IPKKND-ARHI-FF - Gypsy- Chapter 42 - Page 11

Hey. I read it altogther. And its Superb!!
Amazing! Amazing!!!
Update sooonnn!!

Nice update.waiting for what Arnav wants going ahead with Naina.what's Khushi mayi's surprise for Khushi.Thanks for the PM.

arnav is behaving like a idiot😡...can't wait to read next part...plz update soon😊

update soon plzzz waiting 😃

I just came across this story, beautifully depicted

Chapter 11

A puzzled Khushi looked at Madhumati over and over again, wondering what the matter with her Maayi was. The older women mumbled to herself, occasionally rubbing her hands as if she was extremely pleased. To top it off, at regular intervals she gestured towards Khushi and cracked her knuckles against her temple to ward off the evil eye but whose eye exactly, Khushi had yet to figure out. Neither had the girl done any such thing recently that warranted that much of attention. Ever since she had come back from the clearing after meeting the Maharaja, she had noticed her Maayi in this form and it was late afternoon now.

She opened her mouth to ask Maayi about her odd behaviour but some noises outside drew their attention and mother and daughter walked out to see. The Sardar and the other tribal elders were leaving it seemed.

"They are leaving for the annual meditation trip," Madhumati explained to her daughter.

The annual meditation trip was one that the Sardar and other elders took some few weeks before they started on their nomadic travels again. It also signalled the start of their trading season. The horses, saddles and other items that they had created would be sold shortly. Some Thakur's and Raja's came to the campsite to buy the horses and accessories themselves. One such group was due in some 5 days' time. Before this the Sardar's trip was for 3 nights when he and the elders would travel deep in the desert for their meditation and prayers.

During this time a cousin of the Sardar would be in-charge. To Madhumati this was a time of danger since the cousin was a soft spoken fellow and some of the tribal youths looked upon this time as an opportunity for mischief. During these trips she kept Khushi glued to her side and even now she pulled her daughter by her arm close to herself. The Sardar and his party came to Madhumati who in her capacity as the healer and fortune teller blessed them. To Khushi's surprise the Sardar spared a moment to run a hand over her head and bless her. To Madhumati he said,

"We look forward to this happy event when we come back."

Khushi frowned in puzzlement, looking back and forth between the Sardar and her Maayi but no explanation was forth coming. The leave taking ceremony concluded, the Sardar and his party left and the crowd dispersed. Madhumati tugged Khushi back with her in their tent.

"Now listen to me Titaliya, stay with me these three days and do not go out of the tent in the night at all, now even to play with that good for nothing Shemaroo!"

Khushi frowned. Did this mean she couldn't go to the clearing even? She opened her mouth to ask but Madhumati forestalled her.

"I have something to tell you Khushi."

"Hmmm"

"Not like this. Come and sit with me." Khushi joined her mother on the rugs.

"What is it Maayi?"

"Something very important has come up. Very important and something that I was looking forward to as well; all my dreams and hopes, my prayers are bearing fruit now. I am so happy Titaliya that I cannot describe my feelings."

"Maayi, tell me what is it?"

"I have received a marriage proposal for you, my dear."

Madhumati's words exploded in Khushi's brains light lightening. 'Marriage proposal'. But how? Whom? Was it the Maharaja Sahel? Of course it was the Maharaja Saheb. He had said today that it wouldn't be long now, hadn't he? But when did he come here? Or did he send his family? Why didn't she know about a royal visit till now? A feeling of joy bubbled in her chest while a slight blush covered her cheeks. Shaking her head slightly, she forced herself to concentrate on Maayi's words.

Oblivious to her daughter's feelings, Madhumati continued her monologue.

"I couldn't believe it when they approached me for your hand. I always hoped that you would marry but that your fortunes were aligned with such a good family, I had no inkling. But it's not as if it's only you who is blessed. Even they are blessed; after all there is no other girl as beautiful and skilled as you are, my child. It's a match in heaven. To marry in to the Sardar's own family; to his sister's son."

The Sardar's family? Khushi frowned. Her heart beat heavily and she looked at her mother with wide eyes. "Maayi, what do you mean, the Sardar's family?"

"The Sardar and his sister came here themselves with the proposal. Their son noticed you closely in the wedding when you danced. His mother is also very impressed with your embroidery and artistic skills. Hari is a very nice young man. I know he is a bit spoilt at the moment, what with going around with the other tribal boys but he is hard-working. His skill as a horse trainer is legendary and marriage will temper his wild ways; after all he will have a beautiful wife like you Titaliya. The Sardar himself will sponsor your wedding and will give you away like a father."

As her mother disclosed the full information, Khushi's hands grew cold. The marriage proposal was not from the Maharaja Saheb, she realized but from the Sardar's family. That explained Maayi's happiness and the Sardar's blessings. What was she to do now? She loved someone else; a certain someone who had promised to marry her but had not yet spoken to her mother. How was she to tell her Maayi about this? There was no need to ask if Maayi had accepted the proposal. What fool would think twice about a proposal from the Sardar's nephew. Hari was a good looking young man and a good catch amongst the banjaara's. That he had chosen a half-breed as his bride illustrated the said bride's good fortune. Or course Maayi would have accepted right away. At any other time, she would not have objected but things were different now. She loved someone else. Would Maayi understand? More importantly did she have the courage to tell her Maayi about it?"

Khushi's cold hands trembled and unbidden, tears gathered in her eyes to spill forth. Madhumati noticed the tears at once and frowned. Something was not right! She raised Khushi's chin in one hand and saw her daughter's distress shining in her gaze.

"Kya baat hai Titaliya? Is everything all right?"

Khushi started sobbing, throwing herself in her Maayi's arms as she broke down.

"Khushi, what happened? Tell me."

Feeling a sense of foreboding, Madhumati held Khushi's arms and pushed her upright, shaking her slightly to steady the girl. Her alarm grew as she recalled the girl's more than usual absent-mindedness recently. Had something happened?

"Khushi???"

"Please forgive me Maayi."

"Kya?"

"H-hame maaf kardo Maayi. Hum y-ye shaadi nahi k-kar sakte."

"What are you saying Khushi?"

"I-I cannot marry H-hari. I am in l-love with someone else."

Without any warning, Madhumati's hand connected with Khushi's cheek in a sharp crack. Of all the things she had not expected this answer.

"P-please Maayi, hame maaf k-kardo."

"Kaun hai wo?"

"Maayi………………"

"Tell me Khushi, who is he?"

A sobbing Khushi met her mother's eyes and saw a fierce expression in them. She hesitated.

"Batao Khushi."

"M-maharaja Saheb."

"Kya?????"

"Maharaja Saheb; Devgarh wale."

"Do you mean the Maharaja Arnav Singh Raizada."

"Ji."

Madhumati's hands dropped from Khushi's arms. She looked at her daughter without seeing her. An outsider; not just any outsider but the Maharaja! Her blood ran cold. She recalled Reshma, Khushi's beautiful mother.

Meanwhile Khushi sobbed as she saw her Maayi's face. Oh the disappointment etched in those features. Her sense of shame was blistering. She reached out a tentative hand to touch her mother's hands.

"M-maayi……………."

Her daughter's tearful entreaty brought her back to present and Madhumati looked at that delicate little face, those dainty features and shook her head sadly. Her daughter's tears ran unchecked. An unpleasant thought occurred to her.

"Khushi, ye sab kya hai? Kya tumne kahi apne app ko to nahi…………."

"N-nahi Maayi. Aisa kuch nahi."

Even through her tears her daughter's clear eyes met her mother's, the truth shining in them. A mother's sense of honor in her daughter's virtue was appeased. Madhumati sighed in relief. Thank heavens!

"Then how…………..?"

"Maayi, wo….he wants to marry me."

If her daughter had shocked her earlier, it was nothing compared to what Madhumati felt now!"

"Marriage? The Maharaja of Devgarh? With a banjaaran ladki?"

"Khushi, ye kaise ho sakta hai?"

"Maayi, he ……………"

"Khushi, are you sure he wants to marry you?"

Khushi nodded her head emphatically.

"Has he ever spoken to marriage to you?"

Khushi started to nod her head but faltered. Had he ever mentioned marriage to her? She searched her memory but there was a negative answer. But he had said that he wanted to make her his, he wanted them to be together, hadn't he?"

"Khushi?"

"He…he didn't say marriage but he did say he wants us to be t-together."

Madhumati closed her eyes in despair. It was the same old story all over again. It had happened to countless innocent banjaara girls but her daughter was too nave. How would she know what he meant?"

"Titaliya, wanting to be together and wanting to marry are different things."

At Khushi's look of puzzlement, Madhumati elaborated.

"He is a Maharaja. When he marries, it will be to someone of his class and not a banjaara girl. But rich men also keep other women; as mistresses. They use them for their pleasure but don't marry them. It's a shameful way for these women to live their lives. That is what he meant when he said being together Titaliya. He will not marry you my child."

"N-nahi Maayi, aisa nai hai."

Madhumati's heart ached at her daughter's trusting naivete. The child had no idea of exactly how cruel the world could be.

"Khushi, aisa hi hai. I have seen more of the world than you have."

"Nahi Maayi, hum nahi maante."

"Khushi?"

In answer Khushi jumped to her feet and paced on the rug. Surely what her Maayi had said was not true, was it? But he hadn't mentioned marriage so far either. But then………………

Her decision made, Khushi dashed towards the tent opening. Alarmed, Madhumati called out to her child.

"Khushi where are you going?"

"I have to ask him."

"NAHI!!! Not like this and not now my child. It's almost dark and ………………"

Khushi had already run out in the early dusk. Madhumati got up and hurried out but by then her daughter had already disappeared. She looked around but no one else was visible.

Madhumati walked out slowly to sit on a small wooden bench to wait for her child.

Khushi ran as if the hounds of hell were after her. Running steadily through the forest, she made her way towards the palace. Reaching the edge of the forest, she stood in the shadows. Devgarh Palace was brightly lit and visible but where to go now? The Palace grounds were extensive and even if she reached the palace without encountering anyone, she had no idea where to look for him. To approach any of the servants would be out of question. But she couldn't go back without any answers. Maybe she should wait for more darkness to fall before venturing further. Having decided on a course of action, she sat back against a tree trunk to wait for darkness. Her thoughts were chaotic while she occasionally hiccupped with supressed sobs.

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So she finally realized about the marriage proposal and what Arnav's intentions were.

poor khushi...thinking arnav wants to maary her...what happens when she knows the truth😲

Heartbreak comng up I guess...waitng to know how Arnav reacts to khushi's proposal..and love the mother -daughter relation..pleas updat soon..really eager for the next one