145. OS 6: An Unwanted Wife (Part 18-)

Section 18

The lady was in her early fifties, her face was lined. The hair was a wig, an expertly made wig but still a wig.

As Khushi stared at her slack-jawed, the lady stood up and moved unevenly towards her. Before Khushi knew it, she was enveloped in a warm hug and her cheeks were being kissed... repeatedly.

“Khushi,” the lady whispered, cupping her cheeks. “You have no idea how badly I wanted to meet you. I gave him an ultimatum the last time we met for dinner that he either brings you to me or I barge in to his house to see you,” she smiled, her eyes moist.

“Shall we sit down?” ASR asked smiling.

They moved towards the table, the lady wobbling slightly. Khushi and Arnav caught hold of her arms and helped her sit down.

“Did he tell you about me?” the lady asked.

Khushi shook her head.

“And you were all he talked about the last time we met,” she laughed. “I know everything about you. What you look like, what you wear, what you like to eat, all the hundred and one things you do daily...I am Geeta Batra. My husband, Anand Batra was a businessman.”

Khushi smiled weakly at the lady.

ASR said, “He helped me when I started my business.”

“Yes,” smiled Geeta. “To him, Arnav was like a son. That is why he asked Arnav to help me take over his business after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.”

“She heads Regal Textiles. Her firm supplies us with excellent quality fabric,” ASR explained to Khushi.

Khushi nodded.

“Your Arnav helped me when Anand was sick and after he died by diverting orders our way, encouraging other firms to choose us over competitors...He visits me rarely, Khushi. Lekin mein haar maanne waalon mein se nahi hoon. I take an appointment once every month with the great ASR. I drag him and his officials here on some business and then insist that we have dinner together,” Geeta laughed. “Mein kya karoon, Khushi? Otherwise it is impossible to see your husband. He thinks he is busier than the President of America, busy bee kahin ka.”

Khushi smiled.

“So tell me, how is this khadoos treating you?" Geeta asked.

“Very well,” Khushi murmured, so relieved that this lady was no paramour of her husband’s that she couldn’t find the energy to speak.

Geeta hugged Khushi.

She turned to Arnav. “ASR, are you going to feed me or not? I am starving,” she complained like a child.

The hours sped. The three of them laughed and talked easily, savouring the food and the company. Geeta showed Khushi photos of her husband.

When there was a pause in the conversation, Khushi suggested, “Geetaji, why don’t you visit Shantivan? Arnavji’s relations would love to meet you.”

Geeta took a deep breath and said, “I travel only once a month and that too because this boy can’t make the time to visit me in Hoshiarpur. The rest of the time I am under the eagle eyes of my doctor.”

“She is under treatment for cancer,” Arnav told Khushi softly.

Khushi looked at Geeta with horror in her eyes.

“I am better now. The chemo took my hair, not that I had much to start with. I have regular check-ups and need to regulate my diet and work. I am alright now. Sachi,” Geeta comforted Khushi. “Especially after I heard the news of your wedding. I wanted to meet you and give you these,” Geeta smiled. She gave Khushi a packet.

Khushi looked at the gift and then at Geeta. “Open it, open it,” the middle-aged lady said, eager to see Khushi’s reaction when she saw the gift.

Khushi unwrapped it. It was a jewellery box. She looked at Arnav and then opened it. Diamonds vied with rubies as large as eggs to shine in the exquisitely crafted necklace.

Khushi stared open-mouthed at its magnificence.

“Anand bought me the necklace on our tenth wedding anniversary. I would like you to have it, Khushi,” Geeta smiled.

Khushi’s eyes filled with tears.

“I wish he could have met you,” Geeta sighed. "He would have loved you."

“Geetaji, this is too expensive..it is...” Khushi’s throat closed up.

“We didn’t have children, Khushi. Arnav is all we have. And his wife is our bahu,” Geeta smiled.

“Shukriya,” Khushi whispered.

“You like it?” Geeta asked anxiously.

“Very much,” Khushi smiled through her tears. "I have never seen anything more beautiful."

Geeta gave Arnav a document and a key. She said, “The key and papers to the villa Anand owned in Coorg. It is yours now.”

Arnav opened his mouth to protest, but Geeta turned to Khushi, “Did this workaholic take you for a honeymoon?”

“No,” Khushi smiled.

“Arnav!” Geeta rolled her eyes at him.

“I will take her, I will take her,” Arnav promised. “We will go to Coorg.”

Geeta beamed. “Good. Put the villa to good use.”

After dinner, Arnav and Khushi led Geeta to her car. Her driver and personal secretary were waiting for her. She hugged Khushi and Arnav many times, bidding farewell to them before remembering something else she wanted to tell them. After one hour of conversation in the car park, she finally left for Hoshiarpur.

Arnav took hold of Khushi’s hand and led her to their car. He made sure that she was wearing her seat belt before driving home.

Section 19