Upd!SS:Love in Delhi University#2:CHP19:Pg135 - Page 63

Arnav and Khushi sat in the halted car. Arnav had driven them to a secluded cliff-like area where they could finally talk things out. The sun was setting behind the trees and the evening had begun seeping in; announcing Khushi's time to go home. Khushi looked down at her fingers which were fidgeting with the hems of her dupatta. She had no idea on ways to break the silence and thus kept stealing glances at Arnav, hoping he would do something about it but when nothing of the sort happened, she spoke up. "Humay ghar chalna chahiye. Shaam hone ko ayah ain" she said tentatively. (I should go home. It's evening)

Arnav, who till now was staring out of the window with his hands on the steering wheel, jerked his head towards her. Khushi was shocked at the look that played in his eyes; they were stone-like, cold and piercing. "Main bhi chalta hoon" he stated flatly. (I'm coming along) Khushi's eyes widened for a second but she recomposed herself quickly. "Main bhi chalta hoon matlab?" she said, stuttering yet trying to hide her shakiness (What do you mean I'm coming along?)

"Tumhare Buaji se baat karne" (To talk it out with your Buaji) replied Arnav, looking straight out of the windshield. Khushi's eyes widened again and this time it stayed like that. Her heart quickened as she got worked up. Buaji? She knew Arnav was getting very impatient and she knew something of this sort was about to happen. She closed her eyes trying to figure out ways to blanket the fire before it became wild. "Arnav Ji, hum abhi Buaji se baat nehi kar sakte" she said calmly and patiently awaited the storm which she knew would follow thereafter. (Arnav Ji, we can't talk to Buaji right now)

"What do you mean we can't talk right now?" he asked furiously, turning towards her. Khushi brain swivelled as she tried to find words to form a sentence. "Arnav Ji.. Mera matlab.. Kya kahenge.." (Arnav Ji.. I mean.. What do we say?) she fumbled without meeting his eyes and that made Arnav flare up even more. "Kya matlab kya kahenge. Jo hain woh hi kahenge. Ki hum dono ek doosre se pyaar karte hain aur hum shaadi karna chahte hain" (What do you mean by what should we say? We'll say what it is. That we love each other and want to get married. What's so wrong in that?) Khushi, a little pleased with the fact that he voiced the thought that he wanted to marry her, tried reasoning out. "Buaji aise nehi manenge!" (Buaji won't agree) she urged helplessly. "Toh kya karna padega tumhare buaji ko manane ke liye? What do I have to do for her to agree? I am everything you wanted me to be. I'm up, I'm earning, I love you more than anything else in the world, what more do you want Khushi?" he screamed out at Khushi. Khushi leaned back with frightened teary eyes. "Tell me what more do you want?" he asked, taking Khushi's arm and shaking it vehemently.

As the tempest inside him calmed a bit, he realized what he was doing. Quickly loosening the tight grip around her around, he moved his palms back on the steering wheel and placed his head on them. He could hear her trying to stifle her sobs and he cursed himself for making her cry but he had to do something about their lives. "Khushi, I'm tired of this. I'm tired of playing hide and seek like teenagers. We aren't in school or college. We're both adults and haves lives of our own" he justified his cause but Khushi didn't look up. He could see her tears trailing down the soft cheeks and Arnav's heart wrenched at its sight.

Why wouldn't Buaji agree? What was so wrong between them? Just two people who were madly in love with each other. What's the harm? He wondered and racked his brains for answers and it was before long that he got one too. "Is it because of what Anjali and Malik's wife had done?" he asked softly. Khushi nodded in affirmative but without looking up. Arnav groaned and slacked back on his seat. His palms covered his face as he tried figuring out their next step. "Let's get something to eat" he said, unable to come up with any solution.

~

Arnav quickly finished up his broccoli and sprouts while Khushi relished her Panna Cotta in their usual restaurant, Wengers in Connaught Place. "What do we do now?" asked Arnav seriously, as he wiped his lips with his napkin. "Main soch rahi thi.." (I was thinking..) said Khushi, as she looked up, keeping her spoon down. She picked up another napkin and wiped Arnav face which had a blotch of mayo on it. Arnav raised his eyebrows in question. "Humay Jiji se baat karni chahiye" (We should talk to Jiji) she said thoughtfully. "Unhe pata hoga ki kya karna chahiye" (She'd know what we should do)

Arnav nodded in agreement. Khushi took out her cellphone from her bag and called Payal. Arnav heard Khushi's conversation. From what he could decipher, Payal had asked Khushi to talk to her Bauji directly and not Buaji. Wait? What? Ok, Payal was coming to Delhi. Khushi seemed super excited about that. Oh! Their father was coming along too. Ok, they were already planning to but now they'll just come sooner. Good, decided Arnav's brain. He could now actually talk to Khushi's parents directly. Khushi ended the call and flashed her huge smile to him.

~

Arnav checked his dress for the umpteenth time in the mirror. It was a big day. He was meeting Khushi's parents at Gupta House today. Payal had insisted on bringing Nani along as it would work on his favour rather coming by himself. He was supposed to pick up his Nani on his way. He checked his new Rolex. He had a little more than an hour to meet his future in-laws. Deciding it would be best to be before time to avoid discrepancy; Arnav picked up his keys and walked out of his posh apartment.

He gently put Nani on the passenger seat and fixed the seat belt around her and walked back to put her wheel chair in the trunk of his new big white SUV. As he got back to his driving seat, Nani looked at him and smiled. "Kya hua Nani?" he asked casually as he started ignition. Dressed in a baby blue shirt and black suit, he looked no less than a Prince Charming. "Aj toh aap bohut achcha dikaht rahe" (You look good today) teased Nani impishly. "Nani!!" he groaned out of embarrassment and Nani laughed as they drove off to meet the Guptas.

~

The two sisters ran around the house, making last minute changes as Buaji and their Amma kept staring at them. "Inko kya hua hain, Nand Kishore?" (What's wrong with them?) asked Buaji, confused and Garima agreed in equal amusement. Shashi Gupta, their father, looked up from his newspaper and smiled. Payal had told him everything and he had listened patiently. No one had told the ladies in the house as they were bound to freak out at the news of it. Their Babuji was willing to hear out Arnav's side of the story. He had immense faith in Khushi and knew she would do nothing that would defame her parents. Whatever had happened in the past had been reasoned out by Payel to him.

As the clock struck stuck ten, a big white SUV screeched to a halt outside Gupta House, halting Khushi and Payel's steps along with it. "Woh log aa gaye!" (They're here) whispered Khushi. She was clad in a simple yet elegant red and cream churidaar which Payel had selected for her in the morning. Her eyes widened in anticipation and her fingers went up to her teeth. Payel bit her smile at her reaction. "Dhur Pagli!" she gently remarked and made way to welcome the guests.

"Hay re NandKishore! Kaun aya hai?" (Hay re NandKishore! Who's come?) asked Buaji in an exaggerated tone. As Payel and Khushi looked back at her in fear, their Babuji came to their rescue. "Humare atithi" (My guests) he answered her sister's query. Payel smiled at the exchange and turned to get the door.

As a young man in suit-boot and a sophisticated olderly lady in wheel chair entered their modest home, Buaji and Garima got flabbergasted initially but quickly covered up their surprise and started attending to their guests. As the new entrants seated in their living room, introductions were made. Arnav and Nani sat in one couch and Buaji and Shashiji sat in another. Garima was standing behind them. Khushi and Payal were standing together on the other side, near the window. As the pleasantries were done, Khushi was about to introduce them when Arnav spoke up. As he introduced himself, Buaji's expression grew from courteous to grave. She eyed Khushi who in turn looked away out of the window. Shashi pressed his sister's arm, asking her to relax. Buaji had no other option but to comply.

Shashiji, like any concerned father would, asked Arnav about his occupation. "I own a design company. The same one which Khushi does" answered Arnav casually. Everyone's eyes grew wide open, including Khushi's. Basking in the surprised looks all around him, he told them about their company which they had built from scratch and how important a part Khushi was of it. "Akash, Khushi and I hold 30% of the shares, each and NK and Lavanya hold 5%each" he informed.

Shashiji raised his eyebrows. Understanding that all this information sounded vague to the new listeners, Arnav sighed and took up the cup of tea which Payel had served to them. "Mujhe apko pehle sab kuch batana hoga" said Arnav before he began his tale. (I need to tell you everything from the beginning) Nani and Arnav together informed their about their family background. When Buaji heard the tragic tale of his mother and the new lady his father married, she was about to speak up when Arnav turned to her and said "Haan.. Woh hi jo apse milke gaye the" (Yes.. The same lady who met you)

Buaji's heart thawed and she looked at them apologetically. As Arnav's story progressed, Shashi's heart swelled with pride. Khushi had built an empire with this man? Shashi Gupta was a man of sound judgement and from Arnav and Naniji's words, he could figure out that they shared the values and principles in their lives like the Gupta's did. Pleased with the young man of twenty six before him, he smiled in acknowledgement. "Aur tum dono pichle paanch saal se ek saath ho?" (And both of you are together since last five years?) he asked and Arnav nodded. "Aur aj main apse apke beti ka haath maangne aya hoon" (And today I've come to ask your daughter's hand in marriage) added Arnav with determination and confidence playing high in his voice.

Shashi looked at his younger daughter and Khushi shied away. "Mujhe koi aitraaz nehi hain" announced Shashi and at the same time Garima clutched her sister-in-laws shoulder. Buaji patted Garima's hand, reassuring her something. Arnav's face broke into a huge smile. "Khushi ke abhi ten mahine university baaki hain.. Uske baad agar..?" (Khushi has three months to go for her university to end.. after that maybe we can..?) he asked and Shashiji nodded. Arnav looked at the ladies in the house for permission but seeing no reaction from their side, his smile faltered. Shashi looked at his wife and sister and wondered what's wrong. "Kya hua, Madhumati?" he asked his sister (What happened, Madhumati?)

"Oo ka hain na, Payel humari ghar ki badi beti hain. Uski shaadi pehle hona.." (It's just that Payal is the elder daughter. She is supposed to get married first.. ) Buaji had started saying but Payal cut them in between. "Mujhe abhi shaadi nehi karni. Mujhe naukri karni hain!" (I don't want to get married right now. I want to work) Payal announced clearly, not meeting anyone's eye. "Par bitiya.." started Garima but quietened down when Payel showed fierce aggression in her eyes. Garima knew her daughter well to know that it meant. Payal, usually the docile one, could get pretty adamant when required and this was one of the times. Arnav looked at her confused. He knew her new job didn't pay her as much as his father did then why did she..? The puzzle didn't seem to fit but his thoughts were brought back on track when his Nani resumed their conversation regarding their matrimony.

Buaji was extremely impressed with Naniji. Overall everyone seemed happy and now the ice had broken completely. Khushi and Arnav sat together hand in hand was the elders of the family blessed them. Khushi was almost in tears as she couldn't believe that their love had finally found a way. Breakfast was served to the soon-to-be-family and everybody got busy in their chores. Arnav was sitting on the couch when he saw Payal walk out of the wooden door to get something. Quickly, using it as an opportunity, he followed her out. Payal went out and was picking up a chair to accommodate everyone in the living room when she heard Arnav ask the question she was dreading. "Why did you quit?" he asked gravely.

Payel's face heated up in a second but she masked it immediately with a sombre smile. Turning towards him, she tried to pass it off. "Mujhe badlav chahiye tha" (I needed a change) she said casually and was about to walk with the chair when Arnav took the furniture from her hand and placed it on the ground. This question had bothered him for long. Khushi had told him about Jiji's new workplace which made her work like slaves and paid her peanuts in return. The reason given by her was not sufficient for Arnav as he knew the comforts which Payal got when she worked here. Seeing her jumbled expression, he asked "Did my father do anything?" Payal, on hearing the question, looked to the other side. She took her time to answer. "I thought you'd take over Mr. Malik before you married my sister" she stated blankly. "And I intend to do the same. Khushi's university is just an excuse. We have now gone international and it's about time that I take over Malik's company. I know he has a lot of debts and I intend to use it to my advantage" Arnav informed her. Payal turned towards him with malice eyes.

"I can help you more" Payal almost whispered and Arnav's eyebrows crumpled. "Add molestation cases to his name" she added, her words almost spewing revenge. It was Arnav's turn to get surprised. "What did he do to you?" he asked, genuinely concerned. He knew there was a lot more to the story than change of environment. "Does it matter?" she mocked back. "Did you complain?" he shot back but Payal just laughed at it. "The HR department is filled with it but no one does anything as he's the boss" she informed him. Arnav just stood there bewildered. Payal gently put her palm on his cheeks. "Take care of my sister, will you?" she asked for reassurance. Just then Khushi barged in the spot. "Kya hain, Jiji! Jaldi kijiye!" (Hurry up, Jiji!) she complained as she took up the chair herself and dragged her sister inside to join the celebration. Payal looked back at Arnav who nodded, promising her that Khushi would always be safe and happy with him in future.

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Chapter 18: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/74099237