Chapter 27
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[MEMBERSONLY]
Hi everyone,
Finally we reach the end of Desert Rose. I would like to say
that I am not going to be describing the re-marriage. We got a beautiful one on
the show and I think everyone would agree that there can be nothing better than
that. Some aspects of this chapter are based on special requests. The story was
complete in the last chapter and this is just a glimpse of the future. So it is
brief.
Your comments have meant a lot to me during this journey and
motivated me to keep going on.
I want to make a special mention of those of who have taken
the time to make detailed comments, analysing in depth about certain aspects. This
would be the time to let you know that I am overwhelmed by your comments.
Thank you one and all for traveling with me through the
exotic Rajasthan on this beautiful Arhi journey.
Desert Rose -Epilogue
Three years later'..
ARNAV Singh Raizada had
been driving for almost one and half hours. He turned his head to see Khushi
dozing peacefully in the passenger seat. He didn't know what he done to deserve
Khushi. Happiness. His thoughts went back three years ago'.
He had managed to give
Khushi her dream wedding and had whisked her away to their belated honey moon to
Europe. Khushi had been enthralled by the two week trip through London,
Amsterdam, Paris, Switzerland, Venice, and Rome. They had packed to the hilt
for their final destination in the US. So much for a backpacking trip!
Then they had gone to
the US, bought a house in the suburbs close to the beautiful city of Charlotte
in North Carolina known for its lush greenery.
Khushi had adapted to
her new environment quickly and in her usual exuberance had earned herself
friends in the neighbourhood. She was slowly getting used to wearing western
clothes and Arnav realized that except for the height, Khushi was no less than
one of the models at AR.
On his birthday she had
arranged for a surprise party for him with some of their neighbours and close
friends present. But his gift turned out to be Khushi looking like a Barbie
doll wearing a short pink dress, silver high heels and her long curled to fall
delicately around her face. His stomach had done flip flops and while cutting
his sugar-free cake he had wished that everyone would just go home leaving him
alone with Khushi.
They had travelled like
crazy.
During fall they had
gone riding on a Harley-Davidson bike, through the Blue Ridge parkway to the Smoky
Mountains in Tennessee where they had rented a beautiful chalet up in the mountains.
He remembered it had taken him some time to convince Khushi that there was no
one around to see them if they wanted to use the outdoor hot tub kept on the
deck. They had spent their evenings snuggled together in one comforter watching
as darkness slowly invaded the fall foliage.
They had flown to Boston
to spend Thanksgiving with Jenny's. He had taken her to the University campus
and they had gone trekking in the Middlesex Fells Forest Reservation.
One Christmas was spent
in Manhattan where they walked hand in hand in time square, while it snowed, drank
coffee in the cozy coffee shops, watched the skaters in the skating rink by the
giant Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center.
Later, he and Khushi had
gone to see the famous broad way show -- Phantom of the Opera. Khushi looked
stunning in her off shoulder red gown. He remembered how she had cried in the
end, saddened by the Phantom's unrequited love for the heroine Christine who
loved her childhood sweetheart Raoul. In this trip Khushi had been upset that
they had forgotten to take their camera but he hadn't regretted it. The
memories of this trip was etched in his mind forever.
Couple of months later
they had driven to Snow Shoe mountain in West Virginia where Khushi had failed
miserably in the ski lessons she took. She looked cute in her snow pants and
jacket but her face was frozen and her nose had turned red in the -9 degree wind
chill. After falling backward a couple of time she had given up. She had
satisfied herself with sitting inside the warm hotel lounge sipping a cup of
tea, watching him come down the slope. Later that night, having obtained a room
with a view of the slope in the ski lodge, they had lain in the darkness,
entwined in their warm bed watching skiers skiing under flood light.
This sojourn to the US
had allowed him to expand AR's US business considerably, while Khushi worked on
her new clothing line, catering solely to NRI clients in the US. During one
business trip to California he had taken Khushi along and they had converted it
into sightseeing trip covering parts of Arizona and Nevada as well.
Last summer,their family
had visited them and they had taken them through the usual sightseeing
destinations like Washington DC, New York, Niagra Falls and Disney World.
At Disney World Khushi
had transformed into a little girl, wanting to go on all rides, tireless and
enthusiastic till the park closing time. She hadn't allowed anyone to take a
single break as they park hopped for five whole days.
Butafter they had left,
Khushi had begun to feel home sick. He had realized thatit was time to go back
home''
The
blare of a horn brought him out of his reverie and he realized he was driving
on the Jaipur-Delhi highway ' a place which was a stark contrast to the one
they had just left. The climate was dry and humid as it always was in the
desert. Driving through the inhospitable landscape, with miles and miles of
burning hot sands and people fiercely proud of their roots, he knew one thing
for sure ' this is what he identified with. This
was home.
Today,on
their parents' ten year anniversary the entire family had decided to visit the
memorial to pay their respects.
When
Arnav passed the Reliance petrol pump, he took a U-turn to reach the road
leading toward the small village of Bawal, parking the SUV a little further
from the Durga mandir. He alighted the vehicle and walked around to the
passenger side to open the door.
Khushi
took his hand and smiled up at him. It seemed to him that she was growing more
beautiful with each passing year. She glowed like a pearl in her red anarkali
suit.
They
were joined by Akash, Payal, Anjali and Manav --along with their little girls,
two and half year old Arushi and one and half year old Manvi.
Looking
at his nieces, his thoughts went back to the time Payal had given birth to her
baby girl.
Khushi
and he had come down from the US as Khushi had been particular about doing
everything that their mother would have done if she were alive. Even though
Payal had Anjali and aconsiderably subdued mother-in-law at her side, she had
heaved a sigh of relief when she saw Khushi. They had named her Arushi in the
honour of her aunt and uncle.
A
few weeks after Arushi was born, the Haveli saw another major event ' the
wedding of Anjali and Manav. It had taken six months for Manav to convince
Anjali to say yes to him. He hadn't pressed her in the beginning allowing her
to grieve the loss of a relationship -- for whatever it was worth. But when he
had finally told her that he had waited more than ten years and that another
ten years was not really going to be a problem for him, she had promptly
accepted and put him out of his misery. The wedding took place in the Haveli,
in the presence of close family and friends.
A
year later, they had to make another trip to Raisar-- for the birth of their second
niece.
When
Anjali had found out she was pregnant she had been so shocked she had asked
Manav to double check the results of the test. Manav and she had realized that
the earlier reports of her inability to conceive might have been tampered by
Shyam. Anjali had sent a silent prayer to the Gods for saving her from a
disaster. They had both fought on the name. Anjali wanted Manvi. Anjali had
won.
Khushi
had been there for Anjali as well, as based on her prior experience with Payal,
she seemed to think she was some sort of an expert in helping pregnant women
through childbirth. She had been right in a way, as his nani was too old, Payal
already overwhelmed with responsibility of a year old baby and his indolent
mami, as usual clueless about the care of people, let alone a pregnant woman. Even
Anjali had been relieved to have Khushi at her side.
After
the birth of Manvi, Anjali and Manav had hosted a grand dinner at their new
home they had built a short distance away from the Haveli. The look on Anjali's
face as she showed them around was absolutely priceless.
These
trips to India had allowed him to see that Akash had become more responsible.
Arnav didn't know if it was fatherhood or the fact that Anjali and he weren't around
to mollycoddle him. Whatever it was, Akash had finally grown up.
Seven
years ago he had come to this very same spot to achieve some sort of closure
regarding his parents' untimely death.
At
the time he had thought the accident had changed the course of his life.He had
been angry with God for taking away his parents and forcing him into a life of
responsibilities crushing his hopes and aspirations.He had been wrong.
Nothing
could change what had happened with his parents. Khushi had taught him through
the purity in her heart that whatever life throws your way you handle with
pride and determination, never once compromising on values. She had taught him
to be more optimistic in life.
His
war with God had ended so that he could have a new beginning in life ' with
Khushi, with his family and himself.
He
looked up at the rough, gravelly path leading up to the slope, to the Desert
Rose tree still and serene.Under the tree he saw his family standing together paying
homage to their loved ones. Anjali and Manav holding their daughter stood on
the right. Payal and Akash holding their daughter stood on the left. Khushi
stood in the centre.
Though
Arnav's heart constricted wishing their parents were alive to see their
grandchildren he consoled himself knowing that they were in a better place,
watching over them.
He
saw all them except Khushi walking back.As he watched her standing quietly, her
red dupatta flying crazily, he saw her taking a step backward''
He
covered the distance between them in seconds and his hands enveloped her from
behind to rest possessively on her stomach.
Khushi's
hands covered his own. 'Arnavji'' Her dhak-dhak began as she felt his heart
beating at her back.
'Khushi'.the
first time I saw you here --- I thought you looked absolutely exquisite ---
with your huge almond shaped eyes and lips like ...the Desert Rose. I wanted
to kiss you so badly.'
'After
I saw you here, I used to dream of you often.'
'You
know what I think Khushi? The moment you fell into my arms I think I was
touched by an angel. Nothing bad ever happened to me after that. Thank you for
saving me sweet heart.'
He
continued. 'You should never have left me. Why did you run away?'
'I
was afraid.'
'Of
me?'
'No
' of me.' She paused.'Because I wanted to kiss you too.'
'Well'.better
late than never.' Arnav bent his head and kissed the corner of her lips.
'Arnavji!'
she admonished, 'you have to remember we are back in India now. You will have
control yourself.' Laad Governor!
'Don't
worry, no one's watching. They are busy with those bawling brats.' His tone was
acrimonious.
'We could also have had one by now,' she pouted.
'Khushi,'
Arnav began, trying to be patient, 'Payal got pregnant accidentally and Di'..'
He paused. ''. was running out of time.'
'Did
you want to be pregnant at twenty two and miss all that we were able to do
together in the last three years?'
'No,'
she sighed, 'I wouldn't want to miss it for the world.'
She
remembered something. 'Why did you rush up here all of a sudden?'
'Nothing,
I thought you were going to slip.'
'As
long as you are there we never have
to worry about anything,' she said rubbing her hand on her tummy.
Arnav's
heart skipped a beat when he felt the sudden movement from inside his wife's
six month pregnant belly. He was so sure it was going to be a boy.
'Always.'As
Khushi looked up, he bent down to place a gentle kiss on her lips. 'I will always
be there for you my sweet Desert Rose.'
The End
I feel motivated to
write more when I hear from you so do comment and feel free to give me your
feedback.
I do have an idea for a
new FF which I am thinking of starting in January. Just because I can't seem to
be able to stop thinking about Arshi it doesn't mean that the FF will turn out
to be good. Not very sure yet.
So till then wish you
all a merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
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