Chapter 20

ArHi SS: A Thing Called Marriage

Chapter 18

Arnav and Khushi sat there, looking ahead not saying anything. Arnav knew that he needed to talk. He noticed how Khushi turned her head slightly to look at him, finally acknowledging his presence. Then, she turned to look at the sky.

There was a moment silence between them which made Arnav wonder what's going on Khushi's mind.

"You know, when was the first time I saw Maa and Papa?" Khushi whispered in a faint voice, still not looking at Arnav.

Arnav didn't say anything but inched closer to her. His attention was solely focussed on Khushi.

"Payal Jiji is 5 years older than me. She managed to put herself back together after our parent's death but I was heartbroken. When she left for college abroad, I was crying hiding inside my closest, knowing that in few hours I am going to a boarding school. Maa and Papa were searching for me when they finally found me. They got me out of the closest. Maa hugged me tightly as Papa wiped my tears. They asked me to eat something but I was so angry, heart-broken that I refused. For an hour, they kept cajoling me into eating something but nothing worked. Then they narrated me the story of how Papa met my Babuji and I was so engrossed in the story that I didn't know when they started feeding me."

Tears came rolling down on her cheeks but she wiped them and continued, her voice firm but still weak "In the boarding school, I used to be quiet and stayed aloof from everyone. Then on the weekend, Maa and Papa visited me and took me to an amusement park. That day, they did everything to cheer me up but nothing affected my sorrowing and distressed self. Next day when they came to meet me, I lashed out on them saying that I don't need their pity and they cannot ever be like my parents. You know how they responded?"

Khushi glanced at Arnav, her hands clasped together. She saw a glint of curiosity in his eyes like he never heard anything about it before.

"They smiled and said that they know. They are just trying to love me like their own daughter and no matter what I say to them, they won't relent from considering me as their daughter. I used to call my parents Amma and Babuji, they said that I don't need to address them as Amma and Babuji. I can call them Maa and Papa. They said that they don't want to replace my parents but they are like my parents and want me happy and safe."

She paused for a moment, composed herself before continuing "They won my heart slowly. I was living in a boarding school still they were there for me every day. Calling me every morning and evening, meeting me every weekend, always buying something for me, keeping my happiness ahead of their children's happiness- they did everything for me. And now when I look back, I realize that even my own parents haven't loved me like the way Maa and Papa did."

Hiding her face with her palms, she broke down and wailed "And I am the reason they died!!!!!"

Arnav's eyes were moist as he listened to Khushi. With a heavy heart, he bridged the gap between them, his shoulder bumping with her as he said "No, you are not at fault Khushi. I was stupid back then to accuse you like that."

"No, no how can you say like that? I don't deserve anyone's forgiveness when I know I could have saved them. They wouldn't have died if not for my stupid wish." Khushi slowly turned hysterical, shaking her head frantically.

Taking a deep breath, Arnav turned to her grabbing her shoulders and asked urgently "What are you talking about, Khushi?"

Khushi who was trembling like a fallen leaf, looked up in his eyes before turning away and closing her eyes, tears streaking her pale face "It was my graduation day. I wanted them there and just to fulfil my wish, they came. We were coming back to Delhi when everything went wrong."

He turned her towards him fiercely, grabbing her hands in his gently and said in a calm voice "Tell me everything, Khushi."

Khushi who was locked in his firm grip, looked down at his chest unable to meet his eyes as she continued "After completing my school, Maa and Papa wanted me to come to Delhi and join a college here but I had already applied in a Lucknow college and was selected on merit basis. I refused their offer and continued my study in Lucknow itself. As much as I knew that Maa and Papa loved me a lot I didn't wanted to be a burden on them. Payal Jiji too rarely took help from them. In my college, there was a guy from my class who was attracted to me but I never paid heed to him."

"Was it Vishal Malhotra, son of Local MLA?" Arnav asked in a clipped tone, his jaw tightening. Jerking her head up, Khushi met his cold gaze and nodded. Arnav saw fear in her eyes making him close his eyes to keep anger at bay.

"He always hinted that he likes me a lot but I always brushed off his attempts as harmless flirting. But a day before graduation day, he proposed me in front of the whole college saying that he loves me and wants to marry me." Khushi said in a trembling voice, reliving the memories which always scared her.

"What you said then?" Arnav questioned, fisting his hand and staring at Khushi expressionlessly.

"I said no'. I never looked at him in that sense and I tried to convey the same to him but he got angry. Grabbing my hand fiercely, he said that he want me at any cost. I tried to free my hand but he didn't relent. Everybody in college was looking at us. At last, I pushed him away and tried to run away but he caught my hand again. I lost my patience and slapped him. Some of my friends came forward then and told him to leave. He left quietly. I thought that it ended then and there. I went to hostel and called Maa and Papa, informing them that tomorrow is my graduation day. They both were so happy. I requested them to attend my graduation ceremony and they agreed." Khushi said, gulping in fear first and then smiled as she remembered her conversation with Aruna and Avinash that day.

"Everything was so perfect that day. When I was giving my farewell speech, my Maa and Papa were sitting right in front of me. The happy tears in their eyes made me feel content like never before. It was the happiest day of my life. After collecting my luggage from hostel, I went with them. We all were talking and laughing together while going to the airport when..." Khushi stopped suddenly, clutching the side of her dress tightly and closed her eyes, shaking her head in fear.

As Khushi refused to open her eyes and trembled in his hold, he shook her "What happened after that, Khushi?"

"Some people stopped our car in a deserted area. When our driver went out of the car and asked them to move away, one of them shot him dead. Papa who was in passenger seat witnessed all this and tried to drive the car back from there. He tried to drive away but soon we were being followed by them. I called in a Police Station and asked for their help telling our destination. But we got cornered by them. Then, Vishal got out of one of the cars and asked me to come out. He said that he has come to claim what is his. Papa looked back at me and tried to assure me that everything will be alright. He then looked at Maa who nodded. They both got out of the car and talked to Vishal. They were trying to make him understand that whatever he is doing is wrong but his men caught Maa and Papa. I came out of the car and tried to reach to them but Vishal caught me. Seeing this, they pleaded Vishal to let me go and they will do everything but that bas***d laughed after seeing my parents so helpless. I tried to break free but he slapped me. That enraged Papa and Maa. They started shouting and threatening Vishal when he took out a gun and...shot them." Khushi narrated looking in Arnav's eyes without actually seeing him. She looked like she was not in front of him. Like she was watching all of this happening in front of her again. At the end, she shrieked hiding her face in her palms.

Patting her head, Arnav embraced her tightly trying to calm her down as she continued "I tried a lot to reach to them but he didn't left me. I cried, shouted helplessly seeing my Maa and Papa lying down there in a pool of blood. Even then Maa and Papa tried to do anything that might save me. Suddenly I felt a sharp pain at the back of my head like someone has hit me, I clutched my head feeling dizzy when Vishal left me at last. I tried to run towards Maa and Papa, but I was unable to cover even that short distance between us. I fell on the ground trying to reach to them when I felt everything going dark. The last thing I saw before closing my eyes were their tears. Their tears, Arnavji. They were crying for me."

"What happened after that, Khushi? Do you remember anything else?" Arnav said not realizing that his voice was breaking, not realizing that tears streaked his face just like Khushi. Hearing the torture that his parents and Khushi went through made him die a little every second. Oh how wrong he had been to think that the girl in his arms couldn't care for his parents like he did. But now he wondered if he could ever love his own parents like she does?

"When I regained my consciousness, I was locked inside a car's bonnet. The car was being driven somewhere. I shouted as much as I can, requesting to open up but no one came to my rescue. I was locked in there for hours and thought that I am going to die without knowing whether my Maa and Papa were alright. I wasn't able to breathe and fainted eventually. When I opened my eyes next time, I was in hospital with Payal and Dadi by my side. They told me that I was in coma for two months. They looked grief-stricken and when I asked about Maa and Papa, they said they died two months ago. I was so devastated that the two persons who revived my life were dead because of me. If I had said yes' to Vishal, then nothing would have happened, my Maa and Papa would have been here with us, alive and happy. Don't forgive me, Arnavji. I deserved all your hatred." Khushi literally begged to Arnav, almost falling on his feet.

"Khushi, please don't do this. I was a fool when I accused you. You are innocent. You don't need to blame yourself for all that happened." Arnav caught Khushi, forcing her to look up at him.

"No, I am not innocent Arnavji. Many lives were ruined because of me. If I would have said yes to Vishal, nothing would have happened." Khushi refused to believe Arnav.

"No it's not your fault, Khushi. It was all Vishal's fault and he got what he deserved." Arnav bit out bitterly, cupping Khushi's face in his palms.

Khushi who had been crying hysterically till now, stopped and looked up at him "What do you mean?"

"When I came home and got to know that my parents have been shot, Di and I rushed to the hospital where Maa died after seeing our faces. Dad too died after making me promise that I will look out for you. Some police officers came to me saying that they have found you in Vishal's car after a lot of chase after you called them for help. He had run away after seeing the police. I enquired about the whole matter when Vishal came in hospital to kidnap you again. As Di was in your ward, she tried to stop him and he would have killed her as well if I wouldn't have reached there on time. He ran away from there. I knew that this guy is psycho. I searched for him and killed him before he could harm anyone again. I made it look like an accident so that no one can have any doubt." Arnav explained, his eyes on floor. He wasn't proud of what he did, but that time it seemed right to him. What if he would have lost his sister that day? He didn't wanted to take any risk.

"You are lying, aren't you?" Khushi stuttered, not able to believe that her husband had killed someone.

"I couldn't wait for him to strike again, Khushi. The police would have released him from jail in a week as his father was a MLA. I finished everything then and there, than waiting for another tragedy to happen in my family." Arnav explained, looking helpless and a bit ashamed.

Khushi hugged him tightly "I can understand, Arnavji. You don't need to explain yourself to me. If I would have been in your place, I would have done the same."

Pushing her back, he stared in her eyes in shame and guilt. Resting his forehead against her with a sigh, he whispered "I am sorry Khushi, for putting you through all this."

Khushi cried, pulling him in for a hug. Arnav hugged her back tightly in desperation. That night, two souls were mended. The scars from the past which had always given them pain were healed by their feelings revealed.

Unknowingly, their hearts have formed a bond, connecting them together.

I am not going to say anything except I am dead nervous. Waiting for your opinion readers,

Aditi

uv-crazyfan2013-12-14 04:44:24