The first thread of this FF is close to a 150 pages, so I've started a second one. Here is the latest chapter. Apologies for the delay in updating...I've been a busy bee the past few days. For those who haven't read the earlier chapters, the link to the first thread is here:
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/1947524
Scroll down for links to subsequent chapters.
Alrighty, here goes.
Chapter 23: A few surprises
1 week later
Khushi rang the bell at the Raizada Mansion. She was here to see the family before she left for the UK. The pathologist and the bone marrow biopsy had confirmed the diagnosis of ALL. She had borne it stoically. The storm had passed. Now, there was quiet accepance and a determined will to fight this to the end and beat it. Khushi was leaving with the children tomorrow. Freddy had made some calls and had lined up the best doctors to treat Nita in London. Nigel and Freddy were going with her, of course. Aadit had come home a few times to see her and Nita. He hadn't said much, but she knew he was upset. While Nita being sick was uppermost in his mind, she knew that his relationship with Anjali was weighing on him too. He and Anjali were getting along so well, and to have to move back to the UK now seemed like terrible timing to him. Khushi had told him to take some time off work and stay in India for a while. Spend more time with Anjali. He could certainly afford it. He hadn't said anything is response to that, just given her a thoughtful look and said he'd think about it.
ASR opened the door. "Hey! Everyone's waiting," he said, smiling slightly.
"Hi!" she stepped inside and walked into the living room. Buaji, Payal, Akash, and Garima were waiting anxiously for her.
"How is Nita doing?" asked Payal worriedly.
"She's OK. She has no fever anymore. They treated her for that. We leave tomorrow and she starts treatment the day after in London, hopefully," said Khushi.
"Such a terrible thing to happen to a baby!" said Buaji, woefully. Khushi smiled politely, she wasn't up for that conversation.
"She's going to be just fine. We will pray for her." Said Garima, looking at Khushi.
"Thank you! I appreciate that." Said Khushi.
"I'm here for a reason," she began before anyone else could butt in with commiserations or offers of prayer. "I've learned something this past week. I've learned that life is too short to stay angry with your family. I've learned that life is too short to bear grudges. I want to say something to you people. You are my family. We can't change that. I loved you and trusted you for most of my life. I've been very very angry with you for the last 7 years. It's hard for me to let go of all that anger and bitterness. But I am willing to try. I think its time I tried to heal my wounds and reach out to you. I know this comes at a tough time for me. My baby is sick. I know she'll get better. But for now, she is sick. I cannot give you the time and attention needed to repair our fractured relationship. But we can try. Why don't we stay in touch? I'm going back to the UK, but I'll call you and keep you updated on Nita. You call me when you like. And when Nita gets better, maybe you can all come to London and visit?" she finished.
Buaji and Garima wept. Even Akash looked touched. Surprisingly, the only person who didn't shed a tear was Payal. She simply walked up to Khushi and hugged her. Khushi didn't hug her back for a second, and then she slowly encompassed her sister in her embrace.
"Arjun and Khushi would love to visit their cousins in London!" said Payal, smiling.
"Ok then, Payal. Bring them over, hopefully, in the summer." Said Khushi smiling too. Khushi walked up to Buaji. "Buaji, what happened was a mistake. You didn't mean to do anything. You had only the best of intentions. Yes, I blamed you for it. And I have borne a very big grudge for 7 years now. But I want to tell you this, today. Forget it ever happened. I'm over it. I've moved on. I don't bear any grudges anymore." Khushi leaned down and hugged Buaji lightly.
"OK! This is like a bad movie now. If I have to watch this drama, can I atleast get some chai and samosas?" asked ASR, trying to lighten the situation.
"I'll bring some out right away," said Payal.
"No. It's OK. I really should be going," said Khushi.
"Have a cup of chai please. Nani will be back soon, she will be disapoointed if you leave without saying good bye to her," Said ASR.
Khushi sat down and tried to make conversation with her mother and Buaji. It was a strange, stilted conversation. As if they were trying to recollect whatever they had unlearned about each other in the last 7 years. After about 15 minutes, ASR interrupted again. "Khushi! Come up with me? I have something to show you," he said.
"Sure." She replied. They walked up the stairs together.
"So, what is it?" she asked.
"What's what?" he asked.
"What did you want to show me?"
"Oh that! Nothing. I just couldn't bear to hear you discuss the merits of Lucknowi paan anymore. It was painful. Besides, I wanted you to myself for a little bit. That never happens."
"Oh."
"Khushi, I wanted to ask you.." before he could finish, they heard a great commotion downstairs. There seemed to be a lot of yelling and screaming going on. Khushi and ASR looked at each other. "Buaji!" they both thought, and sprinted downstairs to the living room.
Aadit and Anjali stood there, smiling happily at everyone. She was wearing a red sari and some simple gold jewelry. He was wearing a cream sherwani. They both had garlands around their necks. Aadit saw Khushi and ASR, and his grin faded a little. Anjali walked up to her brother.
"Chotey! Aadit and I got married today. I know this is a surprise, but we didn't want to make a big deal out of it. Sorry, I feel bad about not telling you, but he just proposed and we went to the registrar's office and got married." She stopped talking and looked at ASR's face. He looked thunderstruck.
"Di! You got married. You married, this, this..guy. And you didn't even tell us? OK, you didn't want a big wedding, but we could've at least been present when you signed the register." He said angrily.
Aadit stepped forward. "It's not her fault. I hurried her. I wanted to be married today, so we could go to the UK together. I love her. I don't want to stay away from her. I'm sorry it happened this way, but neither of us wanted a wedding of any kind." Said Aadit firmly.
"You didn't even want your family to share in your happiness?" asked ASR, his eyes boring into his sisters.
"It's not like that Chotey! It's just, under the circumstances, we didn't think any celebration was appropriate. Besides, we didn't want anything anyway. And we didn't know how you would react if we told you we wanted to be married." She trailed off.
"And you thought I would react better if you told me after getting married? Logical!" snapped ASR.
"I don't think we were thinking, honestly." Said Anjali. "We just wanted to be together, and this seemed the best way."
"I see. Well, I am disapoointed. I am beyond disappointed. You married Aadit without even telling me. Me. Your brother. You don't go to the grocery store without telling me, and you got married! This is unbelievable." ASR was pale with rage.
"ASR, please forgive us. It's not your sister's fault. It was all me." Said Aadit, walking upto ASR. ASR didn't even look at him. Aadit walked to Khushi.
"Congratulate me Minnie?" he asked, a rueful smile on his face.
"Of course. Many congratulations, Aadit. And you too Anjali." Said Khushi, hugging Aadit, and smiling at Anjali.
"I really must be going now," said Khushi. "Nita will be getting restless without me. Remember, I hope to see you all in London next year." She walked to the door quickly, escorted by Payal and Akash. ASR was still too stunned with what had happened to notice she was leaving.
It was only when she got into the car that the tears fell. That Aadit had gotten married was a shock, yes. But she knew he was in love with Anjali. It had to happen eventually, she thought. Honestly, she wasn't too concerned about it. She had more important things on her mind. But the tears were for something else. "This is it." She thought. "I didn't even say goodbye. And I'm not going to see him now." The idea of not seeing him everyday, not being with him, not joking with him, not having him to lean on, was too much to take. She'd been dealt one blow too many recently. The dam burst, and she cried till she had no tears left.
The next day
Khushi was at the airport with the children and Freddy and Nigel. Aadit and Anjali, and Akash and Payal had come to the airport to say goodbye. Aadit promised to join them next week, as soon as Anjali's visa came through. Until then, they were staying at his hotel. ASR had not unbent yet. Though Anjali said that everyone else at home, Nani included was thrilled with what had happened. ASR hadn't spoken a word to Anjali or Aadit since yesterday. He'd gone into his room and hadn't emerged since, according to Payal. Khushi was chatting with Payal and Anjali, when Aadit moved towards Freddy.
"Sorry I didn't tell you I was getting hitched Freddy!" he said easily.
"You selfish bast**d!" said Freddy. "You went and got married to a woman Min dislikes, at a moment when she could've used your support. When her kid is sick! Couldn't you have waited? And all this nonsense about not wanting a big wedding because of the 'circumstances.' As if a deathly ill child is a mere 'circumstance.' What are you trying to prove anyway? What ever it is, I'm not interested. She may not have said a thing, but I'll say it for her. You disgust me!" said Freddy curtly. Aadit backed away, stunned. He had never imagined this kind of reaction to his wedding. He had done it merrily, unthinkingly. Knowing only that he loved Anjali and wanted to be with her. He hadn't thought about Minnie's feelings at all. He knew she needed him and he wanted to be there for her. But he wanted Anjali to be with him all the time. He'd thought the easiest solution was getting married. And he wanted to do it ASAP. Now, he saw he had an uphill task ahead. Her brother was upset. His best friend was upset. And Min, though she said nothing, was probably very hurt. He hoped he hadn't made a mistake. No, he thought. No mistake. Maybe the timing and the way it was done were not appropriate. But marrying Anjali was the right decision. Of that, he was sure. "Oh well, we'll work it out." He thought, in his typical laid-back Aadit way.
They said their goodbyes, Khushi affectionate to everyone. Freddy, curtly. Nigel just nodded. He was too wrapped up in Nita to notice anything anyway. Khushi picked up Sheila, who tended to be clingy in crowded places, and walked towards check-in. She'd taken no more than 3 steps, when she Sheila was plucked out of her arms.
"I'll carry her!" said a familiar voice, heaving Sheila onto his shoulders.
"ASR! What are you doing here?" asked Khushi, the joy in her voice, evident.
"Going to London with you stupid!" he said, smiling at her. "You didn't think you'd get rid of me so easily? Na-uh." He grinned. He put an arm around her. Freddy gave him a thumbs-up and even the somber Nigel cracked a smile. As for Khushi, her face was white and lined. She'd stayed up all night, soothing Nita, and worrying about her, and packing, and soothing Sheila, who didn't understand well, but knew that something was wrong with her sister. And she'd thought about him a lot. And now, here he was. She felt like a great weight had been lifted from her heart. "Thank you!" she whispered.
OK...tell me what you think. 😊
Ch 24: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/50250741
Ch 25: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/50311402
Ch 26: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/50365343
Ch 27: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/50534954
Ch 28: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/50633911
Ch 29: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/50924167
Ch 30: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/51062835
Ch 31: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/51247931
Ch 32: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/51479497
Ch 33: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/51639416
Ch 34, part 1: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/51685375
Ch 34, part 2: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/51807273
Ch 34 part 3: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/51971642
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