42. I am Your Husband, Khushi


"Arnavji! Arnavji!" The call woke him from an uneasy slumber, disturbed by the heartrending words of Di the previous night.
"Khushi!" He sat up to see a Khushi dressed and ready to face the day. "What happened? Are you all right?"
"I am fine. Wo Kya He, A..amma phoned. Buaji is not well. She is asking for me. I..I would like to visit her."
Arnav shook his head to clear it. "Buaji? Buaji is sick? I will be ready in a few minutes. I will take you..."
"No, Arnavji. Please, don't bother. I will get a rickshaw."
"I will take you.", he said as he raced to the bathroom.
"Arnavji! She is not critically ill. She is just short of breath as she suffers from asthma..." Khushi panicked. If he accompanied her...
"I will take you. And that's final." He slammed the door of the bathroom shut.
Khushi felt her breath leave her in one big rush. How to leave RM without making a fuss? Without letting Arnavji know that she was leaving him? The words that Di had spoken last night, questioning Arnavji's commitment to her after his marriage... They should never have been said. It was time. High time for her to leave the Raizadas to find peace without her irritating presence in their midst. She had tried so hard to make things alright, but as usual, her attempts had made things worse.
She looked at the calendar. She swallowed. Her term as Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada was over. When had her punishment become dear to her, her prison a paradise, her mangalsutra her most prized possession? She blinked rapidly to get rid of her tears. She would have enough time to weep once she reached Buaji's house...
Arnav came out of the bathroom and dressed fast. Through the corner of his eyes, he saw her picking up her black bag.
"Why have you packed a bag?" His breath seemed to catch in the region of his heart.
"Woh... Buaji... Amma... Buaji needs help. So... so I thought I would..."
"You would?"  He sounded harsh.
"I.. I would s..stay there for... for a couple of days." There. It was done.  She braced herself for the storm.
"A couple of days? Why do you need to stay there for a couple of days? I will drop you in Buaji's house in the morning everyday, and get you in the evening." He frowned.
"Woh... Amma needs help..."
"You can't stay there, Khushi! I told you that you are not to leave this house!" The lion roared. But before the lamb could reply, the lion's Nani asked, "Kya Hua, Khushi Bitiyaa?"
Khushi's legs trembled in relief.
"Buaji is not very well, Naniji. Amma phoned just now. I wanted to stay there for a couple of days and help Amma, but..." She looked suitably disappointed.
Nani smiled at her fondly. "You should definitely go, Khushi Bitiyaa. If your Amma & Buaji need you, you should stay with them. Will you be driving her home, Chotey?"
Chotey fumed, his fists clenched to control his fury. Choice had been taken away from him.


They went down, informing Mamiji, Payal, NK, and Akash about her departure. Khushi found herself battling and blocking her Jiji's teary questions about Buaji's fabricated illness. Mami's nasty comments were a relief from Jiji's anxious queries.
"Phatti saadi, you are goings to your maternity home? Good. Takes khoon bhari taang also with you."


(Sarun_deewani, thanx!)

Khushi looked at Arnavji sitting fiddling with his laptop, Nani holding out a dabba with sweets for her family, Jiju asking after Buaji's health, Nanheji promising her that he would come to meet Buaji and her, Jiji crying, Mami looking relieved that Khushi would no longer be around to hurt Anjali Bitiyaa's feelings... Tears flooded her eyes  and trailed down her cheeks.
Nani teased her. "You are going for two days, Bitiyaa. We will all still be here when you return."
"Why should she returns?" , grumbled Mami softly. "My two boys are go, went, gone after meeting two girls from choti phamilies..."
Arnav shut his laptop, jumped up, grabbed her bag, and left the room. Khushi followed him, turning to take one last look at the family that was as dear to her as hers. She looked up at Di's room. The door was firmly shut. She sighed, and left RM.

The drive passed in silence. She could feel anger come off him in waves. She shut her eyes and leaned back in her seat. He Devi Maiyya! Please give me the strength to tell him that I am not returning to RM ever again. And that Buaji is not really sick. And that I lied to him. She stole a look at his set face and swallowed hard in fear and grief.

They rang the doorbell.
"Kaun he Nandkisore! Who is here this early in the morning?", asked Buaji as she opened the door. She stared at Titliyaa and Damadji, who stared at her in return.
"Damadji? This early? Is everything alright in RM? Naniji is well, isn't she? Anjali Bitiyaa?", poor Buaji asked anxiously.
"Buaji, are you alright? You shouldn't be out of bed!", said poor Arnav. Khushi shut her eyes tight, praying for deliverance.
"Out of bed? Hein? Bitwaa, it is 8am. If we won't get up early and finish housework and our bath by 9.30, there won't be any water in the taps." Buaji laughed. "Imagine me taking bath at the tubewell in the street!"
Arnav looked at a hale and hearty Buaji and then at a pale and wan Khushi. His eyes promised her retribution at the earliest.
Amma came running. "Arnav Bitwaa, Aap kab aaye? Khussi!" She looked at the bag clutched in her daughter's hands. "What happened?" She whispered, "You haven't done something foolish in RM, have you? They haven't thrown you out, have they?"
"Amma!", Khushi said cheerfully, a big smile pasted on her pale face." I have come to stay for a few days." Arnav looked at her as though he could cheerfully strangle her to death.
"O Titliyaa!" Buaji got into action. "What have you done in RM that you had to come so early in the morning to your Buaji's house to hide?"


(Thanx, Vidya_luv_SaRun!)

"Kuch nahi, Buaji! I just wanted to see all of you!"
"You saw us the other day, didn't you?" asked Buaji. "Damadji, has she caused some trouble in your house?"
"N...oo", stammered Arnav.
"Nandkisore ki kripa he!", Buaji devoutly thanked Him for His kindness.
"Babua, won't you have breakfast with us?", asked Amma.
"Haan, Nandkisore, let's have poori pooris together. Don't worry...", Buaji giggled. "...this time, I won't force food down your throat as I did the other day." Amma smiled.
Arnav smiled at the happy women, and looked after a Khushi who had disappeared into her room with her bag.
"Yes..., yes, I will have breakfast with you. Buaji, Amma, can I speak to Khushi alone for a moment?"
Buaji & Amma looked at him and at each other. Then Buaji said, "Bitwaa, this is your house. That", she said, pointing in the direction Khushi had vanished to,"is your wife. Talk. Talk as much as you want in your bedroom." She laughed. "You don't need our permission, Nandkisore!"
Arnav nodded, smiling sheepishly. He walked into his wife's bedroom, pushing open the door. Amma & Buaji raced to the kitchen to make fresh pooris and aloo sabzi.



Khushi was standing near her bed, her hands joined, her eyes shut, praying desperately that Arnavji would leave. But Devi Maiyya was in no mood to spare her.
"Khushi!", Arnav bit out. Khushi jumped, her hands falling to her sides. "You lied to me! Buaji is perfectly fine."
"Yes...s. I lied to you, Arnavji. I...I wanted to leave RM..."
"Why? Why, Khushi?"
"I... I don't want to live with you, Arnavji. I want to stay here, in my home."
"What the!" He stood shocked, looking at her as though she were speaking an alien language.
Khushi slowly moved closer to the bed to sit down. There was no guarantee that her legs would hold her up. Lying to Arnavji took a lot of courage.
"You are my wife, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, and you will stay where I stay. Samjhi Tum? Take your bag and come home with me."
"No. I won't come with you." Her eyes fell from his. "And... and I am not your wife. Not anymore."
He frowned.
"The contract ended last night."
There was absolute silence. A pin falling on the floor would have sounded as loud as an exploding grenade.
Arnav felt the ground falling away from beneath his feet. The damned contract he had threatened her with! He should have made it a life sentence instead of a paltry 6 months...
"The 6 months. Yesterday was the last day." She smiled at Arnavji. "You are free of me. You are not my husband and I am not your wife anymore. Jiji and Jiju are safe now. Shyamji is out of RM and Di's life. You know the truth. The marriage and the contract have served their purpose."
He watched her trying to make her way out of his life. He grabbed her by her shoulders, and pulled her off the bed to stand close to him.
"I am your husband. You admitted it last night when you ran into my arms." He watched the memories of her rushing into his arms flash through her eyes, her chest heaving at his proximity, the faint trembling of her body on being held so close to his hard warmth, her eyelids fluttering to hide the awareness in her eyes...
"No. No, I didn't admit it...", she said in a faint voice.
"Theek he. You can admit it now. In words."
"No. You.. You... I don't consider you as my h...husband..."
"Why not?", he asked, his voice soft and deadly. "I won the challenge."
"You tricked me. You knew that I am scared of darkness. And you deliberately terrified me so that you could win."
"I did. And I won."
"You can't trick me into into being your wife."
There was a killing silence. He took his hands off her shoulders, and crossed them.
"I see. So you don't want to be my wife."
"No...oo..." She turned her head from left to right to reinforce her decision, her eyes firmly on the floor of her bedroom.
"Look into my eyes, dammit, when you are lying to me!"
Her eyes shot to his, and then slipped away.
"Khushi!", came the murmur.
"Hmmm?"
"So I am not your husband?"
"No..o...", she whispered. Why did it feel as though there was a boulder perched on her heart?
"You are not my wife?"
"No..o...", she tried to swallow the huge ball of pain lodged firmly in her throat.
"So you don't love me?"
Khushi parted her lips to answer him, but couldn't produce a sound to save her life.
"Look into my eyes, Khushi.", he said.
She struggled to meet his smouldering, chocolate brown eyes.
"So you don't love me?"
She just shook her head in negation.
"Then why did you run into my arms as though I were your refuge?"
Khushi fretted. Why did he have to ask uncomfortable questions? "I told you. I was scared."
"I see. Why did you hug me a second time, Khushi?"
She shot fire at him, his questions riling her. "Because you pulled me into your arms. Because you are stronger than me."



(Thanx, Illyria!)


"I did pull you. But why did you close your arms around my shoulders and hold me close?"
Khushi looked at him, helpless.
"Why did you risk your life to save mine, Khushi? Not once, but twice."
Khushi looked at the stars hanging over her bed.
"Why does your heart beat faster when I come close to you, Khushi? Faster than your breath? Why do your lips invite me to kiss you, Khushi? Why...?"



(Illyria, thanx!)

She broke in, furious at her helplessness.
"I don't know. I don't know. Just leave me alone. I don't want to return to RM with you. I am not your wife and you are not my husband anymore. You can't threaten me anymore. The contract is over, suna aapne! The contract is over!"
"Arnav Bitwaa! Titliyaa! Breakfast is ready! Come and have hot pooris."
"We are coming, Buaji!", said Arnav. He looked at a defensive Khushi. "The contract is over, but our marriage is not. A contract cannot end my love for you or your love for me."
Khushi raised an unsteady hand towards her mangalsutra.
"Don't touch it! And don't you dare remove it!", he said through gritted teeth. He took a deep breath to calm himself. "You know very well that I love you. And I know how much you love me, Khushi. I intend to marry you again, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada. This time, we will have our sagai, sangeet, mehendi, haldi, shaadi, and... and suhaag raat..."
She stared at him in shock. "No...o..."
"Yes."
"No. Di, Mami..."


(Thanx, Vidya_luv_SaRun!)

"They will all agree to our marriage. And they will come here to ask for your hand. I promise, Khushi."
She looked at him, tears filling her beautiful eyes.
"I am not going anywhere, Khushi. I will change your 'No' to 'Yes'." He ran a loving finger down her wet cheek. "Be ready to be loved, Khushi, by your husband."

41. Kill Me, Khushi


Arnav returned to his room, reeling from his soul-shattering conversation with his Di in which she accused him of lying about the meeting in Agra to spend time alone with Khushi, of falling in love with Khushi and neglecting Di, of letting his love for Khushi change his relationship with Di...
He paused in the doorway, lost in his thoughts, and slowly walked into his room, absently closing the door after him, the thunder and the lightning making no impact on him. The storm within his heart was more destructive and terrible than the one without, wiping away years of certainties, hopes, dreams, beliefs...as though they had never existed at all.
Khushi! Where was she? She had left him to deal with Di's tears & accusations in the living room, and vanished into thin air. Where on earth was she? Had anyone else spoken badly to her in his absence? The rose petals had been his idea, scaring her into his arms had been his plan, but as usual, she had paid for it. She had been blamed for something she had not even known about. He looked frantically around the room. The bed was pristine and untouched, the bathroom door was left wide open, the door to the poolside was partially open... He strode to the poolside.
There she stood, wearing her white night suit, her arms crossed, looking into the dark waters of the pool, her silky hair moving in the strong, cold wind, seemingly unaware of the lightning & the thunder raging above her head...
"Khushi!", he panicked. It was drizzling.
She turned to look at him, her face expressionless, still, impassive in the ghostly white light of the lightning.
He touched her cold shoulder. "Come inside. You will fall ill." He swallowed at the total lack of interest on her face.
He caught hold of her arm and slowly led her inside, making her sit on the bed. He slumped down beside her, his head lowered, his fingers clasped together, trying to find a way to reach her. If only she would shout at him, push him, throw tea/ coffee at him, call him Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada in that furious tone of hers... He would take anything, could take anything except her silence...and the smoky stench of the charred remains of their dreams and Di's tears...
Khushi opened her mouth to ask after Di. But before she could voice her concern, Arnav bit out, "You are not leaving me. Don't even think about it."
Khushi sighed. "How is Di?"
"Better."
"She thinks that you lied to her to spend a few hours alone with me?"
He said after a bitter pause, "Yes."
"Di is upset. Not thinking straight. Or she would know that you would never lie to her."
He looked at her in surprise.
"I am not saying that you won't lie to me or bend facts to get your way. But you will never lie to Di."
He swallowed hard.
"She needs time to realise that you weren't lying about Shyamji either." Khushi looked at her feet.
"Khushi, I am sorry. Mami... Di..."
"I am used to being misunderstood and abused now. Just as I am used to being manhandled by you." Her tone was cutting. "I am tired. I want to sleep."
Arnav nodded, his moist eyes sneaking glances at her as she crawled under the blanket on her side of the bed. Her eyes closed.


The roar of thunder intensified, lightning split the sky. But they could not match the uproar in his heart.  He paced the length & breadth of his room, his eyes going back frequently to the still form on the bed, only a part of her face revealed by the dark blanket. Khushi! Khushi! She was pretending to sleep. She had her eyes shut because she did not want to see him. Khushi! His heart yearned for her. Her silence was unbearable. It felt as though his world had gone silent. If he couldn't see her face...it was like she had abandoned him, left him, pushed him out of her life... Panic stirred in the depths of his being.
He strode to the bed and pulled down the blanket to reveal her face. Her eyes opened, wide with shock.
"You lost the bet!", he challenged, praying that she would rise to the jibe.
She stared at him, silent.
"Khushi!" He shook her. "Didn't you hear me? You lost the bet. I won. You have to accept me as your husband."
She looked at him, unable to form words to convey the myriad emotions that flooded her heart.
"You are my wife, and I am your husband, Khushi."
"No...oo", she stammered. "N..no..o..."
"You lost the bet, Khushi.", he said, relief flooding his voice.
"You cheated. You deliberately scared me.", she said, jumping up to sit on the bed, furious at the underhand methods he always used to win his way.
"I did. But you fell for it, Khushi. You lost, and I won.", he drawled. The victorious smirk on his face was the last straw. She launched herself at him, trying to push him away, hurt him, shake him from his position of strength as she saw it.
He caught her slim arms and twisted them behind her, pulling her towards him till she was crushed against him, with no distance between them. She squirmed, trying to free herself. But his hold was sure, and his intentions unholy. He secured his hold on her more firmly, and whispered, breathing into her face, "My biwi. My wife..."


(Thanx, Illyria!)

His breath made all the fine hairs on her face & neck stand up in attention and goosebumps mar the silky skin of her arms. Her breath came in short spurts, her mouth felt dry, and her knees weakened...
She looked into the irresistibly overpowering allure of his honey eyes, and felt her defences crumble. No, no, that way lay madness, disappointment, pain... Remember Diwali night, Khushi... The contract marriage. Yes, the contract...
"My husband... Yes, but only till August 14...", she panted.
Arnav stilled.
"Our contract marriage will be over then. You will no longer be my h...husband, and I will no longer be your wife. Both of us will be f...free."
He stared at her.
A coldness seeped into her eyes.
"You married me to protect your Di's marriage. Now you will let me go to protect your Di's relationship with you." She turned to break free of his arms.
He hauled her close, determination to keep her with him carving grooves on his face.
"No. I will never let you go, Khushi. Never, Samjhi Tum? You will live with me, here, in my house, forever."



"Like Lavanyaji? As your live-in girl friend? No, thank you."
His face paled. "No. As my wife. Get ready to marry me, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada."
She looked at him, silent, the storm outside reflecting the one in her head and heart.
"Your family... Di..."
"I will make everything alright. It is time everyone knew the truth."
She looked into his eyes, reading stubborn determination in their depths.
"But you don't believe in marriage.", she countered. "Two people cannot spend all their lives together, or so you said once. One person is always bound to break that relationship, which is flimsy, temporary, fragile..." He swallowed.
"I don't want such a marriage with you.", she stated calmly.
Lightning flashed across his stern face and his burning eyes as he tightened his hold on her.
"Our marriage", he bit out through a clenched jaw, "will not be temporary. You will spend all your life with me. You will never leave me, Khushi. I will never let you go."
"I was not talking of myself, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, but about you."
He frowned.
Then he said, "I will never leave you, Khushi." His gentle voice soothed, calmed, persuaded her to take a chance on him.
"And if you do?"
"Kill me."
She looked at him, her eyes wide in shock.
"Kill me, Khushi, if I leave you, if I hurt you..."
She looked away, unable to bear the raw pain in his eyes.
He cupped her face and made her look at him. "Because death will be better than living without you...Before I met you, I hadn't met love ... or innocence ... or selflessness ...or kindness... I didn't know what love was. I... I never thought that I would fall in love with you. Or want to keep you with me all the time. Feel my breath stop at the thought of losing you. Khushi, I can never leave you..."
Tears fell down her cheeks. His eyes were not dry either.
She threw herself into his arms, crushing the life out of him. His eager arms closed around her warm, soft form. Rain lashed at the trees, strong, cold wind rattled the window panes, and thunder roared. A flash of lightning revealed the pair of lovers sitting on the bed, lost in each others' arms.

40. Happy Birthday, Khushi


Khushi watched as Anjali said, "You ordered it? For me...", and hugged Arnavji who looked uncomfortable, as though caught doing something naughty.
Khushi smiled to see the brother and sister bonding again.
"You knew that red roses are my favourite flowers?", Anjali asked in wonder, her head resting against her Chotey's shoulder.
Arnav clasped his Di close to him, his hand resting on the back of her neck. He looked at the smiling Khushi, standing there, totally unaware that the flowers had been meant for her, not Di. He said, "Haan, Di. Mein Jaanta Hoon Yeh Kiska Favourite Flower He...", his eyes looking straight into the happy eyes of his Khushi.
Atleast he knew how to please his sister!, thought Khushi. It didn't matter if he couldn't manage a 'Happy Birthday' wish for her. Or buy her a cloth bag that could hold her Devi Maiyya, palak, tamatar, bhindi etc. Atleast Di would be taken care of, always, by Arnavji. And Di had left her room to come downstairs! And she had talked to Arnavji and hugged him! Khushi was thrilled beyond words.
Anjali released Arnav, turning to go up the stairs to her room, the flower arrangement held safely in her hands. Arnav watched Khushi duck behind the kitchen door to spare Di the sight of the other woman in her perfect marriage. He ground his teeth.
Life was unfair. That was old news to a boy who had fought the world for every bit of success he had won, for every moment of financial security and peace his family now enjoyed. He had grown to expect the worst, the need to fight for what he wanted, for his rights. But Khushi! She didn't deserve to listen to the nasty comments of Mami. She shouldn't have to hide and duck from Di's sight in her husband's house. Husband!, Arnav sighed. What a husband! One who didn't know when her birthday was...who scolded her on her birthday...who ordered the wrong present...who hurt her deliberately by bringing in mention of the contract marriage. But how else could he have stopped her from sacrificing any chance they had to lead a life together out of her love for his Di?
He smiled sadly. He had never thought of marriage. Even if he had ever considered marriage, he would have thought of his Di first, of marrying a girl who would grow to like (if she couldn't love) his Di... He had never expected to fall in love with and marry a girl who loved his Di more than she loved herself.
"Nannav! Pssst! Nannav!"
He looked up at NK who was leaning over the banister, dancing on one foot at a time, trying to get his attention. "Come up! Andha he kya? Can't you hear me? Did you get the flowers?"
Arnav walked up to him. "Err, no. We will have to do without them."
"How can you have romance without flowers?", asked NK scandalised. "Nannav, you are budhiya. Yes, budhiya. Not baddhiya. I mean it this time." He sighed. "I will go out and get them from the florists. What kind does Khushiji like? Carnations? Roses? Sunflowers? Tulips?"
"Red roses..." , Khushiji's husband said without any hesitation.
"You are sure, Nannav?", NK asked urgently.
Arnav nodded.
NK ran down the steps.
Arnav said after him, "NK, buy fragrant ones. Buy a sheaf of them, not an arrangement. Buy lots of red roses..."
NK nodded, and raced down the steps.
"Without thorns!", he added.
NK raised his hand in acknowledgement, and ran out of RM.




Everything was ready. Arnav went down to the kitchen, searching for his wife. Khushi was making something that smelt delicious with the green leaves and the tomatoes that she had dumped in his hands at the doorway. Payal was helping her.
"Payal?"
She looked at him, a smile on her lips. "Ji?"
"Can you manage dinner alone? I need to speak to Khushi for a few moments."
"Ji." Payal's smile widened.
Speak to me?, Khushi wondered. Now what? She looked at her palak and then at him standing there, an unusual excitement in his eyes. He must have found something else to scold me about, she thought. Buaji was the right person to manage Arnavji. She was the only person who could scare him with her ladle into having breakfast, into behaving, into eating half and full pooris, ordering a gift... She hid a smile as she walked to him, her mind tantalising her with images of an Arnavji in coat-boot-suit, cowering before a Buaji holding a rolling pin in her hand...

Arnav opened the door to their bedroom. It was dark. He must have drawn the curtains. Yeh Arnavji bhi na!, she sighed. He caught hold of her arm. "Khushi, I am here. Don't be scared."
Khushi looked at him, exasperated. What was wrong with him?
He led her in the darkness towards the switch. "Khushi, switch on the lights...", he whispered.
Khushi extended her arm and switched on the light. A sound. An unexpected spark. She recoiled, the jolt of current causing her to stagger back and sit on the bed.
"Khushi! Khushi!", his voice seemed almost tear-filled. "Tum theek Ho?"
She wanted to throw a chair at him. If possible, the table and the bed too. Add the recliner to the list. She clutched her poor hand, tears dripping down her face.
"Khushi, Khushi!" He sat by her in the dark, hugging her to him, caressing her hair, rubbing her hands, her back, her shoulders...
"NK! NK!", he shouted.
Khushi looked at him, astonished.
"Nannav?", NK's voice seemed unsure, scared. Their plan had left the entire house in darkness, and Mami, Nani, Di, HP, Payal, Akash etc were looking for candles, and more importantly, for the reason behind this sudden blackout.
"Get a candle. Or a torch."
NK saw Payal coming up the stairs with 2 candles, and quickly took one off her, and passed it to Arnav.
Arnav placed it by Khushi, and whispered, "I will be back soon." He, NK, & Akash went to rectify the problem.



When Arnav returned to his room, Khushi was lying curled up in bed, the lone candle keeping her company. He swallowed. All his plans, ever since he had met her, had all gone down the drain. His intention to keep away from her had been washed away in the car park on a rainy night when he had held her in his arms. His decision to send her away from his life, his attempts to keep away from her..., all had failed dismally. His life had become unpredictable, gone out of his control, become colourful with her advent... He sat by her, and caught hold of her arm.
"Khushi, how are you?"
"Hum theek he...", came the small, soft reply.
"I am sorry. Khushi, I just... I just wanted to give you a surprise. Not a shock. For your birthday."
Khushi smiled wanly.
Arnav got up and switched on the lights. This time, nothing untoward happened. The bedroom and the poolside looked magical, with thousands of fairylights lighting up the darkness. It was beautiful, out-of-this-world, like something out of a dream... Khushi sat with her mouth open, taking in the splendour of the sight.
Arnav looked at her captivated face, pleasure seeping into corners of his heart that he hadn't known existed before. Before Khushi. BK. Before the life-changing event of Khushi falling into his arms.
She got off the bed and taking hold of his fingers, brought them close to her heart. Her eyes still on the marvellous sight, she said, "It is so beautiful, Arnavji!"
He stood still, watching her, savouring her touch, her joy in the simple sight making him feel as though he had won the world...
He freed his hand, reluctantly, and turned to pick up the huge bouquet of red roses that NK had bought.




He handed it to her.
Her eyes widened impossibly more.
"You like red roses, don't you?", he asked softly.
"Ji. But how do you know that?"
"I know."
She bent her head to breath in the intoxicating fragrance of the roses, her eyes closed to enjoy the perfume to the fullest...
Arnav looked at her, his eyes tender, a small smile playing on his lips, her happiness setting fire to his own. He hadn't known that joy, khushi, was something tangible, so powerful that it could be felt in every pore of his body, so potent that it made every sorrow look like a weakling in comparison...
He was brought back to his room from his musings at the feel of the crimson bouquet held close to his face so that he could inhale the strong, sweet smell of the flowers. He closed his eyes to enjoy it better, taking a leaf from her book.
He handed over the flowers to her, after taking a single rose from the sheaf.
"I am sorry, Khushi..." He touched her cheek with the rose, and gently ran it down to her chin. "I am sorry for the nonsense I said in anger yesterday. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean to hurt you..."
"But..." He stopped her by placing the rose against her lips.
"It was never your fault, Khushi. It was all Shyam's. And mine. For not realising that he was a kameena, that he was cheating Di and all of us. I am sorry, Khushi. For every word I spoke that hurt you. For every cruelty. For deliberately pushing you away, hurting you. For not understanding you. For not believing you..."
Khushi swallowed.
"Don't worry about Di. She will come out of this. She has faced worse. She will face this too, and survive. With our help and support. I... I want you here, Khushi. With us. With me..."
Khushi nodded, the rose tickling her nose and upper lip.
"I will stay. I told you that I will stay...till the contract period is over."
"No... No, Khushi..." He was desperate. "Not till the contract period. I... I want you here forever."
Khushi looked at him, shocked.
"I will never forget your birthday again.", he said in a rush. "I will buy you cloth bags. You can buy as many bunches of green leafy vegetables as you want. As many kilos of tomatoes, bhindi, whatever you want. And put them in your bags."
Khushi smiled, tears in her eyes. "It doesn't matter."
"It matters."
The darkness lit only by bud-like lights, her happiness, her smile, the roses, and his need to say it made him whisper, "Happy Birthday, Khushi!"
She looked at him, happy but shocked.
"I wanted to wish you in Buaji's house. But..."
"It is OK. Dhanyawad." She smiled. "I know you find it dificult to..."
"Khushi, I... I wanted to wish you. I wanted to..."
"I know." She looked down at the rose that he was now holding against her neck, and said, "Arnavji, you didn't have to go to so much trouble. All you had to do was wish me." A tear made its way down her alabaster cheek.
"Khushi, Khushi, don't cry." He pulled her into his arms, the rose crushed between them. "Khushi, happy birthday, Khushi, happy birthday, Khushi..."



(Shruti_P, thanx!)

She placed her finger on his lips, smiling through her tears.
He was loath to lose a chance to persuade her.
"Khushi...", he mumbled through her finger. "Stay with me. Don't go."
"But the contract..."
"Blow the contract. Or if you want we can draft a new one..."
"For 6 months?", she asked, her voice small.
"No, for life. For seven lives.", he said, sure of what he wanted.

38. Why Did You marry Me, Khushi?


 
Arnav shut the door behind Shyam Manohar Jha, and returned to the living room to see his Di swaying where she stood, behind all the other family members. He shouted, "Di!", and ran to her.


(Thanx, Sarun_dewaani!)

Khushi, Payal, Mami, Nani, Akash, & NK crowded around Anjali, their hearts filled with pity for the girl whose sole fault had been to believe in her husband and his lies, put him on a pedestal and worship him, trust him to be faithful, a good man, a good husband, a good father...
"Call the doctor, Akash!", shouted Arnav, as he lifted Di and shouldered his way through the crowd to Nani's room. He placed her on the bed, her limp arms falling off it, her corpse-like stillness scaring him out of his wits. Di... His Di... How much could a human being bear? Wasn't there a limit to the trials and tribulations she had to face?
Khushi brought him a glass of water. He dipped his fingers into it and shook a few drops on Di's face. She moaned, and opened her eyes slowly, reluctantly.
"Chotey! Chotey!", she cried.


(Thanx, Sarun_dewaani!)

"Di!"
"Why? Why does this always happen to us? Nani! Why?" Tears flowed down her cheeks like the rain on a monsoon night.
Nani and Mami cried silently, trying to console Anjali by holding her hands and caressing her hair.
"Di!", cried Akash. "Sshhh... You will become ill if you cry like this..."
"Di, please don't cry!", pleaded NK. "He...he is not worth it, Di. He is not worth it..."
Khushi and Payal sat by Anjali, trying to get her to calm down.
"Khushiji, Payal, how could you say such things about my husband?", asked a sobbing Anjali.
"Di! We spoke nothing but the truth.", said Payal.
"We should have revealed all this earlier, Di. Naniji, Mamiji, Jiju, Nanheji..., had I spoken earlier, Shyamji would never have been able to kidnap Arnavji. My silence put Arnavji's life in danger..." Khushi closed her eyes in pain.


The doctor sedated a hysterical Anjali, and left. Her family sat around her sleeping form, trying to digest all the terrible things that had happened that evening.
Arnav spoke softly, "I should have killed him..." All looked at him with varying degrees of horror. "...when I found him trying to manhandle Khushi on the night of Payal & Akash's wedding."
"Arnav Bitwaa!", Mami whispered in shock.
"I challenged him. He said that he was going to leave Di for Khushi. I went up to tell Di. As I was about to speak to her, she fainted. And a couple of minutes later, we got her pregnancy report. Di was so happy. I... I couldn't take her happiness away from her."
Nani placed her hand on his shoulder.
"I gave the scoundrel a second chance. To reform. To be the husband Di deserved. To be the man we had all thought him to be..." He sighed.
"But he pretended to have reformed, and went about planning my death. Because his primary obsession is money, and his secondary one, Khushi..."
Mami threw her arms around his shoulders and hugged him to her heart.


(Thanx, Vidya_luv_SaRun!)

"Every word that Khushi , Payal, and NK Bhai spoke was true. Every word, Nani, Mami, Akash... He lived with Buaji as her paying guest, forced Khushi to get engaged to him... And every word that he spoke was false. Base falsehood... Payal and Khushi did not want to become the bahus of this house. Nor did they want rich husbands. I had to force both of them to marry in to our house. And they hid the truth because they knew how much it would hurt Di. They wanted to avoid what just happened here in our house..." He looked at his Di, sleeping, oblivious to the tears shed by her family.
"But it had to happen. I couldn't let him harm us in any way, anymore. He is not just an unprincipled, immoral man, but also a criminal capable of killing others for his benefit. It was time to let the whole family know  the true face of Shyam Manohar Jha..."
"Bhai!", Akash went to him and took his hand. "You found out on our wedding day. Why didn't you tell me, Bhai? I would have helped you."
"Nothing could be done, Akash. And Shyam knew it. He knew that I could do nothing against him as Di was pregnant and believed him to be a saint. And your wedding..."
"Bhai, you shouldered the whole burden alone for six months. If only you had told me...!" He clutched Arnav's hand tight.
"I should have. I should have, Akash. But...but I was so upset that..." He looked at Akash in apology.
Akash nodded.
NK saw Anjali curl her feet under her sari, as though cold. "Nannav, I will get a quilt from Di's room. I think she is feeling cold." Arnav nodded.
NK ran up the stairs. The others sat silent, watching Anjali sleep.
The silence was marred by Nk's loud shout! "Nannav! Akash! Come fast!"
The men raced up the steps to find NK grappling with none other than Shyam Manohar Jha. The 3 men overpowered him in seconds. The ladies who had followed them, stood gaping at the sight of a vicious Shyam, hurling abuses at Arnav.
"Arnav Singh Raizada, who are you to throw me out of this house? Do you think you are God? Better than others?" He looked at the ladies. "Saale saheb!  That is exactly what he is. Saala... Forcing my Khushiji to marry him for 6 months! So that his sister can play the wife." His mad eyes spit fire at Arnav.
All looked at Arnav and Khushi, their mouths open.
Arnav opened his mouth to answer the allegation that had no answer. He had to admit his guilt to his family, confess all the terrible things he had done and said to Khushi...
But a sweet voice silenced him.
"Forced me? Are you in your senses, Shyamji?"
All looked at Khushi. No one was more shocked than Arnav.
"I married Arnavji because I love him. Because I can never deny him anything he asks for. He asked me to marry him. I agreed. He wanted to marry at night in the temple without the family knowing about it. I agreed. We walked into RM hand-in-hand, Shyamji. He did not tie my hands and legs and drag me in. I wear this mangalsutra and sindoor with pride, because it is Arnavji who has given me the right to both. He is my pati, and I his patni." Her voice was loud and clear, silencing even the mad & furious intruder.
Nani and Mami looked at Khushi with pride, tears filling their eyes at the memories of Khushi's anxiety and pain when Arnav was missing. NK, Akash, & Payal smiled. Arnav looked at his wife, his mangalsutra glinting against her skin, his sindoor filling her maang... He smiled. Who needed an armour when she was there to protect him?
Mami asked, confused, "6 month marriage? Ee kaa he?"
Arnav spoke before Khushi could.
"Shyam lied to me that Khushi loved him, and that she was involved with him. I wanted to nullify the threat to Di's marriage. I proposed a 6-month marriage to Khushi. She accepted. I hoped that in 6 months she would come to love me as much as I love her, so that we could get married here, at home, in the midst of all our family members..."
Shyam tried to kick Arnav. NK punched him in the face. Shyam lunged at Arnav, hands extended to strangle him. Akash flipped him on the ground. NK & Akash beat the pulp out of Shyam and threw him out on the streets. Arnav called for extra security guards to watch over the house.

Nani lit the lamp at the feet of Devi Maiyya, and the whole family prayed for Anjali's wellbeing and Arnav's safety. Then the men went to Anjali's room, sure that Shyam had returned to retrieve something of importance. They soon found the will taped to the bottom of the cradle.


Later, Akash asked Payal, "Why didn't you tell me all this, Payal? Why did you remain silent?"
"What happened when I told you, Akash?"
He looked at her confused.
"What happened when I spoke the truth? You didn't believe me. What kind of love is it, Akash, that you feel for me? How can you marry me, live with me, and not bother to know me?"
He looked at her, ashamed.
"You don't know me, Akash. You don't know what I think, what matters to me, what worries me... And you are always quick to find fault with me. I am tired of explaining myself, proving to you that I am guiltless of all the ridiculous things you accuse me of doing, like hurting Bubbly, damaging your documents, changing the TV channel... I am tired, Akash."
"I... I am sorry, Payal. I am really sorry..."
"You stood there and listened to Shyamji abusing me, accusing me of having trapped you into marriage... And you did nothing... Nothing. Even though you knew that he was lying through his teeth..."
"Payal, it was not that I didn't want to. But...but Payal, Di!"
"Yes, Di. Di is important. Her feelings must not be hurt. But I am your wife. The woman you married. The woman who was foolish enough to marry you...The woman you condescended to marry..."
"Payal, I am so sorry. Payal!"


(Thanx, Vidya_luv_SaRun!)

"I hope you are. It is time to choose, Akash. Do you have it in you to trust me? Stand by me in adversity instead of blaming me? The courage to protect me and a family we might have? If you don't, our marriage has no future."
"Payal!"


Later, much later, Arnav walked into his room after checking on his thriving plants. Khushi was there, placing a tray with hot, fragrant dishes on his laptop table.
She looked at him, and smiled. "Please sit down. I will serve dinner."
He looked at her, silent, watchful.
Her smile faltered. "The others had their dinner. I said I would bring yours up here..."
He walked past her to the bedroom door and locked it.
He then walked towards her, one deliberate step after the other, his eyes focused on her, the glint in them making his intentions clear. Khushi panicked and took corresponding steps backwards. She hit the wall, and stood like a doe caught in the headlights of a speeding car.
"Why did you marry me, Khushi?"
"Your dinner!", stammered Khushi.
"Why did you marry me?"
She looked down at his feet. "You know why...", she muttered.
"I do. But do you?"
"Uuhh?", she asked. His eyes were burning into hers.
"Why, Khushi?"
"Because you threatened to stop Jiji's wedding if I didn't..."
Arnav nodded. "Then why didn't you tell this to the family?"
She stood silent, her eyes looking frantically for a way to escape.
Arnav locked her in place with his arms on the wall on either side of her.
"Why didn't you, Khushi?", he whispered.
She ducked under his right arm, and tried to run away to safety. But his arm shot out and shackled hers. He pulled her close to him. Looking into her eyes, he asked, "Why?"
"Because...because whatever happens between us need not be disclosed to others. It is our secret..."
 He smiled into her eyes.
"You said so...", she passed the blame to him. "On Holi..."
His smile deepened. He lifted her in his arms, and carried her to his bed.
"It is not time for me to sleep...", she protested. "I am not feeling sleepy..."
"I hope you are not, Khushi..."
"Arnavji! Why are you getting into the bed? You normally sleep on the recliner!"
"Today is a special day, Khushi...", he murmured in her ear, his breath sending shivers through her.
"Acha?", she asked, uncertain.
"So you are a liar, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada...Tell me, Khushi, do you lie all the time?"
"Lie? I don't lie! I never..." She paused, unwelcome recollections of the many ways in which she had tried to fool Arnavji over the months flashing through her mind. The phone calls she had made & denied making, the 'A' in the mehendi..."
"You never...?"
"I... I almost never lie...", she said, lifting her chin to show her determination to stand by her word.
"Good. That's good. So you love me. You are proud to be married to me..."
She drew in a sharp breath of shock. When had she admitted to loving him? Her face flushed. In front of his entire family, she had... She had laid down her heart at his feet.
She looked at the smirk on his lips, and lifted her chin further.
"No. I mean, no. I didn't mean it..."
"Are you sure?"
"Ha...an!"


"There is no hurry to decide, Khushi. We have the whole night... to find out ...why you married me...if you lied or not...if you love me as much as I love you...if you can deny me...when I ask for something..."
She gulped. He lowered his lips to her trembling ones.

36. Don't Let Go of Me, Khushi


"Arnavji!"
The call woke him from exhaustion-induced coma as he stood in the cellar-like room, his outstretched hands tied to rings, his feet shackled, his body drenched in sweat, hopelessness leaching the life out of him...
Another dream, he sighed. He had had so many of them over the days...of Khushi coming up to him, dressed in the white sari and red blouse, touching his face, crying over his bruises, hugging him, kissing him better...


(Thanx, Illyria!)

He opened his eyes, expecting it to be another dream. One among many. And his eyes widened in shock. Looking at him with varying degrees of shock painted on their faces were Khushi, Mami, NK, and Masala Mama. He blinked. How could they be here? Had he lost his senses?
Khushi, Mami, and NK ran to him, and hugged him tight. Mama clasped him by the shoulder. Arnav watched silently as tears poured down the faces of Khushi and Mami.
"Arnav Bitwaa, Hamare Arnav Bitwaa...", wept Mami.
"Arnavji, are you alright?", queried Khushi in a tremulous voice.
"Nannav!"
"Bitwaa!"
Mama cleared his choked throat, and NK blinked to banish the moisture in his eyes.

"We have to untie Arnavji, fast!", said Khushi.
Mami nodded. All of them began hacking at his bonds, succeeding in half freeing him by the time the goons saw them. Arnav watched helplessly as NK and Masala Mama began to battle the goondas, his body itching to teach the thugs a lesson they would never forget. Khushi and Mami pulled the last leash off him. He joined NK and Mama, and began to beat the life out of the kidnappers.


"I will get the car.", said NK urgently. "Khushiji, Maasi, help Nannav into it." He made Arnav wear his jacket.
Mama, Mami, and Khushi helped Arnav enter the back seat of vehicle. He sat with his head thrown back against the seat rest, his one arm held tightly by Khushi, and the other by Mami.
As the vehicle moved away from the house that had been Arnav's prison for the past 2 weeks, Khushi exclaimed, "Mamiji! We can't take Arnavji in this condition to RM. Di..."
"You are right, Phatti Saadi!"
"Shall we go to Laxmi Nagar?"
"Yes. That's good, better, best... Arnav Bitwaa will be safe in your maternity home."
Khushi called up Buaji.
"Buaji, I am coming with Arnavji to stay at home for a few days. He is not well... Buaji, please ask Amma to keep tea and food ready for him. And Buaji, please ask Amma to add some sugar to his tea..."
"Hai Re Nandkisore! Babua is not well! What...?"
"We will be there soon, Buaji. I will explain everything then."


Amma, Babuji, and Buaji almost had a fit when they saw the condition Arnav was in. Questions danced on their tongues, but being women of common sense, Amma and Buaji hugged him and led him to Khushi's bed. They ran to get him the tea and dinner they had prepared for him. Mami, NK, Mama, and Khushi helped him into bed.
They stood around him, watching him. Tears poured down Mami's face, making trails in the 2-inch mask of makeup. She cupped his face and caressed his forehead, crying  all over him.
"Bitwaa...How dare they kidnap you? How dare they touch you? Did they think no one would come looking for you? Hamare Arnav Bitwaa..."
"I am alright, Mami...", he said through a parched throat.
"So many days...searching for you, Bitwaa...Phatti saadi and myself...", Mami cried.

Buaji & Amma brought tea and food for Arnav. Mami moved off the bed, letting Khushi take her place. Khushi held the cup and made him sip the tea. She then fed him, one spoonful after the other.
"Khushi, bas..."
"Nahin. You have to eat more." She sounded like a teacher scolding a petulant child.
He sighed, a small smile curving his lips. All the people in the room heaved a sigh of relief at that smile.

Buaji gave NK and Mama the directions to a clinic nearby. They returned with the doctor who examined Arnav and prescribed an ointment for the wounds on his arms and legs. He asked Khushi to ensure that Arnav ate and drank at regular intervals. He also gave  a prescription for the diabetes medicine. NK bought all the medicines for Arnav, and also purchased a couple of sets of casual clothes for him.
It was late. Mami, Mama, & NK left reluctantly. They didn't want to alarm anyone at RM with their absence.
"Bitwaa, we will be here early in the maarning. You sleep now. Goodnights!"


After Mamiji, Mama, & Nanheji left, Khushi asked him, "Arnavji, would you like to have a bath?"
Would he! He sat up in bed, ready to run to the bathroom. But his unsteady legs failed him. Amma, Buaji, and Khushi helped him to the bathroom where pails of hot water waited for him. Khushi made him sit on a stool. She washed his hair first, gently running her fingers through the strands, smoothing the shampoo into them, and washing away the grime. Then she softly scrubbed his neck and muscled shoulders, his arms and torso... She halted at his waist, uncertain.
"I will manage, Khushi." He took pity on her.
Khushi nodded and ran out of the bathroom to get more hot water. She knocked on the door on her return.
"Come in, Khushi." He gave a lopsided smile.
 The relief of being clean after days! Arnav felt like a new man. Khushi wiped him down. He rested his face against her heart as she dried his hair, slowly wrapping his arms around her waist. Khushi...he had never thought that he would get to see her again...He was back home. He was alive. His family had rescued him... He heaved a sigh of relief.
She ran the towel around his neck, across his broad shoulders, and down his arms. He freed her, and held out his hand for the towel. Khushi blushed and left him alone.


Dressed in the new nightclothes, Arnav was fast asleep. Khushi sat by him on the bed, within the pink mosquito net. She memorised each and every line on his face, determined to stay awake so that he couldn't steal out at night. Her poor eyes hurt, and her eyelids drooped. She manfully opened her eyes wide, and tightened her hold on his leg. What if she lay over him? He would find it impossible to dislodge her without waking her up, if she ever fell asleep.  He wouldn't be able to leave her in the darkness of the night, without her finding out.

Arnav woke up at dawn to find Khushi lying on him, the fingers of her left hand tight around the collar of his nightshirt, and her right arm clutching his left. She must be very uncomfortable, he thought. He shifted slightly to ease her position, and she jumped up in alarm.
"Where are you going, Arnavji? I won't let you go. Arnavji, you can't leave me behind."
Arnav placed his finger on her lips. "Khushi, Sshhh... I am not going anywhere without you."


(Thanx, Vidya_luv_SaRun!)

He took her fingers back to his collar. She grasped it tight. He pulled her flush into his arms. "Don't let go of me, Khushi...", he whispered.