Beautifully written, amazing update.
Anjali is a sweet sis that diverted Arnav's attention from NK and Khushi's hug.I think Mami, nani and Anjali don't MU their friendship.Loved payal as a sweet, caring sis.Waiting for Arshi's confrontation. I hope it's not bitter, but sweet. I mean, Arnav is trying really hard to get Khushi back in his life.
Precap: Payal and Aakash return to Shantivan, Arnav and Khushi are restless thinking about each other, Arnav calls up Khushi but they don't speak anything worthwhile to each other. Arnav arrives at Gupta House the next morning to give Garima the papers for Buaji the papers of her house. Shyam is back in contact with Anjali. Nandini arrives to Delhi and stays with Khushi. Payal and Aakash decide to help Arnav and Khushi. Khushi finally unpacks her bags and discovers the red saree that she had seen in the Lucknow shop. She comes to know that Arnav has bought it for her and she also finds out what he's done for Buaji and Bauji's treatment leading to an emotional moment for her. She meets NK the next day at Shantivan and the two of them plan NK's next meeting with Nandini. Khushi then meets Payal and has another emotional breakdown asking what to do with respect to Arnav. Payal suggests her to listen to her heart rather than her mind.
Ab aage 😊
Chapter 21 KARWACHAUTH MAHA EPISODE
[Gupta House, later that night]
Buaji is preparing a big wicker basket with dry fruits, sweets and other articles whileKhushi and Nandini are sitting on the dining table watching her with ill concealed interest.
"Buaji, ye aap kya kar rahi hain?" Nandini finally asks unable to control her curiosity any longer.
"Hum Khusee ki Amma ke liye sargi bana rahe hain," Buaji replies with a smile. Nandini looks even more confused.
"Sargi? Woh kya hota hai?" she asks wonderingly.
"Garima kal karwachauth ka vrat rakhe rahegi na, to surya udaye hone se pehle jo khana woo khaye rahe use sargi kahat hain, Nandkishore," Buaji replies patiently still piling up more and more things. Now Khushi too looks confused.
"Par Buaji, sargi to saas deti hain, hai na?" she asks. Buaji grunts in exasperation.
"Haan Titaliya. Par humri Maa to naahi hain na," she replies referring to her and Shashi's mother. "To hum soche rahe, iss saal Garima ko sargi hum hoo bana ke deyi dein. Aeii Parmeswari, woo phal wapis rakho! Woo pooja ke liye hai," she adds reprimandingly as Khushi picks up an apple from the pile. She sheepishly keeps it down.
"Par Jeeji, eii bahut zyada nahin hai? Hum itna sab kaisan khayenge?" Garima worriedly looks at the huge pile of things now loaded on the basket. Khushi walks next to her mother and hugs her, wrapping her arm around her mother reassuringly.
"Aap chinta na karo Amma. Gupta khaandaan ki auratein khane mein bahut durandar hain!" Khushi says teasingly only to earn an admonishing smack from her mother and guffaws of laughter from Buaji and Nandini.
[Raizada Mansion, next day]
There is a buzz of actitivity going on in Shantivan. The lounges are decorated beautifully with strings of flowers and colourful fairylights. The Prakash brothers are flitting in and out of the kitchen, busy with the food preparations for the night's meal after pooja. The Mandir too has been adorned with flowers and lights. The sofas have been removed and instead a huge white carpet-like sheet is covering the floor with an assortment of cushions scattered on the it. There are a number of ladies sitting in the living room area next to the mandir. Naniji is sitting at one end facing the gathering.
According to the tradition of Karwachauth, Naniji being the elder of the family starts narrating the tale of Karwa Chauth called the Vrat katha. The women are looking at her respectfully, the older experienced women bearing content smiles on their faces, while the newly wed ladies fidgeting and looking slightly restless owing to their first fast.
Anjali sits at a distance watching the proceedings. Although there is a permanent smile on her face, her eyes are downcast and full of sadness. This was supposed to be her festival, her's and her husband's. Her attempts at fasting had been vehemently reprimanded by her Chotey and then by Nani and Mami too who thought it wasn't good for her to fast in such a delicate condition. And yet, unknown to anyone, she hadn't eaten any meal since morning, lying to everyone that she had, while surviving on fruits and milk the whole day. Only HP was included in her surreptitious plans.
She intended to fast today for the man she still loved from the bottom of her heart. Shyamji. In the hopes that one day things would be normal again, that he would return to her life with everyone's acceptance, that she would start her family with him again on a fresh slate. People didn't understand her love for him, but she didn't want to explain it to anyone anymore. For her, he was the only man she'd ever love.
Arnav walks up from behind her and sits down next to her. He's dressed in his usual formals. Anjali looks at him in surprise, her thoughts snapping back to reality. "Di, aap theek to hona?" he whispers worriedly to her, the significance of the festival not lost on him. It seems he had read the sadness in her eyes that she was hiding from everyone else. Anjali smiles at him and nods.
"Hum theek hain Chotey," she replies assuringly and goes back to listening to Naniji's commentary. Arnav looks at her hesitatingly as if unsure how to ask her the question he's intending to ask.
"Di mujhe aapse kuch poochna tha," Arnav ventures tentatively. Anjali looks at him and raises her eyebrows enquiringly. "Aapne apne joint account mein recently paise transfer karwaye the kya?" Arnav's question throws her off for a moment. She frowns at him.
"Nahin. Humne to koi transfer nahin karwaya hai," she replies in the negative. Arnav observes his sister's expressions closely. Finally, once assured that his sister was indeed clueless about the activity on her bank account, he smiles at her.
"Okay," he replies. "Meri ek conference call hai abhi. Main aapse shaam ko milta hun." Arnav gets up and quietly walks away.
Anjali looks back at Naniji although not hearing her words anymore. The frown remains firmly on her face as she wonders what was that all about.
[A school corridor, around the same time]
There are children wearing uniforms milling in groups, teachers walking to their classrooms, and a couple of peons carrying files. Amidst all of them, NK is walking around peering through the rooms, looking slightly lost. He finally stops a peon.
"Excuse me, bhaisahb," NK says, "kya aap bata sakte hain ki Ms. Nandini kahan milengi?" the peon looks at him from head to toe, no wonder amazed seeing him in his jeans, bright green tee and jacket. He mutely points to a room at the end of the corridor. NK smiles brightly at the peon. "Thank you!"
He starts walking towards the room, his steps springing with confidence. He knocks sharply at the door. The door opens and a number of teachers walk out of the room. NK looks kinda lost again watching the rush of people with gaping eyes, all the while searching for the familiar face of Nandini.
Suddenly she walks out but walks right past NK without looking at him. NK realises she's on the phone and starts following her.
"Haan Khushi, I know," NK hears her saying. His heart leaps at hearing her sweet voice. "Nahin, main aaj raat ghar nahin aa rahi hun." Nandini continues. "Actually mumma ne mujhe unke ghar weekend spend karne ke liye bulaya hai." NK continues walking behind her, looking slightly dazed now, a smitten smile lighting up his face. "Haan main school khatam hone ke baad directly unke ghar chali jaungi. Haan... Sunday shaam ko main wapis aa jaungi... okay, chalo meri class ka time ho raha hai. Bye!" she disconnects the phone finally.
"Nandini ji!" NK murmurs lovingly. Nandini jumps violently and turns around to stare at NK. She's wearing a simple white kurta with dark green leggings, her hair tied up in a ponytail, holding a jute bag and register in her other hand. For NK however, she doesn't look any less than an angel.
"NK??!" she exclaims, not believing her eyes. "Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?" she asks him wonderingly. NK smiles at her reaction and brings his hand from his back to reveal a big bunch of vibrant and fresh gerberas.
"Aapke liye," NK murmurs and hands the flowers to Nandini who is looking at the bouquet in shocked silence. "Aaj aapke job ka pehla day hai na isiliye." He explains with a smile on his face.
"Th...thanks," Nandini stutters, still looking dazed with the gesture. "Par tumhe kaise pata chala?" she asks. NK suddenly looks uncomfortable for a moment as if getting caught but then smiles and shrugs nonchalantly at her. A bell rings shrilly and the students start rushing to their classrooms.
"Uhm, I'm sorry. Abhi meri class hai," she adds apologetically. NK raises his hand reassuringly.
"It's cool! No problem. Aap jaiye. Main to bas ye flowers dene aaya tha." NK replies sweetly. "Okay... main... jata hun. Bye." He turns around and slowly starts walking away. Nandini too turns around and starts walking to her class, clutching the bouquet tightly in her arms.
NK pauses for a moment and turns around to watch Nandini's retreating back with love-filled eyes. Then he turns back and resumes walking.
Nandini pauses at the entrance of her class and turns around to watch NK's retreating back, a smile finally tugging at the corners of her lips.
[Raizada Mansion, Arnav's room, later that evening]
Arnav is sitting on the recliner by the poolside, going through a file when he hears footsteps on the stairs behind him. He turns around to see a harried looking Aakash rushing down the stairs and coming over to join him.
"Hey Aakash!" Arnav keeps his file down for a moment. "Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?" Aakash pulls a chair next to him and sits down wearily.
"Payal ne mujhe bhaga diya," Aakash replies morosely. Arnav raises his eyebrow.
"Bhaga diya?" he repeats amusedly. Aakash looks despairingly at Arnav who immediately rearranges his facial expressions to that of concern, "Kyun bhaga diya?" he asks.
"Woh... main uske saamne kuch kha raha tha, aur use bhook lagne lagi," Aakash replies sheepishly. Arnav stifles a chuckle. "Ye Gupta sisters aisi hi hain, Bhai," Aakash suddenly adds. "Bas kehne ko strong hain. Fast inse rakha nahin jata aur bhook inhe constantly lagti hai." Arnav does laugh this time as he remembers Khushi's appetite.
"Arre main sahi keh raha hun Bhai!" Aakash says insistently. "I'm sure wahan Laxmi Nagar mein Khushi ji ka bhi yahi haal ho raha hoga." Arnav instantly freezes, his laughter dying down.
"Khushi ne fast rakha hai?" he asks surprised.
"Haan, mujhe Payal ne bataya," Aakash replies casually, fiddling with his phone now. Arnav instinctively looks up to the night sky, where a cover of clouds were preventing him from seeing the moon. It's Karwachauth today and Khushi's fasting...
Suddenly, Aakash's phone starts ringing. He groans dramatically making Arnav snap out of his thoughts and look at him again. "Haan Payal," Aakash mutters into the phone. "Main ghar mein hi hun, aur kahan jaunga?" He replies incredulously. Then he pauses as Payal say something back. "Ye achha hai, pehle bhaga do ki main tumhare saamne kha raha hun, aur ab mujhe wapis bula lo!" he shakes his head exasperatedly at Arnav whose lips curve up in a smile. "Haan, theek hai, main aata hun!" and he disconnects the call.
Arnav raises his eyebrows. "Wife troubles?" he asks teasingly. Aakash looks peeved.
"Arre Bhai, poochiye mat. Payal ka pehla karwachauth hai and apparently it's a big deal for women. Sirf hum hi unko pani pila kar aur khane ka niwala khila kar unka fast tod sakte hain. Otherwise, woh agle din subah tak kuch kha nahin sakte. Payal ne tabhi to mujhe office se jaldi aane ko kaha tha." Aakash reels off. "Acha main jata hun, warna woh phir se phone karke bulayegi mujhe." Arnav smiles at him and nods sympathetically.
Aakash walks back to the stairs and just as he starts walking up, he pauses for a moment looking at Arnav who now looks thoughtful as if mulling over what he heard. Aakash smiles in triumph and continues up the stairs.
[Gupta House]
A light breeze has picked up in the otherwise still night. Khushi is sitting alone on the wooden bench in the courtyard of her house, hugging her legs to her chest, resting her chin on her knees and staring up at the cloudy night sky. The chilly air is caressing her leading to a string of goosebumps erupting all over her bare arms. She looks down at her arm, momentarily distracted as if suddenly being reminded of the fact that she is cold. She absent mindedly rubs her arm with her fingers in an almost mechanical action to warm her skin.
Suddenly someone exclaims "Dekho Chaand bahar aa gaya!" leading to a sudden frenetic activity around her; excited women rush out to the courtyard of their houses, pointing towards the beautiful full moon shining down at them, talking amongst themselves happily, some getting overly dramatic with their gratitude to God for not delaying the moon from peeking out of its blanket of clouds; Old timers guide the newly weds about the rituals telling them how to do the pooja. Khushi sighs and looks away from them feeling a sadness build up inside her.
Then her gaze falls on her own parents in the front verandah corridor standing away from her. Garima had started doing the pooja while Shashi sat a few feet behind her, looking at his wife with a serene smile on his face. Then Garima picks up the sieve with the diya in it and rose it to peer at the moon, doing aarti and then praying for Shashi's long life. Then she picks up a kalash and offers it to the moon, slowly pouring it down on the ground.
Suddenly all the noise around Khushi reduces to a buzz in the background, her eyes completely focussed on what she is witnessing in front of her. Then Garima moves the sieve to face Shashi and gazes at him through it while his loving smile became even more pronounced. Garima touches Shashi's feet to seek blessing and he touches her head with his trembling hands. Then he picks up the same kalash of water and brings it to Garima's lips who takes a sip, thereby ending her fast.
Watching the loving gazes exchange between her parents, Khushi suddenly realises there's a lump growing in her throat. Tears prickle in her eyes as the crippling feeling of loneliness suddenly rises its ugly head inside her heart again. Khushi gets up from the bench and casting one final glance at the ongoings around her, she slowly makes her way inside the house.
"Buaji, humari tabiyat kuch theek nahin lag rahi hai. Hum sone ja rahe hain," she morosely announces to Buaji and she continues wordlessly to her room. Buaji looks up at the clock and is surprised to see that it is merely 9:10 PM. She looks towards Khushi's retreating back to ask her to have some dinner at least before she sleeps, but by then Khushi has already shut the door of her room behind her. Buaji frowns worriedly.
Inside Khushi's room, the lights are all turned off and the only light is that streaming in from the open window at the other of the room of the full moon's rays. After standing still by the closed door as her eyes accustomed themselves to the darkness pressing down from all around, Khushi subconscious directs her feet to the window and she allows her steps to be dragged away.
As she walks dazedly, the memories of her yesteryears float into her mind... she was a teenager and had fasted for Salman Khan one year because she had felt he was the only man for him in the whole wide world. She had seen the elders of the family performing the pooja, seeing their husbands through the sieve and she had mimicked their actions to the line.
All was well, till her Amma had walked in on her just as she was going to peer at the poster of Salman Khan. Gosh what an ear boxing she had received that night! Garima had later sat the crying Khushi down in the courtyard of their home back in Lucknow and as mother and daughter had gazed up at the full moon smiling down at them, Garima had spoken to her, words which Khushi remembered till today.
"Bitiya, ye vrat apne pati ki lambi umar ke liye rakhte hain. Aur hum jaanat hain ki tumka laagat hai ki tumre woo poster wale hero- "
"Salman Khan ji!" Khushi had indignantly interrupted. Garima had smiled.
"Haan, woo hi. Hum jaanat hain ki tumka laagat hai ki Salman Khan," Garima's voice had faltered slightly at the incredulity of it all, "hi tumre liye sab kuch hain. Par bitiya, ek din tumri zindagi mein ek rajkumar aayega, jisko tum mann se apna pati maanogi, jo tumse pati hone ka har vaada nibhayega, jo tumri khushi ke liye kuch bhi karega... uss din, tumhe iss vrat ki shakti ka ehsaas hoga meri bachi," Garima had explained patiently to a wide eyed Khushi.
Khushi had still kept a fast every year since then, but not for Salman Khan anymore. Instead, her prayers changed to, "Bhagwanji, hamare pati jo bhi hon, jahan bhi hon, unko lambi umar dena. Taki woh humse mil sake aur humse shaadi bhi kar sakein."
A faint chuckle escapes the present day Khushi at the sheer stupidity of her actions. Then her smile slowly fades. As her mother's words spoken all those years echo in Khushi's ears again, she walks away from the window and towards her closet, her feet hesistant as if planning to bail and run at any moment. But Khushi knew what she was doing. She knew what she had to do.
[Raizada Mansion, around the same time]
The poolside by Anjali's room is beautifully decorated with fairylights and fresh flowers. The whole area is brightly lit. Nani is sitting in the steel chair behind them as she watches the women of the house - Anjali, Mamiji and Payal performing the pooja. Anjali is sitting on the recliner because her bulbuous belly doesn't allowing her to sit down on the floor. Aakash and NK are standing behind them, observing the proceedings with a smile on their faces.
Payal watches the reflection of the full moon in the water of the pool and then pours water from a small bronze kalash (called karva) into the pool, disturbing the surface into ripples. Then with a sieve she turns to face Aakash. Manorama Mami looks at the new couple with a small smile on her face.
Suddenly, Anjali turns around with a concerned frown on her face.
"Aakash?" she asks across the pool. "Chotey kahan hai?"
Aakash exchanges a conspiratorial glance with Payal and with a smile replies back, "Bhai, hopefully wohin hain jahan unhe hona chahiye."
Anjali, Mamiji, NK and Naniji all look confused at Aakash's reply.
[Gupta House]
It is still dark in Khushi's room and at the first glance it looks empty, but a shuffling can be heard in the background. Suddenly, Khushi walks into the inclined moon-rays streaming in through the window. The black gota work on her blood red glints in the moonlight, but that is not all. She is also wearing red bangles, a nathni, maang tikka and the assorted jewellery. She looks incredibly beautiful, and would have looked like a bride if she had been wearing a bridal lehenga.
She slowly walks to the window sill and folds her hands in earnest prayer. Humne aaj tak agar kisi ko dil se apna pati mana hai, to woh sirf Arnavji hain Devi Maiyya. Bhale hi ab hamare beech kuch baki na bacha ho, bhale hi... bhale hi hamari shaadi unse na hui ho, Khushi gulps painfully, as the memory of her broken wedding threatens to tear her up again, but then she strongly plows on, ... hum sirf unhi ko apna pati maan sakte hain. "Arnavji ko hamari umar bhi lag jaye," Khushi whispers out loud, "Unhe har mushkil, har musibat se door rakhiyega, Devi Maiyya." She bows her head ending her heartfelt prayer.
Then she looks down at her pallu limp by her side. She holds the ends in either hand and slowly raises it in front of her face, making it a kind of sieve. Then, with timid eyes she slowly looks up at the full moon for the first time that night from behind the diaphanous material. The delicate patterns on the pallu shadow Khushi's face as the moonlight seeping through it gets obstructed in those patterns. She slowly brings her hands down and picks up a glass of water, offering it to the moon and then pouring the water out of the window. A smile creeps up on her face as she thinks of her mother's reaction to Khushi's improvisation of the Karwachauth rituals.
Still smiling, she turns away from the window sill. But just as she takes her first step towards her bed a familiar cold breeze flows through the window and tickles the bare nape of her neck. She freezes, rooted to her spot. Suddenly, Khushi's heart starts beating hard in a familiar way. In an all too familiar way...
Dhad Dhad...
Dhad Dhad...
Dhad Dhad...
Khushi shuts her eyes tightly and clamps her hand on her chest trying to calm her heartbeats.
"Khushi..."
Did time just stop? Did the breeze just halt? Did the air just get sucked out of her lungs? Did her mouth just turn dry? Did she just hear... him?
"I think karwachauth ki vidhi abhi poori nahin hui hai." Her eyes snap open. That voice!
"Hum sapna dekh rahe hain," Khushi mutters to herself. "Woh yahan kaise ho sakte hain, Khushi. Kamre ka darwaja andar se band hai. Sirf khidki hi khuli hai. Woh khidki se kood kar thodi aayenge." Khushi chuckles at the insanity of that idea. What a stupid thing to assume really! "Tune abhi unke liye prarthna ki, isiliye tujhe-"
Arnav jumps down from the window sill that he had been trying to climb for the past fifteen minutes. Khushi stops midway as she hears the dull thud that his feet make on contact with the floor. She still doesn't turn around, a fear clawing at her that all of this could just turn out to be a farce.
"I admit khidki se andar aana is lot more difficult than it looks," his calm honeyed voice does nothing better than to hike Khushi's breathing again. Wohi hain. Woh sach mein yahan hain...
"Kya hua Khushi, abhi to mere liye pray kar rahi thi. Vrat khatam nahin karogi?" Arnav reminds her gently. Khushi bites her lip in trepidation, then bowing her head she slowly turns around.
Arnav feels the breath knocked out of his lungs as his eyes take in Khushi's appearance; she was a sight to behold! Did she ever look so beautiful? And with an even happier pang he realises that she was wearing the saree that he had bought for her in Lucknow! A delightful joyous feeling suddenly swamps Arnav and he feels compelled to just walk up to her and hug her tightly in his arms. But he notices she wasn't looking at him and her fidgety fingers were holding the pallu uncertainly.
"Khushi..." Arnav whispers again, this time in an awestruck voice. Khushi very slowly raises her eyelashes, taking in his appearance inch by inch, first his dirtied shoes, then his night time black pants, further up, the familiar orange jersey starting from his waist to his chest to his... Arnav suddenly grabs her wrists pulling her gaze down to her hands clearly shocked at his touch and gently lifts both her hands up in front of her face, thereby placing the veil of the pallu between their faces. Khushi immediately realises what he meant to do... you were supposed to see your husband through the same sieve that you gaze at the moon.
And then, Khushi slowly raises her gaze, slightly dazed at the incredulity of what was happening, wondering in her heart if it was a dream after all. Finally, their eyes meet and time freezes that instant. The breeze picks up again, bringing with it familiarity, tingling both of them in the awareness of their stance, right here right now. The silence hanging between them slowly fills up with the synchronized beats of their hearts. How long did they stand that way who knows. It could be a moment, it could be an eternity, for all that mattered was that two people who were not bound by the bonds of matrimony where standing here tonight, tied to each other in ways inexplicable by any logic.
Arnav slowly raises his hand and pulls down the pallu of the saree, finally looking at the pearly translucence reflecting off Khushi's face, soaking himself in it entirely. Gazing into her wide open, slightly wary eyes fills him with a happiness that he hadn't felt in too long. Gazing into his caramel orbs envelopes her with a reassuring warmth that she hadn't felt in too long.
He wordlessly retrieves something from his pocket - a small bottle of water and a small sweet box. Without breaking eye contanct, he breaks the seal of the bottle and takes a tentative step closer to her, praying in his heart that she doesn't shirk away. He gently touches the bottle to her lips, nodding his head once at her. Khushi grasps the mouth of the bottle with her lips and allows the trickle of the first customary sip of water into her mouth. He opens the sweet box next and takes out a single jalebi from it. Her eyes look down at it, registering surprise for a moment. He raises it to her mouth his eyes looking at her expectantly. She tentatively bites into it, thereby ending her Karwachauth fast.
Her heart leaps as she watches a look of pure unadulterated love flicker in his eyes, as if carrying out this small ritual had somehow reaffirmed his faith in their relation.
Suddenly, her eyes widen and the haze of dreaminess clears up from her eyes only to be replaced by abject horror.
Arnavji hamare kamre mein hain!! Jab Amma, Bauji aur Buaji bas doosre kamre mein hain! HEY DEVI MAIYYA!!
Arnav's eyebrows scrunch into a frown studying Khushi's sudden restlessness. "Khushi, tum theek ho?" he murmurs worriedly and walks closer to her. Khushi immediately steps back from him.
"Aap yahan kya kar rahe hain?" she hisses at him and worriedly paces to the window and peers out. Then she quickly walks in the opposite direction and listens at the door leading out to the dining area. His eyebrows shoot up at her antics.
"Uhm, main tumhara fast todne aaya tha?" he asks her warily. Khushi narrows her eyes and walks back to the bed where he was standing.
"Hamari shaadi nahin hui hai Arnavji!" she reminds him pointedly. "Ye vrat sirf pati ho tod sakte hain." Khushi sits down on her bed, folding up her knees to her chest and switches on the bedside lamp. Arnav gazes at her, feeling lost in her beauty that had maginified tenfold in the soft yellow glow of the lamp. He watches her fidgeting as she hurriedly starts removing her bangles. He sighs and walks to her.
"Aur ye fast sirf shadi shuda ladies hi rakhti hain. So unless, tumne meri jankaari ke bahar kisi aur se shaadi kar li hai jiska naam bhi Arnav hai..." Arnav's voice trails off, but the sarcasm is not lost on Khushi. She glares at him once, obviously not amused with his choice of words and goes back to removing her bangles. Arnav sits down next to her still watching her.
"You look beautiful Khushi," he murmurs admiringly. She freezes. "Mujhe pata tha ki ye saree tum par bahut achhi lagegi." Khushi suddenly looks down and the bolt of realisation hits her that she was wearing the same saree that he had gifted her! She had subconsciously worn it because that was the only bridal-like apparel in her closet. But he was never supposed to know that see wore it! Damn it.
"Dhanyawaad," she replies gruffly, again avoiding his eyes. Arnav cups his ears comically at her.
"Say that again?" he says teasingly. Khushi glares at him sternly for a moment and then her eyes soften.
"Dhanyawaad," she murmurs. "Har cheej ke liye," she adds hesitatingly. Arnav straightens up, all traces of humor disappearing from his face as he realises she indeed was thanking him.
"It was all for you," he replies. Khushi looks up at him tentatitively. "Maine jo kuch bhi kiya, tumhare liye kiya Khushi. Tumhe khush dekhne ke liye." Arnav says earnestly. Both of them realise the thanks was no longer limited to the saree but to everything else that he had done in the past few days.
... jo tumse pati hone ka har vaada nibhayega, jo tumri khushi ke liye kuch bhi karega...
Khushi feels a lump building up in her throat and quickly averts her eyes from him lest she broke down and goes back to detachedly removing her jewellery. Arnav sighs again, this time a little restlessly.
"Khushi, aisa kab tak chalne wala hai?" He asks exasperatedly as he watches her remove her nathni. "I mean, mujhe koi problem nahin hai. Tum bhaagti rahogi to I'll keep running after you," he says with a conviction that makes Khushi stare at him for a moment. The lump in her throat grows.
"Hum nahin bhaag rahe hain," she counters immediately. Arnav rests his hand on hers, making her look at him again. He doesn't speak a word, just raises his eyebrow enquiringly at her as if asking Really? Khushi mentally requests Devi Maiyya for some strength. "Hum nahin bhaag rahe hain..." Khushi repeats in a low voice, the feistiness missing from her retort this time. Arnav goes on looking at her, but shifts to sit closer to her. "Hum nahin bhaag rahe hain..." her voice is reduced to a murmur now and tears prickle her eyes. Mat rona Khushi, mat rona, she implores to herself. Arnav relaxes his brows and looks at her, his eyes clearing asking her who did she think she was kidding. And as the first tear trickles down Khushi's cheek, she whispers in a broken voice, "hum aur nahin bhaagna chahte hain..." Arnav feels his heart clenching in an iron grip.
Then, Khushi bends her head down on her knees, her sholders slump down in defeat and she bursts into tears; her dam of restraint finally breaks and her pain, anguish and torment, everything that was bottling up inside her since the night of her broken wedding, everything just gushes out of her, the force of it rendering even Arnav speechless for a minuscule moment. But the very next instant, he is next to her, his arms around her trembling body, shifting her head to his chest in a fluid motion, letting his jersey get soaked with her warm salty tears while holding her in a comforting embrace.
"Kyun Arnavji?" she asks him torturedly, "Aap humein kyun chod kar chale gaye the? Kyun Arnavji?" her wails were getting suppressed against the wall of his chest, but her agony was seeping through to his heart.
"I'm so sorry Khushi! I'm so so sorry!" Arnav gasps out. "I'm such an idiot! I've been such an idiot!" he curses himself. "I'm an idiot Khushi, tumhe har baar hurt karne ke liye, tumhe akela chodne ke liye, tumhe bhala bura kehne ke liye, tum par bharosa na karne ke liye, tumhe rulane ke liye. I'm so sorry for every single time!" his voice breaks as well, unable to contain the guilt inside him anymore. Khushi grabs the front of his jersey in her fingers, tears still flooding down her cheeks.
Khushi main worried tha ki tumhe kuch ho gaya hai... Maine tumhare bare mein har pal socha hai Khushi aur aage bhi sochta rahunga... Agar woh sochta hai ki woh Khushi ke character ko is tarah insult kar ke bach sakta hai, to woh uski sabse badi galat fehmi hai!! ... To Khushi tab se aise balcony ki floor pe padi hui thi?! ... Uske baad, main tumhe utha ke andar laya. Taki tum bed par so sako... Main apni ring kyun utarunga? Khushi... Tum theek ho?
So much had happened since the night almost a month ago, when Arnav had left her standing alone at the altar. She had accepted it, she had tried to move on with her life and to some extent she had, she had promised herself that she wouldn't be affected by him ever again and yet, all her promises had turned to dust the moment he returned to her, rescuing her, being her knight in shiny armour.
"Khushi, tum hi ho jo mujhe samajh sakti ho, tum hi ho jo mera gussa control karwa sakti ho, tum hi ho jo mere aise hone ke bawajood, mujhse pyaar kar sakti ho," Arnav's broken words trail away into nothingness.
Fresh tears start flowing again as the ache tears through her heart again... She wanted to hate him for leaving her and yet, she couldn't. No, she couldn't because despite what he did to her, she still loved him... Yes, with every inch of her being, Khushi loved the self proclaimed idiot: Arnav Singh Raizada.But what if it happened again? Would she be able to survive another heartbreak like that?
"Par agar aapne humein phir se chod diya?" Arnav stills at hearing her scared words. Surely, she didn't mean it! Oh God please let her not mean it! Khushi withdraws, her cries now coming out as silent sobs. "Kal phir agar aisa kuch hua aur aap phir se humein akela chod kar chale gaye to?"
Arnav recognises the insecurity that was pouring out from her every word, her wide open eyes screaming her fear to him - How could she trust him now? How could she believe he won't bail the next time things got rough or someone created a misunderstanding between them? How could she know for sure he will be there by her side, forever? He curses himself again for making her feel this way, feeling scared to even trust him. It was all his doing.
"Main tumhe kabhi akela nahin chodunga Khushi," Arnav says, holding her hands in his, looking deep into her anxious hazel eyes that never failed to mesmerize him. "kyunki tumhare bina meri saansein hi ruk jayengi," he whispers tormentedly. Khushi stares at him, wondering if he had indeed said those words.He then places her hand on his chest directly above his heart, "kyunki, tumhare bina meri dhadkane band ho jayengi." She sees the desperation in Arnav's eyes, no... it was actually fear. Insecurity was throttling him as well, suffocating from all sides. "Kyunki, tumhare bina," his voice breaks as he brings her closer to his face again, "tumhare bina main jee nahin paunga, Khushi. Because I love you..." he whispers torturedly and rests his forehead on hers, a gesture that Khushi recognised all too well.
A wonderful warmth spreads through her hearing his earnest words. Maybe, it was because he had never told her, never spoken of his feelings for her out loud, never shared his insecurities with her...
Arnav withdraws and looks at her tenderly. Gently wiping her tears, he murmurs, "Par main jaanta hun, ki shayad mere words tumhe convince karne ke liye enough nahin honge." Bowing his head he reaches into his other pocket and takes out a small wooden box with intricate carvings on it's surface. Khushi looks down at it curiously for she had never seen it before.
Arnav nervously glances at Khushi once before opening the lid. Khushi peers inside the box due to lack of light but can't see anything. His lips curve up in an affectionate smile as he sees her disappointed reaction. Then bracing himself, he takes out his mother's payals. He had thought of this ever since he had discovered them days ago in Purani Haveli and his decision had just become more resolute now.
"Ye tumhare liye hain," he says keeping them in Khushi's palm. She looks up at him confusedly, obviously at a loss about the significance of the payals to their discussion. "Ye meri Maa ke payal the," Khushi's eyes widen and she looks down at them again, this time a look of comprehension dawning on her face. Arnav continues, "Mere paas Maa ki bas yahi ek nishani hai Khushi but I want you to have these."
Khushi looks up at him, feeling a surge of love for the man who had literally run around for her seeking her out, who had struggled to correct his every folly, who had done so much for her family in the past few days without ever letting her know, who had gone through the same pain, the same agony of losing her as she had felt when she'd lost him. And going one step further to assure her, he was now giving her the last link, the only link he had to his beloved mother...
This simple act spoke volumes more than his declaration ever could. He could never part with his mother's memories and by giving her his mother's anklets, he was telling her that he could never part with her either.
Arnav is now watching Khushi, trying to gauge her reaction, all the while mentally pleading to the higher powers above not to let her slip away from him again. Khushi picks up the payals in one hand and hands it back to Arnav, bowing her eyes down. He feels the air sucked out of his lungs.
"Khushi..." he whispers despairingly. Khushi looks up again to meet his wide petrified eyes, naked horror painted all over his face. Then she gently smiles at him.
"Kya aap humein ye payal pehnayenge?" she asks, her voice coming out in a low whisper.
Arnav stares at her, stunned to hear her words. Did she... did she just accept the payals? He wordlessly takes them from Khushi, still gaping at her. She suddenly giggles and motions her head towards her feet, simultaneously raising her saree baring her ankles. Arnav dazedly slips from the bed and on to the floor, still watching the payals and her feet disbelievingly. As he touches her ankle, he feels her feet tremble slightly under his touch. He gently wounds them around her bare ankles, his heart swelling with a wild happiness with each passing second. Once he finishes, Khushi gently releases the saree and they cover her bare legs with a gentle swish.
Khushi looks at Arnav, who is still kneeling on the floor. Her smile slowly fades as she sees the tumultuous battle raging in his eyes.
"Kya hua?" Khushi whispers, her voice suddenly low with anxiety.
"Mujhe tumhe kuch aur bhi dena hai," he replies hesitatingly. Khushi looks at him curiously and raises her eyebrows enquiringly at him. "Karwachauth ke time husband wife ko kuch gift bhi dete hain na?" He adds as he again opens the same wooden box. He reaches in slowly and picks out something held between his fingertips. The faint light of the bedside lamp is enough for Khushi to gasp in recognition, for kneeling on the ground the thing Arnav was holding in his fingertips was her old engagement ring.
"Ye tumhare liye, Khushi." She looks into his eyes, a cold shiver running down her spine at the realisation of what was to follow.
Dhad dhad...
Dhad dhad...
Dhad dhad...
"Kya tum mujhse shaadi karogi, Khushi?"
ENGLISH VERSION IS HERE PAGE 61
Writer's note: I know I can't beat the ME they showed today *humbled* trust them to hit us when we are least expecting it! *sigh* anywho, the english version will be up shortly. Guys please do comment.. this took me two whole days to write, some feedback would be appreciated! 😊
Cheers!! 😊
I am the first Yupppiiieee Party Time🥳
Woowww...just beautiful...i am speech less about this part...the love care...in this parts its just amazing...u write superb...all emotions u describe is just amazing...
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