IPKKND-ARHI-FF - Gypsy- Chapter 42 - Page 13

So finally Khushi knows Arnav's intention. Hopefully Arnav will wise up soon and beg for Khushi's hand!!! He's truly acting like a jerk so far.

Chapter 12

Khushi sat in silence, waiting for her moment and when she felt it was dark enough, she got up slowly. Moving silently and quietly, avoiding drawing attention to themselves was a banjaara trait; a part of the education that every banjaara child received.

Moving slowly and stealthily, it was not long before Khushi reached the palace itself. She flattened herself against one wall and waited, thinking. It appeared that there was some function ongoing in the palace. She wondered how she would find Maharaja Saheb. Gnawing on a fingernail, she remained there. But she couldn't go back just like that either.

Gathering her courage in her hands, Khushi, keeping to the wall, walked slowly, and peering in the ground floor rooms as she passed them. Most of the rooms' appeared to be elaborate and yet, at the same time, empty as well and while a few of them had doors that led outside, all such doors appeared to be closed. Feeling very scared, she nonetheless continued her way around, praying to herself all the while.

Finally she spied a room with the outside door open. The room was also deserted. Looking around carefully, Khushi stepped on the veranda.

"Hey girl, what are you doing?"

Khushi jumped when she heard a male voice behind her. Whirling around, she saw a tall slim young man dressed in a suit like the ones the Maharaaj wore sometimes. He held a cigarette in one hand and had walked in from outside. She wondered how she hadn't seen him.

"Come on girl, speak up!"

"Ji, hame Maharaja Saheb se milna hai."

"What?"

"I want to meet Maharaja Saheb. Can you call him please?"

Khushi folded her hands in front of her in request. The stranger came closer and asked her,

"Why?"

"I have to ask him something, please."

"Is it the Maharaja Saheb you wish to meet or were you trying to steal something?"

"Oh no, Sir, I wasn't! I truly have to meet Maharaja Saheb. I promise on my mother's honor, I'm telling the truth. I have never been here and don't know where to find him, that's why I'm here like this. Please help me Sir, please."

Aman had just stepped out for a smoke when he saw this girl entering the Maharaja's study. He took a closer look at her. She was a very beautiful girl and he wondered if she was telling the truth. Common sense told him she was lying and was probably here to steal but her face told another story. The track of tears and distress were very evident. He wondered if this girl was the one for whom the Maharaja bought a mansion very discreetly. He debated his actions before he spoke,

"Well girl, he is busy right now. There is a function in the palace and he is there. You will have to wait for him."

"Oh no, please call him. My Maayi is waiting for me and I cannot be late. Please help me Sahab."

Aman shook his head. He was too much of a soft touch and the girl; she looked more like a child really, was looking on the verge of tears.

'Stay here," he said gruffly and walking to the other door, he pulled it and summoned the countless servants walking around.

"Please tell the Maharaja that an urgent issue has come up and his presence is required in the study."

The servant hurried off; Aman Sahab never disturbed Hukum unless it was urgent.

The opening strains of ballroom music were on and in the first dance, in his capacity as host; Arnav was partnering the guest of honor, Naina. She was as well-mannered and socially adept as he had expected; she danced expertly while holding herself at the correct posture so they appeared completely respectable.

The dance ended and he thanked her politely as they walked off the floor when Arnav spied a servant standing at the edge of the dance floor doing nothing. He frowned slightly; evidently the fellow was waiting for him.

As soon as he received Aman's message, Arnav politely excused himself and walked towards the study; he wondered what urgent matter had come up that Aman had actually requested his presence in the middle of a function. He opened the door of his study and walked in to stand still at the strange sight in front of him.

Khushi stood in the middle of the floor, her hands clasped in front of her, looking ill at ease while Aman stood just nearby. Arnav was thunder struck. He had not expected this at all!

If Aman had debated his actions earlier, he needn't have worried; from the expression of his aristocratic face, Arnav Singh Raizada definitely knew this girl! Silently he withdrew from the study, closing the door behind him with a soft click.

"Khushi???"

"Maharaja Saheb………………"

"What happened sweetheart? Are you all right?"

As he voiced his query, he walked further in the room and caught sight of her small tear stained face. Those beautiful eyes were brimming over with tears. Arnav's breath caught in his chest and raising a gentle hand, he brushed a small curl back from her face.

At his tender gesture, Khushi started sobbing, her breath catching in her throat every now and then.

"Khushi, sweetheart, what's wrong?"

"Maharaja Sahee, woh ……………………"

"Kya woh Khushi?"

"My mother has fixed my marriage Maharaja Saheb."

"What???"

"She received an offer from one of our tribal families and has fixed my marriage."

"No way Khushi, that cannot be. You are mine and no one else's."

Arnav was literally breathing fire. He jumped up from the sofa to pace the floor. The thought of Khusi belonging to someone else was anathema to him. A thought occurred to him and he turned to her:

"Khushi, is that why you are here at this time?"

"Ji. Maayi t-told me about the proposal and I couldn't hold myself. I told her about y-you and me and …………….."

"That's all right sweetheart. You belong to me. There will be no marriage to any banjaara boy for you."

Looking down in to that delicate face upturned to his, Arnav smiled slightly. Running his hand over the heavy mass of her curls, he bent down to press a swift kiss on her head. Reassured, Khushi breathed easily, managing a small smile for him. But no sooner had she relaxed that something came back to her. She had better clarify it this time, she realized.

"Maharaja Saheb, aap hamari Maayi se milne kab aayeege?"

"Tumhari Maayi? But why Khushi?"

"To talk about o-our m-marriage."

"What???"

"M-marriage …………….."

"Whose marriage?"

"Ours."

"But how can that be Khushi?"

"Kya matlab, Maharaja Saheb?"

"I mean marriage between us Khushi; it cannot be."

"Does that mean I don't mean anything to you?"

"Of course you do Khushi but marriage? That's not possible sweetheart."

"Why Maharaja Saheb?"

"Because you are a banjaara Khushi. I cannot marry you. You mean a lot to me and I want us to be together but not marriage. The girl I eventually marry has to be from my own class."

Till now Khushi had desperately hoped that Maayi's words would prove false; that the Maharaja Saheb would marry her. To hear his assurances earlier, that hope had soared like a bird but now, to hear him uttering these words were like arrows piercing her fragile heart. Did that mean Maayi was right after all?

"Maharaja Saheb, if not marriage, then what did you mean that we will be together."

"I meant us to live together Khushi. I have already arranged for a house for you. In fact you don't even have to go back home now. Just remain here and after this party, I'll escort you to your new home. It is just as beautiful like you."

A heartbroken Khushi pushed away his hand which had been resting on her head till now and stood up to face him.

"Maharaja Saheb, living like that without marrying will mean I will be your mistress. Isn't that so?"

At the ugly word mistress, Arnav frowned. He didn't like that vile word associated with his Khushi but then ………………..

"Not really Khushi. Mistress is not a pretty word my dear and does not suit at all. You are my love and that's what you will be."

"Love?"

Khushi's tone betrayed her bafflement. To emotional and passionate people like banjaara's, love meant that emotion for which no sacrifice was too small. For their love a banjaara would do anything except for dishonour. No self-respecting banjaara would dream of dishonouring his love, not for anything in the world. Honor meant everything to them. If that was love, then what type of love was this that the Maharaja was offering her; a love and relationship in which she would be a kept woman with no honour, living a life of shame. Maayi was right after all; Maharaja Saheb never meant to marry her. Forget about marrying her, he didn't even love her. He was no better than those tribal men who looked at her with that mixture of longing and loathing both in their eyes. But she; she really loved him. A fresh wave of anguish washed over her and she closed her eyes briefly.

"Khushi?" Arnav asked in concern.

Khushi opened her eyes and saw him clearly for the first time without the veil of shyness and attraction in her eyes. This was the man she loved. For him she would walk over hot coals even. She knew what her decision would be but she stood still for a moment, watching him. This would be the last time she would see him this close. His handsome features, his manner, everything had won her over but no; not like this. She took a step away from him and then another and then another. Taking a deep breath, she spoke:

"Maharaja Saheb, shukriya. Thank you very much for your offer but I cannot accept it."

Arnav frowned; what did she say just now?

"I cannot accept your offer as I will not disappoint my Maayi. She means the world to me and I will not dishonour her this way. Please forgive me."

"What the hell do you mean?"

"I mean that I am going home to my Maayi and the proposal she has accepted for me. I thank you for your proposal but I don't regret that I'm not accepting it. Maybe you thought that I would not mind living with you without marriage and I apologise if I gave you that idea but that cannot be; to me, my Maayi's and my own honour mean everything."

Having said her piece, she turned around, holding her tears back with every fibre of her being and ran from the room. Once again she was too swift for him. By the time, he recovered enough from her polite but nevertheless stinging refusal of his offer, she had raced away in to the night. Damn!

"Khushi??? Dammit, stop!!!"

It was too late; she had disappeared into the night, the only sound those of her bangles and anklets as the wind carried them back to him.

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Well done Khushi and boy I am proud of her.
Maharaja saheb just found out the life can't be picture perfect even if he is the the king and royalty.
Poor Khushi there is no way out for her, she would not live in sin where she is hidden away as a dirty secret, she is poor and might be with no class but she has a honour and self respect... she loves him but not on the cost of her mother's heartbreak and tears..she is right when she thought that love is not always about roses and laughter its also about sacrifice and tears and that is the path she has choosen.

I am glad that she found out about Arnav's intention early on and not later and she was right she would have been a 'mistress' to him with no social and moral rights. Poor thing does't know yet that he has already handpicked a very socially acceptable wife at the same time as he had intended to start a relation with Khushi..two women at the same time..which was very comman and acceptable in those days for royals but it's not acceptable to our Khushi.

Awesome update written beautifully and I love the way story is moving forward and the brilliant way you are doing it. I felt so sorry for Khushi today, felt like crying with her when she realised the blatant betrayal came her way and her dreams got broken and she realised her mother was right all along.

Please continue soon. Will wait eagerly for the next chapter.
Thanks for the PM.

Great that everything is out in the open..khushi is heartbroken but I am proud that she stood by her morals and did not accept his cheap offer..thanks for the pm

wonderful update.

Oh man!!!! I loved this part...glad khushi decided the right path for herself... Try to update next part soon plzzz..

Nice update and I am really proud of Khusi...Waiting for next update

Arnav was very wrong. He wants to stay with her but does not want to marry her is not fair to her. And arnav cannot marry her only because she is not of his class, then the point of staying together does not come.