CHAPTER 81 (D). MAAN AND ARNAV'S ATTEMPT!
Day - 8 Friday
Sheeshmahal
"Tumne manaa kyun kiya Khushi?"
Khushi was brought out of her thoughts by those words. She jerked her head towards the door where she saw Maan leaning against the door frame of her room, arms folded against his chest and legs crossed. He was trying to adopt a casual pose and was trying to keep the conversation light but Khushi could see through his act. She looked away and focused on the floor as if it was one of the best things in the world.
Maan uncrossed his arms and ankles once he realised that Khushi was ignoring him. He took in the way Khushi sat on the floor of her room with her back against the bedpost, her knees pulled close to her chest, her legs hugged by her arms and her chin on her knees. Overall, she was giving a close off vibe leaving the impression that she did not want to talk to anyone. Maan sighed; he had his work cut out for him.
Maan walked towards his honorary sister and sitting by her, he adopted her sitting style, his arms around knees, his knees pulled to his chest. He looked ahead, trying to enjoy the calm and silence before he did the inevitable and shattered the tranquility surrounding them.
After a while, Khushi leaned sideways placing her head on Maan's shoulder trying to gain some comfort from his presence. Maan allowed her and slowly placed his head on her head making Khushi smile softly. Few minutes passed and Maan could not delay his query anymore.
"Kyun Khushi?", Maan whispered softly as he raised his head and looked at her. Khushi sighed but did not reply.
He nudged her with his elbow and she turned towards him slightly and hid her face in his shoulder.
"Khushi!", Maan spoke coaxingly, "Please kuch toh bolo!"
Khushi lifted her head and finally spoke up, "Hum aur kya karte?"
Maan felt his heart cinch as he noticed the tears tracks down her cheeks.
Khushi pulled away from him, leaving some distance between them and wiped her cheeks but her eyes continued to tear up.
"Boliye Maan Veerji! Hum kya karte?", she sniffed softly and then spoke, "Bahut pyaar karte the hum Arnavji se! Lekin pichle saal ek din mein sab ulat palat gaya aur woh humaare Jijaji ban gaye!" She looked at her elder brother imploringly, "Iss ek saal mein humne apne aapko kaise sambhaala yeh hum hi jaante hain! Kis dard se gujre, kis tarah iss dil pe bijli giri yeh hum hi jaante hain! Bahut mushkil se khud ko samjhaaya tha, dil ko manaaya tha ki Arnavji humaare nahi hai! Aur ab aap keh rahe hain ki unhein apnaa lo?"
Khushi stood up and looked out of the window. Suddenly she turned around. Her pleading eyes turned hard with anger as she shouted, "Humaare dil ko aap samajhte kya hain? Koi khilona? Jab chaaha Arnavji ne khel liya, phir humein thukra diya aur ab kehte hain waapis aa jaao! Hum koi mazaak hain kya?"
Khushi's expression softened as she knelt in front of her brother and grasping his hands, she spoke with pain in her voice, "Agar aap kisika pyaar tyaag chuke ho, aage badhne ki koshish kar rahe ho, itna toh aage badh chuke ho ki unka naam sunte hi aap ro na pado, phir aise achaanak se kaise aap unko apna paaoge? Dil ko itna manaaya ki iss pyaar ko kurbaan karde, ab usi dil ko kaise samjhaaye ki Arnavji ko apnaa lein? Waqt lagta hai Veerji!"
Khushi again sat beside Maan and now when she spoke her voice was tinged with tiredness, "Itna aasaan nahi hota dil ko manaana Veerji! Waqt chaahiye! Dil par ghaav lage hain Veerji, roz dard hota hai, un ghaavon ko bharne ka bhi waqt nahi de rahe ho. Hum aaj ek haare hue insaan hai. Dil mein koi ummeed nahi, sapna nahi, sab humaare aur Arnavji ke rishte ke saath toot gaya! Ab humein kuch waqt toh do taaki dil mein chupe dard ko baahar phenk ke unmein naye ummeed aur sapne jagaayein! Itni aasaani se nahi hoga Veerji! Nahi hoga!"
Khushi started crying again and Maan turning around hugged her. He comforted her and let her use his shoulder for crying. He pressed a kiss on her head and muttered meaningless but soothing words till she calmed down. Finally, she calmed down and pulled away. He gave her time to gather herself together.
Once Khushi had pulled herself together, Maan spoke, "Tum jo keh rahi ho, woh sahi hai! Aur main tumhaare dard ko bhi samajhta hun kyunki maine bhi Soni ko khoya hai! Lekin Khushi tum yeh bhi toh socho, ki tumhein tumhaara pyaar mil raha hai! Yeh mauka baar baar nahi aata! Tumhein kya lagta hai, ab tum Arnav ke rishte ko thukraaogi toh kuch dino baad jab tumhaara dil tayyaar hoga tab kya Anjali tumhein apnaayegi?"
Khushi looked at Maan in shock, signaling to him that she had yet to think from this angle. Maan shook his head, "Nahi Khushi! You have your chance! Take it! Babaji baar baar aise mauke nahi dete! Kya pata kal yeh mauka waapis aaye ki nahi. Zindagi mein bahut kam logon ko sachcha pyaar milta hai, ise apne haath se jaane mat do. Iss mauke ko apne dono haathon se samet lo!"
Khushi shook her head. Maan frowned, "Par Khushi..."
"Nahi!", Khushi whispered, "Hum yeh nahi kar paayenge!"
Maan felt his frustration rise. Why doesn't this girl understand? "Khushi don't you understand what chance you have gotten?"
"Hum sab samajhte hain!,", Khushi whispered her face expressionless and determined, "Aur humne apna decision le liya hai!"
"KHUSHI!", Maan roared as he stood up in anger, "Why are you so bent upon ruining your life?"
Khushi looked at him in mock innocence, "I am doing what my brother did!"
Maan staggered back in shock as Khushi stood up and glared at him, "Aap bhi toh wahi kar rahe hain jo hum kare rahe hain! Geet, aapki Soni, aaj aapse pyaar karti hai. Lekin aap? Aap toh usse door jaane ke liye bahaane dhundh rahe hain!
Khushi looked down sadly, "Humein toh sirf waqt chaahiye iss naye badlaav ko apnaane ke liye!" Then she looked up at glared at Maan, "Lekin aap? Aapki Geet toh kab ka aapko apna chuki hai! Phir kyun aapne abhi tak use apnaaya nahi! Use uska darja, uska pyaar, uska Maan, use diya nahi! Kyun Veerji kyun?"
Khushi turned around and facing the window, she spoke in sharp voice, "Pehle apni nasihat apne aap pe aazmaayiye, phir humein aake bataatiye. Practice what you preach. Use your advice on yourself and accept your Geet! Then you can come and give me the lecture. Tab tak aapko koi haq nahi banta humein yeh sab bolne ka!"
Maan staggered back at his sister's words and then his shoulder sagged in defeat. Unable to convince Khushi, Maan turned and walked away.
"Kya hua Maan Saab? Khushiji ne kya kahaa?"
Anjali accosted Maan the moment he entered the main hall. Rest of the family gathered around him and looked at him questioningly. Maan looked around, taking in the hope in their eyes, especially in Anjali and Arnav's eyes and felt sorrow at the thought of disappointing them. He looked down and shook his head. Anjali's eyes dimmed while Arnav's face showed nothing but devastation. Geet had sadness etched on her face while rest of them were shocked again. It seemed that it was the night of shocks for Raizadas. First Lavanya said no, then Anjali demanded for Chote's wedding and suggested Khushi as the bride and now Khushi refused. Whats next? Maan's dead girlfriend, Soni comes back from dead and demands that he marries her. Or Geet confesses that she is in love with someone and wishes to marry him. With the way things are going, neither of the options would surprise them.
Shyam spoke up, breaking the silence, "Abhi toh 2 baj chuke hain aur 6 baje se shaadi ki saari vidhiyaan shuru hojaayengi. Chaar ghanta hai humaare paas, sirf chaar ghanta Khushiji ko manaane ke liye!"
Everyone looked at each other in shock. Now what to do? Finally Arnav spoke up, "Main baat karta hun! Maybe I can convince her!"
"Chote! Tum unse baat karoge?", Anjali asked Arnav with hope in her eyes.
Arnav nodded and smiled at his sister tenderly, "Haan Di! Anything for you!"
Geet impishly looked at Maan who caught the mischief in her eyes and tried very hard to not smile. Anything for you? Haan bhai! Tum toh Khushi se pyaar karte hi nahi! Bas apni Di ke liye apne aapko kurbaan kar rahe ho! Right?
Arnav raised his hand to push Khushi's door open but stopped. Did he have the right to barge into her room? He raised his hand again to knock but then stopped again. Why should he knock? He was the love of her life, whether she wanted him back or not. He had every right to barge in. He pushed the door open slowly and was greeted with the sight of Khushi sitting on the floor hugging her knees to her chest while staring at distance. She made a picture of nothing but defeat and anguish and Arnav took in a sharp breath to quell the feeling of hopelessness that rose within him. Why did he feel that he had already lost the battle that he was just about to fight? Arnav shook his head at his morbid thoughts and tried to focus on his future positively.
Khushi sensed him come in but did not move. Arnav, unknowingly copying Maan's earlier moves, sat beside Khushi. The moment he took his place Khushi sprang up from the ground and leaned onto the window frame nearby looking outside. Arnav stood up and looked askance unsure how to start the conversation.
There was silence for a while as Khushi avoided Arnav and his words while Arnav wondered on what to say.
"Khushi! Marry me!", Arnav whispered after few minutes when nothing else came to his mind and then clearing his throat he said it louder, "Khushi! Marry me!"
That's when something clicked to him and he winced. Sahi kehti hai Motormouth! I am an idiot! Shaadi kar raha hun ya kisi employee ko order de raha hun! If I proposed like this, Khushi kya, Di bhi iss shaadi ko hone nahi degi! He shook his head and then clearing his throat, he spoke softly, "Khushi! Will you give me the honor of being your husband?" Arnav looked at Khushi nervously hoping to get a response from her. When she did not respond, Arnav looked at her unsurely. Ab main kya karun? Di se toh promise kar aaya hun that I will talk to her!
"Khushi! Kuch toh bolo!", Arnav spoke softly but Khushi did not speak up. Arnav sighed again feeling unsure on what to do. He slowly walked towards her and leaned on the other side of the window frame just like Khushi, but unlike her who stared at the view outside, he stared at her.
"Khushi! Kuch bolti kyun nahi?", Arnav asked her pleadingly but Khushi remained still.
"Khushi!" Arnav shouted, frustrated at her silence as he grabbed her by her shoulders and turned her to face him. She refused to look into his face and stared somewhere near his shoulder. He lifted her face by placing a finger under her chin. And that is when her eyes clashed into his and Arnav took a sharp breath at all the unsaid accusations swimming in her eyes. She pushed his finger away and shrugged his other hand off from her shoulder. She took a step back and looked outside again.
Arnav decided that he had enough beating around the bushes. It was about time he got to the reason why he was here.
Khushi was startled out of her thoughts when Arnav whispered in a venom filled voice, "Why?"
Shocked at the sharpness in his voice, Khushi looked at him with wide eyes which only went wider when she noticed Arnav glaring at her. She swallowed as she remembered the last time Arnav was this angry with her. It was the first few days of their meeting after the one year gap. He hated her because he thought she deceived him and used every chance he got to taunt her about that.
Arnav took a step ahead as he continued to glare at Khushi, "Why Khushi why? Why are you rejecting me? You love me, I love you! Then why are you saying no?" When Khushi refused to speak up, Arnav grabbed her by her arms gently but firmly and pulled her close to him.
"Kyun Khushi? KYUN?", Arnav roared making Khushi flinch. Seeing her reaction, Arnav's anger vanished and in its place came weariness. He was tired; tired of executing one scheme after another to win his Khushi back. He had tried seducing, making jealous, playing tricks and even dancing but nothing had yet to budge Khushi from her decision and Arnav was fed up of trying. He closed his eyes as his forehead touched hers and he whispered brokenly, "Kyun Khushi kyun? Yeh inkaar kyun?" Khushi closed her eyes and a tear slipped down her cheek but neither of them noticed.
Arnav took a shuddering breath as all his emotions bubbled up and out of him in form of tears. As tears trailed down his cheeks, Khushi opened her eyes and was shocked to see those tears. She looked at Arnav's closed eyes with tears spilling down and could not stop herself from letting out a sob. Arnav's eyes opened at her reaction and he looked at her with pleading eyes. He could not understand why Khushi was still saying no when her body language, her eyes, her behavior, everything about her was saying the contrary. He had to make her say yes! He cannot give up now after coming so far!
"Khushi! Khushi kuch toh bolo!", Arnav pleaded. When Khushi did not respond, Arnav's anger came back, "Why Khushi? Why aren't you saying yes to this marriage? Lavanya ke liye apne pyaar ko sacrifice karne chali thi na? Lekin ab toh sab kuch theek ho chuka hai! Ab kya problem hai? Khushi tell me why are you saying no? TELL ME!", Arnav roared, "Tell me Khushi! Tell me!", his voice turned into whisper as his knees gave up and he slid to the floor, his hands sliding from Khushi's arms to her hands. He gripped those hands tightly as he looked up to Khushi with tear filled eyes, "Marry me Khushi! I beg off you!" When Khushi did not react and simply stared at him, he continued to speak, "Dekho! Aaj tumhaare saamne yeh Arnav Singh Raizada, apne ghutnon pe hai! Aur tumse apne pyaar ko maang raha hai! Aaj tak ASR Devi Ma aur Di ko chod, kisike aage jhuka nahi, kuch maanga nahi, lekin aaj yeh ASR tumse apni khushiyan maang raha hai! I am begging in front of you! Give me my love back! I want my Khushi back!"
When Khushi still remained silent, Arnav had enough. He got up dropping her hands while glaring at Khushi, "Ab kyun nahi haan keh rahi ho? Dekho! Aaj tumhaare saamne the Great ASR apne pyaar ki bheek maang raha hai! AUR KYA CHAAHIYE TUMHEIN?"
"BAS!", Khushi cut him off, "Bas keejiye Arnavji! Bas!" She looked at him with anguish and hurt, "Aap jaanna chaahte haina ki kyun hum aapse shaadi nahi karna chaahte?", She wiped the tears from her cheeks angrily as she continued, "Toh suniye! Aapki isi aadat ki wajah se hum aapse shaadi nahi karna chaahte! Great ASR! The ASR! Apne aap pe itna guroor hai aapko ki aapko lagta hai ki hum ek taang pe khade honge aapse shaadi karne ke liye! Baat aise kar rahe hain jaise aapne humpe meherbani ki ho iss shaadi ke liye haan karke aur humse pyaar karke! Aapke isi guroor ne, ghamand ne, pichle baar humaare rishte ko taar taar kardiya tha! Yaad hai aapko! Kis tarah se aapne humse baat ki thi jab aapko laga ki humne aapke saath dhoka kiya hai! Yaad hai?"
Arnav looked down, feeling guilty at the way he had treated Khushi when he came to know that he was engaged to Lavanya instead of Khushi. Khushi continued to rant, "Kya kuch kahaa tha aapne? Hum aapke saath khel khel rahe hain! Dil todna koi humse seekhe! Yaad hai kuch?"
"Lekin Khushi, that is past!", Arnav spoke up, "Maine apni galti samajh li hai! And I know that I was wrong! Please Khushi! Lets move on from the past!"
"Kab tak?", Khushi whispered with a defeated look on her face, "Kab tak hum move on kar paayenge? Jab aapki sagaai Lavanya Di se hui toh aapne turant hum par duniya bhar ke ilzaam lagaa diye! Ek baar bhi humse poocha nahi ki aakhir mein hua kya tha! Kya bharosa hai Arnavji ki kal jab phir koi problem humaari zindagi mein aayega toh aap humaare saath khade honge aur humpe phirse ilzaam nahi lagaayenge? Bharosa hai? Nahi na! Kyunki Arnavji aapka ahankaar, aapka ghamand, humaare beech aa hi jaayega! Aise rishte ko kyun badhaana Arnavji? Rehne deejiye!"
"Par Khushi? It is not necessary that I react the same way always! Main badal sakta hoon! People learn from their mistakes! And I have learnt too!", Arnav pleaded as he grabbed her hands, "And I promise, life mein phir kabhi aisa waqt aaya toh main tumhaare saath khada rahunga kyunki main tumhein jaan chuka hoon..."
Khushi cut him off while pulling her hands away from his, "Jaante toh aap humein tabi bhi the! Phir bhi aapne humpe kya kya ilzaam lagaaye! Nahi Arnavji! Hum dono ki kahaani khatam ho chuki! Ab yeh phir se nahi khulegi! Humaara aap par se bharosa uth chuka hai aur humein nahi lagta ki woh waapis aayega! Agar humaari shaadi hui toh hum har waqt isi darr mein jiyenge ki kab koi toofan aayega aur aap humaara haath beech majdhaar mein chod denge! Nahi! Arnavji! Iss rishte ka koi muqaam nahi! Ise ek haseen kahaani samajhke bhool jaana hi achcha hai!"
Saying her words, Khushi ran out of her room, not noticing Geet hiding nearby. Geet had followed Arnav wanting to know why Khushi was rejecting Arnav. And now she saw her strong AB, the same AB who had faced all kinds of storms in his life with his head held high, crumble down and sink to his knees with tears running down his cheeks unchecked as he stared at a distance. Her AB who never accepted defeat now looked so defeated that Geet could not help but resent Khushi a little for doing this to her AB.
Arnav came out of his thoughts when someone touched his shoulder. He looked up to see Geet standing beside him with sympathy in her eyes. Arnav gave her a watery smile trying to show that he was alright. But when Geet's expression did not change, Arnav gave up all the pretenses and hugged her, placing his head on her stomach as he cried. Geet softly brushed her hand through his hair, unable to see her strong AB reduced to a crying mess. Why Khushi why? Why are you letting your insecurities win? You are just like your brother! Both of you prefer to hide behind your cowardice because neither of you have the guts to take a chance. She looked down and tried her best to comfort her elder brother.
After a while when Arnav's tears finally stopped, he pulled away from Geet. Wiping his face, he stood up. Geet's eyes widened as she took in the blank look on her AB's face. She felt dread pool inside her stomach. Hey Babaji! Arnav looked at her and confirmed her worst fears, "That's it! Enough is enough!" His voice was calm but she could see that he was anything but calm.
Arnav continued to speak in a flat tone which conveyed no emotion, "She used to claim that she loved me, right? Then it means she loved me and my flaws included which also means she loved my arrogance and impulsiveness too. Then why is she not accepting me now? I am ready to change for her. I am ready to curb my arrogance. I even promised to be by her side. And yet she refused me? You know what! If she cannot accept me as rude and arrogant as I am even after I promised to change myself for her, then she does not deserve me or my love. It is better that we are not together!"
Geet shook her head. No! This cannot be happening! Her AB cannot loose his love too! "But AB...", Geet tried to speak up but Arnav cut her off, "Nahi Geet! Khushi is right! Things are better this way!" He moved away from Geet and walked towards the door while Geet looked on in horror.
Arnav stopped at the doorway and turned around and Geet felt her hopes surge only to feel disappointment when Arnav spoke, "Di se keh dena, yeh shaadi nahi hogi! I am in my room if you need me!"
Geet stood there for a second with only one thing going through her mind. What the hell just happened here? After few minutes, she came out of her shock and looked at the ceiling, "Babaji! Yeh kya tha? Kabhi KB manaa karti hai toh kabhi AB!" She looked ahead and mused angrily, "Shaadi chal raha hai ya koi mazaak! Bas! Bahut hogaya yeh drama! Ab toh main yeh shaadi karwaake rahungi! Pehle uss Khushi Kumaari Gupta ki khabar lungi phir mere AB ki! Dono ko main nahi chodungi! Shaadi ke mandap tak toh pahunchaake rahungi!" Then her annoyance simmered down and she smiled sadly, "Kyunki agar yeh love story kamyaab hogayi toh mere pyaar par mera ummeed kaayam rahega! Haan Babaji! AB aur Khushi ki love story ko main shaadi tak pahunchaaungi taaki mujhe himmat mile apne pyaar ke khaatir ladne ke liye!"
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
When I first planned this update, Maan was supposed to convince Khushi right away. But then during the time of Arnav taunting Khushi after one year leap, many people commented that they wanted Arnav to regret his words. Someone even asked that Arnav should grovel in front of Khushi. So I created the scene where Arnav begs Khushi to marry him and she refuses.
Also the Geet Khushi convo was supposed to be in this chapter but it has already come to 3000 words and you all have been waiting for a while so I decided to put the rest of the scenes in next part and post this part up!
PRECAP:
Geet finally knocks some sense in Khushi and Chapter 81 finally comes to end.
Thank you, take care and have fun,
Kalpana
P.S. I have already posted a teaser for next update at Behind The Scenes of Entertainment Galore!
Do check it out!
Edited by Kalpana_KaCy - 10 years ago
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