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Chapter 18: The New Day (Last Chapter)
"I am marrying Arnav" Khushi cut in and the words had the strength to put Abhay to silence.
"Don't expect me to play surprised because I am nowhere close to it" He replied after a momentary pause.
"I don't want you to be surprised Abhay. I only want you to move on in life and find a deserving person for yourself, someone who can love you back and keep you happy. We, I and you are not meant for each other. We can be friends and help each other out of this mess we have gotten ourselves into"
"That's not possible Khushi, not even remotely. We cannot be friends" Abhay replied, his voice firm.
"If we try we surely can be" Khushi was never the one to quit trying.
"Goddamn it Khushi! I don't want to try. Get that? I cannot stand your sight. I have f**ked enough with my life because of you, not anymore. Just go away and have your happily ever after with ASR. Leave me alone. We have had enough friendship to last for a lifetime" Abhay screamed on top of his lungs, his eyes narrowed to slits.
"You're being obdurate Abhay and you have your reasons. But even if you have given up on our friendship I will not. I would be pleased to see you on the wedding day, as a friend" Khushi replied patiently and when Abhay could have least expected it, hugged him goodbye.
~~***~~
When Khushi reached home she was surprised upon finding Arnav's SUV parked before her house. Hadn't he said he was leaving for some deal and would head back home after that? Several doubts and assumptions sprang up in her brain but she shooed them away. There was no chance Arnav could be here to discuss... Well, how would you know until you step in the house? Thought Khushi and she walked in the house to find Arnav in the midst of a serious conversation with her father while her mother had an unintelligible look on her face.
"Though we trust your word upon this Bitwa but we cannot pass you our own word unless we have discussed this with Khushi" Shashi's voice boomed in the room and Khushi blinked.
What should it probably mean?
"Khushi?" Garima's voice interrupted Khushi's musings and as each pair of eye in the room turned to her she further walked in the room.
"What's going on?" Khushi asked as she reached in the center of the room and stood facing Arnav and her father.
Arnav gave her an assuring look but she could see something was on his mind so she raised a brow at him and he couldn't help but let a ghost of smile form on his lips.
Garima and Shashi witnessed the little exchange with interest and a look passed between the two.
Garima nodded and Shashi nodded too.
"Khushi bitiya, why don't you sit and then we can explain the situation to you?" Shashi interposed and Khushi pulled her gaze from Arnav becoming aware that she wasn't alone in the room with Arnav.
"Uncle, I think I should leave now" Arnav offered as he knew the family needed to discuss the matter in privacy.
"Okay son. We will call you later. Now, Garima ji will walk you to the door" Shashi said, adding more to Khushi's confusion as she realised Shashi just addressed Arnav as son'.
"Babuji, why was Arnav here?" Khushi demanded as Arnav vanished from the sight.
"Before I answer that, there is something I want to hear from you Khushi" Shashi started in a very serious tone.
"Sit" he said and she obeyed.
As Garima joined them too and took a place next to her husband, Khushi could feel adrenaline shooting through her body. What the heck did Arnav do now?
"Do you or do you not want to marry Abhay?" The question was easy and straight and Khushi did not need time to dwell upon it yet she was surprised by the calmness with which her father posed the question.
"No" she replied and her father nodded as if weighing her words.
"So why did you agree to marry him in the first place?" Garima solicited in an unusual piqued manner.
"I thought it was the best thing to do" Khushi answered, keeping her gaze fixed on the floor. There was no chance she could reveal the true reasons to her parents but by saying this she wasn't lying either.
When she had agreed to marry Abhay she had the notion it was the only and the best option.
"The best thing would have been to come to your parents and inform us that you like Arnav Bitwa. He's a good person. Had you done that I would have never coerced you for agreeing to marry Abhay" Garima further added with pursed lips.
Upon hearing her mother, surprise shooted through Khushi's body and then realisation dawned closely followed by guilt.
She realised Arnav had been here to discuss them' to her parents and she felt guilty on account of her imprudence.
She indeed had made mistakes which could have been avoided. She could have straightaway confided in her mother that she loved Arnav and the entire Abhay fiasco could have been avoided.
She could have taken time to solve the differences between herself and Arnav than running from the situation.
Yet she made mistakes and the only excuse she can offer now is that to err is human. She has made her share of mistakes and Arnav has made his. Wisdom lies in learning from one's mistakes.
So, this was her call to learn from her mistakes and if possible rectify them.
"I am sorry Amma, Babuji. I know I have given you the opportunity to be disappointed with me but my intention's been never to hurt you" Khushi answered earnestly.
As Khushi was busy being regretful Garima nodded to her husband. Shashi read the signal and left his seat.
He walked to his daughter and placed a hand on her head, his face lightened with affection and tenderness only a father can manage.
"Stop being sad Khushi. We aren't disappointed with you. We are merely concerned and we want you happy. Do you want to marry Arnav?" Shashi asked in softest of his voice.
In return of his question Khushi hugged her father and nodded, her eyes filled with tears of happiness.
Shashi's smile broadened and he stroked his daughter's head while Garima smiled too.
~~***~~
Arnav Singh Raizada had left behind a surprise for Khushi when he left her house and he was sure she would love the surprise. Maybe a little pissed too for he had went ahead and discussed the wedding thing with her parents without her permission. But at the end of the day she was going to be happy.
So, the smile which adorned his face as stepped in his house was very rare and genuine. He could finally see the end of this dark tunnel and he was happy.
But he had very little idea of the surprise which awaited him at Raizada Mansion. So, when he stepped in the house and found Shyam seated at the dinner table with his sister he was more than surprised.
But as he approached the dining table and was explained the situation by none other his cheerful sister the surprise was washed down by compunction which was short-lived.
The acrimony of three years and the newly found contriteness was replaced by jubilation when the friends hugged and Shyam cracked the first joke of the night to ward off any sort of despair which might have survived.
As the night continued to grow old and the atmosphere lightened, Arnav broke the news of his relation with Khushi to Anjali and Shyam.
While Anjali looked overjoyed and proclaimed she already had a whiff about it, Shyam was mildly surprised for which he cannot be blamed.
No mortal who once knew the old ASR can comfortably digest such news. But as Shyam recovered from the pleasant surprise he patted his friend's back and passed on his good wishes to him.
Arnav did his best to avoid the flush which threatened to invade his face and smiled measurably.
~~***~~
Two weeks was all it took for Arnav Singh Raizada to get engaged to Khushi Kumari Gupta and another seven days to add his surname to her name.
The wedding ceremony was deliberately kept an unpretentious and hassle-free affair as Khushi and Arnav wanted it to be. Attended by family and close friends, the day made it to one of the best days of Arnav's life. He was happy because Khushi was happy and Khushi was happy because he was happy. The fact might seem silly but the newly-weds were too preoccupied with their happiness to dwell upon it.
Khushi's happiness was added by Abhay's presence who said he wanted to make sure if Khushi is ready to change her mind and marry him instead of Arnav. Though the words were said with evident humour and Khushi found it funny Arnav glared at Abhay.
At the end of the ceremony, the couple sought blessings from the elders and Abhay too offered a scrupulous hug to Arnav.
Finally, the couple ended up in a well-decorated room and involved themselves into a frenzied lovemaking.
Though this can be mistaken as the end of their story it is only the beginning of a better life, a life where Arnav Singh Raizada doesn't hesitate in laughing out loud and a life where Khushi Kumari Gupta offers erudite and novel suggestions on upcoming clothe lines to her husband.
The once eclipsed phase of their lives has been whitewashed by an incandescent present life.
_______________________________________
To all those who think I have hurried with the ending, please be considerate. I had never planned upon letting the story gather chapters more than a score. So, yes this is how it has to end.
I am sorry if for the disappointment but here ends the journey of Eclipse'. I really appreciate and am very thankful to all my lovely readers for loving and liking the story. And special thanks to readers who are with me from the very first chapter of the story. It really means a lot to me. I love you guys loads.
Note: Against All Odds' will be updated by the end of this week.
Thank You,
Kiran
CID
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