Each thunderclap resonati lay heavy on her chest. She couldn't contain her emotions any longer; as she collapsed onto her bed, the floodgates opened, and sobs wracked her body.
Her mother, sensing the storm brewing inside her daughter, opened the door cautiously. "Jab itna pyar karti ho, toh kisi aur ka kyu hone deri ho?" The question hung in the air as Khushi flinched at the words.
"What are you saying, Mom? I don't understand," she replied, lifting her tear-streaked face.
"You love him, don't you?" her mother pressed gently, concern etched across her features.
Khushi shook her head vigorously, confusion mingling with hurt. "whom, Mom?"
"Arnav!" her mother stated simply,
"No! Mom, kaisi baatein kar rahi ho aap? He's a professor at college, Di's to-be husband! Or mere—" her words trailed off as the weight of her unspoken feelings crashed down on her again.
"Or tere, tere kya hai vo?" Her mother challenged gently, eyes fixed on Khushi's.
"Kuch bhi nahi hai mere vo," Khushi insisted, but the tremble in her voice betrayed her.
Her mother took a step closer, placing a comforting hand on Khushi's shoulder. "Really? Ever since your father finalized Karishma and Arnav's relationship, you haven't eaten, nor slept. You've only cried. Why?"
"Wo… wo toh, Mom, I was worried about Di," Khushi stammered, looking anywhere but into her mother's searching eyes.
Her mother's perceptive gaze didn't falter. "but your eyes say something else ."
"And what are my eyes saying, Mom?" Khushi challenged, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her mother replied with a firmness that struck Khushi's heart. "that you love Arnav so much ."
Khushi felt her chest tighten. "no, mom! Aapko galat lagta hai!"
"Maaan leti mai teri baat, ki mujhe galatfemi hui hai. Lekin, jab tak maine Arnav ki aankhon ko nahi padha hota, or uski ankho me sirf tum dikhai deti ho," her mother said softly, her voice filled with understanding.
Khushi couldn't bear it any longer. She pressed her hands over her mother's mouth. "Mom, speak slowly! Di aur Papa Ji will listen!" she whispered frantically.
Her mother nodded, realizing the precariousness of their discussion. But she couldn't hold back her thoughts.
Mujhe toh us din shak ho gaya tha jab Karishma wapas aayi thi. Kuch toh baat hai, lekin Arnav hi vo ladka hoga ye mujhe tab pata chala jab Karishma aur Arnav ki baat tere Papa ji ne Arnav se ki, aur usne teri aur hopes se dekha ki tu tum dono ke liye kuch toh stand legi..."
But Khushi wasn't ready to hear it. "But mom, you know what has happened to Karishma Di. How could I come amidst her happiness?"
Her mother's voice turned tender, yet insistent. "Don't come in between her happiness, but don't let anyone else come in the way of your happiness either.
Meri toh dono tum jaan ho. Main kisi ka bhi saath do, doosri beti dil toh jarur tutega. Yaha baat tumari aur tumari di ki nahin hai, beta. Yaha baat Arnav ki hai, jo saf dikra hai ki vo ab Karishma ko nahin, balki tumhe chahta hai."
"Mom, please let me do what I am doing," Khushi said, her voice steadying with determination. "Sir, and I have an age gap, Papa ji will never accept it. He did not give me permission to fall in love. So let's go like this, after Di and Sir's engagement, I decided that I will go abroad."
Her mother stared at her, a mix of disbelief and concern swirling in her eyes. "This is not right."
"Mom, everything will be fine, just don't say anything to anyone and please support me."
Her mother sighed, nodding reluctantly. "Okay, I will."
Khushi's heart raced with a newfound sense of hope. "Mom, I have to meet Sir once. Please take care of Papa today. I will try to come back soon, plzzz."
"Came back fast," her mother said softly, her voice laced with worry. "And please take care of yourself, beta."
Khushi felt as if her heart was shattering into a thousand pieces as she made her way home to Maddy. The emotional turmoil she experienced was too much to bear, and as she approached Maddy's doorstep, tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably. She buzzed the doorbell, and a moment later, Maddy opened the door.
Khushi didn't even wait for a greeting; she collapsed into Maddy's arms, sobbing quietly. Maddy ushered her inside, and they settled onto the sofa, where Akash was already waiting.
"Khushi, what happened?" Akash asked, panic etching his features.
Maddy approached her gently, "Khushi, why are you doing this to yourself?"
Through her tears, Khushi tried to explain, "Maddy, I can't do this! I can't hurt her!" she cried, her voice muffled against Maddy's shoulder."It's Karishma di… she loves him. She deserves a chance." The pain in her voice was palpable.
"But what about you? What about what you want?" Akash pressed, but his words fell like stones into the heavy silence.
"I just need time; I will be fine after a while," she whispered, shaking her head. "But I can't be the reason for Karishma's sadness."
Maddy knelt beside Khushi and took her hands in hers. "You have to think about yourself too. You love Arnav sir—don't deny that!"
"I can't hurt her!" Khushi insisted, her voice trembled with emotion. "She has been through so much. I won't take this away from her."
Maddy exchanged a worried glance with Akash. "I think you should meet Arnav bhai. It's crucial."
"If I meet him, I'll just weaken," she whispered, convincing herself more than anyone else. "This is for the best."
Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door; Arnav and Aman stood on the threshold, concern etched deep in their expressions.
"Khushi," Arnav said, his voice cutting through the tension, "can we talk?" It wasn't a question; it was an urgent plea.
Khushi spun around, her heart racing at the sight of him. "Why are you doing this to me?" he asked, stepping closer, his voice mingling frustration with despair. "I feel like I'm losing you."
"I can't be the reason for Karishma's heartbreak," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, trembling with the weight of her decision. "She deserves to be happy."
Arnav's brow furrowed as he confronted her. "Deserves what? Being with someone who doesn't love her back? I can't be unhappy just to protect someone else. You're the one I want!"
Tears streamed down Khushi's face as she replied, "But my sister?"
"I can't help who I love," Arnav uttered softly, closing the distance between them. "You know in your heart you love me too. Don't you want to be happy?"
Silence drew tighter around them, making Khushi's heart feel heavy. She searched his eyes, seeing his vulnerability and the truth she had tried to ignore. "I do love you, Arnav," she confessed, her voice barely audible.
"No 'buts'," he urged gently, sensing the precariousness of the moment. "Life is too short, Khushi. Let's figure this out together."
"But, sir," she stammered, "Papa Ji would never accept our love, especially after he separated you and Karishma di. He would do the same again."
"Khushi, we will figure this out," Arnav reassured her, desperation bleeding into his tone.
"Sir, I'm going abroad after you and di's engagement," she said, trying to suppress hope.
Arnav's frustration bubbled over. "What engagement? Don't you understand that I love you? I love you, not her! Why would I engage with Karishma?"
"Why are you complicating the situation, Khushi?Let's tell Karishma and our parents everything," he pressed, desperation creeping into his words.
Khushi's heart raced. "You love me?"
"Of course, I love you," he replied, his voice firm.
"Then promise me you'll agree to engage with Karishma di," she insisted, her heart breaking.
"No, no!" Arnav pleaded, stepping closer. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, tears forming in his eyes. "Don't do this to me, Khushi. I can't live without you. I can't breathe without you.
She pushed him away as tears streamed down her face, her heart aching as he held her hand, grounding her in a moment she wanted to escape.
"Okay, fine. You want me to marry your sister? I will," he relented in a choked voice, holding onto her desperation. "But everything we have? It's finished."
"Arnav…"
"Sir," he interrupted, the pain evident in his tone. "Call me Professor Arnav if that's what you wish. Clearly, you don't understand how to speak to your professor."
Before she could respond, he had turned away, his back rigid with pain. Khushi felt an aching hollow grow within her as she walked out, leaving him standing there—a man divided between love and responsibility.
As the door clicked shut behind her, she knew she had walked away from something irrevocable. And while she tried to convince herself that it was for the best, the crushing weight of her choices lay heavy on her heart, a constant reminder of the love sacrificed at the altar of loyalty.