Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Khushi knew convincing Nani ji about her was going to be a tough job but as the dinner wrapped to an end, she realized it was going to be both tough and time taking.

Throughout the dinner, Nani ji had replied to all her queries in monosyllables. As everyone finished eating, Hari Prakash served the ice-cream that Khushi had brought.

"Raspberry flavour?" Manohar Singh Raizada was the first to speak.

“Ji, Mama ji. I thought all of us can have some of it after dinner” Khushi replied.

Manohar Singh Raizada nodded and looked at his mother.

“Sujata used to bring this. In fact, Sujata, Ma and I used to go out for ice-creams before she got married and moved to Lucknow. I am glad you brought it, Khushi beta” Manohar Raizada explained with a slow smile.

It made Khushi look at Devyani too. That explains why Devyani had behaved so curtly with her. Did she somehow remind her of Sujata?

Arnav, equally surprised, looked at his Nani too.

“I thought you did not eat ice-cream, Nani”

“I do not. Not anymore” Devyani Raizada answered, rising up from her chair.

“Good night, everyone” She said and walked away all alone.

“It is not your fault” Arnav said gently, noticing the way Khushi's face had fallen.

“Don’t worry about it, Khushi beta! It is just that Ma avoids any and all things that remind her of Sujata” Manohar said, and returned his attention to his ice cream.

Manorama, for a change, refrained from saying anything and started eating too.

~~**~~

"I had a beautiful day today," Khushi said as Arnav walked her to her room.

"I know. I had fun too," he replied, lingering in the doorway.

"Are you going to come in?" she asked.

Arnav noticed the expectant look on her face and stepped inside.

"Only if you let me stay here tonight," he said, eyes crinkling.

"What? No!" Her answer came instantly.

Arnav shook his head, stepped into the room, and plopped down on the bed.

Khushi watched him.

“Come here” He said, patting the space beside him on the bed.

She walked up to the bed and sat down, her face still a little drawn.

“You are trying too hard” Arnav said, taking her hands in his.

Khushi looked at him with questioning eyes.

"With Nani. You do not have to go out of your way to please her, Khushi. She will come around in her own time, no matter what you do. That is simply how she is. Even after all these years, she still does not consider Akash her grandson, not fully. She has grown tolerant of him, even enjoys his company now and then. But there is still a distance there," Arnav said.

"That does not sound very encouraging," Khushi answered, lowering her head.

I know. My point is that she has her reasons, and they will take time to soften. You should not feel discouraged if progress feels slow. It has only been two days," Arnav explained.

"I do not have the luxury of years, Arnav. And I am not asking her to love me the way she loves you. I just need...I don't know...something. I have not had a mother's presence in my life for a while now. Watching her, seeing the love and care she has for you, it makes me miss that even more. That is one of the reasons I try so hard. Not for you, not even for us. For myself," Khushi said.

Arnav listened and nodded slowly.

"What if she never accepts me?" she asked after a moment.

"Of course she will," he said.

"How can you be so certain?"

"Firstly, because it is impossible for anyone not to like you. Secondly, because I would not have it any other way," Arnav answered, and the words drew a smile from her.

~~**~~

Another two days passed and Khushi continued to join Nani ji for her morning prayers. Yet, her progress with the woman seemed to have arrived at a standstill.

With Arnav, however, Khushi was having the best time. He took her to explore the city and Khushi enjoyed every bit of it. From markets to cultural performances to restaurants, Arnav made sure she could see a glimpse of it all. Yet they had barely scratched the surface of everything he wanted to show her.

Arnav had told her about all the places still left to see, but Khushi chose to stay home instead. She had decided she needed to spend more time with Nani ji.

It was why she was sitting with Devyani Singh Raizada in her room and learning to knit. Despite having other talents, this was one thing Khushi hadn’t tried learning from her mother. However, she thought knitting could give her the time to bond with Devyani Singh Raizada.

The woman had outright refused to teach her but Khushi had been persistent, much to Devyani’s chagrin. Khushi had started just yesterday and was already getting the hang of it. At the moment, she was attempting to knit a pair of socks which was supposed to be ‘easy’ as said by Devyani.

"You forgot to start a new stitch there," Devyani remarked, finishing her own pair and setting it into a box that already held some ten others.

"I need to finish two more pairs before tomorrow. Bhatia Ji from the orphanage is coming to collect these along with the donation cheque," she added.

By now, Khushi knew that Devyani gave both time and resources to an orphanage in the city, one funded through AR Fashions. But with her health not what it used to be, the orphanage manager had begun coming to her instead, to receive the cheque in person.

“I don’t know how you have been doing it for so long, Nani ji. I am bored to tears” Khushi answered, staring at her half-finished knitting that looked like anything but a sock.

“I told you it was not your cup of tea. But you young people want to do everything that you are told not to” Devyani Raizada replied and took the needles from Khushi.

Khushi watched as she unravelled the tangled mess and began again from scratch.

After a while of quiet observation, Khushi decided it was time to ask.

“Can you tell me a little bit about Sujata aunty, Nani ji?” Khushi’s voice was slow and cautious.

Devyani Singh Raizada stopped knitting and looked at Khushi.

“Do not ask me that again” She replied and went back to her knitting.

"You must have loved her very much, Nani ji. I understand why it is hard for you to speak of her. But I feel I know so little about the woman who means so much to both you and Arnav," Khushi said, aware that she was treading on dangerous ground.

Devyani closed her eyes, then opened them again, fixing Khushi with a direct stare.

"You know so little because you do not deserve to know more." Her voice had turned sharp as she set the knitting needles aside.

“Why?” Khushi’s voice dropped.

An unkind smile touched Devyani's lips.

“Do not pretend to be so childlike, Khushi. You think I do not know about your friendship with the Malik family? You have been joined at the hip with that vile man, the man responsible for my daughter’s deat..!” Devyani Raizada stopped herself abruptly, breathing hard as she tried to regain her composure.

“Let us just say that I am well aware of where your loyalties lie. Still, I am giving you a fair chance of being a part of this family. Because of Chote! My grandson finally seems happy. And as long as he is happy, I can stomach your presence in my house. Harbouring a girl who sympathizes with the man who destroyed my daughter’s life? That is a price I am willing to pay for my grandson’s happiness. But, do not push it further” Devyani Raizada’s expression had hardened into something almost unrecognizable.

The words struck at Khushi's heart. She blinked back tears.

"Nani ji," she began, but Devyani raised her palm to silence her.

"I hold nothing against you personally. But I will not accept you as long as your loyalty lies with that family. If you truly wish to earn my blessing, you will have to prove your devotion to my grandson. You will have to sever all ties with the Malik family and with that city. Until then, none of these, the prayers, the knitting...none of this will get you anywhere. I am not a fool, Khushi. I have seen enough in my life to know better. So be assured, your charm will get you nowhere with me. All I ask is proof that you can place Chote's needs, and this family's needs, above your own. So make your choice. Until then, expect nothing from me," Devyani Raizada said.

Khushi didn’t know what to say. Her hands were shaking but she clenched them. Stood up. Turned away and started walking.

"And you should know that you will be returning to Lucknow alone. Chote will not go back to that city. That was my asking price for allowing you to stay here."

When it became clear Devyani had nothing more to say, Khushi rushed from the room.

She didn’t stop until she was in her room.

Sitting down, she wiped her tears.

Arnav was at the office. She had asked him to stop postponing his work on her account, and he had agreed grudgingly.

Now, she wished he was here, so she could ask him what was going on.

Has he really agreed to not go back to Lucknow? That was not possible because he had said to her father that he will be bringing her back.

Should she call and ask him?

Realizing that she needed to think this through, Khushi refrained from calling Arnav.

Instead, she spent the afternoon thinking.

~~**~~

Birendra Singh Malik observed with fondness as both Akash and Doctor Kumar argued with each other about how to spend the evening.

Akash wanted to watch a film while Doctor Kumar insisted on chess.

"It is a two person game, Doctor uncle. I do not want to sit and watch you and Baba stretch it out for hours," Akash said.

"It will not stretch out this time. I am going to beat Birendra in record time. You should sit and take notes on how to become a better player," Doctor Kumar replied, setting the chessboard down before them.

"That is what you said last time. The game went on for three days," Akash said, looking at both the men with disapproval.

"Let us watch the film, Kumar. We can play chess after dinner," Birendra finally intervened.

Akash's grin turned victorious.

“I’ll set up the film. Avengers it is!” Akash said and did not wait for their approval.

“Why do you always have to rain on my parade?” Kumar turned to Birendra Singh Malik who was comfortably lying in his bed.

“Akash had a point. Besides, all three of us can have a good time watching the film” Birendra said.

“Good time? Watching a couple of weird superheroes fight through every scene? You know I do not like these films” Kumar replied.

“You do not like them because you are too old and they are too young and good-looking” Birendra replied, humour lacing his voice, drawing a reluctant smirk from Kumar.

“You are in an awfully good mood today” He said.

“Because after yesterday, I do not have to go for that nasty chemotherapy for another three days” Birendra Singh Malik answered.

Doctor Kumar nodded.

"And when Shashi ji visited today, he mentioned he had spoken with Arnav. Arnav told him he would be bringing Khushi back," Birendra added.

“That is the real reason” Doctor Kumar said.

“I want to see him one more time, Kumar. Hug him and tell him that I love him. I know he will not forgive me, never stop hating me, but I need to tell him that I have loved him for a long time. I need him to know I am proud of him,” Birendra Singh Malik said.

“You can tell him whatever you want to when you see him. Just maintain your good mood until then” Doctor Kumar replied, resting a hand on Malik’s shoulder.

“Enough of talking, people! Here comes Thor!” Akash exclaimed excitedly as he walked back into the room with his laptop.

“I like Bruce Banner” said Birendra Singh Malik, making Doctor Kumar shake his head.

~~**~~

When Arnav walked into Raizada Mansion and was met with silence, he knew the fault was his own. Earlier in the day, he had texted Khushi that a sudden meeting had come up and he would return late. She had not replied.

Having gone back to work after two days had piled more work than he had expected! It was a good thing that Khushi had made him go to work. Now, at least, tomorrow he could peacefully take the day off. It was also one of the reasons why he hadn’t cancelled the impromptu meeting.

He checked the time on his phone and shook his head. It really was late. Dinner had clearly come and gone, and everyone had already retired for the night.

Instead of heading to his own room, Arnav walked straight to Khushi's.

When he arrived, he found the room submerged in darkness.

Was she already asleep?

He knocked softly. When there was no response, he decided to check for himself.

He pushed the door open slowly and found it unlocked.

"Khushi?" he called gently, stepping further inside.

He could make out her form curled beneath the sheets, still and quiet.

She appeared to be sleeping.

It really was very late.

Deciding to let her rest, he adjusted her comforter and turned to leave.

But he stopped when her hand caught his.

Turning back, he found her eyes half open.

"I tried to stay awake," she murmured.

"I am sorry. The meeting ran longer than expected, and the traffic was terrible," he said, sitting down at the edge of the bed.

"Go back to sleep," he said softly, resting a hand against her cheek as she yawned.

She shook her head.

"Did you eat?" she asked instead.

"Yes, with the client," he replied.

“How was your day?” He asked her, noticing that something was off about her eyes.

“I tried knitting a sock. Failed miserably” She replied, smiling. Yet, Arnav could see the effort it took for her to smile. It didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“I want to repeat that you don’t have to do all this, Khushi. You are perfect the way you are and Nani is going to appreciate it sooner or later” He said, running his hand through her hair.

She nodded.

“Is everything all right?” He asked her a second later, noticing the quiet on her face.

“Just tired” She replied.

"Alright. Sleep well. I will talk to you tomorrow," he said, and leaning down, pressed a kiss to her forehead.

As he began to rise, Khushi caught his hand again.

"Stay," she said.

Arnav looked at her face and saw the plea in her eyes.

Something was definitely off.

Nodding, he kicked off his shoes and removed his coat. Then the waist coat! Dressed only in his white shirt and trousers, he climbed into the bed beside her.

Khushi, who had been watching him the entire time, drew closer and wrapped an arm around his torso.

“Better?” He asked her, adjusting the comforter around them.

Instead of answering, she studied his face in silence.

Arnav watched her too as her fingers traced the line of his cheek, then the outline of his jaw.

His breath caught in his throat when her fingers found his lips.

“Khushi” He said her name.

She looked at him and noticed his soft gaze.

“Every day that I was apart from you, I couldn’t help but think about all the moments we had spent together in Lucknow. It was so painful to think that I might never get to see you again, or talk to you again” She said.

“I would like to believe that at some point of time, I would have come back. I don’t know how long I could have stayed away. That one week was the most torturous one of my life as well. Especially because I hadn’t said goodbye! I hadn’t met you one last time and told you how much I wanted you to be happy. I hadn’t told you one more time that I loved you” Arnav replied.

Khushi could hear the sincerity woven through his words. He had not been happy while she was miserable. What he had done had never been for his own sake. Even if it had come from a misunderstanding, he had still tried to protect her happiness.

"I love you," she said, meeting the eyes that held so much within them.

She noticed how his face eased a little more, as if every time she said the words it brought him comfort.

She told her heart to stop beating so violently when she noticed his mouth lowering down until it was a hair’s breadth away from her lips.

"I do not know what is troubling you, but I am here, Khushi. I love you, and nothing will ever change that. I am not letting you go this time. Not for anything," he said, and as her heart swelled with emotion, he closed the distance and kissed her.

She gripped his shirt as his lips threatened to undo every careful thought in her mind. The kiss was slow, deep, and full of quiet passion. With every movement of his mouth against hers, she could feel his words, his determination.

So, she kissed him back, letting her doubts from the afternoon dissolve away.

Her body felt both weightless and heavy at once as he shifted, letting some of his weight settle over her.

His lips moved like warmth itself across her mouth, along her jaw, down the length of her neck.

In return, she moved a little so that she could feel all of him.

A soft noise left his mouth, making Khushi’s face redden.

"Do not move like that. Please," he whispered against her lips.

Khushi tried to hold still but it was impossible. She wanted to feel him, touch him.

So she moved again, and let her fingers begin undoing the buttons of his shirt.

She felt his lips pause for a heartbeat before he continued pressing soft kisses along the length of her neck.

Once his shirt fell open and his bare chest came into view, colour rushed higher into her cheeks.

She looked up at him. He was watching her with a gaze gone dark.

"What is your plan?" he asked, his voice thick.

She lifted her mouth to kiss him and let her fingers finally trace the warmth of his skin, soft over the hard muscle beneath.

She lightly trailed her nails on his chest and smiled when he swore.

Then she brought her lips to his chest, pressing small, unhurried kisses across it.

His fingers tightened around hers as he let her take her time.

By the time she had covered most of his chest, his breathing had grown ragged.

Her hands wandered along his back, and he took the opportunity to kiss her again, his own hands beginning to move across her body.

He felt every curve and dip until it was her turn to be out of breath.

When his hand returned to rest against her chest, his mouth back on hers, that was when she felt it. He was unmistakably aroused, and her eyes widened at the pressure against her lower body.

"Arnav," she breathed, her fingers curling into his hair as his mouth traced dangerously close to the edge of her collarbone.

He shifted again, and her breath hitched. A slow ache began building somewhere deep inside her.

Her hands slid to his back, then lower, and she pressed herself against him, letting out a soft moan.

He closed his eyes at the sensation, allowing her to continue. It took great effort not to take control when he felt her move again, chasing the friction between them. He looked down and saw her eyes shut tight, her lips slightly parted.

As she rubbed against him once more, he caught her mouth in a deep, searching kiss. His pulse thundered, his heart racing wildly.

He could feel her movements growing quicker, more urgent, and it took an almost impossible amount of restraint to put some distance between their bodies. He shifted until he lay beside her instead of above her.

Her eyes flew open at the sudden absence of his weight, and she turned to look at him.

His eyes were still heavy with desire.

She moved to kiss him again, and he allowed it. But when she tried to pull him close once more, he shook his head.

"I need a minute," he whispered.

She watched him stare up at the ceiling, taking slow, deliberate breaths.

It took her another moment to understant what she had been doing, and why he seemed so out of breath. Embarrassment crept back into her cheeks, though she refused to let it settle.

She moved closer and looked at him.

His gaze turned to her and a smile appeared.

"Were you ever going to stop, if I had not?" he asked.

She blushed and shook her head.

“I thought so” he said, looking at her with open affection.

"I did not know you would lose your calm so quickly," Khushi said, a glint in her eyes as she began doing up the buttons of his shirt.

A soft, deep laugh escaped him, and it enchanted her completely.

"I didn’t know you were going to go that far," he said, and finally pulled her back into his arms.

“I didn’t know that either” She said and hid her face in his chest.

“To put it on the record, I don't mind it. I just think we should go slow. Besides, I still have to meet your Babuji, look him in the eye and seek his blessing” Arnav said.

Khushi pulled back and looked at him.

"What?" he asked, noticing her expression.

"You will come and meet him?" she asked, smiling.

"Of course. How else will I get to do all this with you again?" he asked, mirth dancing in his eyes.

Khushi struck him lightly on the chest.

“Why did you think that I wouldn’t talk to him?” He asked after a while.

“Because then you will have to come to Lucknow” Khushi said, looking down.

“Yes! We cannot expect your Babuji to come all the way here, can we? And even if he could come, I would still go. Because that is how it is done, right? The boy goes to the girl’s father. I have seen enough of those Hindi films to know that much” Arnav replied.

Khushi smiled and nodded.

“Is that what you were thinking about? That I wouldn’t come with you? Meet your father?” Arnav asked, narrowing his eyes.

Khushi said nothing.

"Why? I thought I had already told you we would go together," he said.

She took a few seconds before answering.

“Nani ji said you promised her that you will not go back to Lucknow. That you agreed to stay here so that she would accept me” Khushi said.

Arnav's expression shifted instantly. The warmth and amusement drained from his face, replaced by something quiet and sullen.

"What else did she say?" he asked.

Khushi shook her head.

“I know my Nani, Khushi. If she said that, there must have been more” Arnav asked, sitting up and looking at her.

“It doesn’t matter any more what she said. You said we will go and that is the only thing that matters now” she answered, resting a hand over his.

“Tell me, Khushi” Arnav insisted.

She stayed quiet, and he waited, holding her gaze steady.

She could see he had no intention of letting it go. Why does this family have to be so stubborn.

“I asked her to tell me more about Sujata aunty, but she said that I don’t deserve to know about her. It is because I support the man responsible for Sujata aunty’s death. She said that as long as I am friends with the Malik family, she would not accept me. If I want to have her blessing, I will have to prove my love for you by cutting all ties with the Malik family and with Lucknow," She said in a single breath, then quickly added, “But, it is alright, Arnav. She is entitled to her opinion. I can understand that it is difficult for her to trust me. You were right. It will take a long time for her to accept me. I can’t expect that to happen in a handful of days”.

Arnav nodded slowly.

"We should sleep. It is very late," Khushi said.

"Yes," he agreed, and lay back down.

He made certain to hold her close. It was the only way he was going to find any sleep tonight.

~~**~~

The next morning, Khushi woke to find the bed empty. Checking her phone, she saw it was already 7:20 am.

She shook her head, annoyed with herself for missing her alarm. She guessed that must have been when Arnav had gotten up and left. Thinking of him brought back everything they had done the night before. Especially what she had done.

She had been grinding herself against him?

Devi Maiya! She hid her face behind her palms and groaned. The darkness in the room last night had made her feel brave and confident.

How was she going to face Arnav now? What if he smirks at her? What if he teases her?

“Were you ever going to stop if I hadn’t?”

She will kill him if he says anything about it. Deciding that, she got up and started her day.

By the time she had bathed and dressed, it was already 8:10.

She wondered what Nani ji would think of her missing the morning pooja. She had been told not to bother with such things, but Khushi found she liked the sense of calm it gave her.

It had become as much for her own sake as it had ever been for Nani ji's.

When she came down for breakfast, everyone was already seated.

"Good morning, Nani ji. Mama ji, Mami ji, Arnav. Good morning," she said to the table.

Only Mama ji replied.

Arnav simply smiled, watching her fresh, dewy face.

She felt his gaze linger on her lips, and everywhere else his mouth had touched the night before.

She refused to meet his eyes and busied herself filling her plate with fruit.

The fact that even Nani ji did not wish her back bothered her less than Arnav’s assessing glance.

"I have to go for my dialysis session this afternoon. Be back by lunchtime, Chote," Devyani said to Arnav, finally drawing his attention away from Khushi.

She exhaled, faintly surprised by the flutter still lingering in her stomach.

"I am not going to work today," Arnav replied, his focus now entirely on his grandmother.

That made Khushi look between the two of them.

There was an edge in Arnav's voice, one that only she and Devyani seemed to notice.

"Are you unwell, Chote? I have never known you to take so many days off before," Devyani said.

"I am fine, Nani. I already knew about the dialysis, so it was going to be a half day at work regardless. Besides, I still have some packing to finish," Arnav replied, smoothing the edge from his tone

"Packing?" Devyani's voice turned too quiet.

Khushi knew immediately that was not a good sign.

"Yes. I have decided to go to Lucknow. Khushi and I will leave tomorrow," Arnav said, and an unsettling silence fell over the table.

Both Mama and Mami ji were looking at him too now.

Khushi wondered when did he decide that? Was it because of her? What she told him last night?

Devyani Singh Raizada’s face became white with anger and indignation. But, there was something else too on her face. Fear!

“You cannot go. I forbid you” the words were hard and unyielding.

It was then that Khushi understood things were about to turn ugly, because Arnav set down his fork and rose to his feet.

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