Chapter 29
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OS 2: Finding Khushi
Part 13
Section 1
Buaji opened the door to a decked-up Mami, Anjali, & Nani. Behind them stood Arnav, removing his sunglasses.
"Hai Re Nandkisore! Kaa hua?", Buaji asked, worried. It was early in the morning, and the Sangeet for Payaliyaa & Akash Bitwaa was after two days... So why...?
Nani smiled. "There is nothing wrong, Madhumatiji! We just wanted to talk to you."
"Please come in!", Buaji opened the doors wide, and escorted them in and seated them. Then she called, "Garima, see who is here, Nandkisore!"
Garima came pushing Babuji in his wheelchair, and smiled to see all of them. She greeted them with folded hands. Babuji smiled at them.
After they all settled down, Nani said, praying that what she was about to say wouldn't affect Akash & Payal's wedding. "We came to talk to you about a rishta. For..for Chotey!"
Buaji's face became a picture of happiness. "Lavanyaji has returned from London?", she asked, smiling at Arnav. "Badhai ho, Devyaniji! Both your grandsons are going to get married." Buaji looked at a smiling Garima & Babuji, and said, happily to Arnav, "How happy Titliyaa will be to hear that Lavanyaji has returned!"
Amma nodded. She blessed Arnav, " May you and your wife have a very long and happy married life!"
Babuji & Buaji nodded in agreement.
The Raizadas paled. They looked at each other. Arnav opened his mouth to speak and correct the misunderstanding, but Mami pinched him on his thigh, signalling him to shut his trap.
Finally, Mami said, "Khushi is not here, Hello Hi Bye Bye?"
"No. She has gone to work.", smiled Amma. "And Payaliyaa has gone to the market."
"We came with a proposal for Khushi...", Mami said, looking at Nani.
"For Titliyaa! How kind of you!", Buaji exclaimed.
Amma & Babuji looked at the Raizadas in astonishment.
"Devyaniji, we never expected such a grand proposal for Payaliyaa. We thought that we would look for and find an ordinary boy from an ordinary family like ours for both the girls, Nandkisore. If Payaliyaa did not like Akash Bitwaa, and if you were not kind enough to overlook our lack of wealth, we would never have dreamt of marrying off Payaliyaa into such a well-known family.", said Buaji.
Amma & Babuji nodded.
"That is all we are looking for. Sanka Devi should get a good boy from a good family, hopefully an ordinary, middle-class family like ours, Nandkisore!", Buaji said.
Nani looked at Anjali, Arnav, & Mami.
"Don't worry about wealth & status, Madhumatiji. It should be the bond of love between the boy and the girl that should be considered important.", Nani soothed Buaji.
"Who is the boy, Devyaniji?", asked Amma.
Buaji, Amma, & Babuji looked eagerly at Nani for her answer.
Nani took a deep breath.
"Hamre Arnav Bitwaa!", Mami said, sparing her Saasumma the pain.
The Guptas stared at the Raizadas, their mouths open.
"Before you asks about Lavanya Kasyap, let me tell you that they did not get engaged. Sagai se pehle hi, they decided that they would not suit, and Lavanya Kasyap flew to London. By hawai jahaz.", Mami made it very clear.
"But...", Buaji said finally.
"Arnav Bitwaa and Lavanya Kasyap did not knows each other bell (well). When they knew each other more, they understood that they did not match.", Mami cut in, trying to kill the opposition.
"But... but... Jiji...", Amma stammered.
Buaji looked at her.
"Khussi Bitiyaa was employed to teach Lavanyaji our taur tareeke so that Arnav Bitwaa could marry her, wasn't she?", asked poor Amma.
The Raizadas squirmed.
"Lavanyaji was staying in your house to learn all this, wasn't she, Devyaniji? And Khussi taught her everything, didn't she, Nandkisore?", Buaji asked, a perplexed frown on her face.
Nani nodded.
"Khussi said that Lavanyaji & Arnav Bitwaa's engagement was announced on Diwali night... by Arnav Bitwaa... at the party...", Buaji looked at him.
Arnav said, "Yes." The lump in his throat made speech difficult.
"Phir kaa hua, Bitwaa?", Amma asked. "You wanted to marry Lavanyaji... Then why a proposal for Khussi..?"
Arnav wanted to tell them that he had never wanted to marry Lavanya, had never loved her, only liked her, never known what love was... Before... before that night at Sheesh Mahal... That he had not recognised this fire in him, had fought it with all he possessed, but had thankfully failed... But how could he? Half the time he did not make any sense to himself. How would he make sense to Buaji? Or Amma & Babuji?
How could he tell them that he hadn't understood the damage he had done to Lavanya's reputation? She had been willing to enter into a live in, finding nothing wrong in it as the culture and society that she had been brought up in were accepting of such relationships. But they were not in London. They were in India. And his family was orthodox. He should have known better'. He should have thought of Di, of Akash's future...of Lavanya's reputation... of Khushi's pain... of his own happiness...
He should have known better. He should have thought about the consequences of inviting Lavanya to stay in his house before doing so. He had been so bent on trying to forget Khushi that... that he had almost committed the worst mistake of his life...
Finally, he said, "Lavanya & I... we are too different. We would have been unhappy together. We found out in time. So we decided not to get married."
Mami, Nani, & Anjali nodded.
Buaji, Amma, & Babuji looked at each other.
Finally, Buaji said, "Nandkisore, it looks bad. Khussi came to train your bride, and now your bride is gone, and you want to marry Khussi..."
Nani blinked wet eyes. Anjali bit her lip. Mami pressed Arnav's hand.
Amma nodded. "Jiji, if people say that Khussi pushed Lavanyaji out and snared Arnav Bitwaa..!"
"Hai Re Nandkisore!", Buaji whispered. "All your friends met Lavanyaji and heard you announcing your engagement, Bitwaa. Then if you get married to Khussi, people will talk. They will blame Sanka Devi for coming between you and Lavanyaji!"
The Raizadas had no answer to give. They were familiar with the ways of the world, and could not dispute these statements.
Buaji looked at Arnav's pale, anxious face. She could not find the heart to refuse him outright. So she said, "Why don't we talk this over with Titliyaa when she gets home, Nandkisore? I will let you know what she says."
The Raizadas had to be satisfied with this.
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