Entering their room she had expected to find her husband but was disappointed to find the room empty. Things are so messed up currently in their life, Anjali di is still not believing that shyam can do anything like that, mami is as usual blaming her, akash and payal are not in good terms with each other and even nani seems to be believing shyam. With all this happening all she needed was some solace which can only be found when she was in the arms of her man. She sighed thinking about him as being hers felt so good but she wasn't sure that he will always be hers. With all what has happened in the past ...how he never trusted her or believed her, how this marriage on the basis of which she was saying him as hers was just a contract which would end in few days.
Her mind went back to the night they had just returned after saving themselves from shyam's men and shyam was thrown out of shantivan. Back then the condition was even worse and just as he had held her in his arms she had forgotten everything for a moment and felt comfort and safe something she was missing since the time he had left her hand on the airport.
It felt like everything will be alright if he was by her side.
She smiled at her thought and was going to turn back and look for him around the house but she stopped as she spotted something in pink and white kept on bed.
She stopped and looked at it carefully it was a big cute pink and white teddy bear.
She was surprised she didn't notice it before but then she was too busy thinking about her laad governer to notice this.
She moved towards it and sat on the bed near it. She picked it up and found a note attached to it which fell on her lap when she picked it.
She frowned wondering what was written in it so she kept the teddy aside and picked it up. She opened it and read what was written. -
I want to hold you in my arms every night and I want to be the one you cuddle to each night while we dream about each other.
P.S. - Look inside the closet ;)
Her smile grew wide as she read the note and excitedly she went towards the closed and opened it.
On the top of piles of her churidaars she found a box wrapped up neatly in a rani pink gift wrapping paper.
In her eagerness to know what hid inside she tore the paper quickly and opened the box to find a red sari with golden and silver border and design. Beautiful that was the word that came first in her mind when she saw it. She picked up the pink paper kept on top of it and read it.
Tum laal rang mein bahoot khubsurat lagti ho ...yeh janti ho nah tum ;)
( You know how irresistible and beautiful you look in this color... don't you ? ;)
-Your Arnav )
She blushed a beautiful shade of crimson on her face as a flash of the time when he was almost going to devour her lips just before everything got ruined on that fateful Diwali night.
P.S. - look inside side table's drawer. : )
She practically ran towards the bed side table. She was so loving this...it was new and she was excited so much that she forgot all about the troubles, taunts and family problems.
Looking inside the drawer she found a red box with a silver ribbon tied around in shape
She opened it and picked up the necklace of white pearls in it.
She looked at the string of pearls in her hand as her mind went back to the day she had first met him and he had in his anger pulling the string on her dress making it break and causing such beads to fall on the ground.
She looked back at the box and picked up the white piece of paper kept in it. She unfolded it and read what was written.
Mujhai maaf kaar do khushi har uss pal ke liye jab maine tumhe chot pahoochaye ...apna gussa tum par nikala aur tumhe dara diya.
(I am sorry khushi for all the times I had hurt you...taken out my anger on you and scared you.)
Tumhe yeh yaad hai ? door deyi thi nah maine ?! par maine inn sab ko sambhal ke rakha tha ...mein bhi nahi jaan ta kyu ...aisa lagta tha mano mein tumhaari yaado se juda nahi hona chahta tha...jab main eek baar gusse mein inhe phekh bhi diya that oh HP ne wapas ikhata karke mujhe hi de diya mano yeh mere paas hi rehna chahte ho..ajeeb hai nah ? mujhai bhi lagta hai..
(U remember them ? I broke it but I had saved them all ... I had collected and kept them all safely and I didn't even knew why. I didn't want to get separated with you memory I guess...even when I had thrown them away I anger HP had collected them and given them back to me as if they themselves wanted to be with me strange right ? Even I find it strange..)
P.S - Look inside the closed again khushi this time on the bottom shelf.
She kept the letter back and looked at those pearls in her hand with a soft and tender expression on her face. Her eyes welled up thinking how he had kept them with him all along.
A few seconds she just sat there starting at them..that's when the last line came back to her mind and she wondered what more was there for her as she went again towards the closed and opened it.
She bend down and looked at the bottom shelf to find a box a very familiar one ... her eyes widened a little as she recognized it ...it was arnav's mom's box in which the ancestral kangan (bangles) where there. She remembered how when Anjali had given it to arnav to give it to her she had refused to take them saying this wasn't a real marriage therefore she had no right on them so he had just kept them inside his side of closet.
She extended her hand, picked it up and opened it. Picking up the letter on top of it and keeping it aside she ran her hand softly on the kangans and then picking letter back up she opened it and read his mother's letter.
Feeling overwhelmed tears brimmed up in her eyes by the time she finished read it.
She looked at another letter attached to it written by arnav and read it.
In pe tumhara haq hai...hamesha se raha hai aur hamesha rahega. Tum who ho jisse ma ne mere liye chuna hai. Koi aise jo mere gusse ko she sakhe aur phir bhi mujhai apna pyaar de aur meri saare burayeyo ke bawajoot mujhai apnaye. Janta hu..tumne aaj tak kabhi nahi kaha tum mujhsai pyaar karti ho par tumhari har harkat mujhai chila chila kar kehti hai tum mujhsai pyaar karti ho. Mein ek buddhu tha jo pehele yeh nahi samjha agar samjh gaya hota toh shayad yeh sab nahi hota
(They rightfully belongs to you khushi..always had been and always will. You are the one my mom has selected for me. Someone who can handle my anger and still love me unconditionally with all my flaws. I know... I know you haven't said you love me but all your actions have screamed at me that you love me. I was a big fool to not realize it before if I would have maybe all this wouldn't have happened.)
P.S. - go towards the poolside khushi.
She kept the letter back and one by one picking up the kangan she slid one on each of her wrists looking at them fondly and lovingly. They were perfect fit as if they were made for her ...just her.
She kept the empty box and letter back in the closet and standing straight up she headed towards the poolside. She was going to slide the glass door open when her gaze fell on a pink heart shaped sticky note on it. She picked it up and read what was written on in.
Do you remember all the beautiful sweet and bitter memories on this corner of shantivan. I want more of them khushi but this time not a single one bitter only sweet and passionate ones and I hope with all my heart that you wish the same.
She instantly nodded in answer as if arnav was there around her and she was telling him she wanted the same.
P.S.- climb the stairs and reach the terrace I'll be waiting for you.
Her heartbeat increased as she realized he was on the terrace waiting for her.
Dhak dhak dhak..
She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she climbed the stairs towards the terrace. She remembered how she used to reason her dhak dhak's with acidity and chuckled.
When she finally reached there she saw the terrace decorated with fairy light and roses. In the center there was a round table covered with white cloth. It had three candles on top of it in a candle stand and a box was kept near it. Her eyes widened surprised her arnavji can be so romantic to do all this for her. she had never thought even in her crazy dreams that he could even do all this for her.
She took small soft steps near the table with her right hand on her fast beating heart. She knew he was very close to her she could feel his presence and her heart was beating faster than ever which only happened when she was close. She looked around but couldn't find him.
When she reached near the table she noticed that a red rose lay there on top of a paper with was kept on the box.
She picked the rose looking at it with love. She then moved her hands towards the paper, picking it up she read the words on it.
Dear khushi,
Aaj main kuch aisa karna chahta ho jo maine pehle kabhi nahi kiya...apne dil ke baat kehna chahta ho par main iss sab mein accha nahi ho.. jo dil main hai woh kehne main accha nahi ho isliye likh raha ho.
Khushi, tumse milne se pehle itni saal main akela tha ...saas le raha tha par jeena maine tab sikha jab tumse mila.
Tumse milne se pehle 15 saal se maine apne dil ko ek kamre main kaid karke rakha tha ..main nahi chahta tha ki usse koi chot pahooche isliye chupa ke rakha tha kisiko apna akelapan nahi dekhne diya nahi.
Par tum ek hawa ke choke ke tarah aye..uss din tum kewal mere bahoo main nahi giri thi mere dil main bhi baas gaye thi par bas yeh samajhne main bahoot samay lag gaya.
Main janta hu maine tumhe kitni chot pahoochaye hai ..main mafi ke layak nahi hu..main apne aap ko uss liye kabhi maaf nahi kaar sakta ..tumhare layak nahi hu par main selfish hu khushi main tumhare bina je nahi sakta.
Main wada karta ho khushi ki aaj se abhi se main tumhe kabhi chot nahi pahoochaonga par tum bas mujhai kabhi chor ka nahi jana.
Mujhai bas ek mauka chaheye tumhe jitni bhi buri yadein de hai unhe acche yaado se badalne ka
Kya tum mujhai yeh mauka do ge ?
Main badal chukka ho tum ne mujhai badal diya hai khushi.
Kya tum apne poori zindagi mere sath mere biwi baan kar betaoge khushi ?
Kya hum yeh contract ko bhool kar ek naye rishte ke shurwat kar sakte hai ?
Main janta ho main tumhare sapno ka rajkumar nahi hu ...rakshas ho main tumne sahi kaha tha par main jaisa bhi hu tumhara ho.
Kya tum iss rakshas ke sath apne poori zindagi bitana chahoge sudri ?
- Tumhara laad governer.
She felt two warm manly hands on her waist hugging her from back and someone nuzzling her neck from back. Kissing softly on the crook of her neck. She smiled knowing it was arnav. She had immediately recognized his presence behind her.
She read the last line of the letter
P.S.- I Love You Khushi
Just as arnav's lips moved towards her ear and whispered those three words in her ear. Her smile widened as she turned in his arms to face him. The letter and rose still in her hand and she looked at arnav with all the love she had for him.
He had finally said those words which her ears where yearning to hear since so long.
"arnavji ..yeh aap.." (arnavji..you all this.."
She barely managed to say ...her whole being overwhelmed with love for this man in front of her.
"shh..khushi aaj mujhai bolne do pata nahi phir kabhi bol paooga ya nahi" (ssh..khushi today let me speak I don't know if I'll be ever able to speak this again)
"I am sorry maine past main jo kuch bhi kiya..i know I am arrogant, rude with a big ego and anger management problem and main kitne baar bhi mafi maango maine jo chot tumhe pahochaye hai uske samne woh kafi nahi hoga ...par main tumse pyaar karta ho aur apne zindagi tumhare sath beta na chahta ho...
Maine aaj se pehle kabhi shadi main pati pati ke rishte kisiko nahi mana par aaj main keh sakta ho main tumhra pati baan ke rehta chahta ho ...tumhara khayal rakhna chahta ho aur tumhe pyaar karne chahta ho waise hi jaise ek pati apne patni se karta hai...
Tum ne mujhai itna badal diya hai ki main in sab main bhi vishwas karna chahta ho.."
(I am sorry for all that I have done in the past..i know I am an arrogant rude person with a big ego and anger management problems and I have done so wrong that how much I ask for forgiveness it won't be enough..but I love you and I want to spend my whole life with you.
Before today I never believed in marriage in wife and husband's relationship but today I can say I want to be your husband..take care of you and love you like a husband
You have changed me and made me want to believe in all this)
His right hand left her waist and instead got hold of her hand as he raised it and softly kissed the back of her palm.
"kya tum mere sath apne zindagi k eek nayi shurwat karna chahte ho...mere sath dhukh main aur khushi main rehna chahti ho khushi kumara gupta.." he left it incomplete unsure of her answer. He had planned all this knowing he needed to tell her reassure her that he loved her. he had hurt her so much he needed to apologize. He wanted to tell her he was there for her no matter what and will always be there just by her side if she just let him.
(do you agree to have a new start of life with me...be with me in happiness and sorrow khushi kumara gupta)
"singh raizada.." she completed out of habit and nodded her head fiercely. She didn't even need to think for a second to answer this question. She knew she wanted just to spend all her life with this man. He was her prince charming in the mask of monster.
He looked at her with love and guild of hurting her as tears ran down her cheeks as she smiled...he nodding a no signaling her to stop crying as he left her hand and moved his fingers towards her face wiping away the tears. He knew they were happy tears the look she gave him told so but still he couldn't bear her tears because they reminded him of all the times he had made her cry.
He was amazed how she easily agreed to be with him even after all that he had did to her. he had insulted her all the times...called her a gold digger...always reminded her of her class and gone to the extent of marring her forcefully because of a stupid misunderstanding breaking all her dreams...he had hurt her for no fault of her.
"I am sorry..." she stopped him by keeping her finger on his lips.
She nodded a no telling him with her eyes that she didn't need to hear this she knew and she had forgiven him.
"arnavji jo kuch bhi hua usse bhul jana hi accha hai...humne toh apko kab ka maaf kar diya isme apke koi galti nahi hai...apke attet ki hai...hum nahi jante 15 saal pehele kya hua par hum yeh jaroor jante hai ki apke upar uske bahoot bura asar hua hai hum samjh sakte hai" (can we forget whatever happened...I have already forgiven you as there is no fault of yours in whatever happened...it is fault of your past ...I don't know what happened 15 years ago but I know it has had a very big impact on you...I can understand.)
"khushi.." he starting trying to say something but no words came out ...he was beyond astonished at how forgiving selfless and loving this girl can be. How could she forgive him so easily... She was surely one in millions and he was lucky to have her and he would make sure he has her forever.
"arnavji jo past main hua ya future main ho sakta hai usse mujhai koi farak nahi parta farak parta hai toh iss baat se ki aap mere liye kya mahsoos karte hai aur main apke liye kya mahsoos karte ho.."
(arnavji what happened in past or what will happen in future doesn't matter...what matters is what you what you feel for me and what I feel for you)
He watched as she blushed even more and looking straight into his eyes he said the words he was longing to hear from her mouth
"main bhi apse pyaar karte ho arnavji"
(I love you too arnavji)
saying this she hugged him tightly wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her face on his chest as he hugged her back.
Staying there in each other embrace for sometime they pulled back, still holding on to each other. Arnav wrapped his one arm around her waist more firmly and held her other hand placing it on his shoulder as he started to sway her in his arms.
With her eyes she asked him where is the music ? and he silently replied holding her hand that sometime back he placed on his shoulder and entangling it with his and placing their entwined hands first on his chest where his heart was and then at hers conveying that music is in their hearts and so they dancing on the tune of music of the love they had for each other. He pulled her more close swayed along with her and then twirled and lifted her in his arms. Twirling again he place her back on ground and pulled her so close to himself that air couldn't even pass.
He left her wait as placed his hand at the back of her neck softly bringing his face closer at the same time leaning close to her. Their lips met...she closed her eyes...he placed his other hand on her cheek caressing it...he took her lips in his ... It started slowly and softly conveying all what they felt at the moment i.e. immense love. What had started of softly as a promise of love and being for each other at every step of life turned passionate as the fire between them took over the two.
They kissed senseless unaware of any other thing other than each other and their love.
At last after what seemed like eternity to them they pulled apart feeling breathless.
Their eyes met and they were lost.
The rest of the night was spend together having a candle light under the stars as their parents watched them from above showering all their love and blessing to them. From now they were going to live and enjoy each moment together not worrying about past or future.
"What lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." (- Ralph Waldo Emerson)
~Author's Note~
phew..3425 words isn't it long nah especially for someone like me 😆
yeah i have been lazy enough to not write translation of the letter but if someone really wants it i'll write it 😆
i only wrote it becoz i really wanted to take part in this competition becoz i have never taken much part in any competitions in real life also.
hope u all like it 😃😳
keep smiling 😊
love <3
gunjan
Book Talk
Aami Daakini
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