Arnav sat beside Khushi looking at her. She looked ethereal in her bridal attire. She had put on minimum make up as he liked. He looked at the antique bangles adorning her wrist; his Ma's bangles. The engagement ring that he had so lovingly put on her hand glinting in the low light of the room seemed to make fun of him. His gaze traveled to her face again. Her lovely face streaked with tears and he was the reason for it once again.
Her tears reminded him of the happenings of the evening. He had lashed at her for no fault of hers once again and now he is taking care of her. He had changed when he had realized he loved her. He had again reverted back to hurting her and torturing her when he imagined that she did not reciprocate his feelings. She had taken all that in her stride and had still loved him. She had forgiven him for all that he had done. It was not less than a miracle that she had accepted to marry him. Again.
He leaned on the headboard of their bed contemplating on what he should do next. His head started aching with all the thoughts muddling his mind. He took her hand in his again unable to explain the peace that settles over him whenever she is near. Sleep claimed him as his exhausted body and mind gave way.
"Ma... Why are you crying?"
"Beta..." The woman clad in a rich saree hugged the little boy to herself saying nothing.
"Papa..." The young boy barged into his father's study wanting to show off the new toy that his mom had got him for winning a competition, only to find his dad kissing some woman. He looked at them quizzically not knowing why his dad was kissing someone who was not his wife. Hadn't Anjali di said people can kiss each other only after they are married or if they are in love? Was his dad in love with this woman? But his dad was already married to his mother. The confused child looked at his dad once and ran away from there.
"Ma... Papa was kissing one lady in his study. Does he love her?" the innocent boy had questioned his mother. She had given him a sad look tears flowing down her cheeks and hugged him. She had later admonished him to have gone unannounced into his father's study and made him promise that he wouldn't say a word about this to anyone. The little boy could not understand what was happening but knew that it was hurting his mom. That night there had been a verbal lashing in his parents' room. He had not seen his father with any other woman in the house after that.
There was a wedding happening in the house. The house was decorated beautifully. The little boy had grown now. His Anjali di was getting married today. She had wanted to meet her mom before going to the mandap. So he went in search of his mom. He had been searching for her for the past few minutes. He had searched for her everywhere but couldn't find her. He went to his father's study at last to check if his mom was there. The door was open slightly and he saw a woman standing in a corner, his father trying to explain something to her. She was gesturing towards something in the other corner in an agitated manner and crying. Before he could contemplate going in, someone called out to him asking him to meet his Di immediately. Everything that happened after that had happened in frenzy. His mom had run out of his father's study and before he could go to her, he had heard a gun firing.
"Ma..." Arnav woke up with a start. His body was drenched in sweat. The happenings of a day long ago still fresh in his memory. He took deep breaths to calm down his racing heart. His mind took over as soon as his heart took the back seat. He started piecing the odd bits of his parents' life that he now remembered. As the pieces fell into the right places, his disgust for his father grew multifold. He looked at the clock. Had it been only an hour since he had brought her to the room? He need to know the truth now. His Dadi had told him her son's side. Now it is time to hear Garima's side he decided. He looked at Khushi sleeping beside him. He covered her with the blanket and left the room in search of Garima.
The whole family except Dadi was in the living room trying to console each other. Arnav went straight to Garima.
"I have always respected you. I apologize for my rude behavior. I want you to tell me everything. Please."
"Arnav beta..." She hesitated.
"If you want we can do it alone."
"No beta... I am ashamed for losing my heart to a married man. But I promise you I never knew. All our initial meetings were by chance. Sometimes in the market, in the temple, like that. I did not encourage his advances at first. But he persisted. And before I knew it, I had started to fall for him. He promised to marry me. We had a pattern of meeting each other. My parents' had decided to get me married and were pressurizing me to accept an alliance. I had to meet your father and ask him to come to my home and ask for my hand in marriage. That day, we were to meet at the temple. I was waiting for him there. He did come. But he left without meeting me as if he did not know me at all. I thought maybe he didn't see me. So I followed him and reached your home. When I confronted him outside your home, he took me to his study saying that he will explain and that was when I met your mom. I immediately lashed out at your father for cheating on his wife and left the place. Only when I saw the newspaper the next day, I came to know that both your parents were dead." Garima told all this in a tone that was filled with self disgust looking at Arnav straight in the eye.
She turned to look at Shashi who gave a nod and a small smile silently telling her that she had done and said the right things. She turned back to face Arnav. All the Raizadas were stunned to silence at the new revelations. Anjali was the first one to come out of the trance. She went towards Garima and hugged her. Words were not needed to realize the forgiveness sought and given. Anjali signed Arnav to come near them.
Arnav went near Garima and she cupped both Arnav's and Anjali's cheeks.
"I am so sorry for the losses you had to face because of me. I wish I had not met you father at all. I wish I had not chosen that day to follow him. I am so sorry... I am so sorry..." With that Garima broke down and cried. The regrets repressed for so long bursting forth. The guilt gnawing at her for making two innocent children orphan unwittingly, found its outlet in her tears after years. Arnav and Anjali hugged her silently telling her that it was not her fault; the sincerity in her voice trashing any qualms they had about the things she had said now.
"Amma..." Khushi called out to Garima.
"Meri bacchi... I am so sorry... My past has overshadowed your life too. Please forgive me Khushi..." Garima cried holding on to Khushi as she neared the hugging trio.
"It is not your fault Aunty. It was I who decided to believe whatever my Dadi said without listening to what you had to say." Arnav spoke before Khushi could say anything. Khushi looked at him with no emotions in her eyes. If she was surprised by his words, she masked it well.
"Amma we will go home and talk."
"Ek minute Khushi." Arnav interrupted her. He turned to Garima and continued.
"Aunty I want to talk to Khushi alone for a few minutes."
"No..." before Khushi could even complete the syllable, Garima nodded her head giving Arnav the permission he sought. Garima looked at Khushi silently imploring her to go with him.
Arnav took Khushi to their room. As soon as the door closed, Khushi said,
"Let me go Arnavji."
"Go Khushi. But..."
A/N:
Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments. Your comments make me pen down my thoughts with more confidence than what I had when I started writing. Thank you so much for your support😊
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