat in front of Khan.

 

“So Mrs. Jha, care to share what you were doing at the temple the day your husband was killed?” asked Khan.

 

“It was an auspicious day, I was attending a puja,” explained Anjali.

 

“And how did you get there?” inquired Khan.

 

“I took an auto. All the cars were out that day.”

 

“And…how long were you there?”

 

“About an hour or two,” Anjali said, looking at her lawyer before answering every question.

 

“And then you went straight home?” asked Khan.

 

“Yes, Mohan dropped me off like he must have told you,” Anjali said, biting her lip.

 

“What he told us isn’t relevant. Anyway, did you tell him that Mrs. Raizada had gone home already and didn’t need a car anymore?”

 

Anjali nodded, prompting him to ask the next question, “Why?”

 

“I…I didn’t see her in the temple and I thought she must have gone home already,” replied Anjali.

 

“I see…we also have a witness saying you had your hands covered in blood, care to share what that’s about?”

 

“It…it was my own blood, I cut my hand on the railing,” Anjali explained.

 

“That?” Khan asked pointing to a band aid, I don’t think that would ‘cover’ your hands in blood,” Khan said.

 

Anjali stayed silent, not answering his indirect question.

 

Khan stopped beating around the bush, “Did you kill Mr. Jha?”

 

“Of course, not! He was my husband!” yelled Anjali, tears streaming down her face.

 

“Mr. Khan?” his second in command said, knocking on the door of the room. “There’s a new development, sir.”

 

“I’ll be right back,” Khan said, and left the room.

 

“The lab just called, sir. There’s blood on the top of the hilt, and it doesn’t match Shyam’s or Mrs. Raizada’s DNA.”

 

“Hmm…okay,” Khan said, walking back into the room.

 

“Looks like it’s your bhabhi’s lucky day, Mrs. Jha, she might not be the killer after all,” said Khan, sitting opposite Anjali again.

 

“What do you mean?” asked Anjali, confused.

 

“We found new evidence that might clear her,” explained Khan, looking at Anjali’s expressions keenly.

 

“But…but she killed him…” Anjali said, looking on the edge of hysteria.

 

“Doesn’t look like it,” said Khan, leaning back in his chair.

 

“I saw it!” Anjali said in one last ditch effort to save herself.

 

“Saw what, exactly?”

 

“I saw her kill him,” said Anjali, not paying any attention to her lawyer who was advising her against speaking.

 

“And why would she do that?” asked Khan.

 

“She always liked him, I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t want to hurt Chotey, but I can’t take the blame for something she did. Shyam must have told her that he loved me and not her and she killed him in a jealous rage,” said Anjali, sobbing.

 

“I see, in that case, you wouldn’t have any trouble voluntarily giving us your DNA?” asked Khan.

 

“I…no…why?” Anjali asked, confused.

 

“Didn’t think so, it’s okay, you admitted to being there and then there’s Mohan’s statement, I think that should be enough to get a warrant,” said Khan, collecting his files and leaving the room.

—–

So…how is it? Let me know! This should have one or two more updates at most, and an epilogue.

Also, this the third episode, so if you haven’t commented on the last two, and don’t comment in the next week, I shall assume you don’t want to be here anymore 😛

Chapter 7

“Now, wait just a second, Mr. Khan,” said Aman, who had just arrived at the house. He had called the station, asking to speak to Mr. Khan, only to be informed that he was at RM, arresting his client.

 

“Mr. Mathur,” said Khan, lifting an eyebrow in question. “Fancy seeing you here.”

 

“I could say the same,” said Aman, as he walked further into the room. “She’s my client. What’s your excuse?”

 

“I am about to be her arresting officer,” said Khan, with a smirk.

 

“And you are absolutely sure about her guilt?”

 

“Sure enough to arrest her.”

 

“Well, like I said, wait until you hear what I found,” said Aman, indicating to his assistant to bring in the witness. Arnav and Khushi were surprised to find mohan walk into the room, being led by Aman’s assistant.

 

“What is this?” asked Khan. “Who is he?”

 

“This is me doing your job for you,” said Aman, smiling condescendingly. “And he is my witness.”

 

“Mohan?” Arnav asked confused. “What does he have to do with anything?”

 

“How did you think Khushi got to the temple, Arnav?” asked Aman.

 

“She doesn’t like using the car,” said Arnav, frowning. “She usually either catches a ride with me in the morning, or takes an auto.”

 

Aman nodded, not saying anything furthur to Arnav or Khushi.

 

“Mr. Khan, I was looking to find people who would have seen Khushi last, so naturally I enquired the RM drivers about who had driven her to the temple, to be informed that it was Mohan, who had mysteriously gone missing ever since Shyam’s death. So I had my assistant track him down, and he has some very interesting things to say.”

“Really now?” said Khan, turning towards Mohan. “Maybe we should take this down to the station?”

 

“Again, Mr. Khan, patience,” said Aman, smirking. “You might save yourself a trip in the scorching sun if we do it here.”

 

“Mathur, what the hell are you talking about?” asked Khan, tired of beating around the bush.

 

“Would you like to tell the nice officer what you told me, Mohan?” asked Aman, and when he didn’t reply, said, “Well, I didn’t think so. But tell him anyway. I heard he isn’t very patient when people hold back information.”

 

“I…” Mohan started, nervously flicking his eyes towards Arnav. “I dropped Khushiji off at the temple that day.”

 

And when he didn’t continue, Khan barked, “And!?”

 

Aman was little more patient, “And you didn’t wait to drop her home, did you?”

 

Mohan shook his head, still not meeting anyone’s eyes for more than a second.

 

“Why didn’t you?” asked Aman, his voice carrying a warning for Mohan to tell Khan all he knows or suffer the consequences.

 

“Woh…An…Anjaliji was there too,” Mohan said, keeping his gaze off of Arnav who was glaring at him. “Mem sahab said that Khushiji already went home and that she won’t be needing a ride. I bought Anjaliji home, but…”

 

“You really don’t want to test my patience, boy,” said Khan, taking a threatening step towards Mohan.

 

Mohan’s eyes widened as he took a step away from the threatening man. “I…I noticed that Anjaliji’s hands had blood on them and asked her if she was hurt. She told me that she was fine, but she was very agitated.”

 

“And what else did she say?” raising a hand towards Arnav who stepped forward, looking ready to rip Mohan’s head off for accusing his di.

 

“She gave me some money and asked me to go visit my family for a few days. I hadn’t visited my family at all that year, so I didn’t question it,” said Mohan, pleading with Aman, who seemed to be the only one who did not want to kill him at the moment.

 

“There you go, Khan,” said Aman. “Your whole case was based on the fact that Khushi is the only one who fits the bill. I just gave you a new suspect who had motive, means, and was last seen a block away from the crime scene.”

 

“Now…” Aman said, walking towards Khan. “You can arrest Khushi, and I can go get a judge to declare that warrant invalid or you can start doing your job honestly.”

—–

So? How was it? And sorry if you find any mistakes, this hasn’t been proofread. Had a busy busy weekend! Will get back to editing tomorrow!

R & R!

Chapter 6

“Hello Mr. Raizada?” asked Khan.

 

“Yes, speaking,” replied Arnav, trying not to wake up Khushi.

 

“This is Mr. Khan. We are sorry to inform you that we need Mrs. Raizada to come in for some more questioning,” he said, his tone suggesting that he was anything but sorry.

 

“Why? I thought you already concluded that it was self-defense?” Arnav asked, enraged that Khushi would have to go through this again.

 

“We didn’t conclude any such thing, Mr. Raizada. You did,” Khan replied. “Be here in the morning, or we’ll have to come get her.”

 

Arnav swore softly after Khan hung up.

 

He looked at Khushi, who, even in her sleep, looked like she carried the weight of the world on her shoulder. He wished he could do something, anything, so that she wouldn’t have to go through this again. He knew that Khan had already decided on Khushi’s guilt, and felt an uncontrollable rage at him.

 

He sighed, there was nothing he could do now. He would call the lawyers in the morning and tell them about what had just transpired.

 

—–

 

Khushi woke up for the second time, with a sense of trepidation. She wished that she could go back to sleep, and forget the real world, the pain, the anxiety, the hurt, all of it. Just then, Arnav walked into the room, reminding her of the one thing that grounded her to reality. Ironic that she finally got her prince charming, only to have the rest of her life fall to pieces.

 

“How did you sleep?” he asked.

 

“Fine. Did you get any sleep last night?” she asked, tracing the darkness around his eyes.

 

He caught her hand in his and placed a kiss on her palm, “A little.”

 

“We…” he hesitated. “We need to go back to the station. They have a few more questions for you.”

 

Khushi frowned, “Why? I am sure they did a background check on me by now. They must know what a creep Shyam was. Why are they still pursuing this!?”

 

“I don’t know, Khushi. I wish I did,” Arnav said, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “The lawyers say we have nothing to worry about.”

 

“But what if Khan didn’t let it go, Arnavji?” Khushi asked, afraid of the consequences if the system failed her.

 

Arnav sighed. He wished he didn’t have to discuss this with her. “The lawyers say, in the worse case scenario, they will make sure that you get out on self-defense. Only if they can’t create a reasonable doubt, that is.”

 

“But I didn’t do it, Arnavji” Khushi yelled, frustrated. “I would remember if I killed a man!”

 

Before Arnav could reply, she got off the bed and walked over to the bathroom, slamming the door shut on her way in.

 

—–

 

Khushi and Arnav walked into the station. He took her stiff hand into his, rubbing soothing circles on her knuckles.

 

“It’ll be fine,” he whispered.

 

“Mr. Raizada,” Aman said, as we walked over and extended a hand towards Arnav. “They are ready for Mrs. Raizada, we can go in whenever she is comfortable.”

 

Khushi nodded determinedly, wanting to get out of there as soon as possible.

 

Aman led them to an office, which was vastly different than the investigating room Khushi had been in the last time. The room had a wall of glass, and another small glass window running along the rest of it. There was a sofa, set in a corner, and a small coffee table before it, with a pot of water and a couple of glasses on it.

 

He turned towards Arnav at the door, “I am going to ask you to wait outside, Mr. Raizada.”

 

“Absolutely not,” said Arnav, squeezing Khushi’s hand in support.

 

“I understand your feelings, but no matter how noble your intentions, the officer will be trying to get a reaction out of Mrs. Raizada. And you punching him will not help our case,” explained Aman, calmly.

 

“It’s okay, Arnavji. I’ll be fine,” said Khushi, with a forced smile.

 

Arnav nodded, and reluctantly walked over to the waiting room.

 

Aman led Khushi into the room, and tried to reassure her.

 

“This isn’t a formal interrogation, I made sure of it,” said Aman, taking the single chair, and leaving Khushi to occupy the sofa.

 

Khan walked into the room, and sat opposite Aman, diagonal to Khushi.

 

“I see money can buy you comfort even in a police station,” said Khan, looking at Khushi.

 

Khushi cringed at the underlying venom in his statement.

 

“Mr. Khan…” started Aman.

 

“Settle down, Mr. Mathur,” said Khan, waving a hand at him. “It was just an observation.”

 

“As fascinating as your chit-chat is, shall we get started?” said Aman, drawing Khan’s attention away from Khushi.

 

“Of course, I am sure you are costing Mrs. Raizada’s husband a pretty penny,” said Khan, before turning towards Khushi again. “I am sure you are wondering why you were brought in again. The thing is, Mrs. Raizada, I go by the motto of ‘guilty until proven innocent’, and irrelevant of what your dear husband has told you, you seem far from innocent.”

 

“I’d watch my words if I were you, Mr. Khan. You are bordering on police harassment,” said Aman, trying to keep Khan in line.

 

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Khan smirked. “I ran a background check on you, your love story with Shyam is fascinating. No one in your neighborhood knew anything about Shyam being Mr. Raizada’s jijaji, even now. All we have to go on that Shyam was actually obsessed with you, is your and your family’s words, which, I am sure you understand, doesn’t hold any legal value.”

 

Khushi’s eyes filled with tears, she wasn’t sure what she did to make this man hate her so much.

 

“And then there are the reports Dr. Patel sent over. You know, I have to say, I was quite surprised to see them. She said there was a possibility that you had killed him, but your trauma might be blacking out the events. Which I don’t buy, just to put that out there.”

 

Khushi blinked, But…but Priya had said…

 

“Nervous yet? I would be if I were you. Shyam was stabbed fifteen times, Mrs. Raizada. The coroner said that he would have been unconscious by the fifth. It was an overkill. He was murdered, it might not have been premeditated, but it was definitely no self-defense.”

 

At this, Khan turned to look at Aman.

 

“She gets a deal if she confesses right now, Mathur. I would take it if I were you.”

 

“You don’t have any concrete evidence, Khan,” said Aman, returning the favor. “Or you would have arrested her by now. Piling up circumstantial evidence does not make your case stronger.”

 

Aman stood up, and Khushi followed, wiping away her tears.

 

“Now, unless you have something else, we are leaving,” said Aman, moving back to let Khushi walk out of the room.

 

Arnav engulfed her in a hug as soon as she was out of the room, asking her if she was alright. She nodded, keeping her head bent down, avoiding looking at Khan.

 

“Can we go, Arnavji?” she asked, not moving out of his hug.

 

Arnav looked at Aman in question, and received a nod in response.

 

“Sure, let’s go,” he said, and walked out of the station, Khushi’s hand in his.

 

Khan looked at them leave, flicking the warrant in his pocket.

 

—–

 

The gates to Raizada Mansion flung open for police vehicles for only the second time in it’s history.

 

Khan stepped out of his car, taking off his glasses and stared at the enormous mansion before him. The sun burned brightly, and the heat waves emanating from the ground caused sweat to roll down his face. He removed a pocket kerchief and wiped it away as best as he could. He walked over to the front door, and pressed the bell, and observed his surroundings while he waited for the door to opened.

 

HP opened the door and seeing a police officer standing there, he ran off to tell Arnav.

 

Khan walked into the living room, sighing in relief  at the air conditioning, and took a seat on the sofa. His legs crossed, and his arms resting on the arm, he looked right at home. Arnav walked down the staircase, with Khushi following close behind him.

 

“Mr. Khan? What are you doing here?” asked Arnav, standing in front of Khushi, slightly blocking her from Khan’s view.

 

“I am not sure how much Mrs. Raizada told you, but we have a long list of evidence that points to this being a deliberate murder. Quite contrary to Mr. Mathur’s belief, that is enough to make an arrest, and the judge thought so too,” said Khan smugly, remembering the friend he had tracked down who specialized in making people’s problems go away, powerful people, people whose dirty laundry his friend knew all about. And it had come in quite handy too.

 

“That is preposterous! It was self-defense,” said Arnav, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

 

Khushi stood behind him, staring at the floor. No tears swirled in her eyes, she was all cried out. She was tired, so so  tired of fighting to survive.

 

Which is why when Khan said, “We’ll let the jury decide that,” and moved over to cuff her, she made no move to protest it.

—-

Okay, phew, that was a long one. Please let me know what you think! 🙂

Chapter 5

Arnav walked into their room after ending his call with the lawyer. He panicked when he couldn’t find Khushi, but relaxed once he heard the sound of the shower. He went to the poolside and started watering his plants, the one thing that retained some semblance of calm and normalcy to his chaotic life.

 

He finished watering all the plants and looked into his room, and still not finding Khushi out of the shower, he went to knock on the door.

 

“Khushi?” he called, “Khushi, it’s been a long time, aren’t you done yet?”

 

Not hearing a response, he knocked again, louder. “Khushi? Khushi!? Are you alright?”

 

He remembered that she got hit on the head twice from what she told them today and cursed at himself for not taking better care of her. “Khushi!? I’m coming in!”

 

He knocked a couple more times and not getting an answer, started hitting the door to break it. After a couple of hard hits, the door broke off it’s hinges.

 

What he found broke his heart.

 

Khushi was sitting in the shower, surrounded by steam, head placed in between her folded legs. Her body was racking with sobs. He could hear her muttering something between the sobs, but couldn’t make out what it was.

 

“Khushi!” he called out, and tried to enter the shower, only to hiss at the temperature of the water. He turned off the tap and hugged her to him.

 

“Shhh…Khushi, it’s alright,” he said, picking her up in his arms. “Shh…”

 

Khushi wrapped her arms around his neck, finding the comfort she needed in his embrace.

 

He placed her on the bed and started drying her with the towel that was on the bed. The sudden temperature drop from the shower was causing her to shiver.

 

“Shh…I’ll be right back, Jaan,” he comforted her, and pulled away to get her change of clothes. He re-dressed her and placed her on the bed again, pulling the comforter up so that she would be more comfortable.

 

He intertwined her hand with his, and sat beside her on the bad. Her blood-shot eyes looked up at him, and when she saw the love and pain in his eyes, her own filled with tears.

 

“Shh…,” he said, and wiped the tears that escaped her eyes. “What happened, Khushi?”

 

She wrapped her hands around his neck again and hugged him tight. “I…I can’t get the thought of his touch out of my mind, Arnavji,” she said between sobs. “It’s like he’s haunting me.”

 

Arnav closed his eyes, trying to reign in his anger. If only I could get my hands on you, you bastard!

 

“Why is this happening to me, Arnavji? What did I do to deserve this?”

 

He pulled away to look into her eyes, “Khushi, you did nothing to deserve any of this. Nothing, you understand me? You are the most wonderful person I know.”

 

“How can you say that? How can you look at me with so much love? After what he did to me…”

 

Arnav shook his head, and caught her face in his hands. “Exactly Khushi, what he did. The bastard is the only one to blame. And if anything, I am to blame, for not taking you away from this place, away from every bad memory you ever had.”

 

Khushi started shaking her head even before Arnav finished his sentence. “Don’t say that, Arnavji. You have been wonderful to me.”

 

Before he could reply, there was a knock on the door. He opened the door to find Anjali on the other side.

 

“Chotey? Can I talk to Khushiji?” she asked, hesitantly.

 

“Di…it’s not really a good time,” he said, apologetically.

 

“It’s fine, Arnavji,” Khushi said, getting up from the bed and walking over to him. “Come in, d..Anjaliji.”

 

Arnav stepped aside, throwing a doubtful glance at Anjali.

 

“Khushiji…I…I wanted to talk to you about my behavior towards you for the past few days,” Anjali said, hesitantly.

 

“Ji?” Khushi asked, hesitantly. “Baithiye”

 

Anjali took Khushi’s hand in hers and looked at her with tear filled eyes.

 

“I am sorry, Khushiji. I am so sorry for not believing you.”

 

“Anjaliji…”

 

“Please call me di, Khushi. Like you used to, please.”

 

“Di…don’t say such things. You weren’t at fault. Anyone in your place would have reacted the same way.”

 

“I should have trusted you, Khushiji. I didn’t think my husband was capable of such things, and now you have to pay for that.”

 

“Di, please don’t say that,” Khushi said, placing her own hand on Anjali’s.

 

“Nani told me what happened. Maybe, maybe if I realized it sooner, you wouldn’t have had to…I mean, maybe this wouldn’t have happened,” Anjali said, looking into her eyes.

 

“Di, I…I didn’t…you believe me, don’t you? I would never…”

 

“It’s okay, Khushiji. You must have had good reason,” Anjali said, comfortingly.

 

“But I didn’t, di!” Khushi said, now growing desperate to prove her innocence.

“Di…” Arnav tried to intervene.

 

Anjali looked at Khushi with searching eyes, “It’s okay, Khushiji. I believe you,” she said with a hesitant smile.

 

Khushi threw her hands around Anjali in relief. “Thanks for believing me, di. Thank you so much.”

 

Anjali pulled back from the hug and wiped away Khushi’s tears. “I should go now. Take care, Khushiji.”

 

Arnav closed the door after Anjali left, and smiled a small smile. At least one good thing came out of this, he thought, relieved that Anjali finally decided to see things for how they were.

 

“That was nice of di,” Khushi said when he walked back to her. “I thought she would hate me even more.”

 

“I told you she’ll come around, didn’t I?” he said, lying down beside her.

 

“Go to sleep, Khushi. I’ll be right here when you wake up,” he said, wrapping his arm around her and placing a small kiss on her forehead.

 

Khushi drifted off to sleep, safe in his embrace.

 

—–

 

“Did you get the information I wanted!?” barked Khan.

 

“Ye…yes, sir,” said Paul, one of the junior officers.

 

“Oh, why don’t you go have some coffee and snacks before you come and tell me all about it,” Khan said, sarcastically. “What the hell are you waiting for!?”

 

Paul launched into the report, afraid that anymore delay would get him fired.

 

“Mrs. Raizada is the second daughter of Shashi Gupta and Garmia Gupta. They have an older daughter, Payal, who is also married into the Raizada family. She’s Akash Raizada’s wife. From what I could find out, the Guptas moved to Delhi from Lucknow about eight months ago after Payal’s rishta broke. Khushi started working for ASR right around that time too.”

 

“Hmm…classic case of the middle class gold-digger, then? I thought ASR was smarter than that,” commented Khan.

 

“That’s the case, sir. There is no indication of Khushi ever pursuing ASR. She even quit the job at AR in the first 15 days. But soon after, she was hired by ASR’s sister to teach Lavanya, then ASR’s girl-friend, how to be a perfect bahu. In the meanwhile, Madhumati Gupta, Khushi’s buaji, rented the spare room out to Shyam who pretended to be a bachelor. Their engagement was broken soon after. Lavanya had also broken it off with Arnav and went off to UK. Khushi continued to go to the Raizada mansion, as by then Payal and Aakash’s wedding was fixed.”

 

“And she trapped ASR then?” Khan pondered.

 

“I don’t know, sir. They showed up married on their siblings’ wedding day, claiming that they loved each other and couldn’t wait to get married.”

 

“Bullshit. She must have been pregnant or something, only reason a person like ASR would ever agree to marry a girl like her,” he looked at Paul questioningly. “Anything else?”

 

“ASR threw Shyam out of the house soon after, claiming that he had kidnapped him and was planning to kill him for his money. That’s all I could find out, sir.”

 

“Only two people have any real motive to want Shyam dead, ASR and Khushi. ASR has a solid alibi for Shyam’s estimated time of death, whereas Khushi was found next to his dead body with the murder weapon in her hand. She is definitely the killer, and from what you just told me, she must have done it intentionally,” said Khan.

 

“She’s our prime suspect…in fact, she’s our only suspect.”

——

Hitashi, this isn’t a AU story, sorry for the disappointment there. But this goes out to you, breaking my OCD wasn’t easy, but your persistence paid off, huh? 😛

Also, peeps, this is the third update after I closed off the blog. I am going to review the invite list before updating again. If you commented on none of the 3 updates, you will get taken off, okay? Yes, yes, I am rude. 😛

Chapter 4

“I…I remember,” Khushi said in a dead voice, and then spat out the next sentence in disgust. “He…he kissed me.”

 

Khushi jumped off the recliner and started pacing the room, agitated. Arnav was about to touch her, but she flinched away, but looked up in apology when she realized who it was.

 

“It’s okay,” he said, attempting to smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

 

“What do you remember, Khushi?” asked Priya, interrupting the silent conversation between Arnav and Khushi.

 

“I..” Khushi hesitated, looking up at Arnav to gauge his reaction.

 

“It’s okay,” he said again, reaching out for her hand. This time she wrapped her hand in his and looked back at Priya.

 

“He…he kissed me,” she said, her voice breaking. “I couldn’t get away. He was so strong. I tried, but it was too hard. I couldn’t break free,” she pleaded, as if asking them to understand that she had tried the best she could.

 

“It’s okay, Khushi. It’s not your fault,” Arnav said, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

 

“He’s right, Khushi. It’s no ones fault but Shyam’s, you need to remember that,” said Priya. “Go on.”

 

“I think…I think I bit him. And he stumbled back, looking angry. I thought he would hit me again,” she shuddered, remembering how maniacal Shyam had looked. “But then…he looked up, confused, as if there was someone there. And then I felt someone hit me on my head.”

 

“I don’t remember anything after that until I woke up,” she said, looking up at Priya, as if asking for an explanation, or a reassurance.

 

When Priya didn’t say anything, Khushi grew agitated. “There was someone else there. That means, I didn’t kill him, right?” she asked, desperately.

 

“That’s a possibility, Khushi,” said Priya, with a smile. “Why don’t you go wait outside? I will write you some medication to help you with your anxiety.”

 

Khushi nodded and started walking out the room, taking Arnav with her.

 

“Mr. Raizada?” called Priya. “Can you wait here? I will give you the prescription.”

 

Arnav looked down at Khushi, asking her if she would be fine staying alone for a little while. Khushi looked up at him hesitantly and nodded. She wasn’t a fool, she knew Priya wanted to say something to Arnav that she didn’t want Khushi to hear.

 

Khushi let go of his hand and walked out of the room.

 

“What is it, Dr. Patel?” asked Arnav.

 

“Like I told Khushi, it is a possibility that whoever else was there, killed Shyam. But she has been through a trauma. So it is also possible that her mind is trying to lock down any memories that her body cannot handle. She might have actually passed out when someone hit her head, or her mind might have blanked out on what happened after that to protect her. We can’t know for sure,” Priya paused. “I didn’t think it wise to tell her this. And as she signed a waiver saying that I can talk to you about her condition, I thought this would be best.”

 

“As a doctor, I have seen cases where people’s mind has constructed an alternative reality to deal with traumatic situations. There is a possibility that there was no one else there, that Khushi is imagining all of it. And I have to write this out in my report,” she explained, apologetically.

 

Looking at Arnav’s anguish, so clearly visible on his face, she continued. “But as a person, I can also tell that Khushi doesn’t seem like someone who would murder someone, even in self-defense.”

 

Arnav nodded, and taking the prescription she had written, he walked to door.

 

Just before he walked out the door, he turned towards the doctor and said, “Thanks, Dr. Patel”

 

Priya sighed as the door closed behind him, and prayed that they come out unscathed from this ordeal.

 

—–

 

“Did that doctor send over the report?” barked Khan, sending his junior officers into a frenzy.

 

“Yes, sir. It just got here,” said one of them.

 

“Do you want me to give you a special invitation to show it to me?” asked Khan, sarcastically. “Give me the damn report!”

 

He snatched the report from the officer’s hands and flipped through it, smiling at what he saw.

 

“Hit over the head, my foot!” he said. “First it was Shyam who hit her and now it’s someone else. This girl sure does know how to weave a story.”

 

He looked up to see the officer staring at him anxiously. “What the hell are you still doing here!? Where’s the background check I asked for!? I want to know who that girl was before she became Mrs. Raizada! NOW!”

 

The officer scurried off, praying that his superior choke on a bone of the chicken he was savagely biting into.

 

—–

 

Khushi and Arnav walked towards their room. Arnav hadn’t said much since they had left the doctor’s office, wanting to give Khushi her time and space to deal with what she had remembered of the attack.

 

He let go of her hand once they reached their room.

 

“I need to go take care of something,” Arnav said, thinking that he had to inform that laweyer of what the doctor had said. “Do you need anything, Khushi?”

 

She shook her head.

“How about some lunch?” he asked.

 

She shook her head again, and said “I think I will freshen up and rest for a little while.”

 

“Okay. Call me if you need anything, okay? I’ll be back soon,” he said.

 

She nodded.

 

He pulled her into a hug, and kissed her forehead, before leaving.

 

She watched him walk away, and felt tears swirl in her eyes.

 

How could he look at her with so much love even after he came to know about what Shyam had done? How could he not be disgusted?

 

Maybe he is, came a whisper from somewhere in her mind. Maybe he just feels sorry for you.

 

Khushi ran to the bathroom, and locked herself in. She slid down the door, placing her head in her hands and broke out into sobs.

 

Why are you punishing me, devi mayya? she thought brokenly. What did I do to deserve this?

 

Her hand slid to her lips, where he had kissed her. She got up from the floor, in a hurry to wipe him off of her. She turned on the tap of the sink and started scrubbing her lips.

 

She could feel his hands on her, holding her to him. She stumbled into the shower, fully clothed, and turned on the tap to the highest heat. She needed to scrub him off of her.

 

The soap slipped from her shaking hands and tears blurred her eyes. She started scratching her arms in hopes that it would get rid of the feeling of his touch, which could still remember like it was happening now.

 

She felt like she was suffocating, like the walls were closing in on her and she had no way to escape. The rational part of her brain whispered for her to leave the shower and call Arnav, that he would make everything better. But another part of her brain, the one that housed all her insecurities, whispered that he would be disgusted by her if he would see her now.

 

She collapsed into a heap in the middle of the shower, and cried for all she had endured. She cried for everything that she was still being put through because of the bastard. And she cried because she wasn’t sure how much more she could take before breaking completely.

—–

This one was hard to write. How was it? Are you guys still interested in the story? Is it still keeping you on your toes?

Tell me! Tell me! 🙂

Chapter 3

Arnav opened the door of the SUV and extended his hand to Khushi. She placed his hand in hers and stepped down.

He pulled her into his arms, and placed a small kiss on her forehead. “Ready?”

Khushi sighed and nodded her head. It’s not like I have a choice.

Arnav walked them over to the reception desk and the old lady behind the desk smiled at them. “Hi, We are here for an appointment with Dr. Patel?”

“What’s the name, dear?” asked the old lady, whose name-tag said she was Lalitha.

“Khushi Singh Raizada,” said Arnav, and Lalitha turned towards Khushi with a smile.

Khushi tried to smile back at the her, only managing a grimace.

“You can wait in the waiting room over there, someone would be out soon to call you,” said Lalitha.

“Come on,” said Arnav, and pulled Khushi towards the room.

Arnav looked at Khushi when he realized she had stopped walking, only to find her staring at something in front of her in shock. Arnav followed her gaze to find that she was looking at Mr. Khan.

“Mr. Khan?” said Arnav. “What are you doing here?”

“Mr. Raizada, you surely knew that we would be interested in what the doctor would say about Mrs. Raizada’s memory loss,” said Khan, with a mocking tone.

Arnav’s eyes hardened at the implication, “I am sure you would have received the report from Dr. Patel, I don’t see why you needed to be here.”

“I wanted to have a look for myself, people can’t be trusted these days, a few rolls of bills here, some promises there, and they are willing to do anything,” Khan said, making his opinion of the Raizada’s clear.

Before Arnav could reply, a lady in her mid to late twenties walked out of the doctor’s office, “Mrs. Khushi Raizada?” she asked. “That must be you,” she said with a warm smile, when she spotted Khushi.

“Hi, I am Priya. How are you doing?”

“I…I am fine,” Khushi said, hesitantly.

“If you are ready, we can start the session now,” said Priya, only to be interrupted by Khan.

“Excuse me, doctor. I would like to be present during the session,” he stated, rather than ask.

Priya looked at him confused, “I wasn’t aware of any orders for a police office to be present for the session.”

“Probably not. But you can understand why we would want to have a first hand account of the session,” said Khan, smiling. “Wouldn’t want anything to get lost in translation.”

Priya’s eyes hardened at what Khan was suggesting, “Do you have a warrant?”

“No..” she cut him off.

“Do you have Mrs. Raizada’s permission?” she asked, and looked at Khushi who was fidgeting uncomfortably. “I am guessing not. I am sorry officer, but you can’t come in.”

“Now wait a minute, lady. You can’t…”

“Watch me,” she said calmly, but with enough force to make Khan know that she wasn’t bluffing.

She turned towards Khushi again with a smile, “If you are ready…”

Khushi nodded. “Could Arnavji come with me?” she asked hesitantly.

“Sure,” Priya smiled when she saw Arnav squeeze Khushi’s had in comfort and place a small kiss on her forehead. It’s nice to see a couple so in love, she thought.

—–

“Do you know why you are here, Mrs. Raizada?”

“Khushi, call me Khushi please,” said Khushi, warming up to the doctor after seeing the way she had stood up to Khan just now.

“In that case, you must call me Priya,” said Priya, with a warm smile. “So, do you know why you are here, Khushi?”

Khushi hesitated, “The police think I am lying about not killing Shyam?” Khushi uttered the name with disgust, which did not go unnoticed by the doctor.

“Maybe. But they think you have a repressed memory,” said Priya. “Do you what that is?”

Priya continued when she saw Khushi shake her head. “Repressed memories are usually a result of some traumatic experience. We tend to push away memories that cause us distress, sometimes so much so that we don’t remember them at all.”

Priya paused, giving Khushi time to absorb what she had said. “Now, I understand you don’t remember much of what happened that day?”

Khushi nodded.

“That’s okay. We can try to recover your memory. We can’t be sure that you would regain it completely, but it’s worth a try. We are going to use a technique called hypnosis, do you know what that is?”

Khushi nodded, she had seen it being done on TV.

“Okay, good. Are you ready to start?”

Khushi nodded hesitantly, No use in stalling, she thought.

“Please lie down on this recliner over here,” she said pointing to the recliner in the middle of the room. And for the first time since he had come into the room, she turned towards Arnav and addressed him, “And Mr. Raizada, I am going to have to ask you to move to the corner over there, and under no circumstances should you try to interrupt Khushi, understand?”

Arnav nodded, and moved over to the corner of the room and sat down on the sofa there.

Priya turned towards Khushi, “Close you eyes, Khushi.”

Khushi did as she was told.

Priya continued in a soothing tone, “Nice and relaxed…”

“Now I am going to count down from 5 to 0, when we are at 0 you will be in a deep state of hypnosis.”

Khushi’s breath evened out, and she relaxed even more.

“As I count down, just go deeper and deeper, okay? 5…4…3…2…1…deep sleep…deep sleep.”

“Every muscle is calm and relaxed…can you hear me?” she asked.

“I can hear you,” replied Khushi, in a calm tone.

“Now, Khushi, tell me what happened…start from the beginning…how did you get to the temple?”

Khushi went over the whole story again, explaining like she had to Arnav, her face contorting in fear and pain.

“And then…it all goes blank,” whispered Khushi, when she came to the part when Shyam had hit her.

“You slapped Shyam, and then he hit you?” asked Priya.

“Y…Yes,” said Khushi, crying.

“Okay, try to remember. What happened next?” cajoled Priya.

“I don’t want to…” Khushi cried, distressed.

“It’s okay, Khushi, relax, just try to remember once, that’s all we need. You are safe here.”

“No. No! Get away from me! No!!!” screamed Khushi, fighting off the attacker in her memories.

“Calm down, Khushi. It’s alright,” said Priya, trying to get Khushi back to her relaxed state.

Arnav made a move to comfort Khushi, but stopped in his tracks when he saw Priya shaking her head at him. “You are only going to make it worse, Mr. Raizada.”

“Get away from me! Let go!” Khushi continued to scream.

Priya knew she couldn’t calm Khushi down, so she placed a hand over Khushi’s head and said, “Wake up in 1…2…3…4…5.”

Khushi snapped her eyes open, and sat up from her position. She was sweating profusely, and panting for a breath. She took a couple of deep breaths, trying to compose herself. Tears were streaming down her face, unchecked, and she didn’t bother to wipe them away. She looked like she was a million miles away, staring at something that the others around her weren’t privy to.

Arnav moved towards her and pulled her into an embrace, wiping away her tears, “Are you okay, Khushi?” he asked. His heart had shattered seeing her suffer like that. Not for the first time, he wished Shyam wasn’t dead, so that he would have the honor of killing the bastard.

“I…I remember,” Khushi said in a dead voice, and then spat out the next sentence in disgust. “He…he kissed me.”

—–

Please forgive me if the medical details aren’t right, I researched as much as I could.

And the hypnosis scene…well, let’s just say a show helped me a LOT! Anyone know which one? And no, Avi, not you. Not you either, Ani! LOL! Hope you liked the read 🙂