Part 2
"Chote, do you realize that?" Anjali asked. "By calling her second woman, when you were the one who married to her yes, even when it was for us, but you did marry her with proper rituals. You took vows that you consider her as your wife spiritually, and then all of sudden for you she was a second woman? In what way, chote, I exactly ask," Anjali said. "If we feel so bad, what about her, who is your wife.
"You know, if anybody else would have been in place of her, she would have left you and this house long time ago, seeing just your condition, may be she wouldn't even have married to you at first place. But Khushi ji not only she married you, but for the past one year she has been listening to your taunts that she took a place of Lavanya. She didn't, chote. Because you never let her other than just being called a wife of yours, she has no identity. Whenever she tried to come near you, you distanced yourself more from her. Do you think it doesn't hurt her? She has the heart that feels the pain, chote. Just like you, and us.
"But the thing is she is hurt and she doesn't show to anyone. She is from a rich and a respectable family, she could have married to anyone in this world, who would have loved you but she married you just because we said. She has nothing to do with your money, she is a respectable woman, but you always say something to her that hurt her self respect.
" If you don't want to give her the position that she deserves it is fine, but she does deserves respect from you, Chote. She shouldn't be a part of your pain, but still she made it. Even knowing your condition, for whom? For us. And her friend La. She mentioned everyone of us, but the fact that she was La's best friend and for her she did it. Because she knew it, wherever Lavanya was she wouldn't have able to see you in this condition.
"Do you even know for the past one year she hasn't even met her family?
Arnav looked at her shocked. "She didn't?"
"Yes, you heard it right!
"She broke every relation with her family just so that she could bring you once again on a right track. That she could have only done if you were her husband. But her family wasn't ready to give their daughter to a drunk man.
"For you she spent so many nights without sleeping. Without eating too because she used to wait for you. Sometimes you won't even come back. She used to wait for you for dinners but you would always come late home drunk. Do you think she would have liked it?
"If you are smart enough you would realize more than just being la her friend she had so many reasons why she was doing it, and what they were, if you try to understand it can make a whole lot of difference.
"Chote, what I believe is everything happens for are own good! Our time with Lavanya was only that much. But now she is gone. In no way we can bring her back. Chote, life is the name of moving forward. If we will dwell in our past we will never learn to live. Lavanya was your past, Khushi ji is your present. I know you loved Lavanya and still do, but it's Khushi ji who is in your life at the moment. I know no one will take place of Lavanya in your heart but I know you have a big heart, chote, it can definitely fit a person in it who deserves it. And Khushi ji is the right person. She deserves so much better.
"I would say, you have enough hurt yourself, us, La's soul, and Khushi ji.
"Still there is nothing wrong, make a decision that will be not only good for us, but for you and Khushi ji.
"Go chote!"
"I am really sorry, everyone!" he said and his eyes were watery.
Anjali hugged her brother.
Nani, mami, mama ji, Akaash, and Payal smiled with their whole heart.
"I go and see if Khushi is fine!" Arnav said as he pulled away from the hug.
"Go, chote!" Anjali said with a smile that was ear to ear. And for the first time after a long time she felt a true happiness.
"Hey, Thakur ji, I hope this boy realizes he has Khushi's heart," Anjali prayed.
"Akaash, take Payal inside the room and you guys rest. Nani, mami, mama ji, let's sleep."
"Today, I won't be able to sleep, because I am so happy and I can finally see some hope!" Nani said.
"I surely need to get to the temple and get a veneration done at home so that everything gets fine now!"
"Yes, sasu ma, I would accompany to you tomorrow in the morning to the temple."
"It's definitely gonna be a good night today; Akaash!" Payal muttered.
"It would be, after all, we have gotten our brother back. Let's go and get you some sleep."
"Take care of Payal bitiya!" Mami ji said.
"Yes, mom!"
***
Arnav wiped his tears dry with his shirt sleeves. And sniffed so that it doesn't look or sound he was crying. He set his hair and his clothes. Before he decided to go inside his and Khushi's room.
He opened the door and there he saw Khushi half laid on the bed, her back leant against the headboard. Her eyes were closed and she had hugged the photo frame. Arnav could tell it was Lavanya's picture.
Fresh new tears formed in his eyes but he resisted to spill them out of his eyes.
"Khushi!" he said softly. As he went close to her only to realize she had fallen asleep.
He tried to unfold her arms around Lavanya's photo frame, but she had held it strong. He didn't force further just so that he doesn't disturb her sleep. Because he didn't want once again to repeat the mistake of keeping her awake. He carefully sat on the floor with his knees knelt.
He sniffed his sobs and he looked down.
"I know I have been a very bad person, Khushi. I always have been so consumed in my own pain that I didn't see anything beyond it. I had always been selfish. I always thought of myself but forgot that others feel they same as I do. It's not that I never felt anybody's pain actually, but I ignored it. When Lavanya died I thought everything ended for me. But that was so wrong. I had my family who still needed me, and you...
"You?..." he was lost of words. "You left your family, surely they wouldn't have allowed you to marry a dumb a** like me.
Anjali di was right you deserved so much better than me. I am sorry, Khushi, for not giving you the right you deserved. I am sorry for hurting you for the past one year. I am sorry I tried to cross every limit of mine by almost raising my hand on you. You don't deserve this animal behaviour of me. But I promise I would not drink again. I would be the person everyone wants me to be. I promise I will prove myself that I am not useless. Khushi, I apologize for every mistake, for every pain I gave you!" he said.
Then he got up and picked Khushi and laid her on the bed properly. Afterwards he put a blanket on top of her. She held the frame closed to her chest and he didn't try to move it.
Before leaving to the washroom he glared at her for quite a lot of time.
He didn't know if he would ever be able to love her back, but surely he would gave her the respect that she needed.
A smile was tugged on his face automatically and he didn't know.
***
A rays of the sun enlightened the room of Arnav Khushi. As the birds chirped in the backyard of RM and Khushi heard the bell ring of RM, she knew it was newspaper guy.
But as she looked at the clock it was 9:00 AM.
"Oh devi maiyan, I slept this late!" she said and she was about to toss the blanket away when her eyes caught the unbelievable sight.
Arnav was already ready. Not just in his casuals but in an office suit. That was too much for her, wasn't it? He was clean shaved, most importantly he had his long rugged looking hair cut down to the short length that best suited him perfectly. And in no way, she expected that.
She pinched herself. She wasn't dreaming it was in fact the reality.
Arnav looked at her looking at him.
"Khushi; you up. Good morning!"
"Good morning," she muttered in a low tone.
"What happen, Khushi? Is your health fine?" he asked concerned.
"Yes, I am perfectly fine," she answered. "I just slept little longer than I should have had!" she said not slowly or in a hurry, but unmoved. She rushed to the washroom.
Arnav felt she didn't even see a change in him.
"Didn't she?" he asked himself. But then he gave it a thought and acknowledged himself with the truth that he had hurt her more than he could think.
He waited for Khushi to come out of the washroom.
Half an hour later, Khushi came out after taking a shower.
"Khushi!" he said.
Khushi didn't pay attention to him.
"Khushi, I wanted to say that I..."
"Arnav ji, I am in a little hurry and I already woke up late."
"It's really okay, Khushi, you needed a sleep."
"I know how much sleep I need. And now if you please excuse me!" she said and left.
Nani, mama, mami, Anjali, Akaash, and Payal were dumbfounded the moment they saw Arnav. Well groomed.
"Were they dreaming?" they all thought exactly the same.
"Good morning, everyone!" he said as he took his seat on the dinning table.
Everyone had cleaned bowled expression on their faces.
"Akaash bhai, please pass me the newspaper!"
Akaash did so.
"Anjali di, please make me a cup of tea. Less sugar, more milk!"
"Here you go!" Anjali said placing the cup of tea in front of him.
"Mama ji, we shall be meeting the investors today and at the spot we would finalize the deal. And Akaash, bhai you will stay with Payal bhabi and take care of her and your baby."
"Okkkay!" Akaash said confused.
"Nani ji, here is your blood pressure tablets," Khushi said.
Arnav immediately lowered the newspaper and looked at Khushi. He didn't finish reading the newspaper but he thought it would be wise thing to do.
"Uh, Khushi, can you please pass me the juice?" he said.
"Mama ji, I just get your vegetable soup," Khushi said as she completely ignored Arnav. And left.
Everybody looked at each other. They got an instant flick that Khushi was mad.
"Chote ji, it's not gonna be easy ride!" Payal said.
"You know what bhabi, I just realized that!"
To this everyone laughed.
"But yes, it's not gonna be easy, chote. She is hurt."
"I know di, and bhabi. But as I have promised I will not back out."
"Good luck, chote!" Nani ji said.
"I do need it!" Arnav said. "A lot."
"Khushi, bitiya now come and sit and have breakfast," mami ji said to khushi when she returned back.
"It's okay, mami ji, I am not really hungry!"
"Khushi, bitiya, you didn't eat last night too."
"Mama ji, I am really okay, I will eat little later."
"Khushi, why don't you just sit and eat?" Arnav said. "If you didn't eat last night then it's not good."
"I am really okay!" she said. "You don't have to worry about it."
Everyone at the table just kept on munching on their food. They didn't dare to raise their eyes to look at Arnav or Khushi. It was a husband wife matter and they should be the one who would have dealt with it on their own way, none of them would have liked to jump into it and poke their noses.
"Why to vent my anger on food?" he said.
Khushi looked at him but she resisted to say anything. She simply walked out of the dinning room one again.
"Does she knows to get angry too?!" he asked.
"Well, she is Mrs. Raizada?" Anjali said. And one by one they all left from the table.
"And Arnav son, today is Sunday. If you checked the calendar in any ways," mama ji said on his way.
"Well, I called the investors today," Arnav remarked sounding foolish.
"Really it's Sunday?" he asked. "Urggh!" he growled as he checked his phone.
"No sense of the day too," he muttered
His phone rang. It was his investors phone.
"Hi, Mr. Raizada, we will be leaving Delhi in an hour and in just three hours we shall be in Mumbai head office. But sir, I was wondering if we could do this tomorrow as scheduled? Actually I was with my family here in Delhi!"
"Mr. Rastogi, let's do it tomorrow then!"
"Sir, are you sure? You aren't angry right?"
"No, Mr. Rastogi, let's do it tomorrow. You enjoy with your family!" he said.
"Thank you so much, sir!"
"It's not a problem!" he said and hung up the phone.
"Khushi, what a change in him over night!" Anjali said as they stood behind him.
Khushi all could do was gave her a faint smile.
***
"Khushi, here eat something!" Arnav said as he put the plate of food in front of Khushi.
Khushi without paying any attention kept on doing her work in the kitchen.
"Khushi, are you listening? I am saying something!" he said in a calm tone.
Khushi looked at him.
"I am not in a mood to eat right now."
"Khushi, it's past afternoon and you still haven't eaten anything!"
"How come you started caring about it all sudden, Arnav ji? Why all together it has started making a difference to you that I haven't eaten anything?"
"It's nothing like that, khushi. You will fall sick!"
"It has nothing to do with you. I can stay hungry. And when I will feel like I will eat it! You don't have to worry about me. Please! I am not used to it," she retorted and was going to leave the kitchen when Arnav stopped her as he held her hand.
"Khushi, I know I have hurt you. For that I am sorry. I have realized my mistake."
"Why are you sorry to me? I mean nothing to you. You haven't hurt me but your family. You should be sorry to your family, not me."
"Khushi, I have equally hurt you too."
"No, you haven't, alright?! Now if you please leave me alone."
"Khushi, okay, if you don't want to talk to me it's fine by me. But atleast eat."
"Why are you forcing me to eat? If I don't want to, Arnav ji. Please stop showing that you have changed overnight. I know it's impossible. And please stop showing concerns for me. I am not hurt. And I absolutely don't need it."
"Okay, if you are not hurt; then why are you not talking to me properly?"
"Because I don't want to. Do you get that? And next time don't try to come in my way."
Arnav looked deep into her eyes but shortly moved his gaze. "Please eat your food, I don't want you to get sick!"
"If you are worried that you have to take care of me let me tell you you don't have to. For the past one year my family took care of me whenever I was sick, I am pretty sure today too they will take care of me. Now if you please leave!"
"Khus..."
"I will be grateful of you!"
"I am going office and will be home by 9:00 PM."
"I don't care when you come home!" she said.
***
"Chote, going to the office?"
"Yes di!"
"What happen? You sound sad!"
"Di, actually Khushi hasn't eaten anything. She is still really mad at me. My anger she is taking on food. I was wondering if you can make her eat. She will listen you!"
"She will not listen me, either chote. Because she has kept a fast for you!"
"What? Fast? Why?"
"Nani has kept a veneration today in the evening at home. It's for you. You have decided to move on with your life, so we have decided that why not we start with god's blessings."
"Khushi, doesn't have to do this!"
"It doesn't matter what you think, she is going to do what she feels is right. If you are going to office make sure you come home early before puja."
"Yes, di. I will come on time. Just need to caught up on so many things."
"Don't stress yourself much and take it easy."
"Di, please, take care of Khushi as you always have done."
"Don't worry, she will be perfectly fine, chote. We are here for her. But you know what it should be you, who should take care of her now."
"Should I stay home today then?"
"Well, you can. But it's okay. Khushi ji, would love if you would go to the work."
"Would she?"
"Uh-huh!"
"Di, by any means if you need me please let me know. Don't bother Akaash bhai. And di please force Khushi to eat, she doesn't have to keep fast for me!"
"I will try."
"Thanks di! Take care!"
"You too!"
***
"I am sorry, di!"
"For what, dear?"
"I am being really rude to Arnav ji!"
"He is your husband, it's your right on him. I guess he deserves it."
Khushi was quite.
"Khushi ji, are you sure you aren't feeling hungry?"
"No, I am really okay!"
"I am just afraid. You didn't eat last night and now you have kept fast plus you are preparing for this puja."
"Di, I know you are really worried."
"I am, but it's chote concerns too. He wanted me to make sure you are fine. He even insisted me to force you to not to keep a fast. He said you don't need to do it."
"Di, I go and see if pandit ji needs something!"
"Sure!" she said and excused her.
"Hope chote, realize she deserves more than just his respect for her," Anjali said.
For part 3 scroll down to the next post...
Book Talk
Cricket
