CHAPTER 65 (A). ARNAV'S AND GEET'S DECISION PART - I
Day 15 Continued...
Monday
Place - Outside Shantivan
Arnav did not know for how many hours he sat outside his house crying for his lost love. But when his tears dried and he got his emotions in control, he decided that he had to talk to Khushi. He had to tell her that he knew the truth so that together they could find a way to stop his wedding. He turned his car around and drove off towards Laxminagar.
Place - Laxminagar
Khushi came out of her room after many hours of crying. She had almost packed her bags and now wanted to ask Buaji if she wanted to put anything in there. As she walked out of her room, she looked at the opened door of the house in shock. Hey Devi Maiyya! Pata nahi kitne der se yeh darwaaja khulla hai! Koi chor ghus aaya hoga toh! Achcha hua aisa kuch nahi hua! Par Buaji kahaan hai? She looked around frowning but there was no Buaji around. She shrugged. Kisi aaju baaju waale ke ghar gayi hongi! She moved to the door to close it. Right as the door was about to close, a hand stopped it from closing. The door was pushed open and Khushi saw Arnav standing there. She stumbled few steps back in shock. Yeh kyun aagaye hain yahaan? Kahin humein phir se taana maarne toh nahi aaye? She tried to discern the matter from Arnav's expression. But Arnav kept a blank expression on his face and Khushi felt more nervous. Hey Devi Maiyya! Raksha karna! Arnav walked in slowly and closed the door behind him. Khushi felt her heart hammer against her chest, "Arnavji ...aap...yeh...kya?", Khushi tried to ask but her jumbled mind refused to work coherently. Arnav neared her and stood in front of her. Khushi looked at him with fear and confusion etched on her face. Arnav looked down as pain pierced his heart at her expression and he mumbled out, "Mujhe sab maaloom padh gaya hai Khushi! I know everything!" When Arnav looked up, Khushi could not stop herself from gasping. Gone was the hatred from Arnav's eyes. It was filled with nothing but love for her. NO! No! Nahi! Yeh nahi ho sakta! Arnavji ko sachchai ka pata nahi lag sakta! But even to her ears, her words seemed hollow because her heart knew what she saw in Arnav's eyes. He knew the truth and had stopped hating her. "Yeh aap kya keh rahe hai Arnavji?", Khushi pretended to act oblivious. But Arnav was not just anybody. He was the person who had understood her and then had fallen for her. She could fool the world but she could not fool him especially when he now knew that he had misunderstood her. He surged forward and grabbed her by her arms. He pulled her so close that there was no gap left between them. Arnav looked into her eyes and whispered, "Mujhe sachchai pata hai! Jaanta hoon main ki tumne mujhe koi dhoka nahi diya! Sab jaanta hoon main!" Khushi looked at him with tear filled eyes. It suddenly hit her that Arnav knew the truth which meant that he would not taunt her anymore. The hatred he had in his heart for her is gone. Joy bloomed in her heart as she realized that he had given the place she had in his heart earlier, back to her. He recognized the joy in her eyes and pulled her close. He hugged her not wanting her to get away from him. As soon as he hugged her, she felt peace and safety in her heart. This was one thing she missed during this one year; the safety his presence gave her and peace and comfort his hug gave her soul.
Khushi and Arnav did not know for how long they stood in each other's embrace. All they knew was that their body and mind was at peace in each other's arms and their heart sung with happiness. Suddenly, Khushi had a thought which shattered all her happiness and horror filled her heart. She opened her eyes in a flash and they filled with tears at the thought. But as she thought, she realized that she had to do this! This was their decision and they had to abide by it. She closed her eyes trying to control her tears. Once her tears were under control, she took a deep breath. She had to do this. She pushed him away from her and glared at him. Arnav frowned, "Afreen! What's wrong?" "Mat pukaariye humein us naam se! Nafrat hogayi hai humein us naam se!", Khushi shouted and hurt entered Arnav's eyes. But he smiled letting her comment slide, "Fine! Khushi! But what is wrong?" Khushi let out a sarcastic laugh, "Waah! Waah! Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada! Aapko kya laga? Aap aayenge aur kahenge ki aapko sab kuch pata hai aur hum apna sab kuch chod chaad ke aapko gale laga lenge, haina? Khule aankhon se sapne dekhna chod deejiye!" Arnav was shocked to hear her answer but he did not let it deter him. He was ready to forgive her for anything at this moment. He walked closer to her and smirked at her, "Par yahi toh hua na? Tum mere baahon mein aise aayi jaise mere baghair jee hi nahi sakti!" Generally Khushi found Arnav's arrogant style a bit endearing, but today she wanted to throttle him with her bare hands for saying those words. She shook her head and glared at him, "Woh sirf ek pal ki galti thi aur kuch nahi!..." Arnav cut her off with, "Galti?" Khushi nodded and folded her hands against her chest, "Aapko kya laga Mr. Raizada ki aapko sach maaloom padh gaya yeh jaankar hum khush honge aur aapko maaf kardenge!" Arnav looked confused, "Maafi?" Khushi looked at him with anger filled eyes, "Haan! Maafi! Ek toh itne din humein sirf taane diye, yeh bhi nahi socha ki chalo aake pooche Khushi se ki usne aisa kiya kyun! Aap hi waqil aur aap hi Judge ban gaye! Aapne apna dard dekha aur farmaan suna diya ki hum doshi hain. Ek baar bhi humaari daleel suni?" Arnav looked away from her and then looked back at her with hope, "Bas itni si baat! Main abhi sorry bol deta hoon! I am sorry!" Khushi felt like slapping him. She growled at him, "Bas kijiye! Bas hogaya! Itne taane diye, itna dard diya aur bas ek sorry?" Arnav lost his cool at that last comment. He gritted his teeth and almost grabbed his hair in confusion. He looked at her with crumpled face, "Toh aur kya karoon?" He looked at her pleadingly. Khushi shook her head, "Kuch nahi! Woh angrezi mein kya kehte hai...Haan! You made your bed! Now lie in it!" Khushi turned away but she left Arnav shell-shocked, "What?", he whispered in shock. Khushi turned back and glared at him with hatred filled eyes, "Haan! Ab aapki maafi koi kaam ki nahi! Ab aap ghar jaayiye aur apni aur humaari Di ki shaadi ki tayyaariyaan kijiye!" Khushi turned around to walk to her room. Arnav grabbed Khushi's arm in an attempt to plead to her but Khushi pulled her hand away and growled at him, "Haath mat lagaayiye humein! Yeh adhikaar nahi hai aapko! Bhuliye mat ki hum aapki saali hain honewaali biwi nahi!"
Arnav and Khushi stood there staring at each other; Arnav with shock and Khushi with anger. But soon Arnav's shock gave away and his anger surged to fore. He grabbed Khushi by her arms and pulled her close, "Samajhti kya ho apne aapko? Maang raha hoon na main maafi? Toh itna attitude kyun dikha rahi ho? Maanta hoon maine galti ki hai! Par maafi maangne ko bhi tayyaar hoon na? Toh phir yeh sab naatak kyun?" While Arnav spoke, Khushi tried to pull herself arms out of his hands. Finally she was able to pull away. She pushed him away from her and he stumbled and fell on the sofa. Khushi towered over him and glared at him, "Bas kijiye aap Mr. Raizada aur yahaan se chale jaayiye! Humein aapki koi baat nahi sunni!" Khushi turned to walk away but Arnav grabbed Khushi's hand. The thing which stopped Khushi was with the way Arnav had grabbed her hand. His touch was gentle as if asking permission rather than the way he had held her earlier, as if he owned her. She felt her heart melt at his tenderness and she turned to look at him. He looked at her pleadingly, "Please Khushi! Maaf kardo mujhe! Aur mujhe apnaa lo! Please! Main waada karta hoon main sab se baat karoonga aur sabko manaa loonga humaari shaadi ke liye! Please!" Khushi shook her head as tears filled her eyes. She smiled at him sadly and spoke in a calm voice, "Nahi Arnavji! Jab humein aapke saath ki jaroorat thi tab aapne humpar bharosa na karke humaari Di ke saath flirt kiya! Aur phir jab humne aapki sagaai Di se hone di tab aapne ek baar bhi humaara nazariya samajhne ki koshish nahi ki! Bas apne aapko sahi maana aur humpar ilzaam laga kar chale gaye! Aapne pyaar kar toh liya Arnavji par pyaar nibhaana nahi seekha! Aapne kabhi humpar bharosa nahi kiya aur bharosa hi woh neev hai jo ek rishte ko saalon saal baandhe rakhta! Jis insaan ko humpe aur humaare pyaar pe bharosa hi nahi unpe hum kya bharosa karein!" She turned away and closed her eyes tightly. She whispered softly, "Jaayiye yahaan se Arnavji! Hum aapko na kabhi maaf kar sakte hain aur na aapse shaadi kar sakte hain! Humaare zindagi ka faisla ho chukka hai! Aapne aapki raah chuni aur humne humaari! Ab hum dono ko usi raaste se chalna hoga! Arnavji..." She turned around to look at him but he was long gone from there and the door of the house was open. She ran outside to look for him and saw him drive away. She turned around and walked inside her house slowly. She closed her door softly. The moment the door was locked she slid down to the floor and started weeping silently. Mujhe maaf kar dijiye Arnavji! Humne is tarah aapka dil dukhaaya! Humne toh aapko kabka maaf kar diyatha ! Aur hum chaahte bhi yahi the ki hum aapke ho jaayein! Par hum kya karte? Humaari shaadi hone ke liye aapko humaari Di se sagaai todni padti! Aur waise hi sagaai tootne par bawaal ho jaata hai par yahaan Shaadi ke itne paas hote hue sagaai ka tootna? Aur woh bhi badi behen se sagaai todke choti behen se shaadi karna! Humaari Di ki zindagi barbaad ho jaati Arnavji! Unki phir se shaadi shaayad hi ho paati Arnavji! Aur hum yeh nahi kar sakte! Kisi aur ki khushiyon ko jalaakar hum apne rishte ko naya naam nahi de sakte! Maaf kar dijiye Arnavji! Humein maaf kar dijiye! And she wept not only for her broken heart but also for Arnav's broken heart!
Place - Geet's Room At Shantivan
Geet sobbed into her hands as Maan's harsh words repeated in her mind. After talking to Maan or rather accusing Maan of giving up on Soni and facing rejection from him, Geet had gone back to Khurana Constructions as her day had yet to end in the office. But there she could not properly focus on her work and had taken a half day citing headache. When she arrived home, Anjali eagerly served her food but Geet could not eat after the debacle at Maan's home. After playing with the food for a while, she excused herself citing headache and entered her room. From that time to right now, two hours had passed but Geet's tears refused to stop. Maan was her first love and getting rejection from him and that also in such a rude manner had nearly destroyed Geet. As she sat crying on the floor leaning on the bedpost with her knees drawn to her chest and her arms circling her legs, she scolded herself. Kyun? Kyun giri tu us Khurana ke pyaar mein Geet? Tu jaanti thi na ki woh kitne nirdayi hai! Office mein sab pe kitna chillaate hain! Toh phir kyun unse pyar kiya? Tujhe kya laga woh itni aasaani se tere pyaar ko sweekar lenge? But then she stopped scolding and she frowned. Ek minute! She looked on puzzled at a distance. Lekin woh toh Soni se pyaar karte haina aur Soni toh main hoon! Toh phir kyun unhonein mujhse aisi baat kahi? She mused for a while and then shook her head. Nahi! Agar woh mujhse pyaar karte toh yeh nahi kehte ki unhein ab mujhse pyaar nahi! Unhonein aisa kahaa toh shaayad yahi sach hai! Lagta hai iss ek saal mein woh apni Soni ko bhoolke aage badh chuke hain! Aur mujhe aage badhna chaahiye! She wiped her tears and got up from her place. She sat on her bed trying to forget the morning debacle but her mind kept on wondering over the same event.
Now that Geet had let her emotions out by crying, her mind calmed down and started working; poking around Maan's memories which Geet had in her brain. Geet sat there pensively as she remembered the words written in the diary; the same diary which Geet had carried home in her pain filled daze. As she sat remembering, the words Maan had written in them, the love Maan had filled the words with baffled Geet. Koi insaan jo itna pyar kisiko kar sakta hai woh use itni aasaani se apni zindagi se kaise baahar nikaal sakta hai? Geet was confused. Maan ne toh keh diya tha ki woh mujhse pyar nahi karte aur jis Maan ko maine samjha us diary ko padhkar woh Maan ne toh yeh waada kiya tha ki woh kabhi Soni se pyar karna nahi chodenge! Toh aaj in dono Maan mein itna farak kyun? Aisa kya hogaya is ek saal mein ki us Maan mein aur iss Maan mein itna farak aagaya! Babaji! Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha! Aap hi madat kardo! As she sat there trying to decipher the reason behind the change between Soni's Maan and Geet's Maan, her eyes fell on her legs and she remembered how Maan had taken care of her leg when she had sprained it. As she touched her ankles softly her eyes fell on her arms and she remembered the time she fell down the stairs and Maan had carried her to his cabin and had dressed her wound. She remembered the look in Maan's eyes; the love in Maan's eyes. She got up with a jerk. NAHI! Maine us din jo unki aankhon mein dekha tha woh jhoot nahi tha! Maan aaj bhi mujhse pyaar karte hain! She sat down again in confusion. Toh phir unhonein aisa kyun kahaa ki woh aage badh chuke hain? Her head felt like it would split into two. What was true? Which version of Maan was true? Today's Maan who rejected her or the Maan she saw in these fifteen days who cared for her and looked at her so tenderly. Then she shook her head. Lekin main yeh jaan ke karungi kya ki kaun sa Maan sach hain? Kyunki sach toh yahi hai na ki Maan mujhse pyaar karein ya na karein unhonein mujhe thukraaya hai! Mere dil ko thukraaya hai! Mere pyaar ko thukraaya hai! Again tears welled up in her eyes as the truth hit her and she started weeping for her broken heart.
For a while, Geet could not stop sobbing. But when she heard footsteps near her room, she wiped tear tracks on her cheeks and tried to act normal. She did not want anyone to know what she had been through recently. Seated on the bed, Geet craned her neck to have a look at the person nearing her room. Soon, Aakash came into her view. He was talking on the phone when suddenly he stopped right in front of her door and listened to the person on the other side. As he heard the other person, the expression on his face transformed from pleasant to grim and serious. He replied back, "Dekhiye Mr. Rana! Aap samajh nahi rahe hain! Mujhe woh hall kisi bhi keemat par us fashion show ke liye booked chaahiye! Samjhe aap! Aap bhool rahe hain ki aap ek Raizada se baat kar rahe hain! And a Raizada always gets what a Raizada wants! Aur bhale hi main apne Bhai ke strict nahi hoon par main unka hi bhai hoon! Ek Raizada kitna ziddi hota hai yeh baat aap mere Bhai se seekh hi chuke honge! Toh aap yeh baat na bhoolein toh behtar hoga!" As he completed his speech, he cut the phone and stalked away.
Geet sat in her place stunned as Aakash's words reverberated through her brain, "And a Raizada always gets what a Raizada wants!" "Ek Raizada kitna ziddi hota hai yeh baat aap mere Bhai se seekh hi chuke honge!" As the words kept on repeating in her head, she got up and closed the door of her room not wanting for anyone to see her in this state. She sat on her bed again thinking about the words she heard, "And a Raizada always gets what a Raizada wants!" Suddenly, she saw a shadow on her left and turned to look at it. She was shocked to see a girl looking exactly like her, dressed in a traditional Salwar Kameez standing in front of her with a small smile on her face. Her hair was plaited and she wore plain Jhumkas in her ears. She blushed and spoke so softly that Geet had to strain her ears to listen clearly, "Main Geet hoon! Geet Handa! Woh ladki jise tum peeche chod aayi thi jab tumne yeh kahaa ki tum Geet Handa nahi Geet Raizada ho!" Geet looked at her in shock. Suddenly, she saw someone move to her right side and she turned to see another Geet standing there. This Geet was openly smiling, with not a tinge of shyness which the other Geet displayed. She was dressed in designer Chudidaar and her neck, ears and hands were adorned with branded designer jewellery. Her hair was left open. This Geet smirked at her and she spoke with confidence shining from her words to her posture, "Main bhi Geet hoon! Geet Raizada! Woh ladki jise Raizada parivaar ne apnaakar itna pyaar diya ki main ek dari hui, sehmi hui aur sharmaati hui ladki se ek confident, modern and outspoken ladki bani!" Geet Handa spoke up giving the real Geet a sweet tender smile, "Ab tum tey karlo ki tum kaun ho!" The Geet on the right nodded, "Haan Geet! Tum decide karo! Tum kaunsi Geet ho!" The real Geet, who till now was looking at the mirages in shock, stood up, "Yeh kaisa sawaal hai! Main Geet hoon! AD ki Baby! Veere ki favorite behen! AB ki motor mouth, MJ Aur PJ ki ek lauti beti aur DJ ki poti!" The Geet on the right raised her eyebrow eerily looking like Arnav, "Are you sure? Kyunki tum jis tarah Maan ke ek rejection sunke aise ganga jamuna bahaa rahi ho, tum Geet Raizada kam Geet Handa jyaada lag rahi ho!" The real Geet looked at her confused. Geet Raizada pointed her hand at Geet Handa, "Woh ladki jo dekh rahi ho!", the real Geet looked at Geet Handa. The Geet on the right continued, "Woh ek chote gaon ki ladki hai jo itni darpok thi ki chote chote baat par roti thi! Lekin Main...", Geet looked to her right and Geet Raizada shrugged, "Main roti nahi! Main action leti hoon kyunki main ek Raizada hoon and as Veere said What a Raizada wants that a Raizada gets'! Ab tum sochlo tum kaun ho! Itni si baat pe haar maankar rone waali Geet Handa ya apne pyaar ke liye ladne waali Geet Raizada!" She winked at real Geet and vanished away. Geet looked at her left but even Geet Handa had vanished. Geet was in shock at what she had heard. She understood what her brain and conscience was trying to explain to her but it was taking her a while to digest the words.
Place - Arnav's Room At Shantivan
Arnav was in shock as he sat in his room. He had driven home in shock and had successfully avoided his family. Now sitting in his room, he did not know what to do next. As he sat there, he remembered the gift Khushi had given him few days before his engagement. He got up and opened the drawer of a nearby table. He pulled out the gift she had given him; the idol of her Devi Maiyya. He held it in his hands and stared at it for a while. When he spoke his voice was filled with anguish and pain, "Jaanti ho tum! Main tumhein nahi maanta! Nahi maanta ki tum exist karti ho! Jab chota tha tab maanta tha! Par jab tumne mere Mom Dad ko mujhse cheen liya aur meri Di aur mujhe beghar kar diya main samajh gaya ki tum exist nahi karti! Tum ho hi nahi! Par Khushi tumpe vishwaas karti hai! Aankh band karke vishwaas karti hai! Toh maine socha ek baar main bhi tumse baat karke dekhloon. Atleast kisiko apni dil ki baat bataakar thoda relieved toh feel karoonga!" He got up from his seat and continued talking to Devi Maiyya while pacing the room eager to get all his frustration and annoyance out at once, "You know main Khushi se bahut pyaar karta hoon! I love her like crazy! And I know that she too loves me. Par woh mujhe maaf hi nahi kar rahi! Main kya karoon? Tumhi bataao ki main aisa kya karoon ki woh meri zindagi mein waapis aa jaaye! Tum toh Devi Ma hona! Toh bolo na kya karoon?", Arnav pleaded the idol but the idol remained quiet. He sat on the bed and placed her on the coffee table in front of him as anger coursed through him, "BOLO! Bhagwaan bolte haina tumhein? Meri problem solve karo! Meri sagaai ho chuki hai!" He raised his left hand showing the Goddess the ring, "See? Ab main kya karoon? I am engaged to her sister but I want Khushi as my wife! KYA KAROON?" He got up from the bed and went to his poolside, "I can't loose her Devi Ma! I can't! Just tell me what to do! Just tell me!" He roared suddenly, "JUST TELL ME DAMMIT!" He turned to look at the idol with anger, "Par tum kya bologi? Tum toh sirf ek patthar ki murat ho! Aur kuch nahi! Koi jaan nahi tum mein! Koi Bhagwaan nahi!" He looked back at the poolside. Tears welled up in his eyes and he went to sit back on the bed. But while sitting he slipped and sat on the floor with a thud. But instead of getting up, he sat there and tears slipped from his eyes for his confused brain, broken heart and aching soul.
PRECAP
Arnav and Geet make their decision while Maan and Khushi get away from Dilli!
comment:
p_commentcount