Posted:
Khushi was unaware of the proposal or the acceptance by her parents, till Rahul tried to force himself on her by expressing what he thought as a 'fact' that he has a right on her being her would-be husband.
Every time her mother made her fill her partition just to remind her that she is going to get married, Khushi just got the flashes of the day where vermilion of his name adorned her partition, making her his forever.
It was an act for the entire world but the truth of their lives for them. An accidental marriage which they didn't regret, a love which never had a second of remorse, a feeling sans the shade of redemption, was what which destroyed them for now and for ever.
Love was something which the sacred waters of the rivers we worship, have for the rays of sun. Rays of sun of floats on the surface of the water and doesn't sink, even after mixing it doesn't get lost. But still the water gets colored in the colors of the Sun as if sandalwood powder is mixed in it.
Such was the love of Arnav and Khushi, something beyond the description just like the beauty of the rains, something which cannot be pictured in the canvas of our hearts even if we try just as the picture of the sweet aromatic fragrances.
But such love was always subject to the norms of this society which knows nothing but to wither the petals of the beautiful flower called love even before it fully blooms and to wash itself for 'cleansing the dirt' using the blood of these people madly in love. After all, the people who find refugee in the beautiful shelter of love were meant to be made history, as they make history by rewriting the essence and the definition of true love.
Khushi's thoughts were broken just as her dreams when her mother came to her to advise her again about how to be with one's husband.
"Khushi, I don't want another complaint from Rahul Bitua. He is such a good guy and most of all your would-be-husband. So even if asks you to do something which you don't like to do, you WILL DO IT. Is it understood?" Suhasini, found it hard to believe that her daughter was so different from her but who could explain her that marriage is not a sacrifice where a girl will have to sacrifice her self-respect and self-expression to make it work.
After all, all the scriptures state that husband and wife are halves of the same soul, so they are meant to be equal. But the society which brags of ethics and values, could never understand it.
" And yes, I forgot to tell you. Stop speaking to that Paawani girl. She is a bad company." Suhasini made a disgusted face as she uttered the name of the girl whom she evidently loathed.
Khushi, who was quiet till then was astounded by listening to her mother. Her elder sister-like best friend, suddenly turned into a bad company for her? But why?
" Why? What did Paawani Di do? She is strong, ambitious and extremely good girl according to me." Khushi questioned with a raised eyebrow showing her confusion clearly.
" You are one stupid girl, Khushi. You know she divorced her husband? Which girl of good culture and thoughts will do that? I am sure she would have done something wrong in the past and her husband would have come to know about it, which resulted in this. Sahi Hi Hua." Suhasini spoke with a twisted mouth expressing her displeasure to shocked Khushi in both actions and words.
" Her husband sorry ex-husband used to come home drunk and used to beat her up. And you expect her to stay back at his home, bearing all these tortures? What Paawani Di did was right! That jerk doesn't deserve anyone." Khushi spat in anger while Suhasini fumed in anger and glared at her with her eyes turned into saucers.
" What do you mean by she was right? I wonder which stupid idiot introduced this procedure of divorce. Fights between husband and wife are common and are meant to be forgotten. And how can a husband rape his wife? It is a husband's right to touch his wife, any time, any where he wants.She is just over-exaggerating things. And what did she get by separating from him? She lost her life-partner who would be beside her all the time due to her stupidity.If she would have kept some patience along with her, she would have earned his love and respect soon." Suhasini spoke in lecturing tone as if she was stating the universal truth.
" Sometimes having a person beside you is much more worse than having none beside you, Mumma. And Paawani Di is not some object to be treated in any way a guy wants. If he tried to force himself on her, then what would you call it other than rape? Haven't you seen the bruises, blue-black marks all over her, which scarred her as a result of his beatings? Still you want her to remain in that abusive marriage, Mumma? Heights of narrow-mindedness, Mumma." Khushi exclaimed in sheer anger while Suhasini angrily glared at her while shouting back at her,
" Are you trying to insult me, Khushi? I am elder to you and raising your voice against elders is disrespecting them."
" I am not disrespecting you but your beliefs, Mumma. The fact is that I am not disrespecting you but you, yourself are disrespecting you by saying things like this and doing acts this. Being a woman, you want other woman to be tortured every day? Instead of wasting her time by staying in that marriage, Paawani Di has started working to create an identity of her own. And instead of supporting her in this, you all are taunting her. Irony isn't it? We stay in a country where Goddesses like Durga, Parvati and Kali are worshiped but this is what we do to women around us. " Khushi stated with burning hot tears flowed out of her eyes as the result of blood boiling in her due to her anger.
" I would have slapped you by now if there was no rule that daughters shouldn't be hit in this house, Khushi. But don't expect this after you are married. Your husband will disown you if you shout or answer back at him like this." Suhasini screamed at Khushi, reminding her of her marriage again which made Khushi's eyes turn red with fury.
" As if I am expecting anything good from that deal which you call as marriage, that house and that family. And who is he to disown me? I will take the honor to do it myself with all due respect." Khushi answered back as she staged a walkout ignoring every thing her mother said. But she knew everything had one common thing in them, respect your husband more than you respect god and respect your marriage more than you respect yourself.
Thoughts of the society were ruining her thoughts because she, as a matter of fact was born in the wrong time frame. She was much forward than majority of the Indians in thought and actions.
Will time change or will she have to change herself?
-------------------------------
Shantivan,
Arnav wanted to talk to Khushi. He wanted to assure himself that his Khushi was alright and not in any form of danger. He was ready to let her go, if that is what her happiness demands. But he knew for a fact that Khushi was not happy with the relationship which tied her down to Rahul Kapoor. After all, which girl would be happy if she was forced to accept a relationship with a guy who tried to rape her?
He took out his iPhone and opened the Facebook Messenger Application to talk to Khushi as Khushi had strictly advised him to not call her.
Arnav: How are you Khushi?
Khushi, who was looking at Arnav's photo on her phone with immense love and tears in her eyes, was brought back to the present with the notification which informed her of Arnav's text.
The way he asked her about her well-being without even saying a 'Hello' or 'Hi' showed how eager he was to know about her and Khushi realized it while it pained to her that she was hurting a person so deeply in love with her.
Khushi: I am fine, Arnav. Rahul and his family is coming to visit us today and Mumma is preparing for that.
Khushi, who never failed use emos in her texts was now using none and it showed the way the situations changed the lively person which Khushi was.
Arnav: Are you sure you want to go ahead with this alliance, Khushi?
Khushi: Even if I don't, is there a way out, Arnav?
Khushi cross-questioned him while showing how complicated the situation was.
Arnav: Just say it, Khushi. I am ready to do anything to bring you out of this mess. I had vowed to protect you always, Khushi. How can I forget that?
As Arnav pointed at the vows they had taken unconsciously, Khushi's pain increased. She couldn't risk his life, could she? After all, Arnav meant to her more than her own life.
Khushi: That was just an act, Arnav. Nothing more, nothing less. We were clearly acting back then.
Arnav: If it was then, why do I always have to stop myself from proclaiming my marital status as 'married'? If it was then, why I feel every emotion associated with marriage when I see, talk or think about you? I love you, Khushi. And that act turned real for me the minute I started loving you.
Khushi closed her eyes, as tears rolled down from her eyes seeing the extent of her love. She didn't want to hurt him but didn't she too vow to protect him and his life always? And she will fulfill her vows.
Khushi: You don't love me, Arnav. You are infatuated to me. In our society we are taught about marriages since a very young age, so that might have affected you that's all.
Anrva's heart ached to see her reply. His eyes turned red in pain while his mouth dried up in sorrow. Tears dropped down his eyes, while his breaths became staggered due to the mental torment.
Was there a marriage more stronger than theirs? Or was there a love more deeper than theirs?
But will this love find its name or will it be lost in the darkness of history?
----
Next Chapter will have more of Arnav for sure! Such a long update!
* l l My Index l l *
Please hit on the like button and do comment
Read this note..
If you need PM then buddy this account
Only send me request if you are really going to comment and hit the like button.. I do not want to waste my time and energy to send PM for those who don't appreciate others work..
Cricket
Current Affairs
Udne Ki Aasha
703