Chapter 31

Chapter 31

“Yes, see you soon” Khushi said and disconnected the call.

She had been talking to Arnav who had called her to inform that he had reached home. He sounded normal, with a hint of happiness underneath, and Khushi took that as a good sign.

Her own conversation with her father had been relieving. While Shashi Gupta hadn’t gone into details of what Arnav had said to him, but the man was all praises for Arnav’s character and his renewed trust in him.

Khushi had been happy to hear it. She knew it was one thing to gain forgiveness from her father but a totally different thing to regain his trust. If Arnav was successful in both, it only confirmed that he was far better at handling people than she had given him credit for. It was a welcome surprise.

In her own case, Shashi Gupta had questioned her extensively about Devyani. She was not entirely sure why. But Khushi had been careful to mention only the positive interactions between them. There seemed little point in dwelling on the difficult ones, now that Devyani had finally accepted her place beside Arnav.

Thinking of her relationship with him brought back the worries that had been sitting quietly in her mind ever since yesterday night. While talking to her, Shashi Gupta had wrapped the conversation with a piece of advice that stuck with Khushi.

“I said this to Arnav and I want to say the same thing to you, Khushi. Between two people, trust and communication are the most important things. Do not hide things from each other. Do not assume that you know what the other person wants. Instead, talk to them. Because, sometimes our emotions and insecurities cloud our judgment. We fail to see what is before us. That is why, trust and communication are two pillars of any real relationship”

Listening to those words, Khushi felt they had been meant for her precisely. Yes, she had been letting insecurity get the better of her, imagining things that were not there. Arnav's love was real. He loved her enough to let her go when he thought it was right. He loved her enough to confront his own Nani for the sake of their future.

So, whatever was on her mind, it was definitely of her own making. She decided she will talk to Arnav about it whenever the opportunity arrived and until then, she will not worry about it.

“That is a good decision, Khushi. Do not overthink and worry” She told herself.

~~***~~

After speaking with Khushi and unpacking his suitcases, Arnav found himself back in the hall. He decided to call his Nani and check on her.

While he was still on the call, Doctor Kumar walked in through the doors, coat and briefcase in hand.

He noticed Arnav and came over.

"Talking to your Nani?" he asked, once Arnav had hung up.

Arnav nodded.

“What did she have to say about you coming back to Lucknow?” Doctor Kumar asked, sitting down.

"She is fine with it," Arnav said, taking a seat too.

Doctor Kumar gave him a curious look, one that Arnav ignored.

“I spoke to Akash. He mentioned that you don’t want me to interact with your patient” Arnav said.

"My patient is your father. And judging by the fact that you still cannot bring yourself to call him that, I would say it was the wisest decision for everyone involved," Doctor Kumar replied, crossing his arms, his gaze deliberate.

Arnav met his eyes with a sharp, searching look.

“Is this a test?” He asked, voice stiff.

“Why will it be a test? We both know perfectly well that you do not like your father much. When I made that decision, I was helping you as well" Doctor Kumar replied.

Arnav stared down the doctor for seconds before he shook his head.

"You are not helping me."

Doctor Kumar's face folded into confusion.

“You are pretending that you are helping me. You just want me to admit to you that I in fact, do want to talk to him” Arnav replied, reading the doctor’s face.

Doctor Kumar let out a short laugh.

“You give me far too much credit, Arnav”.

“You will not fool me a second time, Doctor. I still remember the stunt you pulled with me. Last time you instigated me about my mother because you were trying to get me to talk to him. I am in no mood to play one of your games” Arnav replied, his voice flat, unyielding.

“Fine! No games, then. Let us be honest with each other. I told Akash that you should stay away from Malik because I genuinely think the conversation can be too stressful for Malik to handle. The chemotherapy has already drained his strength considerably. I do not want to top it off with an emotional drain as well. And yes, I did suspect that you might want to talk to Malik when you come back. I know you care about Khushi. You love her. Malik took a big risk when he exposed himself before Shashi Ji. He did it for you. And while I may not know you too well, I knew you might want to talk to Malik about this. And who is to say where such a conversation might lead? The last time you two got in a room together, you called him a mentally sick monster. So, while your intentions may not be so hostile at the moment, I cannot take a chance. As Malik’s doctor, it is my right to stop you from doing anything that might worsen his health” Doctor Kumar said, delivering every word with unshaken calm.

It made Arnav take a second and consider his own reply.

“I understand your concern” He said.

"Does that mean we are in agreement?"

"Yes. I agree his health matters most, right now. I will keep that in mind when I see him. But I am going to see him. Like you said, your patient is my father.. I am no longer denying that," Arnav answered, delivering each word with effort.

“You are not denying that he is your father?” Doctor Kumar’s voice keyed up a little.

“I am not. He is my father. And I am thankful to him for his efforts in getting Khushi and I together” Arnav answered, looking at the floor and then at the doctor.

Doctor Kumar’s face finally shifted into a hint of smile. Arnav was sure it was the first real smile he had seen on the doctor’s face.

“I am glad to hear that” He said to Arnav.

Arnav gave a small nod, and Doctor Kumar rose to his feet.

"And I am glad to see you have finally moved into the room you always belonged in," Arnav said, standing as well.

He watched Doctor Kumar's hand tremble slightly before he tucked it into his trouser pocket.

"You do not mind?" Doctor Kumar cleared his throat as he asked.

"That has never been the issue," Arnav replied, watching the hesitation in the older man's face.

Doctor Kumar nodded and Arnav noticed that it was indeed relief flooding his face. He had never assumed that the doctor cared about his opinion on this matter. Apparently, he did.

“But do not expect me to call you Dad” Arnav said.

"I never did," Doctor Kumar answered, and for the first time, his expression turned defensive, caught off guard.

“I know. I was only joking” Arnav answered, putting a hand on the doctor’s shoulder before he walked past him.

"Definitely a younger version of Malik," Doctor Kumar muttered to himself, long after Arnav had gone and his surprise had worn off.

When he finally reached Malik's room, he found him seated in his chair, absorbed in a book.

“Reached the good part yet?” Doctor Kumar asked, putting away his briefcase and the coat.

“If you mean the part where the dog dies under the owner’s car, then yes” Malik answered, putting away the book.

Doctor Kumar huffed out a laugh.

"Keep reading. You are almost there," he said, crossing to him.

Malik studied him for a moment.

"You are happy about something."

"I have been happy ever since you asked me to move into this room," Doctor Kumar answered.

"Good answer," Malik said, attempting to rise from his chair, but a firm hand on his shoulder from Doctor Kumar stopped him.

"Where do you think you are going now?" he asked.

"It is my walking time."

"Ah, right. I hope you would not mind some company on your walk today."

“I thought you said you do plenty of walking in the hospital to accompany me on my walks”.

“Oh, I did not mean me. My three rounds a day are indeed enough of walking. I meant Arnav” Doctor Kumar said.

"What?" Birendra Singh Malik's face lit instantly with a mix of surprise and delight.

"Yes. Arnav is here."

Malik searched the doctor's face for any trace of a joke.

"You are not joking, are you?"

“I will never joke about this, Malik. You know that. I just met him in the hall” Doctor Kumar answered.

“Then why did anyone not tell me? My son is back and here I have been sitting in this room, reading this dreary excuse for a book?" Malik pushed himself up from the chair.?” Birendra Singh Malik got up from the chair.

"Which is precisely why no one told you. You get far too excited. Mind your step." Doctor Kumar followed him as he made his way out of the room.

"Here, take your stick," he said, catching up and holding out Malik's walking stick.

"I do not need it," Malik said, stepping out into the hall.

“Yes, you do. And slow down” Doctor Kumar shook his head.

"Where is he?" Malik asked, searching the space around him.

"That way," Doctor Kumar said, gesturing toward the lawns.

"Fine! Give me the stick," Malik said, taking it and beginning his slow trudge toward the outdoors.

~~**~~

Arnav finished a round of the lawns before settling on the patio to read through his emails. The evening had turned cool, and he welcomed the soft breeze against his face.

Only minutes had passed when he heard the sound of feet approaching and knew instantly who it was. Keeping his reactions to himself, he continued reading the emails until Birendra Singh Malik was standing right beside him.

"May I join you?" The question was hopeful.

Arnav finally lifted his gaze to his father and truly looked at him. The wrinkles on his face had deepened, and whatever little glow he had once carried on his face had waned considerably. One look was enough for anyone to tell that the man was chronically sick. Arnav found it bothered him more now.

Not knowing what to say, he nodded his head. Words were easier when he hated the man. Now that he didn’t feel the burning inside his heart, he found himself unexpectedly at a loss.

Fortunately, Birendra Singh Malik seemed to carry no such difficulty.

"This evening is particularly pleasant. I read in the papers that it might rain tonight. The showers should help the mangoes. The ripening season would benefit from it" he said.

Arnav found himself watching the man more than listening to the words, only realizing after a pause that he had not yet responded.

“How are you?” He finally found the words.

Birendra Singh Malik heard the question and his surprise flickered across his face before vanishing again just as quickly.

"I am well," he answered.

"As well as an old man can hope to be, I suppose. But tell me about yourself. How are you? How was your flight? How is Khushi? Did you get her home safely? Did you speak with Shashi ji? What did he say?" The questions came fast, one after another, encouraged merely by the fact that Arnav was sitting at the same table as him and talking to him.

"That is a great many questions," Arnav said and Malik's face fell instantly.

"I am sorry. I did not mean to intrude, Arnav. I understand it is your life, and you may not wish to discuss—" Birendra Singh Malik quickly responded.

"I do not mind the questions," Arnav cut him off, and surprise flickered across Malik's face once more.

"You do not?" he repeated.

Arnav shifted in his chair and looked directly at his father.

"When I left here, I had no plans of returning anytime soon. I believed I had lost Khushi for good. But I did not. Despite every mistake I made, I did not lose her. She held onto me. She kept her faith in me, even after I failed to have faith in her. She came all the way to Delhi, for my sake. And you made that possible. You spoke to Shashi Uncle on my behalf. Thank you for that," Arnav said, each word measured with careful calm. It took effort. But he said it, and he looked at his father with something close to gratitude.

Birendra Singh Malik listened, then shook his head slowly.

“It was the least I could do after ruining everything for you in the first place. It was my mistake to begin with. I rushed into things when I asked Akash to pursue Khushi. So, you do not have to thank me, son. I was simply cleaning up the mess I created” Malik said, guilt and sorrow threading through his voice.

"You did not know how I felt about Khushi. And I know that you were never deliberately trying to hurt me," Arnav answered.

Birendra Singh Malik held his gaze, and read the sincerity behind the words.

"I would never hurt you deliberately, son," he said firmly.

“I know. And I want you to know that I know that” Arnav said.

Something loosened in Malik's chest at those words, a knot he had been carrying for a very long time.

"You have no idea what your words mean to me, son," He said, letting his hand drift slowly toward Arnav's, resting on the table.

“Even I don’t know what my words mean. All I am trying to say here is that I am thankful for what you did. And, in return, I am willing to call a truce” Arnav said, pulling his hand off the table before Malik could touch him.

Despite Arnav’s silent refusal of physical affection, Birendra Singh Malik felt a burst of hope and happiness in his heart.

"A truce?" he repeated the word carefully.

“You will not mention the past again. You will not mention Ma. And in return, I will admit that I no longer hate you” Arnav stated the words like terms of a deal.

But, Birendra Singh Malik couldn’t care less.

"You do not hate me?" His voice trembled with relief so sudden it seemed to weaken his knees. And beneath it, unmistakably, pure joy.

"No," Arnav said, eyes fixed on the table.

Birendra Singh Malik wept.

Arnav sat there, deeply uncomfortable, as the man before him broke into slow, quiet sobs.

He waited a full minute, suppressing his instincts urging told him to stand up and hug his father.

It would be too much, he told himself. He couldn’t afford losing control of his own emotions.

“Are you okay?” He spoke after a long while, gathering the courage to look at Malik’s face.

"I need a minute," Malik said, his voice raw. The sobs had quieted, though he was still staring at the table. Arnav returned to staring at it too.

The two of them sat like that for some more time.

"Anyone in the mood for some tea?" Akash's voice broke through the heavy, though not unpleasant, silence.

Arnav turned and saw Akash approaching. He reached them and dropped into one of the empty chairs.

Arnav opened his mouth to answer, but Akash shook his head.

“That was a rhetorical question. The tea is already on its way” Akash said, grinning and then looked at Malik.

"Baba?" He caught the state of Malik's face and glanced at Arnav in question.

"It is nothing, son," Malik answered.

"Are you alright?" Akash pressed.

“I just told him I do not hate him. I didn’t know he would mind it so much” Arnav said.

Both Akash and Malik looked to him, one with astonishment, the other with quiet amusement.

"You told Baba what?" Akash asked, not believing what he just heard.

Arnav simply shook his head.

"Wow!" Akash laughed.

“Did you also tell him what you said to me in the afternoon?” Akash further asked.

"What did he say this afternoon?" Malik asked first, before Arnav could respond.

"I have a call to make," Arnav said, rising from his chair.

"Sure you do," Akash said, grinning so widely that Arnav scowled at him in return.

"You will miss the tea," Akash called after him as he walked away.

"You can have my share. I prefer coffee anyway," Arnav said, without turning back.

“What did he say in the afternoon?” Malik asked as soon as Arnav was out of earshot.

Akash turned his attention back to his father and caught the gleam already lighting up his eyes.

"Were you crying, just before I arrived?" he asked instead.

"Happy crying," Malik answered, a note of buoyancy in his voice.

"You are so dramatic, Baba," Akash said, before smoothing his face into something more serious.

“But, I am so happy for you. Did Bhai really say that he doesn’t hate you? What else did he say?” Akash asked excitedly, unable to contain his happiness.

"He said he is grateful that I spoke with Shashi ji. And he said he knows I would never try to hurt him on purpose," Malik repeated Arnav's words, his throat catching again with emotion.

"Then he truly meant it," Akash said, a wave of optimism moving through him that he had not felt in a long while.

"Meant what?" Malik asked.

"That you are his father. That is what he told me this afternoon. He said, 'He is my father too, Akash. I cannot avoid speaking to him forever.' I had told him he did not have to talk to you if he did not want to. But he disagreed with me outright. I assumed he only meant he would say what was on his mind, once and for all. I never imagined he might actually want to talk to you. I could never have guessed that," Akash said, smiling.

"Neither could I. Now I can die in peace, Akash," Birendra Singh Malik said, smiling back.

"Trust you to ruin the moment, Baba." Akash's face fell, and he shook his head.

But Birendra Singh Malik's smile did not fade in the slightest.

~~**~~

Two days later, Khushi walked into the Mahal and was greeted by Akash with a bear hug.

"I know it has hardly been a week, but I missed you terribly," he said to his best friend.

"Did you, now? Is that why you never came to see me the moment I got back?" Khushi shot back, giving him a mock swat on the arm.

"I would have, but things here have been rather eventful lately," Akash replied, smiling.

"Yes, I heard. Arnav told me yesterday. I am so happy, for Malik Uncle, for Arnav, and of course for you. I know exactly how much you wanted this," Khushi said, as the two of them made their way toward the sofa.

“Yes, I did. And it wouldn’t have been possible without you. I mean, out of nowhere, Bhai decided to give Baba a chance? I am sure it had something to do with you” Akash patted Khushi’s hand.

“I don’t think so. All I did was support Arnav. He made the choice all by himself. In fact, I didn’t even know he was going to do that. We didn’t talk much about Malik uncle when we were in Delhi” Khushi said.

"Well, if not directly, then indirectly. Having you in his life has had a real effect on Bhai."

"Fine. If you insist on giving me some of the credit, who am I to argue? And actually, why some credit? It was entirely because of me. I tamed the mighty Arnav Singh Raizada," Khushi said.

"Tamed?" Arnav's voice made her jump in surprise.

Akash burst out laughing at her reaction.

"Is this how you talk about me behind my back?" Arnav drawled, walking over and settling beside her.

"What? No! I was just..."

Both Arnav and Akash broke into laughter at her expense, and Khushi's face scrunched into a scowl.

“Jerks!” Khushi shook her head.

"Your face was worth watching," Akash said, pointing at her, still fighting his laughter.

"Yes, very funny. Now, get out of my way," Khushi said, making a face at them both.

"Get out of your way?" Arnav asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. I came here to see Malik Uncle," she said, rising to her feet.

Arnav and Akash rose too.

"What, the two of you are planning to escort me there?" Khushi looked between the two men.

"Actually, I have to meet a client," Akash said.

"See you later, then," Khushi said, and as Akash left, she turned to Arnav.

"You have somewhere else to be too?" she asked.

"I do. But I am not going," Arnav replied, stepping closer, leaning in.

"Arnav! What are you doing?" Khushi instantly stepped back, glancing around them.

"What? I missed you. It has been two days since I last saw you. I was expecting you yesterday," he said, catching her hand and pulling her along with him.

"I thought so too, but Babuji needed help at the shop. I handle all the accounts, and it had been piling up for a week. It needed to be done."

"Well, there are things I need done too. Care to help me with them?" he said, backing her gently against a pillar.

"What things do you..." Khushi's words were cut off by the sudden press of his lips against hers. It took her a second to register the shift, and then she was kissing him back. Barely a few seconds had passed, but shecould already felt the dizzying effect of his lips on her senses.

She opened her mouth to speak, to ask him to stop, but before the words could form, a loud cough sent her springing away from him.

“Oh my god” Khushi muttered, her face turning red with mortification as she noticed Doctor Kumar heading their way.

"Is there something you need, Doctor?" Arnav spoke first, stepping forward, not a trace of embarrassment on his face, which only deepened Khushi's mortification.

"Yes. My apologies, but I need to borrow your girl. Malik is asking whether Khushi has arrived yet," Doctor Kumar said, mercifully not commenting on what he had just witnessed.

Still, Khushi could not bring herself to meet his eyes.

"Very well. I will be in the library, Khushi," Arnav said. She nodded and hurried past the doctor, heading straight for Malik's room.

"She is mortified," Doctor Kumar finally said.

"Horrified is more like it," Arnav replied, shaking his head.

"Well, do tell her, on my behalf, that I am truly happy for her. And for you as well. The two of you bring out the best in each other," Doctor Kumar said, resting a hand on Arnav's shoulder.

"Thank you," Arnav said after a beat, unable to hold back his smile.

"So when can we expect an announcement?" Doctor Kumar asked.

Arnav looked at him, puzzled.

"Do not tell me you have no intention of putting a ring on her finger."

"Is this you speaking, or my father?" Arnav asked, wondering if his intentions were truly this obvious to everyone around him.

“Well, both of us are expecting it” Doctor Kumar admitted.

Arnav looked at the man with a quizzed face.

“I am working on it. It is more difficult than it sounds” Arnav said.

"Well, I am here, if you need any help. Malik is just waiting for an excuse to celebrate."

"Okay," Arnav said.

"Okay?" Doctor Kumar repeated.

“It means I don’t want to be asked any more questions about it at the moment” Arnav said.

"Okay," Doctor Kumar said, and took his leave.

Arnav stood by the pillar, lost in thought, turning over exactly when and how he might ask Khushi to marry him. He wanted the moment to be something worthy of her.

A slow smile crept across his face as the perfect way to do it struck his mind.

__________________________