FF: Arnav and Khushi On their way to Happily ever after
Chapter 13
An hour or two passed before everyone calmed down enough to get anything coherent out of them. Everyone, even those who hadn't condemned her (Aakashji and Mamaji), apologized profusely and put down Shyamji as a bad-case; then they made her recount everything all over again. Then, they all comforted De.
Buaji, Ammaji, Naniji and Anjaliji didn't want her marriage to end; however, they all agreed that ultimately, it was her choice to make. Buaji and Ammaji were quite willing to take her back home with them, saying that they wouldn't let anyone say or do anything against her.
While all that was happening, Khushi kept an eye out for Arnavji, hoping he would come back; she wanted to see him before she said anything.
Because while he had been telling everyone about their marriage, he'd said something about 'rushing the inevitable'; surely that meant he had wanted to marry her before all that happened. He had even proposed her, sort of.
If that was true'
DHAK DHAK, DHAK DHAK.
She would make him apologize for not trusting her and then treating her badly; then she'd forgive him and they'll all live happily ever after; even De, she vowed.
But he didn't appear and her heart sank. She was wondering if she'd been wrong to assume that when De addressed her.
'Khushi ji''
She looked at her. 'Je De?'
De looked down at her hands, looking very sad. 'Hm jante hain ke chotay ne ap ko sirf che mah tk ka kha tha per hm nhe chahtay ke ap jain! Aap to hmaray parivar ka hisa hain aur ap ke bina' hmari subha roz champi kon kre ga?' She looked up, her eyes glittering, 'Ap mt jain, please!'
Khushi's own eyes filled with tears; she dropped to her knees in front of De and took hold of her hands. 'Hum bhe nahi jana cahtay' Magr De, Arnavji tou''
But Anjali cut her off. She gently touched Khushi's face in a loving gesture. "Khushiji, Chotay kehtay nahi hain magr hum sb jantay hain k wow o aap say boht pyaar krtay hain' or app k bina wo nahi reh saktay; aap chotay say aaik dafa baat tou krain' humaray lia, please!"
Khushi was not sure what to do but one thing was certain, she had to talk to Arnavji. Finding new purpose, Khushi nodded at Anjali and went upstairs to confront her Laad Governer. '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Arnav paced about the room. He wanted to go out and communicate the news that Shyam had been arrested and 'resisting arrest and attacking officers of law' was also added to his considerable list of charges.
More than the news though, he wanted to talk to Khushi and tell her how sorry he was for everything he'd done, every hurt he'd inflicted.
He'd been wondering if he could just stand back and watch her walk away; now he realized he couldn't do even that without first apologizing to her and then telling her his life would be nothing without her in it.
She deserved to know the truth.
He was about to walk outside when the object of his thoughts walked in with all her furious glory; she marched in determinedly, coming to stand right in front of him.
'Hm ap se kuch baat krna chahtay hain.' She declared.
His mind short-circuted at the sight of her and he just stared at her dumbly. She tapped her foot impatiently.
'Ap ne suna nahi? Hm ap se kuch baat krna chahtay'umph!'
He'd moved, without conscious thought, pulling her in and put his hand on her mouth to silence her. He didn't want to hear that she was leaving him, didn't want to hear her condemn him.
'Nahi Khushi, pehlay me ne tm se kuch kehna hai.' If he told her how sorry he was, maybe, just maybe, she would change her mind.
She tried to say something but he overran her, 'Khushi I'm sorry.'
She stopped speaking, her eyes wide. He looked into them, and continued.
'Me ne tmharay sath jo kuch kia, me us sb ke lia tm se apologize krna chahta hun. Ever since the start, me ne tmhe bht mistreat kia ha, I've used you and I've hurt you again and again. Is sb ke bawajud tm ne hmesha mere help ke; me ne tmhe iss shadi me force kia, tmhe tmhari family ke zaria blackmail kia, jan ke aisi batain kahin jin se tm hurt ho''
For every crime he listed, he fell in his own esteem; what kind of jerk treated anyone like this?
'Jahan tm pe trust krna tha, me ne tm per shak kia' I have no justification for it. Moreover, mere patni hona k sath tmhe jo rights milte hain wo bhe nahe poray kia' me to tmhe protect bhe na kr ska'' He realized tears were blurring his eyes but he refused to give in again and let her comfort him. She needed to hear this all and see what kind of lowlife he was. So, he blinked them away and repeated, 'I'm sorry Khushi' though mai deserve nahi karta pr please mjhay maaf kr do.'
He let her go, all the energy leaving him in a rush. He also wanted to add 'Please mjhe chor kr mat jao,' but his pride and sense of fairness demanded that he didn't. He turned, unable to look at her beautiful face scrunched up in hatred for him, her eyes flashing condemnation.
His Khushi, however, had a habit of surprising him - as she did now.
'Bs yehi kehna tha?'
She sounded neither disgusted nor condemning; she sounded angry.
It irritated him; he'd just bared his soul in front of her. This was all she had to say? He whirled around. 'Kia mtlb hai tmhara?'
She folded her arms, raising her chin defiantly. 'Mtlb ye ke ap hamesha ke tarah ab bhe adhuri baat keh rhai hain.'
He copied her gesture. 'Excuse me? Me ne tm se jo kuch kehna tha, sb keh dia hai.'
'Sb se zaruri baat to kahi nahi' sirf ye bta dia ke hm pr kitni ziadti ke' hmain bhe pta hai aap ne hmaray sath kia kia, koi nai baat nahi hai.' She cocked her head in very feminine gesture, somehow conveyed that she expected to be coaxed. 'Hm kuch aur sunna chahtay hain.'
This woman was beyond confusing; she was frustrating. He stalked forward, his anger getting the better of him. 'Aur kia sunna chahti ho?'
She took a hurried step back, nearly falling but he grabbed her arm and pulled her in against his body; she wasn't going to stay, why was she torturing him? She took a look at his face and her eyes widened. He shook her. 'Aur kia sunna chahti ho??' He demanded, louder.
"Humary jany say aap ko kya farak parhta hai?" she demanded righ back.
What the' I just poured my heart out to her and she still needs to know k Kya farak parhta hai? Arnav lost it - he grabbed her arms and shook her.
'Dammit Khushi!' he yelled, 'Farak parhta hai!!' He stared at her furiously.
But Khushi wasn't backing down either, not today; she had to know and she had to make him admit she mattered. "Kiun?" she demanded again.
"Kiun K'"
Say it Arnavji' her heart beat a fast tattoo.
"Kiun k'"
Suddenly, he did not know how to express himself. All his anger vahished in a blink; he'd never said anything like that to anyone, didn't know how to phrase it' no, I have to say it' but why??? It was just like a woman to expect him to articulate every single thing. She knows it already, why is she asking me to say something she knows I can't? It had been easier to tell it to her when she was asleep; that way, she couldn't repudiate him' and he could keep his pride intact.
He opened his mouth, groping for words but they wouldn't come. She was staring at him expectantly, waiting for those beautiful magic words.
His grip loosened on her arms.
Khushi gazed at him for a few more moments, waiting, hoping, willing him to continue'
Still he didn't say anything.
She backed up, trying to mask the hurt she felt. She had come here, thinking she would finally hear him admit it' nnfortunately, his silence left her no choice.
Before he could react, Khushi turned around and ran out of the room.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''..
Arnav stood paralyzed as he watched his Khushi run away'
By the time he got it together enough to go follow her, Khushi had left with Buaji, who'd been waiting for her at the door.
She's gone!
It hit like a mallet. He wanted to breakdown and cry; why? Why couldn't he say it? And why did she have to hear him say it? She already knew it, she had to know she was his life, his everything'
He stared at the doorway, unable to comprehend. He turned around to face his family; De, Nani and everyone else looked sad and disappointed in him; and when he tried talk to De, she shut him up with a simple "Bs chotay'"
That night, Arnav couldn't sleep. He just sat on his couch, staring at Khushi's bed, lost in his thoughts, wondering what he should've done, what he would do now'
She left'She's gone' I lost her' its too late' why couldn't I say it? The questions spun in his head. He felt sick' and then'
One last ray of hope hit him. I won't sign the papers! He would've preferred not to send them either, but he'd given her his word. I won't be the one to break off this marriage. I'll just send 'em over to her' if she wants it over, she'd have to do it herself'
That thought left him exhausted; what had he done to endear himself? Nothing. And if she did in fact decide that she wanted it over with him'
The next morning, he felt too low and tired to do anything, so he missed office.
He just sat on Khushi's side of the bed, with her dupatta (she had left in a hurry without taking anything) wrapped around his hand.
He'd called Aman to have the divorce papers delivered to Khushi's place, much to man's shock.
"Par sir Khushi bhabi tou'"
"Just do what you're told." He had replied bluntly, too tired to even snap.
He'd also refused to go down for breakfast. De, understanding his state of mind, had his breakfast sent to his room but he didn't eat. He felt like a zombie; with Khushi gone, he felt like the living dead, a soulless body. She was the reason he lived and with her gone, he had no desire to continue doing so.
He lay down and stared at the ceiling. Stars hung from it. She loved these silly stars' inexplicably, his eyes filled with tears; he made no move to wipe them off.
Instead, he thought of his Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, remembering each nuance of her person, each memory a gem; after all, memories were all he was left with.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''..
Anjali went to Chotay's room to find him lying on Khushiji's pink side of the bed and with her dupatta warpped around his hand, staring listlessly at the stars hanging overhead.
He didn't speak or respond when she sat next to him. Close to, she was his tears and wiped them off; new ones filled his eyes. She swallowed the lump in her throat and gently kissed his forehead. He hugged her and cried like a child in her lap.
She remembered this state of his; it was similar to the time when their parents had died' only then he had been lying on their bed.
It hurt her to see her brother like this but Khushiji had made it clear that she would not come back - not unless Chotay told her what she wanted to hear; it was her zidd and in a way, it was justified.
Anjali decided she would point this out to Chotay when he was more stable.
But next day he still refused to come downstairs for breakfast; so she had it sent upstairs, only to find that he still refused to eat as well.
When she tried talking to him, he wouldn't unlock his door or pick up his cell phone.
It worried her to no end. What if something happened to him and they didn't find out until it was too late???
She had to fix things' they suffered because of me! I need to fix this!
She had Payalji call Khushiji, only to find that she had received the divorce papers and now she most definitely would not come back unless he said it.
By the third day, Anjali had had enough.
"Nani, Chotay bhookay reh reh k apnay aap ko kuch kr lain gy' aap locksmith ko bulwain, hum zaberdasti inn sy baat karain gy. Ye koi tareka nahi hai!" She finally declared.
The door was opened and she found him still lying on the bed in the same state; only now he had three days beard and dark circles added to the mix.
He didn't respond when they crashed into his room, nor when she forced him to eat. He just chewed on it, lost in his own world. That's it, this has to end today! She came up with a plan.
She sat beside Chotay, took out her phone, called Khushiji and put her on loud speaker.
"Hello' Anjaliji?" Khushiji spoke. Her voice was low and she sounded really sad.
Arnav sat up straight and stared at the phone, his expression wild.
Anjali spoke, "Ji Khushiji, hum aap sy' Khushiji aap wapis aa jyn, hum sb aap k begair nahi reh saktay, Chotay aap k begair nahi reh nahi saktay."
There was a long pause on the other side; Arnav was staring at the phone eagerly waiting for the reply.
"'Anjaliji'Hum bhe'' She wavered, then made her voice firm, 'Nahi Anjaliji hum tab tk wapis nahi aan gy jb tk Arnavji humain Khud nahe lyny ayn gy or'jb tk wo humary samnay ye maan nahi lyty k wo' k unko kiun farak parhta hai!" Khushi voice was sad but determined.
Well, it got the exact reaction Anjali was hoping for. Arnav snached the phone, "Khushi'" he whispered, his voice husky.There was another long pause; apparantly Khushiji was going through the same pain as her Chotay was.
"Ar...Arnavvji'" she finally spoke.
"Khushi'" he said again but the way Khushiji responded made it clear to Anjali that it had meant more than just that.
"Nahe Arnavji' aap ko humse kehna ho ga".
Arnav stared at the phone as if it held his answer but it didn't and he couldn't say anything. So Khushi shut the phone; Arnav flinched.
Anjali felt sorry for Chotay and she wanted to comfort him, but Khushiji was right. Chotay had to learn to give and take love and to express that love.
Still, her eyes filled with tears ' all these emotions combined with all those hormones had turned her into a watering pot.
"Chotay'"Anjali said, touching his face gently. "Hum ny tum sy kaha tha na k jb dil ma kuch baat ae, jesay ay wesy bol dena chaheya'waran shaid'' She swallowed, took a deep breath and continued, 'her pal puary tarekay sy jeena chaheya Chotay' kiun ka pata nahi chalta k kon sa pal aakhri ho'. Or hum jesy sab sy zaida pyar karatay hain, jo humary sab sy kareeb hota hai, usay kabhi jany nahi dena chaheyay' kesi bhe halat me' or kabhi koi baat kitni bhe bewakoofi wali lagay, tb bhe sirf apnay dil ki sunni chaheyay'"
Chotay stared at her with a kind of desperate fervor in his eyes. She wiped the fresh tears off his cheeks and kissed his forehead. "Acha bas' bas' tum tyar ho jao or phir Khushiji ko wapis ly k aao..."
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Edited by Mariam.Ejaz - 13 years ago
CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
29