Chapter 56
Khushi woke up feeling lethargy as the rays of sun stole through the gaps in the curtain. She looked around to find Arnav had woken up already. She went to the bathroom and got ready and went to the outer room, to find Arnav, sitting at the dinning table with newspaper and breakfast. A cup of coffee, toast and conserve. She went up to him dressed in a peach lucknowi suit with navy blue embroidery and dupatta in the same color. Arnav was dressed in cream trousers, shirt in maroon and cream checks and he looked handsome with hair sleeked back
She sat on the chair as he looked up and smiled at her. "Sleepy head, kuch jyada hi nahi soti tum? You did not eat dinner and slept for more than ten hours. Sab theek hai na? Ya mein bahut thaka deta hoon?" Arnav asked concerned for when he had woken up couple of hours back she had not even stirred. He had woken up in middle of the night and had something to eat from the room service but again, Khushi had slept through it all blissfully.
"Nahi," she replied blushing, "must be all the work with the wedding." Khushi took some toast and coffee.
Once breakfast was over, Arnav took her hand walked to the living room and sat with her on the sofa, facing each other.
"Ab, I need to tell you something important." Arnav started, somber about the whole thing.
"The take over was initiated by our Chachaji, Mr Samar Chand Mallick." He stopped her from saying anything when she opened her mouth with a raised hand. "Pehle mujhe sun lo, sab pata chal jaayega. It is a long story Khushi. it is story that spans years of hatred, betrayal and alienation. Years of losing security, love and belongingness. Di and I have been through a lot. But what Mr Mallick has done is like an open wound that has salt rubbed in it ever so often." he started. He then went on to tell her about Di's failed wedding, Chacha and his betrayal and the lady who ruined their lives, though he had looked at her deeply pausing when he had spoken about that woman. She got the impression that he seemed to softening the words and not telling her the real emotions he felt when he thought of that lady who had ruined his life. She understood how five years back she had tried to ruin again and how Jeeju had saved them and this time again it had taken smart move on their side to counter the take over and defeat her and his uncle.
He had brushed over the facts and told her how he did not want her involved.
"Why?" Khushi asked.
"It was for your safety. I did not want her to have any ammunition." Arnav explained. He also told that is why he had asked her to move to Lucknow. Khushi realised now why he had seemed distant at the time. He must have been preoccupied with worry for the company and her. But why her? What could that woman do that would put her in danger.
She asked him.
He went silent. He then recounted the story of how she, when they were young had tried to push Di from the staircase in the house in her viciousness to throw them out. It had been him who had saved his Di. From that day, he had been her protector, ensuring that no one came too close to hurt her. He would never let anyone touch the important people in his life he had said.
Khushi's heart sang. Her eyes brimming with tears. She must mean something to him, she thought. Why else would he have sent her away? Happy to know that she must matter to him. Hugging that thought to herself, she hugged him and said, "Thank you for trusting me Arnav. It must have been a difficult time."
They shared a tender kiss sealing the new understanding between them. Arnav though felt like a heel to not have told her about her mother. How much did she remember her? He wondered as they went to her place and get in to the swing of arranging a wedding.
Arnav went back the next day, promising to be there a few days before the wedding as he was from the side of the groom and the bride. He had double duty. The next week went in a breeze, with shopping, helping family and long sexy phone calls with Arnav.
She could not believe, she could talk to him in such fashion. They seemed to not just crave each other but enjoyed the nok jhoks and the sharing of things on daily basis. They could easily switch from work to play mode with a word, a sound or even silence.
They still fought about trivial things like what she was going to wear and what he was not going to do but Khushi felt she was in a world of happiness that gave her a buoyant feeling.
Even Nani, Anjali came to Lucknow to be with the family and everyone seemed in a very festive mood.
The wedding was day after tomorrow and Arnav was expected this evening with Aakash and his family.
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Writers Corner: Books, Stories & Poems
35