Chapter 2

bridgeofdreams

@bridgeofdreams

Thank you so much for this wonderful respond. I know you have expectations after reading the prologue. Hope I can match up with them.

Chapter One

The Proposal

Garima was in the kitchen making sweets for the guests with Madhumati Ji; they were happy for the proposal.

"What do you think, didi?" Garima asked.

"Khushi is a beautiful girl. I'm sure they will like it. As I've heard, the boy is so kind." Madhumati Ji replied hopefully.

In Khushi's room, Khushi refused to wear the saari which her Amma had given her with the jewelry, they were still on the bed.

"Khushi, just give him a chance, sit with him and talk to him then decide. Remember that I'm always with you." Payal said rubbing Khushi's back trying to convince Khushi.

"I feel as if they are selling me, Payal." Khushi said with a tug in her heart. Since her parents death, she did not feel ever that she had lost them, but it was the first time that she prayed to her real parents. Khushi did not stop crying in the last two days since she knew about the proposal.

"Khushi Bitya, get ready. They are coming at anytime." Garima said quickly from behind the close door before going to her room to see her husband and talk with him.

"Bitya?" Khushi laughed ironically shortly, "if I was her daughter, she wouldn't have forced me into this marriage. This visit is just a formality, Payal as they have already planned for everything whether I agree or not," Khushi sobbed in a hoarse voice.

"Khushi, why are you acting like this? Do you like someone? I mean'Is there anyone?" Payal whispered.

"What are you saying, Payal? You know that I don't have a boyfriend." Khushi let go of Payal's embrace.

Hearing the knocks on the door, Payal got up to open it revealing Shashi Gupta, who was standing at the threshold. "Payal Bitya, I want to speak with Khushi privately," he said quietly.

"Ji uncle." Payal left them alone closing the door behind her.

"Khushi dear, sit." Shashi held her hands in his, and sat with her on the bed.

"I know what you must be thinking of, but I'm doing this only for you because I want to see you happy, and I'm sure Arnav will keep you happy."

"Money cannot make me happy." Khushi replied with a suffocated voice.

"It's not about money. He is a great man. I'm sure you will like him once you know him well. I came here to tell you that he shouldn't know you are rejecting this rishta, alright?" He did not give her a chance to reply as he left the room after that when he couldn't tolerate staying longer.

After some time, the guests arrived, and the Guptas welcomed them warmly. After exchanging the pleasantries, nani asked to see Khushi. Garima excused herself to call her.

"Khushi, didn't you get ready yet?"

"Just two minutes, aunty. She'll be ready." Payal replied, and Garima went to the kitchen to make tea.

"Please Khushi, just remember that these people have done a lot for you. Can't you give something to them in return? At least meet the guests." Payal said hopefully holding a blue saari in her hands. Khushi took it before going to the washroom with a straight face.

"Payal, where is Khushi?" Garima asked carrying the tray of tea.

"She is in the washroom changing."

"Ok, quickly. Give her this tray." Garima tugged her pallu at the her shoulders with sweated hands as she was very nervous, and sat with the guests. "She is coming."

"Is she so shy? Or you are hiding a hera from us?" Nani said with a smile which the Guptas returned with nervous ones. Arnav raised his head to be the first one to see Khushi. His heart jumped seeing her coming, and he consoled it being sure that she is his. Khushi and Payal walked together in the room. Khushi greeted with a Namaste, and without looking at anyone she served the tea. The only thing she noticed that someone was wearing spectacles. After putting the tray on the table, some woman called her.

"Come dear, sit beside me." Khushi looked where the voice came from to see a lady I her early thirties. With heavy steps, Khushi walked towards her, and sat beside her.

"Kisiki nazar na lagi. I'm Anjali chotey's..I mean Arnav's sister." Anjali said touching Khushi's cheeks while Khushi failed to smile.

"So, what are your hobbies?" Anjali asked. For a moment, Khushi felt like standing and shouting, 'Stop these filmy dialogues! What's your business with my hobbies? You are now destroying everything and you have the guts to ask me this!' But she composed herself. Clearing her throat, Khushi replied shortly," Reading, Playing cricket and making sweets." Khushi felt sad thinking that with this marriage all these would become nothing, and she would not be able to do anything by her will.

"WOW! Chot..I mean Arnav loves reading, watching cricket especially Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and sweets, well actually Arnav is a diabetic." Anjali replied cheerfully before nani started talking about Khushi's beauty. All the while, Arnav was smiling happily. He could not imagine that he was at her home, proposing for her. 'Finally, I'm here!' He felt great.

"I think that Arnav and Khushi need to sit together alone." Anjali suggested. Arnav's nani, mami, mama, and cousin agreed with Anjali. Arnav stood up waiting for Khushi to lead him to her room. "Khushi Bitya, show him your room," Shashi spoke.

'What's there to show an arrogant richi man?' Khushi thought sarcastically. For her, rich people are arrogant and rough. Silently, she walked and Arnav followed her. She left the door open, and stood near it while Arnav stood at the middle of the room observing it. He liked its simplicity, "It's a good room." He saw a small bed in the corner of the room, and a table near it with a chair where many books were lying on the table. He saw two books for Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility, and Pride and prejudice, there were many plays for William Shakespeare including Romeo and Joliet, The Merchant of Venice and As You Like It; he was glad that he had already read them.

"How are you, Khushi?" Khushi's gaze were on the floor refusing to spare him even a glance. She did not expect this question from him (As it was the question she likes. For her, ask about her status means that someone cares about her, and she preferred this question upon all the complements.) She was really in a dilemma as rejecting him meant going against her family's will, and she hated to do this.

"Are you planning to marry me?" Khushi asked all of a sudden.

"If you do not mind." Arnav replied hopefully; he did not like Khushi's choice of words as she said, 'Planning'.

'I do mind!' Khushi thought of what she wanted to say, but she could not. They stood for five minutes more: Arnav's hands were on his pockets and hers were fiddling with the pallu of the saari neither of them spoke that's when Arnav decided to leave the room excusing himself. He thought that she is maybe shy or uncomfortable with him as she still did not know him, he explained her behavior to himself.

After ten minutes the Raizaads left deciding to come the next day with the shagun. The Guptas were very happy especially Shashi Gupta. Khushi ran to her room and Payal followed her. "He wears spectacles and diabetic while people praise my sweets and go around talking about the beauty of my eyes!" Khushi complained whining.

"What are you saying, Khushi? It's his cousin who wears spectacles not him. Arnav Ji is very handsome. His eyes are brown, chocolate brown as your price charming. About being diabetic, he can eat sugar free sweets. Why are you searching for shortcomings?"

" I won't be happy with him, Payal."

"You don't know him dear'Khushi, you have all the night to think about it logically. The sooner you accept him, the better it is for you." Payal advised Khushi.

"I'm really young to get married, Payal. I have dreams, I have my own life."

"Many girls get married when they are eighteen and even younger. Who said that you can't fulfill your dreams? You are behaving as if he will imprison you?"

"And who said he won't?"

"Khushi, I'm leaving now. Please think over it again and again, and remember what I have told you." Payal was really afraid about Khushi knowing how stubborn the latter is. She knew that Khushi's parents would not take their words back, and Khushi does not help herself at all with her rejection. She sighed and left after hugging Khushi praying to God for Khushi's guidance and happiness.

Khushi thought that her life ended with this rishta and she would not be able to take any decision about it from now onwards. If felt, for her, as if all her dreams are shattered, as if life does not have any meaning any more.

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The reason behind Khushi's parents behavior will be revealed after the marriage.