SS: Arshi , The Right Decision ? Chapter 10 updated on pg 22

THE RIGHT DECISION

My eyes went to my hand covered with henna and the bridal white and red bangles. I was playing with them when my eyes caught the name at the center of my left palm, Arnav. My heart started beating into its new found rhythm. It surprised me again or rather terrified me. This name had recently started annoying me too.

To divert my mind I looked up to the throng of people, half of which only I knew. I watched them eating away to glory. This got me mad even more. How can people eat so much right in front of the poor little girl who had been kept hungry since morning for some Goddamn ritual? And well did Mom really had to place the dinner buffet right infront of me. Look at that fat i-m-a-chaltha-phirta-mall lady gobbling down all the jalebees. Even Payal didn't come to me, her very own jiji, to ask if I can have some jalebees.

Suddenly my thoughts were interrupted with the sound of the baraat. And there it goes again, my heart. Will it ever listen to me. Hey Devi Maiyya will someone tell me if this heart really belongs to me or that...that...Ar...Arnav. O look at that my sister finally remembered I exist and is coming running to me.

"Jiji, look the baraat has come I will go n welcome jiju now. You know I am not going to let him enter until he gives me what I want. Do you u want me to ask something special instead of money before I allow him in? ", Payal asked while winking at me.

Yes, ask him if he can turn back and return to where he came from.' I just muttered it to myself coz before I could finish my sentence Payal was already on her way towards the entrance. Hey Devi Maiyya, please don't give me a heart attack now.

Soon the Baraat was inside and mingling with all my relatives. He and his family were taken to one of the suites in the hotel. And I was taken to mine, so that we can get ready for the Mandap. I was given the Yellow Sari and the jewelry sent by his family. Mom said that all stuff was personally bought by him.

Did he imagine me in these while buying them? I looked myself in the mirror while those jewelry.' I could feel some heat on my cheeks and a faint color on it. Must be the make up.' I thought avoiding the actual reason of the color.

After changing I was given a handful of rice in my joined palms. And I was taken to the mandap, made the rice thrown on him while I was made to stand behind him with the distance of just a dupatta between us. Then I was made to sit on his right while Pandit ji started chanting mantra and this time asking both of us throw ghee to the fire. I mechanically followed everything the pandit ji said and then it was time for the Kanyadaan, when my chachu came to sit infront of us. The Pandit ji asked us to hold each other's right palm in a handshake and then he tied the kalava(sacred thread) around. I could feel him holding my palm in way to never let go.

Did he really mean it.'

I didn't even realize when all the saath pheras were done, when he put sindoor in my maang, when he tied the mangalsutra until I felt my hand being tugged. I looked up to see a pair caramel eyes confused finding me not moving. He was also saying something, probably asking me to follow him, but the only thing I could hear was my heartbeat. And then I found Payal pushing me from behind. I heard him then for the first time, 'Come let's take the blessing'. Devi maiyya is surely on holiday right now. Coz otherwise I wouldn't be on the brink of a nervous breakdown right now. After the blessings soon we were taken to the dining area. We were asked to feed each the sweets. Suddenly the Jalebees didn't seem so tempting anymore.

Wow now he has made me hate my jalebees '(frown).

The bidaai seem to be intolerable for me. I just looked down and kept following my folks who were hugging me and crying loudly, as if I was going to die soon.

Well who knows.'

Mom n Payal were the last once to hug me. I looked at mom, her eyes trying to tell me that this was the right decision. Then I looked at Payal, and found hers supporting Mom.

I was made to sit in his car and then finally a drop of tear rolled down from my left eye. Then later everything happened in a flash, my welcoming, the ritualistic games, the ritualistic teasing, etc. I found myself conscious of the surroundings when I heard the click of the door that was being closed. I realized I was sitting in his bedroom and not only that but on his bed. My eyes moved around his room carefully taking in the interiors, when it dawned on me that it's my wedding night. I instantly panicked and got down from the bed. I just stood there without even looking at him.

If you want you can go and freshen up first.' I heard him say.

Again without even looking at him i quickly located the bathroom and dashed towards it bolting it close. My back rested on the bathroom door, my breathing fast, What the hell am I doing here? How did I get here? Why did I listen to Mom? Why didn't I fight for my love? Well the last question was answered even before it was completed. Coz your love was a worthless piece of shit' spoke my mind without any qualms again defying my heart. But it was true. How could I have fought for my love if he himself wasn't sure of our relationship?

Now this was my life and I had to make this marriage, no my marriage', work. But I still didn't know how to face him. Will he talk to me first or pounce on me to claim his husbandly rights. No I think he will talk to me first otherwise why would have asked me to freshen up first. Darn, I should have looked at him, his eyes would have told me what he wanted. They seem to have spoken to me more than him, in the past few hours. But what if he initiates the intimacy, how will i refuse, will he allow me to refuse? Hey Devi Maiyya what do I do now?'

Mom had repeatedly asked me not do anything that will jeopardize my future. May be a shower will help me boost my energy to face him. I instantly got rid of my clothes and jewelry and get in the shower. As soon as the jet of warm water fell on my forehead I felt relaxed. I stood there under the shower for some time closing my eyes. I was trying hard, very hard to imagine a heart broken NK, but the more I tried the more I could clearly visualize a pair of caramel eyes. Devi Maiyya please help me follow the path that leads to my happiness. Again with the end of the prayer the caramel eyes made way back to my mind. Confusing me more as to what path will lead to this happiness. The entire path in front of me seemed to be very foggy and dark.

Holy moly its actually foggy here', then I realized the bathroom was covered in steam. I quickly got out of the shower cubicle only to realize I haven't got an extra set of clothes, inside. I was still wondering what to do, how to ask him to get my clothes, when I heard a knock on the door and then his husky voice.

I heard the shower stop, so...ummm...you can use my bathrobe that's in the cupboard, just outside the cubicle.

A faint smile graced my face making me realize that this definitely was the right decision.

Chapter 10 A New Tommorow

love arnav here... not pushy... understanding... i mean the last conversation... he was soo soo understanding n accomodating towards her..

her self-thot n confusion... beautifully put..

cud u pls write one more part.. atleast...

Hey, Thanks for the sweet comments... I will try t post another OS in a couple of days.

n tht another one wud b a continuation to this story naa..

.. u hv no clue hw much i liked it...

i was just telling a frnd... tht i hv been chking it every few minutes... hoping htt by some stroke of luck / magic... 😉 .. the next time i chk it... there wud b another part to it..

do write another part to it... pls..

Arnav Singh Raizada, the name itself brought many girls out of their wits, and here he was waiting to be acknowledge at the least, in his own bedroom, by his own wife.

He was not one of them who appreciated so much of fan following. So he tried to stay away from the girls who were ready jump in bed with him at the drop of the hat. Being in the fashion industry there was no dearth of girls for him, but he kept himself aloof of them, by drowning himself in his work. Coz that was the only salvation he had when his parents left him and his Di, Anjali, all alone in this world.

Being the only man of the house, he had to get the bread n butter for the house. Initially both had to undergo a lot of hardships. His di had to leave her studies and start taking tuitions and handle all the household work too. Arnav started working as a junior assistant in one of the Garment company in New Delhi.

However whenever he used to get time he used to help his di.

Di aap kyun itna saara kaam karti hain. Mujhe bilkul apni madad nahin karne deti aap. Main at least ghar toh saaf kar hi sakta hoon, hai na ? And waise bhi aapko yeh bache kya kam pareshaan karte hain. Tuition ke baad halat dekhi hai apni. Bilkul thak jaati hain aap. Itne shaitaan bachon ko padhati kaise hain aap?'

To this his Di answered, Chote agar hum tumhe sambhaal sakte hain toh kisiko bhi sambhaal sakte hain.Aur waise bhi tum bhi to itne thake huye hote ho jab office se ghar aate ho. Chalo ab hum khaana laga dete hain tum chatayi bichake paani lejayo.'

This was how they used to have their dinner daily.

After around a year of struggle he asked his Di to complete her degree, as he could now earn enough to support her schooling and house expenses.

However his Di said Chote hum soch rahe the ki hum apni tuition ke paise college join kar lethe hain, tum ab apne Harvard ke Entrace ke liye prepare karna shuru kar do.'

Lekin di, aap ghar, college aur tuitions sab kaise sambhal payengi. Waise bhi aap mujhe ghar ka koi kaam nahin karne deti.'

Koi baat nahin chote hum kar lenge. Acha baba thik hai aaj se aap humara dinner banane mein haath bata diya karna. Ab toh aap khush hai na?' Anjali said giving in to his emotional blackmail and being contented with that next nothing smile of his brother's.

Around year and half later, they found someone searching for them, about an Anjali Malik and Arnav Malik(yes they were not born as a Raizada). Anjali answered the door and was surprised to see her Manohar Mamaji there.

Anjali bitiya, O Thank you Lord, this is the right house. How are you dear?'

As soon as she heard her Mamaji's voice she came out of her shock and hugged him fiercely crying to her heart's content. Mamaji held her around her shoulders and brought her in.

O bitiya you have no idea how much I have looked around for you both. How is Arnav bitwa? We had been looking for you both in Lucknow all of last year. When Aakash said that he saw someone similar to you in his college. I was so surprised that you both were here and didn't even try to contact us.

Mamaji, who we thought after chachachi did to us you would too abandon us. And anyways you had severed all ties with mom few years ago.'

Mamaji guiltily said Bache I can never ever think of abandoning you both. You both are same as Aakash is for me. Come on let go home. Iam no way letting you living here.'

Mamaji lekin chote is still in office, let him come back.'

Her mamaji agreed and both started talking about the last few years of their life. Soon it was evening and Arnav reached home. He too was pleasantly surprised seeing Mamaji, but didn't run to hug him as he used to do in childhood. Arnav just gave him a curt nod with respect. When Mamaji asked Arnav to accompany him to Shantivan, Arnav was reluctant. He was scared of the pity and sympathy that would be showered on him instead of the love he used to get from his Nani, Mamiji and Aakash. However one look at Mamaji's face and he couldn't deny this wish of his. Soon they reached Shantivan and were given a warm and tearful welcome by all.

Arnav saw the smile that reached the eyes of his di make a return on her face, and then he let himself take a breath of happiness. His di was finally with a family, which would take away all her pain away.

His revere was broken by his Di's voice, 'Chote come meet our Laxmi ji.'

'Awesome Di finally you found your BFF(best friend forever).' Arnav said looking at the goat in his Di's hand and earning slap from her.

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Sorry no Khushi in this. Next surely.😳