KHUSHI by Jalebi Jane (EPISODE 073)
"WILL YOU MARRY ME, YASH?"
It should be mentioned that Anjali Raizada did not enter the Gupta garden with the intention to corral a husband. Indeed, her intention had been far less noble---she had gone to land a lover, so to speak. However, something shifted within her during those seven minutes of being in Yash Malhotra's presence. And the proposal was out of her mouth before she was half aware of it. Yet, this was not a wild fit of folly. Though, if it was, then surely a woman with Anjali's history could be forgiven for it. But, again, it was not madness. This was a decision that came from the fullest command of her rational mind. After all, it wasn't long contemplation that made a decision right; rightness belonged to what felt right. This felt right.
But clearly Yash Malhotra was not convinced of her seriousness.
"I was thinking more along the lines of a coffee date. Progress to the cinema. Then take a monumental leap and go out for dinner." He gave a wide teasing smile.
"I understand that this is all rather unexpected," Anjali said, in a gentle soothing tone, one that a nurse might employ when helping a patient absorb bad news. "But I am serious. Will you marry---"
He stopped her from completing her sentence, by holding up his hand, "---Wait! Anjali, if my earlier words have created the impression that I'm in love with you---"
"No! No," Anjali stopped him before he said more. It was her turn to smile. "You made yourself perfectly clear. I'm not a child. I know that you came out here to ask me whether I would be amenable to entering a sexual relationship with you. And I came out here to say that I would be---uhm---comfortable---provided it was handled with respect and discretion."
Never had a man looked more relieved, Sisters.
And his relief did him credit.
Because it confirmed for Anjali, what she had intuitively known---that Yash Malhotra was not a man who would allow her to believe more than he felt, in order to gain what he desired. He was not such a man.
"Yet, you mention marriage," the man opposite her pointed out.
She indicated that he might benefit from sitting. So, he sat down again. His feet were planted on the ground, and his hands rested on his thighs. Anjali remained standing. Words swirled in her head, and she tried to bring them into some semblance of order. Most people who propose marriage have the advantage of having practiced their speech a dozen times. They are ready with their moving words skillfully arranged to achieve result. After all, no proposer wishes to be rejected---and this is true whether true love is at stake or, as in Anjali's case, a marriage of mutual convenience is being sought. She began by returning to his own words; this was always a good strategy when persuasion was the goal.
She met his eyes and began, "You said we could enhance each other's lives---I know you were alluding to physical comforts---but, as you said those words, I saw how there might be other comforts to be met. I'm speaking of an alliance that would provide a father for my child, and a mother for yours. You---you have shown me that single parenting is not a diminished state, but we live in a society that views it negatively. I can't ignore what that means for the future of my child."
He listened to her in total silence. In fact, he hardly moved, except his eyes may have blinked.
She felt that she should not wait for cues, but rather continue until her feelings had been expressed completely. She continued, "But it is not for the children alone that I think. I am being selfish. I don't wish to be an emotional dependant on my brothers' family. I want to run my own home and lead my own family."
She then wanted to speak of how her proposal would benefit him, and she had no choice but to address his inner life. An area she could only venture to guess at---but surely one human heart could understand another? "And you---a man such as yourself would have many resources for physical comfort less complicated than approaching someone with my history." Anjali took a leap of faith and said, "Yet, you did approach me. And I believe you approached me because you see that I can bring emotional comfort and companionship to your life."
Anjali saw something change in his eyes as she said those words. She felt she had no right to say what she said next, but she decided to speak all the same. "Yash, I don't know your history with Khushi's mother, but I know myself---I know that a wife is first an ally. It is what I was raised and groomed to be. This is what I would bring to your table."
Again, he didn't respond, but it was clear that he had taken in her words and was processing them silently. Anjali wasn't accustomed to this behaviour in men. She was used to Shyam who would by now have launched his rebuttal. Or Arnav, who would have exploded passionately, made a hasty pronouncement and then walked away. But Yash Malhotra simply stayed seated. His eyes continued to touch points on her face. She was aware that his mind was active, but his body was quite still. It was a lesson in adult communication.
He then asked, "Are your thoughts complete on this, Anjali?"
"Yes," she replied.
"You don't feel the need to influence me with any romantic words? Any sentimental language?"
His words surprised her but she saw a smile on his lips and saw that he was teasing her. Perhaps to ease the tension in the air. "No," she smiled in reply, "You are quite safe from romance. I am no longer the sentimental fool I once was."
He tilted his head as though to say that that was debatable. He was about to speak when they saw some movement of people entering the garden. "This way," he said softly, and guided her down to the gate. They circled the house so they were now at the front door. Anjali took a step towards the open door, but his hand on her forearm stopped her. "I'll follow in a few minutes."
She understood that he was being discreet. "Yes, of course." She turned away, but his hand remained on her. Anjali turned back to look at him.
"Your arguments have impressed me," he said. "Not because they are necessarily correct, but it has showed me your mind. We'll talk further on this?" His last words were phrased as a question, so she nodded, and then left him to join the party. As Anjali walked away, she was left with a sensation---a rather happy sensation---that whatever emerged from their dialogue this evening, she did not regret having proposed to Dr Yash Malhotra.
KHUSHI WAS REMOVING HER JEWELLERY when Arnav returned to their bedroom. There was an agitated energy about him that she could not ignore. They had come home from the party, and he had encouraged her to go upstairs ahead of him. He indicated he would follow. As she climbed the staircase, she saw that he stopped to speak to Anjali, who was heading to her bedroom.
Khushi worried whether Arnav had observed---as she had!---that both Anjali and Yash were missing from the party during the same half hour. Guilt for keeping a secret from her husband dug its knife into her stomach. Though all she really had to share with him was that she had witnessed a kiss. But her woman's heart told her that something significant was unfolding between Yash and Anjali. Was she obliged to share her conjectures? Oh, how she hated secrets!
She twisted in her chair as she unscrewed a heavy earring, and said, "I have something to tell you." She wordlessly prefaced her sentence with don't be angry.'
He had removed his jacket and was rolling up his shirt sleeves. "I have something that will trump what you have to say," he smiled.
I very much doubt it, Khushi thought. But to see him looking so handsome in his white shirt and wide smile---it made her immediately decide to postpone her revelation. "What?" she asked, jumping up.
He went to the wardrobe, pulled out one of her schoolgirl night suits and said, "put this on and meet me at the gazebo by the pool."
She looked at the ivory suit in her hands and asked with a smile, "What are you up to, Uncleji?"
"Hurry!" he warned and left the room again.
WHEN SHE REACHED THE POOLSIDE, she found Anjali hanging glittery stars in the gazebo.
"Di? Aap?" she asked, touching one of the stars. "Is this part of my birthday surprise?"
Anjali shrugged and said with a smile, "I know nothing about this. Chotte just asked me to hang these."
Khushi was about to press her for more details, when her husband joined them. He took the remaining stars from his sister's fingers and said, "Thank you, Di. Now you can leave."
Anjali gasped, "Arrey?! I want to see the birthday surprise. I should be rewarded for helping with the decorations."
He shook his head, and said firmly, "Goodnight."
Anjali pouted prettily but finally agreed. She pinched his cheek, then pressed a kiss to the same spot. "Goodnight."
When Di was out of sight, Khushi turned to Arnav, rubbing her hands with glee. "Where is it?" she asked. "Where is my present?"
"I didn't say anything about a present. You and Di made the assumption. What are women like?" he said, shaking his head. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap.
"Then what's all this---?" Khushi indicated the stars with her hands.
"Forget these stars. Look at the real ones in the sky," he said, taking her hands. Khushi leaned back into his chest and looked into the night sky. He continued, his voice softened. "Find your parents, Khushi. And then find my mother." Khushi's exploration of the stars was halted as she heard the emotion in his voice. She turned to meet his eyes with a question but he urged, "Go on. We have something to tell them."
Khushi did as he asked, but the sensations in her heart alerted her of something significant. Arnav so rarely spoke of his mother; no matter how openly they spoke on every other topic, there seemed to be an embargo on the topic of his mother. She never broached that subject unless he first brought it up. And when he did, it was a brief word that was uttered with more pain than joy.
"I have them," she told him. And pointed them out.
"Now speak to them, Khushi," he urged, "tell them that we wanted them to be the first to know---that we are going to be parents."
Khushi Singh Raizada heard her husband. She heard him but the words didn't make sense. Parents? She twisted in his lap, and supporting herself with her hands on his shoulders, she asked with her eyes.
His answer was clear. His eyes were damp.
"How---?" she asked.
"Hospital test report," he smiled.
"When you went to speak to Yash---?" she asked her incomplete question.
He nodded.
"Succh?"
He nodded again.
Khushi's fingers pressed her lips and she felt her eyes fill with tears.
Her husband laughed softly.
"I can't do it!" she said.
"What?"
"How will my heart bear all this happiness?" She felt the tears now burst forth.
Arnav wiped them as fast as they flowed. "We'll bear it together," he said, as he pulled her into his arms.
By Jalebi Jane
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