Chapter 11

[MEMBERSONLY]

PART - 11

Khusi did the aarti and gave prasad to everyone.

Nani: "Anjali bitya, you along with Khusi bitya come to my room. I have some work with her. And Manorama you come with me."

Mami: "Ji Sasuma."

NK: "Dadiji, Do I need to come."

Nani: "That won't be required. You do one thing, call Akash and ask when he is coming back. It's late."

NK nodded and went. Mami followed Nani. Mamaji came towards Khusi and affectionately running his hand on her head said: "Bitya, now that you are married into this house, you are an integral part of our family. You are just like Anjali Bitya to us. If you have any problem or want anything, let me know without any hesitation. Had my sister been alive, she would have been so happy to have you as her bahu. I cannot fill that void but will try to do so. God bless you dear. Stay happy always." Blessing her he went. Khusi had happy tears in her eyes.

Anjali came forward and hugged her and to lighten the atmosphere said: "You should not be crying, you know what will Chote say when he sees tears in your eyes... (She cleared her throat and in Rajesh Khanna style said) Khusi... I hate tears." Khusi couldn't help but laugh at her joke in return making Anjali smile. "Khusiji let's go to Nani's room, she will be waiting." Khusi nodded and both the sister-in-laws went to Nani's room.

Anjali knocked Nani's closed door asking the permission to get in.

Nani: "Come in Bitya, you don't need permission for that... (Looking at Khusi) ...Khusi bitya come here... sit near me."

Khusi nervously sat beside Nani, she didn't knew what was going on in her mind. From morning she had not said anything to her and she couldn't make out whether Naniji is still angry or not.

Nani took a jewellery box from the side table and handing it over to Khusi said: "This set belonged to my daughter. Your mother-in-law. Your nanaji had got it for her and she wanted her bahu to have it after her. So it belongs to you from now on." She took another box and continued: "... I don't know why you and chotte decided to get married in such a way. Might be Chotte didn't want to go through all the marriage rituals as he hates them and forced you to marry him in a hurry. And you couldn't say no to him... but those things doesn't matter now. You are the daughter-in-law of this house. So this a small gift from me for you. Accept it and forgive me for not behaving well with you since last night."

Khusi hugged Nani and cried: "I am sorry naniji. You shouldn't be saying sorry. Forgive me naniji. Please... I am sorry."

Nani caressing her head and back said: "It's okay bitya. You are welcome into this family dear. I wish God gives you all happiness of the world... My daughter would have been so happy to see you." She took Arnav's mother's box and giving it to Khusi said: "This is what your saas has left for you. She wanted to give it you by her own hands but now she is not there. It's yours now." Khusi took it from her hands and was about to open it, when Nani interrupted: "Don't open it now bitya. Open it along with Chote. He was very attached to his mother. He will feel good." Khusi nodded her head and went to her room as she couldn't wait to see what her mother-in-law has left for her.

Mamiji: "Hello Hi Bye Bye... look at phatii saree... ran off to her room to open the box... couldn't wait to know what her saas has left for her... Toofan hai ekdum se..."

Khusi came into her room and saw Arnav sitting on the bed, his face resting on his closed fist and he seemed to be in deep thought. But in her excitement that she is forgiven by everyone in the family and getting the gift of her mother-in-law, she didn't notice Arnav's stiffened figure. She went towards him and sitting by his side, hugged him and said: "Arnavji, Naniji forgave me. She gave me this gift. And you know..."

Arnav came out of his thoughts feeling Khusi's touch but before she could continue, he moved her hands that were holding his arms and accusingly said: "Khusi; you said there is no secret between us, (getting up from the bed and showing him the papers) then why did you hide this?"

Khusi too got up from the bed: "Arnavji, I was not hiding this. I was about to tell you, but didn't get time."

Arnav: "Oh really?? Will you please tell me now?? I want to know the truth, nothing but truth. What's your real name Khusi?? Who is Khusi Verma??"

Khusi: "I am Khusi Verma. Verma was my father's surname."

Arnav: "Then why does everyone know you as Khusi Kumari Gupta?"

Khusi: "That's because I wanted them to know."

Arnav: "You are confusing me. Will you please explain?"

Khusi: "After the death of my parents, my maternal aunty Garima Gupta; took me to her in-laws house. I stayed with them. But I was never legally adopted by them, so I stayed as Khusi Verma only. My schooling name was Khusi Verma. But recently I changed my name to Khusi Kumari Gupta, to get a job in Delhi. That is why everyone here knows me as Khusi Kumari Gupta."

Arnav: "And what about this Khusi?? You are an ARCHITECT? You graduated from REC; one of the best colleges of India."

Khusi: "Yes."

Arnav: "Then why didn't you tell anyone about it?? Why you did always behaved like an uneducated fellow."

Khusi dejectedly sat down on the bed, with tears in her eyes said: "I didn't want that. But that was my fate Arnavji. That was my fate." Burying her face in her palms cried.

Arnav sat down beside her and hugged her. "Tell me everything in detail Khusi. Don't hide anything... Please..."

Khusi: "When I was 8, my parents died. They had left me some money, which I got each month till I was 21. After 12^th I applied for architecture and got selected. But Buaji was against me going away from Lucknow and studying. She thought if I studied more I would get spoilt. Even Jiji... I mean Payalji was not good in studies, she with a lot of difficulties got admitted into a local college. Buaji and Amma thought, I would dominate her if I studied more. They were not in the favour of my studies. I wanted to study. I promised them, I would join college and study, but would never let anyone know of my qualification. I would study only for my own satisfaction. After completing my study, I got a job offer with lucrative salary; buaji wanted me to take the job as that would mean more money to them. But amma was against it. She said if I did that job, then Payal would have difficulty in getting married as people would prefer me over her. And didn't let me take that job. But last year when Payal's marriage broke, they all scolded me, as it was because of me. Back here in Delhi, buaji wanted me to do job and run her small saree business. So I had to hide my real name and take up the Gupta surname." (taking Arnav's hand in her she continued) "... trust me Arnavji, I didn't want to hide it from you. Just didn't get time to tell you."

After listening to Khusi, the hatred and anger that Arnav had for the Guptas increased hundred fold. He didn't want to discuss about that topic more, so wanting to divert Khusi from it, he asked her: "Khusi, you were saying something about Nani forgiving you and gifting you something." And as he had expected Khusi's mood took a 180 degree turn and smiling she went on to explain how Mamaji and Nani talked to her and showed him the gifts that Nani had given her. Seeing his mother's necklace he got very emotional and said: "This was my Mama's. She used to wear it very often. Even on the day of her death she was wearing it. On her death bed, she gave it to Nani; asking her to pass it to her daughter-in-law." He unhooked the necklace and placed it around her neck... "It looks so good on you Khusi..." Saying that, he moved towards her to kiss her but his vision fell on his Mother's box and Khusi eyes too followed his line of vision. Taking the box in his hands he said: "Seems this box finally found its real owner. Mama had left it for you."

Khusi: "Naniji gave it to me. She wanted me to open it along with you."

Arnav: "What are you waiting for Khusi? Open it?"

Khusi opened it and found a beautiful pair of Bangles along with a letter. Khusi opened the letter to read it and with each line the tears in her eyes grew. Completing the letter she looked towards Arnav, whose condition was no better: "mama loved you a lot. Hai na ?"

Arnav: "She did..." He took the bangles from the box and made Khusi wear it. "Keep wearing those bangles khusi... Don't remove it from your hands."

Khusi: "I will Arnavji." The next moment she knew, she was pulled by her husband towards him and he took her lips in his for a sweet kiss, but their moment was broken by a knock on the door. Arnav got irritated because of this unwanted interruption and muttered under his breath "Why does everyone keep knocking on my door? Don't they have any other work?" and then shouted "KAUN HAI?"

HP who was on the other side got scared with the loud voice of his Arnav bhaiya and quickly said: "Bhaiya dinner is ready. Naniji asked to call you and Khusi Bhabi." and ran away for his dear life.

Khusi giggled at Arnav's frustrated face but controlling herself said: "Let's go down Arnavji. I am hungry. And even you didn't have your lunch properly."

Arnav: "Hmm... you go down, I will change and come."

Khusi nodded her head and went down, while Arnav went to change.

At the dining table, almost all members were present except Di and NK. Khusi apologised to nani: "Sorry naniji, I couldn't help in the dinner preparation."

Nani: "It's okay bitya. You were tired today. Sit and have your dinner. And where is Chote?"

Khusi: "He is changing, will be coming in a moment... Where is Di and Nanheji?"

Nani: "Anjali bitya is in her room; has gone to give Damadji soup and medicines. Nanhe bitwa is with her."

Khusi settled on a chair and Mamiji said: "Phatii Saree... It's okay you didn't cook anything for dinner but don't forget to make my sugar free burfies tomorrow."

Khusi nodded her head in agreement, while Mamaji shook his head. But in all these everyone forgot to notice Payal, who was burning in jealously seeing Khusi conversing so freely with everyone, whereas she was ignored by all as if she is not present there. Arnav came and sat beside Khusi; NK and Anjali too joined them.

Mamaji: "Bitya, did you give medicines to Damadji? How is he feeling now?"

Anjali as usual tensed for her husband: "I gave him the medicines Mamaji, but his condition is still more or less the same."

Akash: "Relax Di, Jijaji will be fine by tomorrow morning."

Arnav: "Yes Di, you shouldn't be ignoring your health. You have your dinner properly."

They were in the middle of having their dinner, when Arnav got a call in his mobile. Arnav seemed a bit tensed seeing the caller id and moved away to take the call. He returned after few minutes and said: "Khusi, be ready at 10 in the morning. You have to go with me."

Naniji: "Where are you taking her Chote?"

Arnav: "I can't tell you Nani. But I would take her only if you permit."

Nani (lovingly): "Chote, you don't need anyone's permission to take your wife anywhere."

Mami: "Phatii Saree... you can't go anywhere without making my burfies. Samjhi ki nahi." Khusi nodded while everyone shook their head at Mami's comment.

In the privacy of their room, snuggling into her husband's chest Khusi wanted to know where he was taking her.

Arnav: "Yesterday I told you Khusi, we will take our relationship to the next level after you meet someone special. Tomorrow we will be going to meet her. It's getting too difficult to keep hands off you. So I need to take you to her soon."

Khusi blushed and asked: "Who is she Arnavji? She seems very dear to you."

Arnav: "Yes, she is very dear to me."

Khusi: "Tell me na Arnavji. Who is she?"

Arnav: "No Khusi. You will know when you see her. Now Sleep."

Khusi: "But Arnavji..."

Arnav: "No more questions dear... Sleep now. Good night." He said in a tone which left no room for argument and Khusi closed her eyes to sleep, wondering for the second night in row about the very dear person in her husband's life.