Chapter 18: Road Not Taken

Arnav was awakened by the doorbell. Opening his eyes, he found himself exactly where he was last night. Right next to Khushi, with her hand still trapped in his, he had dozed to sleep. He was surprised Di hadn't bothered him about eating dinner.

Khushi's face looked more peaceful than it had last night Arnav noticed. Her sedative would wear off soon and she would be hungry, so he headed down to fix a tray of breakfast for her.

---

Payal looked at the man that stood before her. Dressed in a crisp black shirt and jeans, he looked like some bollywood actor that Payal couldn't quite put her finger on.

"Ji, Kaun?" Payal inquired.

The man smiled, definitely a very attractive smile, and replied. "I'm from Mumbai. My name is Mahesh and I'm here to meet Khushi."




Payal's face lit up at the mention of someone that knew Khushi, but fell as she remembered Khushi's predicament. Trying to remember her manners, Payal smiled. "Come in please."

"Thank you." The man stepped in and took a look around the house. "I'm sorry, I didn't get your name." He directed to Payal.

"Payal. I'm Khushi's elder sister." She smiled.

Mahesh's face lit up almost as in recognition. "Oh you're Payal! Khushi's told me about you."

Payal's face fell again slightly at the mention of Khushi. "Would you like chai?" She asked.

"A glass of water is fine." Mahesh could tell something was off, as Payal's face fell ever so slightly at every mention of Khushi.

"Ji, please make yourself comfortable."

---

Khushi shifted slightly in bed, her head heavy from whatever drug had been put in her. She squeezed her eyes shut at the sudden intrusion of light before she slowly opened her eyes again. Her face visibly paled when she saw who had opened the curtains.

"Good morning. How are you feeling?" Arnav said, looking relieved. Khushi merely blinked in response.

"I'll go get breakfast. You look like you could use some food." Arnav tried again. Khushi dropped her eyes and nodded, glad that he wasn't expecting an answer. Silently, Arnav left the room.

Khushi watched him leave and her eyes welled up. What was going on? Why was he treating her like this after what she had sprung at him last night? Suddenly realization struck her. What had happened to her last night? She looked around her surroundings to find her in Arnav's room, lying in the middle of the bed. There was a band aid at the crease of her elbow where someone had injected something. Khushi's head ached as she tried to put together fragments of the previous night.

---

Mahesh saw the figure walk down the stairs it noticed him. He stood up to his full height, instantly recognizing the man as Arnav Singh Raizada.

 Arnav furrowed his brows in confusion before heading to the kitchen, clearly not bothered that there was a stranger in his living room. At that instant Payal came out with a glass of water for the guest.

"Oh Payal!" Arnav stopped in his tracks. "Could you put together a tray of food for Khushi? She's awake now."

Payal smiled, suddenly resembling Khushi in all her ecstatic glory. "Saach? I'll do it right now."

Arnav nodded with a slight smile before turning to head back up the stairs, but Payal stopped him.

"Arnavji?" Arnav turned. "This is Mahesh. He says he's from Mumbai and here to meet Khushi." Payal said as she handed the glass of water the the man.

Arnav's face suddenly registered the man before him, clearly interested in his connection to Khushi.

"Hi, Arnav Singh Raizada." He held his hand out which Mahesh took with a confident grasp and shook.

"Mahesh Sharma." He smiled.

That's when it hit Payal. He definitely had something about him that resembled Shah Rukh Kahn, yet he wasn't completely like that. Shaking her head at herself, Payal left the room, so the two men could talk.

"Payal says you're here to see Khushi? Do you know her from Mumbai?" Arnav asked as he took a seat across from Mahesh.

"Yes, we met there. Is she here?"

Arnav's face looked calculated as he took in the information. "Yes, well, Khushi is upstairs."

"Is something wrong?" The way Mahesh showed concern bothered Arnav. Who is this man?

"Khushi had a slight accident yesterday. Her blood pressure decreased and she fainted. She's fine now." Arnav said taking in Mahesh's expression's as he shared the information.

Mahesh was agitated, but he controlled his outward appearance. "Low blood pressure..." He murmured, almost to himself. Suddenly standing up, he looked at Arnav. "Do you mind if I meet her?"

The only way he was going to figure out who this man was, was though Khushi. Arnav nodded and led him upstairs. Just as he was about to enter the room, Payal called out from behind him.

"She's on the first door to your left." Arnav said to Mahesh, before he went to Payal to get the tray of breakfast she had brought. Not waiting for Arnav, Mahesh entered the room.

---

Khushi looked up as the door opened and relief enveloped her like a warm blanket. "Mahesh!" She beamed. There he stood in all his "Shah Rukh Kahn-meets-Farhan Akhtar" glory.

"Khushi!" He smiled, offering a smile just as Khushi had. In four long strides, he crossed the room and enveloped Khushi into his arms.

Khushi wrapped her arms around him and her eyes welled up slightly. "I guess you got my text." She said.

"And you clearly didn't get any of mine! Do you know how many times I tried you before I jumped on a plane to Delhi, thinking of all the possible worst? And then I hear that you fainted!"

Mahesh took a seat on the chair next to the bed as he questioned Khushi, letting his frustration of the past 17 hours finally flow free.

---

Arnav stood at the doorway of his room taking in the scene. Mahesh had taken wrapped his arms around Khushi to which she responded with just as much enthusiasm.

Clenching his fist around the the tray he held, he turned and ordered Hari Prakash to take food to Khushi, before he stalked out of the house.

"Its wrong! We need to talk before anything more happens."

So that's why. Why it was wrong. Why she needed to talk.

"I'm here to get a divorce. The faster I get it, the faster I can go back."

Go back to what he had asked her. Why the divorce? It was all so clear now. She was going to go back to Mahesh Sharma. Arnav hated him. With every fiber in his body, Arnav hated the man that Khushi had so lovingly embraced back.

---

"Khushi, you didn't take your tablets did you?" Mahesh asked, concealing his frustration.

"Well the night I got here, it was kind of the last thing on my mind and yesterday morning, I got distracted and then..." Khushi trailed off, looking guilty as charged.

"I've told you so many times, Khushi! Take care of yourself! Atleast when we were in Mumbai, I could do it, and I thought you would be responsible here!"

"Let's go back, Mahesh." Khushi suddenly said.

"What?"

"I don't want to stay here. Every second, it's too much. And yesterday, I asked him for a divorce and he said no. I just want it all to go away." Khushi hung her head, tears making their mark on her cheek.

Then it occurred to Mahesh. "You haven't told him the truth, have you Khushi?" Mahesh's face was grim.

Khushi sighed. "No..." Suddenly she looked up at Mahesh, her eyes glinting. "You won't either! Promise me!" She grasped his hands in hers.

Mahesh smiled and ruffled her hair, his eyes looking pained. "Khushi, I promise to keep your life in a way it's best for you. I promise to always do what's best for you."

Khushi smiled. "Thank you Doctor Sharma."

"My pleasure, Mrs. Raizada." Mahesh responded as Hari Prakash entered with food.

"Eat up, Khushi. I'll be right back." Mahesh ordered.

---

Seeing that Khushi began eating, Mahesh headed out the room. He had to talk to Arnav.