Beyond Desire-Arshi FF- PART-15 NOW (Mar 23rd) PAGE 46 - Page 25

PART-14 (III)

Continued from Part-14 (II): (Present Timeline-Raizada Mansion, Delhi)

The weather in RM was stormy, to say the least. Tina had left to her place crying, and Dadi had a difficult time placating her friend's family. They were absolutely unforgivable about breaking the alliance.

When nothing worked, she blasted Arnav for not living up to her expectations and thwarting a perfect bride. She blamed Arnav for straining ties with her friend of old times.

Arnav couldn't stand that and there was a heated exchange of words between the matriarch and her grandson. Anjali tried mollifying both of them, for fear that their relationship might turn turbulent. Things quickly escalated out of control and Dadi collapsed on the couch unconscious.

Arnav and Anjali were never more scared in life. They cared for their precious Dadi. For all her stubbornness, she had fiercely loved, protected and raised them after their parents passed away.

Anjali sobbed her eyes out in the hospital. Even though she said nothing, Arnav felt that she accused him of Dadi's current state.

Dadi was placed on opioids and her frail body was hooked up to a multitude of machines.

As her body stirred gently, both the siblings were ushered into the ICU by the doctor.

"Keep her stress free", he advised them

"I am sorry Dadi, Arnav apologized genuinely, "it was never my intention to hurt you"

Dadi nodded faintly as Arnav held her hand and kissed it softly.

"Promise me you will marry Tina", she said in a weak tone

"Dadi, please relax. Things will go as you wish. I will marry, soon you will see a Raizada heir", he calmed her, "Rest well and come home soon"

That night Anjali wanted to stay back at the hospital with Dadi. Arnav came back home, and closed his eyes trying to find a way out.

A call from Sameer woke him up abruptly, "Sir, we have an emergency"

"What happened Sameer, are my wife and son okay?"

"They are, sir, though we have information from Lucknow that Shyam's uncle has been murdered"

"What?" Arnav was stunned

"We think it is him sir... Shyam, And he is missing"

"Since when?"

"yesterday"

"Sameer, tighten up the security around Khushi and Arvin"

"Already done sir"

"We need your orders as to how to proceed further"

"I'll call you back"

Arnav cut the call, and as he meant to call Aman, he saw an incoming call from Nainital.

"Sirji", the familiar female voice said

"Payal", Arnav said, "what happened?"

"Is she safe?" she asked

"Yes, she is", he said

"Okay...", Payal said in an anxious tone

"What happened Payal?"

"He is here Sirji... he is here"

The line disconnected.

"Shit", Arnav swore. His senses were up. He knew the monster was drawing close.

Arnav locked his bedroom door, and ensuring complete secrecy, he conferenced both Aman and Sameer explaining the seriousness of the situation.

"He is moving towards her", Arnav said, his voice clearly distressed, "he is trying to track her down"

"How does he even know that she is alive?" Aman was puzzled, "Her family has always maintained that she was killed in the landslide"

That got Sameer thinking, "Sir, I need to first figure out if he is working alone or if he has accomplices"

"That bast*rd should not come close to my family", Arnav was ballistic

"Absolutely, I will do everything to ensure that they are safe", Sameer said

"He creates terror everywhere he goes", Arnav concluded, "send your men to Nainital, keep a close guard"

"Right away", Sameer said

"What do you plan to do sir?" Sameer asked

"Sir, please let me say something", Aman interrupted Arnav, "I think she would be safest with you, both of them"

Arnav thought for a second, "You are right Aman", he said, "it's time"

"Tighten the security around my house Aman, and I want you to go get Khushi personally", he added, "Dadi is hospitalized, I cannot step out of Delhi"

"No worries sir", Aman assured, "will be done"

"Sameer, please get my son from Nagpur, I will call and let the Vades know right away"

"Absolutely sir, the little guy will be safe with me"

Arnav called the Vades in Nagpur. Dr.Deepak Vade was surprised at the late night call.

"Is everything okay Arnav beta?"

"No sir, it's not", Arnav said politely, "we tracked him, he has made a move, we are worried about their safety"

Dr.Vade gasped as he understood what Arnav said.

"What should we do now?, Deepak asked worried

"Do you remember Sameer, he is coming to meet you now", Arnav said, "please send Arvin with him"

"Ok beta, but how will we explain to our neighbors here?" Deepak was concerned, "it should not raise a suspicion if that creep traces her to us"

"You are right, please send Nanditha away to her village or to any other trustworthy relatives you have", Arnav suggested, "since everyone thinks it's her son, you can say that she left with the baby for some emergency"

"Alright", Deepak said, "but please keep me posted, I'm worried about both of them"

Arnav could feel the sincere love in the old man's words, "definitely", he said, "but please take care of yourselves, "Any suspicious activity let me know right away", Arnav emphasized.

It was a long night for Arnav. Sleep eluded him as the danger moved closer.

... A short update, I know, but more on the way...

... Do let me know what you think!!!...

...PART-15...

PART-15

Continued from Part-14 (III): (Present Timeline-Raizada Mansion, Delhi)

Arnav was never this happy to be in his bedroom- the sleeping visages of his wife and son filled him with absolute contentment.

He had two loyal men to thank for that- Aman and Sameer, both of whom had ensured his family's safety.

Having gone through the roller coaster the previous day, Arnav had heaved a sigh of relief as Khushi and Arvin stepped inside his palatial house in the early hours of the morning.

He felt rejuvenated as he watched his tired wife and son deep asleep. He hadn't missed sleep at all, in fact, he wanted to- he had barked orders at the security, installed more cameras on the grounds and inside of the house, except in the bedrooms. Glass break sensors were inserted. Security system was in place and monitored 24/7.

His thought process was interrupted by the sound of an opening door; In walked his sister. Arnav walked down to the living area to talk to her.

"Arnav, where have you been?" she said pissed, "did you not want to come see Dadi? She was asking for you"

"I was waiting to talk to you Di", Arnav said, "I will go back to the hospital right afterwards"

He held her hand guiding her upstairs to his bedroom, "just promise me you won't freak out"

"What are you talking Chote? You are not making any sen...",

"Who is this sleeping in your bed?"

"Khushi", Arnav said simply

Anjali noticed the contentment on his face as her brother looked at the lady and the baby sleeping on his bed.

She raised her eyebrows at him questioningly

"Am I missing anything Chote?"

"A lot", Arnav smiled

Pointing a finger at them, he said, "That baby is your nephew Di... my son... and Khushi is my wife"

To say Anjali was stumped was a major understatement.

Arnav made her sit down in the upper floor loft adjacent to his bedroom and explained to her everything from start to finish.

Anjali stayed silent for a long long time. She was totally lost in thoughts. Arnav's anxiety regarding her response mounted every second.

"Di, please say something", he pleaded, he had been counting on her support, a lot.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she said, "Can I hold my nephew?"

As Arnav smiled and nodded at her, she hugged him tight and cried.

"Why did you have to go through so much?" she slapped him on his shoulder, "how could you not let me know?"

"I was worried about you Di", Arnav said sincerely, "And Jijaji and Neha", "I didn't want you involved as I didn't want to put you all in the path of danger"

"You are an idiot, you know that?" she said

"Yes, I do", Arnav agreed, "Will Dadi..."

"She will resist for sure", Anjali said smiling, "but we will try our best"

That day and the next passed in a flurry of activity as Anjali and Khushi got to know each other, the house was baby proofed, and baby stuff was added as per Anjali's suggestions. The arrival of the additional family members excited Anjali to no end.

Only one thing remained- Dadi was still oblivious to what was happening at her house, she had to be introduced to her newest relations.

Khushi was very scared. Dadi was known as a strict matriarch and a staunchly religious person. Khushi had met her in Nainital many years ago along with her parents when they were working in Raizada orchards. She had spoken to Khushi sweetly then.

"Talking to me as a random stranger is one thing whereas talking to me as her grandson's wife is completely another. What if she doesn't like me? What if she finds me unsuitable for her grandson or unfitting to their status?"

Arnav had tried cajoling her time and again, but Khushi could not calm her fluttering heart.

Arnav and Anjali were nervous too. They were strictly advised by the doctors against straining Dadi in anyway, but they weren't sure how to broach the topic, explain the situation to her or how she would take it.

As Dadi and Arnav entered RM, Khushi stood behind Anjali with a sleeping Arvin in her arms.

Dadi was taken to her room upstairs so she could rest after the journey from the hospital.

As Anjali followed her, Dadi asked, "Anju, who is the new girl I saw in the living area?"

"Dadi...um...she is..." Anjali mumbled, "Chote can explain better..."

"Dadi," Arnav said as he brought a sleeping Arvin with him inside, "A few days back, you asked me about the heir to Raizadas, Well, this is him- Arvin"

Dadi's eyes grew big.

"What are you saying Arnav?" she asked in a sharp tone, "Is this a child's play to you?"

"Dadi, please be patient with me", Arnav requested.

Anjali sat down next to Dadi on her bed and held her hand to support her.

"Let him explain Dadi", Anjali spoke, "it has not been easy on them either"

"Them?" Dadi was curious

"Yes Dadi, I wanted to tell you about Khushi more than a year ago but so much has happened that I couldn't", Arnav started

As the past unfolded, Dadi went through a myriad of emotions from anger to pain to sympathy for the poor suffering soul.

"She was lost Dadi", Arnav said as he recalled the nightmarish time of his life, "I believed she was dead for a long time", "I lost interest in life while she went through tremendous suffering on her own"

Dadi and Anjali looked horrified. Dadi noticed how Arnav and Khushi looked at each other with mutual love and understanding.

"Neither could I tell you what I was going through, nor could I accept the alliances that you brought", Arnav explained, "Up until a few days ago, I didn't even know the existence of Arvin"

"This guy", Dadi asked slowly, "this stalker, is he caught?"

"Not yet, but we are close", he said

Dadi exhaled a deep breath, "so until then we cannot have a proper wedding"

"Wedding?" Arnav was surprised

"Do you expect me to accept the nuptials you had Chote?" Dadi asked sternly

"You haven't fulfilled any of the rituals of marriage", she chided, "the Raizada bahu does not even have a Mangalsutra on her neck", "And you expect me to be okay with it?"

Arnav was lost for words while Khushi bent her head in shame.

"Dadi ji is right", Khushi thought. The single tear that slipped out of her eye did not go unnoticed by Dadi.

She called Khushi closer, and asked her, "Are you okay beta?"

Khushi was floored at the old woman's empathy and hugged her tight crying.

"Dadi ji, I'm sorry", Khushi kept repeating, "we never meant to hurt you nor hide this from you"

"Hmm", Dadi was still serious, "I may not be happy with what you and Arnav did, but that doesn't mean I don't accept you as a part of my family"

Arnav and Khushi looked at Dadi stumped as she smiled affectionately.

"Arnav has chosen his bride", the matriarch announced, "And as his family, we will stand by it. Once everything settles down, we will have a private ritualistic wedding and then a huge formal gathering to introduce the heir of the Raizada empire"

"Now...", Dadi said, "let me see my great-grandson"

The stress and apprehensions of the previous days were washed away as the oldest member of the family held the youngest in her loving embrace.

...Sending PMs is tedious, please keep an eye out for my updates. Thanks guys... you rock... And let me know what you think!!!