Khushi - Prologue

'THE TEARS OF A CLOWN'

Never before had she felt confined of what she had worn. It was rich, studded with diamonds. She made it look cheap.  Illiterate - it screamed.  The diamond bangles were too heavy for hands that hassled for a hundred rupees.

But the heaviest jewellery was the smearing of red in her hair. There were times when this colour would make her man’s world’s axis tilt. Frowning, she counted the months in her hands. Strange, they hadn’t crossed twelve but the spark had long died.

She looked out of the window, recalling her odd gig she later did to make her adopted son smile.

“You look stupid.” The seven year old grumbled.

She just wanted to make him happy. Make up for being too harsh on the kid while teaching moral lessons.

“Aarav will come around Arnavji. Right now we need to teach him to value every cent spent.”

“No. ASR’s son will have the world at his feet.” Her husband growled.

It was strange how one argument led to another.

“My difficult childhood aided me enough. If necessary, I could earn more than you!” She huffed, tired between diplomacy and reality. “You?” Arnav mocked, eerily similar to the days he used to detest her.

“Yes, me.”

Rolling his eyes, he laughed “To make money one needs courage and brains. You have none.”

Staring at the moonless sky, Khushi sighed, letting an unshed tear roll down her cheek. Every time she tried to make someone happy, it ended with her tears. Her dead parents named her wrong. She wasn’t happiness.

Tucking her arms to battle against the cold winds of Delhi, she shut her eyes. She didn’t spot her parents, the twin stars above, again. Above the layers of pollution her parents let out a sad smile. Of course they had named her right, the little one was happiness.

Except she never sought it for herself.

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I

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Hello folks! I hope you like my latest offering!

This story would deal more about Khushi's growth as a person in all than simply focus on their love story - I hope that sits well within your taste!

Hope to hear so much more from you all. Cheers!