Arhi FF: The Matchmaker #3 - Page 53

Here's Part 18. Hope you like it. And please do share your views on the update with likes and comments.

Dedication: This update is dedicated to each one of you who have shared this journey with me. This is my first FF and all of you guys have been very encouraging, affectionate and patient. 😊

Part 18:

It had been a very long night. Khushi finally walked up the stairs to her bedroom after the last of the guests had left. The rest of the Raizadas had also retired for the day.She walked into her room and latched it behind her. As she turned around, She was surprised to see that Arnav was not there in the room. It was 11.30pm, she realised as she looked at the clock.

'Should I let him know that the guests have left?' she wondered. 'But he must know. The poojas usually finish earlier.' Today, they had been delayed as some of the guests had stayed back talking. She unlatched their bedroom door just in case he returned while she was changing in the bathroom.

As she changed her clothes, she recalled how Arnav had placed the payal on her feet earlier.

'Where did he find my payal ? And when?' She asked herself. She had looked for the payal everywhere. She had even told Hari Prakash to keep an eye for it.

'I am thinking too much! He probably found it under the bed or somewhere, earlier today. May be I had not checked properly', She convinced herself. How and why else could he have her payal? No other explanation made any sense.

Khushi wasn't sure when Arnav had returned but as she woke up the next morning, he was sleeping by her side. Khushi noticed how he had his hands curled on his chest...as if he was holding something that he didn't want to let go. She smiled as she recalled how those very hands had fixed her sprain ever so gently last night...those warm hands had placed the payal gently on her feet. Khushi had to resist the urge to touch his hands as she stared at them.

'Khushi, what are you doing?' she scolded herself as she quickly got out of the bed. Why was she reacting to this man like this? It's as if he was a magnet pulling her towards him. She needed to get away before she did something dumb, she realised as she quickly hurried towards the bathroom. Her head was not in its right place today, she realised.

Later that afternoon, Naniji along with Mamiji and Anjali got ready to visit one of their family friends...The kapoors. Their daughter Shreya had recently returned from United states after completing her education. The Kapoors had been inviting the Raizadas for quite some time. Naniji suspected that they might be interested in Akash's rishta for their only daughter although they had not said so themselves. As experienced as she was at such matters, she had read between the lines.

"Khushi bitiya, You should also join us. We can come back and do the cooking" Naniji said as she spotted Khushi slicing some vegetables in the kitchen.

"No, Naniji. You guys go. I will prepare dinner." Khushi insisted. She knew there was a lot to do especially since Hari Prakash was on leave today. Besides she didn't know the Kapoors. So, it wouldn't really matter if she didn't go along with the rest of the family, she decided.

"Lekin Bitiya..." Naniji tried to persuade her.

"No, Naniji. You guys go. I have lots to do." Khushi replied. It was true. Since she had been helping her parents settle down the last few weeks, she had had little time to sort her clothes and her shelf in her room upstairs.

Nani finally gave up and bid her goodbye as Anjali and Mami joined her. Khushi locked the door after them and returned to kitchen to continue her cooking. She would make the sabzi and the dal now, she made a mental note. And then do some cleaning before making the rice, roti and snacks.

Just as she started cooking, memories of previous night flashed in front of her...She remembered how he had touched her feet... placed it on his knee...fixed her sprain...' Khushi, what are you doing? You really have to stop thinking about him', she scolded herself hitting her head slightly as if that would help her come back to reality.

Just as she was recovering, she heard a knock at the door. ' Who could that be?' she wondered loudly as she walked towards the main door. The knocks got louder and frequent as she walked closer. 'What an impatient person! ' She grumbled as she opened the door to face the man who held such a reputation.

She stared at him in disbelief... Was she day dreaming? It was only 2 pm. Why would he come so early? Her heart started racing and her chest was feeling strange...

They both stood there staring at each other for a few seconds...
' Meri tabiyat sach mein kharab ho gayi hai. I have started seeing him too when he is not around.' she mumbled

"You can't be home so early. Surely this is not true..." She said out aloud

"Khushi..." she heard him say

'Was that really him? Is he home early?' Khushi wondered. She didn't know what was true anymore.

"Khushi, woh..." Arnav started to say...

"Mujhe bahut kaam hain..." She said nervously and rushed towards the kitchen. She couldn't trust herself near him anymore. Her heart was already racing so fast. She couldn't understand. Why did it feel so strange every time he spoke to her...every time he looked at her with those tender eyes...every time he asked her 'Tum theek ho?' She shook her head in puzzlement.

Arnav was slightly surprised to see Khushi run away like that. She perhaps was busy, he thought and walked up to their room not wanting to bother her. He laid his briefcase on the table and removed his shoes. He lay down on the bed after taking a couple of pills from the cupboard. Before he knew, he was asleep.

Khushi was glad when the Raizada women returned that evening. She did not trust herself to stay with Aranv alone. 'What if I did something foolish? The way my heart aches..The way I react to his presence..The way I stare at him..What he must think!' Khushi nodded in disappointment. She had avoided going to her room all afternoon knowing very well that he was there.

"Khushiji, chote aagaye kya? Is he alright?" asked Anjali as she entered.

" Alright? Why Di?" Khushi didn't understand

"I had called the office to speak to him as his mobile was not reachable, Khushiji. That is when Akash told me that chote left for home early as he wasn't feeling well" Anjali explained.

"He came early, Di and went upstairs. He didn't say much" She replied realising just as she finished the sentence that he had actually begun to say something but she had interrupted him and run away. She suddenly felt guilty. 'What if he needed something? Hope he is alright.' She worried.

She walked up the stairs to their room to apologise lost in her world when...

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iti9JroAYRs[/YOUTUBE]

The next morning as Khushi was tidying up her room, she heard someone knock at the door...

"Di, Aap? Come on in, Di. Arnavji has already left" Khushi said recalling their conversation yesterday when she had told her that she had wanted to speak to him.

"No, Khushiji. I actually came to meet you. I was wondering if you would accompany me somewhere." Anjali asked.

"Sure, Di. When? Which temple?" Khushi asked.

" Not to any temple, Khushiji. I want to go to the ..." She hesitated as she continued "...hospital"

"Hospital? Why Di? Is everything alright?" Khushi asked worrying.

"Yes, Khushiji. I will tell you on our way. We need to leave quickly. My appointment is in an hour" Anjali said,

"Ok Di, Just give 2 mins" said Khushi as she quickly picked up clothes from her cupboard and rushed to the bathroom to change.

Arnav sat at his office looking at the potential candidates who had applied for positions at AR. With their business expanding he felt it was high time they set up branches at Mumbai and Jaipur. He needed someone trust worthy to set these offices up. And he needed to employ more staff. The staffing wouldn't be a problem, Arnav realised as he looked at the CVs he held of potential candidates. AR was a well reputed company and always attracted the best.

To set the Mumbai branch up, Arnav would have ideally liked to send Akash there for a month. It was important to have someone capable to tackle the initial teething stages, he felt. But Arnav knew that sending Akash away for a month was not an option. His family would be at him if he did, he knew. Especially in the current circumstances.. Arnav recalled the conversation he had had with Mami before he left for work earlier today.

"Arnav bitwa, one minitz" Mami had stopped him as he was climbing down the stairs earlier that morning.

"yes, Mami?"

"Woh tum se one baat puch ni thi" Mami had told him

"haan mami"

"Whats your thoughts for Payal?

"Payal? What Payal? " Mami had him nervous for a minute. Had Khushi told her about the Payal? He had wondered.

"Wahi! Payal bitiya? Gupta sisterz?" Mamiji said

"What about her, Mami?" Arnav had asked her relieved.

"Arey bitwa, Whats your thoughts?"

" She is good, Mami. Why?" he asked wondering where this conversation was headed. "Does she want to work in AR? "Arnav had enquired although realising that it was unlikely.

"Work? No, No bitwa. Me asking for Akash rishta " Mamiji had explained in her trademark broken english.

" For Akash?" Arnav asked in surprise. "Akash and Payal?" he had asked again not sure if he had heard it right.

"You don't think it is right? May beez, you are right. She seemz very simple for Akash" Mami had replied.

"No, Mami. I am just surprised. Payal is a nice girl. To think of it, I think Akash might like her. But Mami talk to Akash first before you speak to Payal or her family" Arnav had said.

"But you knows, bitwa. Akash doezn't say much" Mami complained.

"He has met Payal, Mami. He will at least tell you if you should or shouldn't go ahead. Payal is a nice girl, Mami, but they both should agree to the idea" he had suggested before finally leaving for work.

A few hours later, Khushi carefully sat Anjali on the bed...Anjali had not stopped crying ever since they had returned from the doctor...ever since she had heard the news. Khushi too had tears in her eyes but she knew she had to be strong for Di, who was breaking down.

"Di, I know this is very hard...but there is always another time" Khushi tried consoling her, hugging her.

Anjali knew Khushi was saying the truth. But she just couldn't stop her tears.

Khushi held Anjali's hand in hers as she looked at her...May be she needs to cry it out, She decided.

Khushi closed her eyes as she recalled their visit to the doctors. The doctor had confirmed Anjali's suspicion. Her pregnancy test was indeed positive. The blood test would take a few days, Dr Rima had informed them. Anjali had been ecstatic. According to her calculations, Anjali would have been 11 weeks pregnant. So, Dr Rima had suggested that she has an ultrasound scan.

As they waited for the ultrasound, Anjali had been beaming with happiness thinking what she would name if it was a boy or girl. She had been trying to have a child for a year now.

Her happiness however had been very short lived. The scan revealed that she was miscarrying. The baby only measured 6 weeks, the doctor had said...And there was no heart beat. The baby had died at 6 weeks, Dr Rima explained to a heartbroken Anjali. Her body was yet to expel the baby.

The tears initially had come slowly but soon there was no stopping them. Khushi too was shocked to say anything to comfort her. What could one say in such a situation? She wondered as her heart ached. Dr Rima then sat with them and explained what might have happened and what their options were now. Khushi knew Anjali was in too much of a shock to register anything so she listened to the doctor carefully.

As they left the doctor's office, Anjali sat herself down in one of the chairs at the waiting area and continued crying. Khushi didn't know what to do. At one point, she had even contemplated calling Arnav but she decided against it as she wasn't sure how much of a help he would be in this situation. She needed to be strong for Di, She had decided.

As Khushi opened her eyes and looked at Anjali, She realised the crying had not stopped.

"Di, Please stop crying. You have been crying for more than 3 hours now. " Khushi pleaded.

"Khushiji, My baby is dead and is inside me..."She started crying again

"Di, This baby wasn't meant to be...But you will have another child soon. Didn't the doctor say that the baby died because it would have been abnormal. It is DM's wish, Di. DM did not want this child to be born abnormal. Imagine Di, how unfortunate it would have been for the child" Khushi consoled.

"I know, Khushiji... But it hurts ..." Anjali said in between sobs. "And he or she is still inside me" Anjali cried again.

"Di, I know how you feel...but soon when you have the operation, it will be alright. "She consoled. Anjali would have an operation the next day. Khushi knew she would have to inform the family.

Arnav was shocked as he stood by the door.

"What is going on? What dead baby?" he stood shocked. He had never seen his sister cry so much.

"Di..." He said as he finally mustered the courage to enter the room. Khushi quickly stood up as she noticed him. Anjali too glanced at him between her tears...

"Arnavji, I need to talk to you" Khushi said as she quickly held him by his hand and pulled him out of the room.

"Khushi, Where are you taking me? What is happening? Will you care to explain?" he asked visibly upset and frustrated that she stopped him.

"I will, Arnavji. Just give me two minutes. You go to Naniji's room. I will meet you there. Can you get Mami there too? " She said as she turned to walk away

"But Khushi...tell me first what's happening" Arnav insisted as he caught hold of her hand stopping her

"Arnavji, Di has had a miscarriage. I will tell you all the details. But first let me get her to lie down and rest. And I will meet you at Naniji's room." She explained sensing his pain.

When Khushi reached Naniji's room five minutes later, She saw Arnav pacing the room. Naniji was crying and Mamiji appeared worried. Three anxious pair of eyes stared at her as they noticed her presence.

"Khushi, tell me everything" Arnav walked forward impatiently.

" Anjali Di has had a miscarriage." Khushi started

"But when? How? How long has she been pregnant? How come she didn't tell anyone?" Naniji enquired.

"Naniji, Anjaliji told me today that she thought she might be pregnant and so asked me to come along to the doctors. She wasn't sure as she did not have many symptoms but because she did not have her monthly ..." Khushi stopped as she saw Arnav. "for 2 months...so, She suspected that she might be pregnant" Khushi explained.

" We went to the doctor today to check. The doctor confirmed her pregnancy with the urine test. The doctor suggested that Di have an ultrasound scan as the baby would have been 11 weeks old based on their calculations... to see if the baby was growing alright. " Khushi hesitated.

Arnav looked at her in pain knowing what was coming...the words "dead baby" he had heard her sister say echoed in his head.

"the scan showed that the baby had died at 6 weeks itself...it had no heart beat..." Khushi explained as a tear drop escaped her eyes.

"But Iz the Doctor sure? Aaj kal, Doctors makes mistakes" Mamiji enquired.

"Nahin, Mamiji. The Doctor had spotted some changes in the ultrasound scan. She was very sure Di would miscarry soon" Khushi explained.

"But why? Is it because Anjali bitiya has not been resting enough?" Naniji asked. Anjali had been lately frequenting too many temples.

"No, Naniji. Even I asked the doctor that. The doctor said that the baby is likely to have died as it was formed abnormal. Such babies apparently die very early. It wasn't Di's fault at all" Khushi consoled.

"Poor Anjali bitiya. How she loves children! And how much she has wanted a baby for so long!" Naniji wept.

"I know, Naniji. But this is DM's marzi. Perhaps DM did not feel this baby was ready to be born." Khushi consoled walking up to Naniji.

"You are right, Khushi bitiya" Naniji replied.

"Where is Anjali now?" Mamiji enquired

" I have just got her sleeping in our room" Khushi said. She turned to face Arnav as she realised " Arnavji, can you use the guest room tonight?"

"yeah, yeah... Don't worry about that" Arnav answered back absentmindedly. "Khushi, what's the operation you were talking about?" he enquired.

"Anjali Di has opted to have the baby removed by an operation tomorrow. The doctor said it is a minor operation. Anjali Di would be able to come home in the evening." Khushi explained further.

"Damatji. What about Damatji? Has anyone informed him?" asked Mamiji

Khushi stared at her in disbelief. In all this chaos, she had not informed Di's husband, she realised.

"Nahin Mamiji. Hum tho bhool gaye." Khushi admitted.

"I will let him know. He is in Agra, Di had told me" Arnav said still in shock.

The whole Raizada household...next day waited at the hospital corridor as Anjali was being operated.

"Damaadji ko aajana chahiye" complained Mami. She was never the one to mince her words.

"He said he would be here by this afternoon, Mami. He had to attend a hearing this morning." Arnav informed

"What hearing? Isn't this more important? " replied Mamiji. Sometimes Damaadji was inconsiderate, she felt.

All was forgotten when the doctor came out to talk to them...she informed them that the operation was over and that Anjali was fine.

"She will be observed in the recovery room for 2-3 hours" the doctor informed.

Shyam who had arrived just then waited with the rest of the family in the corridor.

"I hope Anjali bitiya is alright. She very much wanted to have a child" Naniji shed a tear.

"Naniji, we all need to be strong for Di. If we cry, we will only make her pain worse by reminding her about what has happened..." Khushi consoled hugging Naniji.

"You are right, Khushi bitiya." Naniji said cupping Khushi's face with affection." You are a wise young woman. Varsha was right." said Naniji as she kissed her on her forehead while Arnav watched.

Khushi had been very strong and mature, he agreed with Nani in his thoughts. She had consoled Di like no one else could have...like a sister would have.

Khushi continued to look after Anjali over the next few days after her discharge. Anjali had insisted that she was alright and that everyone including her husband get back to work. Only Khushi knew of the silent tears she shed every now and then, as she remembered her baby. Khushi knew Anjali was trying to put up a brave front in front of everyone. She also knew that Anjali's wounds would heal with time...as they do.

If you would like to read my previous fiction, here is my index- My Arhi stories

The credit for the videos belongs to the makers and actors and everyone involved with IPKKND. My story is inspired from theirs.

Please leave feedback with likes and comments. The longer the comments, the more happy you make me.😊

Next week, I will update on Saturday.

Part 19