Arnav woke up to the beaming sunrays peeking through his bedroom windows. He opened his eyes in daze. He slept in his suit unaware when he dozed off into deep slumber. He stood up stretching his arms. He took out his wallet from his trouser pants and as he was about to place it on the side table, a small envelope slipped out and fell on the floor. He bent on his knees to pick it up and the envelope read it as Open only when you reach 27.
He took the edge of the bed and intriguingly opened the letter,
Chote,
There is something you need to know. Do you remember I always told you that you have to marry a girl of my choice. The time came my son.
Me and Shashi met on the day you were born.
...
...
...
We got you guys engaged. Shashi and Garima are very superstitious and firm believers of astrology. They insisted to show yours and Khushi's kundali which I didnt really appreciate. I never believed in those damn things. The pandit stated that there is Kala Sarpa dosham in Khushi's birth chart until 27 years, which will put her in laws and husband in danger. I didnt believe this. We felt it as total rubbish but Shashi insisted that we wait and be separate until you guys turned 27. That man was always concerned about our family more than his. So we agreed and as token of your engagement, we both bought 10 acres of land under your names in Juhu area.
I am sorry for forcing you to do this. But I promise you wont find better family than Shashi's.
Dad.
What crap Dad? was the first few words that he spitted reading the letter. The only thing that registered in his mind is Khushi. He remembered naming Cookie as Khushi to satisfy his own heart. Past bitter memories flashed in his mind. What a pathetic joke life is playing, he thought. The thought that Khushi may be blamed for his loss didnt even cross his mind.
He read the letter again, again, and again. He dialed a number,
Aman, I am sending you a address in Juhu. Find out its net worth. You have 30mins. He disconnected the phone and jumped into shower.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arnav's phone rang. He answered, Hello!
Sir, Net Worth 320 crores. Mr. Shashi Gupta commercialized it. Its hot property in the area.
Hmmm. Arrange my meeting with our attorney tomorrow. He disconnected the phone and dialed Shashi's number.
Hello Mr. Gupta...
...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Khushi laid on her bed. Its been 18hrs since she stepped out of her room. Garima entered and felt sorry to see her daughter in such state.
Khushi?
Khushi didnt respond. She remained silent looking at the opposite wall.
Khushi, get up and get ready. Arnav is coming to see you.
Did she hear Arnav? she sat up on her bed.
Who?
Arnav! Chote!
Khushi in a flash second, ran into her bathroom to get ready. She looked happy. Garima was surprised to see her daughter all excited suddenly. She rushed out of the room and informed Shashi. Parents thought their daughter is slowly accepting the proposal.
Khushi is all happy to see a ray of hope and excited to meet her old friend. He already knows her relation with NK, she thought she can easily convince him to cancel the marriage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arnav dressed in blue shirt and grey suit, took the passenger seat behind the driver. He rested his chin on his index finger still deeply thinking about what his dad revealed in the letter.
He is not ready for the commitment at this point. He is not sure if he will ever have time for it.
He is not interested in Marriage, family or love either. But the name Khushi made him curious, just to get a glimpse of her to compare with the girl he named Khushi. The only thing that interested him in that letter is the property worth of 320 crores. He prepared himself to get married for the money if not girl and he is meeting Shashi family just for the formality. Whether his long time fiancee accepts or not, he decided to get married for 2 reasons: One to fulfill his dad's wish and two to acquire the golden fortune.
The car stopped in front of Shashi's bungalow. Garima and Shashi immediately came with thali to invite Arnav. Arnav bent down to take their blessings. When Garima tried to put teeka, he moved his head back little resisting it.
Shashi sighed Garima Let it be.
Arnav noticed his dad's photo in the living room. He stood there looking at the picture in silence. Garima came and stood next Arnav.
He was great man. She said with moist eyes.
He sure was. He said turning to her.
Come, sit. Would you like to drink something? Coffee, tea?
No thanks I am fine.
He settled himself opposite to Shashi.
Actually Khushi said she knows...Garima interrupted Shashi and called him to the side.
Arnav checked out the paintings hung in the huge living room but he failed to notice Khushi's photo on the side table lying next to him.
After few mins, Shashi came and looked uncomfortable. He is trying hard to say something. Over these 8 years, Shashi developed fear over Arnav after experiencing his anger, aggressiveness and competitiveness. He opened his mouth to say something but shut himself immediately.
Any problem? Arnav asked easing his tension.
No No problem. In fact, Khushi is in her room, second one to the left. Feel free to go and meet her.
OK. He said casually and walked towards the room without wasting a sec. SHashi was expecting him to say May be later, but Arnav totally surprised him. After all he is all about business.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arnav meddled with his phone while walking towards Khushi's room. He seemed very uninterested and he just wanna get over with these formalities. As he approached the second door as suggested by Shashi, he prepared to knock still looking at his phone. Then he heard a female voice humming like nightingale. He looked up to find that the door is already opened. He noticed a milky white slender frame dressed in red salwaar kameez. The young lady had her dark brown tresses rested on one shoulder while she was trying hard to latch the antique necklace. She hooked the necklace and threw the tresses from her shoulder to her back covering the milky bare back that he already fell in love just a moment ago. She then turned to her side and bent down to wear her anklets. His eyes trailed her fingers as she lowered them to tie her anklets. She raised her salwar to have better access to her ankles. His gaze dwelled onto the freshly revealed skin and he savored her tiny pink heels as she lifted them for better access. His eyes then trailed her fingers as she flicked a strand of hair from her cheeks. Thats when he noticed her eyes beautifully shaded in smoky brown. Those eyes looked familiar. What is he imagining? He thought. He closed his eyes and opened to find the familiar face again, beautifully accessorized waiting for him. Khushi, he didnt mean to say it aloud but she heard and turned to him with huge warm smile on her face.
He smiled involuntarily engrossed in her beauty. She looked prime and looked absolutely best better than her college days. Cookie is Khushi. He is stunned and pleasantly surprised at the new finding. A proud expression crossed his features for his yet another accomplishment. After all he is getting back everything into his possession, he thought.
Hey Arnav, come on in.
She called him Arnav. He noticed that.
He didnt change. He has become more handsome and an authoritative attitude is spitting off his body. She has never seen him in stubble in their college days but the green stubble added more charm to his face. She admired him, in fact she instantly drooled over him unknowingly, checking out each and every feature and his facial expressions. But there is something missing. Something is not right especially in those dark brown eyes. The faint smile on his face is not matching up to glimpse of sadness in his eyes. She wondered why, after all he is the supreme hero currently leading the business charts, inspiring many young students.
How are you?
I am good and you are Khushi? He questioned her in disbelief.
I think so, You dont see anyone else here. Do you? She teased.
I guess not.
But I thought you already know my name. She smiled remembering their past. So hows life.
Perfect. The way its supposed to be. He replied taking the chair next to her.
He is no longer fun. He seemed rigid and very straight faced. She felt uncomfortable to bring up the topic she intended to.
I didnt know that you were Khushi. He opened up the conversation.
Yeah I hated my name for long. And you will too if you know my full name, Khushi Kumari Gupta.
Yeah sounds definitely old-fashioned. He spoke candidly.
She didnt expect that. She was expecting him to say otherwise. Her mood went little down hearing his reply.
Lets come to the point. I was told you wanted to meet me.
Yeah. Thats true. I am assuming you are aware of our relation.
That you are my fiancee.
She lowered her eyes tucking loose ends behind her ears. She felt weird to hear him call her like that and he did with such an ease.
Well yeah. Dont you think its very stupid of them to fix our alliance at such young age. My father is literally behind my back to get me married to you because of one stupid promise.
He sensed what she is about to say. He remained silent, burning inside with anger. Another time rejection on its way. He thought.
Come to the point. He demanded.
Arnav, you remember NK?
His face turned blank and grinded his teeth suppressing his anger. He spoke nothing nor acknowledged her.
She continued, I love him. We wanna get married. But papa is against it. Could you please say NO to this marriage. He will not agree if I refuse this proposal. She made it clear confirming his doubts.
He sat still looking at her steadily with blank face but raging inside. He leaned back against the chair and crossed his legs expressing his upper hand in this situation. How dare she reject me for someone dumb? He mentally thought.
She felt uncomfortable the way he gave her deadly looks. He never did that before as far as she remembered.
After almost killing her with his raged looks he spoke in stern voice, NO, I cant help you. He said without any hesitation.
What do you mean you cant? I dont wanna marry you. I cant marry you. That hurt his ego and ticked him off.
I am not dying to marry you either. Dont give yourself too much credit. I dont care whom you love, romance or have kids with. This marriage will happen because there is 360 crores in line. I cant afford to lose it.
She was disappointed hearing his reply. She smarted and stood up from her chair, Arnav, NK is my love. Those words ached his heart, reminding him the buried jealous and possessive emotions on her. She continued, And you are worried about money?
Ms. Gupta, I bet your love is hanging onto you because you have money. Anyway, thats your problem. The marriage is final. Marry me, sign the papers and you will be free to go to anywhere or to whomever you want. Thats the only option you got. If you refuse, I dont think your father will let you get married to anyone else considering his religious views.
He is right. SHe is stuck between her dad's promise and her love.
He continued reading her helpless expressions, I need that property at any cost. Here is my number, sleep on it and let me know by morning. He threw his visiting card on the coffee table and turned to exit.
Arnav...
He turned around to meet her teary eyes.
What have you become? Simple question yet so difficult to answer for Arnav Singh Raizada.
He stood still without saying anything. In fact, he didnt wanna answer her because he got no answer. Thats one question that haunted and still haunting him all these years. He never dared to ask that question to himself because he knew he drifted lifetimes away from what he actually was.
He took few steps walking backwards and swiftly turned to go away from her room, her house and most importantly away from her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shiv Shakti
Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon
Cricket
44