If Khushi thought that Anjali would drop the topic after
that night, she was wrong. It was a week later and Khushi and Anjali were both
sitting with Manorama in her room. Manorama's health had improved quite
significantly and so had the general mood in the house. Today for the first
time in over a month, Anjali was openly laughing as she was sharing some
stories from her college and watching her, both Manorama and Khushi were also
smiling.
Slowly but surely, they'd started to emerge from the immediate
aftermath of the tragedy. The pain and the void was still there, but they'd
finally started moving on again and Khushi felt genuinely happy watching the
little family regroup itself.
"Ma you won't believe the look on Britanny's face when I
told her I had a fiance."
"You told her what?" Khushi asked, shocked.
"I was trying to get her off my back. Always trying to set
me up with some guy or the other in the class. She is my friend but she can be
annoying when she starts matchmaking. Don't worry, I told her the truth later." Anjali
explained.
"Anjali you've become very naughty." Manorama slapped her lightly.
"Maybe I should get you a fianc for real."
"Oh mom, puhlease. I am too young. Besides I am not leaving
you and going anywhere for a looonnggg time. But you know there's someone else
you should find a fianc for?" Anjali chuckled, then winked at Khushi before
facing her mom, making Khushi suddenly panic about whatever Anjali was about to
say.
"Who?" Manorama asked her daughter and Anjali replied with a
face as straight as possible. "Bhai, of
course. Don't you think we should help him find a life partner? As it is, he
has asked both of us so many times in the last two weeks to move with him to
India and we've both refused. But we can't let him be all alone there also,
don't you think?"
"Yes. Yes you're right. I have been thinking exactly the
same thing. But I don't know if Arnav is ready to move on and consider someone.
It has not been that long since the divorce was..."
"Oh trust me Ma. He is ready. Or we will make him. If both
of us ask, he won't say no, would he? And Khushi will also help us convince
him. Right, Khushi?"
"Uh..of course..."Khushi stammered, startled at this sudden
exchange. She shifted uncomfortably in her place as Anjali focused her
attention back on her mother and started suggesting how to ask Arnav and also
possible names.
It made sense, of course. Arnav's family would obviously think
of his future and didn't Khushi agree that Arnav needed someone in his life
who'd love him like he deserved? Yet, there was an undeniable sinking feeling
in her hearts as Anjali rattled off possibilities without sparing a glance at Khushi.
Initially, she was scared Anjali would take her name especially as she had
winked at her, but that didn't seem to materialize. Khushi couldn't understand
what to make of it.
"What do you think Khushi?" Manorama asked, snapping Khushi
out of her thoughts.
"What?" she asked, unsure what the question was about.
"What kind of girl Arnav would like? You're his friend, you
know him well."
"Umm...someone simple, who'd understand him and love him for
who he is, not his money."
"Yes, yes that makes sense. I think we should look at
someone who's high-cultured as well as comes from a well to-do family herself
so that she's not greedy for Arnav's money. Maybe.."
Anjali interrupted her mother before this conversation went
in a direction away from what she intended. She wanted to rile up Khushi, and
then possibly Arnav too so as to push them out of the denial they were both in,
but she didn't want this rich family discussion to take roots and scare Khushi
off.
"No Ma. Rich poor doesn't matter. We should look at heart. Ratna
aunty came from a rich family, didn't she? Yet she betrayed bhai for the sake
of money and her son."
"Hmm. You're right. Arnav deserves someone with a golden
heart." Manorama said and Anjali sighed in relief. "My Arnav is a pure angelic
soul. He deserves someone from a high-principled, cultured family, someone
whose own character is equally pure and innocent so she could accept Arnav."
"Yes yes. Someone sweet and caring and smart. And beautiful
also, just like Khushi." Anjali chimed in.
"Me.."Khushi stuttered.
"Yeah, Khushi. You're so pretty. Mom, you should take her
picture and then compare every girl you select for bhai. She should be at least
as beautiful. Only then they'd look good together. Otherwise the wedding photographer
would have to photoshop her pictures just like that witch Sheetal's." Anjali
burst into laughter and Manorama gently scolded her, but Khushi was feeling
deeply uncomfortable. She sensed by now that Anjali was trying to rile her up
on purpose but then Manorama's comments about finding an innocent soul for Arnav
had touched a chord within her. She had lost her innocence and everything good
about her, hadn't she?
Just then, Arnav stepped into the room.
"What's going on?" He asked, having heard the boisterous
laughter.
"I am going to go check on dinner." Khushi suddenly stood up
and bolted out of the room. Arnav looked at her leaving curiously, then went and sat where she
had been sitting.
"What were you all laughing about?" He asked Anjali and
Manorama.
"We were fixing your wedding. Trying to decide between one
blind and one bald girl." Anjali offered
"What?"Arnav scowled and Anjali burst into laughter.
"What else? You're not going to find someone for yourself,
are you? So we have to try, no."
"Anjali..."
"Ok ok. Sorry. Oops, it's 8 already. I got to go to
Brittany's place mom. There's too much homework to catch up on. I'd be back by
10." Anjali said, standing up, relieved to be escaping Arnav's anger.
"Go after dinner beta"
"No mom. Khushi fed me too many snacks. I'd eat something
when I come back if I'm hungry. It's next door anyway. Besides, right now if I
sit here, bhai is going to eat me alive. So I am going, ok. Byeee" Anjali
rambled as quickly as possible and ran off.
"This girl is crazy" Manorama muttered.
"Yeah" Arnav added. "But it's good to see her smiling
again." Then he faced his mami and gently put his hand on hers. "Mami, won't you
reconsider? Please come to India with me."
"Arnav, I explained to you already. This is my home. I know
people and your mamaji's memories are also here. I will be fine here. Besides,
someone needs to look after Anjali too, and she can't leave her studies."
"But won't you be alone here. I'm going back in three days. Anjali
would be at college. You should come with me. I'd take care of you I promise.
And I'd make sure Anjali is fine here too until her studies are over next year.
Then she can..."
"Arnav..."Manorama said in a tone that he knew signified an
end to the argument. The exact same discussion had taken place too many times
already anyway. "Instead of worrying about me being alone, you should think
about yourself beta. Anjali is right. You need someone in your life. Have
you...have you thought about marrying again?"
Arnav sighed and stared at the ground, then softly answered.
"I have."
"Do you have someone in mind?" Manorama asked in surprise
and excitement. She had expected convincing Arnav to remarry to be a much more
difficult discussion.
Arnav looked up to his Mami and decided to tell her. After
all, she was the closest person he had to a family. It had been a month since
he'd decided he wanted to marry Khushi but in their circumstances, he hadn't
gotten the chance to tell her yet. He wanted it to be perfect when he asked her
to marry him and he intended to do that once they were back in India in a few
days. But he could get Mamiji's blessings now.
"What do you think about Khushi?"
"I knew it" Manorama squealed excitedly. "Oh, I love her
beta. She's so perfect for you. I knew Anjali was hinting something with her
glances at Khushi."
Arnav grinned at her acceptance, then asked "What did Anjali
say?"
"Nothing directly, but I think she was teasing Khushi."
"Oh God, this girl is going to spoil everything. I haven't
told Khushi anything yet and..."
"Oh, why haven't you?"
"I didn't get the chance. And now..."
"Oh you should do that asap. Don't worry, I have seen the
way she looks at you and cares for you. She is so sweet and loving. Plus, I am
sure she is in love with you."
"Really, mami? You think?"
"Yes, yes. Now go ask her quickly. She told me her parents
are no more, but she would have some family, right? Give me the number. I will
talk to the elders."
"She doesn't have anyone Mami."
"No one. She told me she's from a small town. Isn't there..."
"Yeah. She was studying in a small town outside Mumbai. Then
her father passed away a few months back, leaving just her and her younger sister."
"Oh. So much grief at such a young age. But you met her in
Mumbai right? How?"
"I..." Arnav contemplated an answer, then decided to come
clean. This was his Mami, his almost-mother. He didn't want to hide the truth
from her. He valued honesty because he believed that truth has a way of
eventually coming out anyway. And he was sure she would understand Khushi's
pain and see the beauty of her soul.
"Khushi went through a lot mami. After her father's death...I
met her in Mumbai...she had been sold to an escort service. But she didn't belong
there. I brought her home and slowly I..."
"She's a prostitute!" Manorama screamed, stunning Arnav.
"Mami...it's not...she was sold there forcefully, she didn't..."
"You can't marry her Arnav. That's it." Manorama spoke with
force, not wanting to hear any further.
"Mami, she's not like what you think. She is a really nice
girl. I saved her from there and I love..."
"Enough Arnav. I don't want to hear any more. How can you
even think about loving and marrying a...a...chhii..." Manorama was now yelling in
anger and started coughing. Arnav bent forward to help her but she pushed him
away.
"Don't touch me until you promise to throw that cheap woman
out of your life and my house. You brought a roadside characterless woman to my
house?"
"Mami, enough." Arnav was by now angry. He didn't expect his
Mami to react this way and had initially tried to calmly explain, but hearing
her say all kinds of vile things about Khushi had broken his patience. "I will
not hear a word against my Khushi. I thought you'd have seen in the last month
what a loving, innocent, compassionate person she truly is. Just because she
had the misfortune..."
"I cannot believe you are justifying your mistress and
screaming at your Mami for her. She must be really good in bed..."
"She was my mistress. She is now my life and my
would-be-wife and she deserves everyone's respect. And the only reason she was
my mistress was because I made her so. She was in my bed because I went there
looking for company. She was in the trade because some men abducted her and
forced her, threatening her with her sister's life. If anyone was at fault, it
was me, not her."
"You've gone mad, Arnav. First that Sheetal broke your heart
and tried to steal your money and now you've found yourself another cheap
gold-digging wh**e. Mark my words, one day..."
"Mami I cannot hear another word against Khushi. Sheetal and
Khushi are as far apart as night and day. But I don't think you'd understand
it. Fine. Me and Khushi would leave your house right now. And no need to move
back to India with me. I'd make sure you and Anjali have enough money to live
comfortably here." Arnav spoke in anger and turned to leave when his feet
suddenly stopped as he saw Khushi standing at the door with tears bursting
through her eyes. She had heard the screaming and walked over a couple of minutes
back. It seemed she had heard enough.
"Khush..."Arnav called out but Khushi immediately turned back
and ran out. Arnav ran behind her, ignoring the calls of Manorama behind him.
"Khushi...Khushi...wait Khushi..." Arnav screamed as Khushi ran
all the way outside the house until he caught her.
"Khushi, listen..."he pleaded as he held her by the arm and
pulled her closer. "I am sorry Khushi. I don't know what you heard. Whatever
Mami said...Khushi please look at me."
Khushi finally turned and looked at Arnav for the first
time. He had tears in his eyes too, but Khushi was weeping bitterly having
heard the conversation between Arnav and Manorama.
"Khushi I am sorry if I have hurt you. I didn't want to do
that. I didn't know Mami would...I am sorry on her behalf. What she said isn't
true. You know it, don't you?"
"Arnav please...please just let me go."
"Where? And how? How can I let you go Khushi? How will I
live then? I'd die if you leave me..."Arnav pleaded and Khushi placed her hands
on his lips as he spoke of dying.
"Arnav please let me go. I am in your debt for everything
you did for me but I can't stay here any longer. I can't be with you anymore.
Just leave me." She spoke again.
"I can't. Not before you answer one question for me. This is
not how I wanted to ask this, but now that it has come to it, I have to say
this. You, Khushi, are the most beautiful, caring and innocent person I've ever
met in my life. I have never felt as happy and as complete in my life as with
you. I know fate has been more than unfair to you. I know I come with a lot of
baggage and I'm probably not good enough for you. But still..." Arnav sighed,
then went down on his knees, still holding Khushi's hand tightly. "You once
said everyone in your life made decisions for you without giving you the
choice. Today you have the choice. Complete freedom. Forget about the past. Any
sense of gratitude or obligation that you felt. Just think of you and what you,
Khushi Gupta, want today for yourself and your future and tell me Khushi... could
you...would you please marry me?"
A deep silence - as well as the future of their fates - hung
over the couple as Arnav stared into Khushi's eyes and waited for her to
answer.
After what seemed like an eternity, Khushi asked, her voice
quivering
"If it's upto me and what I really choose?"
"Yes"
"Only my choice?"
"Yes. Your free will."
"Arnav, for everything you've done for me, I would do
anything you want me to. I cannot possibly repay you even with my life. So if
you ask as a repayment for saving me and Payal, I'd do anything - I'd be your
slave, your mistress or your wife."
"Khu..."Arnav tried to interrupt but she stopped him with a
gesture.
"But if it's only a question of what I want...of my future...of
who I love...of who I think is worthy of being my life partner...then..."Khushi
closed her eyes tight and took one large gulp of air with great difficulty
before opening her eyes and saying what had to be said
"...then...my answer is No."
Bejaan dil ko
tere ishq ne zinda kiya
fir tere ishq ne hi
Is dil ko tabah kiya...
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