12. Khushi's Broken Bed



"New Year will bring a lot of changes in your life, titliya", said Buaji softly. "Payaliya will get married and go to her home. She will have her pati, amma, bauji, jetji, nani, sister, brother etc there.  She may not have a lot of time for us. We will have to live with that...Are you listening to me?"

Arnav felt Khushi clutch his shoulder hard, and swallowed. He had never thought how the Guptas would take Payal's bidai. Khushi...how would she stay without seeing her jiji?

"A girl belongs to her husband's family, my sanka devi. She may be your jiji, but Payaliya has to go to her real home...Hai Re Nandkisore", Buaji sighed. "A burden on our hearts if bitiya don't get married. A greater burden on our hearts if they do."

Khushi buried her face in the curve between Arnav's neck and shoulder. He worked hard to calm his breathing.

"Hai Re Nandkisore! Atleast she is going to a home where they care for her", Buaji sat down on the edge of the bed. The bed shuddered. "Akash babua wants to marry her. And her jetji, Arnav babua will look after both of them."

"But how will you sleep alone, my titliya?", Buaji queried.

Arnav felt the wetness of her silent tears falling on his neck, and her valiant attempts to control her sobs. He held her close gently, trying to comfort her through awkward pats on her back, hidden by the thick kambal. He felt all choked up, as though drawing breath was an ordeal.

"Don't worry. I will find somebody to keep you company. As soon as Payaliya's wedding is over, I will find a groom for you. Not a kamina like Shyamji. But a good, responsible, decent man who likes your sanak and your crazy ways. Someone who won't leave your side in tough times, but will place his hand over your head and protect you. A man who understands your words and your silence. Someone who cares for you and your welfare. He Nandkisore, please protect our bitiya. Bahut jheli he, no more, no more..."

Khushi jerked in shock at Buaji's intention of finding her a groom. Arnav's eyes widened in shock.

Khushi put her right arm around Arnav and hugged him for all she was worth, scared to be apart from him, unwilling to tolerate any distance between them. She trembled as though in fear that she would be pulled from his arms and married off immediately. Arnav's nostrils flared, lips straightened into a thin line, and his arms tightened like bands across Khushi's back. Not again. Never again was she slipping away through his fingers.

Buaji got up from the bed, weighed down by her sad thoughts, and the bed creaked. She went to her room to sleep like the dead.

Arnav and Khushi remained in each other's arms, silent. Payal and Akash, who were waiting for Buaji to leave, slowly crept into Khushi's room. Arnav saw them at the door, and slowly loosened his arms. He tried to prise Khushi's hand from around his waist. She made a sound in complaint as though to say that she was very comfortable, thank you, and had no intention of letting him go. Arnav smiled softly.

"Khushi...", he whispered in her ear, as though her name were an endearment. "Payal and Akash are here. Get up, Khushi..."

Khushi jumped up as though someone had stuck a live wire in her, and started making her way out of the bed. Arnav joined her, pushing the blankets aside. The bed lurched drunkenly and groaned as its legs gave way. It collapsed on the floor making a loud noise to rival that of the fireworks on the street.

Payal, Akash, Arnav, and Khushi stood looking at the ruins of the bed, the scene made almost poetic by the many stars & lights that the girls had hung around the room.

On the way home, Akash asked, "Bhai, can I ask you something?"

"Since when do you need my permission?"

"What did you and Khushiji do in that bed to break it?"