Chapter Thirty Five

As quick as she could, Khushi tidied up the room and left to her bedroom. The second she got in, she shut and locked the door, and leaned up against it.

What the hell was that, she wondered.

Khushi's phone rang off, scaring her and causing her to yelp with a jump. She quickly ran to her phone and picked it up without looking at who was calling her.

"Who is it," she asked immediately.

"Salman Khan."

Khushi scrunched her eyebrows. "What-?"

"Really Khushi? It's me, Arnav. You know, the number one husband in the world."

Khushi gasped and sighed in relief. "Oh thank heavens."

Arnav chuckled. "Khushi are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine," she lied. "Why are you calling at this hour?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry, I know it's late but I didn't hear your voice all day. I planned on calling earlier but I was so busy - honestly I can't wait for this week to end."

Arnav expected a response from Khushi, but she only hummed.

"Khushi, are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm totally fine. Just thinking about you," she played off.

Arnav was quiet for a moment. "Lies," he eventually said.

Khushi's eyes widened. "Is not," she defended.

"Yes it is. You're not playing with your mangalsutra."

Khushi glanced down and saw that she wasn't. "Yes I am," she lied.

"Khushi don't lie to me. Especially about this."

Khushi bit on her fingernail.

"Now tell me what's bothering you," he demanded softly.

Should I tell him?

"Well?"

Khushi sighed. "Promise you won't laugh?"

"Promise, now tell me!"

Khushi slouched her shoulders to the tone of his voice. "I thought there was a ghost," she muttered.

"A what," Arnav asked, not hearing her clearly.

"I thought there was a ghost. In Papa's study."

For a moment, Arnav was quiet. However when Khushi heard him break a snicker, she blew up.

"You said you wouldn't laugh!"

And Arnav could no longer hold it in.

"Arnav!"

"I'm sorry," he laughed, "but a ghost? Really? Khushi that's the most ridiculous-"

But before he could finish, Khushi hung up on him.

"What the? Khushi?" Arnav looked at his phone confusedly.

Khushi pouted and fumed, angry at Arnav.

I'm not being ridiculous! How dare he!

Irritated, Khushi turned her phone off.

Ridiculous huh? How about this?!

Khushi tossed her phone aside and got ready for bed, repeatedly huffing until she fell asleep.

"Ridiculous? I'll show you ridiculous," she muttered, and she fell asleep.

*~*

The Raizada Mansion was quiet. All the workers had gone home and everyone in the household were sound asleep, no one aware of the shadow that lurked in the darkness.

It had some work that needed to be done. All was going well up until Khushi had entered Aryan's study. But the figure had known this place very well by now, as it wasn't the first time they had been in Raizada Mansion. When Khushi came in, it had only hidden in one of the many secret rooms of the mansion. As soon as it heard Khushi leave and was far of a distance, it came out of the hiding spot and took a picture from the album.

The figure lurked in the halls, it's mind repeating it's one goal over and over again.

The figure was now in the main hall. It was intending on going to the prayer room, when it caught sight of the family portraits. Before when the figure would come into Raizada mansion, there was one portrait, showing Aryan Singh Raizada, Shalini Aryan Singh Raizada, and Arnav Singh Raizada. Mrs. Raizada was sitting in a chair, holding baby Raizada in her lap, while Mr. Raizada stood behind his wife, one hand on his wife's shoulder, while she placed hers above his, representing their love.

This new portrait however, contained a group of four. One was Aryan Singh Raizada, looking much more aged than the old portrait. Arnav Singh Raizada was no longer an infant, but a grown man in the portrait, looking mighty handsome. There was a woman sitting in a chair, however it wasn't Shalini Aryan Singh Raizada, but the latest addition to the family: Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada. Her husband had his hand on her shoulder, just as Aryan Singh Raizada had in the old portrait. Like the old portrait, Khushi had her hand over her husband's, just like Shalini had. The fourth person in the portrait wasn't a Raizada but is the best friend of the late Shalini Aryan Singh Raizada, Divya Param Chaterjee.

Whenever the figure would sneak into the Raizada household, it would always look at these two portraits. It's mission would echo louder in its mind, only encouraging them more. And like every other time, the figure ended it's moment with one last look at Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada, and would descend the stairs.

I'm coming.

*~*

When Khushi woke up the next morning, she remembered her conversation with Arnav.

Hmph! What does he think of himself?

Khushi got up and prepared for the day. The thought of the 'ghost' entered her mind and she wondered what it could've been.

The wind? No that can't be it.... Then what?

Before Khushi went downstairs for breakfast, she headed towards Aryan's study. Just as she was about to go in, however, Divya caught sight of her.

"Khushi, could you come and help me in the kitchen? Thank you," she said sweetly.

Khushi pursed her lips and looked at the doors of the study. 

Okay, maybe later then.

Khushi joined Divya in the kitchen and helped her make the parathas. Aryan came down soon enough and Khushi served him breakfast.

"Thank you dear."

Khushi smiled softly and sat down beside him.

Divya sat down in her seat. "Khushi?"

"Yes Dai Ma," she replied.

"Would you care to explain why Chote has been calling nonstop?"

For a moment, Khushi's eyes had widened, but she quickly recovered. 

Aryan looked at Khushi curiously. "What happened, Khushi?"

Khushi frowned while she looked at her parathas. 

"Did you two fight again," Divya asked.

Maybe Aryan couldn't tell, but Khushi could hear the accusation in her voice, that too towards Khushi.

"Perhaps, " Khushi simply said. 

Aryan chuckled. "What now?"

"Your son breaks promises, that's what."

While Aryan chuckled, Divya frowned. 

"Are you always going to keep him on his toes," she slyly accused. "Aryan-"

"Oh its alright," Aryan chuckled. "Fighting only increases the amount of love." He looked at Khushi. "What do you say dear," he winked.

Khushi couldn't help but to laugh.

"But Aryan-"

"If they didn't fight, I'd be worried. I mean Shalu and I-"

Aryan stopped himself. Khushi and Divya both looked at him while he toyed with the bit of paratha between his fingers. Eventually he excused himself and left the room. Khushi felt bad and was about to go after him, when Divya dramatically sighed.

"It seems that these days, you just keep reminding Aryan of Shalini."

Again, Khushi could hear the tinge of accusation in her sentence. As if she was trying to guilt Khushi. But Divya didn't understand that Khushi knew her better now and that she would not play weak against her.

"Maybe, but that's a good thing. After all Ma is the only person he loves."

Khushi could see the curiosity in her eyes, trying to figure out if Khushi's words had more meaning to it than it seemed.

Not waiting for her to figure it out, Khushi got up and went to check on Aryan. She didn't have to go far, however, because Aryan was standing in front of the old family portrait in the main hall. She joined him by his side and looked at the old portrait.

"Ma looks very beautiful," Khushi said softly.

Aryan nodded with a sigh, then moved closer to the portrait. He ran his hand along the frame and sighed once more.

"I don't know what it is, but these days I seem to think of her more," he said. "Every waking moment, all I do is think of her. I think of her so much, I can't get any work done."

Khushi went to his side and placed her hand on his shoulder.

Aryan sighed. "I don't know if it's my age catching up to me, but sometimes I can feel her. As if she were right here!"

"Sometimes when we love someone very much, you feel them when they're not even here," Khushi said softly.

"I know, but it's more than that. Remember how I told you my heart would react whenever she was nearby? My heart acted up just like that when I was going up the stairs. That's the reason why stopped and stood here."

"Our hearts toy with us sometimes," Khushi smiled sadly. "It teases us sometimes."

Aryan looked at her sadly. "It does, doesn't it?"

Khushi nodded, feeling her throat threatening to close.

Aryan looked up at the portrait and placed his hand over where Shalini held his. Khushi bit the inside of her lip to hold back her tears. Holding herself together, Khushi went over to him.

"Why don't we go to the prayer room and pray for her. Perhaps that would help?"

Aryan sighed. "Yes, let's do that."

Khushi linked her arm with his and they went to the prayer room. They prayed for Shalini and Khushi caught sight of her father crying. She felt really bad and prayed for happiness to come into her father's life, unable to see the dear old man in such pain.

*~*

Aryan had decided that he'd get some work done down at Town Hall, so he left. Khushi was going to join Divya in the kitchen, but she decided to make a quick trip to Aryan's study. This time she made it in fine, and she didn't feel that spooky feeling she had felt the night before. Everything was just as it was when she had left it the night before.

Well, almost.

Khushi went to check the photo album to see if the photo was still missing, feeling a bit paranoid, when she saw something underneath Aryan's desk. Pulling his chair back, she saw pieces of paper on the floor. As soon as she picked it up, she realized it wasn't just pieces of paper, but four quarters of a photograph. Putting the pieces together and facing it to her, Khushi saw that it was a photo of Aryan, Arnav, and Divya, Arnav standing in the middle of them.

Khushi gasped. Who did this? Was this here the night before? Did I just miss this or did it...?

Khushi panicked.

Is someone after Arnav? The family? But why?

Khushi shut her eyes and prayed.

Please don't harm my family, please protect us from whatever it is about to happen.