8. Khushi's Love




Khushi lay on her bed, her body racked with sobs as she remembered the look on Arnavji's face as he taunted her with the gold necklace. How could he be so cruel? How could he hurt her so much? Insult her whenever he got a chance?

She turned to look at her jiji, sleeping with her face turned away from her. 

Slowly, Khushi slipped out of bed and walked to her window.

The sky was lit with stars.

'Amma...Babuji...', she said. She closed her eyes and thought of her parents. How much they had loved her! She felt the gentle breeze touch her silky cheeks and dance with her hair. It felt as though her mother were touching her face, running her hands over her hair. Khushi closed her eyes and took comfort from her parents' touch.

How much they still loved her!

'Tumhe kya farak padta he?', he had asked.

Her heart had stopped when he had come closer to her and asked her what farak his decision to get engaged to Lavanyaji made to her. She had felt pain shooting through her at the thought of him spending his life with another.

She had wanted to tell him the truth.

That she wanted to be with him for life, wanted to see him give his rare smiles, digging in his garden, raging at others, pounding on his laptop, teasing Anjaliji, saying sorry, putting up with his Mami, talking on his phone and striding around the house... That not seeing him for a day was more than she could bear. She had seen in her mind the look on his face as he had gently removed the Diwali lights from her, his eyes as he had gently touched her hair in the hospital, the pain on his face as he had massaged her sprained foot, the tenderness in his eyes as he had seen her sitting in the centre of the circles of diyas...She had almost spoken the truth then. The eagerness on his face has almost destroyed her control.

But then his face had flashed across his mind...Diwali night...standing amongst his family and announcing his engagement, looking at her standing in the cold with a victorious smirk...his need to escape from her and the feelings she aroused in him...the fear and despair on his face as she had asked about the payal...his anger when she had tried to return the chabi...his desire to be free of her presence...

How could she admit her love for him when he saw his love for her as a weakness to be avoided? She could still see his face as he had cheapened the bond between them by saying that it had meant nothing, that she had no importance in his life...

She wiped her tears and left the room, taking care not to disturb her Jiji.

Babuji was asleep. She looked at his kind face, the hands that had wiped her tears more times than she could count, the lined face that had smiled at her antics...She placed her ear on his heart, and closing her eyes took comfort from the strong beat.

She would have to return to RM tomorrow.

Arnavji would never be happy with her. She didn't belong to his world. He would be always torn between his love for her and his hatred for what he thought she was. You couldn't build a marriage on moments of pity.

Would he be able to live with Lavanyaji?

She was his choice. He had to live with his decision. Anyway, he would never be alone. Anjaliji n Nani would give their lives for him. Akashji was the Laxman to his Ram. He would always be his brother's shadow. He would be happy.

The sagai had to happen.

Then she could leave.






Payal woke her up in the morning.

'Khushi, aren't you planning on getting up today? And I thought the smell of your favourite sabji would wake u up.'

 Khushi looked at her loving face, jumped up from bed, and threw her arms around her. 'Jiji, u are the best jiji in the world... ur aloo ki sabji...waah!'

'Pata he', Payal laughed.

Khushi got ready and went to the kitchen. Amma had already served food for her. Khushi hugged her Amma from behind, and Garima looked lovingly at this bundle of joy who had been so aptly named. She cupped Khushi's right cheek n kissed her forehead.

Buaji came bustling into the kitchen. 'Khushi, go to the temple before going to the RM. I have arranged for a pooja to be done for u. U haven't been urself for the last few days. Pata nahi kis ki nazar lag gayi hamari titliyaa par...Are u worried about ur marriage? Don't be. I am here, aren't I? I will see to everything. Tumhari ghar bas jaaye, tum khush rahe...that is all we want.' 

Khushi nodded, and prepared to leave.

Nearing the door, she turned around and looked at her family. Payal, Amma, Buaji, and her Babuji.

Whatever happened, they would not push her away.

She would have them always.







Arnav was waiting for Khushi to come in through the door. 

He had been keeping Lavanya by him, putting up with her chatter about some friend of hers.

 As Hari Prakash opened the door for Khushi, Arnav interrupted Lavanya, asking her about the mark on her cheek.

 Lavanya reacted as he expected, in horror. Positioning her to give Khushi an excellent view, he bent close to her face, his lips close to her cheek. Then he slowly straightened and gently wiped the imaginary smudge from her face, all the time looking at Khushi's face.

 His fingers trembled.

 Her face had a smile on it.

 He stood watching her as she walked away.



He cornered her as soon as he could. 'Ab kaho tumhe farak nahi padta.'

She replied, 'Padta he. Your engagement definitely makes a difference to me. I am so happy that you have finally found the courage to share your life with someone. I hope you are as happy for yourself as I am for you.'