Chapter 3

Khushi's POV:

It was time to get ready; the boy was coming to see me. I couldn't believe it was happening. Why me? I love Shyam and no one else! "Wear a yellow sari" Buaji had said. I didn't feel like dressing up and so I applied no make up. I went out wearing simple bangles and a small necklace that I always wear. I went out only to see him sitting and sipping tea. His back was towards me so I could see him. Buaji saw me and called me over. I went and had a look at him.

 

He wore black pants and a blue and white checked shirt, his hair was normal and he had worn a black coat, which he took off and kept beside him. My expressions remained indifferent. His eyes moved from me to Buaji and then back to me. He didn't say anything at first. I went and sat down next to Buaji, not wanting to talk to him.

 

"This my daughter Khushi." Buaji said.

 

"Hi." he said looking at me.

"Hello" I said softly.

"I am Arnav, Arnav Singh Raizada," He said.

It sounded like I'm Bond, James Bond! Instead it was the Arnav first! He seemed like those typical workaholic types. I didn't know what would I do with him? What sort of life would we spend!

I had nothing to say. I looked at Buaji.

"Why don't you two go to Victoria? You both can spend sometime together there!"

Why victoria. !! NO! I didn't want to go there. But how could I say anything.

"If Khushi wants to go anywhere else'

 

"No, No. Lets go to Victoria!" I said, before Buaji was embarrassed further!

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The weather was nice outside and silence penetrated between them. In the middle, Arnav made two-three comments on the trees and the memorial palace and Khushi just faked a smile. It was very awkward and they both walked side by side like two strangers. The breeze made Khushi's hair fly and Arnav just stared at her. As her gaze turned to meet his, he quickly looked the other side. Khushi realized that he was very shy! She thought she might have to be the one starting all the conversations. But she didn't have anything to tell him. She didn't know whether she should tell him about Shyam or just let it be. Maybe Buaji could talk about it. But to her surprise Arnav started a conversation.

 

"Well, your Buaji has told me a lot about you. But I really want to hear from you what you like doing? What are your interests?" he asked eager to hear a voice once again.

"I like singing, dancing and going out. I can do all kinds of household work and I love to talk!" she said genuinely.

 

"Oh. So Perfect!" Arnav said under his breathe.

 

"Did you say something?" Khushi asked again without looking at him.

 

"I said that ' it doesn't seem so!" He said mockingly with a small smile.

 

"What?" Khushi asked, not understanding what he meant.

 

"Doesn't feel like you love talking. We have been here for the past 20 minutes and you said nothing." Arnav said, looking at the flowers.

 

"I had nothing to say. You asked me a question so I answered." She said bluntly.

 

"You know what? We both are opposites. I am shy, introvert and I talk very little and I speak openly with only my close ones. That's all." Arnav said truthfully.

 

"And I love staying at home!" he added.

 

Khushi looked up at him. He seemed so boring. He must be a family man! Staying with parents or even grandparents, having siblings and a huge house, etc. etc. She wondered why he wanted to marry her?

 

"Did your mother force you to marry me?" Khushi just asked out of curiosity, as he looked quite disinterested in looking at her.

 

"Mother? Didn't Buaji tell you? I stay alone. I'm an Orphan. My parents died when I was 9. I stayed with my Mama ever since and now I am run my own business. But I believe that it is my mama who is behind all my success!" He said, smiling at her.

 

"Oh. I'm sorry!" Khushi said looking away. She knew how it felt like not having parents. But she was quite impressed with his achievements. Buaji had told her about his huge Business and that everyone in Mumbai respected him and he was one of the biggest industrialists in India!

 

"So do you still live with him?" she added to extend the conversation.

 

"Umm, no I moved out when I was 20. Once I got a job!" Arnav said.

 

Khushi nodded understanding him better. She didn't look at him and nor did he. They had a weird awkwardness between then and small conversations in the middle. They were almost done when Khushi spot Shyam at the memorial looking around.

She quickly turned her back at him. Making sure he couldn't see her. She didn't have the strength to face him and specially to tell him that she had to get married to someone else. They had always planned their future life with each other and now it was heart breaking to marry someone else. She tried and controlled her emotions and in a half broken voice she told Arnav, "I think we should get back now, it's getting late." She said looking at her watch.

 

Arnav could make out that something was wrong, listening to her voice and on top of that he saw the tears forming in her eyes.

 

"Are you ok? I'm sorry if I said something wrong." He said worried.

 

She quickly wiped the tears brimming her eyes and quickly told him that they should leave and that it's not because of him.

 

They got into a cab and drove back to Khushi's place.

 

Arnav didn't tell Khushi one thing, he had said yes to Khushi the moment he saw her photograph, her innocent eyes, her smile and everything about her had paralyzed him. Even if Buaji hadn't called him to see her he would have agreed to marry Khushi. He had lost his heart after seeing the picture and even his left over family agreed to his choice.

 

Khushi thought that Arnav was a good fellow but he was boring. She thought that he deserved a better person. She knew that she wouldn't be able to give him the love and affection he deserves. She wished that he refused for the marriage. He hadn't seemed to be too interested in their conversations either. But at that moment there was a fear in Khushi's mind, what if Shyam came to know? What would he do? She could only think of three things he could do and all three would be almost killing her.

1) He would break down and never be able to move on in life and nor would he let Khushi. He would always keep haunting Khushi in her dreams and she would never be able to forgive herself.

2) He would fight for his love. Khushi knew he might do that, but she couldn't fight against Buaji. She didn't have the courage to. He would persuade Khushi to run away with him and she would have to refuse, though her heart would be yelling at her to go.

3) And lastly he would hurt her by hurting himself. She feared he would try and commit suicide. Even the thought of him doing that freaked her out. She loved him a lot and she couldn't bear to be away from him!

 

Arnav kept looking at Khushi in the cab to see if she was fine but she was so lost in her own thoughts. He softly tried to call her name many times but when she didn't react he softly placed his hand on hers and Khushi came back from her Shyam-world and stared at Arnav.

"What's wrong Khushi? Is anything troubling you?" he asked with concern.

 

"What? No. Nothing. I'm not feeling too well today, that's why I'm a little lost!" she said holding her head.

 

"I don't think you got enough sleep last night," he said, looking at the dark circles below her eyes, which she had made no effort to hide.

 

"Well-" but before she could think of an answer they reached home. Arnav got off and paid the taxi driver and Khushi walked straight inside. Buaji was waiting for them at home and she looked questioningly at Khushi and then at Arnav.

 

"What's wrong?" she asked, "you two are back pretty early!"

 

"Um, actually she said it was getting late so we decided to come back and Khushi isn't feeling too well, so I would suggest she should take some rest." Arnav said concerned.

Buaji looked at Khushi understanding what her problem was and why she wasn't "feeling well". She shook her head in disappointment and fake-smiled at Khushi saying.

 

"He is right, go get some sleep honey" Khushi went to her room.

 

Buaji and Arnav sat down in the living room.

 

"So did you like my daughter?" Buaji asked eager to know his answer.

 

"Yes. My answer is yes Buaji. I want to marry her!" he said.

 

Buaji was over joyed and she ran in to get some sweets, after all Calcutta was famous for its sweets, it is called 'Mishit' here. Buaji got Rosogolas, the specialty of Calcutta, and made Arnav eat the whole thing at one go. She went in Khushi's room to give it to her also.

 

Khushi was lying down on her bed staring at the ceiling blankly. Listening to Arnav's answer Buaji had forgotten all the anger she had for Khushi. She went into her room and hugged her. Khushi was surprised and shocked.

 

"What happened Buaji? You seem very happy!" Khushi sat up in bed and curiously stared at her Buaji who was smiling away to glory.

 

"Khushi. Arnav said yes! He said yes to marry you!" and before Khushi could react or answer her mouth was stuffed with a rosogola.

Buaji got up and happily went out back to Arnav.

 

Khushi sat back in her bed, not surprised. Sorrow took over her and she just couldn't control her emotions. She wanted to go and hug Shyam. She wanted to stay with him. She didn't want to stay away. She couldn't stay away. She was dying without him. She didn't feel like eating anything. Khushi hadn't had breakfast or lunch and yet she wasn't hungry. The rosogola was just swallowed. She didn't understand what was happening in her life! Everything was going wrong. Everything she planned for her life was ruined. God was playing a game with her without showing any mercy. He was being unfair to her and '

She jumped up with the sound of her cellphone ringing. She looked at the caller. It was Shyam. She was so tempted to pick up the call but she couldn't. She wanted to run away. But she picked up the call. She didn't want him to come home and create a scene and embarrass Buaji.

 

"Hello?"

 

"Hi Shyam!" Khushi said trying to act normal.

 

"Hi Jaan! I am missing you? Want to go for a drive? Or a walk? I haven't seen you today!"

 

"Sorry Jaan! I wont be able to make it today. I'm very busy. Actually I will only be able to meet you after this week. Me & Buaji are going for a picnic!" Khushi lied. She shut her eyes not wanting Shyam to realize.

 

"Oh! That's strange. Yesterday she asked me if I wanted to marry you? Can you believe it! It was so random! I got freaked out!"

 

"What did you tell her?"

 

"I was scared Khushi. For two seconds I was like. 'Are you serious? Dude? I'm just 24!"

 

Khushi shook her head. Wish Buaji had told him that if Shyam refused then I would have to marry someone else! Then she was sure Shyam would have readily agreed!

 

"Hello? Khushi are you angry? I had no clue what she was going to say?!!"

 

"No Shyam. It's ok!"

 

"Phew! And I think she had lost it yesterday! She asked me how much I earn and what I'm planning for the future and If I loved you!"

 

"Shyam! She's my Buaji!!!" Khushi hated it when Shyam talked ill about Buaji!

 

"Ok, Ok. Sorry doll!" Shyam apologized.

"It's ok! And obviously, you must have given your 'umm, I'm not sure about it yet' answers to Buaji's questions!" Khushi said in a predictable way!

 

Shyam chuckled on the phone.

"Well yes. I hadn't planned a thing! Can't help it!"

 

Khushi shook her head in disbelief, a smile forming on her lips. She had almost forgotten about the marriage issue! Shyam always cheered her up. No wonder she loved him so much. Then suddenly Khushi heard a knock on her door.

It was Arnav. She became nervous and kept the phone after saying a small bye to Shyam. And her smile vanished.

 

"Hi, am I disturbing you?" Arnav said.

 

"Oh. No. Please, come in." Khushi said in a formal manner.

 

"Actually, I should have talked to you about this before, but you came back. Anyway, I wanted to ask you' whether... you' are'" he stuttered, "I mean, happy with the wedding?" he asked expecting a genuine answer.

 

Khushi nodded.

"I have always left these decisions on Buaji. She is the best in them," She said. She didn't want to lie in the beginning of her new life. And nor did she have the courage to say the truth.

 

"Well, I'm glad. But another thing is, I would prefer if the wedding took place soon because I need to fly to London later this week. So if we could'"yeah sure. We can get married before that! Just talk to Buaji." Khushi answered not letting Arnav finish his question. She didn't want to wait for the marriage. She didn't want Shyam to find out. She wanted him to forget her and move on in life, like she was trying to do. Well she wasn't even trying. She was uncertain about things like marriage so she thought it would be best to see what life has in store for her. If god plays fair she would be Shyam's. The rest was up to him. Who was she to complain? She was a small creation of god and maybe god didn't care what happened to her!

 

Arnav was pretty happy with her answer.

 

He nodded, "I'll talk to Buaji. Thanks, for understanding."

And he left the room. Khushi faked a smile in return for his thanks.

She was left alone once more and all her fears came back to her mind.

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Precap: The Wedding.

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