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AZAB
PART 1
"Jiske Aane Se Muqammal Ho Gayi Thi Zindagi...
Dastake Khushiyo Ne Di Thi...
Mit Gayi Thi Har Kami...
Kyon Bevajah Di Ye Saja...
Kyon Khwab Deke Wo Le Gaya...
Jiye Jo Ham Lage Sitam...
Azaab Aise Wo De Gaya..."
Mrs. Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada stood near window staring outside lost in memory lane, remembering all good and bad times she has spent with her husband. This has been routine nowadays, from the time she is away from him, from her life at her maternal place.
Arnav...! His name only is needed to light up her world, remembering about him brought a smile on her lips. She thought about the time when she came to know about him followed by their first meeting. How he entered into her life like a tornado and changed her life for best. What she never thought, she will ever do he made her do the same and surprisingly she was eager to do that.
FLASHBACK
"Amaa...How can you do this?" asked Khushi to Garima Gupta entering inside the house.
"I have every right to do this Khushi. He is best for you. Moreover, your Nanu wanted this" replied her Amaa giving her glass of water to calm visibly furious Khushi.
"Par aap janti hai na mujhe in sab pe Vishwas nahi(But you know I don't believe in all this)" said Khushi getting frustrated with this sudden shocking news of her engagement with some Arnav Singh Raizada.
She was in her college when her mother called her asking to return as soon as possible as the guy chosen by her late Nanu and her to-be-inlaws were visiting them to decide marriage date. They wanted engagement of the duo to be done within the week itself and marriage within the span of a month as after that they don't have any muhurta for next two years.
Khushi was beyond angry. She never wanted to get married. She had her own reasons. But her family was not ready to listen to them. They supported her in every step, stood with her and they somewhere knew about her opinions on this topic still they wanted her to get married to this certain Arnav Singh Raizada.
That guy without meeting her for once, not knowing her personally agreed to this alliance only because he knew her Nanu. God! In this 21st century, people like him do exists.
"Khushi beta yeha aao"(Khushi, my child come here!) Her Nani said extending her hand towards Khushi.
Taking Hold of her hand Khushi settled beside her Nani on a coach with a gloomy face.
"Baccha, do you trust me?" asked Nani making Khushi look at her.
Getting positive node from Khushi she continued.
"Then do you think I will take wrong decision for you? I know him baccha, your Nanu knew him, and he is perfect for you... I only want you to see you settled before I die..." Nani said cupping her face by one side getting emotional.
"Nani...Please..." Khushi hugged her immediately.
"It's not like that. It's just ...just that it's too early. I...I don't know him and don't you think I'm too young for this." After some moment of silence, Khushi said without looking up still hugging her Nani.
Nani smiled at her granddaughter. She knew about her insecurities and she knew Arnav is the one who will able to remove them.
Caressing her hairs softly she said in motherly affection, "Baccha ... I knew, you will be thinking this and that's why I have called him so that you both can talk without any third person. I want this marriage to happen but with your consent baccha. Just give one chance to him for me, for your Nanu and I know he won't let me down."
"Maa, par aap..." (Maa, but ...) Garima interrupted her mother, that when today they are about to decide everything then now why this new turn of event.
"Garima...Ye Khushi ki jindagi hai...Let her decide!" Said Nani.
"Go Khushi he is waiting upstairs in your room,"Nani said pushing her from her place.
What? Is he in her room? She stared at both ladies with the Are-you-serious look.
Both of them just shrugged in response and send her in the room but not before warning her to not do something inappropriate, knowing well that she can try to break this alliance.
***********************************
Khushi entered her room taking a deep breath thinking how to face this. She loved her Nanu a lot and she does want to fulfill all his wishes. But this one is not she ever wished for. There he stood facing wall which has pictures all over it, from her childhood to till now with her family, his back facing her.
On the other hand, Arnav who was busy in observing her photos turned around at the sound of someone's footsteps.
"Handsome."
That's the first thought came to Khushi's mind.
"Beautiful" Arnav mumbled looking towards her taking a good time to observe her.
"Huh?" Khushi asked perplexed. It's not that no one ever complimented her but the way his eyes did, make her feels the butterflies, and she hated to admit that.
Something in his eyes stopped her from being rude.
"This pictures!" "They are very beautiful." He said after awhile.
But Khushi is sure he is covering up.
The first time Khushi felt nervous under someone's gaze, surprisingly not uncomfortable, though.
"Hi, Khushi... I'm Arnav" Arnav said extending his arm for a formal handshake when he noticed her growing nervous in his company.
"Hello," Khushi replied.
"Come Sit," He said still holding her hand and leading her to bed as if it's his room, not hers. Khushi sat taking her hand back and keeping some distance between them.
Silence prevailed among them, which Arnav decided to break and he started the conversation.
"Khushi... I know this is not you are wishing for... You don't want to marry me and you have your reasons... Frankly speaking, I am also not expecting you to be." Khushi looked surprisingly at him... Arnav just smiled in response.
"I can understand, it's difficult to get committed for lifetime to someone whom you are meeting for the very first time, without knowing anything about him... That's the reason I'm here, to know what you want... I expect you to be honest with your opinions about this alliance." Arnav said looking in her eyes putting her at ease that he does understand her.
Khushi silently listened to him. He gave her chance to express what she wants.
"Thank you for thinking about me. I...I" first time Khushi don't know how to explain things to someone.
"Khushi" He called out for her.
Khushi's eyes looking down at her knotted finger in her lap in nervousness rose up to meet his.
"Nanu was the one from whom I learned the business. He was like the father figure to me. I respect him a lot." Arnav said staring ahead, his face expressing sincerity of his words. "He always kept talking about you. He loved you very much." He paused for awhile.
"I'm here to fulfill my promise given to him, his last wish. But that doesn't mean I'm doing all this just because of some responsibility" he continued still not looking at her while Khushi intently listened to him.
"I'm doing this because Mai ye karna chahta hu...Dil se!" Arnav said now looking straight in her eyes. Khushi's heartbeat raced up and she didn't know why?
"I'm not forcing you for anything."
"Mujhe Zindagi ne ek baat sikhai hai har cheej aapki marji se ho ye jaroori nahi to kuch baate waqt aur apni kismet pe chod deni chahiye. Kabhi kabhi hame jo sabse galat lagta hai wohi hamare liye sahi hota hai." Arnav said as if he knew for her this is the wrongest thing in the world to do.
Khushi sat there lost in his words, where he kept looking at her trying to gauge her reaction.
Someone knocked on the door informing about the arrival of Arnav's family. Arnav left downstairs giving her privacy to decide what she wants.
After a lot of thinking Khushi decided to leave everything on destiny and give chance to this new relationship, perhaps not for herself but for her Nanu and her family. After that, everything happened in a whirlwind.
...
Later she was brought downstairs to meet his family. She liked all his family members, they liked her too. She soon bonded with his sister Anjali and his bhabhi Payal. They helped her in getting ready for engagement ceremony in the outfit they have brought.
When she was made to stand beside Arnav, she saw his outfit and noticed their clothes complemented each other. She felt too good.
During the whole evening, she blushed unknowingly whenever they got teased, whenever Arnav had looked at her, when they were close to each other, whenever their skin came in contact. Whenever their eyes had met she felt an unknown feeling rising inside her heart.
The whole ceremony was quite simple and sober affair with the presence of only two families.
...
"Here, take this." He said forwarding card towards her.
Khushi looked confusedly towards his stretched hand. They are now standing again in her room away from their families. As Raizada's are leaving for their house Arnav stole time giving an excuse of forgetting his wallet in her room.
"My number, I know you need time. You can call me anytime, can ask me anything. I'm there." He said clearing her confusion, emphasizing last words assuring her.
Khushi nodded little-taking card from him. Their fingers brushed in a process and she felt something stirring in her heart recalling his earlier words and now his touch. They came down together as it was getting late for Arnav's family departure. Soon bidding bye they left for their home.
That day was the day when he made an official entry in her life.
...
Khushi smiled looking at her engagement ring. She brought her ring towards her lips and kissed it.
"I never knew Nanu that so much will happen in one day. I had got to know about your wish and then that meeting with a complete stranger, my agreement, and engagement within the span of few hours. My whole life had changed and the reason was, Arnav." Khushi said looking at the sky.
Her eyes welled up; tears threaten to roll down from her eyes. She wiped then instantly when she felt someone entering in her room.
"Tumhe mujhse ye aasoo chupane ki jaroorat nahi hai Khushi," Garima said keeping her hand on Khushi's shoulder.
Khushi turned around and hugged her Amma hiding in her mother's protective warmth letting her tears flow down. "I miss him Ma...I miss Arnav" Khushi cried brokenly.
"Shh...Sab thik ho jayega Khushi...Shh," Garima said caressing her hair and back to calm her.
Leading her to bed she sat there till Khushi fell asleep and left the room after kissing her forehead. She knew Khushi is in pain but she couldn't do anything she is helpless.
***************
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
44