Arshi SS: Love or Marriage Pt8, Pg 67, 26/01 - Page 43

Khushi rested her elbow on the table and pressed her cheek against her palm. She exhaled deeply, her face contorted with worry.

Flashback.

Khushi splashed water on her face and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She could not get Arnav's face out of her mind. She could not forget the way he was looking at her when he was singing. He wants me to go back to him. He loves me. A smile appeared on her face. But if he did, why did he never tell me.. and why.. She remembered the time she almost kissed him. Why did he move away that time? Her eyes opened wide and she stared at herself in the mirror. He knew I would regret it later. He wanted to .. he wanted me to be sure... that I really wanted it. He.. really cares about me! She burst into a smile and a tear rolled down her cheek.

But.. Her smile disappeared. But what about Shyamji, again? Now he is being nice to me and I am happy. But, what about the way I react around Arnav .. the quick breaths and wild heart beats. Will I ever feel that around Shyamji? She took a deep breath and pursed her lips. I will have to wait .. maybe one day I will feel that way for Shyamji. And I don't know anything about Arnav.. except that he makes my heart go crazy, he makes me happy.. he is caring and sweet and funny.. and .. and his eyes.. She sighed! But I have known Shyamji for the past ten years. He is sweet and caring too.. except.. Khushi jumped, remembering the slap. But Shyamji regrets that. He would never hurt me again; he promised me! Khushi took another deep breath. No, I cannot just walk away. Shyamji and Ma have done so much for me, I just cannot ignore that. I might be happier being with Arnav, but being with Shyamji makes him and Ma happy, then that's what I will do. Yes, I am just going to leave this place with Shyamji and avoid Arnav. He will forget me.. and so will I' hmm.. will I be able to forget him? Frustrated, Khushi turned around and leaned against the counter. She folded her arms and exhaled deeply. You will have to, Khushi. She walked towards the restroom door.

"Khushi". Shyam's voice interrupted her thoughts. Khushi turned around and saw Shyam walking towards her with a mug of steaming tea. He placed the cup in front of her and sat down next to her.

"Here you go. Drink this. Tea with lemon, ginger and honey. Your headache will disappear in minutes." He said, with a smile.

Khushi nodded and dragged the mug closer towards her, wrapping her palms around the mug, absorbing heat from the beverage.

"The nerve of the guy." Shyam's angry voice made Khushi look up at him, confused. Shyam's face was fuming.

"Shyamji, who are you talking about? Is everything alright at work?"

Shyam curled his fist and spoke through clenched teeth. "Your friend, Arnav. He had the nerve to lecture me about how to take care of my wife. My wife!"

Khushi's eyes flew open. Oh no, what did Arnav tell him? She placed her hand on Shyam's fist and smiled. "Relax, Shyamji. La and Arnav are just worried. But don't worry. I already told La that everything is fine and that you take really good care of me!"

Shyam scoffed, "Maybe she failed to tell that to Arnav, because he didn't seem to think I was capable of taking care of you." He turned to Khushi, fuming. "If you hadn't come out of the restroom then, I swear I would have killed.."

"Shyamji", Khushi screamed, startling Shyam. He turned to her, looking confused. "No, please. Don't hurt him. He just wants to make sure I am fine."

"Why? Why do you care so much about him? Who is he?" Shyam stood up suddenly, his face fuming. The sudden movement made his chair topple to the ground. He snorted, "Your husband?"

"Shyamji, what are you saying?" Khushi stood up, shocked. She took a step closer to Shyam. "Please.. calm down. Arnav is just a friend'"

Shyam rolled his eyes and scoffed, "Yes, just a friend. That must be why you ran to his house that night. Of course you have no other friends right?"

Khushi's mouth fell open. "Shyamji, how can you say that? I met La that night and she took me to her house. I stayed in her room with her."

"And I suppose your 'friend' avoided you the entire time."

"Yes, in fact he was a perfect gentleman, unlike my own husband." Khushi added, fuming with anger.

Shyam raised his eyebrows and folded his arms. He snorted, "Quick to defend a friend against your husband, aren't you, Khushi?"

Khushi gulped as Shyam took a step closer to her. He continued, with a snarl. "Did you think I didn't notice the staring game today? Do you know how it makes me feel knowing that my wife loves another guy?"

Khushi opened her eyes wide and stared at Shyam.

"Arnie, leave it. She is gone. She is not even picking up my calls." Lavanya said, as she slumped down on the couch next to Arnav and picked up the big mug of cappuccino that they had ordered. It was the morning after the concert; they were sitting in the cafe in their college campus.

Arnav shrugged his shoulders, deep in thought, leaning against the couch, his eyes focused on a magazine in his hands. "Whatever, La. I don't care."

Lavanya smirked and leaned close to him. "Really? Is that why you are reading the magazine upside down?"

Arnav made an annoyed face, threw the magazine on the couch next to him and turned to Lavanya. "What do you want me to say? That I love her. Fine. I love her so much that it hurts at the thought that I let her go so easily. I love her so much that it kills me that she is with someone else, when she should have been with me. Huh? Is that what you wanted to hear? Do you want to hear more?" Lavanya opened her eyes wide, as Arnav grabbed her arms. "I love her so much I cant stop thinking about her. I see her everywhere I look, everywhere I go. I feel my day isn't complete if I don't see her. My heart goes crazy every time I do see her and I hope and pray that she would look at me at least once. And I would do anything, anything to see that beautiful smile on her face. Yes, La, I do love her.. I don't think anyone could love her as much as I do."

Lavanya giggled and folded her arms. "Well, good. I am glad you admitted it. Now tell her that." Lavanya indicated with her eyes towards the door.

Arnav raised his eyebrows and looked towards the door. Khushi had just entered the cafe. She waved at Lavanya and started walking towards them. She was wearing a white windbreaker over a bright pink salwar, a faded yellow scarf wrapped around her neck and black winter boots at her feet. Strands of her hair had escaped from where she had tucked it in under her black wool cap and it fell across her face. Arnav stood up from his couch, watching Khushi wade through the crowded cafe moving towards them.

"Khushi?" Arnav asked, concerned. "Is everything alright?"

Khushi's face lit up, as she saw him. She covered the distance between her and Arnav in a few steps and threw her arms around him, startling Arnav, making him stagger back at the impact. Lavanya burst into a smile. Arnav, still shocked, whispered her name again.

Khushi pulled away and took a few steps back. She looked down at her feet, embarrassed. Arnav placed a hand gently on her arm and asked. "Khushi, your husband? Is everything alright? Did he hurt you?"

Khushi looked up, her face a light crimson and shook her head. She looked at Lavanya, smiled and then at Arnav and said softly. "I was wondering if you would like to have brunch with me."

Arnav looked confused. "Ehmm. Sure."

Khushi looked at Lavanya again and then back at Arnav. Her face turned a darker red as she continued, a shy smile at her lips. "No, I mean. Just the two of us. You know, like .. ehmm."

"A date, Khushi. A date." Lavanya interjected, bursting out into laughter.

Arnav's mouth fell open. "You want to go on a date with me?"

"Yes." Shyam's voice startled Arnav. He looked over Khushi's shoulder and watched Shyam walk towards them. He smiled at Lavanya; she smiled and bent her face in acknowledgement.

Flashback.

Khushi gulped as Shyam took a step closer to her. He continued, with a snarl. "Did you think I didn't notice the staring game today? Do you know how it makes me feel knowing that my wife loves another guy?"

Khushi opened her eyes wide and stared at Shyam.

Shyam's eyes softened. His face relaxed. "Do you love him, Khushi?"

Khushi swallowed, unsure of how to react. Shyam continued, "Khushi, I have never loved you, I mean not as a wife. I really care about you. The only reason I married you was because Ma and I didn't want you to end up with a guy who treated you the way you have been treated by your family, or maybe even worse. We wanted you to be with someone who would love, protect and cherish you. I want to, Khushi.. I really want to give you the love a wife deserves, Khushi." Shyam collapsed into the chair. Khushi's eyes filled with tears. "But..", Shyam looked up at her face. Khushi sat down on the chair next to him.

"Then I see the way you look at him. I know you like him, even if you don't want to admit it." Shyam chuckled. "I know he likes you and I know you know that too." Shyam burst into laughter. Khushi took Shyam's hand in hers.

"Shyamji, but I am married.. "

Shyam took her hand and squeezed it. With a smile, he continued, "Yes, to me. I know. But if you love him and you think he is right for you, I want you to give it a chance. Get to know him. Of course, I won't let you marry him, unless you are sure that you will be happy with him," and he added, with another laugh, "and I am sure that he will take good care of you."

"Shyamji, what are you saying?" Khushi asked, shocked. "What will Ma say?"

"I will handle Ma. She .. we .. we just want you to have a good life, filled with love and happiness, a life that you deserve." Shyam caressed her hair and smiled. "You are very special to me, Khushi. I want you to be happy, not stuck in a marriage with a person who you do not love. I can take care of you, yes.. but I want you to be with someone, who will adore and cherish you, and unfortunately that person is not me. "

"Can't sleep?" Khushi looked up hearing Shyam's voice. It was midnight, two hours after they had talked at the dining table. Shyam had gone to sleep shortly after comforting Khushi and making sure that she was fine. Khushi had stayed up to clean the kitchen. But she couldn't sleep; she was confused about what she would do.

Khushi shook her head. Shyam smiled and sat down on the couch, next to her. "Well, you could go knock on his door at midnight and tell him how you feel. I could take you there." He winked and Khushi blushed.

"Or," Shyam continued. "You could wait till morning and call Lavanya. I am sure she can help you with these things. You see I am not very good at relationships." He laughed.

"Now, come, try and get some sleep."

"Khushi? What did you say?"

"La, I said, Shyamji thinks Arnav and I like each other, so he wants me to figure out if I will be happy with him. What will I do?"

Lavanya tried to control her happiness. That was one strange husband, but she didn't care. She turned to look towards the back of the caf, where Arnav was sitting, reading a magazine.

"I have no idea what to say, but I can tell you one thing. Take it slow. Get to know him. It's a big decision to break up a marriage, so don't until you are sure."

"Take it slow? How do I do that?"

"Well spend time with Arnav. Go on dates. Go get coffee with him. Go for brunch or dinner. Go for a movie. Basically get to know him."

"I am scared, La"

"Why, sweetheart? Don't be. Arnav is a great guy and I know you both are right for each other."

"But.. this seems really weird. I am married, but I .. I l..l..like Arnav. I", her tone was almost a whisper. "I am happy when I am with him. I have never felt like that ever before."

A tear rolled down Lavanya's cheek, hearing the happiness in Khushi's voice. "But.. but I am scared.. to be .. to be happy."

"Nonsense." Lavanya giggled. "Now come to the cafe. Arnav is here. I want you to ask him out on a date. Ok?"

"Huh? How do I do that?"

Lavanya laughed. "Well, tell him you want to go out for brunch, just the two of you. He hasn't had breakfast yet."

Shyam's voice interrupted Khushi's thoughts. "We meet again." He extended his hand towards Arnav and he took it. "I am sorry about last night. I just had to make sure I was making the right decision. I hope you understand."

"But.. what .."

"Look, Arnav. I have known Khushi for a long time. She is very special to me." He turned around to look at Khushi; their eyes met, her eyes soft and filled with admiration. "Our marriage was not out of love, it was more out of care." He turned back to look at Arnav. "Of course I am going to give you a chance to spend time with her, get to know her.." He took a step closer, pointed a finger at him, and said with a snarl, "If you ever hurt her, I will definitely come after you."

Arnav smirked. "I will remember that." He looked over Shyam's shoulder at Khushi. "I guess we have a brunch to go to and I know just the place." Khushi smiled and Arnav bent down to pick up his coat from the couch.

"Dammit, La.. you are still here?" Everyone turned around to see NK hurrying towards them, frantic and worried. "We have to go to the airport, hurry. The flight must be here already!"

"Airport?" Khushi asked, looking at Lavanya, confused. "Someone is visiting you?"

Lavanya rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, Ms. Drama Queen. NK's sister, Anjali."

NK leaned closer to place a quick kiss on Lavanya's cheek and pursed his lips. "I agree she can be a handful, but she is sweet and she simply adores you, you know that right." He raised his eyebrows as he saw Shyam standing next to Lavanya. "Hey, Mr. Hotshot Lawyer, you think you can help my sister? She is here on a foreign exchange program at Harvard Law School. She is also interested in family law. Do you think you can help her get an internship at your firm?"

Shyam smiled. "Sure, anytime. Though I must say, my friend and I are very strict."

NK laughed. "Yeah, I am sure she can handle that. But thanks, man." He turned to Lavanya. "Come, La. Let's go." They bid goodbyes to everyone and hurried to the door.

Shyam turned to Khushi and Arnav. With a smile, he said, "I guess I should leave too. Khushi, give me a call if you need anything." He looked at Arnav and winked, "Though I have a feeling, you won't." He smirked, turned around and walked to the door.

Khushi turned to Arnav and smiled. She swallowed, and looked down at her feet, fiddling with her fingers. Arnav chuckled, "Hey, relax. This is not the first time we have hung out together right? Don't you remember the time we met?"

Khushi's eyes met his and she blushed. She nodded. Arnav smiled and indicated to the door. Khushi started walking towards the door and he followed. He chuckled and added, "And don't worry about your weight. I go to the gym frequently now, so that I can catch you every time you fall into my arms."

Khushi blushed; then she stopped, her mouth fell open and she turned around to stare at him. "My weight? Are you calling me fat?"

Arnav laughed, seeing her anger. He stopped next to her, took her hand in his and walked out the cafe. Khushi blushed; a chill went down her spine at his touch. She smiled as she followed him out the cafe.