Chapter 3

PART 3 - The new beginning...

"Hamara haath chodiye sir!" Khushi requests, almost ready to cry.

"Nahi chodunga!" Arnav roars.

"Hame dard ho raha hai!" Khushi now pleads.

"Hone do! Mujhe issey kya? Yahi kaha tha na tumne neeche?" He replies, still agitated.

"Hamara woh matlab nahi tha sir! Aap bahot gusse mein the. Hame dar lag raha tha ki kahin aap kuch.." Khushi tries helplessly to justify.

"Tumne mujhe roka kyun Khushi? Uski itni zurrat kaise hui ki usne tumhe itna bhala bura kaha? I'm gonna finish his career in this industry you watch!" Arnav is unstoppable.

"Isme uski koi galti nahi hai! Humne toh aap se pehle bhi kaha tha. Yeh session bade logo ke liye hai. Aap ko hame wahaan le jaana hi nahi chahiye tha." Khushi reasons.

"Ab tum mujhe bataogi ki mujhe kab kya aur kyun karna chahiye? Main jo bhi karun, jisse bhi leke jahan bhi jaun, kissi ko koi haq nahi ki woh mere, Arnav Singh Raizada ke guest ki iss tarah se insult kare!" Arnav remains unmoved by her comments.

"Aap shant ho jaiye sir! hum aap ke liye thanda paani laate hain!" Khushi continues trying to pacify him.

"Mujhe kuch nahi chahiye Khushi! Aur tum kahin nahi jaa rahi ho." He replies sternly while pulling her back, still with the same wrist he's been holding.

"Sir ab aap hud se baahar ja rahe hai! Aap hamare saath iss tarah se pesh nahi aa sakte! Aap ko hame chodna hi hoga!" Khushi is now getting agitated.

"Chod dunga. Bas mere ek sawaal ka jawaab de do!" Arnav's tone is finally a bit calmer.

Khushi looks at him in confusion as if to signal him to ask what it was he wanted to ask.

"Jab manager ne mujhe bolne se roka aur woh bad-dimaag insaan jab tumhe chod kar mujhe bhala bura bolne laga, tum uspe apni devi maiyya ka naam leke baras kyun padi?" Arnav asks, now suddenly completely composed.

"Woh uski itni himmat ki.." Khushi jumps to answer his question with excitement, and then suddenly stops. She looks away in embarrassment.

"Ki kya Khushi?" Arnav nudges her by putting his other hand on her shoulder.

"Jee, wohh, bas, aise hi.." Khushi stutters.

"Aise hi kya Khushi? Theek se jawaab do! I'm waiting!" Arnav now gets a little more authoritative, and naughtiness sinks in.

"Arrey wohh bakwaas pe bakwaas kiye jaa raha tha.. aur wohh aap ke bare mein aise.." Khushi stops again.

"Toh? Tumhe uski baton ka bura laga?" Arnav continues.

"Ismein bura lagne ka sawaal hi nahi ussey pehle hum uska mooh na noch le?" Khushi gets excited again.

"Kyun?" Arnav is in no mood to let go.

"Yeh aap hum se kaise sawaal kiye jaa rahe hai? Humne wahi kiya jo aap ne kiya. Is kyun ka jawaab pehle aap de dijiye bas ussi mein hamara bhi jawaab aap ko mil jaayega. Aur uske baad aap hame kripaya jaane dijiye bas!" Khushi retorted with annoyance.

Arnav now gets closer to her. Khushi moves two steps back and he takes two more forward. She is finally forced to stop when she hits a side of the dining table. Arnav looks deep in her eyes causing her jitters. His looks are now starting to make her uneasy.

Arnav starts to speak just as she tries to make an attempt to free herself from his grip. "Jawaab toh sunti jaao Khushi! Maine wahaan neeche tumhare liye us badtameez insaan se jhagda is liye kiya kyun ki... main tum se, behad pyar karta hoon."

"Haan toh hum bhi toh aap se pyar hi toh.." Khushi speaks and stops suddenly with a big jerk as if an asteroid hit her. She opens her mouth in big shock and then closes it with her free hand.

Arnav finally lets go of her wrist. The expression on his face has changed. He is gazing deeply at her with love, passion, and immense intensity. Before Khushi can try to break free he puts both his hands on the table surrounding her, stopping her from escaping.

"Kuch keh rahi thi tum Khushi. Baat khatam karo. Warna main maan loonga ki jo maine abhi abhi kaha, wahi haalat tumhari bhi hai." Arnav speaks to her softly but determinedly.

Khushi is unable to look at him, confused about how to react to this. Did she just confess her love to him? What did she do? What is he going to think? Did he just also say he loves her? What about his engagement? La? She is thoroughly perplexed and distressed. She jerks one of his hands off the table and runs off to her room, then leans against the wall right next to the door. Arnav follows her, opens her door, and stands across her.

He holds her face and caresses her hair as she tries to move away. He grabs her waist with one hand to stop her from escaping. "Ab bhaagne se koi faayda nahi hai Khushi." Arnav looks on as she closes her eyes!

"Mere saamne nahi dekhogi?" Arnav asks insistently.

"Nahi!" She responds with her eyes closed.

He grabs both her hands now and leans them against the wall. "You can't do this to me Khushi! Tumhe bolna hoga, aur who bhi mere saamne dekh ke!" He now speaks in an agitated tone.

Khushi opens her eyes, looks at him and says "Yeh galat hai. Aap ki shaadi hone wali hai. La ma'am aap se bahot pyar karti hai. Hum aap dono ke beech aake.." She stops again.

Arnav smiles at hearing this. "Iss ka matlab pyar toh tum bhi mujh se itna hi karti ho! Bas duniya se darti ho?"  A tear now run downs Khushi's cheek in agreement to what Arnav just said. She stands there speechless, looking at him with deep love in her eyes.

"Main sab sahi kar dunga. La ko samjha lunga aur ghar ke sabhi ko bhi. Arnav sirf Khushi ke liye bana hai. Aur main tumhe khone ke liye taiyaar nahi hoon Khushi. Tumhe mujh pe bharosa karna hoga." Arnav finally pours his heart out and reassures her.

Khushi looks on in disbelief for what seemed like an eternity to Arnav. Finally, both fall in each other's deep embrace. They both let go of their fears and accept a surreal companionship for life. Their arms, forever intertwined into each other's bodies.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Post Partum...

Minutes later, Arnav gets a call that Shyam has been arrested and they leave to go back home.

Arnav explains to La and La realizes he never loved her anyway, making way for ArHi's new life.

Dadi, Anjali and the rest of the family are overjoyed, leaving Mami singled out and miserable. 

Arnav and Khushi got married and lived happily ever after just like in fairytales.