Love knows no bounds. Yet we believe in the segregation of the society. Love is eternal, yet we dwell in divorces. Love knows no caste and creed. Yet we search for spouses in our caste and creed.
Then maybe we have never loved. Maybe we don't know what love is.
Dedicated to all those who dare to know what love is and broken the shackles of what we have created in the name of society. For loving we need more guts than a mere heart.
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I have everything. That is what everyone says.
Looks.
Money.
Status.
Doting family.
Youth.
I am the most eligible bachelor.
"Arnav Singh Raizada. The most eligible bachelor in town. A blessed man!!"
"Arnav Singh Raizada. The youngest tycoon in recent times."
"ASR!! Who would not want to marry this man?"
I read all these in the papers and nothing pleases me. Everything is meaningless. Extremely materialistic and supercilious in holding.
Am I that blessed?
Youngest tycoon they say so proudly of me. But I know what I have lost climbing this treacherous path. I have lost myself...And I cannot begin to count what I have lost.
Everyone wants to marry me? Why I think. Don't they see beyond money and charm? Don't they care who I want to marry...A selfish world I live in.
Arnav sits in his leather chair reading the paper and then looks at the wall opposite him. An empty picture frame. His eyes give nothing away. Empty, just like the picture frame.
"Sir, she is here to see you" says the impeccably dressed personal assistant.
"Send her in"
A lady in a white suit enters his cabin. Of medium height, slim, very slim indeed, extremely fair with flawless skin.
"Take a seat please"
"Thank you"
And she looks up. Dark chocolate meets hazel and the world, their world stops for a second.
"Thank you for inviting me to work with you. But I cannot accept the offer"
"May I ask the reason of your rejection"
"Its personal"
"What can I do to convince you?"
"Just don't do anything"
"And will that make you agree?"
"I came here to have a word with you, personally. After all that you have done for me, it is the least I can do."
"Thank you Ms. Khushi Kumari Gupta. I appreciate it."
"I will now take your leave"
"Khushi, will we ever meet again?"
"I am no God, Arnav"
"Neither am I. I apologized for what I did."
"We don't need to go back there Arnav."
"Please...come back...please"
A lone tear escaped his eyes and Khushi froze. She has never seen him cry. She has seen the angry Arnav, teasing Arnav, flirting Arnav, romantic Arnav, sad Arnav but she has never seen a crying Arnav.
"Arnav...please don't.."
Khushi could not contain her emotions and broke apart.
Arnav strode to where she was sitting. He kneels down and holds her hand ever so softly.
"Khushi, I am sorry. I am really sorry for what I said that day."
"Arnav, is that what you think of me? A gold digger?"
"No. I have never thought of you in that light."
"Then why did you say it?"
"I was not in my right mind. I was angry. Angry at myself. When you proposed marriage, I was taken aback."
"Arnav you disgraced my love by rejecting my proposal. Girls don't propose. Yet I did it. For our love."
"I know Khushi and I was a total idiot for reacting that way"
"But now Arnav, I cannot do it anymore."
"Please Khushi...one last chance. For the times we shared, the good times"
"All the times were beautiful Arnav. But now you have to let go. I belong elsewhere. In a normal world"
"Khushi, give me one more chance. Give us a chance"
"You asked me the reason for rejecting a job here"
"Yes I did"
"I am getting married tomorrow"
And Arnav's world falls apart. His hold on her hands loosens. He stands up. Walks across his cabin and stands at the empty frame.
He wipes his tears and comes back to her. She is sitting still, tears dried on her cheeks.
"Be happy Khushi, always". Arnav places his hand on her head and she looks up. Their eyes meet once again and his newly formed unshed tears is her un-doing.
She springs up suddenly and runs out crying.
Arnav slumps down in his seat. He has refused to cry. His eyes are empty again. Like his life.
He has lost the girl who understood him, loved him despite his shortcomings. And he is responsible for her misery.
With a determined stance, he calls his bank.
"I will send you written instructions to transfer one million every month. The papers will be faxed to you in an hour. This is very confidential and under no circumstance will you reveal this to my family or the account holder"
He accused her of being a gold digger. She came from a middle class family struggling with her finances to support her family.
"What the hell was I thinking accusing her so"
Arnav cursed himself for the umpteenth time. It has been six months since they broke up.
"I will go there tomorrow. I will wait for her to come to me till the last ceremony. She loves me and I love her and there is nothing else that matters"
With this thought, his day ends.
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Wedding preparations have been done. A very hush affair it has been. Her groom does not have many relatives and he hails from a middle class family just like her. This is now going to be her perfect world.
She is dressing up. A red wedding dress, with a little bit of green thrown in as well as golden.
A beautiful bride she makes.
Her attire, her make-up, everything is the way she had always dreamt of.
But how does all this matter if the groom is not her love.
Nothing matters.
Mechanically, she rises and starts walking over to the "mandap".
And her heart starts beating un-naturally. This only happens when...
"Arnav..." she whispers.
And she looks up. There he is. Standing at the door. Dressed in a white suit. His eyes are hopeful, yet fearful.
And her eyes meet his.
She starts walking down to her chosen destiny.
Arnav is still holding her gaze. And she, his.
Walking...walking...walking...
And she passes the mandap. All eyes turn to her.
She keeps on walking. A determination in her stance and her feet betraying everyone's opposition.
He holds out his hand. A golden box in his palm.
After what seems like ages, she is standing opposite him. Holds his outstretched palm.
"Marry me please. Be my wife. Do me the greatest honor please Khushi"
And her tears stream down her cheeks and she nods in yes.
He slowly takes out the sindoor.
Gasps and gossips in the background.
But nothing matters anymore because the union of two lovers is greater than any truth. Greater than rich and poor. Greater than high status and middle class status. Greater than fair and dusky. Greater than the gossips of friends, relatives and greater than the non existing pride of families. Because what matters is happiness of two lovers.
And he fills her parting as she closes his eyes and before she slumps down, he has her in his arms, now for eternity.
Now my life is now complete. I am now blessed. Nothing else matters.
And thus, on the doorstep, a threshold, all differences created by the society are finally overcome.
And the empty picture frame is finally owned by the love of Arnav and Khushi, oblivious to the world, looking into each others eyes ever so lovingly.
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And their love wins. Not because the hearts dared to love, but their hearts held the power to break all barriers. Trying till the last minute is better than crying and wailing over a lost love.
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
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