Arshi Story : Once Upon A Time..... chapter 3 up, PG 19, 16th June - Page 6

Chapter 2 - Trading of words

To say he was uncomfortable, would be putting it mildly. He had not thought that sitting between his father-in-law and mother-in-law's scrutinizing gaze will leave him all jittery. He had heard his friends talk about their experience with their in-laws. Their telling him how it's so embarrassing and awkward sitting amidst their in-laws, had always put him to think how his fearless, confident and spunky friends can turn into such a coy in front of their in-laws. He had always thought they are laying it on thick, exaggerating it a bit. But now he can relate to whatever piece they had shared with him. Sitting on the mat, with his father-in-law fanning him and his mother-in-law trying to serve him more roti and sabzi every next minute was SO embarrassing. He was not shy, quiet he was but not shy. But this feeling was new and so obnoxious. How on earth he is to eat with these both hovering over him and noticing every twitch of his muscles. God! Why did he agreed to come here? Well this experience will teach him a lesson and will brave him enough to fight with his mother and not give up as easily as he had given this time.

"Arnav beta, take some more. Do you need something else? Why are you not eating? Is it not good?" Garima went on, seeing her son-in-law eating hesitantly.

"No. Everything is fine. I don't need anything.." he passed a nervous smile. God! It's stuck in his throat, neither can he cough out nor can swallow it.

Garima smiled at him sweetly.

Dusk had fallen soon after he had reached here, and listening to his in-laws he had decided to stay a night. It wasn't a good idea to travel at night that too when here they have no means of transport. He sat in the Aangan and sighed in relief because, may be for a moment, but still he was left alone with no coddling of his in-laws. It was dark, only the kerosene lamp spreading a graceful amber light. And as he sat there, looking around the house, his eyes caught some movement at his front-left corner. There was a room. It was the same room where his mother-in-law had taken the little girl called Koo-Koo. It was dark but still he tried to focus. He saw a dark silhouette of her. She stood there for a moment, looking here and there. He don't know if she saw him or not but soon he saw her dash towards the room across him, which apparently was the kitchen. A laughter bubbled inside his chest. Is he so intimidating? Why is she so afraid of him? May be she is shy. Arnav concluded and sprawled his palm backside and leaned backward, relaxing a bit.

"Arnav, you can take the room to your left." Shashi stood in front of Arnav with a clean bed sheet in his hand.

Arnav immediately got up and nodded his head. As they were about to enter the room, he saw the stairs running up to the terrace. He looked inside the room lit up by the lamp and then above him, the shiny stars twinkling there. Anyways he is not going to get any sleep in this new place, so it's better to spend the night under the stars than in the dark room.

"Hmm...Babu ji, is it ok if I sleep upstairs, on the terrace?" Arnav asked standing near the threshold.

Shashi Gupta turned to look at him.

"But Arnav, it had rained in the morning and it's chilly outside and what if it again started raining?" Shashi asked.

"It's not that cold and if it rained then I will come down.."

"Ok...If you want that...Take this bed sheet, I will bring the mattress." Shashi handed the bed sheet to Arnav and went to look for the mattress.

They made the bed for Arnav on the terrace and after asking if he needs something, Shashi left him alone.

Arnav again breathed in relief and fell on the mattress, instantly becoming aware of how tired he was. He closed his eyes and it was not long before he heard that same voice and his eyes flee open.

"Hey Devi Maiya! Where had I kept that?"

Arnav's head lifted from his pillow. He looked straight, and heard some whisper again but the darkness was not allowing him to see anything.

"Excuse me...Who's there?" Arnav sat on the mattress, tilting his head, searching the intruder.

All the voice and movement stopped instantly. Arnav got up from the mattress and moved ahead. He reached the corner from where the voices were coming.

"Who's there.." now knowing who it is, as he saw a small frame huddled in a corner.

"Ji...Ji...Woh...Hum...Hum..."

The splintered words reached his ears.

"Hum kaun?" Arnav asked, his voice plain, enjoying the play.

"Hum...Hum...Khu...shi..." and saw the figure stand in front of him. He was 6.2'' and she was hardly reaching till his chest level.

"Who Khushi?" Arnav asked, biting his lips to stop the smile, lest she saw it.

"Khushi...Khushi Raizada...your...your wife..." he can sense the nervousness in her voice, a on-the-verge-of-crying tone. And Arnav thought of dropping his game.

"Why are you so afraid of me?" Arnav asked as he took a step ahead and saw her moving a step back.

"Do I look like a monster to you?" he asked again but got no reply.

He stood there looking at the unclear vision of her. As she didn't open her mouth, he moved near her and taking her shaky hand in his, he brought her near the mattress.

"Now you can look at me clearly. Look and tell me, do I look like a monster to you?" Arnav asked.

He saw her shook her head without lifting her head to look at him.

"How old are you?" came his next question.

"1..4...I am 14.." Khushi replied.

"Oh...Don't you want to ask my age?" Arnav asked.

"How...how old are you?" she asked, her fingers fidgeting with each other and head still bowed down.

"I am 18... And till you don't tell me why are you so nervous and afraid of me, you are not going anywhere.." Arnav folded is hands on his chest. He don't know why her nervousness was bothering him. But it was. Maybe he had protested this marriage, but who was he fooling? It was already a lost battle he had thought of fighting. And how old was he? Just 14. Studies were always his priority but at the back of his mind, he had always known this was coming and like everyone of his age, he also had to go through this. But whatever the situation was, now the truth was, the girl standing in front of him was his wife, his responsibility. And Arnav Singh Raizada never backs away from his responsibility. Like many husbands he had seen around him, who take pride in ordering their wife, wanting to tie a chain around their wives feet, so that they can command their every action, wanting to intimidate their every decision,...he don't want to belong to that species. He isn't feeling any pride in seeing her all afraid in his presence. He may not be a perfect husband every girl of her age dreamt of, but intimidating her was the last thing he wanted to do.

"I...I..."

Arnav's train of thoughts came to an halt as he heard her begin.

"I what?"

"I...I am still learning how to behave in front of you.."

Arnav stared at her, not knowing what to say. But soon gaining his tongue, he began.

"And why do you think there has to be a certain way to behave in front of me?" Arnav asked, little annoyed. Who was he? Some God?

"Amma...Amma told me..." Khushi stammered.

"Your Amma is wrong"

Khushi gasped at his blunt reply. Her hand flee to her mouth and eyes as big as saucer.

Arnav stared in her wide eyes. Even in the dark he was able to see her crystal clear beautiful umber eyes.

"How can you say that? Amma is never wrong" Khushi replied, more shocked than offended.

"Why? Why can't she be wrong? She is your Amma that doesn't means she is always right. I am your husband that doesn't mean there should be certain way in which you should behave in front of me."

"You...you are so confusing...I don't want to talk to you...I am going...good night..." Khushi turned around to go only to be stopped by his next word.

"But I am not finished yet."

Khushi turned to look at him. Her sweet face looked at him confused.

Arnav closed his eyes to gather himself as he saw her confuse face. He can't expect her to change her all belief, which she is being fed all this year, overnight.

"Khushi, forget everything." He opened his eyes and looked at her. "Just remember you don't need to learn how to behave in front of me. Just be the way you are, ok?"

"Like I behave with my friends?" Khushi asked him.

Arnav looked at her expecting face and nodded his head. And soon a beautiful smile, he had ever seen, bloomed on her lips.

"I will tell Amma that.."

"No!!"

"What?"

"No need to tell anyone. These things are just between you and me, do you get me? You will not tell anyone."

"Not even Preeto?"

"Who is Preeto?"

"My friend.."

"No. Not even her." Arnav replied.

"Ok..." her voice saddened at the prospect of not being able to share this with her best friend.

"You are not that bad.." Khushi smiled, now relaxed a bit.

Arnav sat on the mattress.

"And why did you think I will be bad?" Arnav looked up at her.

Khushi sat beside him.

"You know Sudha? My friend. She was married off last year. She writes letters to me. She told me her husband is nothing like she had thought. She told me not to have high hopes about my husband."

Arnav smiled.

"Accha? Then what had you thought?" Arnav asked, curious.

"I don't know...humne kuch socha hi nahi kabhi..." Khushi giggled.

A small smile crept on his face as he heard that voice.

"Your parents call you koo-koo?"

"Yes...Not only Amma, Babuji but everyone in the village calls me by this name" Khushi smiled.

"Why?"

"They say my voice is like koyal. So they call me Koo-Koo. Isn't this funny?" Khushi laughed.

Arnav smiled. So it was not only him, everyone else too thinks the same about her voice.

"They are right" Arnav looked at her.

"Sacchi?" Khushi asked.

Arnav nodded his head.

Khushi again giggled.

They sat there in the silence, the little misty air caressing them. Arnav looked at her. Her sweet face looking up at the stars and her milky white complexion glowing in the moon light. She looked so cute. Her hand lifted to her mouth, stifling back a yawn.

"You should go and sleep, Khushi.."

Khushi looked at him and nodded her head affirmatively.

"You will leave tomorrow?" Khushi asked while getting up.

"Yes." Arnav replied.

"When?"

"In the morning..." Arnav replied.

"Don't leave without meeting me, ok? I want to give you something"

Arnav looked at her for few seconds before nodding at her.

Smiling, Khushi turned and left.

Arnav looked at her retreating back, now waiting the dawn to fall soon.