Chapter 10

PART - 10

Arnav drove from there and stopped before a shopping mall. Khusi gave a questioning look to him to which he said: "Remember the first rasoi gift."

Khusi: "It's not needed Arnavji. You have already given me so much. Yesterday only you brought so many clothes and jewelleries. And today at Nirmala auntie's place, you did so much. I don't want anything else Arnavji."

Arnav: "I did nothing Khusi. I had always thought that I am doing a lot of philanthropic work. Giving donations, running orphanages etc. But today when I met Nirmala Aunty, I knew what I am doing is nothing as compared to hers. I just donate a small amount of what I earn, but look at her, she has given her everything for them. She is praise worthy..."

Khusi: "Yes Arnavji, she is really praise worthy."

Arnav: "Khusi, I want to ask you something, if you don't mind."

Khusi: "Of course Arnavji, you can ask me anything. After all you are my husband. There is nothing to hide from you. There should be no secrets between us."

Arnav: "Nirmala Aunty said you helped them clear their loan. How did you do that? I mean from where did you get money to pay?"

Khusi: "Wo... Arnavji... My parents had left me a deposit and I got the money when I turned 21. I paid that money to the bank."

Arnav smiled at her and cupping her cheek in one hand said: "You know what Khusi, you too are praise worthy."

Khusi grinningly said: "I know that... Let's go home Arnavji."

Arnav: "Noo... First I will buy you a gift, and then only we will go back. Come."

Khusi: "Arnavji, you don't have to. There is no need to spend so much money on me."

Arnav: "Why Khusi?? And what do you mean by spending money on you?"

Khusi: "Arnavji..."

Arnav: "You don't think me as your own. Do you?"

Khusi: "What are you saying Arnavji?? You are the only relation that I have. You are my husband."

Arnav: "Then why are you saying that I am spending money on you. It's your money too. Nothing is mine Khusi, everything is ours. There is nothing mine or yours anymore. Everything that we have is ours from now on. OKAY."

Khusi smiled at him. "Yes Arnavji... But still I don't need anything today. Taking me to Mama's garden was the best gift that you could give me."

Arnav: "I know you don't need anything, but still I want to buy something for you. Come let's go."

They went inside the mall and Arnav took her towards the jewellery section. There were various types of jewelleries in display and everything was more beautiful than the other. Arnav brought her a beautiful diamond set and saw her looking towards a set in the show case. He brought that also. Before Khusi could protest, he took her to the rings section and asked the sales man to show them some wedding rings.

Khusi: "What for do you need a wedding ring Arnavji?"

Arnav: "Khusi, we didn't have a proper wedding. But I want to get you a wedding ring. Please don't say no to it."

Khusi: "Have I said no?? I do need a wedding ring and I want to get one for you too." She smiled saying it.

Arnav too smiled and said: "Okay, you choose one for me and I will choose one for you."

After paying the bill, Arnav took her to the ladies section.

Khusi: "What are we doing here Arnavji? You brought me gift, now let's go back."

Arnav: "We are here to buy some dresses for you."

Khusi: "But why?? You already got so many sarees for me. Those are enough for a year. I don't need any more..."

Arnav cutting her off: "Of course you need some more. You can't wear those sarees to bed. You need some night dresses and I want to buy some more sarees for you. And you stop ranting that you don't need anything. I will buy anything that I want to buy for my wife. So you just stay by side. I don't want you to get lost here." Saying that he took her hand in his and Khusi muttered "Laad Governor kahinke..." which he shrugged off smilingly. Arnav brought Khusi more than a dozen sarees, night suits and almost everything that Khusi eyes fell upon. At the end of their two hour long shopping they had over 50 bags with them. Khusi thought it's better to not look at anything, if she looks at anything, then Arnav gets it, without knowing whether she requires it or not. Arnav asked the salesman to carry those luggages to their car. After loading the luggage in the car trunk, they sat in it to return back home.

Khusi: "Now is your shopping over, or you have to buy some more."

Arnav: "I think it's enough for today. Actually I didn't want to tire you. As you are going to arrange those things in the wardrobe. I am not going to help. So, it's enough for today, we will buy some more, some other day."

Khusi: "It will take a full day to arrange those things. Aapne pura dukan jo kharid liya hai." (It will take a full day to arrange as you have brought the whole shop)

When Khusi and Arnav reached home, it was almost evening. HP opened the door and Arnav asking him to get the luggage from the car trunk went inside. Anjali was getting ready for her evening pooja. Seeing Arshi back, she went towards them smilingly and said: "You two back. That's nice. Akash and Payalji have not returned yet. So Khusiji, how was your day at Buaji's house. I am sure they would have forgiven you. After all they love you so much."

Khusi had forgotten all the incidents of GH by spending the day with her husband but Anjali mentioning about them, brought all the bad memories back. Not able to control her tears or say anything she ran off to her room leaving Anjali confused and Arnav sad. Before Anjali could ask something else HP, OP and driver Mohan came with the shopping bags and Arnav asked them to take those to his room. Arnav was about to follow them but Anjali stopped him saying she has to talk to him.

Anjali: "What has happened to Khusiji? Did anything happen at Buaji's house Chotte?"

Arnav narrated everything in brief including Payal accusing her of trapping him, but intentionally left out the parts related to Shyam. And also told her how Khusi was actually treated in GH. Anjali had tears in her eyes listening to Arnav.

Arnav: "Di, to divert her mind I took her for shopping."

Anjali: "You did right Chote. Now go to her, she is very upset. She needs you most at the moment."

Arnav went from there and reaching inside the room he saw Khusi was standing near the slide-door facing the pool. He went towards her and seeing her crying, lovingly turned her towards him and wiped away her tears and hugged her.

Arnav: "Khusi, Didn't I tell you to forget whatever happened at GH. Those people are not worth your tears. Please don't cry. It hurts to see you crying."

Khusi: "I am sorry Arnavji, I didn't want to cry, it's just I couldn't believe how could jiji (getting a glare from arnav said) ...I mean Payalji accuse me with something like that. She knows the truth about Shyamji, but still she said..."

Arnav: "Ssshhh... Khusi. Don't cry. Even don't think about them... ya... Di has asked you to come down for evening pooja. Get refreshed and go. She is waiting for you."

Khusi went to get freshen up. Mean while downstairs Anjali was sitting in the living in deep thought and tears in her eyes. Naniji and Mamiji came down for aarti but seeing Anjali crying, they literally ran towards her.

Mami: "What happened Anjali Bitya, Why are you crying?"

Nani: "Are you sad because of Damadji's health? Don't worry; doctor said it's because of some food that he ate. He will be fine soon."

Mami: "Haan. You don't stress yourself. Damadji will say hello hi to fitness and bye bye to bad health soon."

Meanwhile Mamaji and NK too came there and seeing Anjali crying and the worried look of the two ladies, they panicked.

Mamaji: "What happened Anjali bitiya? Are you not feeling well? Is Damadji fine? Do we need to call the doctor again?"

Anjali: "I am not crying because of him Mamaji. (Looking upto to Nani she asked) Nani is it a curse to be an orphan?"

Nani: "What are you saying bitya?"

Mamaji: "What happened bitya? Did we do anything to make you feel this way? You know we all love you and chotte."

Anjali: "No Mamaji. I know you love me and Chotte just like you love Akash."

Mami: "Then why did you say that bitya? We get hurt when you call yourself an orphan in spite of having all of us with you."

Anjali: "It's not about me Mami. Today Khusiji went to Buaji's house for her pag-phera and there..." She narrated everything that she had heard from Arnav to the Raizadas. Listening to her all became upset.

Naniji broke the silence saying: "I agree what Chote and Khusi Bitya did was wrong. But this is not the way to treat someone. There must be some reason why Chote did this. He never does anything without reason. But the Guptas shouldn't have treated Khusi bitya in this way."

Mamaji: "Yes. Khusi bitya is such a nice girl. We all know Chote loves her and probably to skip those marriage rituals he married her in this way. They shouldn't have told those things to her. Poor child would have felt so bad."

Anjali: "Yes, Mamaji she cried when I asked her about GH."

Naniji: "I agree what Chote and Khusi Bitya did was not the way to be done. But now they are married. We elders want their happiness only. We are upset but that doesn't mean we will hurt them."

Mamiji: "And look at that khoon bhaari taang... She has developed bones in her tongue. I thought she is a cultured and well mannered girl. But the way she spoke to Khusi is totally opposite what she shows herself to be."

NK saw Khusi was coming down the stairs and tried to put an end to the discussion. "Di let's start the aarti. Even Khusi Bhabi is here." He went near Anjali and whispered "Di don't discuss those things before Khusi Bhabi, she will get sad even more than she is." Everyone nodded and moved towards the temple.

In the meantime at Arshi's room while keeping the shopping bags, HP had put some of the bags on the bed too. Arnav thought of lying down for a while, so moved the bags from the bed. While doing so his eyes fell on the paper bag that Khusi had got from GH, anxious to know what is inside, he took out the contents. There was a sealed paper packet and some papers which seemed like some certificates and documents. He took a look at them and was too shocked and whispered: "Khusi Verma".