KHUSHI AND HER HOPES!

Khushi sat in her room all decked up in her bridal get up; her jewelries shining in the light and her makeup highlighting her beauty. She wore a bridal red lehenga and it is not wrong to say that she was the most beautiful girl right now in the whole house. And why would she not be the most beautiful? After all, she was the bride and today was her wedding day. Around her Paayal bustled as she tried to make sure that all pins on Khushi's hair were on place. Her elder sister had taken charge for Khushi's hair today and was very excited to see her little sister as a bride. Khushi gave a polite smile when her eyes met her sister's through the mirror. She was seated in front of the mirror and her sister was standing right behind her. As her eyes swept down from her sister's face to her own she looked at her face.

As Khushi studied her face, she wondered why no one noticed her sad eyes, her defeated expression or her slumped shoulders. Why no one noticed that she wasn't enthusiastically participating in the wedding? Why wasn't laughter and excitement shining in her eyes? But then they were lost in their own happiness. All were so happy to see her and Arnav get married. Then why was she so sad?

With tears in her eyes Khushi remembered the day her rishta was fixed with Arnavji. Naaniji had announced it so happily. But Arnav? Arnav was not at all happy. She had run away from there, all broken hearted. But later on, she convinced herself that atleast she was marrying the love of her life. How many women can say they got married to the person they loved? Liked the person you married? Yes! But love? Most girls found love in their husband after they got married. But Khushi was lucky to marry the person she loved. Arnav not loving her seemed irrelevant to her at that time. With hope that he might fall for her one day too, Khushi had happily gotten ready to go home and get married.

But it was only when Khushi got home, that the reality crashed on her. She was marrying a person who did not love her. At first she ignored the thought, her hope burning bright in her heart; hope that he will fall for her one day. The hope dimmed once in a while but never died. She kept the flame alive in her heart.

Then came the day she was about to get engaged. She had woken up so excited that day. She was getting engaged to the person she loved; she was happy. But once Arnav arrived for the engagement, her excitement dimmed and dulled till except a small spark, nothing else remained; because the whole time during the engagement ceremony, Arnav remained restless. Khushi felt as if Arnav would have preferred to be miles away than sit by her. Every moment they sat close to each other, Khushi's hurt increased at the indifference Arnav displayed. It was as if he did not even care that he was getting married to her. Khushi would not have even minded if he was unhappy with her, atleast some emotion was better than nothing. But the indifference Arnav showed only proved that Arnav did not care whom he got married to and that hurt more than she expected.

Her heart was broken that night and Khushi swore that she will tell her parents to stop the wedding preparations right away. There will be no marriage after three months. The day after the engagement Khushi got out of the room with intention to stop the wedding. But she could not go through it once she met her parents that day. They were so happy that their daughter was getting such a good groom that Khushi did not have it in her to break their illusions. She watched with tearful eyes as her parents dreamed of her wedding. So she consoled herself. No! She will get married to Arnavji! And she will pour oil into the fire in her heart that had dulled last night and let it burn bright. She had to let the hope burn bright that one day Arnavji might fall for her because she had no other option, now or never.

Soon the wedding date came near and Khushi sat down as her haldi function began. While everyone around her smiled and laughed happily, Khushi could project only fake smiles at them. Just because she was hopeful that Arnav will love her some day, does not mean that she can forget easily that she was marrying a guy who was indifferent to her. That important fact remained in her head, taunting her, hurting her, chipping away her happiness and filling her soul with pain and despair.

Soon the haldi, mehendi and sangeet came and went and Khushi sat as they got her ready for her wedding. She tried to smile but this was one day she could not do it. Because this was one day that symbolized the one relation she worshipped above others but would not give her the happiness every bride deserved. This was one day her dreams were crashing down upon her and all she could do was sit and wait for it. She may have hope that he will love her one day but the day a bride would want some affection of her husband was the day Khushi would not get it. And that fact stabbed her heart too much. She could not smile. She could not be happy. But the hope remained; bright and alive. The hope remained!

Soon came the time for her to go and get married and Paayal took Khushi down to the mandap. Khushi looked down and someone commented as to why the girl was not smiling. Khushi froze; not sure what to say. Some elder from her family retorted that only shameless bride grin like a fool on their wedding. Brides are supposed to be shy and that is what Khushi was. The first person who commented shut up right away and Khushi heaved a sigh of relief. One bullet dodged.

Suddenly, another whisper started. Where was her groom? Her eyes widened in horror! It was time for her wedding and Arnavji had yet to arrive. Someone whispered that he must have run away because he did not want to get married and Khushi's eyes filled with tears. Was marrying her so bad that he would rather run away and embarrass his family? No! Khushi wiped her eyes. Arnav Singh Raizada was anything but a coward. She refused to believe that he would leave her. Arnav was a man of commitment and he would never back away.

But as the time ticked on, Khushi's conviction dimmed a little. Her heart thudded in her chest as her doubts engulfed her. Arnavji! Please come to the mandap right away! And that is when the whisper increased and she heard someone say that Arnav was back. She felt happiness bloom on her face and she wiped her eyes. He did come. He did not disappoint her. That's it! She was not going let her fears win! No! She is getting married to the man of her dreams. She is going to be happy! She pushed all the negative thoughts away and focused only on the positive.

And then Khushi felt Arnav sit by her and she turned to look at him. But her happy eyes dimmed when she saw him glaring at the Pandit. All the truth came crashing back on her and now she could not cheer herself up at all. For so many days, she kept on keeping the hope burning with positive thoughts but seeing him close and not even an ounce happy, broke her hope. All the words she used to convince herself that he would love her one day got burnt into ashes and even after trying so much, she could not get the hope burning again. It had dwindled down. Gone was the light burning bright. All that remained was a small spark and this spark was smaller than the one she had after the engagement.

Khushi did not know when she got married. Through the whole process she remained in daze. She did as they told and only came out of her shock when it was time for bidaai. She cried as she hugged her family, but no one knew that the tears were not for going away from her family but for her broken heart.

Soon Khushi was seated in the car and the drive started towards her married life. She looked towards Arnav, the hope fluttering like a dying flame with one last longing. But the anger and annoyance on Arnav's face destroyed even that spark and Khushi was left with no hope.

Khushi's dead eyes looked on ahead as the car drove towards one place where this relationship started and was soon about to die. Khushi was going to Shantivan!

And that's all for today folks!

See you on 16th when Samjho Na starts with Khushi asking for divorce!

Wonder how Arnav will dig himself out of this hole!

By the way, I could have added Shaadi Waala Episode parts to the end of KP or start of Samjho Na but the fact remains that the theme of this two parter does not suit either of those stories. KP is romantic comedy while Samjho Na is full on romance but this two shot was neither romance nor comedy. It was more about drama, hence I created a separate thread and name for this part. Thought you should know!

Thank you, take care and have fun,

Kalpana