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Chapter 33 : Confrontations

" The simple reality of life is that everyone is wrong on a regular basis. By confronting these inevitable errors, you allow yourself to make corrections before it's too late..."

~ Barry Ritholtz...

Early Morning...

Around 5:30 a.m.

RM ..

Arnav looked infront at his family members who were still in shock. Pain, disbelief, tears of betrayal, sense of failure and disgust were clearly evident from their posture.

Arnav knew the revelation of past will not be an easy task for any of them. He is feeling miserable himself to even describe his own deeds, then how must his family will feel hearing their son's deeds? They must have felt betrayed or maybe they felt that they failed in their upbringing. Arnav could not imagine what his father, uncle, aunty must be feeling now.

And his mother ?

Remembering Ratna, Arnav felt his heart broke a little more. His mother always adored him most among his all children. Arnav knew both Anjali and Akash use to complain that their mother loves only "chotey"..

But what he has done in return? He has make her mother ashamed.. Did not he indirectly question on Ratna's way of nurturing him the most? Is not his deeds put a question on what values and morality Ratna has instilled in him?

Arnav closed his eyes to control his tears. This was the exact reason he hides everything from his family till now, to prevent heartbreak of his mother and their family members. But alas, he could not prevent the heartbreak.

Today Arnav has realized another bitter truth, " Karma is a bitch.."

Looking once again towards the broken faces of the families specially his mother's, Arnav took a long breath to continue. Today he will not hide anything more.

Arnav started again with low whisper, " As I said, I lost rational thinking and control over myself. Though deep down in my heart I knew I should not mingle with them, but I could not control myself.. again long drive, hanging out, little bit of smoking and then slowly I started drinking too. But I avoided late night party and boozing. But I was unaware that my every move was being observed or rather say, I willingly gave them scope to exploit me again. So, history repeat itself again.."

Pause....

" After few months once again the same incident happened, party, a drinking competition, then blurred images and black out. Next morning I found myself devoid of clothes under the sheet and definitely NOT alone. But this time, it was Sheetal with me. Though I had already broken up with her months before but we used to be friends.. I was shocked seeing her with me in that compromising situation. She cried and told me that it was me who started everything. I felt odd because I could not remember anything, not a single moment. As if my memory have been erased for a particular time periods. I felt guilty and ashamed and once again I hides everything from Aman.. The dire needs for hiding the truth from Aman, I used to keep distance from him. He too was a little bit busy with his study, jobs and his new relationship with Kuhu. But still he always warned me and tried to dig more, but I conveniently avoided him. I wanted to hide everything from him and thus I make a distance with him and within the gap, Veer again get closer to me."

Arnav paused a little and with the corner of his eyes he saw Aman is shaking his head in utter annoyance. May be he is thinking, how stupid his Arnie was...

Taking a deep breath Arnav again continues, " Veer, Raj and Sheetal again apologized and I started to go out with them. Initially everything was just long drive, little bit of smoking but I avoided drinking. But within few months in a party the same kinds of incidents happened once again, in the party I drank a juice but felt dizzy and next day, wake up besides Sheetal. And it continued after few more times...waking up besides her but without any memories of last night. And this time I felt my physical conditions worsen suddenly. Aman admitted me in hospital and I was almost hospitalized for 1 months. And there were traces of.... "

Before Arnav could complete Akash said aloud, " DRUG... you were given drugs in slow doses right? You were made addicted to drugs?"

" Yes Bhai.. I was drugged. My drink was spiked. That's why it was impossible for me to avoid the drinks made by them. I used to crave for them." Arnav said while bending his down.. This was the darkest phase of his life. He is feeling too ashamed to describe his deeds. How his family will cope with the truth? He does not know..

" I just cannot believe... Ohhh.. My God... In your drunken state.. You.. You..." Anjali just cried listening to his Chotey's fate, but he himself dug his own grave..whom to blame ??

" He has been used Physically.. if I say properly then, Arnav was molested not only once by days after days.. and if I am not wrong the master mind behind this is Ms Sheetal Kapoor..Is not it Ms Kapoor?" Shyam voice was cold like an ice and it was enough for Sheetal to freeze in her place. She can easily guess , she is cornered.

" Did you informed the police Chotey?" Asked Manohor still in shocked.

" No.. I did not have the courage. I was ashamed for losing my control over myself, as well I was feeling very dirty too. I thought no one will believe me. Besides, I had a reputation, a bad reputation I must say. I was the college's famous playboy. And it was a hottest gossip that I used girl like a tissue. No one would have believe me, besides what will I say that I could not remember anything after awaking up beside a girl? Who will believe me ? In our society it's really hard to prove an actual molestation case, who is victim and who is the criminal.. and because of my reputation Sheetal would have had easily proved that I am not molested but I was equally involved " Arnav said in a go while his eyes got misted..

" I was scared... very, very scared and disgusted of myself..." Arnav repeated again when all the family members could not control their tears too..

"Why did not you go to rehabilitation for overcoming your addiction ? Why did not you for once think to inform us or Aman?" It was Akash once again.. Other family members were too shocked probably to react.

"I did not have the courage to say Aman.. I had already broken his trust and lied him enough.. I was simply a coward. Besides I got scared.. I knew if you all get to know about all these you will definitely hate me. I did not want to lose you all. And I also realized that I had tarnished my family reputations too. I was scared, disgusted as well. I was clueless how to handle the situation. I was trapped in such a darkness which unfortunately I myself welcome in my life." Arnav said slowly while furiously blinked his eyes to hide his tear drops to come out.

" Besides, our law is majorly for woman. Who would have listen to me and believe me that I was been molested days after days. They will tagged, point a finger towards me and also drag you all. I failed you all but I did not want to drag you in the mud..I begin to drown in that mud and darkness more with each passing second without any ray of light."

" Then what happened? How Khushi is related to all this? " everyone looked at Ratna as it was the first time she has spoken. Her voice is so distant, so broken that everyone had tears in their eyes. Arnav felt to slap himself. He had successfully snatched every happiness in this family. He had made his parents ashamed.

" Aman took a promise from me that I will stay away from them. I kept my promise for months and did not go out with them. One day Mathur uncle become seriously ill and Aman had to leave for India.. and that day my life took another drastic change... I again hang out with them. It was raining heavily and we were trapped in my SUV.. They all started to drink, initially I refused but later I was about to take a sip in my beer but like a thunderbolt something came in front of my eyes and I felt my heart skip a beat for the first time. I saw someone dancing in rain with some street children.. A petite girl clad in a red salwar dancing along with those small children. The scene was so beautiful, so serene, so calming. Suddenly my eyes met with her and she smiled..Probably that was the moment my world stop revolving around."

Pause....

"I felt every other things of the world remain faded and only me and she exist. She was not consciously smiled at me , or may be she did not realise, because She was smiling , jumping, laughing her heart out thoroughly while making her crazy move... I don't know why but I felt peace after looking at her. Suddenly my every turmoil, fear, anxiety, restlessness finds a way... My heart demanded to be close to her... like a hypnotized man, I came out from the car and started to take steps towards her.. I wanted to hold her close to my heart..But before I move further she disappeared with the children leaving me drenched in rain. Momentarily I forgot why I was there, forgot about every ups and down of my life, tension of my life, everything.... the only thing which was engraved in my memory was her smile, her carefree dancing, her beautiful face and twinkling eyes..." Arnav paused a little but this time a small smile was adorned in his lips unlike the other time.

The memory of the girl successfully brought a smile on his face...it clearly shows how he was smitten by that girl at first sight..It was not difficult to guess that the girl was none other than Khushi..

" So, that's how you met with Khushi?" Anjali slowly whispered looking at the sudden glow on her Chotey's face after so long. It's clear he has reliving the memories of the day when he met Khushi for the first time.

" Yes, Di.. But I did not know her name then. So I use to address her as 'Rain Girl'. You will not believe me that, I just searched her like a mad man for next few days and even I stand in that exact place for days just to get a glimpse of her. But there were no positive results and I was becoming desperate for her. But one fine day I bump with her in my University Campus and just again mesmerized. Then I became her stalker.. My days use to start with her, entire day I use to try to convince her to date me and ends with standing outside her hostel room which she was sharing with Kuhu then." Not only Arnav but Kuhu and Aman also have a rare smile on their faces remembering that phase of their life. Arnav not only stalk Khushi alone, but he made Aman and Kuhu in their toes too.

" Indeed , Arnav was too much irritating that time. After numerous refusal from Khushi still he used to stuck with her and I can remember one day, I was about to punch him." Kuhu shakes her head smiling remembering the day when she was about to beat him but Khushi stopped him.

" and because that day Khushi stop Kuhu to beat Arnav, Arnav imagine that Khushi had accepted him in her life.. You will not believe, that night Arnav did not sleep properly and spoil my sleep too. He was grinning like a fool and was looking himself in front of the mirror almost whole night. " Aman said smiling a little.

" Why so? I mean, infront of mirror?" Nk asked confused.

" He was getting ready to take Khushi out for a date. He himself imagine that, now Khushi will agree to go out with him, as she had just stop Kuhu to beat him yesterday." Aman shakes his head looking at Arnav who was in deep thought.

" Those phase was the most beautiful time period of my life.. I never realised what I actually felt for her but thought she is also a passing cloud.. But I was crazy to convince her to date me...I used to wait for her, just a simple yes, for whole days.. then days passed to months, almost after 6 months she agreed to be my friend, just friend.. But I felt I have reached to Mount Everest... every single moment spend with her just engraved in my mind for forever. I was so so possessive about her, even she spending time with Kuhu and Aman also irritates me. Not only in class but I also used to follow her in her rehearsal room, I used to sneak in at night to take her long drive, I used to land early morning in her flat just to get a glimpse of her. Ironically, everything around me, seems faded away. For me only she exists. I was so contented with her, with her friendship, I felt completed when she was with me." Arnav said while he felt the mere remembering of those days still increased his heartbeat in thousands times.

" Yes, I also can remember those day. How Arnav used to get irritated and jealous seeing Khushi around any boy, if she talks with anyone, Arnav would have behave like a annoying kid.. and I was the person whom Arnav detested mostly because of my friendship with her." Daksh provided the piece of information to all.

" Yes, I was jealous, I was so obsessed and possessed with Khushi that I wanted to caged her with me all the time. I had confessed her my feelings and she wanted some times, but I was okay with it. But everything changed because of my stupidity and immaturity." Arnav said while a dull, familiar ache again reappeared in his chest.

" One minute, when you were with Khushi bitiya, did you totally disconnected with your all addictions?" Manorama asked slowly still trying hard to cope with the revelations.

" Yes, chotima, The day I first saw Khushi, from that day onwards I was addicted to KHUSHI only, she was my new drug... I did not feel to drink or hang out with that groups." Arnav said genuinely.

" Did Khushi Knew about your habits?" Akash asked this time being unsure.

" Yes, Bhai.. I confessed her everything. In a rainy day, Me and Khushi were stuck in a hut and I confessed everything... every damn thing which happened in Harvard over the years with me or precisely, how I had spend my life there. I told her about my habit of drinking or smoking. And I also told that I lost my virtue being drugged, I said it all to her." Arnav said looking at the faces of his family members.

" Did she rejected you after knowing about your addiction or your sexual life? " It was Payal who asked the obvious question which was lingering probably every other member's head too.

" No.. That day, her maturity amazed me. She consoled me like a mother, gave solace like a lover, took the broken pieces of mine like a soul mate. She just needed some times to confess her feelings but she had promised that my past will never come in between our relationship." Arnav said remembering the stormy night where he confessed to Khushi his every deeds and how she engulfed him in her light.

" Then why? Why did you part away? Why did you insulted her infront of all students?" unable to hold his curiosity more, this time Shyam asked the question. Though he had an idea but he wanted to listen Arnav's version too.

" Because of my stupidity, lack of trust and extreme jealousy.. and above all my anger and immaturity. I will not blame anyone for my act, it was solely mine and only mine impulsiveness which spoil everything. But I would like to enlighten the background of my act." Arnav said and looked at Sheetal. That was the moment Sheetal understands that there is no escape today.

" I saw few photograph of Khushi and Daksh together from the drama they are playing as a couple and misunderstood. I went to Khushi's apartment to confront her but saw Daksh there hugging her and declaring his love for Khushi." Arnav paused a little while he felt a lump in his throat.

" Wait.. wait... are you telling about the Valentine day?" Daksh asked disbelief in which Arnav nodded.

" Oh.. my God... that day you saw me and Khushi but did not you saw another girl was also present over there?" Daksh was too shocked finding out the reality now.

" Who? Which girl you are talking about ? Was there any other person besides you two?" Arnav asked in uttered surprise.

" Of course dude. That day I had proposed my love to Naina. And Khushi was the cupid. I was telling her that I love her, definitely I love Khushi but just as a friend, more like a little sister. And I love Naina Talwar, we are getting married soon." Daksh said still coming up with the truth that he also played a role indirectly for Khushi's misery.

" Naina... you..." Arnav could not believe in his own ears.. Few days before he thought there is a talk for Daksh marriage and probably with Khushi.. He again had misunderstood the whole scene...

Arnav was sulking when Akash probe, " What happened next?"

Coming from his guilt trip Arnav said, " I misunderstood the whole situation and left from there without confronting Khushi. But my ASR mind, wanted to take revenge from her. So, the very next day, I bribe the lift man of one of our wings, and trapped Khushi in a lift. Khushi was scared from darkness and I punished her trapping in the same darkness."

Loud gasps heard from different corner of the living room.

" You did what?" Arvind for the first time asked a question. From his voice it was evident that he is too shocked.

" I trapped her in lift... knowingly that she fears from darkness." The moment Arnav finished he felt a sting on his cheek.

Arvind slapped him with a force. " I could not believe you are my son. You took an opportunity of someone's weakness, to take your so called revenge. I am so ashamed ..." Arvind shook his head in utter disappointment.

" Not only that, Khushi was a claustrophobic." Kuhu informed getting another round of gasps.

" Believe me, I did not knew it. The moment Kuhu informed me about Khushi being claustrophobic, I went there to save her.. I was ashamed of my act but my rage did not let my heart win." Arnav said controlling his tears. Remembering Khushi's tear stricken, helpless face still he felt disgusted on himself.

" So, why did you then insulted her?" Anjali asked still not accepting the fact that her Chotey can be this cruel.

" I thought I will break every relation with her and never come in her way after seeing her fear stricken face in the lift. But next day, Sheetal told me Khushi's mother is the other woman in her father's life and her family broke apart due to Khushi and her mother. At that particular moment I just remembered Rima aunty and Pakhi.. I never knew that...." Arnav was cut off by Ratna..

" You... You sided and supported that girl, whose mother broke my Rima's house hold. You were with that girl because of whom, my Pakhi lost her father's love and childhood, became an orphan. You sided with the wrongdoers, Arnav." The agony of Ratna's voice was so prominent that it brings tears in everyone eyes..

" Believe me maa, I did not knew.. I lost my rational mind in my jealousy... if I had loved Khushi a less, I would have let her go but I was so bruised and broken that I was unable to see the truth... I am.. so.. sorry...I..." Arnav finally broke down in sobs while his deed replays infront of his eyes once again...

Shyam and Aman was besides Arnav in no time...

All of them rooted was in their place... besides silence, the sound of sobs and sniffles were all could be hear...

After few moments Arnav gathered himself and silently