OS ||A Thousand Words||

Khushi stood in far corner beside one of the stalls set up in lawn, watching everyone enjoying the party. The Holi celebration is going on in full swing with different colors and water around her. The lush garden of Raizada mansion has been beautifully decorated with streamers of mirror and crystals that were interlaced with marigold flowers and leaves of the trees. Some music related to holi festival playing in background as few people danced on them, more guests coming and mingling with each other and wished each other while applying colors.



Canopied tables are set in far corner of lawn few containing refreshments and few varieties of colors. Also, small pavilion types have been set up for the guests who just wants to enjoy from far or are too tired after playing holi. A group of men was busy in making the bhang with those fresh green leaves for those who wants to have it and for others thandai was also arranged. Drummers also made their entry and everyone started dancing on the beats of Dhol (drum). Khushi have made sure that everything is on place and nothing is left out for any guest to complain later.



"Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada", Two months ago with this name she have got so many responsibilities also as the elder daughter-in-law of Raizada family. Now her every action not only effects her or her family but also the name of her husband and his family which is now her family also. So from last two months the old chirpy and carefree Khushi Kumari Gupta is trying her best to adapt herself in the shoes of elder Raizada bride and wife of "Arnav Singh Raizada."



"Arnav Singh Raizada", She sighed as a gentle breeze blew around her, whipping her hair on her face which she tucked behind her ear. Ever since her hasty marriage to Arnav Singh Raizada life had changed so much for her, for good or bad she is unable to decipher. Everyday is no less than a struggle, to ensure everyone in their family is happy, to always try of becoming a part of this new world where she is no more that crazy, simple and middle class Khushi but wife of Arnav Singh Raizada. Wife of one of the most powerful businessmen in the world whose every step is under the scrutiny of media. She can no more go around in her bright color cheap suits or speak loudly without a care of anyone.



A tutor has been especially assigned to teach her basic etiquettes and English so she don't embarrass herself and ASR in front of media or his colleagues. She looked at the window of their room hoping to have a glance of him but sighed sadly having none. All those struggles doesn't matter, she would have happily accepted and learnt everything for him, if only the circumstances wasn't different. To the world and their families, they are couple crazily in love who couldn't wait to be with each other therefore married on the same day of their siblings but beyond the closed doors of their bedroom only they knows the reality. Only Arnav and Khushi knew that their marriage is just a compromise for the happiness of their families.



Khushi saw Payal running as Akash was chasing her with a water gun in his hand and her smile faltered though she composed herself instantly. She is happy to see them but her heart felt the pang of sadness, she wiped the lone tear from her eyes before it can fall; she would have been also enjoying happily, not just to show others if her relationship with Arnav would have been real. If only...



Akash who stopped beside her for the glass of thandai and after having it started speaking "Why aren't you joining us?"



Khushi smiled at him "Just don't feel like getting smeared in colors, also I have to make sure guests are comfortable."



Akash nodded as he sipped another sip of his thandaai "I told you already, bhai doesn't play holi. So don't wait for him."



Khushi don't look at him but replies with a smile "I know and I am not waiting for him either."



"Yea sure! Therefore your eyes are stealing glances of your room's window." He replies sarcastically. "What is bothering you Khushi ji?"


Khushi looked at him surprisingly " What do you mean?"


"I may stay silent but that doesn't mean I don't see what is happening in front of my eyes. I stay silent because I trust my brother's capability of taking decisions." Akash speaks looking straight to other members of his family. "I can see something is amiss. Yours and bhai's (brother) sudden marriage, yea I know you guys told you love each other and bhai wanted to ties the knot asap but you've not been yourself lately and unlike others I deny to believe it is all because of new responsibilities. A person so full of life can't turn so aloof and silent for this pity reason. The Khushi ji I knew was full of spirit and always up to challenges without losing her believes of enjoying life then what changed? I know that somewhere bhai is also reason behind it. I can also see the love and longing for each other in both of your eyes and this confuses me more that if you love each other so much than what is bothering you both?"



"It's nothing. I think you are being too thoughtful. You know your bhai right? He likes to stay in silence and hates too much noise around him so as his wife I am trying to make sure he is comfortable also trying my best to transform myself as a part of his world." Khushi laughed trying to shrug off his enquiries which she is sure not only his but her sister's also whose concerned eyes she feels many times upon herself.



"If you don't want to share it's your wish but don't try to fool me, I am also the brother of same shrewd ASR. Why you have to change yourself if Bhai have fallen for the crazy, innocent and full of life Khushi Kumari Gupta you used to be two moths ago." Akash speaks looking at Khushi as if trying to peel the layers of hidden truth behind her fake laughter and left understanding she won't share anything.



Arnav sat beside the pool in his garden, working on his laptop and trying to shut his ears to the jarring from the certain area of his house. After fighting the long fight with his inner self, his feet unknowingly started moving to the direction of the window from where the loud noise of drums and laughter was coming. His eyes started scanning the decorated garden for Khushi but she wasn't to be found, his eyes kept roaming around for the glimpse of her. He found Nani, Mama ji and Mami ji standing with Gupta family, his sister also laughing and enjoying with them, his heart soared in relief. Khushi's idea had actually worked, she wanted both families to enjoy this fist festival after their marriage though theirs is different case but for Akash and Payal also it's their first holi after marriage so it should be celebrated in grand way.



Arnav frowned not unable to spot her and leaned forward to take a good look as his eyes turned anxious. He looks around frantically for the figure dressed in designer white saree and long silky hairs and those hazel orbs which keeps distracting him from his work and keeps him awake in nights. His wife was nowhere to be seen amidst the people losing their wits under the influence of bhang and acting like clowns and that left him more worried. "What if she lands herself in some problem?" He looked at himself though he haven't gone downstairs but he is wearing the casual blue jeans and white shirt his wife have left for him on their bed and he knew, with the hope that may be he'll attend the celebration. Looking once more for the glimpse of her, his heart won as he decided to go downstairs.



Khushi walks to other side noticing the lack of eatables and when she was asking workers to fill the platter more before the remaining ends Anjali joined her.



"Khushi ji, what is this? You arranged this party, you worked so hard and you yourself aren't playing." Khushi turned to look at her after pasting wide smile on her face "Di! I am not feeling well therefore I don't want to play holi this year."



"What happened to you? Look at you, running around like crazy to make sure everything is in place but making excuses for playing holi?" Anjali asks sarcastically and grabbed a fistful of color to apply on Khushi "And even if you're not feeling well, I won't throw water on you but little bit of color won't harm for ritual sake at least."



"Di, please!" Khushi requested.



"Khushi ji, will you please tell why? Did you and Chotte fight again?" Anjali asked worriedly looking at her pleading sister-in-law who is avoiding enjoying the celebration of her first holi after marriage.



Khushi sighed wistfully "Di, I wanted Arnav ji to put color on me first as this is my first holi after marriage but since ASR doesn't like these useless celebrations, I don't feel like playing holi at all."



Anjali smiled sadly and hugged her throwing the color from her fist away "I wish Chotte could have joined us today, at least for you." Khushi nodded and without a word walked away, first Akash and now Anjali. She knows they are worried but she don't want to discuss her personal issues with them, she don't want their sympathy and for sure she don't need them to start judging her.


Arnav looked at Khushi as she walked towards one of the pavilions made in garden and thought over the conversation he have just heard between his sister and Khushi. He hadn't intended to eavesdrop, he had just walked in the decorated lawn and was highly impressed with the arrangements Khshi made, party was going on full swing. His eyes scanning the crowd for Khushi when he found her instructing some worker. He started walking towards her but one of the guest stopped him after looking at him and when he again turned to her he found Di with her her. As he neared he can see Di with color in her hand, ready to throw at Khushi who looked reluctant much to his surprise and what he heard next suddenly made him feel guilty. He isn't used to feel guilty but this woman often makes him feel guilty as this time also he feels like kicking himself when he realized she is not enjoying because of him.



He started taking slow steps to her direction, he can see her back as she stood lonely, in an isolated place, leaning on a pillar. She looked tired, her hunched shoulders shaking a little, telling him that she is crying and without understanding why something kicked in his heart. Just as he was nearing her he saw someone appear out of the blue and he halted in his tracks as he heard the voice and his chocolaty warm orbs instantly turned stony looking at the root cause of every distance between them "Shyam Manohar Jha."




"Khushi ji, why are you standing alone on such a lovely day?" Khushi spun around instantly hearing sick voice of Shyam.


"What are you doing here?" She hissed angrily and Shyam only smiled sickly in return "Khushi ji, I just felt bad looking at you standing so aloof when everyone is busy enjoying. So I thought to..."


Khushi interrupted him unable to hear more "Don't! I don't need your fake concern. Don't you have any shame left in you? You should be concerned about your pregnant wife and make sure she is comfortable but here you're behind another man's wife."


"Khushi ji, why are you speaking like this? Can't I even wish you holi?" He said coming near her with color in his hand.


"No! you can't. I want nothing to do with a sick man like you. I can never trust your intentions again after the way you have played with our lives. Leave right now!" She snapped at him angrily.



"Khushi ji, at least..." Khushi again interrupts him seeing him taking steps forward "If you dare to take even one step forward, I will not hesitate to scream. I don't care what will everyone think but I am damn sure Arnav Singh Raizada won't spare the man who dared to misbehave with his wife." Khushi snarled and met his glaring eyes but felt satisfied seeing his face losing colors.



Arnav was unable to hear what they are speaking from the place he is standing but he can make out that Shyam is trying to apply color on her of which Khushi is replying angrily. He was all set to go there and show him his place when he saw his shoulders slumped in defeat as Khushi warned him with her index finger pointing on his face.



He sighed in relief seeing Shyam leaving from there after that but next moment fisted his fingers, angrily. He never felt so helpless before, he needs to take care of both Khushi and Anjali but at the same time careful of not disclosing Shyam's true color before his sister for few months. He knows Khushi understands his plight as she is aware of Anjali's serious condition therefore she won't ever complain but this makes him feel more guilty as she have to compromise so much.



Arnav's gut clenched as he saw her shaking when she cried, this is all his fault. After their marriage he got too busy in assuring the security of both Raizada'a and Gupta's that he failed to support her. He knew she is turning aloof, the spunk he'd always admired in her has been disappearing and he knew somewhere he is also responsible for it still he was too busy in mourning over the havoc their life have turned. A strange kind of pain lodged in his heart as he looked at her tired form, she looked so tired and defeated. He thought he is helping her with all training etc so she don't end up getting embarrassed between anyone as she have to attend many events with him now as well family functions. But now he realized he failed to give her that emotional support which she needed the most. She is trying everything to be a perfect wife, a perfect Raizada bride but what is he doing?



He turned his face away as he realized he again failed her but what can he do? Being emotional openly or support someone is not something he have ever done neither he knows how to do that but now he wants to do this for the woman who is sacrificing so much for his family and did he dare to accept for the woman whom he love?



When they are together sparks flew, everyone can see the love for each other in their eyes as they tease them but he had never tried to understand her. He'd always cut her with short, cold and harsh retorts from their first meet and she always choose to look beyond it and let it go with her big heart. At least earlier used to be verbal fights between them but now they rarely exchange words exception in front of family or when they need to ask something from each other.



He walks away trying to control his emotions and when Anjali looked at him with wide smile and tried to apply color on his cheeks, he ducked his head and denied before grabbing a glass from the plate which one of the staff was serving and drank it at once. "Bhai, that was bhang." Akash shocked voice made him look at the now empty glass and he shrugged but within few minutes he started feeling tipsy.



He started looking for Khushi again as he took fistful of red color in his palm with her words ringing in his ears. He grabbed one more glass on his way and soon his eyes found Khushi sitting on a bench. Throwing away the half empty glass he walked towards her and sat beside her, Khushi looked at him surprised but bestowed him with small smile anyways.



"You came?" She asked with a happy glow on her face and his heart soared in happiness realizing the glow on her face is because of him.



"I had to! I can't sit back in my room and let my wife sit in a corner alone when everyone is enjoying the celebration." Arnav replied looking at her lovingly.



"You came for me?" She asked like a child needing assurance and he nodded.



"Hmmm" she sighed and leaned back before she got up to leave but his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. She struggled to free her hand from his grip as tears started flowing from her eyes.



"Khushi Please!" he almost pleaded and she stilled. He lifted her hand gently and clasped between his before kissing on the back of her palm making her turn to look at him in surprise. "I am sorry" he asked forgiveness making her frown.



"Why are you saying sorry, Arnav ji?"



Arnav sighed and made her sit beside him again "For neglecting you, unnecessarily when I should have supported you."



"Why do you think, you didn't support me? You supported me therefore I am here today, as your wife." She answered him with a smile.



"But just for namesake, we both know it was only a compromise." Khushi interrupts him with tears "And you don't consider me as your wife. I understand Arnav ji."



Arnav looked at her shocked "No! That's not what I meant." He sighed before he made her look at him "Happy Holi, Khushi!" he whispered while applying color on her cheeks making her eyes go wide.



"Laad Governor! Why are you so difficult to understand?" Khushi pouted and Arnav's eyes narrowed looking at her posture, only then he realized she is feeling dizzy as her eyes are blinking again and again. "You're drunk?"



Khushi nodded in no "I just drank a glass of thandai."



Arnav shakes his head in denial, though he have taken one and half glass of bhang himself but he is very much in control to understand what he is doing and what is happening around him and Khushi is surely under the effect of bhang.



"Come Khushi, let's go to our room." He said standing up and pulls Khushi towards their room. Shyam who was looking at them from far punched the pillar beside him, he have planned everything so well when he sent that waiter with that glass of bhang to serve Khushi as thandai but Arnav had to spoil it.



Arnav makes Khushi sit on bed and gives her glass of water to drink, he was himself feeling tipsy but not that much to loose his consciousness. He turned to pull comforter over Khushi but she pulled him to sit beside her "Happy Holi to you too, Arnav ji." And she rubbed her cheecks over his alternatively making him smile at her cuteness.



"You are right. You should feel sorry but making me feel alone." She complained standing up and walked towards French windows with wobbling steps. "Ours marriage was a sacrifice and I don't expect anything from you but still it hurts, Arnav ji." She looks at him with teary eyes and points to her heart "Dard hota hai."(It hurts)



Arnav looks at her with regretful eyes and their thought went back to the night of their marriage.

Flashback



Khushi was scared, very scared after the confrontation with Shyam on terrace she knew she can't take him lightly anymore. He is turning dangerous and only person who came to her mind was Arnav with whom she can share her fears and so she ran from terrace searching for him.



Arnav who was already searching for Khushi to reveal his newly found feelings was surprised to see Khushi coming towards him running. She stopped in front of him, her eyes teary and fearful making him worried "Khushi, what happened? Why are you crying?" he instantly inquired holding her from shoulders.



"I need to tell you something." And she pulled him from his hand and stopped only after entering inside his room, he left more shocked when she locked his door after entering inside.



"Khushi, you are scaring me now. Will you tell me what happened? Have anyone tried to misbehave with you?" he asked last question angrily as suddenly his mind indicated looking at the blue marks on her arms.



Khushi nodded and before he can question more she was crying in his arms, her small fists clenching his coat on his back as she cried bitterly. He hugged her back after initial shock and after she calmed down, he made her sit on bed.



"I don't know if you'll trust me or not but I can't keep it to myself anymore and I don't know why but my heart says only you can help me." She have said making his heart soar in happiness that even after how he have treated she still trusted him.



He listened to everything in stunned silence as she revealed everything from her first meeting to Shyam in lucknow till tonight confrontation on terrace. He felt his breathe struck as he thought about his loving sister who adore him like God, his sweet and caring nature towards his sister and family. He felt it difficult to believe but one look at the broken woman in front of him and his heart twisted in pain. Her lips though are now silent but her eyes saying thousand words as she looked up at him with so much hope.



He have always overlooked her eyes which speaks thousand words and listened to his mind but today. May be, because he have accepted his feeling for her, his heart is denying to overlook her plight and hopeful eyes. He gulped and standing up from his place turned to look outside from French doors.



"I need time, Khushi. I am not saying that I don't trust you but he is living with us from many years and have never given us a chance to doubt or complain about anything. Still, I want to thing about everything once again but I promise if whatever you're saying is right I won't let him harm you or play with your life anymore."



Khushi looked at him little relieved but also scared "What if he believed Shyam over her?" she stayed silent but asked the question which is more important at this moment "It won't cause any problem in tonight's marriage?"



Arnav turned to look at her "I promise you that. Akash and Payal love each other and I won't let anything or anyone spoin the happiness of my brother."



Khushi smiled in relief and walked away from his room to get herself ready for her sister's marriage and also help her in getting ready. So she was surprised when Hari Prakash have suddenly called everyone in Anjali ji's room as per ASR's order. They all gathered there to see Arnav sitting beside Anjali and Shyam ji on bed.



Her heart sank with the thought of him believing Shyam when she was surprised to know about Anjali's pregnancy as revealed by Nani ji. But her surprise didn't end here, she was stunned when Nani ji asked her hand for Arnav ji as he have kept his wish to marry her.



Her family was surprised and have have looked at her for answer but Arnav stopped them and himself comes in front of her. "Do you trust me?" he whispered for only her to hear. "More than herself" her heart screamed but she just nodded and so he forwarded his hand and asked "Will you marry me? Right here, right now along with the marriage of Akash and Payal?" everyone gasped in surprise and started talking but Arnav managed to make them quiet and agree for the marriage for tonight only.



All eyes were looking at her but hers only looking at him. She didn't know if he trusts her or not, she don't know why he is ding this but her heart knew just one thing he makes her feel protected and she trusts him with her life. So she slipped her palm in his waiting and nodded her head in acceptance.



After that everything was in blur as she got dressed in another bridal dress arranged by Arnav along with jewellery and declared as Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada with all the rituals and blessings of their family.



That night when she enetered inside the house in his arms she vowed to fulfill all her responsibilities. She felt hurt when she was waiting as his bride on his decorated bed but when he have entered inside the room he revealed all about the sudden marriage. It was a compromise he did to safeguard Khushi and her sister who according to doctor is very weak to carry a child but as she is adamant so she have to be taken care properly and kept away from any kind of stress.



He have gone to disclose about Shyam to Anjali and also to tell her that he wants to marry her as according to him this is best way to save him from Shyam's advances but her pregnancy news and doctor's warning stopped him and just disclosed about his wish to marry her.



She have nodded in understanding and promised to support him in his every step as his wife. She hides all her pain behind a comforting smile when he walked away to sleep on recliner and from that day this is their life. Crazy in love couple for world but behind the four walls the silence and distance accompanies them. So many things to say, so many feelings to share but only their eyes speaks the thousand words their lips wants to say.



Flashback ends



Khushi leans on his knee as now he sat on the same recliner he sleeps upon. "I saw when Shyam was trying to apply color on you today, I should have come there and stopped him. I always fail to support you when you need. What if he tried to do something bad? I am sure you drinking bhang isn't some silly mistake, he must have hands in it. What if... what if.." Khushi cuts him off looking at him.


Arnav's jaw clenched and nostrils flaring in anger, she cupped his cheek "How can someone hurt me when you're here?"


Arnav looked at her surprised and his eyes softened "But I was not there Khushi. What if I didn't join the celebration?"


"Than it's not Shyam's or anyone's fault, it's your fault. Why you were not there?" she complained leaning on his knee again.


Arnav stared at her with open mouth "I felt really sad when everyone was enjoying there. I wanted you to apply color on me and apply color on you myself but you declared you don't waste time in silly things." She acted like him while saying last line making him frown but he smiled at her antics.



She suddenly gets up "Let me bring more color and I'll smear it all over you, now." Arnav instantly holds her to stop her but with sudden jerk she falls on his lap, holding his shirt collar for support as always.



He takes sharp breathe when she inhales him, making herself comfortable on his lap "You smell so nice Arnav ji" she whispered near his ear making him swallow hard. She is under the effect of bhang but once she regains her mind she'll remember everything and he fears her reaction than.



"Your eyes, you don't speak much but do you know your eyes speaks a thousand words to me" She drags her fingers to his eyes, then nose and giggled "When you get angry, it looks like your nose is breathing fire but I like it" and she pecked on his nose making his breath hitch, she don't know but she is playing with fire. Her fingers stopped on his lips as she traced them making his eyes land on her plump and pink ones "and your lips" Arnav interrupted her "And my lips what?"


Khushi smiled dreamily "From the day you kissed on my cheeks to challenge me, I have always felt them on my skin, teasing me." Arnav groaned as he tried to control his desires but the woman in his arms is testing his patience. His eyes again landed on her lips and she parted them in response much to his surprise.



He instantly stands on his feet, least he loose his control and they regret later "Where are you taking me, Arnav ji?" She asked without any worry, encircling her arms around his neck. "To make you lie down on bed so you can sleep." He answer while he carefully made her lie down on bed.

"But we were talking, I want to talk with you." She sits back on bed making him sigh "We can talk later." He tried his luck again but she is not in mood.


"No! After so long I am getting the chance to speak my heart and you are also hearing me instead of running away. I can't take chance, what if you change your mood again" she complained making him regret his behavior more.



"I won't ever ignore you again, I promise." He assured sitting beside her and she smiled "I trust you." three simple words left his heart soaring in happiness and the realization struck him hard. Khushi have always trusted herself with him, unconsciously she have always searched the security and support in him. When she came running into his arms in hospital crying for her Babu ji, when she let him mould herself as he wants on the night of Diwali, when she came running into his den hurt by her cheating fianc, when she have risked everything on the night of their marriage coming to him with her biggest fear and laid it in front of him and when without any explanation she have given her hand to him in front of their family. He realized it all now that she have innocently always trusted him to protect her, to mould her in his own colors.



His eyes turned misty at the realization and he vowed to cherish her till his last breath. He leaned forward and kissed on her forehead sealing the promise with himself and looked down at Khushi who was looking at her confusingly. "Do you know, when you come near me, my heart starts beating so loudly "Dhak- Dhak, Dhak-Dhak" Why does it happen, Arnav ji?" He smiled in response and holding her palm pressed it on his own heart "Because when we are together, our heartbeats becomes one 'Hamari Dhadkanein ek ho jaati hai."


Khushi looks at him adoringly and takes their hand back to her heart to make him feel her own heartbeats and smiled at him "Ek ho jaati hai (It becomes one)." Arnav nodded smiling at her and pulls her into his arms.




"I am feeling sleepy." She whispered and Arnav nodded "I know, lie down and go to sleep." He speaks standing up but she stops him "Will you lie down with me? I don't like when you sleep far away on that stupid recliner." She looked at the recliner in disgust making him chuckle but he stopped when she continued "Also I feel scared. I have never slept alone, nightmares of my parents death scares me." She again reveals her secret to the only man she trusts and next moment she feels him beside her as he pulls her to lie down in his arms and she settled on his chest with a smile.



"I hope this is not a dream." She whispered before falling asleep. "I promise from the moment you wake up, I'll make sure to word hard on making your life more beautiful than dream." He kissed on her head "Happy Holi, Khushi! I promise you today to fill your life with colors as you have filled mine."



The End.



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