Arshi TS: A Change - Shot 2

Shot 2: An Outburst

Lying on the bed Arnav turned back and saw his wife sleeping with his back facing him. He had came back in the evening and apologized to her for raising his hand but she had nodded and walked away.

This is not his Khushi!

The Khushi he knew was very polite and understanding. She used to forgive every mistake of his and used to hug him and say, "It's okay Arnav ji!" But today nothing of that sort happened.

His mind recalled her dressing. She had walked into the house wearing a frock and is now sleeping wearing a black night gown and robe. Her long hair is now layered and curled. If he is not wrong, she has dyed brown colour too!

What is wrong? What happened to Khushi that she changed? What happened in one fine evening that she went with NK and bought some modern dresses.

He recalled NK's strange behaviour during dinner. Neither did he talk to anyone nor did he eat well. He wasn't acknowledging anyone except Khushi. He denied when Payal tried to serve and didn't eat anything made by her.

What is wrong with him and Khushi?

Hours and hours of thinking made him sleep.

The next morning everyone walked to the breakfast table and Nani said looking at the dishes, "Arrey, why are you number of dishes less?"

Payal looked down and said, "Wo Dadi ji, today Khushi didn't come for making breakfast. And HP is also in leave. I couldn't manage everything."

"Hello hi bye bye, Khoon bhari taang, then what are you good at huh? Can't even make one breakfast!" Manorama huffed and sat on the chair.

"Arnav ji, I'm sorry," Payal said, "I didn't make toast and juice!"

"It's okay Payal!" Arnav said and took a paratha.

"Where is Khushi ji?" Anjali asked and Arnav said, "She is coming!"

Sheetal and Aarav walked to the breakfast table and Aarav said, "Where is my toast and juice?"

"Wo Aarav, I didn't make toast and juice today. Have paratha for a day!" Payal said and Aarav said, "Nahi, I need toast and juice!" He said stubbornly.

"But Aarav, I didn't make..." Payal said and Aarav said angrily, "Then make it!"

"She is not your servant who'll cook for you!" A voice came from behind and everyone turned back to get shocked.

There was Khushi standing in a black skinny jeans, white shirt and black boots. Her hair was left open and she had applied minimal makeup.

(imagine her hair open)

Khushi walked to them and everyone gaped seeing her walking perfectly in the heeled boots.

"Aarav, you're a guest here. So behave well! You have to eat whatever is made here or else you're free to have from a restaurant!" She said sternly.

"Khushi, he is a child..." Sheetal said and Khushi said coldly, "I also know that he is a child. I am not blind. But can't you see how your child' is behaving? If you're not correcting him then he'll repeat it again and again and it'll become his habit. It's Payal jiji's goodness that she is not slapping him. If it was me, then your son will be now in ICU!"

Everyone gaped seeing her tone and words.

Sheetal covered immediately, "Wo, I'm sorry Khushi. But I cannot be stern with him. You know, he...he don't have...father" She began her tear session.

Everyone stood up from their position and moved to console her while Arnav stood angrily. He moved to Khushi and whispered in her ears, "What was the need for that? Leave it Khushi, why are you hell bent in troubling them?"

Khushi ignored him and said loudly, "It's not my problem that he do not have father. If your son badly wants a father then tell him his father's name. If you cannot go back to Aarav's father, then remarry! Being fatherless is not a licence for him to misbehave!"

"Khushi ji...leave it..." Anjali said holding Sheetal's shoulder tightly.

Khushi rolled her eyes and sat on the chair and served herself.

Everyone settled for breakfast and Mamiji asked, "Phatti sadi, why didn't you make breakfast today?"

Khushi looked up and said, "Is it written in Indian constitution that women should cook food for her in laws?"

Everyone shot looked at her and Khushi said, "I'm not a servant here whom you all can order. I deserve a position here which I never got. I'm not a toy whom you all can play with! I'm a human being who deserves respect. So stop ordering me. And by the way, Mrs. Manorama, you are also the daughter-in-law of the house but I have never seen you stepping inside kitchen. Why is that?"

Manorama stumbled for answers and everyone looked at each other.

Khushi continued, "Anjali ji is also daughter of this house. Why isn't she cooking?"

"Khushi stop it! Di doesn't need to cook!" Arnav shouted.

Khushi said, "Yeah you're right! Why should she cook? She is ASR's sister and thus can sit and relax on her big bed crying over her cheat husband, isn't it?"

Anjali looked at her with tears and Arnav said gritting his teeth, "Khushi stop it!"

Khushi ignored him and said, "Anjali ji doesn't need to cook, she doesn't need to work, she doesn't need to go to market and buy vegetables, she doesn't need to iron clothes...who is she? Oh yes, she is Ranisahiba, hai na?"

Ignoring everyone's glances and Anjali's sobs, she continued,

"Manorama ji doesn't need to cook; after all she is the great Manorama Singh Raizada! Mrs. Manorama ji, before taunting me and my sister for being middle classes, let me remind you something, you were the servant of Raizada Mansion who made the son of this house fall in love with you using your charms! If you can call me phatti sadi then I can call you something offensive. So from today, I should not hear the word phatti sadi' from your red-lipstick-covered mouth, got it?"

Everyone sat rooted and Khushi said turning to Anjali,

"And you Anjali ji, your leg is handicapped not your brain. The more you remain in this house away from the world, the more you're spineless. If your husband cheated you, accept that and move ahead. If you're planning to cling on your brother and family then let me remind you something, this family is not helping you but making you more and more depended. If you have a little of self-respect and shame in you, then set off to work and earn money rather than walking around as a chronic patient!"

"KHUSHI STOP IT!" Arnav shouted not able to take it anymore.

Khushi rolled her eyes and said to NK who was looking at her in awe.

"Nanhe ji, let's go. It's time!"

"Where are you going?" Payal asked.

"To bank! I need a loan!" Khushi said casually.

"Loan? WHY?" Akash asked.

"Because I'm starting a company!" Khushi said as a matter of fact.

"WHAT?" Everyone asked in shock.

"You? You'll start a company?" Sheetal asked in an amused expression.

Khushi's gaze turned harder and said sternly, "I'm not like you who would stay at your ex boyfriend's house enjoying the luxuries there and who would go at late night parties leaving your son alone at home. I'm more independent than you and I have some talent unlike you who is good at nothing. I'm a great cook and I'm gonna start a catering company! Is it okay with you Sheetal madam?"

Sheetal was stumped and she sealed her mouth.

"Let's go Nanhe ji!" Khushi said and NK nodded and followed her.

"Where is Khushi?" Arnav asked NK who came back home at the evening without Khushi.

"She is at her friend's home. I'll go and pick her up at night!" NK said and was walking away when Arnav stopped him.

"What is happening NK?" he asked.

NK looked around and found that Sheetal and Aarav are not present and smiled sarcastically and said, "So you got time to think about her? I thought you were busy with your ex girlfriend and her son!"

"NK, what are you..." Arnav began when NK asked directly with no tinge of embarrassment of shyness,

"Tell me the truth Arnav. Is Aarav your son?"

Everyone gasped and Arnav shouted,

 "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND NK?"

"I'M NOT OUT OF MY MIND, YOU ARE!" NK shouted and everyone flinched at his tone. This was the first time NK was raising his voice.

"THAT BOY BEHAVES LIKE YOU, TALKS AND EATS AND WALKS LIKE YOU. IN TOP OF THAT HIS MOTHER IS YOUR EX GIRLFRIEND AND SHE BEHAVES VERY STRANGE BEFORE YOU."

"NK, you are crazy!" Akash said.

"I'm crazy? WOW, I'M CRAZY!" NK shouted, "YOU GUYS COMPARE HIM WITH ARNAV 24 HOURS WITHOUT EVEN CARING THAT HIS WIFE IS HEARING ALL THAT. YOU GUYS TOLD THAT IF ARNAV HAS A SON, HE'LL BEHAVE LIKE AARAV! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW KHUSHI JI MIGHT HAVE FELT? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW SHE FELT WHEN SHE SAW YOU ALL CHEERING UP SHEETAL AND ARNAV FOR PLAYING BASKETBALL AND COMMENTING HOW GOOD THEY LOOK FORGETTING THE FACT THAT KHUSHI JI IS STANDING AWAY AND WATCHING THEM? HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT HOW MUCH YOU'RE HURTING THAT POOR SOUL? NO! BIG NO!"

Everyone stood numb not able to react and NK said,

"Sheetal and Aarav always behave badly with Khushi ji. Have you ever noticed it? Well how would you? You all are busy proving that Aarav is like Arnav. You all take Khushi ji for granted. Not only Khushi ji, Payal bhabhi too. But Payal bhabhi is too spineless to fight against that but Khushi ji is a real tigress and decided to fight back it!"

Payal looked down when NK called her spineless. It's true too! Why can't she react when Mami calls her khoon bhari tang and taunt her unnecessarily?

NK continued, "You all changed her! She now believes that no one at this house loves her. In fact I also think so. You people treat her as if she is a servant here! Let me remind you all something, she is the daughter-in-law of the house. Have you all ever treated her as one?"

After a pause he said, "Do you know why she is starting company? She wants to be independent. She wants to be of Arnav's status. You all always remind her that she is a middle class girl who can never walk on heels and can never wear jeans. SHE IS TRYING TO BECOME A HIGH CLASS GIRL BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE PROVED THAT ONLY HIGH CLASS GIRLS ARE TREATED WELL IN THIS HOUSE.

Why is di not working in kitchen? Because she is ASR's sister and a modern sophisticated yet traditional lady. Why isn't Manorama maasi not working in kitchen? Because she is a great fashion diva as she herself proclaims and owns a high position in this house. Why isn't Sheetal cooking in kitchen? Because she is the guest here, top of that she is a modern and stylish lady. WHY IS IT THAT ONLY KHUSHI JI AND PAYAL JI NEED TO COOK? JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE MIDDLE CLASS GIRLS, JUST BECAUSE OF THAT!"

NK finished and turned to Payal and said, "Fight for your rights Payal bhabhi or else very soon you'll be a doormat of this house!" And he stormed to his room.