CHAPTER 4
Khushi couldn't help but run to her family and tell them what Arnav said to her and how he asked if he could stay with his son. Trillion tonnes of weight had lifted off her shoulder. She couldn't help, but pray to Devi Maiyan and thank her. She had given her the pain but she made sure she had a reason to he happy and have the strength to face the difficult phase of her life. She told every single member of the family and listening to this they all were happy that their bhabi, their daughter, their sister was happy, their prayers were being listened. However, now they were scared. Because every time they hot happiness god didn't leave a chance to enjoy it for very long. Now they were just scared to celebrate their happiness. But they were thankful that god was generous enough to return their son back to the family.
What else could they have asked for?
Nani had gathered everyone for the veneration, especially Arnav dressed in a white Kurta Pajama that Khushi had sew for him before his accident. Oh, it hurt to think about the past six months. The shadows of yesterday, still haunted her.
She couldn't help but stare at her husband, as after the long time of his absence today she had felt peace and expected to breath without having a constant fear what will happen next moment.
How else she could have put her feelings into words? She didn't want to or tried to, as she only wanted to feel it.
She remembered when he was shot, scars of that hadn't faded, his injuries hadn't gotten better that he got at the time of Rahul, she touched her own stomach, she had lost her baby,--- tears fell down her eyes but she wiped them, but Arnav saw it, his heart scrunched as he worried why she had tears in her eyes---when this accident happened.
She gasped all of sudden. Everyone looked at her.
"Khushi, bitiya, are you okay?" Mami ji asked.
Khushi said yes with the nod of her head.
Arnav hadn't moved his gaze away from her, he wondered if she was fine. It was dangerous, he thought. Why a sudden feelings for a woman whom he doesn't even know, he tried to remember the time of one year. But result, null.
He shouldn't be thinking of her? He shouldn't do anything that will give an idea to her she was on his mind. And that was contagious if she was married and had a baby boy. That part did hurt him unconsciously.
Khushi could tell at the nook of her eyes that Arnav was looking at her, she wondered what might he be thinking? If she wanted, she could have told him that she was his wife, but something was telling her to not to even dare to say it.
She was happy with the way things were going on.
"What's in us that attracts me towards you?" Arnav questioned himself but to Khushi he exactly wanted to ask.
"Despite of us being a soul mates we can't find a way to each other!" Khushi said to herself.
Hearing the temple bells Arnav's mind was diverted, he felt all of sudden a fool.
"Why can't I be angry at her?" he thought. "Why I feel so good when she is around me? Why I feel we have a connection? Why Adhwaya, being Khushi's son, feel that it has a deep connection with me?" Arnav again gave himself a mental slap, it is not good, he told himself again. He decided it was better if he stayed away from her and Adhwaya, as much as possible.
"But why it has to hurt?" That was it, he needed to stop, however, he found himself again staring at her.
"She is beautiful, innocent, her eyes tell me that she has so many secrets in them, what are they? I couldn't tell. I see warmth in them. The pull I feel when she is with me is stronger than any force in this physical world. I wasn't like this before? I used to get angry at every single thing. Little things bothered me. Kids, but having Adhwaya close to me it feels like I never hated kids. What kind off bond is that with him? Why can't I hate this girl? She is an outsider, sitting in my home, among my family, why am I not angry? I should think she is a threat to me and my family, but why can't I make a mind set up like this. If anyone able to know what I feel that will so wrong, Khushi will hate me? Why the heck I will worry if she will hate me?" he scolded himself.
Arnav took a sharp deep breath. As he was lost in thoughts veneration was over.
Khushi elbowed Mami ji to give the locket that she had brought from guru ji to give to Arnav. Mami ji nodded and asked the pandit ji to give Arnav the locket saying it was good for him.
When Pandit ji recommended Arnav to wear the locket, Arnav told him it was an utter nonsense. He was surprised that he was angry now. And half glad that he knew how to be angry.
Being arrogant, stubborn just meant masking your thoughts and give no impression to anyone what you feel? To the best, it keeps you away from the heart aches and metal emotional torture attached to it.
Khushi was afraid now as Arnav had refused to wear the locket. Everyone insisted him, except Khushi, but he was adamant.
"What has happened to you guys? You know that I don't believe in this nonsense, then why you guys are forcing to wear it?"
"Why don't you wear it? Khushi all of sudden spoke. "Everyone is forcing you. We understand you don't believe in this but for the sake of the family wear it. All they want is your safety, after 6 whole months they have gotten you back and you are just hurting them by saying no!" By the end Khushi had finished her sentence every single member of the family was looking at her in utter shock. For a second Khushi had forgotten that she had to pretend she wasn't his wife. She looked at the expression of the family.
"I am so very sorry, Arnav ji and everyone, I shouldn't have said anything in your family matters!" Khushi all of sudden corrected herself and she so loudly in her mind prayed that Arnav didn't get any hint that she should not have given that was by which right she yelled at him.
Arnav had the most innocent surprised look on his face.
"You scolded me?" he said. "Me, Arnav Singh Raizada!"
Khushi didn't dare to look in his eyes. "I am sorry, it won't happen again!" she said slowly as her eyes moved up and held her gaze.
It really hurt his ego, he was just scolded by a woman, that was his manager, no one ever dared to talk to him. Khushi could tell from his expressions.
And everyone in the family stood numb as they had no clue what was going on. Arnav angrily walked away, as a child is offended after being said no to candy.
As Arnav left everyone let out a bark of laughter. "Khushi, bhabi you rocked, didn't you see his impression?" Dhruv said.
"Hehe...it felt he was offended a woman just yelled at him," Anjali added.
"I think this will be fun..." Payal added as she hugged Khushi from the back.
"Bhabi, imagine starting a love hate story!" NK said dreamily. Khushi hit his shoulder playfully. But she kind off liked what NK said.
***
Arnav paced back and forth in his room. "How dare she to yell at me?" he said. "This feels so good," he said to himself. "Yes, I feel angry." He was so happy, he can get angry and he feel nothing for her.
Hehe...For Arnav Singh Raizada his anger meant being normal.
No moreI shall be thinking of this lady, he decided.
***
As every single lady of the house got up early in the morning to keep Karva Chauth, Arnav wondered why Khushi had kept it? He hadn't seen her keeping fast though, but heard Nani saying she had kept fast. This irked him.
"I tell you these Indian women, doesn't matter how badly their husband treats them they will always do and think good of them. This lady is keeping fast for a jerk who left her? This is absolute disgusting," he muttered under his breath as he went back to his room ignoring that he had come to get a glass of water for himself.
He was in hurry so was Khushi, as they bumped into each other. Arnav immediately wrapped his arms around her as she fell backwards. He had to bend steep as her back was almost close to touch the floor.
Khushi had worn red coloured saree, his favourite colour, her make up to the minimum, but red and golden was the theme of her make up as well. Bright red lipsticks. Her eye kids shimmering in golden eyeshadow, tightly shut, as she was still afraid to know if she was safely landed somewhere.
As her thick eyelashes relaxed and with the speed of millisecond she opened her eyes, finding Arnav in front of her eyes, whom she was expecting to see before she even keeps a fast, she had went to the room to see him but couldn't find in a fear she was rushing down to the kitchen to ask her mami ji, Payal, and Nani where he was, until she landed in his arms.
She was relaxed to find him. She looked at him in affection. "Good morning, Arnav ji," she said in her mind. "Today, I am keeping fast for you. I just wish you will be there to break my fast. May you live long. And may my life get to you!" she wished.
Arnav was too lost in her beauty.
"Arnav...ji!" Khushi said reluctantly because she didn't want to loose this moment in his arms, being so closed to him. But she was afraid he was too long standing in the same pose. But as her sweet breath hit his nose, he was intoxicated, he looked at her red lips. He wanted to kiss them. His heart was beating furiously in his chest. "What the hell are you thinking, ASR?" he reminded himself.
He immediately came out of his trance and carefully made her stand up.
"Watch where you are going?" he said. Khushi, was just too lost to even get the hint of anger in his tone. To her everything he said was a gift. She didn't care if he shouted at her or whatsoever, she just wanted him to talk to her.
"I am sorry, Arnav ji!" she said.
"You are too much," he said and left.
"And for me of you, it's too less!" she said and watch him go.
***
9:00 PM
"When this moon will come out?" Mami ji cried like a child.
"Manorama, look at your daughter-in-laws, they have such a great deal of patience and you? Why my son had to get such a wife?"
"Sasu ma, you just stay quite!" Mami ji said. "I am dying of hunger, I kept fast for your son and you don't care about it!"
"Why don't you think how we will get Arnav bitwa to break Khushi bitiya's fast?" Nani said.
"Ma, does she has a brain to think?" Mama ji said.
"Keep quite!" Mami ji said.
"Oh, here it is!" Mami ji yelled. "Payal, bitiya, Khushi bitiya come, upstairs moon is there in the sky!"
Everyone ran upstairs to the terrace. Dhruv and NK made sure they made Arnav stand at an angle where Khushi could do her puja for Arnav and he wouldn't know.
Khushi was thankful to her brother in laws and her family for being so supportive. In between Arnav too was looking at Khushi. He was wondering how would she break her fast without the presence of her husband?
"Why should I care about?" he said and looked away. Taking advantage of it, Khushi did what she needed to do.
But she didn't eat. Family was looking at her with sadness on their faces. Khushi kept a pleasant smile on her face giving not a single hint of sadness to anyone.
***
"Nanhe, all you have to do is make her smell this!" Anjali said. As they had no other way to make Khushi faint but make her smell chloroform, to make her unconscious.
"But she would be unconscious for hours!" NK said.
"Just do it there is no harm!" Payal said. "It's for a good!" Payal said. "She hasn't eaten anything, so go and do it! For your bhabi!"
"Please," everyone said.
"Okay," NK said.
"Best of luck!" Payal, Anjali, and Dhruv wished.
NK was doubtful if he would able to complete his task. Oh he was going to make his bhabi suffer. He felt he was so cruel. He was going to run back, but Anjali, Payal, and Dhruv threatened him. NK got scared and went to Khushi.
"Hey, bhabi, smell this. It is just so good!"
"Nanhe, I am really busy, go away!"
"Bhabi, please once try this smell, it is so good! I am thinking of gifting my new girlfriend this perfume."
"Okay, give it to me!"
"Bhabi, please be careful!"
"What?" Khushi said skeptically.
"I mean, you have to smell it for few minutes, you know, this perfume is very special."
"Oh!" Khushi said and brought it close to her nose. She coughed. "Oh, this smells so good!" she said "but it is very strong!" She added.
Payal guys were glad they sprinkled little perfume on the handkerchief with the chloroform so she is not skeptical.
"No, bhabi it is not. You see I help you!" he said.
"Oh wow! Khushi you are smelling too!" Anjali said as she came towards Khushi to divert her mind while NK still had handkerchief close to her nose.
"It smells so good, right, Khushi? Smell it more, afterall, NK has to impress his girlfriend and as long as you won't say yes, this stupid will think we were wrong by saying it smells so good."
"Bhabi, it indeed smell really good, but please it is too strong!" Khushi said as she tried to push it away.
"Khushi, don't you feel faint?" Payal asked.
"What?" Khushi said. "What has happened to you guys?"
"Khushi, not even little bit?" Anjali said.
"Bhabi, faint!" NK and Dhruv said as they saw Arnav coming down the stairs.
"What?"
They all scattered in four directions and Anjali before leaving hit Khushi with the plate.
"Aahhh!" Khushi cried in pain. And by now chloroform did have started it's work.
"I am sorry, Khushi!" Anjali said as she bit her tongue and left.
Khushi couldn't see anything in front here eyes. Anjali did hurt her little hard.
Arnav looked at Khushi struggling to stand properly as he came down the stairs. He was so mad that Khushi was gasping in pain and nobody paid attention to her.
"KHUSHI!" he shouted as in quick pace he rushed towards her.
Khushi saw Arnav as he shouted her name. Her eyes got blurred and she was falling backwards. Just then Arnav catches her hand on time.
"Yes!" everyone said as their plan was successful.
"Oh, what has happened to Khushi?" Anjali and Payal said melodramatically.
"Oh yes, yes, what has happened to Khushi bhabi?" Dhruv and Nk shouted but none of them moved from their space.
Anjali and Payal looked at both NK and Dhruv angrily as they called Khushi as their "bhabi."
NK and Dhruv both realized their mistake and they bit their tongue and
held their ear. But Arnav was worried about Khushi to pay attention to what they called her.
"Khushi!" he patted her cheeks.
"What has happened to Khushi bitiya?" Mami ji and Nani yelled. But Anjali guys stopped both of them and told them Khushi had done all the other rituals but just had to drink water from Arnav's hands.
Arnav was way too surprised as his family was standing just in their place. He himself took the glass of water and made Khushi drink water. He had to force open her lips. Water did go inside Khushi's mouth from Arnav's hands. They all were relieved that Khushi's Karva Chauth was successful.
"Are you guys nuts? Khushi is fainted here and you guys aren't doing anything?"
"Oh, bhai, we were so shocked!" Dhruv said and everyone agreed with him. "Oh my goodness, let see what has happened to Khushi, bitiya?" Mami ji said.
"Chote, please take her to the room, we call the doctor, I have had said her there is no point in keeping fast if her husband wasn't here!" Mami ji said first melodramatically but her voice slowed down as she felt the gravity of her words. "Because of hungry she fainted," she added.
Arnav just realized that he had broken her fast. "What have I done?" he thought. As he held Khushi in his arms on the ground.
"Chote, please take her to room!"
"I call the doctor!" NK said.
Arnav took Khushi to her room and laid very gently on the bed. He was mad again at her for keeping fast as he looked at her unconscious state.
For long minutes he sat very close to her and looked at her, trying to figure out why so much concerns for her?
***
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