Khushi:

Abhi called me. I met Abhi in the restaurant.

"Hi, Abhi," I said.

"Hi. Here are some details about Rakshak's childhood. Actually he was grown up in an orphanage until twelve years. But after that we don’t know what happened to him and where did he grown up."

"I think we need to work more to find about Rakshak," I said.

"Yeah. Anyhow how are your days with Rakshak?"

"That's a different experience from my childhood."

"Different or difficult?"

"No, Rakshak. Sorry, Abhi. Rakshak is a good husband. I am sure soon I will be happy with him," I said.

"Wow! My friend completely fell for her husband. Amazing. I wish those days will be back again," Abhi said.

"I wish for the same," I said, remembering the past.

Abhi, Rakshak and I were classmates in the Medical College. Rakshak started ragging our juniors in a funny way to make them free from the fear of seniors and new environment.

"Sir , I am sorry. I don’t have any talent to perform," the junior said.

"Hey, just chill. Why are you so scared of us?" Abhi said.

"I heard ragging in the medical college is severe, sir," the junior said.

"Don’t get scared of us. We are not demons. Ragging is a way of befriending juniors and making them realise that campus is their second home. Chill man. Now go to your class," Abhi said.

"Well said, Abhi," I said.

I gave a hifi to Abhi. I observed Rakshak burning with jealous.

We used to go to the movies, restaurants and everywhere together. Abhi and I used to visit each other’s home and we know each other’s families. But Rakshak never joined us. Abhi and I know each other well and understood each other well. We didn’t have any secrets and we uses to behave in the same way with Rakshak. But Rakshak didn’t share anything with us. He loved both of us a lot and cared for us, but always a mystery.

One day asusual, Abhi and Rakshak came to the canteen and I was waiting for them.

"Hi, Khushi," Abhi said.

"Hi, Khushi," Rakshak said.

"Hi, Abhi," I said ignoring Rakshak.

"I too said hi. Can’t you hear?

"Abhi, tell him not to talk with me," I said.

"Oh god! Why are you guys fighting again? Atleast tell me the reason."

"Ask him where he was in the last evening," I said.

"How did you know that?" Abhi said.

"Khushi has many informers and fans," Rakshak said.

"Why did you beat him, Rakshak? You were arrested and what if FIR is filed? what would happen to your future?"

"Nothing happens to me. I can solve my problems. You no need to worry for me," Rakshak said.

Abhi took a white hand kerchief and showed to both of us.

"Please end the war now. Kindly establish the peace. Mahatma Gandhi cannot bear this violence in his nation," Abhi said dramatically making us laugh.

One day, Rakshak went to Abhi and revealed his feelings for me.

"Abhi, I want to say one important thing to you," Rakshak said.

"Tell me, Rakshak. Why are you in tension?"

"I..I love..."

"You..You love Khushi. Am I right?" Abhi said.

"Yes, Abhi. But how do you know?"

"I know about you both well. I am sure Khushi too loves you. Tell her directly," Abhi said.

Rakshak hugged Abhi and called me.

"Tell me, Rakshak. Why did you ask me to meet you," I said.

"Khushi, I don’t know how to express my feelings. But frankly speaking I love you.

Whatever it is, I will accept your decision," Rakshak said.

"I am sorry, Rakshak. I don’t love you. How do you expect me to love you? No girl likes a person who is rude and does anything to satisfy his ego. Whatever I don’t like you. You are not suitable to me. I hope you will never talk about this to me," I said.

Rakshak said everything to Abhi and Abhi assured that he would talk to me. Abhi met me.

"Khushi, is it true that you don’t love Rakshak? I know very well about you. Tell me the truth," Abhi said.

"I love him, Abhi. But Rakshak needs to change. He is my first and last love too. But I can’t accept him until he changes. I want him to change. That's possible only with love."

"I hope your idea will win. As a friend, I am always with you and will make you win."

"Thank you. I love you, Abhi," I said for his support.

"I love you too," Abhi said.

Rakshak listened to our last words and thought that we both were in love with each other. He thought Abhi cheated him and didn’t inform him about our love.

Next day, Abhi went to Rakshak’s room and but Abhi didn’t find him. Rakshak left his studies and went off.

Rakshak kept a simple msg to me "Wish you and Abhi good luck and happy married life.”

And to Abhi, he texted that "I trusted you as a friend, but your betrayal taught me never to trust anyone. Good bye. Wish you both good luck and happy married life”.

Abhi and I searched for Rakshak everywhere but didn’t find him. After 3 years, I and Abhi finished the MBBS and went for the interview in Rakshak Super Speciality Hospital.

There we saw Rakshak as the MD of the hospital. But he pretended as if he didn’t know us. We didn’t understand how he earned that wealth, but we suspected that he did something wrong. Rakshak never gave any scope for us to ask him his details. After that, life underwent many changes and my marriage was fixed with Abhi without our consent.

"Doesn’t his words hurt you, Khushi?" Abhi said, bringing me out of my thoughts.

I smiled as I don't want anyone to know what's happening between us.

"I know what are you going through but I hope he will understand you soon."

"Ok, Abhi. I will leave now. It's getting late. I should reach home before Rakshak comes back. Otherwise it will be an issue again," I said and got up to go but unfortunately I was slipped and Abhi caught me.

"Rakshak," Abhi said.

"What?" I said.

Rakshak came there.

"Can I join you both?" Rakshak said.

"Actually we are leaving but we will be glad if you join with us, Rakshak," Abhi said.

Rakshak sat with us.

"I think you both are feeling uncomfortable as I have joined with you both. You both need privacy. Fine, I will leave. Have your own time," Rakshak said.

"Rakshak, you are misunderstanding us," Abhi said.

"Oh, really? Tell me how to understand a friend who betrayed me and a wife who met her lover even though she knows that he is her husband’s enemy."

"Stop it, Rakshak. This is a public place," I said, feeling uneasy with his shouting which made everyone in the restaurant look at us.

"Shut up," Rakshak said.

Rakshak held my hand tightly and dragged me with him.

"Rakshak, don’t behave in this way with Khushi. She…."

"Who are you to interfere? She is my wife and I have all rights over her," Rakshak said.

"Rakshak, please..."

"Abhi, please leave it. I can handle this," I said.

Rakshak brought me forcefully to the home. Rakshak threw me on the bed.

"From today, you are not allowed to go out and I am going to talk with you later. Now I am locking the room," Rakshak said and locked me in the room. He returned home in the drunken state. He opened the lock and sat near me.

"What's your plan?" Rakshak said.

"Plan?"

"When are you going to elope with with love Abhi?"

"What rubbish are you talking, Rakshak?"

Rakshak caught my neck and pinned me to the wall.

"Rakshak, leave me. Please listen to me," I said.

"If you don’t have any intention of eloping with Abhi, why did you meet Abhi? Don’t you know that I hate him? I told you many times that you must follow my rules or I will punish you. Today you are going to face the punishment."

"You are misunderstanding us," I said.

Rakshak slapped me. I fell on the bed and he came to me.

"Till now I didn’t use my rights over you because I didn't want to trouble you. But now I have realised that leaving you like this gives you a chance to do as you want. Once if I use my right as your husband, then you can’t do anything else."

Rakshak came top of me and tried to remove my sari. It became difficult for me to breath. Though he realised it, his rage and drunken state made him to lose his sense.

"It's hurting me, Rakshak. Please, leave me."

Somehow I pushed him away and tried to free myself from him. Rakshak tried to hold me and my head hit to the wall and I fell down. I acted as if I am unconcious.

Rakshak lifted me and dropped me on the bed and treated me. In the morning, I woke up and found Rakshak beside me. I was about to get up but my leg ached due to the injury I got yesterday when I fell down.

Rakshak lifted me and helped me to get fresh up. Then, he brought the break fast for me.

"Have the food. Please, don’t get up from the bed. If you need anything, call me. I will be at home until you recover," Rakshak said and I didn’t respond.

"I am sorry, Khushi. I shouldn’t have behaved like that with you. I lost my temper as I was drunk. I promise you that I will quit drinking," Rakshak said.

As I stayed silent, Rakshak gave food to me and left from there.