Chapter 44
Father of the bride!
Akash sat on the recliner as Arnav ended the call, a satisfied smile stretched on his lips as he looked at him.
"Khushi has reached her home, and her Amma had agreed for the marriage, they want it to happen soon. However, she haven't disclosed the good news to them. It will be a shock to her Amma rather than a good news, so we have thought about keeping it a secret for a little while"
Arnav said as he sat next to Akash.
"Bhai, do you think our family will join us for the wedding, they need to pretend that they are not interested in Khushi and your relation"
"I know Akash but I think Dad and Maa is shocked, because I have not said anything to them in pre note. They must be thinking why am I rushing for the wedding when everything had planned together."
A sudden knock on the door startled them both and Akash opened the door and found Anjali standing there, her arms crossed over her chest and her eyebrows frowning.
She pushed Akash aside and entered inside, glaring at Arnav before pulling his ears.
"Ouch di, are you crazy why are you pullig my ears, I am not the 8 year old anymore"
Arnav pouted and looked away.
"What was the meaning of the stunt, which happened downstairs few minutes back? And I want the whole details, don't you dare lie to me"
She huffed and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Di, they did it and are going to have a baby in 7 months.. happy now?"
Akash said smiling and Arnav glared at him.
Anjali looked at Arnav and then at Akash, she blinked her eyes as if trying to registering his words in her mind and the cool way he just said that Khushi was pregnant.
"Heard of birth control, Chotey?"
She asked incredulously as Arnav send daggers to the devil of his cousin, who was Akash.
"Di, please now don't start the Satsang pravachan, it just happened, and everything is working as I planned, then what to worry eh?"
He asked his eyes showing a cute glint of mischief.
"I need to share this with Maa, I want to tell her that her future daughter in law is expecting.."
Anjali said and stood up to leave his room.
"Di, no…. Maa will not be able to control herself, after hearing this, and I don't want Lekhraj to find out anything before our plans work out as we thought,"
"But she's your Maa, and she have all the rights to know this good news, Chotey"
"I understand di, you know what Maa will do? She'll make heaps of sweets and will depart to Lucknow, first thing in the morning, remember when you announced your good news when you were,.."
Arnav's voice trailed off as he realized what he was saying.
Akash shook his head at Arnav, saying to stop before its too late.
Anjali's eyes welled up with tears and she ran outside the room.
"Shit, Shit Shit"
"Bhai, you should not have.."
Akash said sadly before getting out of his room, following a crying Anjali.
"Oh God how can I forget that Di, still is recovering from the shock of losing her child"
He sprinted towards Anjali's room and didn't notice the shadow which stood at the poolside door watching them closely.
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Khushi and Chutki lay wide awake in their room as they stared at the roof. Khushi fidgeted with her phone as she stole glances at Chutki and found her staring back at her.
"What is it Di?"
Chutki asked resting on her elbow.
"Nothing, its just I cant sleep, feeling dizzy"
"Its because its your wedding tomorrow, hence the nervousness" Chutki giggled and lay on her stomach.
Only if I could tell you the reason of my dizziness. Khushi thought looking at her giggling sister.
Chutki looked at her thoughtfully before asking.
"You are hiding something, right di?"
Khushi looked at her surprised, how come she read her silence too?
"There's nothing, now go to sleep" KHushi said slapping her playfully and pulled the duvet over her face.
"I'll ask Jiju, then"
Khushi ignored her little sister's threatenings and closed her eyes.
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Gupta Mansion – next morning!
Lekhraj knocked on the front door, holding a paper bag in his hands, as he waited for the door to be open for him.
Garima rubbed her puffy eyes and checked the time on the wall clock.
"6:00 am"
She frowned and opened the door.
"What you want so early in the morning?"
Garima asked fuming not really liking the start of her day, by seeing Lekhraj's face at her front door.
"Its our daughters wedding today, and I don't want to be late to any rituals, if you are having any rituals by the way"
He mocked and entered without invitation.
He placed the bags on the dining table and walked towards Khushi's room without even sparing a look at Garima and her fuming self.
Khushi pulled the covers covering her chest a he entered her room without even trying to knock.
What a gentleman he is, Khushi thought as she closed her eyes pretending to be sleeping.
"Good Morning Princess"
He exclaimed and sat on the edge of the bed and pulled the covers down.
She sat up adjusting her dress and got out of the bed.
"Go and freshen up, I have brought breakfast for you all"
Khushi scrunched her eyebrows and got inside the washroom, throwing him a disgusted look.
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They sat on the breakfast table, the whole family ate their breakfast silently.
Khushi could not believe why Lekhraj was doing all this. Instead of getting angry on her and her decision of marrying Arnav he was supporting her?
She drank the orange juice swiftly as she felt the food blocking her throat.
Payal had smiled after few days, that too at Khushi when she announced her marriage with Arnav.
And she had said to Khushi that she is lucky to have a husband like Arnav and had sobbed cursing her fate.
Neeraj was numb as he was from past few days, Payal's harsh behavior and no more talking terms had took to toll on him.
But he composed himself, he loved her, he loved their daughter like hell. and he will wait, and he know that day is not far when Payla will forgive him and love him like she did before, with her whole being.
Garima didn't know what she felt, whether to be happy for her one daughter, while another was going through a hard time in her married life.
Chutki felt suffocated at the very room she used to be happy before. The presence of the two men was not helping her a bit to relax.
Lekhraj smiled evilly as he stood up to leave for the mandir to lookafter the arrangements and Pandits.
After all he's the father of the bride. Its upto the bride if she considered him as one?
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A/N
Thanks for the beautiful comments for last chapter!
Love
J
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
