Chapter 21
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[MEMBERSONLY]
[NOCOPY]
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RECALLING ARNAV
Part 11
Section 1
There was absolute silence in the living room of that ancient building, Gomti Sadan. Even the air seemed to be waiting for Arnav's reply to Garima's request.
"If I leave now, can you be sure that Khushi will never regain her memory?" Arnav asked softly. "If you can promise me that Khushi will never again remember the pain and the abandonment of the past, I will leave now."
The Guptas looked at him, helpless, unable to give him that assurance as they knew that Khushi was slowly remembering incidents from her past, that the nightmare was lodged firmly in her subconscious and would emerge one day to burn her to cinders. It was only a matter of time.
"I was wrong to abandon Khushi at the mandap. I should have come there and talked to all of you, found out the truth," Arnav shook his head in self-disgust. "Then Khushi would not have cried. She wouldn't have returned to Lucknow, wouldn't have fallen down the steps, lost her memory. We would have been married for five months now."
The Raizadas and the Guptas listened silently to the reserved man baring his heart.
"I am responsible for every misfortune that Khushi suffered. Every single tear that she shed after we met can be laid at my door," Arnav was truthful.
Nani wept silently. Mami and Mamaji held on to her lest her sorrow fell her.
Anjali had tears in her eyes. "I am responsible too, Buaji, Amma, Babuji. Had I not married a scoundrel like Shyam..."
"What is the use of crying over the past, bitiyya? Don't look back. Look ahead, Nandkisore," Buaji advised.
"Babuji, Buaji, aunty... I have been a very bad husband to Khushi. Not just a bad husband, but also a terrible employer. Any other girl would have run away from my very shadow. But Khushi dared to love me," Arnav swallowed hard. "I had the greatest contempt for love and marriage, my past colouring my views, my parents' suicide killing all my hopes of a normal life. My eyes were blind, my heart protected behind walls of rock,"
"Khushi effortlessly drew the blinds from my eyes and tore down the walls."
"I don't know how or when she made me hers. I just know that she is a part of me now. Whether I stay or leave, whether I see her or don't, whether she regains her memory or not, whether we get married or not, she is my wife and owns my heart. There is no other woman for me, only Khushi," he said softly, letting the two families see in to his heart.
The Guptas looked at him, their hearts heavy. His sincerity and honesty were beyond doubt.
"Buaji, babuji, aunty, just as she is a part of me, I know that I am a part of Khushi too. She cannot live a complete and happy life away from me. She has been pining for me as I have been for her. Even in her state of amnesia, she knows that there is something missing, something she has lost. That is why she asked me to help her regain her memory," Arnav dropped the bomb gently.
All stared at him.
"Titliyyaa... she asked you..." Buaji exclaimed. "Hai Re Nandkisore!"
"Jiji, what will we do now?" Garima sked Buaji.
"I promised her that I would help her," Arnav said in a low voice. "Five months back I broke a promise I had made to stay with her through thick and thin, hamesha. I will not break this one."
The Guptas stared at him.
"I will help her remember... because she wants to remember. I will help her knowing very well that once she remembers that I am a Rakshas and a Shaitan, once she knows how much I hurt her, humiliated her, tore her heart to shreds, she may throw me out of her life... which is what I deserve."
"Bitwaa..." Garima sighed.
"This time, let Khushi decide what she wants. Once she is in full possession of her past memories, she can take me or leave me. I will honour her decision," Arnav said firmly.
The Guptas looked at Arnav, helpless.
"You want what is best for Khushi. I too want what is best for Khushi. But unfortunately we are not the ones to decide what is best for her. Only she can do that. I think we should let her choose her own future, even if it is one that does not include me or my family," Arnav said.
As the Guptas and the Raizadas pondered over Arnav's statement, Khushi breezed in to the house.
Her eyes looked at each face, rapidly moving on till they rested on Arnav.
"How are you?" she asked Arnav.
"Much better now," Arnav tried to smile.
Khushi smiled in return. "You look good when you smile. Bilkul Laad Governaar nahi lagte."
All gasped, but Khushi was supremely unaware that she had slipped in to her old form of addressing Arnav.
"Buaji, I am hungry. Kuch khane ko do na, meri Madhumati Rani," Khushi pleaded, clutching her tummy, a comical expression on her face.
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