Chapter 14

ARNAV stepped into the living room to see Khushi doing the dishes in the kitchen after dinner. They had returned a couple of hours ago after the hospital had discharged him reluctantly. The doctors had suggested another night stay but he had vehemently refused assuring them he would take all the medication prescribed as wells as the diet restrictions that needed to be followed. After one night at the hospital he was glad to be back home.

Somehow this domestic scene looked to good to be true. It was time for a talk.

"Khushi " " He said, "Thank you for taking care of me at the hospital." 

"You gave me a fright." Khushi had no idea where she had found the strength to manage the whole ordeal that had begun when she had spotted the bite mark on Arnav's leg. She shuddered to think what might have happened if she hadn't.

"Khushi " " Arnav walked into the small kitchen and took the utensil from her hand so he could wipe it clean. "I want you to know how very grateful I am to you for bringing me my mother's letter. You don't know how much it means to me " to know that I at least had one parent I could look up to."

"Arnavji " please " I just happened to find it accidentally."

"It was no accident," he said, "it has been lying right there for so many years and we hadn't found it."

"Arnavji?" She looked up at him. "Do you think you will change you mind now about doing the ceremony this year?" She paused. "It will mean a lot to Naniji."

They were standing so close that their arms almost touched. He would have said yes to anything she asked for right this moment. "I will." This wasn't good for his own health. He walked back into the living room and sat down on the sofa.

"Khushi I think you should go back to Faridkot," He said in a rush, "I can take care of myself now " "

"You  just got out of the hospital and you are still weak," Khushi pointed out.

"This house is not going to be comfortable for you " it's pretty rustic here. This house is just a temporary place for me to crash when I am here. It doesn't have and AC or a television. I haven't even installed an inverter here and the power goes out a lot." 

"You know Daler is taking off in a couple of days, don't you?" She asked him, "He wants to go home so he can attend some mela ""

"Oh hell " I completely forgot about the Jor mela." 

Daler had told her that every year a religious fair took place at the Kandh Sahib Gurdwara in the centre of the town, to commemorate the marriage of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikh religion. 

Another thought occurred to him. "What about your new job at school?" 

"I took care of that," she said smugly, "I convinced Navneet to help out Mr Bedi until I get back."

"Wow that's pretty resourceful of you." He quipped.

"Don't be sarcastic," she said coming up to him. "You took care of me when I was hurt " It's my turn now."

"So you are returning the favour." He stood up, his brown eyes simmering.

"Yes," Her heart skipped a beat as his eyes bore into hers.. "I don't want you to taunt me about not keeping my end of the bargain." She took a step back.

His lips twisted into a smirk."This is not what I meant when I said that." He took a step toward her backing her against the wall.

"Oh."

As he leaned in, her heart began to race like runaway train. "You will figure it out " " He flicked her nose with his finger, a smirk on his lips, ""some day." 

As Khushi's mouth went dry, he turned around and walked into the bedroom. "I think I will go and get some rest."

Khushi returned to the kitchen to resume cleaning. She needed some time to compose herself. 

The next afternoon Arnav was driving the tractor across the field when he saw Khushi arriving along with Daler. What is she doing here? he thought as he drove back.

Arnav followed Khushi into the storage shed were there were bales of hay stacked on one side, some corn stalks on the other. Khushi walked upto the table and she placed the bag on it and took a lunch box out. 

Never in a million years had he thought Khushi would be bringing food to him while he worked in the fields. He felt like laughing at the absurdity of the situation. It seemed so surreal.

"Khushi " you don't have do this." Arnav said, "Daler can bring my lunch for me."

Inspite of her warning, he had insisted on coming to the fields this morning. "And you didn't have to come back to work so soon," she pointed out, "Didn't the doctors say you need to rest for a few more days and that you will have to follow a strict diet?" She reminded him. "So I guess we both will do what we want, won't we?" She propped herself on a bale of hay and folded her denim clad legs under her.

"Fair enough." He sat down on the chair. "I would have taken off if I didn't have an important meeting today."

"Couldn't you have put off this meeting for a few more days?" she enquired.

"Khushi it's the sowing season right now. The seeds have to sown at the right time or else the we won't have a crop this year. Even a day or two will make a hell of a difference."

"What's your meeting go to do with sowing?"

"The meeting I have today is with this boy Anshul Nigam. He is an IIT graduate who has single handedly made this robotic drone all by himself. He is coming here today  to give me a demo about how sowing can be done with the help of robots."

"That's amazing !" Khushi's eyes went wide with surprise. 

"We even have drones that sprinkle pesticides on the crops." He explained how drones can be used to take aerial snapshots of the fields and record data about the parts of the fields would require more watering and the parts that would require more pesticides. This data would then help farmers to make optimal use of water and pesticides hence saving them lot of money. 

Just as Khushi was digesting this new piece of information, Daler walked in along with a boy who looked no more than her age. 

"Sirji, Mr Anshul Nigam."

Arnav went up to him and shook his hands. "Nice to meet you Anshul." He turned around. "This is my wife Khushi."

"Hello." The boy croaked, his eyes going wide.

"Hello Anshulji." Khushi smiled at the boy who looked slightly nervous. "Now I understand why Dalerji asked me to pack a lunch for two. So I will leave you both to your lunch meeting and get going," she announced and walked up to Arnav and gave him his medicine. "Try to get home as soon as you can." She said firmly before she walked out.

That evening when Arnav came back home he was surprised to see his grandmother and Manav sitting on the sofa talking to Khushi.

"Nani!" Arnav went up to the older woman who stood up and took him in her embrace. 

"Thank God you are alright!" She said placing her wrinkled hand on his cheek.

Next Manav hugged him. "Anju's int the bedroom," Manav told his friend, "she is a little upset. I think you should go and talk to her."

When Arnav hurried into the room, Naniji followed him.

"Let's walk outside Khushi," Manav said standing up, "this will take a while."

As they walked on the narrow path between the green mustard fields Khushi said, "Di seemed very distraught. I hope Arnavji is able to console her."

"There is a lot going on with her," Manav said with a sigh.

"What do you mean?" Khushi was surprised.

"Firstly she was upset with you because you didn't call her about the letter or when Arnav got bitten by the snake."

"But you are the one who said it would be better to wait until her friend's wedding was over!" Khushi exclaimed.

Manav chuckled. "Clam down Khushi!" Manav said quickly. "Let me explain."

Manav told her how he had gone all the way to Delhi so he could personally break the news about the letter to Anjali after the wedding celebrations. Then Naniji had called him about Arnav's accident and he had ended up giving her two bad news instead of just one.

"I told her last night and she was so upset with you for not calling her "-," he paused. "I felt she was over reacting so I yelled at her."

Khushi raised her eyebrows but said nothing.

"Then she got angry with me for supporting you!" He chuckled as though it was something funny.

"Oh God!" Khushi placed her hand on her head, "So she is angry with you now?"

"Yes," he smiled happily, "but not for the reason you think."

Khushi was lost. "Why then?"

"Thanks to the conversation I had with you last time I decided it was high time I tested Anjali's feelings for me. I told her I loved her."

"Oh my God!"

"She hued and hawed about our age difference, her marital status and the fact that I was Arnav's best friend but I know it's just a matter of time before she comes round."

"I am sure she will come round." She assured him.

"Anju is usually very straight forward and will say what she thinks to the face," he said, "but now she had clammed up. This means it's not a no.

"Moreover I decided I had to take the plunge " how long would I put off the inevitable right?"

"I am so happy for you!" Khushi couldn't help hugging Manav for she was thrilled for Anjali. Whether or not anything came of this, at least it was a start.

By the time Khushi and Manav returned home, Anjali seemed to be back to normal and even helped her get the dinner going. 

"Di," She said, "I wanted to tell you how sorry I am for not letting you know about the letter."

Anjali went red with embarrassment. "Oh Manav told you?" She was silent for a moment. "You don't have to be sorry. I was in shock when I saw the letter and then hearing about the snake bite " it was all just too much for me and I just over reacted. We are good." She gave her a small smile.

Khushi realised that Anjali was not completely back to her old self which Khushi surmised was due to Manav's confession. She really hoped she would accept Manav's proposal and move toward a new life. But then it was her decision to make.

After dinner Naniji expressed her wish to visit the Golden Temple as a sort of thanks giving for Arnav's well being.

"Alright Nani," Arnav acceded, "I guess I will have to meet with Anshul in Amritsar instead of him coming over here."

After agreeing to meet at the temple in the morning, Naniji, Anjali and Manav returned back to Amritsar where they were staying at a hotel for the night.

The next morning Khushi and Arnav drove toward Amritsar for a visit to the Golden Temple. Arnav stole a glance at Khushi as she sat by his side wearing a simple baby pink anarkali kurta. Silver earrings dangled in her ears just above the smooth column of her neck.  Stop it! He admonished himself before concentrating on the road again.

Khushi couldn't help admiring the Golden Temple or the Hari Mandir which was it's actual name. It was an architectural marvel that was a blend of both Hindu and Islamic artistic styles. The Temple was ornamented with marble sculptures, golden gilding and studded with precious stones.

"It was originally just a small lake where Guru Nanak Dev came to meditate," Naniji explained as they entered the premises. " "and then after his death his disciples continued to visit the site and over time the site became a sacred place of worship for the Sikhs."

Hymns resonated across the lake instilling a sense of peace and Khushi was sure it was the same experience with all the people who strolled across the marble concourse around the pool of holy water.

They immersed themselves in the sacred pool after which they visited the inner sanctum.  Within the sanctuary on a jewel studded platform lay the Adi Granth " a collection of hymns, poems and songs composed by various Gurus of Sikh, Hindu and Islam. 

After the temple visit, Arnav excused himself to attend the lunch meeting with Anshul.

"Khushi, I still think you should go back with Nani," Arnav said when Khushi walked with him to see him off. "Staying at the farmhouse is not easy."

"I will finish lunch and then find my way back to Batala," she informed him. "You don't have to come pick me up."

Arnav was irked with her comment. "You think I can't come back here to pick you up?" He retorted. "I am only saying "-"

"You will be late for you meeting," she reminded him, "Call me when your work is complete."

Arnav shook his head as he took off in the Jeep in full speed.

After lunch, Khushi bid her goodbyes to Naniji, Anjali and Manav as the latter dropped her off at the mall. Manav and Anjali needed to get back to work and Khushi persuaded them that she would be fine shopping at the mall while she waited for Arnav.

Soon, Khushi was on her way to Santosh Gill's house. Arnav had called her and told her he would be picking her up in an hour and that gave her plenty of time to make her visit and be back at the mall. 

Santosh Gill's house was a modest two storied house with a small beaten down garden in the front. Luckily, she was at home and the moment she saw Khushi, she invited her inside never taking her eyes off her face.

Khushi showed her the photograph and after seeing it for sometime Santosh looked at Khushi. "You are a splitting image of you mother. You are much slimmer than she was though."

Khushi explained her background ."Auntyji, please tell me everything you know about my mother. My grandfather has been very ill and couldn't tell me anything much."

"I am sorry your mother is no more Khushi but I can understand why your grandfather couldn't tell you much. It's not a pleasant story to tell."

Khushi's face fell when she heart the tone of disapproval in Santosh's voice.

"You mother fell in love with man from Himachal Pradesh," Santosh came straight to the point. "He worked for the Himachal Pradesh Handicrafts store in Moga. He was quite handsome; no doubt about that " but he belonged to a poor weaver community." 

"I wonder how they met." Khushi asked tentatively.

"I can tell you that. Your mother saw him for the first time when we went there to buy a shawl for your grandmother. At first, no one attended to us for a long time so your mother was walking out just as he walked into the store and they collided. He caught her from tripping over and falling flat on the ground. It was love at first sight she said later!"

"He begged her to come back inside and he showed her plenty of shawls. When your mother couldn't afford to buy the shawl she liked he sold it to her for a lower price telling her that there was a discount on it. I knew right away that he had set out to trap her.

"Trap?" Khushi said in  low voice.

"Obviously!" She said emphatically. "It was clear from your mother's dressing and mannerisms that she came from a well do to family. That man wanted to cash in on her wealth.

"Then their affair began. I warned her not to get involved with him but she wouldn't listen to me. I had no choice but to call your grandmother and let her know."

Khushi couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could a friend rat on another friend like this even if she didn't approve of the relationship? The repercussions would be obviously disastrous. 

Santosh confirmed Khushi's fears. "Your mother wasn't allowed to attend college after that and I never saw her. After the final exams I got married and left for Canada."

"Oh "so you don't know what happened later"" Khushi was disappointed at the abruptness of the story but that would have been so much better than what she was going to hear next.

"I do know what happened," She countered, "My parents told me later that Gauri eloped!" Santosh's voice was scornful. "She disgraced your grandparents and the entire village. The village panchayat banned her from entering the village forever.

"You grandparents were spared because they belonged to royalty. Imagine your grandfather's plight, him being a member of the panchayat and all."

Khushi had heard enough. She stood up. "Thank you for your time auntyji " I will take your leave now."

"You know nothing good comes from causing so much pain to one's parents."

Khushi couldn't help hearing the scornful words that implied that her parents had deserved the end that they met with.

A little later Khushi returned to the mall and sat on the stone step, her heart heavy with sorrow. She was a little shocked after the conversation with Santosh Gill. Whatever she had expected to hear, it was definitely not this.

 She couldn't believe her parents had to elope and face the wrath of not only her grandparents, but of the entire village. It all seemed like a fantastic story that she had read in the papers.

Naniji had also mentioned that she was not in town when her mother's marriage took place. Was she telling the truth or was she trying to avoid telling her about this scandal?

When her aunt had told her about her parents, she had said they were not able to attend the wedding being away in Canada. It seemed like her grandfather managed to hide the scandal from his relatives. Had he stayed away from his relatives because of this? 

Was that why he had pretended not to understand her when she had asked about her father?  Had he been too ashamed to tell her that his only daughter had disgraced him in front of the entire village? Had her grandmother died of a broken heart? 

Had her father been a crooked man who had set out to trap her innocent mother ? Had her parents been in love or had they been just irresponsible ? The questions kept reverberating in her head giving her a pounding headache.

"Khushi!" Arnav's voice penetrated through the haze. He was walking up the stairs in quick strides. "Come on " I have been trying to get your attention for the past five minutes." 

"Oh "" She looked up at him in a daze.

He took her hand in his and walked toward the car that was parked right in front of the mall.

After they drove for a little distance Arnav said, "Khushi you look very upset " did something happen?"

"No Arnavji " I am fine." She gave him a smile.

Arnav shook his head. "I am not buying that." He insisted. "Tell me what's bothering you."

Khushi racked her brains to come up with something, knowing Arnav was not one to let go so easily.  "I " I was thinking about my birthparents " that's all."

"Your birth parents ?" He was clearly surprised, "Why now " all of a sudden ? I mean there is nothing wrong with that but were you unhappy with the parents who raised you?"

"Oh no " no" Khushi denied quickly, "I have the most wonderful parents any child could ever hope for. They have taken care of me so well that I lack for nothing. My mother loves me to bits and my sister Payal is my role model."

"So what's the problem?"

Khushi knew she was going to share something she had never discussed with another soul in her entire life. "I have never been able to make my father happy." She explained about his plans for her and how she could never measure up to the standards her sister Payal had set. "When he finally realised I wasn't going to study further, he gave up and decided marriage was the solution. Then once I had made the decision to marry, he was not happy with that either. 

"He is so disappointed with my choices in life.

"You know what my Buaji says ? I am different from my family because I am not of their blood. I have begun to think there is truth in it." 

"Ah that's why you are thinking about your birth parents."

"Yes." She nodded as tears filled her eyes.

They had arrived at the farm house. "You think you inherited some weird genes from your birth parents."

Tears streaming down her cheeks, Khushi got out of Jeep and rushed into the house but before she could enter the bedroom Arnav caught her hand.

He took her to the sofa and gathered her close. He wiped her tears. "Going by your logic I should be a fraud, a cheat and psychopath who wants to take the life of his near and dear ones." He said his voice sombre. "Do you think I am like him?"

Khushi looked at him her eyes filled with horror. "No!" She denied vehemently.

"Khushi, the things you have told me about your dad is very common amongst families. My grandfather didn't want me to waste time doing engineering when I eventually would have taken over the family business but I wanted to because I engineering was my passion.

"Mama and Mami wanted Akash to take over the family business but he wanted to go abroad and work in the software field.

"Manav's parents wanted him go abroad to study but he refused because he loved it here in India.

"I can give you lot more examples but I think you get the drift.

"I believe that what we are can be determined solely by ourselves and not by the situation of our birth. There may be people in this world whose destiny follows the path their parents might have decided for them but most follow their own."

She looked up at him with her teary eyes. "Do you think so?"

"Ask your sister if being a software engineer her dream," he suggested, "you never know what answer you might get."

"She loved to paint." She reminisced. "There was a time when my dad feared that she might want to take that up as her career." Khushi smiled inspite of the tears.

"There you go!" he chuckled, "I think your dad was only being worried for you. If I am not wrong " he is probably one of those people who came up the hard way and believes that conventional fields of education is the only sure shot way to success. I have seen many fathers who don't even encourage girls to study."

"You have a point." Khushi said pondering on Arnav's words.

"Then there are fathers who want to kill their children."

When Khushi looked stricken Arnav said. "I am just saying my father beats your father hands down in the "failing your kid" department "- don't you think?"

"Arnavji " please !" Her eyes filled with tears.

"Oh God! Are you going to start the water works again?" He teased," it was just a joke Khushi."

"A joke?" she raised her voice. "I am sorry if I can't laugh."

 "I can fix that problem." Without any warning his hands crept up her sides as he began to tickle her. 

"Stop it!" She shrieked even as she laughed hard unable to control her giggles. When he didn't relent she began to hit him and ended up being pinned under him with her hands above her head. Khushi looked into the caramel brown eyes that suddenly seemed just inches away from her.

And just like that Arnav had brought her out her gloom. That night when she had found he had been bitten by the snake, she had realised how much he meant to her and that same night she had decided that she would put the past behind and move on with her life. If her grandfather had believed that this marriage was the way to correct old mistakes " so be it. 

Even if he didn't love her like she did, Arnav was a good man. She knew that the moment he had saved that little boy's life without thinking about the consequences. She needed no other proof of his character. Her love would have to be enough for the two of them. 

Just as her eyes began to droop, Arnav got off her. "I " I have to make a phone call."

Khushi gritted her teeth in frustration as she watched Arnav's retreating back. She had her work cut out for her she surmised in dismay.

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