Chapter 33

Chapter 33

“Where did you find a ring so quickly?” Khushi asked the question that had been at the back of her mind ever since he put it on her. Together, Arnav and she, and others had walked back into the Mahal to share some ice-cream while Akash engaged in pulling her leg because she couldn’t stop looking at the ring on her finger.

And couldn’t stop smiling every two minutes!

Arnav had proposed her. He wanted to marry her. The thought excited her. She will live with him, share all her time with him. It seemed like a beautiful dream which was coming true. Arnav had made it come true. And at a time when she was least expecting it.

The proposal had erased all her doubts and insecurities. Now that she thought back on it, it seemed so silly of her to even have those doubts to begin with. Arnav was not so shallow. No, he was deep and deeply in love with her. Just like she was deeply in love with him!

She looked at his handsome, perfect face and waited for his reply to her question. They were in his car and he was dropping her off to her house.

“Call it a co-incidence but I picked it up this afternoon” He gave her a side-glance as he kept driving.

Khushi scrunched her face as she tried recalling when.

“That’s where you went when you said you were going to the construction site?” She asked.

“Yes” He answered, smiling as he watched her adorably cute expression.

“That’s why you didn’t want me to come with you to the site!” She said.

“You noticed that?” He asked her.

“Of course, I did. I noticed your hesitation when Malik uncle suggested that I go with you. But, I didn’t think much of it because I anyway didn’t want to go today” Khushi answered, shaking her head.

“What’s the head shake about?” He asked her.

“That you lied to me” Khushi answered, crossing her hands across her chest and giving him a look.

“Well, technically, I didn’t lie. I did go to the construction site first although it wasn’t that urgent. I just needed to see if the work was going on well. And then I went to the jewelry store and picked out the ring” Arnav replied.

Khushi pretended to be cross for another two seconds before she gave up. She cannot be mad at him for this. He wanted to surprise her. And if he was right, he had a huge proposal plan in mind before she led him to this impromptu proposal. Which he pulled off flawlessly, by almost reducing her to tears of joy! She wondered how he would have proposed otherwise.

“I love this ring” She said in return, looking at it again. Arnav smiled, looking ahead at the road.

“And I love you” She continued, leaning over to his seat and kissing his cheek.

Arnav turned his head towards her and kissed her cheek too.

“Thank you for making my life so beautiful” He said to her before turning back, focusing on the road.

Khushi shifted more, inching closer to him after unbuckling her seat belt. She placed her head on his shoulder as he continued driving.

“You made my life beautiful too” She said to him, closing her eyes.

“Did I? Your life always looked perfect to me. You had loving parents and a best friend. I always felt that my presence in it would never make much of a difference” Arnav said, looking at the road ahead. It was a thought he hadn’t shared with her before.

It was the thought that had allowed him to keep himself away from her for so many years. He had always told himself that she had everything she needed. He was no one and had nothing to offer her.

“Yes, my life was pretty great until I lost Amma” Khushi replied, her arms circling around his waist as she scooted even closer to him, almost touching his side.

“But, it was never perfect. I didn’t know at the moment but I was missing something. There was a part of me that wasn’t alive. A part I didn’t know was buried somewhere inside me. It came alive when I met you, when you looked at me like I was the only person in the room. I felt it stirring when you touched me, when you called my name. This part of me wanted to know more about you, get close to you, love you. Maybe this is what they call being soul mates. But, I felt it, Arnav. I felt this part of me connect with you. It’s why I couldn’t let you walk away from me, both the times. It was like I was going to lose a part of me. I was forever going to be incomplete without you”.

Khushi didn’t realize when Arnav stopped the car but it wasn’t moving anymore. She finished speaking and found him looking at her, eyes brimming with love.

“That’s the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me” He replied, voice thick. His fingers caressed her cheek as he looked in her eyes.

“It’s the truth, Arnav” She said to him, bringing her own fingers to his face.

“I know. I felt it in your voice. I can see it in your eyes” He said, before he brought his mouth down and kissed her lips.

“I love you” He said against her lips, his hand moving up and down her neck.

Khushi closed her eyes as his fingers reached her nape and pushed slightly, deepening the kiss.

She wondered if it was possible to die of too much happiness and pleasure. Because there was huge chance she might. She kissed him back with all her passion, letting her fingers comb through his soft hair.

His lips moved with fervor, his hands now running up and down her back. Khushi had to stifle a moan when his mouth moved on her neck, his lips leaving a hot trail on her skin. She couldn’t help but think of the passionate night in his room when his bare skin was on her bare skin. He had kissed every inch of her body. She had kissed almost every part of him. Almost!

Another moan left her mouth when Arnav used his tongue to lick the column of her neck. Her toes curled at the sensation.

“Damn it!” She heard his strained but muffled voice when his phone began vibrating. Khushi pulled away slightly and watched his face. It looked like he was in pain. Maybe he was. Khushi noticed the telltale bulge in his trousers and quickly averted her eyes. Her own body was still tingling.

“Sorry!” He whispered as he slowly, way too slowly peeled away from her. Khushi realized that she was practically sitting in his lap.

She moved away too, shifting back into her seat.

She adjusted her clothes and her hair and furtively watched Arnav as he put his hand in his trouser’s pocket and pulled out his phone.

He caught her looking and held her gaze for a second before he received the call.

“What is it, Aman?” His voice was gruff, throaty. Khushi knew it was because his body was still tensed, riled up. As was hers! So, she focused on her breathing and tried to calm herself down.

It was electric, how she felt every time he touched her.

She loosely focused on the conversation Arnav was having on the phone. Some urgent meeting, some deadline coming up. Khushi took the time to look out the window and felt grateful for the tinted glasses. They were parked right outside her colony. Damn! What if someone has been noticing that the car has stopped here fifteen minutes ago and no one has stepped out? What would the people think?

It took Khushi another ten seconds to decide that she didn’t care what they thought. She was in love and now engaged to this beautiful man beside her.

The thought made her steal a look at him again. She noticed that he was now leaning back in his seat, eyes closed and he was breathing in and out.

“Arnav?” She called out his name.

“I just need a minute to calm down, love” He spoke, eyes still closed. Khushi had to smile. She affected him, so much. It was definitely silly of her to ever have doubted herself.

Yes, he had a couple of girl friends. But, he wasn’t in love with any of them. He was in love with her.

“Hard, is it?” She couldn’t help the remark.

Arnav opened an eye and looked at her laughter filled face.

“I am glad that you find my misery funny” He spoke, eyeing her.

“It’s a little bit funny. Especially because it’s easy to make you so…miserable” Khushi added.

“If I remember well, last time we did this it was you who was..miserable because I..”

Khushi placed a hand on Arnav’s mouth, her face reddening with embarrassment as she thought back of the night.

“Let’s just say that both of us are miserable without each other” She quickly suggested.

“I can agree on that” Arnav spoke, kissing her palm before she removed it from his mouth.

“I should get going now” Khushi said.

“I’ll walk with you” Arnav said, nodding and pulling out the key from ignition.

“Yes, please” Khushi said as she drew a long breath and her face became a bit serious.

“What is it?” Arnav asked.

“Just thinking how I should break out the news to Babuji. I don’t know why but I am getting nervous” Khushi said, rubbing her palms together.

Arnav smiled, noticing her sudden nerves.

“I am sure he will be happy to hear this” He said as both of them stepped out of the car.

“I know he will be. But, it’s so surprising and sudden and I don’t…” Khushi’s voice trailed as she took in the sheepish look on Arnav’s face.

“It might not be so surprising” He said, sliding his fingers through hers and walking beside her.

It took Khushi few seconds to figure out and when she did, her mouth formed the perfect ‘O’ in surprise.

“You already talked to him, didn’t you? That’s why he was acting so possessive the last two days, finding ways to spend more time with me” Khushi said.

“Yes. This was an important decision of your life so I thought I should ask your father before I asked you. I knew his permission is vital and important for you” Arnav said.

Khushi took another two seconds to settle in the fact that her boyfriend did this in a full planned and thoughtful way.

Hugging him in the middle of the street would be inappropriate so she smiled instead and nodded.

“I don’t need more reasons to love you but you keep giving me new ones” She said softly as they reached her house.

Arnav’s own smile was full of delight.

“Always” He replied, softly pressing her palm before letting go.

Khushi watched as she stepped back and waved his hand at her.

“Call me” He mouthed before turning away and walking back to his car.

Khushi stood until he was out of sight and then she knocked at the door.

Her father opened the door after two minutes and said, late again” before smiling and letting her walk inside.

“It was Malik Uncle, Babuji. He wouldn’t let me leave until I finished my ice-cream” Khushi said, putting away her side bag.

“Ice cream? Celebrating something?” Shashi Gupta asked once he brought a glass of water from the kitchen and handed it to Khushi.

Khushi took her own time finishing the glass before setting it down at the table and shrugging her shoulder.

Shashi Gupta looked at his daughter and waited.

Khushi noticed and plopped down on the couch. Shashi Gupta still waited, taking a seat opposite her.

“Arnav proposed” She finally said, lifting her palm and showing off the ring. The slight blush on her cheeks crept up despite her attempt to hide it. So did the smile.

It was Shashi Gupta’s turn to take a second. He looked at the ring and nodded.

“It’s a beautiful ring” He finally spoke.

“It is” Khushi replied, looking at it again. It was classic style, a solitaire diamond on a platinum band, adorned by small diamonds on either side.

“Arnav is a good man. Kind and loving. I am very happy for you, Khushi” Shashi Gupta spoke further.

“I am happy too, Babuji” Khushi nodded.

“Yes, I can see. There’s a shine in your eyes” Shashi Gupta finally smiled too. It made Khushi feel assured, comfortable.

“He told me he talked to you already. About the proposal, I mean. Was it the day he came to drop me home?” She asked.

“Yes”, Shashi Gupta said, “Although I didn’t think he’d be in so much hurry. I thought maybe in a week or so. I thought we had more time” Shashi Gupta said, the tiniest of frown appearing on his face.

Khushi refrained from mentioning that Arnav in fact wanted to propose a few days later but proposed today because of her. Instead, she focused on her father’s frown line.

“We have all the time in the world, Babuji. This proposal doesn’t mean I am getting married this week. Not even this month, I think, keeping in mind Malik Uncle’s health. And even after the marriage, it’s not like we won’t get time to spend. I’ll visit you anytime I feel like. I am sure Arnav wouldn’t mind” Khushi said to her father, trying to make him feel better.

Shashi Gupta nodded, forcing a smile on his face for his daughter’s sake. But, he knew it wouldn’t be the same. Very soon, he will have to get used to living in this house all alone. Alone but contented! Contented but not fully happy! It was no one’s fault, he knew. This was the tradition. Daughters are taken away from their parents because that’s how the system works. Leave one home to start another.

“Babuji!” Khushi’s voice made Shashi bring his poignant thoughts to a stop. He knew his gloom will only dampen Khushi’s happiness. So, he smiled again.

“Yes, yes! I was just thinking that I should really start planning the wedding now. So many things to take care of. It’s my daughter’s wedding. I have a whole list of things I want to do” Shashi replied.

Khushi shook her head and hugged her father.

“There’s a lot of time left for you do that, Babuji” She said, her own voice choking up.

~~**~~

The next three days Arnav spent running back and forth to the construction site. There had been a short incident at the site and a worker was injured. Arnav made sure to get him the best treatment and gave him a few days off with full pay. He was happy that the work was progressing well. They had finished constructing an entire floor and new floors were coming up. The work on the playground was also shaping well and Arnav couldn’t be happier. If things went well, the school should be fully functional within a month, ahead of the proposed schedule. He was already in talks with the state’s education board regarding the school’s affiliation status and it was almost a done deal. It was what made him reach the Mahal with a happy face.

As he walked in, he noticed the flurry of activities.

“What’s going on, Kaka?”Arnav asked Ratan Kaka who was holding some dead flowers in one hand and fresh ones in another.

“Malik Saheb has said we need to have a puja in the house. He has also invited Khushi bitiya and Shashi ji” Ratan Kaka said.

Arnav pondered on the information for a second before walking up further and noticing doctor Kumar at the far end of the drawing room.

“Arnav! Good that you’re back in time. I was about to call you. Malik had the sudden demand that we organize a puja and he insisted that we do it today itself” Kumar said to Arnav.

“A puja for what?” Arnav asked.

“To fix the wedding date? Malik already called Shashi ji and requested him to come so we can fix a date” Kumar said, overlooking the puja preparations.

“Fix the date? But, what’s the hurry?” Arnav asked.

Doctor Kumar gave a solemn look to Arnav.

“He thinks he does not have too much time” Kumar replied in a disconsolate voice.

Arnav looked at the Doctor’s face.

“How much time does he have?” He made himself ask the question he had been holding in since Malik came back from his chemo session day before yesterday. He looked pale, thinner and weak. Arnav had been taken aback for a minute to see him like that once Malik had come back home from the session. Malik hadn’t been able to leave him room since then. He had spent the last two days resting and taking small walking rounds within his own room.

Doctor Kumar did not answer Arnav’s question and it told Arnav enough. There was not much time left. He could see it in the doctor’s face.

“I’ll go check up on him” He said and moved past the doctor.

“Come in” He waited at the door after knocking.

Walking in, he found Malik sitting by the window again, in his arm-chair.

“My son” Malik smiled upon seeing him. Arnav was still getting used to the smile, the occasional compliments about how proud Malik was of him. It made him feel happy. Things were nowhere near normal between him and Malik but Arnav was doing his best to get used to the affection. He still had very less to talk to his father, words always eluding him. So, he mostly did the listening.

But, today he wanted to talk.

“Doctor Kumar said this Puja was your idea” He said, walking in and sitting opposite his father.

“Yes. I thought why should we delay the auspicious? The sooner we fix the date, the quicker we can get the wedding preparations started” Malik said, but his voice held a question. It was as though he was uncertain about something. Arnav knew what it could be. And he also knew there was a larger question, a larger uncertainty underneath the smaller uncertainty.

Where will the wedding take place from was the smaller uncertainty.

And will he stay here at the Mahal after the wedding was the larger uncertainty.

He knew the answers of both the question but wasn’t sure how to break it to his father. He hadn’t even discussed it with Khushi yet.

“The wedding will take place here?” Malik said, but it was again in the form of a question; his voice uncertain.

Arnav nodded and noticed the deep relaxing breath that his father drew upon hearing his confirmation.

“I cannot tell you how happy I am to hear that, son! I am sure it wouldn’t have been easy to convince your Nani about this but you did it” Malik’s face gained some colour and he placed a loving hand on Arnav’s shoulder.

Arnav looked at the wrinkled hand on his shoulder and debated whether to say it or not.

“I did not have to convince her. When I called her to talk about the proposal, she was already assuming that the wedding will take place here” Arnav decided to say it.

Birendra Singh Malik withdrew his hand from Arnav’s shoulder and placed it in his lap.

“She agreed to it without any resistance?” He asked Arnav.

Arnav nodded but he could see his father was finding it hard to believe. Birendra Singh Malik was shaking his head now.

“If she agreed to it readily, she definitely has a trick up her sleeve, Arnav. There must be something else that she will want from you in return. That’s how she functions. Nothing is ever so simple and clear with the Raizada women. She must want something in return from you” Birendra Singh Malik said, still shaking his head and his voice sounding agitated.

Arnav realized his father was talking more to himself than to him now. It was a morbid sight for him. It was as if he could see just how affected his father was with everything his mother had done to him. He noticed the look on Malik’s face. It was a mix of suspicion, anger and vulnerability.

It was his time to place a hand on his father’s shoulder. Birendra Singh Malik stopped talking and looked at Arnav.

“You cannot trust her, Arnav. Never trust her fully. The minute you lower you guard, she will play her move. She might even use Khushi as a pawn in her game” Malik spoke, his voice anxious again.

Arnav didn’t know whether to be angry at his father for speaking ill of his Nani or to agree with him. Devyani had indeed tried to drive a wedge between Khushi and him when she had told Khushi the half truth that Arnav would not go back to Lucknow with her.

But, all that was before his Nani had accepted Khushi. And this time, Arnav knew that his Nani did not have any ulterior motive in her mind. She only had one motive and Arnav already knew it.

So, he pressed his hand on his father’s shoulder and spoke up, “Nani has already accepted Khushi. She will not do such a thing. I am sure of that”.

Malik listened to Arnav’s words and noticed the look of surety on his face.

“If she does not have other plans in mind why did she agree to the wedding taking place here?” Malik asked.

Arnav didn’t want to share the whole information especially when Malik seemed so weak and sick.

‘She only agreed that the wedding take place here at the Mahal. She did not agree to come here. She will not attend the wedding” Arnav said.

It had been Devyani’s only mandate.

“If you want my blessings after the marriage, you come back to Delhi with your wife, Chote. I will not bless this marriage until I have you back in our house. It’s my only guarantee that you will come back” Devyani Raizada had said.

She wanted Arnav to get married here and then move back to Delhi with Khushi.

It was the answer of the larger uncertainty. He will not stay back here. And he was yet to discuss it with Khushi. He didn’t know what Khushi expected of him. Did she think they will settle in Lucknow after their marriage? Or will she be ready to uproot herself from the city and move back to Delhi with him for good?

“That’s a cruel thing to do, even for Devyani. How can she say that to you? If she will not attend the wedding then…” Malik’s voice trailed off as he realized what it actually meant.

“She will not come here so that you have to go back to her. She is forcing you to go back” He said, voice heavy as he looked at Arnav for confirmation.

“Delhi is my home. I would have gone back anyway” Arnav felt the need to defend his Nani.

He had meant his promise to Devyani when he had said that he will come back. He just hadn’t been sure when he will go back.

Now, with her condition, Devyani had made sure that he will go back soon after the wedding.

“This is your home, Arnav” Malik’s voice made Arnav look at his father’s pained face.

“Let’s not discuss this at the moment. When does the puja begin?” He said, not wanting to hurt his father by saying this place hasn’t been his home for a long time.

Malik read Arnav’s answer on his face nonetheless. He held in all the words and nodded.

“Shashi ji and Khushi should be here in two hours”

“Then, I better go and freshen up” Arnav said and got up.

Malik nodded again and once Arnav was out of the room, he stood up and walked to the desk placed in the other side of the room. He pulled open a drawer and took out the file.

“You still haven’t accepted this Mahal as your home, Arnav. I don’t know when you will be ready to accept this” Malik said to himself, running a hand over the cover of the file and placing it back in the drawer.

“Still hiding your new will from him?” Doctor Kumar walked up to where Malik stood, leaning against the desk.

Malik turned and noticed Dr. Kumar.

“You know about the will?” He asked his partner.

“Well, I live in the room now. It’s hard not to notice a file lying in an unlocked drawer” Doctor Kumar said.

“Noticing and reading are different things” Malik said.

“I haven’t read it. But I recognized the file. It’s the one Mr. Siddiqui brought to you after you met with him and told me you have made some changes in your will” Doctor Kumar said.

“Yes, it’s the same file. And you can read it anytime you want. I never intended to hide it from you” Malik said as Doctor Kumar stepped closer to him.

Doctor Kumar looked at Malik’s pallid face and brought a hand to his cheek.

“I don’t want to read it. I can pretty much guess everything you changed in it. I know how your mind works” He said.

Malik closed his eyes and sighed.

“I need to lie down” He said.

“You’re growing weak” Doctor Kumar said, as he supported Malik and helped him walk back to the bed.

“Is the pundit here?” He asked Doctor Kumar once he was in the bed.

“He will be in some time” Doctor Kumar replied, sitting beside Malik and holding his hand.

Malik nodded and closed his eyes, resting his head against the pillows.

“I feel like I am being greedy, Kumar. First, I wanted to see my son just once. When I saw him, I wanted him to forgive me. Now that he seems to have started forgiving me, I want him to stay back and never leave. I can’t seem to convince myself that this is enough. I have now got more than I could have once imagined” Malik murmured, eyes still close.

Doctor Kumar listened and placed a hand on Malik’s forehead.

“That’s the problem with the heart, Malik. It always wants a little bit more” Doctor Kumar replied, wishing he could have more time with Malik.

“I’ll take a short nap. Please wake me when the pundit is here” Malik said, opening his eyes and looking at Doctor Kumar.

Doctor Kumar gave a slow nod and watched Malik fall asleep.

~~**~~

The cool water splashed on Arnav as he stood under the shower, contemplating everything.

His father was dying.

He was getting married.

His Nani had refused to come and attend the wedding.

His father clearly wanted him to stay back.

And he wasn’t sure what Khushi might want.

He closed his eyes and allowed the water to calm his thoughts.

“This is your home, Arnav” His father’s words remained despite the water washing away the tension from his body.

But, he refused to accept the words.

_________________

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