sorry for the late update - i hope everyone enjoyed new year's eve, and i wish you all a very happy new year! 😊
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Recap:
Taking hold of her hand again, he turned towards her and looked deep into her eyes, before asking her -
'Khushi, tell me about your past. I want to know about you, and your family.'
Khushi looked up at him, her eyes wide as they glimmered with tears that threatened to spill out of her hazel eyes, as she picked up the wooden box, and opened it. She took a deep breath, and started to speak.
Chapter 4:
'I was born in Udaipur. I'm not fully Lucknowi, my Amma was Lucknowi and my Bauji was from Rajasthan. From Udaipur. My Amma's name was Mumtaz and My Bauji's name was Abhimanyu. I was born Khushi Ruia. We lived in a beautiful haveli, with luscious gardens and lots of plants and trees.'
She smiled shrewdly at him as she continued 'You would have liked it, Arnavji.'
My Amma used to love to dance and sing and paint, and she would fill the haveli with her laughter. My Bauji used to come home from work and he would dance with her around the living room. Everything was going well, and we were happy. Then, when I was 5, the haveli burnt down. I didn't know what was happening. My Bauji...he never discussed the details of it. I still don't know whether it was an accident or intentional. We managed to escape with our clothes and money and Amma's jewellery, and we watched our haveli burn down from a distance. I haven't gone back to Udaipur since. We moved to Lucknow, and through the support of Amma's family, Bauji managed to get back on his feet. Then, when I was 7, Amma told me Devi Maiyya had been kind to her and was giving us a wonderful gift - a baby brother. But Devi Maiyya took Amma, Bauji and my little brother away when I was 8.'
She looked pointedly at him and said 'But that, you know.'
'After the accident..after I lost Amma and Bauji, I lived in an orphanage for a while. Bauji's family didn't want me, because they had never approved of Amma. They had wanted a Marwadi bahu of their social standing, but Amma was Lucknowi, and from a less wealthy family. They had cut off Bauji when he married Amma. I never met them. Amma's sister was there, but she was single and therefore, the court didn't think she would be able to take care of me. Amma's parents were old, and unwell, and they couldn't. I stayed in the orphanage for maybe a year or so, when I learnt that my Maasi had gotten married and that her husband had an older daughter named Payal. They took me in. I never felt like I truly belonged, and it was hard adjusting. I always felt like a burden to them, and sometimes, I would be reminded that I was not their own blood. I loved them, I still love them. If not for them, I would have lived in an orphanage or perhaps been bounced around in foster families. But they took me in, and for that, I will forever be grateful to them. But sometimes, they don't understand me, and they don't understand that sometimes I want my own Amma. My Amma who would sing me to sleep, and dance with me, and my Bauji, who would swing me in the air and make me feel like I was flying. Par humari kismat toh aisi hai. Koi baath nahin. Humein bilkul bhi afsos nahin hai.'
She smiled wryly at him. 'Do you want to know anything else about me?'
Arnav, who had been silent all this while, asked another question 'What's in the box?'
'This, is one of my most treasured possessions. This was my Amma's box, in which she kept her sindoor and her bangles.'
She opened the box, and showed him the photo, that was slightly burnt at the edges.
'That's my Amma, and that's my Bauji. And that's me, obviously. It was taken during Amma's pregnancy, so you can see a little of the baby bump.'
'She's beautiful Khushi. You look exactly like her.'
Khushi then proceeded to show Arnav some of the bangles, the old, rusted sindoor box, her Bauji's ring, and a few more photos.
'I managed to save these. It was hard, but I managed to recover them. They are my most prized possessions.'
Arnav smiled and said 'They are worth more than anything I could ever own.'
Khushi smiled back, a genuine smile this time and said 'Thank you Arnavji. For listening to me. Maybe...maybe I should've told you this before. But I'm glad I told you. I feel better. Shall we go now? To the farmhouse?'
Arnav smirked, and clasped one of her hands towards his chest. She was pulled closer to him by the sudden movement, and he dropped a light kiss against her forehead.
'Let's go.'
As he started the car, this time in a different manner, compared to how he had arrived at the road, he smiled to himself. He smiled, because he was glad that him and Khushi had overcome this obstacle. He knew now, that no matter what, him and Khushi would be able to overcome any obstacle. Including Sheetal and Aarav. As they drove towards the farmhouse, they sat in a comfortable silence. There was no need to worry about the fact that Khushi wasn't speaking, or that Arnav wasn't speaking, because they had never needed to speak out loud to communicate.
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Precap:
'Arnavji...Arnavji yeh aap kya kar rahe hain?' Khushi stammered.
'Kya Khushi?'
'Yeh aap..aap itne paas kyun aa rahe hain?'
'Kyun Khushi? Tum nahin chahti ki main tumhare paas aaon?'
'Nahin...matlab haan..matlab nahin' She continued stuttering, looking away and fidgeting with her dupatta.
'Don't worry Khushi. It's not like I'm going to eat you up or anything.' He smirked at her, as he cornered against the wall.
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