~Chapter 4: Deep Roots~

5 years ago

TiaMaaaaa

@TianaWrites

…Chapter 4…

…Deep Roots…

Two months had passed since she had come to Delhi. Plenty of things had changed around her since then. She still stayed with the Raizadas as Khushi insisted on it. The room rent was paid for Gauri who turned a deaf ear to her protests. She had never planned on ever letting Gauri work but she stood firm and within a month of hard work, dedication and a great deal of support from Aakash, Gauri had become well known in the business circle for her awesome parties. The event management plan was a success and Gauri had started her own little business venture named ‘Dream Events’. Every party hosted by ‘Dream Events’ was the talk of the town. One day, Aakash had called Gauri and Kalpi and informed them that the ‘rent’ they now paid was too much as Gauri’s profits were much more than they had first started with and so Gauri had come up with a number for the rent. Aakash had argued but it was all in vain, Gauri was firm, they would stay only if they could pay. So, it was settled and Gauri was satisfied. Kalpi managed the finances of ‘Dream Events’ after she came home from AR. Gauri tried to reason with her that she was working too hard but Kalpi did not relent. Working kept her mind off certain things she said, specially a certain someone whom she couldn’t forget. Life at AR was not so hard after the first two weeks. She reported to Arnav and he was quick to realize her worth. She had quickly adapted to the new job and even found some loopholes through which AR was losing money and proposed ways to fix it. Initially, he was the stuck-up idiot she hated but then suddenly something seemed to have changed. He listened patiently to her views at board meetings and yesterday he even managed to say a word of praise. When he had started to treat her with respect, she had thought he had finally realized her value but yesterday she had understood that it was entirely something else. She started observing him a bit closely and realized there was something that was definitely missing. She had tried to shake it off but an encounter with Khushi last night had made her very uncomfortable.

“Hey, Kalpi… Glad you are up still. Tell me honestly, wool or velvet for this design?”

“Uh… wool? Maybe… It’s going to be winter soon and I we have just released a huge sum for our winter fashion show.”

“Hmmm… that’s what I thought… Not that the winter fashion show is of any concern”

“Are you not displaying your designs in the show?”

“Of course, not… Why would I?”

“Why… meaning?”

“Why would I contribute anything to an AR fashion show when I can launch in my own personal fashion show?”

Kalpi was shocked. This was definitely not the girl she had met in the rain two months back. She breathed and talked like a businesswoman. Whenever she opened her mouth it was either about making a name for herself or money for herself. She worked and worked until she fell asleep with exhaustion mostly in her room or Anjali’s. Her eyes often gleamed feverishly when she worked. They never sparkled or shone.

“Can I ask you something Khushi?”

“Yes, Kalpi…”

“I am really happy that you are thinking about making a name in the industry but Khushi why are you doing this?”

Khushi looked at her and slowly replied.

“Maybe he will notice me then… Not as a doormat of a wife but as a woman whose worth is far beyond what his money could buy.”

Kalpi knew now about the circumstances of their marriage. She had been very happy when she saw Khushi barely noticing Arnav. She had thought that somehow her arrival had brought Khushi to her senses but yesterday everything had changed. She looked up and saw Arnav typing away something in his laptop and decided it was time she did something to help her friend.

****

“Can I come in, sir?”

“Yes… Come in, Kalpana… What is it? Anything regarding the renovation plans? I guess we have enough budget now and we can start with the plans?”

“Yes, of course. Can you send me the quotations we received?”

“Sure…”

Kalpi stood quietly hesitating. Arnav looked at her and said,

“What is it? Is anything wrong?”

“No… actually, yes… I wanted to ask something.”

“Yes?”

“In private…”

“Close the door…”

Kalpi did as she was told and Arnav gestured her to take a seat.

“I wanted to ask you something personal.”

Arnav nodded encouraging her to go on.

“Why don’t you give divorce to Khushi?”

Arnav looked taken aback, he hadn’t expected this.

“I mean your creepy brother-in-law is dead, your sister’s life is safe and Khushi is no longer a threat to her marriage. Why do you want to keep her in a relationship that means nothing to you?”

Arnav stared long at her and slowly looked down. He softly asked

“What makes you think that this relationship means nothing to me?”

“Well… I guess I just stated the reason you married her but now the reason no longer exists.”

“Did it ever occur to you that there would have been some other reason?”

Kalpi gasped as the look in his eyes told her a story different to what she believed.

"Yes, everything is not what it seems. I first got to know about Khushi as the woman my brother-in-law was having an affair with. It made me mad and out of anger, I ordered investigators to look into the matter. That’s when I got to know about her. The more I learnt about her the more I was attracted towards her. I felt that this girl did something to attract my brother-in-law. If she could attract a dedicated man like me then she could definitely attract more men. That’s when I decided to marry her. I thought that way she wouldn’t attract any more men and she would be safe.”

“Safe? What in the world made you think that?”

“I… I don’t know”

“Well if that is the reason… then I think Khushi can very well take care of herself. I guess you would have understood that by now. So, that nonsensical reason is not valid.”

“I thought that WAS the reason… until some weeks back…”

Arnav came into his room, tired as usual. He looked around to find that his wife was not there. It had been about a week since she had joined AR fashions and she had been ignoring him since then. He had tried to talk Aakash and make him understand Khushi needed to be at home but he had been firm. He had not even allowed him to talk to her. Irritated with the situation, he looked at his work desk hoping to find something to turn his mind to when a strange file stuck in Khushi’s cupboard caught his eye. The cupboard was open and the file was stowed untidily, so he deduced that she would have left in a hurry. Thinking he would find some of Khushi’s much applauded designs, he opened the file.

“Medical Reports?”

His breath caught as he quickly flipped over the file. There it was all written clearly in black and white. Khushi was pregnant. He mentally cursed himself as he remembered the day, they had consummated their marriage. He had been a complete jerk after that. He had wanted so hard to prove to himself that he had married Khushi only to protect her that the night of desire and passion had made him feel guilty.

“So, you read the reports?”

Arnav turned around to face a pale faced Khushi.

“Khushi… I… is this…”

“Yes, the reports are true. I am pregnant.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“Why should I?”

Arnav felt his temper rise at her cool reply.

“Don’t you think I have the rights to know about my child?”

“Yours? Who said it’s yours? Listen Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, this child belongs to me and only me.”

“But I am the father…”

Khushi gave him a sarcastic look.

“And what gives you the right?”

“That night we…”

“We had sex. Yes, I agree. That doesn’t grant you the right to be my baby’s father. You yourself said, you would never love a classless girl like me. Why would you love the child of a classless girl? Mr. Raizada, this child is a Gupta, the beloved child of Khushi Kumari Gupta and that is what this child will always be. I have been mute to all your abuses but my child will have none of it. I am no longer your wife Mr. Raizada, I am my child’s mother. However hard you try; I won’t let you spoil my child’s life.”

Saying so, Khushi grabbed the file from his hand and left the room.

“You know, Kalpana. That’s when I realized she didn’t need me…”

“She never needed you, sir.”

“Yes… but I didn’t understand how she ever thought that I would spoil our child’s life. I was trying my best to protect her from the world.”

“By hurling abuses at her?”

“I did that to protect myself from falling for her. You see reminding myself that she was not worthy of my love made me feel secure… in control.”

“And what did that make Khushi feel?”

“She never complained, Kalpana. She never protested when I talked nonsense. So, how do you expect me to know how she felt?”

Kalpi looked taken aback.

“But…”

Arnav looked at her and placed his hand on hers.

“Kalpana, I know you love Khushi. I know how much you care about her and I know that is the reason you are here today. You need to understand the way I was brought up too. My dad always abused my mom, I grew up looking at them every day. My mon too never said anything. Once when I was 12, I asked my mom if she didn’t feel hurt. She told me that was my dad’s way of showing his love for her. Then when I was 15, they both passed away in an accident and my grandmother brought us up. I hadn’t known what love or attraction was since I met Khushi. So, when she said nothing, I thought she was not affected by it. It came as a shock to me when she said she didn’t want me to be her child’s father. That was when I realized how hurt she was.”

“But sir, now that you have realized how much you hurt her. Why don’t you leave her? Why keep her in a relationship that suffocates her and you? You know you can start afresh; I am sure there would be plenty of girls who would want to marry Arnav Singh Raizada….”

“But I want Khushi… Yes… After that incident, I realized how much she means to me. Seeing her all independent made me realize the truth. It was never about protecting her. It had always been about my love for her. I agree I was only attracted to her first but after marriage I saw her care for me and without knowing started to fall for her. All these days trying to hide my feelings have only made things worse. I love her, Kalpana but I know it’s too late.”

“Why didn’t you apologize?”

“When I came to my senses, she no longer wanted to do anything with me. She no longer needs me. I wish I could somehow make the clock reverse and undo what I have done.”

Kalpi shut her eyes and in her mind flashed an image of a man just as flawed as the man sitting in front of her was. She no longer felt Arnav was a monster. He was a human, just a poor lost human.

“You cannot undo…”

“I know… I think the best thing would be to do as you say and give her a divorce. She would be free to live as she pleases.”

“But… you can try again.”

Arnav looked at her a hint of hope in his eyes.

“How?”

“Apologize….”

“She is not willing to listen to me.”

“Why would she be willing sir? You spoilt her life.”

Arnav sighed.

“So how do I try again?”

“Why would I tell you that? You broke my friend’s heart.”

“But… but…”

“I told you to try again so that means I still find some hope left in your relationship. I am not going to tell you how. You have to figure it out yourself. “

She got up from her seat.

“It’s almost lunch time. People will be wondering what we are doing for so long. Don’t forget to send me the quotations.”

Arnav nodded and gave her a smile. A genuine smile from his heart. A smile he had not used in a long time.

“Thanks, Kalpana. You have given me hope. I hope one day I will be able to repay you.”

“No problem, sir. And… Oh… Sir… If you ever break her heart again, I will be waiting to break your bones. Don’t forget that.”

Arnav grinned as she left. He closed his eyes and started to think. Hope had given a new life to his heart. He would prove to Khushi, he was a man worthy enough to be loved by her and by their child.

****

Aakash opened his lunch box. As it was the norm of recent times, he saw a note stuck at the corner of his lunch bag. Today’s note was scented with the fragrance of roses and it contained a single word written neatly.

‘Sorry’

Aakash sighed. Everyday the note said ‘sorry’ or ‘thank you’. He knew she wrote the notes. He wished she would once come and talk to him. He had seen her silently looking at him many times but whenever he tried to talk to her, she just closed up. Still, he believed in the power of love. Someday, he would make her understand. Someday, she will be his Payal again.

****

“Hello…”

“Anjali? Did I disturb you?”

“Not at all, Sam… she just now fell asleep… what is it?”

“I… uh… I don’t know how to say this… uh…”

“Go on…”

“Anjali… its time to send the baby to a home.”

“Now… So soon… why?”

“It’s been two months and we had you registered as foster care for the baby. There is a vacancy in a home in Madhya Pradesh. As you are not planning to adopt the baby, we can as well send her now. We don’t know if the home will have any vacancy again soon.”

There was a long pause.

“When should I bring her?”

“Can you bring her over tomorrow? We need to send some medical reports. Then we can send her by this weekend.”

Another pause, Dr. Sam knew Anjali was processing the information.

“Ok…”

“All right, see you tomorrow, bye”

“Bye.”

Dr. Sam sighed. He hated to hurt her but it was time to take a decision and he knew she had to take it on her own.

****

Kalpi looked at the quotations sent by Arnav. There were around 15 construction firms that were on the list but one in particular caught her eye

“Singhania Constructions”

****

Author’s Note:

Deep roots are not reached by frost. Aakash’s love for Payal was not lessened by her indifference. Dr. Sam’s love for Anjali was not shaken by her brokenness. Kalpi’s love for Raghav di not diminish in the days they spent apart. Arnav’s love, yes, his version of love, did not change when she left him to become independent. His love for her made him want to change and become a new man. Their love was deeply rooted. Never to be touched by frost.