Next to Impossible Part 30 Interest

 Part 30 Interest

Sheetal was happy like hell. She didn’t expect such a helping hand in this matter… Lalith Kashyap…! Even though she got caught, she could easily escape, putting a blame on Lalith. She knew Lalith would give his best to separate Arnav and Khushi because he wanted Arnav as his son-in-law. After Arnav and Khushi’s separation, she could tell Arnav who was behind that. Then, Arnav would not agree to marry Lavanya. At the same time, he could not go back to Khushi too because it would not be easy to make Khushi accept him again. She appreciated herself for her plan.   

At the same time, she was scared about Radha. She got to know her intention. If she let Arnav knew about it at any cost, Arnav would get alerted. Of course, Arnav would not give heed to Radha but Radha might try to reach Arnav through someone… it might be Khushi too. Before Radha made any move, she should do something. Sheetal planed.

 

The next day

Sheetal was sitting under a tree wiping her tears. she exactly did that when Khushi crossed her. Khushi frowned seeing that. She smirked inwardly. She wanted to see what drama Sheetal was scripting. So,she came to her.

“Sheetal, are you all right?”

Sheetal smiled as if she was not intended to tell her anything.

“But, why are you crying?”

Sheetal looked down and cried again. Khushi sat next to her.

“What happened, Sheetal?”

“Arnav and Aman are suspecting me”

“Suspecting for what?”

“They think I intentionally fell in the race… Tell me, Khushi, does anyone do that? Do you know how passionate am I?”

Khushi nodded seriously.

“I don’t know how to make them understand”

“They will understand if your intention is pure… don’t worry”

“My intention is pure, Khushi”

“Then, you no need to bother. Today or tomorrow they will realise”

“Do you think I would have done that intentionally?”

 Khushi as silent. Sheetal understood that Khushi was also thinking the same. Yet, she said,

“I’m glad at least you trust me”

Khushi looked at her like, TRUST?

“I’m happy we got an understanding friend… especially Arnav”

Khushi wondered. Was that Sheetal who accepted her as a good friend of Arnav?

“You know Khushi, Arnav has no one. His father never cared about him. He married a woman after his mother’s demise. She is a pure stepmother who hates Arnav from the core of her heart. She doesn’t like Arnav. That’s why she dragged Arvind uncle’s undivided attention towards her. You can’t see such a selfish woman. That’s why Arnav doesn’t like her. He never likes to see her face. More than that, she pretends to be a good woman. She talks so sweetly but her heart is full of venom”

Khushi didn’t know what to do other than feel bad for Arnav because she didn’t realise Sheetal would fill her ear with a brutal intention as she didn't think Sheetal would have a reason to damage Radha’s image.

Sheetal looked at her wristwatch and said,

“I have to go… the first period is important one”

Khushi nodded smiling. Sheetal left. Khushi looked at her for a while and was supposed to stand up, but she looked behind, hearing,

“Don’t trust Sheetal”

Khushi was surprised to see Lavanya standing. She came to Khushi and sat next to her.

“What did you say?”

“Sheetal lied about Radha Aunty”

“But, why did she lie?”

“It’s because you don’t want to know her REAL”

“I didn’t get you”

“Radha Aunty is not a bad woman. She likes Arnav so much. That’s why she always supports him and argues with Arvind uncle taking Arnav’s side”

“Is it true?”

“Yes… Arvind uncle liked her after Ratna Aunrty’s demise… I mean Arnav’s mother. Arnav was a small boy at that time. He could not tolerate his mother’s place to be given to someone. It’s not wrong though. That’s what made him keep his distance from her. Arvind uncle wanted him to understand her but Radha Aunty stopped him because she didn’t want his hatred for her to rise more”

“But, why did Sheetal lie to me?”

“To damage Radha Aunty’s image”

“What will she get by doing that?”

“Sheetal doesn’t want you to trust Radha Aunty if, at any cause, you meet her”

“I can’t understand anything”

“Yesterday, Sheetal tried to fill Arvind uncle’s ear…”

“For?”

“She told him about your relationship with Arnav”

Khushi widened her eyes.

“But… I have nothing called a relationship with him” Khushi stammered.

Lavanya smiled.

“Maybe… Sheetal thinks you have… or, she doesn’t want you to have”

Khushi looked somewhere else.

“But, Radha aunty lashed her over, standing for Arnav”

Khushi looked at her unbelievably.

“Yes, she did… she shut Sheetal’s mouth. That’s why Sheetal is scared. She thinks Radha Aunty may try to talk to you. If she did that, she may alert you about Sheetal. That’s why Sheetal anticipates herself. If you think Radha Aunty is a bad woman, you will not trust her words if she talks to you”

“Will she talk to me?”

“I don’t know but Sheetal thinks so because she knew Radha Aunty is concerned about Arnav”

Khushi became nervous. What would she do if Radha met her?

“You are an understanding girl. You would have understood what Sheetal lied to you about Radha Aunty” Lavanya left the place.

Khushi did not doubt that Sheetal was a cunning girl but she could not believe the woman Arnav hated from the core of the heart would be good.

But the guy who heard Lavanya and Khushi’s talk didn’t believe Lavanya. Yes, Arnav listened to their talks. Neither he believed Radha was good nor did he believe Lavanya’s words about Radha were true. He thought Lavnaya was trying to create a good image in Khushi’s mind about Radha. So that Khushi would do what Radha wanted. She could manipulate Khushi.  

Arnav was irritated. He thought Khushi would talk to him about Radha. He didn’t know how to stop her because he didn’t want her to take Radha’s side.

But, making his guess wrong, Khushi didn’t talk to him about Radha. She didn’t even let him know that she got to know his stepmother’s name was Radha. Arnav didn’t know why Khushi didn’t talk to him about Radha. She didn’t say anything about what Sheetal and Lavanya said to her. Did she think, it was not her concern? Was not she interested in his personal issues? He felt disappointed. Sometimes, she behaved like she was interested in him but sometimes, she was like, she didn’t care that confused Arnav.

Arnav so wanted to know what was in her mind but he didn’t want to ruin her peaceful mind. There was only a week to the State meet. After that, they would get more than a month for the National meet. So, she would get time for composure. Arnav decided to talk to Khushi after the State meet even though he knew she would definitely win.

Khushi was thinking about Radha all the time. Was she that good to take Arnav’s side in HER matter? According to Lavanya’s statement, Arnav’s father learned about Arnav’s interest in her. Was he fine with that? Won’t he have a problem having a low-class girl as his daughter-in-law? Khushi gulped down hard.

She came home, finished the practice and saw Garima getting ready to go somewhere.

“Khushi, Neelam slipped in the washroom. She is admitted to the hospital. Her husband is out of the station. I’m going to the hospital. Will come after her husband came”

“did he know?”

“I called him and he started”

“Ok, Amma”

“You don’t have to wait for Shashiji. Go to sleep. he will eat dinner”

“Mmm…”

Garima left.

Taking a bath, Khushi sat on the bed. It was just 7 o’clock. It will take time for the dinner to arrive. Till then she wanted to some preparations. She should get ready for the meet. Arnav had given her new shoes, a jersey and a tracksuit. Taking them from the cupboard, she checked them. She liked the jersey and track pants. She never thought she could wear such expensive clothes in her life. She kept them back and was supposed to lock the cupboard, but stopped seeing the paper bag on the lower shelf. Arnav’s coat was in the bag.

Taking it, she removed the coat. Unfolding it, she saw the name tag. An unstoppable smile thinned her lips. She wore the coat, biting her lip. She looked at her image in the mirror. She caressed the name tag lovingly. She hugged herself, crossing her arms and caressed her shoulder with her cheek. She smiled closing her face. She was supposed to remove the coat but was shocked to see Arnav standing with unbelievable expression.

To be continued…