Chapter Eleven:
Reconciliation
Khushi woke up at the crack of morning stretching her arms letting the sunshine drop on her skin to gain some very much needed warmth; yes, Khushi wanted warmth to invade through her being to make her feel better and positive. She had deprived herself from the warmth of everyone around her unintentionally; this reminded her of her new task, a task for which she could not sleep proberly, yet she felt much better than anytime recently. She got up to see Arnav sleeping uncomfortably on the recliner. His neck and back must be hurting him by now, but he would not admit, she thought.
The last two days' events flashed in front of her eyes especially yesterday's ones. He spent the day taking care of everything be it work, her family or Di's health. 'How caring he is? And she...!' she laughed sarcastically. He is right, she is so selfish. She headed to the bathroom for a quick shower before starting with her responsibilities, and the first one was, her duty as the Raizaada's bahu.
The Raizaadas were surprised to see the dining table ready wih many dishes on it.
"Hari Prakaash," Nani called as she took her seat.
"Ji, Nani Ji." The loyal servant replied quickly.
"You've already prepared the breakfast."
"Woh...haan..I got up so early." He replied hesitantly as Khushi aksed him not to tell anyone that she made the dishes, with some help from him, to anyone. She wanted to know the reactions first as she was not an expert in cooking. Mama, Mami and Akaash sat on their chairs waiting for arnav and Khushi to join them.
"Good morning," Arnav and Khushi said in unison. Khushi took Nani's blessings before taking the seat beside Arnav.
"Live long, Bitya. How's you father?" Nani asked with a smile showed her wrinkles more.
"He is better than before, I've just spoken with Amma."
"When will he be home?"
"After tomorrow, Mama Ji." Khushi smiled appreciating their concern.
"This food is so delicious," Manorama spoke as she was engrossed in her meal rather than the conversation.
"I'm really happy for Di," Akaash said staring the meal after wishing Khushi a speed recovery for her Bauji.
When they were about to finish their meal, Hari Prakaash put two dishes of jalebis on the table much tothe room's occupants' surprise. When Nani asked about them, Khushi was the one to reply this time saving Hari Prakaash from the trouble of lying.
"I made them, Nani Ji." All the eyes catsed on Khuhi as she talked," hari Prakaash bhaiya told me that you're going to visit Di, so I made them for her. I made some sugar free jalebis too." Khushi pointed at the small dish.
"Woh, actually Khushi Bhabi made evrything." Hari Prakaash confessed.
"I would not have done anything without your help, Hari Prakaash Bhaiya." Khushi smiled to him mindful to the eyes on her."
"What? Can't I do this little thing for my family?" Khushi asked looking at all of them one by one as they were unbearably silent. The Raizaadas thanked Khushi and praised her food and jalebis one by one overwhelming her with so much happiness, yet she was waiting for him to say something. Why was it so important to her to know that? she did not know.
Arnav felt...what was that? shock, astonishment...He felt a lump in his throat while eating. No wonder he had felt something different about the breakfast today. He had noticed that he likes what she makes and somehow it feels different, so foolish! But was she okay? She was behaving wiredly since yesterday? Is it temprarily? However, he was so glad seeing the happiness and respect in the eyes of his family for her. Even Mami who had spoken about her before was complementing her.
"You'll teach me how to make such yummy jalebis, Khushi." Manorama asked.
"My pleasure, mami Ji."
"Don't 'Ji' me. i'm not that old." Marorana replied arranging her hair. Everyone laughed at this while Khsuhi nodded with a smile. Khushi felt happy, suddenly living with his family turned to be good. Actually we see things the way we want to see them not the way they are, she sighed.
"Excuse me." Khushi stood up after three minutes. After two minutes, Arnav too was in the room getting ready to take his lap top's bag with him. He paused to look at Khushi, who was standing in front of the mirror, getting ready. Their eyes met through the mirror for a fraction of a second before he took his eyes away as her beauty took his breath away yet again. He grabbed the bag and started walking towards the door when her voice stopped him. "I'll go to the university then visit bauji," Khushi spoke.
"Uh...okay." Arnav mumbled not knowing how to react to this piece of information because he had already guessed that. He actually did not expect her to tell him. Her behavior was surprising him that he was wondering what had changed her that everything today seemed to be...good.
khushi told Nani about her schedule and apologized for not being able to join them at visiting Anjali Di. Nani was touched with Khushi's change. Flashing a warm smile Nani told Khushi that she had other responsibiklities for the day plus she had already congratulated Anjali.
Between classes, Payal noticed that Khushi was speaking a lot about her in-laws. Seeing her cousin-friend acttepting the relationship she shares with the Raizaadas after a long time, Payal was glad. She was smarter than etting go of all this without asking Khushi, to which the latter replied, "I have realized that they are really good, so there's no need to be all stubborn with them. I was being horrible. They are so kind. They keep asking me about Bauji and Nani makes me feel better. ArnavJi is also a good guy; he does anything and everything for his family especially Di, and he is the support to my family now. He lives his life for others trying to make people around him happy." Khushi said surprising Payal, who tried to hide that, while Khushi realized that what she said about him is true. His respect for him was definetely increasing with time. She did not know when she had started knowing Arnav to such extent.
"I'm really happy for you, dear. Your in-laws are really good, and so jijaji is. Now you have to strengthen your relationship wih them." Payal smiled.
'Was that a twinkle in Payal's eyes?' Khushi suspected, but chose to ignore it because maybe it was not.
______
Khushi could not concentrate on the book, which was in her hands, as her mind subconsciously drew back to a conversation she had with Payal some months ago.
"A tall handsome man with brown eyes, light stubble , who is made for me. My prince charming will take care of me, love me, fulfill all my dreams and be with me forever. He will show me the whole world. He will love to be fed sweets which I make, love to listen to the stories I have read, and share everything with me."*
Well, he has caramel brown eyes, light stubble...and he is taking care of...everything including my family. Actually I was the one who made him be like this with me. He had always been kind with me and he is though he is trying to keep a distance now, so I don't give him a chance to do anything for me...sweets? well he cannot have them, I mean he can have sugar-free sweets which are made by me, right?
What on earth am I doing now? Why do I want to link him with a picture I have been imagining? But...could it mean..? I've surely lost my mind. Arnav Ji is my husband, that's it! Though she could not help to stop from asking herself that question.
Is he the one I have once wished for?
________
Arnav woke up in the middle of the night as he felt thirsty. Sitting on the recliner and stretching his hand to read the coffee table, where a jug was, he heard a sound of...someone sniffling? Wait, is it Khushi? He stood up and walked towards the bed after some second of hesitance.
"Khushi?" He called her, but she did not respond.
"Khushi?" With the second call, she started sobbing making him more worried. He itched to put a hand on her shoulders, but he stopped himself not wanting to startle her.
"Tum theek ho?" He asked sitting on the bed beside her lying figure.
"Why?"
"Why what?" He was confused.
"Why do you have to be so good?"
"Khushi, what...?" He stopped as she sat on the bed her palms covering her face. She felt him standing, so she removed her palms trying to know what happened o him, and hoping she did not do anything stupid to make him go away; but no he was good as she said. The next moment she found a glass of water near her face hed by him for her.
He was the one who woke up to have water, and now he was offering her water forgeeting why he had woke up in the first place.
When she took the glass from him, he sat again on the bed in a parrallel with her legs.
"Ab theek ho? What happened?" His voice was full of concern, and with a tug she though that the concern was only for her.
"I'm...I'm really so sorry. I have been so rude with you. I should not have been like that. You're doing a lot to my family now despite allof that. I've been so stubborn and immature, yet you took everything with maturity and kindness. And you..."
"Stop." He said softly not liking the conversation a bit.
"I'm sorry...really sorry."
"Will you stop?" He asked softly with a hidden irritation, she noticed. Is he angry with her? He should be, right?
"You don't need to apologize for anything. I understand."
"But I did not. If Amma did not tell me them I would not have stopped my stupid horrible behaviour, which is really unlike me." She felt like adding the last bit.
"Told you what?"
"Ki our marriage was in a hurry because of Bauji's health. He wanted us to get married so he can be assured about my future before anthing happens to him, while I thought that it's you who asked for that. I get toknow this too late. I'm really sorry."
'So, that was the matter? And I was wondering about the sudden behaviour! So aunty must have told her at the hospital.'
"What did you thought?" He heard himself asking.
"That...that you wanted..." Khushi hesitated, but then decided to tell him because he deserved to know the truth, "that you wanted a marriage in a hurry, and to impress me by some money because you think I'm a kid and all," she was looking at her lap while talking, the glass was still in her hands. "that you wanted a young girl who is fool enough to be controlledby you...that you wanted a physical relationship that's why you chose a young one."
"That I'm ten years older than you," he blurted unintentionally.
"Yes, but that was only a stupid excuse. Look at yourself, you look just 23 or 24 maximum. I'm really sorry. I know you are not like this. Those thoughts were out of a haste decision only." Khushi raised her head to search for something in his eyes to find nothing but understanding.
"Can you forgive me?"
"There is nothing to forgive you for. You did not know the truth, and was you got the missing pieces, you've decided to change, right?"
"Yes." She answered hopefully.
"So, it was not something about you." He smiled because he knew that Khushi is good, and because once she realized the truth, she became nice. He had always known Khushi to be like that. She smiled back at him nervously making his heart beat at a fast rate.
"Are we okay?" She asked not tolerating the silence.
"Yes, we are." He stood to have some water, but was stopped by her.
"Arnav Ji?"
"Yes, Khushi."
"I think there's no need to sleep on the recliner. You can sleep on your side of the bed...since we are okay, you know." She casted her lashes down.
"Are you okay with that?"
"Yes. You know it's really hard to sleepon a recliner. Your back must be hurt by now." She did not know the effect those words had on him.
That night both of them got a peaceful sleep after long sleepess nights.
*It's the dialogue from the prologue
Hope the update was long for you.
A New FF: The Twilight https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3779496/arshi-ss-finding-solace-atttm-chapter-ten-page-91-26th-nov
Shaimaa,
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
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