Chapter 10

Chapter 8

Four hours after the flight departure from Delhi Airport, Nani ji found herself staring at the most unexpected scene of all. Her youngest grandson on the floor surrounded by red flowers and topped by a beautiful lady in yellow. Her hair was covering Aakash's and her face partially giving an intimate look. She was in two minds, whether to laugh or be in awe of the most romantic scene ever.

Manorama lagat hai tumhri khwayish jaldi hi puri ho jayegi.

Humka bhi yehi lagat hai sasuma.

Listening to their voices, the lady got up in a hurry.

I am sorry. I didn't realize you were coming this way. And I couldn't see properly with all the flower basket I was holding. Hey Devi Maiyya you hair is all covered with the daffodil petals.

With that she started taking off all the petals from his hair. She realized what she doing when Aakash held her hands. Both stood in daze looking at each other. Their stupor was once again broken with Nani ji's voice.

Bitya, when did you come. Have you come alone? Where is you mother? I didn't know you were coming too.

Nani ji Namaste! The lady tried to wish Nani but in vain as her hands where still held captive by the handsome man with specs.

O Sorry Payal ji, I didn't realize I was holding your hands.

Bitwa, I think you didn't even realize that you are staring at her. Payal bitya, where is Garima ji? Did Khushi Bitya know you are coming?

Namaste Nani ji, Namaste Aunty, Namaste Uncle. No Nanji ji Mom didn't come. This was a last minute trip. This is my friend's wedding. So when we came to know the college will remain close for some days for construction, us friends thought to come to Lucknow for the wedding. Is Jiji here. Where is she I can't see her?

Nahi bitya, she didn't come. Its just us. Arnav could take off and Khushi had stay back to care of him.

Payal kept talking to Naniji, Mami ji and Mama ji with full of awareness of the a piercing gaze on her. She was trying hard to concentrate on the senior clan of Raizadas' and not look at the pair of spectacled eyes boring her back. Soon she felt relieved when the bride's family came greeting the Raizada and welcoming them. She was discreetly leaving from the scene, when she felt a warm hand holding her from wrist and pulling her away from the get together.

Which one is your room.

She heard him say.

What? It's the one near the balcony on the left. What are you doing? Leave me. My friends would be there in the balcony. They might see us like this. You can't just drag me anywhere you like. Aakash ji, are you even listening to me? Chodiye hummein, aap...

Her words died in her throat, when she was pushed against the wall in her room, with Aakash standing infront of her with his arms folded across his chest and looking furiously at her.

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At Shantivan, Khushi was sitting near the swimming pool of their bedroom. She folded her knees, with her palms on top she rested her face on it. She was looking at the reflection of the stars in the pool water. She was still contemplating as to how to disclose the past. After dropping of the family Arnav and her had went to an ice cream parlor for deserts. All the way, they spoke about his extended family in Lucknow and AR. She realized he was trying to break the ice between them. He even asked if she wanted to go for a late night movie, but she refused. She had wanted to come to the peace n quite of the home. She had wanted to disclose everything as soon as possible. The secret was eating her up. Especially Arnav was being so nice to her. And Dhak dhak were also not helping. Though the proximity with Arnav was making her nervous but it didn't repel her. She didn't like it one bit.

How can I be out of love so soon? Is it even possible, to stop loving one, that too so soon after break up? I know he was not worth it, but suddenly, even though it was after knowing NK's truth, still how can my heart stop beating for him and react to someone else's proximity. Was I ever in love with him? I ought to be. I was with him for so long? That simply cannot be just a fling. Can it? But now I feel as if Arnav ji doesn't deserve me. I am not worth him. He should be with an untainted girl. Hey Devi Maiyya, it would be so embrassing to let him know about my past.

Meanwhile, Arnav had come out of the bathroom, changed into his night Pjs, and was looking at his crazy wife talking to herself, from inside the bedroom. It had been two days he had been married to her, however it seemed like he was seeing her for the first time. Everytime he looked at her, he felt like doing it for ever. With her braided hair on one shoulder, the moonlight reflecting from the pool on her face, the hunched up back and eyes looking so lost in the pool, she looked like wood nymph trying to figure out the forest riddles. He mentally laughed at himself. If it were some other newly married husband then, he would have compared her with an ethereal beauty. However he couldn't. How much attractive she looked now, but her eyes seemed so gloomy, that he could do nothing but worry. She seems to have a fight with herself. Arnav was all the more curious now, as to what this night is going to reveal now. He then decided to join her monologue. The sliding of the French doors brought Khushi out of her soliloquy. He went down to sit beside her.

Who were you talking to? Do you always do this?

Do what?

This, talking to yourself.

Khushi lowered her eyes, embarrassed, but had a smile on her face.

Khushi ? you wanted to talk to me about something.

Yes... woh...Arnav ji... I wanted to tell you about my past. I didn't want to hide anything from you. I know the truth might hurt you and then you might not want to be with me anymore, but then it's your life and so whatever you decide I will respect it and abide by it.

Suddenly Arnav didn't like the sound of it. He wanted to clear out the air and distance between them but he definitely didn't want to increase it. But he became too nervous.

When Mom, came to me with your proposal, I had declined it. I did not want to marry you . I was in love with someone else. I had a boyfriend since college. He was my senior in college. He was good looking, friendly natured and helpful. He was so passionate about anything he did. We...

Arnav felt his breath leave his body, more like sucked out of him. He did not hear anything after I was in love with someone else..'. He seemed to be dying a slow painful death. His wife didn't want to marry him. She loved some else. His dreams of a happy family came crashing down. He didn't comprehend anything she was saying. He could only hear his blood rushing to his brain and his heart breaking into a million pieces. Until now he had not realized how much he wanted Khushi to be in his life forever. He had thought he was just attracted to his wife as all newly married husbands are and would slowly fall in love with her in future. However her words made him realize that he was not just attracted but also fallen hard for her. It got difficult for him to even think to be in a world where she was not his. How was he to live without her? Did she want now to return to her boyfriend? Was that the reason she had been aloof of him? He just could not imagine her with someone else. Suddenly instead of feeling upset he felt rage... A lot of anger rushed through his blood making him fume literally... The picture of his Khushi in someolse's arms seem to add more fuel to his anger.

Khushi's stopped talking when she felt an angry gaze on her. She looked up to find a fuming Arnav. She brought her fingers to her lips trying to stop the sob. Drops of tear rolled down her eyes.

Hey Devi Maiyya, He seems so angry. He is definitely going to throw me out this house, out of his life.

She thought ruefully.

Arnavji, please listen to me...

She was again cut off by him.

So what do you want now... do you want me to personally pave the way for you to return to your boyfriend. If you loved him, then what the hell are you doing here dammit... ?

What? No no Arnavji... You didn't understand what I was saying..

O I understood you perfectly... You want me to divorce you so that you can return to that asshole. Why the hell did you marry me then? Why the hell did you show me the dreams of a happy family, by being all Mary Poppins with my family? If all you had to do is break our trust, break my trust...you could have just rejected my proposal... Why did you ever come into my life? Why...

He was stopped by the nimble fingers on his mouth. Tear strained red face came into his view and he slumped his shoulders

Arnavji... he broke off a few days before our marriage...I was not over it hence I wanted to delay the marriage not cancel it. I needed more time to get out of it. I needed to talk to you about this we started the life together. I donot at all regret being married to you. But you deserve so much better. You deserve an untainted soul. You deserve to be someone first love. You deserve someone full of life and love. Not someone so broken. Not someone so confused. Not someone... Someone...like me.

She removed her hand from his mouth. With all the regret in the world she lowered her eyes expecting him to lash out again. But all she heard was

HUH?

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