Chapter 25

Chapter 25

“How long have you known Arnav?” Khushi had barely taken a seat around the dining table when Nani fired the first question at her. It was lunchtime and Khushi had come down with Akash after resting for a while in her room.

She had found Arnav already seated beside his Nani, who sat at the head of the table. The chair to his right was empty, and as much as she wanted to take it, she thought it might not look appropriate to the others.

So she had let Akash take that seat instead, settling herself beside the man who was most likely Arnav's Mamaji. He offered her a polite smile as she sat down and said Namaste.

That was immediately followed by Nani's question, which drew everyone's attention to her.

“Ji, I first met him when he came to Lucknow with you” She replied, not sure how to answer the question.

She looked at Arnav, who gave her a reassuring smile.

"That was barely for two or three days, and several years ago. How long have you actually known him?" the question came again.

"Two months. Since he returned to Lucknow," Khushi answered.

She noticed Manorama Raizada listening with keen interest.

"That is not a long period of time," Devyani Raizada said flatly.

Khushi stayed quiet.

“I think we should save the conversations for after lunch. I am sure both Akash and Khushi must be hungry” Arnav said.

“I sure am” Akash said, helping himself to the food.

“Try this kadhi, Akash bitwa! I especially instructed Madhav to prepare it for you” Manorama said to Akash who thanked her and served some of it in his bowl.

Khushi watched the lunch unfold as Manohar Singh Raizada discussed a new business venture with Akash, while Arnav turned his attention to Devyani, asking about her upcoming check-ups.

In between, he tried to draw her into the conversation, telling his Nani about Khushi’s education and how she helps her father with his shop. He also talked about her Babuji and how he was a really supportive and kind man.

Khushi felt touched by his efforts but somehow all his efforts ended up being stonewalled by Devyani Singh Raizada.

As the lunch closed, Khushi could sense that earning Devyani Singh Raizada’s approval was not going to be a cakewalk. Not even with Arnav's help.

Another thing that struck her was Manorama’s cold behaviour towards Arnav while she continued sweet-talking to Akash.

What was that about? she wondered.

Once the lunch was over Arnav stood up with his Nani, apparently to walk her to her room.

But, Devyani Singh Raizada refused.

"I would rather you stay here and figure out the answer to my question," she said, and walked off toward her room on her own.

"Would you like to come up to my room and look at some photographs, Akash bitwa?" Manorama was saying to Akash.

“I will, Mamiji. But, later! Right now, I need to talk to Bhai” He replied.

“Sure sure! Come anytime” Manorama said, and left with her husband.

That left the three of them.

Khushi wanted to talk to Arnav about all this, but she knew Akash had things of his own to discuss with him.

"I will be in my room," she said.

Arnav nodded, understanding she was deliberately giving him time alone with Akash.

"I will come find you," he answered.

Once Khushi nodded and left, Arnav turned to Akash.

Akash opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again when Arnav pulled him into a hug.

"Thank you for bringing her here, Akash."

Akash couldn’t help the smile.

"I was too ashamed to come here with nothing but empty words. So, I had to bring her" he said, pulling back.

"Empty words?" Arnav asked, as the two of them took seats.

"Is an apology not empty if it is not followed by making things right? I was sorry, Bhai. I cannot tell you how much. When Khushi told me you had offered to leave for my sake, I felt so ashamed of how I had treated you. And then I came home, and you were gone. That is when I realized how wrong I had been. I hurt you, Bhai. That knowledge nearly broke me. I could not even bring myself to call you or text you. I didn’t know how I was going to do right by you. Until this chance came along. Bringing Khushi here was really just an excuse to come here and face you myself. Because, even if I hadn’t brought her here, I knew that somehow, sooner or later, you two would have ended up together. I saw that in Khushi’s words, in the way she spoke about you. And everything that you had told me about her? A love like that cannot go waste. It should not. So, I am simply the medium. You don’t have to thank me for it. The only thing I need from you is forgiveness, Bhai” Akash said.

Arnav listened and then placed a hand on Akash’s shoulder.

“There is nothing to forgive, Akash. Your reaction to what I told you about my feelings for Khushi was understandable. Especially, after I learnt that you..”

“Yes, I do, Bhai. I love her. But, it’s alright. As long as she is happy, you are happy, I’ll be happy too. And I already have her friendship. That has been enough for me for a long time. It took me some time to accept it but I have. I really have. I watch her around you and I can see what she was telling me about you. The two of you become the best version of yourselves around each other. It is really something” Akash said.

“You really think so?” Arnav asked.

“Yes, Bhai. There could not be a better person for you than Khushi. And you are exactly what she has been looking for.”

“She told you that?”

“Yes, she told me and I agree” Akash said, smiling.

“To be honest, I am still wrapping my head around it” Arnav admitted.

“That she is here with you?”

“No; that despite everything I said and did, she is still choosing to be in my life. She is choosing me. All these people in my life, Nani, Mami, Mama, Ma, even my father for that matter, none of them chose me. For better or for worse, they are stuck with me because we share blood. But Khushi? She is choosing me, Akash! Just like you did all those years ago. You didn’t have to be my brother, yet you chose me despite all my flaws. That is exactly why I cannot stay angry with you, or be hurt by you” Arnav explained.

It let Akash see just how deeply Arnav had thought this through, and once again, he felt happy that he decided to come here.

“I will never let you down again, Bhai” He said to him.

“You never have, Akash” Arnav said.

Akash shook his head but said nothing further. He knew Arnav would not blame him no matter what, so it seemed better simply to accept what was being offered.

"There is one more thing, Bhai," he said, turning to what else had been sitting on his mind.

“What?” Arnav asked.

“I want to go back tonight”

“Oh” Arnav said.

“It’s Baba. Doctor Kumar called earlier, said the chemo needs to start as soon as possible. It will be difficult for him to manage both the hospital and Baba's treatment at once. So I need to go."

Arnav was quiet for a moment before asking, "How is he doing? How did the surgery go?"

"Not as well as we hoped, Bhai. And while chemo will help, it will also weaken his body further. So I need to be there."

Arnav nodded. "Will the chemo cure him?"

Akash didn’t answer.

“Akash?”

“Doctor Uncle hasn’t said anything but from what I have gathered through Baba’s files and my conversations with the oncologist, it will only buy him some more time.” Akash’s words were slow and difficult.

Arnav let that settle.

“That is why I don’t want to spend too much time away from him”.

Arnav nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

"I will take the last flight tonight. Reach there before tomorrow."

Arnav nodded once more, lost in thought.

“Bhai?” Akash said.

“Yeah?”

“Shashi Uncle had asked me to bring Khushi back with me” Akash said.

That brought a flicker of anxiety to Arnav's face.

“She hasn’t even had time to interact with Nani” He said.

"I know, Bhai. I am only telling you what Shashi Uncle said. When Khushi told him she wanted to come to Delhi with me, he came to the Mahal and spoke with Baba and me. He told Baba he was letting her go because he believed it was the only way for her to find closure, and he asked me to bring her back with me."

"He thought Khushi and I would not be able to work things out?" Arnav asked.

“I think he was unhappy with the fact that you left without talking to Khushi. But, then Baba spoke to him. Baba told him how much you love Khushi and you had left for our sake. He also told Shashi Uncle the whole story about himself and Doctor Uncle. Baba said if we have to start new relationships, they cannot be based on half-truths. After talking to Baba, Shashi Uncle seemed to understand some of the situation. I think if you come back to Lucknow and meet him once, he will definitely accept you and Khushi” Akash said.

Arnav found himself speechless once again.

His father had spoken on his behalf? Had revealed his own truth in front of Khushi's father?

"I have not booked the tickets yet, Bhai. If you want, I can book them for the three of us. We could go back together, and you could talk to Shashi Uncle yourself. Even Baba would be so happy to see you. You could focus on the school again. Everything could go back to exactly how it was a week ago," Akash said, his voice optimism.

Arnav did not feel the same optimism.

His Nani's words still hung at the back of his mind.

“I will talk to Khushi and let you know, Akash. Right now, I can’t say anything” Arnav answered.

“Okay, Bhai. I just want to know one thing. Do you want to come back? I mean provided all things figure out, will you want to come back to Lucknow and stay with us?”

The question was simple enough.

"Perhaps for some time. Until the school is ready, I would like to be there. Spend time with Khushi, and with you," Arnav answered, deliberately leaving out any mention of his father. Would he want to spend time with him too? He did not want to say no. But he was not ready to say yes either.

"I knew it, Bhai." Akash pulled him into a hug at once.

“If you want to come back, there is nothing that can hold you back” Akash said.

Arnav rose too, patting Akash's shoulder.

"We will talk later, Akash," he said, and left the dining hall.

Akash sat there a while longer before deciding to spend some time with Manorama, and see what exactly she wanted this time.

~~**~~

“I am fine, Babuji. You’re worrying without any reason. Yes, I met Arnav. He is doing well. Yes, we talked. Not yet. I will take care. How’s the work? Did you get that order from the restaurant? Great! I will come back as soon as possible. Please take care of your health. Eat on time. Bye” Khushi finished her call with her father and noticed Arnav standing in the doorway, listening.

“Hey” She said to him.

“How’s uncle?” He asked her, walking inside.

“Good, just worried” Khushi answered.

“Because of me” Arnav said, sitting down on a chair.

“Well! Partly” Khushi answered.

Arnav was glad that she didn’t deny it at least. He was responsible for her worries.

“Akash said he wants to leave tonight” He said.

“I had guessed so. He told me he wants to go as soon as possible” Khushi replied.

“And you? Do you want to leave?” Arnav asked.

Khushi read the unease on his face, the unwillingness to hear her answer.

“I can’t stay here for too long, Arnav. This is not my home” she replied, nonetheless.

She watched as Arnav reached forward and clasped her hand in his.

“What is it?” She asked him.

"Nani has told me she does not want me going back to Lucknow." He said.

“I see” Khushi answered.

“And I don’t want you to leave” He continued.

“I can talk to Babuji. Convince him that I need to stay here for a few more days” She said.

“Do you think he will agree?”

“I don’t know. If Akash leaves, it will be difficult for me to convince Babuji. But, I can try” Khushi said.

“I am sorry, Khushi. I feel like I keep making things difficult for you” Arnav said.

She moved closer, settling against him.

"You feel wrong. I am happy to be here," she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

He did not tell her how much those words settled something in him.

"I am happy too," he said, looking into her eyes.

"Good. Then tell me more about your Nani," she said, adjusting herself beside him on the bed.

"What do you want to know?" he asked, letting his hand rest against her waist, feeling it rise and fall with her breathing.

“All things that make her an important part of your life” Khushi responded.

“She hass been my strength. When I reached Delhi, she didn’t even ask me why. She just hugged me and cried. And spent weeks fussing over every small thing that might upset me. She made sure I was fine. Got me enrolled in a school in the middle of the year, took interest in everything that interested me. There has hardly been a thing that she has denied me. She has been my mother” Arnav said, his expressions turning soft and his voice calm.

Khushi smiled.

“She sounds like an amazing woman.”

“She is. She has a tough exterior but inside she is full of love and care” Arnav said.

Khushi considered his words.

“What about others? Your Mama and Mami?” She asked.

Arnav paused his fingers in her hair briefly.

“Mama is fine. He mostly keeps to himself unless there is something to discuss about work. He wasn’t around much during the initial years. Used to travel because of his business. Even Mami, for that matter. She used to accompany Mama but their business hasn’t been doing well for a long time now. So, now Mami either stays here or in Sydney with NK and Lavanya, her son and daughter” Arnav said.

“Oh! They don’t visit here? Your cousins?” She asked.

“Very rarely. NK has a well-paying job there. Lavanya is finishing her MBA. She might move back, I am not sure. I am not in touch with them.”

Khushi absorbed the news with a thoughtful face. Arnav noticed and ruffled her hair lightly.

“What are you thinking?” He asked her.

“Nothing! I don’t know if I should ask this” She said.

“You can ask me anything” Arnav’s reply was prompt, his fingers flicking her nose playfully.

She caught his wandering hand and held it still.

“Does your Mami not like you? Her behaviour this morning and what you told me once about her on my birthday, both suggest that she is not too fond of you. How do you deal with that?”

Arnav studied her curious face, the eyes that rarely missed anything.

“She wasn’t always so frosty toward me. Initially, she didn’t mind my presence much. But, as I started my own business, and she became sure I was not leaving this house anytime soon, her behaviour began to change. Mama’s declining business didn’t help either. She thinks somehow I am responsible for Mama’s failure and I haven’t done enough to help him. She once said that I was bad luck for everyone near me” He gave a short laugh but there was no amusement in his eyes.

“In addition to all this, there is her fear that Nani might leave her property in my name, including this house. That is where the hostility comes from. I do not mind it much. I have learned to ignore it." He finished, face filled with careful neutrality.

Khushi brought her hand up to his cheek, brushing her fingers gently against it.

“You keep surprising me with the amount of endurance you have inside your heart. How did I never see it before?” She asked.

Arnav shook his head. "It is less endurance and more resignation. If a few sharp words from my Mami are the price of belonging to this family, it is not a heavy one to pay. Not after my own family failed me" Arnav replied, his face solemn.

Khushi knew by family he meant his father.

She could see why he still refused to forgive him. There were a hundred ways in which he had suffered just because he didn’t have the love of a father and the comfort of own home in his life. He had arrived here and with the help of his Nani had made this family his own, including the good and the bad parts.

Unable to hold back the love swelling in her chest, she leaned closer.

"I will never fail you," she said, with as much sincerity as she could gather.

Arnav looked into her eyes, swallowing hard against the lump rising in his throat.

"I wish I had found the courage to seek you out sooner. All those years ago," he said, bringing his face closer to hers.

"Why didn't you?" she asked, taking in the colour of his brown eyes, the shape of his brows. Their heads were almost touching.

"I knew I was not good enough for you. I still am not sure I am. I simply got lucky."

Khushi shook her head.

“You have given me the one thing I didn’t have, Arnav. Unconditional, selfless love! The kind I had been searching for, without ever realising it was already around me." She said.

He brought his forehead to rest against hers, closing his eyes.

Khushi closed her eyes too, letting the calmness of the moment wrap itself around her.

~~**~~

Akash listened patiently as Manorama Raizada went on about her son’s success stories in Sydney. He had meant only a quick visit, hoping to figure out what she was really after, but he had hardly learnt anything.

Except that NK was earning a handsome salary and had just bought a house near the coast that he used for his weekend getaways!

Then she moved on to her daughter, Lavanya, who was finishing her MBA that year and would finally visit Delhi after six years away.

Akash had never met either of her children. They usually stayed in Sydney whenever he visited, and he had always been grateful for it, since it left him more time with Arnav.

He realised Manorama was still talking, and had just asked him something.

“Ji Mami ji?”

"I asked how your father's treatment is going. Cancer is such a terrible disease. Almost no one survives it, not for very long, anyway. What is his condition? With him unwell, you must be managing the business yourself, is that right? Real estate is a good business, I would say. Always thriving. Especially in an expanding city like Lucknow."

Akash did not know quite how to respond. The question felt like several questions folded into one.

“Yes, Mami ji. The business is hectic. I have our old-time manager Mr. Sahu who helps me with it. And Baba’s treatment is going fine” He replied, voice becoming clipped by the end.

"Wonderful, wonderful. God forbid anything should happen to Malik Ji, but if it does, it will be you who has to manage everything, will it not? After all, you are his legally adopted heir. You will inherit the Mahal. Arnav is barely a son to Malik Ji. t is you who has cared for your father and his business, all these years," Manorama went on, and Akash began to regret ever walking into this room.

He still could not tell what she was building toward. He had already heard variantions of this conversation in his previous visits, about what a loyal son he was to his father despite being adopted and how much she appreciated the bond between him and his father. The only new addition was the mention of the illness, and that was not something he wanted to discuss with her.

“Mami ji, I think I should go and visit Nani ji as well. I plan to leave tonight and..”

“Tonight? Why so soon, bitwa? You usually stay much longer. Is it because of this friend of yours?” Manorama asked.

“No, Mami ji. It has nothing to do with Khushi. I need to go back and take care of Baba” Akash answered.

Manorama nodded.

“Like I said, you are a responsible son. However, I was wondering about this, Akash bitwa! You have brought your friend here to meet Arnav. Is something going on between Arnav and her? I always thought you were...you know? Having a relationship with this girl? Does this mean you are not with her? She is only a friend?” Manorama probed, making Akash stare at the woman and her curious expression.

“Ji Mami ji. Khushi is only a friend” He replied and got up, having had enough of her prying questions.

Manorama Raizada stood up too, smiling brightly.

“Don’t mind my questions, Akash bitwa! You know I often worry about you. You have such a burden on your shoulders. The business, the Mahal and now your father’s health! Once you are free from some of this, you should definitely come to Sydney with me. You can meet my son, NK. And Lavanya too! She is really good in studies. Likes dancing and singing. She has learnt Kathak too, you know? Despite spending most of her life in Sydney, she is Indian by heart. You should definitely meet her” she said, leaving Akash even more confused.

"I do not think I will find the time, Mami ji. But thank you for the thought," he said, joining his hands in Namaste.

“Not at all, Akash bitwa! And don’t worry if you can’t go. She will come to Delhi in a few weeks. You can meet her then. I have told her a lot about you" Manorama said but Akash was already moving out of the room.

“I will see you later, Mami ji. I just need to make a quick call to Baba” He said and disappeared from the room, leaving behind a befuddled Manorama.

Downstairs, Akash exhaled in relief. What had that been about? Some clumsy attempt at matchmaking? He hoped not.

~~**~~

Evening had settled in, and Arnav stood by the poolside with his phone against his ear. He had stepped out to take a call from Aman, who was updating him on the meeting he had walked out of that morning.

By the time the call ended, he realised just how much had shifted in the span of twelve hours.

That very morning, he had felt hopeless, joyless. Life had seemed pointless. And now there was something bubbling in his chest. Hope! Plain and undeniable!

Khushi was by his side. Everything else he can deal with.

Thinking just that, he stepped back into his room, where he found Khushi lying across his bed, flipping through his old photo albums, grinning.

He wondered what had caught her eye, and leaned over her shoulder to look.

It was the picture where he was dressed as Nehru and his Nani was putting a rose in his pocket to complete the look.

“What was this about?” She asked him, smiling widely.

"Republic Day. I had to recite the preamble right after the march past, and Nani was helping me get ready. It was her idea to dress me as Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru for the speech," Arnav said, frowning at the memory.

"It was a brilliant idea. You look so sweet," Khushi said, her smile pulling one out of him too.

"I should hope so. I won a prize for that performance," he said, settling beside her again.

They spent another hour going through the pictures, Arnav narrating the story behind each one.

For him, the hour passed like a single minute. At one point, when she could not stop laughing at one of the photos, he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers.

That had silenced her instantly, her face flooding crimson. He wondered what she would think if she could read the thoughts that filled his mind, every time she looked at him with those deep eyes of hers.

She had just closed the album when Akash knocked at the door of his room.

"Come in, Akash," Arnav said, and Khushi shifted slightly away from him, apparently unwilling for Akash to see them so close. He found it endearing, considering everything Akash had felt for her not too long ago.

"Hey," Khushi greeted him first.

Akash glanced at the closed album in her hands, then at Arnav.

"That would have been fun to see," he said, sitting down.

"It was, for me. Not so much for Arnav," Khushi said.

“I could have guessed that! Anyway, I came to say that I have booked the ticket. I will leave after dinner tonight” Akash said to both of them.

“I am staying” Khushi said.

Akash simply nodded, while Arnav looked at her, a question in his eyes.

"I have not spoken to Babuji yet, but I am staying," she said, meeting his gaze.

She could see the happiness in his eyes, and the gratitude underneath it.

"I suspected you would want to stay. That is why I only booked one ticket. As for Shashi Uncle, I can speak with him once I reach Lucknow," Akash offered.

"I will talk to him," Khushi began to say, but it was Arnav who spoke first.

“You will?” She looked at him with surprise.

"Yes. I will request him to let you stay here a while. There are so many places in this city I want to show you." Arnav replied.

"That settles it, then," Akash said, but Khushi was watching Arnav, noting the quiet determination in his eyes. He clearly had no intention of letting her go. She only hoped her Babuji would grant her this liberty once more. After this, she would not ask for anything else.

Khushi watched as Arnav offered to drive Akash to the airport after dinner, and Akash refused, insisting it was not necessary. Arnav insisted anyway, and Akash finally gave in.

Sitting there, watching the two brothers, Khushi felt something settle quietly into place in her heart. She could finally acknowledge that the three of them had made it through the mess of the last two weeks, intact. The road ahead might still be rocky, but she could see it would be easier now, for all of them. That, for the moment, was enough.

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