Part 28
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Next Day,
" I heard that you gave a good lecture to Kavita, Chotte. Is it to be believed?" Arunima had a mischievous smirk adorning his lips while Arnav slightly chuckled in an embarrassed manner as he answered his mother's question,
" Haan Mumma. And I don't think I am sorry for that. She was accusing Khushi of trapping me and was questioning her upbringing. I am sure that if I hadn't spoken up, your daughter-in-law would not have rejected the honor."
Arunima giggled affectionately while Arnav joined in but soon her giggles vanished and she turned serious.
" I am really proud of you, Chotte. You are handling the situation better than I had expected you to. I can see the signs of my daughter-in-law finally giving into my son's charms very soon." A slight blush spread across his cheeks as he mouthed,
" Kya Mumma Aap Bhi! But hopefully she does."
Smiling at her son who looked at nothing in particular dreamily, Arunima sent a prayer to her Lord Krishna asking him to never let her son face a heartbreak. But the time would decide if her wish would be fulfilled or not.
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NK's Room,
NK and Shyamli had finally returned from their business trip, which was nothing but a plan of Arunima to bring the couple closer but she could see that her plan had failed her, yet again.
NK's meet with the Gupta sisters was not a very sweet one, especially the meet with Khushi had gone much below expectations. While Khushi tried to maintain peaceful atmosphere and composure, NK's bitterness which had not faded since his marriage with Shyamli, was trying to defeat Khushi's noble intentions. However, it had not led to a fight and Arnav was relived with that.
" So Arnav, I heard that it was an accidental marriage and Khushi still doesn't accept you as her husband. How is it going?" Arnav's smile faded with NK's question which was surely not meant to hurt him but had hurt him, nevertheless.
" Haan Bhai. So far it is going well. Our relationship has grown better and hopefully she finally accepts me. I love her enough to wait for her acceptance." Arnav displayed a lopsided grin. A conflict was taking place in the body in front of Arnav. The brain asked him to feel happy for his dear brother but his heart was unable to forget the injustice which happened in his case, and hence felt jealous of him. And like always, NK's heart had won the conflict.
" Love is just a pain, Arnav. It will render you blind and you will not know what you are doing. And don't keep too many hopes from it." NK's stern voice made Arnav wipe off his lopsided grin from his face knowing that it was not the right time for it.
" Bhai, I am sure that Khushi will reject my love or hate me but will never break me or will make me hate her. I trust her with that." Arnav's trust on Khushi made NK, who was still burning in the fire of separation from love, feel hurt that he was the unfortunate one. No, he was not unfortunate but his family was foolish to make him lose a lady as exquisite as Sheetal. And he hated them for that.
" I will try to trust your judgement in this, Arnav." NK weakly smiled as he patted Arnav's shoulders affectionatly while Arnav reciprocated the smile. Before they could begin with another conversation, a knock on the door distracted them.
" Coffee and Tea for you. Arunima Aunty sent this." Although the door had hid Khushi, her voice automatically lit up Arnav's face.
" Please come in Khushi Ji." Khushi walked in and placed the tray on the table while looking at Arnav in a way that was similar to the way Arnav looked at her. It was a look of admiration and respect, and it managed to pull Arnav towards her with such a force that Arnav felt that if she wouldn't look away from him and if he was not to show her the extent of his passion, he would burst from within.
As if Khushi understood her predicament, she left the room with a bright smile which didn't leave her lips from the time she entered the room. And it was only Khushi who knew the reason of her flamboyant smile.
The reason of her smile was the confession of Arnav in front of NK, which still reverberated in her mind. Arnav's feelings for her truly overwhelmed her as she wondered if there was someone who could love more passionately and deeply than Arnav Singh Raizada.
She thanked her destiny for choosing a man as loving and as caring as Arnav for her. That destiny which she once cursed for intertwining her fate with Arnav's.
The day passed by soon and Arnav-Khushi had retired for the day. Unknown feelings had stopped Khushi from falling into the web of peaceful sleep but she had no complains about that. Eyeing the handsome man beside her, the man who happened to be her rightful husband, Khushi pondered over her feelings for that man.
Just before a realization could take place, excited voices and persistent knocks had broken her trail of thoughts. Wondering who would be awake so late in Sheesh Mahal, Khushi opened the door to find the entire Raizada family in front of her, much to her surprise.
" Arunima Aunty? Anjali? Jiji? What happened?" Khushi's worried and concerned voice made chuckles break out in the corridor while Khushi wondered if she said something wrong.
" Nothing happened, Khushi. It is going to happen. We are going to surprise Devar Ji for his birthday." Khushi's mouth formed a perfect O as tried to recollect if Arnav ever told her that 16th of May was his birthday but it was of no avail.
" Haan Bhabhi. Bhai loves these surprises and we finally got the opportunity of surprising him after years. So we couldn't miss that." Arunima walked into the room as she eyed at her sleeping son pensively. Exactly 22 years ago she was in labor and now she had knock at her son's door and wait for the door to be opened by her daughter-in-law.
How fast did the time fly!
Smiling through her tears, Arunima patted her son gently and firmly as she whispered,
" Happy Birthday Chotte!"
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So what gift should Khushi give her husband?
Edited by .MereRangMein. - 9 years ago
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