Chapter 24

[MEMBERSONLY]

It was 9 pm when Arnav pulled into the driveway of Raizada Mansion. Today was the day of Khushi's dinner with Akash Roy and family, and he had stalled coming back home for as long as he could. He purposely fixed a dinner meeting with a few business associates, so that he does not have to eat alone at home thinking about that blasted dinner of hers. While getting out of his car, he spotted all other three cars standing in the parking, and a hope sprouted in his heart that may be Khushi didn't go to the dinner after all. The very thought gave spring to his feet as he rushed inside.

'Khushi. KHUSHI'  he called out as soon as he entered the house.

'Sahab, Madam is not home'  Hariprakash came rushing forward.

'But all the cars are parked outside'  Arnav hoped against hope.

'Ji, Akash Sahab had come to pick madam. She has gone out with him' the servant informed.

'Oh. When did she go?'  Arnav asked disappointed.

'Ji around 7 in the evening'  came back the reply. 'Sahab, should I serve dinner?'  Hariprakash asked.

'No. Just get me some black coffee. I'll be at the half terrace'  ordered Arnav as he made his way to the stairs.

'Sahab you mean green tea?'  poor man tried to confirm, aware of change in his masters routine.

'COFFEE. Did you not hear it or did you not understand it? And make it strong'  Arnav snapped at the clueless servant and made a move. 

It was nearing 10 pm and there was still no sign of Khushi. Arnav sat on the grand swing on the half terrace, in his white shirt, slaty gray vest and trousers with a frown on his face. He had thought of and then discarded at least 10 times, the idea of calling Khushi. 'She is not a kid. And even if she was, she is escorted by her close friend, isn't she? Must be enjoying a lot with his family. Else what dinner goes on for 3 hours?'  he grouched. It has been a VERY long 2 days for Arnav, and his sanity was nearing the end of its tether.

The sound of a car coming to a screeching halt pulled him out of his thoughts and he instantly stood up and moved towards the railing of the half terrace. He saw Khushi and Aksah coming out of the car, both looking quite lost, which was strange as these two generally smile their cheeks off in each others company as far as he had noticed. That piqued his curiosity, and to some extent anxiety too. What has happened? Has Khushi told him about the engagement? Is he trying to talk her out of it? They looked like they were arguing over something for few minutes, serious verbal exchange and then Akash got into his car and backed out of the driveway. Khushi then hastily made her way inside the house. Arnav came back and sat on the swing, trying to figure out what they were talking about just now. Well, he will know it soon, won't he? Whatever it is, its HIM who has to face it eventually, he thought bitterly.

After 20 long minutes, Khushi finally came searching for him on the half terrace. She smiled and sat down beside him on the swing. 

'Why are you having coffee Arnavji?'  she started before he could ask her anything.

'Just felt like it. How was your dinner?'  he did not want the conversation deviate from important things.

'Oh. It was good'  she smiled brightly, souring Arnav's mood some more.

'And? What else did you do there?'  he asked possessively taking her left hand into his hands.

'Mmm. We talked. We ate. Yeah. Pretty much it'  she summed up.

'Did you tell them about the engagement?'  Arnav asked, now playing with the ring on her finger.

'Nope. Nobody asked about the ring, so I wasn't obliged to tell'  she replied with her eyes twinkling.

'What happened Khushi? Why are your answers so short today? You don't WANT to tell me about your dinner?'  he failed miserably at hiding the anger in his voice.

'Why would you say that? Okay, lets see. I met Akash's parents and his aunt. She has come down from Australia to visit. The food was very tasty. Specially, mmm,  desserts. They have a very beautiful house'  she elaborated, in a very chirpy voice Arnav noticed.

'And what else? Come on Khushi, you were gone for three hours. Sure you must have many more things to share'  he asked trying to get some hint, any freaking hint, if this evening, if Akash Roy or his family, or anything thing under the sun has made Khushi re-think about THEM.

'It was just a dinner Arnavji. And I am sleepy now. Can we call it a day please?'  she suddenly stood up.

'Sure'  muttered a shocked Arnav.

As Khushi left, Arnav knew that something was wrong. She had never talked to him like this. It was like she had dismissed him. What the hell did that Roy tell her? What were they talking about so seriously when he came to drop her off? Did he propose to her? Did his parents talk about proposal to her? Why is she so secretive today? He should have not let her go to this bloody dinner. And why did she leave so abruptly? Something was wrong, very wrong. Is she having second thoughts about their marriage? SH**. He ran his hand through his hair frustrated, while pacing on the half terrace like a caged tiger, thinking about all the possibilities.

Khushi locked the door behind her and flopped on the bed, letting the tears she had been holding for a while now flow freely. It was such a bad decision to go to this stupid dinner. She should have got alarmed when Akash told her to not mention that she lives in Raizada Mansion, as his mother was a little old fashioned. Instead she foolishly agreed remembering naniji's temple friends. And that was just the beginning.

As soon as she had met Akash's mother, Mrs. Manorama Roy, she had got cold vibes from the women. She was ... coldly hospitable.  She shrugged the thought off her mind and gave her the benefit of doubt that they are meeting for the first time and have such different personalities, and they will warm up to each other as the evening will progress. Only that the evening got worse. Cold scrutiny changed into probing inquiry of her background making her quite uncomfortable. Did Akash never mention that she was an orphan to them? Not even when he invited her over for dinner? Anyways, she was used to of people asking her all these question so she answered all of them, however this was not what she had expected from her evening with a friend's family.

Akash's aunt was much civil to her than his mother. And the worst part was that Akash was sitting next to her, doing NOTHING to control the situation. She does not consider periodic whimper of 'Maa Please' that he was letting out of any value, because it did nothing to stop his mother from stepping over Khushi's personal boundaries again and again and that too unashamedly. She just could not bring herself to be rude to the lady who was elder to her and hence suffered two full hours silently. 

Mrs. Roy also took this opportunity to tell a few things to now a very annoyed Khushi, like how she nearly died giving birth to Akash. How he will not do anything against his mother's wishes. How Roy's were an elite family who value family background and upbringing a lot. How there was a line of girls waiting to be accepted by them for their darling son. And absolutely NOTHING MADE SENSE to her. She thought maybe this is what she tells all Akash's friend who she meets for the first time in the name of family introduction . So she overlooked that with a tight smile too.

And still she would have came back happy, much happier than what she was right now, if she had not insisted on taking her hostess's leave personally. She was about to leave and Mrs. Roy and her sister were no where in the sight. She thought it would not look good if she leaves like that, specially after the concern Mrs. Roy had shown about manners in kids of orphanages. So she went to the kitchen where Mrs. Roy and her sister were at that moment. But she halted outside as she heard that it was HER that they were discussing.

'What is so special in this girl Khushi? Slyly trying to be my daughter-in-law, as if I'll let that happen. Akash is so naive, doesn't understand these type of cunning girls, trying to trap him in her beauty. And did you see how she got entry in to my house in the guise of her friendship today? I promised to meet her once and I did. She does not fit the bill and that's final. Meenakshi, what was the name of the daughter of your friends who you suggested for Akash... The Sen's... yeah, Payal. Talk to them asap. I won't let this classless girl ruin my child's future. No family nothing. Who is even going to bear her wedding expense? What face will I show in society, if God forbid this Khushi succeeds in her plans. KHUSHI, HUH. For me and my son she only spells doom. Akash does not understand anything. But I'll not give in, its a question of his life'  Mrs. Roy was saying without any scruples that the subject of their discussion is still present in the house. 

She stood rooted outside their kitchen trying to come to terms with the accusations she had just heard. To say that she was shocked and humiliated would be an understatement. Where did they get this idea that she is interested in her son like that? 'For God's sake I am engaged already, and I freaking don't give two hoots about being HER daughter-in-law for sure' Khushi fumed. But the big blow came when she realized that Akash was now standing behind her and from the looks of it he had heard the last bits of conversation too. And instead of going in and defending her, he quietly escorted her out and said  'Sorry Khushi. Maa just gets carried away sometimes. I hope you can forget what she said, for she does not mean it. I know her. She is very sweet. You'll grow fond of her too. Give her some time'.

'But why did she say that I have designs on you in that way. You are my friend Akash and you know that. She had no right to say all this'  she said blinking back the tears of disgrace.

'Khushi... Ummm ... I would like us to be kind of more than friends ... and I have told her that'  Akash said hesitantly.

'OH. Oh. NO. No Akash. We are friends and I want it to stay that way'  said a perplexed Khushi. 

'Please Khushi, don't say that. I even fought with Maa for you. We like each other and we can make each other happy'  he pleaded.

'Listen Akash, I have never seen you that way. You don't have to fight with your mother over me. And I have heard enough for the day from her. I want to go home'  she replied in croaked voice.

'Maa will come around. She only asked me to invite you over as she wanted to SEE you. She will accept you and love you. Just give her some time'  Akash pleaded his mother's case. 

'Your mother for one does not share your opinion and secondly, I am already seeing someone. Can you please drop me back?'  Khushi said with irritation brimming in her voice at his thick headedness.

Her journey back home was a heavily silent one. Akash had not spoken anything after her revelation that she was seeing someone. And she had no desire left to talk to him when he had just been a mute audience to her royal humiliation under his roof. He is a goddamn lawyer, isn't he? Then why cannot he defend his guest in front of his... UGHHH ... preposterous mother. Where did his ability to speak evaporate today? If she can defend him in front of her FIANCE, the formidable Arnav Singh Raizada, then why can't Akash ask his mother to stop with her insults? God what a spineless man he is. She pities the woman he will marry.  

But looked like there was more to come. She could not believe her ears when Akash tried to dissuade her from SEEING someone else when they reached Raizada Mansion. All he was concerned about was to get her to say yes to his 'Proposal'. And it really bothered her that he did not look least perturbed at his mother's awful behavior. Maybe he was used to it, but she had no intentions to take it laying down. Now that she was much calm and collected than before, she in no uncertain terms told Akash to chuck any such thoughts out of his head. He was just a friend, and after meeting his family, where every one turns a blind eye to his mother's unacceptable behavior towards their guest, she had no desire to meet that family again for next thousand years, let alone be a part of it. She also verbalized that in spite of the fact that it was his mother who had made the derogatory remarks, the credit of her bruised self-respect goes to him, her FRIEND, who had lost all the respect in her eyes today.

She had then composed herself and had gone to Arnavji, but to her horror, he refused to talk about anything else than the pathetic dinner and pathetic hosts. She was tempted to tell him everything, share her heart out, but she was feeling so sad for herself for no fault of hers, and so overwhelmed that it just did not come out. Also telling him will mean putting Akash's job on the line. She knew Arnavji's temper and she did not want to be the reason for anybody's misery. Why should anyone suffer professionally because they have a condescending mother and no back-bone in their personal life?  She will keep her distance from Akash now on and that will be it.

She was jerked out of her thoughts by the knock on her door. She stood up and made her hair, face and dress presentable while walking to the door. It was Hariprakash.

'Ji Hariprakashji?'  she said.

'Madam, it is 12 o'clock. Can I go to my quarters?'  he asked.

'Of course. In fact what are you doing here so late? Don't you get off at 11?'  she questioned.

'Ji, Sahab has gone out. And the front door is open, so I was waiting for him to come back so I can lock it and then go'  he informed.

'WHAT? WHERE has he gone? WHEN did he go? Are you sure he is not in his room?'  Khushi's senses got on a high alert in a nano second.

'Ji. An hour back he just stormed out and drove off. I don't know where'  he expressed his ignorance.

As Khushi dismissed the servent, worry lines marred her forehead and panic started settling in her heart. WHERE did Arnavji go AT THIS HOUR? And WHY the hell did he not tell her?  OH GOD, Please keep him safe. What kind of irresponsible behavior is this? 

He'll be the death of me one day, she thought as she started dialing his number, angry, worried and helpless.