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Gupta Mansion,
Khushi quietly walked into her house while her mother walked towards her and said,
" Khushi, start packing the things which you need the most. You have to leave to Lucknow as soon as possible, na. Rest everything, I will carefully pack and send it for you."
Fury gushed in through the veins of Khushi, as realization dawned upon her and scorched her in the furious heat of it. That Raizada told her Mumma even after her telling that she wouldn't go to Lucknow?
" Mumma, are you in your senses? Why will I go to Lucknow? This is my last semester and I have to sit for my exams. Moreover you told me that you will allow me to act after I graduate so I have to pursue my career too. I don't have time to go for sightseeing to any Lucknow." Khushi's despair, irritation and justified anger reflected in her tone as she spoke to her mother with eyes reflecting her seriousness and determination.
" Sightseeing? Are you out of your senses, Khushi? You are going to your in-laws house, your rightful home. And acting? It doesn't suit married girls, and you better accept the fact. About your exams, we will speak to your Principal about it, don't worry." Garima's high and loud tone, had brought Arnav out of room, while Khushi's form shaking with anger appeared in front of his eyes.
Garima was immensely hurt while enunciating each and every word, but the society she lives in was compelling her to utter the words, she never wanted to utter.
" Married? Mumma, I seriously cannot believe that you consider me as married. It was an act, or maybe a crime. If there was no marriage itself, from where will in-laws and their home come from? And Mumma, Insaan Apnon Ko Bhula Sakta Hai Lekin Apne Sapnon Ko Kabhi nahi Bhula Sakta, Khaas Kar Ke Woh Sapne Jo Usne Khulle Ankhon Ke Saath Dekhe Ho. And if you still feel that I am married, I am all set to go to Renuka Aunty and ask her to file for an annulment. BUT I.AM.NOT.GOING.TO.LUCKNOW." Khushi's every dream had shattered the minute the video went viral on the internet and Khushi knew about it, knowing her mother's fear for the society. But she didn't think that her mother would force her to accept a person whom she hates more than anything as her husband and asks her to sacrifice everything for that.
Arnav wanted to take Khushi's side and ask Garima to stop forcing her from accepting the marriage. Because he knew that relationships can never be based on a force, lie or hatred. But before he could act on his instincts, he heard Garima's voice resonating in the living room.
" We have already lost a lot of respect in the society due to whatever happened, Khushi and by going for an annulment, you will destroy whatever remaining pieces of respect in there for us. And Khushi, if I am saying that you are going then you ARE going to Lucknow, is that understood?" Garima screamed at Khushi as fiery tears filled her eyes thinking that her own mother can do this with her.
"Mumma, you realize that what this Raizada has done is a crime right? My section 496 stating 'Marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful marriage', what he did is a crime and he can get a punishment of 7 years. Moreover, the marriage is not legal by the Indian Penal Code, Mumma. Then why are you doing this with me?" Arnav was ashamed of himself as Khushi even quoted the section under which he was a criminal and he badly wanted to console Khushi, but he knew that the only consolation he can offer was, staying away from her.
Garima's maternal instincts had kicked in. The pain in her daughter's eyes on the day of her accidental marriage appeared in front of her eyes, bringing tears to her own eyes.
" No one cares for these laws or anything, Beta. And whomever maybe at fault, but the society will always blame the girls. The finger will always point towards the girls, no matter if they are the victims too. And I don't want your life to be spoiled by the taunts of this society. I have given birth to you, nourished you and brought you up, and till date every decision related to your life was taken by you and your father. Can't I take even a single decision of my daughter's life? Don't I deserve at least this much of right on my daughter and her life?" Garima cupped Khushi's tear-stained face in her palms affectionately while tears appeared in her eyes, while love floated on those tears of pain.
" But Mumma.." Khushi tried to argue with her but her mother stopped her in between and said,
" If you love me, respect me and care for me, Bitiya, you will go to Lucknow along with Arnav, Payal and Akash and listen to their side too. I am not forcing you to accept this marriage but requesting you to give a chance to your destiny, to see what it has in hold for you. After going there, if you believe that their family is not right for you, then I will not stop you but giving up before even trying, is not typical of my daughter and I want my daughter back."
Khushi's brain started working at a pace faster than ever as she devised a plan at how she can make Arnav's family itself reject her. In that way her mother will also be appeased and her motive will also be fulfilled, thought Khushi.
Seeing Khushi deep in thought, with tears all over her face and pain thickening the air around her, Arnav decided to make a move. As his love was not selfish. Not selfish to force her to accept him as her husband and his love.
" Aunty..." Garima angled her face to look at the owner of the voice while Khushi made her face turn back to the original position with her words,
" I will go to Lucknow."
To say that Arnav Singh Raizada was shocked, would have been a understatement as Arnav was not just shocked but was undergoing a mixture of excitement, nervousness, surprise, shock, happiness and innumerable indescribable feelings which gushed in through his heart as Khushi's words fell on his ears.
Will Khushi be successful in her motive or will love win?
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Dedicated to Nisha, as she had told me that she will give her views on this after I post the update so I was restless to read it and posted this.
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