IPKKND-ARHI-FF - Gypsy- Chapter 42 - Page 30

Loved the chapter but greedy for more! I loved how anjali comes across as a strong minded woman, finally arnav is feeling the anguish...he is not a bad person but the customs of maharaja's of those times are very much ingrained into all royalty but atleast he realised khushi's worth and his own short comings.

Eagerly awaiting next chapter :)

I'm loving this story!

Chapter 22

"Do nothing Chhote."

"Di? I...I don't think you understand Di. How can you say that?"

"Very easily Chhote. Don't do anything. Because you see Chhote, what requires to be done here is not something that is a part of your repertoire."

"Not a part of my repertoire? What are you saying Di?"

"Well Chhote, since you are insisting, you tell me. What exactly is it that you think you can do here?"

"Well... I'm not too sure but first of all I have to look for Khushi. She is missing and I have to find her."

"Well in that case, tell me what you will do when you find her."

"I'll... I'll make up for what I have caused Di. Don't you see Di? I have to do this. Otherwise I will not be able to face myself."

"Well Chhote, there you go. That is the reason you shouldn't look for her."

"Huh?"

"Even now, after so much happening, you are still worried about facing yourself. But what about that girl? Have you given a single thought to how she must be facing her life?"

"But Di..."

"No ifs and buts Chhote. You are miles away from reality here. All right tell me what will you do to make up for what all you have caused?"

"I...I..."

"There you are Chhote. You cannot even bring yourself to admit that you will have to apologize to her. Have you ever said sorry to anyone apart from your close family? Ask yourself that Chhote."

Arnav studied his sister's face carefully. Taking a deep breath he said,

"Fine Di. I know I don't apologize to anyone but I will do it. I'll apologize to her."

"All right that's a good start. But tell me, do you think that will make it all ok?"

"What are you trying to say Di? Be specific please. I know I have created a huge mess but I have absolutely no idea how to rectify it. So please Di, you tell me what to do. Please don't say do nothing' this time Di. Help me out please!"

"Fine Chhote. I'll help you out. Listen to me carefully. I'll tell you many things today. Listen well and then make your decision. First of all, get rid of the idea that you can make the past go away or make it up to her to make things as before for her. You cannot do any of those things. What has happened has already happened. That gypsy girl has not just been whipped. She has lost her honour and dignity as well. Granted that she didn't cross her limits and is just as pure as before but she has lost her honour. And the person responsible for that is you. You kissed her and then you threw it back in her face. So now even if you tell her whole tribe that you haven't done anything with her, it carries no weight at all. The point remains that you and Khushi have done certain things which you were not supposed to do. It's different for men; they can do anything and it's all right, after all they are men. But it's a whole different set of rules for girls. Our society is hypocritical that way. Speaking of dignity and honour, have you spared a thought for her mother? What must that lady be feeling now? What about the people of her tribe? Whatever you did made them turn against one of their own so ferociously. That is about the people around her. What about Khushi herself. You yourself have said that she is a really innocent girl. Imagine what she must have gone through when you made fun of her? God knows what state she must be in now! We don't know anything about it. And now getting on to you Chhote; what do you think? Your apologies will make it better for her? Think about it. You see Chhote, a girl's honour cannot be restored by something as trivial as an apology. Apologies pave the path but they don't lead to the goal. Do you know what will make it all better for her? How she can regain her honour? You are the one who has torn it apart; you must put it back together."

The whole while Anjali was speaking, Arnav listened. His eyes opened in many ways and he realized many things. But his question remained answered:

"Di, but what should I do? I know you have said many things and I promise I'll think about them carefully but tell me what to do! You say I have to restore her honour but then you also say that honour once lost cannot be recovered. If that is the case, what is the step ahead?"

"Marriage." A stunned silence followed her words. Arnav stared at his sister incredulously.

"What???"

"You heard me the first time Chhote. In our society marriage is the panacea for all ill's associated with honour and I agree with it. Of course if it's a question of rape, I don't agree with it. But in this case, marriage is the way. You have to find her, formally apologize to her family and tribe and then marry her. That is the tip of the ice-berg. After marriage, you have to help her heal and not just physically. She must be emotionally hurt as well. You have to take it all away with your patience and understanding and there are no guarantee's as to how long it all might take. That is about the long and the short of it."

A speechless Arnav sat there with his sister while she patted his hand comfortingly. Her brother had just received a shock to his system, she knew. But she was not done yet!

"You see Chhote; the problem is not with you. It's with our royal upper class mentality that is being passed down from generations just like our palaces and wealth. The men of our class think of things like status, wealth, royalty, appropriate upbringing. But they don't think of love, trust, understanding, faithfulness and the companionship that comes as part of sharing life with the one you love. They spoil 2 lives in this way; the woman they marry and the mistress they keep. Here I must reiterate that the things I have mentioned are not part of your repertoire and it really will be the best if you just ignore the situation. Think it over very carefully and then make this decision."

Having said her piece, Anjali rose from the sofa, murmuring,

"I must be going now Chhote. It's nearly time for tea and Ma is expecting some visitors. If there is anything else that you wish to share with me, don't hesitate. I'm always here for you Chhote. I hope you know that."

She walked to the door and turned around to look at her brother sitting quietly, staring after her. She was sad to see that he of all people had created such a mess. And to think that she and her Dadi and Ma were trying to steer him on to a different path.

Long after Anjali had left, deep in thought, Arnav rose and walked out of the study via the back door. He walked slowly down a garden path and in to the small private garden that belonged solely to his mother. He went there and sat on the stone bench amidst the lovely flowers that were his mother's passion. Not just his mother's but also his.

He sat there for a long time, thinking of many things. He went over many things in his mind, remembered many incidents. It was almost dark by the time he roused himself and walked back in the house. It was almost time for dinner and almost instinctively he walked in to his room, freshened up and joined his family downstairs for dinner. Anjali caught his eye when he walked in. There were no questions in her eyes. Instead he saw sadness and disappointment in them. Arnav swallowed hard. Taking his place at the head of the table, he said,

"Dadi, Ma and Di, after dinner, there is something important I have to discuss with you. I have already spoken to Di but ..."

"What happened Chhote?" Mamta questioned softly.

"After dinner Ma."

Dinner over, they settled in the family room and the ladies looked at him expectantly. Once again Arnav looked at his sister. This time he received an encouraging nod from her. Keeping his eyes on the opposite wall, Arnav started his story. He related all of it, leaving nothing out. At the end, he also mentioned his plans.

By the time he finished his narration, there was a tense silence in the room broken only by his mother's soft sobs as she clung to Devyani while Anjali sat quietly.

The silence was broken but instead of asking him anything, Mamta addressed her daughter.

"Anjali, tell your brother that I'm not speaking to him. Not until he corrects his mistakes. I expected better from him. Also tell him that I'm ready to support him but I will not speak to him until the day that girl enters this house as my daughter-in-law. That is the day that he will be forgiven."

Turning to Devyani, Mamta said softly,

"Ma... I brought up my son so well; always telling him that status didn't matter. It was love that mattered most of all. And yet, inspite of all that, he still ..."

Mamta's voice broke off. She was avoiding even looking at Arnav. He looked at Devyani and saw the bleak disappointment there. He looked away, swallowing hard. As he watched, his Dadi and mother rose and left the room, leaving him and Anjali behind. She looked at her brother and said:

"It's a good decision that you have taken Chhote."

"Yes, it is Di. After all I have followed your advice."

"Hmmm that you have. But tell me; is that the only reason for this decision?"

"No. Your advice contributed to it but the rest; I did a lot of thinking today Di. I came to one conclusion."

"What is that?"

"Oh just the fact that everything you said today is true except for one thing; the problem is not with my royal upper class upbringing. The problem is with me; my arrogance and ego."

"I see. Well as I said earlier, I am standing by you. I'll support you till the very end."

Anjali fell silent. After a few minutes Arnav spoke up.

"Di, tell me something. Would you have supported me if I decided to ignore the whole situation?"

Anjali smiled cryptically. "You see Chhote, I may seem like a sweet and shy person but there are many things I am capable of. If in case you had taken the coward's way out, I am perfectly capable of telling your story to Ma and Dadi and between the three of us, even if we had to bind and gag you to gain your compliance, even holding a gun to your head, we would have made you do the right thing. Your fate was sealed the moment you confided in me. I am surely your Di and you are my very dear brother. I love you a lot but I am also a woman. To let you off the hook was something my womanhood would never have allowed me to do. After all I am also a Kshatrani."

That night, lying in his bed, Arnav battled with his restlessness. He battled with it and yet at the same time, he also accepted that it would be his constant companion until Khushi was married and safely installed in his suite as his wife. He didn't just have to find and make amends to Khushi; he also had to make the other three ladies in his life proud of him again. For him tomorrow couldn't come soon enough. He had many things to do...

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Way to go Anjali..for putting some sense in Arnav...

Nice chapter.loved the way Anjali make realize his mistake and asking him to the right thing and his mother's punishment to his sin.waiting for him to the right thing soon.Thanks for the PM.

Nicely done. I like the way this seems to be headed. Can I get on your pm list? I will send you a friend request...

sigh...I wish that every elite class has the same thinking as that of arnav's family...
eagerly waiting to read arnv's redemption...
plxxx continue soon dear...
n
thnxxx a lot 4 pm...

Finally the perfect Anjali, good choice

nice update...i love anjali here.