Chapter 7
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[MEMBERSONLY]
rulama 2014-04-27 22:08:04
[NOCOPY]
RECALLING ARNAV - II
Part 7
Arnav took care not to call Khushi on Tuesday as he set out from Delhi. He wanted to surprise her.
The two families were gathered in the courtyard of Gomti Sadan when he walked in at night, his bag and a cover in his hands. He greeted them, his eyes looking for Khushi.
"Where is Khushi, Buaji?" he asked.
"She will get home in ten minutes, bitwaa. She and the boys are waiting for Madan Lalji to collect his sweets," Buaji said.
"She called twice to ask if you had come, bitwaa," Garima said.
Arnav drew in a deep breath tinged with hope.
Khushi came home half an hour later to see everyone in the courtyard. She looked her enquiry at Garima, but the older lady pretended not to notice.
The Raizada ladies looked at Khushi, wondering if she would ask about Arnav.
Finally Khushi asked, "Did Arnavji come home?"
All heaved a sigh of relief.
Before Garima could reply, Mami said, "No, he didn't. Khussi bitiyaa, hamre Arnav bitwaa gayab hui gawa. I don't know why he hasn't come yet."
Khushi paled. "I will be back in a moment, Mamiji," she excused herself.
She walked up the steps in a daze. Where was Arnavji? It was late. Was he driving? What if he had fallen asleep at the wheel? she thought, her fingers curling around the railing for strength. Was he ill? What if he had forgotten to take his food or medicines on time and was at that very moment unconscious? Her feet dragged as she made her difficult way up the steps to her room.
What could she do? she fretted. Her heart sank to her feet. She would call him when she reached her room, she thought, walking unsteadily to her room.
The door was shut.
She pushed open the panels with an urgent, trembling hand to stand shocked at the sight of a bouquet of red roses lying on her pillow.
She stared at it for a moment and then slowly walked towards it, feeling her heart settle in her ribcage. Arnavji was home; he was safe. She touched one soft, velvety petal with a shaking finger.
"You love red roses, don't you?" he asked, standing behind her.
She turned around and looked at him, scared to speak, uncertain, unsure. His molten eyes and his husky voice cast a net around her that she was unable to, loath to escape.
He took the bouquet and handed it over to her. She looked at it for a long moment and then took it from him, her pale fingers holding the fragrant gift gingerly as though it would jump out of its cover and bite her on the nose.
"Thank you," she whispered looking down at the flowers.
Arnav cupped her cheeks in his hands and lifted her face to look in to his.
"No, thank you," he said honestly.
She looked at him, a question in her eyes.
"For putting up with me, my anger, my blindness, my cruelty..." he said, unable to complete the sentence.
Khushi nodded slightly and looked away.
"Khushi, let's start over again," he pleaded. "Give me another chance. I won't fail you this time," he promised.
Khushi swallowed hard.
"I am Arnav Singh Raizada," he introduced himself, extending his hand for her to shake.
Khushi looked at the hand and then at his earnest face.
He waited.
Her hands remained around the flowers, tightening slightly around the bouquet.
He caught her arm in a gentle grip and led her to her bed. He sat her down and kneeled before her, his arms on the bed holding her in.
"I am Arnav Singh Raizada, a Laad Governaar, a Rakshas," he said.
Khushi squirmed and turned her head away.
Arnav sighed in heart-felt sorrow. What had he done to this naive, innocent girl?
"I... I love you, Khushi," he said, realising that she was in no mood for games, knowing that being direct would help him more with her.
Khushi did not look at him.
"I broke my promise to marry you, Khushi. I won't, this time. I am ready to marry you whenever you want, wherever you want," he said, his low voice throbbing with his sincerity.
Khushi looked at him.
"Why? Because you finally found out that my Amma was not the woman who killed your Mama?" she asked wryly.
"No, because I have reached the limit of my endurance. I can't live without you, Khushi," he whispered.
"Is this proposal prompted by your pity for me? After all I am the fool who believed your promises and found myself pregnant and unmarried. I am the idiot who fell down the steps and lost your baby," she smiled cynically.
"Khushi," he protested.
"Don't mind me asking. With you it pays to be clear," she said warily.
"Khushi, I want to marry you because I can't live without you and I know you love me too. Had we not visited you in Lucknow and found out about the baby, I would have still come to you by now. I was dying in Delhi without you, struggling to draw breath, feeling each moment drag to eternity. Marry me, Khushi. Please," he begged.
Khushi looked at him kneeling at her feet.
They stayed so for long moments and then she said slowly, "I managed once. If you... if you cheat me a second time, I... I will not be able to..." Her voice died away.
Arnav felt his eyes well up. He blinked and said, "I will marry you when you want, where you want, Khushi. I will marry you and consider myself very very lucky to call you my wife."
"This is not love, Arnavji," she said softly. "Whatever is between us, it is not love. It is... it is a curse."
"No, Khushi. It is a blessing," he averred. He laid his head on her lap and coiled his arms around her waist.
They sat for long.
Finally he asked, "Khushi?"
She said, "I will give you an answer tomorrow."
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