Chapter 7

PART -6

 

Vandana Gupta slumped on the swing as her knees finally gave away not being able to withstand the pressure of standing up for so long.She didn't know for how long she had kept staring at her daughter's retreating back.Her words echoing in her ears,loud and clear.

"You don't know my Arnav Maa but then again,had you known we wouldn't be having this conversation today".

It wasn't her daughter that has spoken to her today.She was a woman who was deeply and irrevocably in love with her man.The woman who couldn't bear a word against him even if it came from her own parents.

Had they really been so blind and oblivious to their daughter's plight all these years.Had they been so lost in their pride that they couldn't look past that one information and has blatantly ignored all of Arnav's other qualities.

She didn't know whether it was Khushi's words,the iron clad resolve in her stance or the love and respect that were brimming in her eyes for Arnav that hit the mark in her heart.But seeing her like that has led her to some grave realisations,the only fact being the realisation has come too late.

With determined steps,she entered her bedroom where her husband was sitting deeply engrossed in studying a file.Seeing her wife enter,Rohan Gupta kept the file away and turned around facing her,eager to know the result of her conversation.

"Did you talked to Khushi?".

"Do you think we have been good parents ?".Vandana Gupta spoke in her own trance.

"What?.I am asking you,did you talked to Khushi about the proposal?.Did she agree to meet the guy?".Rohan Gupta asked his wife once again,not getting a hint of where the conversation was leading to.

"What do you think her answer would have been?.I wonder why we even try again and again,when the truth is right there in front of our eyes but its us who has chosen to point blank ignore it".

Meeting with her husband's perplexed gaze,Vandana Gupta didn't minced words as she elaborated further.She may have taken time to realise but now she wasn't going to waste anymore time leading her daughter's true towards her only happiness.

"Can't you see it?.When was last time you heard Khushi's laughter echoing the hous?e.When did you saw her mingling and enjoying with others?.Her forced smiles,her eyes that always seemed to be searching for someone.Today when Khushi talked to me,I realised for the first time that  I don't recognise my daughter anymore".

She paused to take a deep breath and she was only met by silence from her husband.He didn't have any answers because like her,he has also been living in an ignorant spell.

"I saw it in your eyes,the launch of Khushi's first book .We all know who was the inspiration,she dedicated her first book too.The only person  whom she dared to wished birthday without caring about the presence of hundreds of people.We kept thinking that she will come around sooner or later when the reality is she has been Arnav's all along".

Leading her husband towards the side couch,she took her place besides him and held his hands in her own as she spoke looking right into his eyes.

"Khushi has been the best daughter.we could have ever ask for but we failed to become the parents she deserved.We became the reason of parting her from her only happiness and I know,I will never be able to forgive myself for that.We denied Arnav's proposal thinking he won't be able to give Khushi the security that only a family can provide.We were apprehensive of trusting a man who has grown up without the shelter of his parent's love but the same man stands tall in front of us today".

A mother can fight the whole world for her children and that was what Vandana Gupta doing as she didn't let any stone unturned to make her husband aware of the severity of their one decision.

"Had he wanted,he would have eloped with Khushi bringing our pride down in mere seconds.Had he wanted he would have misled Khushi against us but he didn't do anything of that sort.That boy didn't even voiced a word against us and left silently respecting our verdict.We lost the sight of our truth as we failed to look past our prejudices.".

"Both of them didn't keep any contact with each other. Even if we search our whole lifetime,we can never find a better man than Arnav for her They have taught me a whole new dimension of love and today I  can say without an ounce that I am indeed proud of daughter's choice".

 

It wasn't easy for anyone to accept his mistakes and error in judgement and  and as he sat there in silence.Each word of his wife sunking in slowly,the truth hit him like a bolt of lightening.Rohan Gupta one of the most successful businessman of the country,the keeper of his home had always held pride in doing what was best for his family.

Though in past few years,he hasn't been able to come to terms with the constant nagging feeling in his heart.There was an unbridged gap between his daughter and him and everytime he saw her  all aloof and dejected.it created an rising ache in his heart.The liveliness that was synonymous with Khushi has evaporated taking it with all the joy from their home.

 

In lieu of being in the knowledge that they knew what was best for their daughter,they had unknowingly causing up heartache to their only beloved daughter.They couldn't turn the clock and correct their doings but they could certainly make the best of what laid ahead of them.It was time they be the parents to their children,bringing them the happiness that they both deserved.

 

Arnav was just stepping out of his chamber when his phone buzzed in his pocket.His breath got caught in his throat as he saw the number flash across the mobile screen.A call from India was least expected.He only talked to the manager of orphanage once a month and the phone number was anew to him.

His thoughts immediately flew towards Khushi.Worry for her wellbeing clogging his mind as he hestitantly picked up the call.Arnav heard the person on the other side silently,the phone almost slipping from his hands as he struggled to keep a check on his emotions.

A huge grin greeted his lips as the call ended and for the first time everyone got a glimpse of a new dimension of their Captain.He hugged his friend Michael tightly who was taken aback by the sudden show of affection by the very reserved ASR.

Arnav wanted to shout and express the inexplicable happiness he was experiencing but he knew no one would understand what he was feeling at the moment.He has got his life back and he will not wait a single moment more to be where he was meant to be all along.