Arshi FF: Marrying My Temporary Wife Note pg 49 20/12 - Page 22

Chapter 5

The moment Khushi opened the door, she saw Payal, her Buaji and her parents standing at the doorstep, astonished to see her at the Raizada Mansion.

"Khushi what are you doing here?" an astonished Payal asked.

Khushi stood in front of them like a statue, neither moving nor answering Payal's question. She could practically imagine her mom dragging her out of the Raizada mansion and hence ruining their little act.

"Answer her question Khushi. What are you doing here at Akash's house?" Garima, Khushi's mother asked.

"Aunty, do you know our Khushi" Anjali enquired, surprised to see Payal's mami talk to Khushi so casually.

Khushi cringed listening to Anjali's question. She realized that the time had come to draw curtain on their act. She just hoped Arnav wouldn't kill her for doing what she was about to do.

"Why wouldn't I recognize my daughter Anjali? Agreed that my daughter lives abroad but I can still identify who my daughter is." Garima fumed.

All the Raizadas stood stunned at the new revelation. Anjali could not wrap her mind around the situation.

"Garima beta then you must certainly be aware why you daughter is here." Dadi said, trying to analyse the situation.

"No Maaji we are not aware of it. In fact we are shocked to see Khushi here instead." Garima said.

"Aunty Khushi is where she should be. She is the daughter-in-law of our house, our Chhote's wife." Anjali stated the obvious fact.

By this time everyone had walked to the living room and Khushi was standing in one corner utterly shocked seeing the turn of events. She so wished to have Arnav here, so that he could see the mess he had created with his small lie. On the other hand, the entire Gupta clan was standing as though struck by lightning, listening to Anjali's last statement. All the eyes turned to Khushi, who had her head bowed and was fidgeting with the end of her dupatta.

Khushi is Anjali telling the truth, did you really get married to Arnav?" Shashi asked his daughter, who was silently watching things unfold.

Khushi could not meet her father's eyes, with her head still bowed she just nodded in response, riling up her mother and Buaji further.

"What is all this Khushi, we gave you freedom that doesn't mean you will do whatever you want. Do you think getting married is a joke, didn't you think about us before doing all this." Garima yelled, utterly disappointed with her daughter.

Amongst all the yelling, the Raizadas realized that Arnav and Khushi had not enlightened Khushi's family about their sudden wedding. They couldn't understand how to convince Khushi's family.

"Khushi if you both wanted to get married, you could have first told us, what was the hurry?" Shashi said.

Khushi looked up to see her father looking at her with understanding. She decided to tell him the truth but suddenly she realized that in the haste of lessening her family's fury, she was about to put Arnav in trouble.

"Is there anything else that you are hiding from us Khushi? Tell me why you two got married in such haste." Garima asked, not able to comprehend any reason for their sudden impulsive thoughtless decision. Try as she might to not doubt her daughter, the suspicions were not letting her think straight.

"Can all of you please wait till Arnav comes back so that we can explain to all of you properly?" Khushi said, buying some time to cook up yet another story.

Shyam could see that things were heating up and decided to call Arnav and tell him to come home as soon as possible.

Arnav and Akash were enjoying their coffee when suddenly Arnav's phone rang. He picked up to see Shyam calling.

"Arnav, you and Akash need to get home right away. Things here are not at all good. Khushi's family is here and now they know that you both are married and they are really very enraged at the moment." Shyam said hurriedly.

Arnav spluttered the coffee that was in his mouth as soon as he heard Shyam. Akash was also taken aback by his brother's act. He could see his scheme falling apart but he was more concerned about Khushi facing everything alone.

"We are on our way Jiju just tell Khushi to hold them for another 15 minutes." Arnav replied.

"Akash we need to get home now. Payal and her family have come and I and Khushi are practically screwed." Arnav stated.

Akash looked at his brother in disbelief and jumped up from the table and grabbed the keys and they both headed home.

The tension in the Raizada Mansion was palpable, all the elders were pacing the living room utterly enraged and disappointed with their kids. Payal was soothing Khushi who looked like she would break down any moment. She was eagerly waiting for Arnav to come so that they could get out of this mess. After what felt like hours, the main door open and Arnav barged in with Akash right behind him.

"Chhote what kind of childish, nonsensical and impulsive behaviour is this?" Dadi roared as soon as Arnav entered.

Arnav cringed at the tone in which his Dadi spoke but he knew he deserved it.

"Dadi I can explain all of this to you but first you need to calm down." Arnav said.

"How do you expect us to calm down Arnav when our daughter tells us that she is married and that too without telling us?" Garima yelled.

"Will you please tell us, what was the reason behind getting married without even having the courtesy to inform us?" Buaji asked.

Arnav was stunned to see the intensity of the anger that radiated from the Gupta ladies. He could not find the right words to explain them about their situation. Then he turned and saw Khushi sitting with Payal with a sad look on her face and instantly felt guilty of putting her in this situation. He decided then and there that he had to get her out of this.

"I know we have acted impulsively and we should have informed you before doing any such thing but let me assure all of you that we did not get married because of any obligation, we love each other and that is the sole reason for our marriage." Arnav countered.

"But if you loved each other so much then why didn't you inform us, we would have gotten both of you married. Why did you wait for three months to tell Khushi's family?" Anjali said.

Arnav wanted to smack his sister for not watching her tongue before speaking. He could see the faces of the Gupta's turn redder in anger.

"You have been married for 3 months Khushi and you are telling us all of this now." Garima roared.

"Mom, we thought it would be better if we tell you when we come here. We were planning to come home as soon as we got married but we got caught up in work and couldn't come. Then Akash's wedding came up so we decided to tell you at that time. We were going to come home and tell you about this tomorrow but you got here before that." Khushi explained calmly to her mother.

Dadi could see that the kids were being completely honest with all of them and decided to help them out.

"Garima, Shashi, I understand your disappointment with the kids but don't you both think that our kids are responsible enough and wouldn't do anything which will defame their families."

"Yes aunty, both of them are really sensible, they might have committed a mistake by not taking us into confidence but their relationship is very much legitimate. We should accept their decision and bless them. See both of them are genuinely feeling sorry." Shyam said.

Khushi looked expectantly at her parents, wishing they would accept whatever she and Arnav had told them. Arnav was grateful that Dadi had jumped in to help them.

"Okay we accept your decision Khushi but you have to promise me you won't hide anything from now onwards." Shashi declared.

Khushi ran to her father and embraced him. Her father hugged her back, indicating that he had forgiven her. Garima thought that her daughter was now in good hands, so decided to forgive her little princess and went ahead and kissed Khushi's forehead and blessed her. Buaji was ecstatic to see both her daughters being married in the same house.

"Did you know about this Akash?" Payal glared at Akash.

"Payal, I saw Khushi just this morning and I swear, I was about to call you but just then Bhai came in and told me to let Khushi handle the issue." Akash defended

"This is the last time you are hiding something from me Mr. Raizada. I swear next time you do it, you will be dead meat." Payal threatened him, holding his collar.

Akash gave her a heart-warming smile which melted away Payal's anger.

"Before you all forgive and forget all this, let me tell both of you that if you want us to accept your marriage, then you have to get married again in front of all of us with all the customs and rituals." Dadi smarted.

Arnav and Khushi paled hearing Dadi's condition. Now how will we get out of this new trouble' both of them thought simultaneously.