Sangam Chapter 9

Gupta's and Arnav along with Aman, and Lavanya were waiting for ved ji to tell if Khushi  was fine. There was an atmosphere of tension. But one person was not ready to leave any stone unturned to prove Arnav wrong.  Rudra.

"This is all because of you," he huffed.

"Situation is not to blame because of whom this happened, it is to pray for Khushi's well being!" Bhua ji taunted.

Rudra looked away in anger. "But she is fighting for her life because of him..."

"I do not believe so," she retorted. "It is because of you," she said without any regret. "She did not want to get married to you. Unfortunately, she had to take such a step."

"Could you please both stop arguing?" Mr. Gupta said, in a grief tone. "If you cannot, you may leave!"

Rudra's jaws tightened in anger, and he did leave. Bhua ji was thankful he left.

"I think you all should go home,  me and jiji are here," Mr. Gupta said. "If there will be any need, we shall call you!"

"Babu ji, how would you both manage alone here. We are not leaving you or Khushi alone?"

"Please do not worry, I am here as well!" Arnav chimed in. Soham looked at his father, there was a sense of approval from his side too. Even though soham did not want to.

 "Baba, we all will stay back here, and what shall we say the guests, anyway."

"You do not have to, just go back and attend them, marriage will happen today."

Everyone looked at him in shock.

Whatever happened in the past hour, had dented his image in front of his relatives and villagers, more than anything, his pride.

In front of his daughter's stubborness, he failed. This was something, he was not expecting from his own daughter.

What does not a parent do for their kids? They sacrifice their own needs to fulfill their children wants.

He was surprised, today nothing else mattered for his daughter, but a person who was not even in her life for more than few days, compares to years she had spent with him.

 Choosing a life partner of your choice is not wrong, but she really did not wait for anything, she did not trust her father enough. This is what, it hurt him. May be before he had let this happen or tried to test her, he himself had apologised from Rudra's father that he cannot give his daughter to them.

But he still did. He knew she was going to eat those pills that his sister gave her, he changed it to nothing but a mere medicines that were not going to hurt her at all. Now she was sleeping, he knew his daughter was fine. Then why did he do it at first place. Why did he actually let her eat those pills thinking? There were reasons. As an outcome of this situation, he knew what really Khushi meant for Rudra...He knew as a father he kept no more importance in her life as he used to...He knew, Arnav was best for him...But above all, he thought his daughter would not do anything to hurt herself. There he felt, his daughter was grown up, she could decisions for herself.

He felt empty from within. Entirely. His daughter was his pride and somewhere his pride was shattered. He fell on the chair.

"Sir!" Arnav said, and ran over to him. "Are you okay?" he asked, and held him by his shoulders. Mr. Gupta's sons stopped when Arnav was already up to help their father. Mr. Gupta kept hand on his hand on his shoulder and nodded in an assurance. "I am fine, Son."

"Should I get water for you? Aman, please get a glass of water..."
 Mr. Gupta shook his head. "I am really okay. Do not worry!"

In the past 23 years, he indulged himself so much in his family that he forget about his own feelings, but today. Today, it came all down to him with an overwhelmed force. He realised that the void in his life, without his wife was no one going to fill. Not his kids, not his daughter-in-laws, not his sister. Although, bhua ji had been his support system ever since the loss of his wife.

To some point Arnav tried to understand what he was going through. It was hard for him to keep himself in a place of a father, but he understood the pain and emotions as a human. If tomorrow, his daughter was going to give her life for a person, who all of sudden meant more than him, he would feel the same, what Mr. Gupta as a father was.

He sat in his knees. He started off. "I understand, Sir, what you are going through at a moment. What Khushi did was not at all appropriate, she should not have done anything of this sought, but that she did swayed in emotions. I would not blame her but myself, I should have made an effort to be here as soon as possible. Sir, please forgive me and Khushi, for hurting you. We two have really put you down, you can punish us in anyway, we would not mind."

Bhuaji had tears in her eyes, she was too feeling the guilt that she even asked Khushi to take such a step. She was so angry at that time, she forgot what would he as a father would go through. Even though motive was not wrong, but step. Even if it involved no harm to life, but values and sentiments.

***
"Khushi, how are you? May I know why did you take such a step?" he asked.
She smiled. "I promised that I will wait only for you!"
"Like this?"
She did not answer him, she looked around, and saw every member of her family had come to see her, but her father. "Where is babu ji?"
"He is at home, titliya, he had to go for some work," her bhua ji answered.

Her words did not go well with her emotions.
Then everything came down to her without anybody telling her the reason behind his absence.

"You have put him down, Khushi!" Her mind yelled to her. Loud enough to deafen her and made her feel sick.

"I want to see him," she said.

***
For the first time, she felt ashamed to even go in front of him.
"Babu ji?" she said. Her anklets tinkled, it did not sound cheerful, but sad.

She saw his hands making a vague quick try to wipe off the tears that he was now shedding in front of his wife's photo. Khushi's heart lacerated more in guilt.

"Khushi, what are you doing here? You need to be in the hospital taking rest," he said, turning around to face , in a loud cheerful voice, filled with concern.

"Let us go," he said.
Khushi stopped him, and herself knelt on her knees, and held her ears. "I am sorry, babu ji," she said, and burst into tears. "I am sorry for what I did in a haste!"

He was quite. She understood his silence. She had not given him any reason to say anything. She knew, after giving hurt a mere sorry does not fix everything, but she tried to lift off the weight of her shoulder.. "Babu ji, please forgive me, I forgot the values that you always taught me. I was so blind that I was only thinking about myself, even though I had no bad intentions of such! Please consider this as my last mistake and forgive me, please, babu ji!"

He saw a shadow outside the room." Come on in, Arnav," he said. Khushi looked up at him. Arnav wondered how did he knew he was outside. He walked inside the room.

Khushi got up the floor on her feet.

"Would you like to marry my daughter?" he asked.

Khushi looked at him in surprise. "Sir, I promise I will always keep your daughter happy."

"Can you marry her now? Right now? Without any ifs and buts?"

He nodded happily in a yes.

"Today, I give my daughter to you," he said.

In front of the guests and the whole village Mr. Gupta married off his daughter. May be yes, one day a daughter is meant to become someone else's.

Khushi all of sudden was feeling as if she was detached from her family. She no longer had any ties with every single membeer of her family. Her Anjali bhabi had tears of happiness in her eyes. She was not attached to her other three sister-in-laws, but they loved her as their sister. She wondered why she could not create a bond that she shares with Anjali with other three. Maybe she considered her a mother than a sister-in law.

Her marriage with Arnav was something she wanted, now it was happening, she had taken seven vows with him, he put mangalsutra in her neck and vermillion in her head. She was his. Completely. Then why did it feel as if...she was short of words.

In a crowd of hundred happy faces, there was one face on which no sign of happiness existed, her father's. Would she be forgiven for this act done in denial, or she would be able to forgive herself? She thought.

***

Note:

I hope you enjoyed the update...There are three or four updates more for this SS, then it is done, I want to keep it short! Without streching it unnecssarily.

THANK YOU FOR READING IT!

Sangam part 8

Chapter 8

Khushi wandered back and forth in her room, worried. Anxiety ran as a blood in her veins. Her chest was uptight in fear. Momentarily, she stared at the bottle of sleeping pills kept at the table in her room by her bed side and thinking what shall really she be doing with them.

In her mind, she constructed tonnes of ideas and demolished that didn't actually worked. It only fuelled her anger and frustration.

"Khushi, find a good idea!" her mind screamed to her, pressurising her to the fullest to make decisions that could solve her problem and put her every nerve on ease.

What added more to her anxiety was, she didn't have much time left. 12 hours. That were going to decide her and Arnav's fate.

She calmed herself down and then automatically one idea was working for her, but she didn't know if she should go for it, or it would be successful.

Until now, she was so self absorbed that she forgot that she had her friends Savitri, and Mala in her room as well. Waiting for her to tell the two of them what she was thinking and they too get a chance to share their ideas.

She gave them a look of  worry and look at them did nothing good to her. They were equally clueless as her.

"Savi, one thing we can do is make Rudra eat these sleeping pills. Later when he will not show up at the marriage, we will say that he doesn't want to get married..." Khushi explained.

"Just the way he destroyed the letters given to you!" Mala said. "And made up his own stories."

"Exactly!"

"Khushi, this was what we both had in our minds!" Savitri said.

"I don't know if it's going to work!" Khushi said unsured.

"Khushi, then why don't you simply talk to him once. He might understand it..." Savitri suggested.

Mala was shaking her head not agreeing to what her friend said. "Savi, that man is not going to listen a word. If he can try to almost kill Arnav babu to get married to Khushi, he can do anything. A simple talk won't work especially with him...And, Khushi, you don't worry. We promise we will do anything to get you married to Arnav babu."

Mala said walking over to her and side hugged her. "For the first time our sweet Khushi has fallen in love, how we can let just anyone to take her away. Especially, if it isn't the person she wants to be with. By the way, Khushi, if anyone like Rudra had been after me I would have immediately said yes. That's what I thought first, but now after I saw Arnav babu, and your love for each other I understand, what you was actually waiting for..."

Khushi smiled, Savitri too walked up to her friends and they gave each other a big hug.

"Khushi, after marriage you will leave us, we will really miss you!"

"And who said to you this? I will put this condition in front of Arnav ji, that I am not going to city with him leaving this village..."

"Hmm..." they both whispered. "And here we thought you can do anything for him..."

Khushi laughed, and for a moment she forgot every worry of her. "Well, I can do everything but this..." she said. And they three giggled.

"Now let's go and get Mehndi done..." Savitri said. "They are waiting for us..."

"Khushi, I will do your Mehndi, and will print Arnav babu's name. I bet you he will not be able to find it..."

"I think he knows his name is written on my heart..."

"Uh-oh!" they both shouldered her. "So this is so..." they teased her.

Khushi blushed...

***

Khushi's sister-in-laws, bhua ji, and along with their relatives who had come to attend her marriage, sat in a corridor waiting for her to get her Mehndi done.

Khushi was feeling once again nervous. She looked at her father, when bhua ji told her to sit. She had so much going on in her mind that she was having hard time to assort all the thoughts or even to put them stay.

A look at her father brought tears in her eyes. She had spent 23 years of her life with him. He is the one who gave her everything, never made her feel the need of her mother. He, along with her brothers, and sister-in-laws gave her so much love that today somewhere she was feeling she was betraying them. She can't cheat them. She guessed, she had betrayed them already by simply thinking she was going to get married to not to the person they wanted. However, it didn't mean that she gave up on Arnav. She knew Arnav can handle everything. He won't let her feel that she was cheating her family. And she also sort this in her head that she wasn't going to hurt anyone of her close ones. Arnav has still to tell them that he was still in love with their daughter. He wasn't cheating them or her, that made her see the rays of hope shinning at her.

She saw design Mala made on her hand. She then looked at the happy faces of her sister-in-laws, her brothers, her bhua ji.

She shut her eyes and hoped for the best. Best that was going to be good for everyone. Not just for her. Disappointment of one meant death to her.

I don't know what's written in my fate. I can't think of anything, so giving you all my worries to you, God.

***

"Khushi, I know you aren't happy with this marriage unfortunately, this is the truth that you have to accept that now Arnav can't be yours, because you are someone else's," Anjali said, keeping stone on her heart.

Khushi could all do art her best, right now, was smile. "You don't worry about me, bhabi. Take care of yourself and sweet little baby. I know whatever will happen, will happen for our good."

Bhua ji heard her saying this, she felt sorry for her,  what else she could have done, anyways. She tried convincing her brother but his decision was a solid as a rock that wasn't going to melt to change. He thought he knew what was right for his daughter.

Khushi thought this was the longest night of her life, on the other side Arnav felt the same when his 4:30 flight got canceled and was rescheduled for 7:30am. He tried to call Khushi on Mala's phone, the only phone number that he got, alas! she had her phone on silent.

"Why it had happened when I needed to be at Khushi's place? Particularly, when it's more important then breathing," Arnav winced. Lavanya kept hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

"ASR, we still got time. It's not going to take much longer," she said. "I believe, everything will be okay..."

***

"Bhai, that Arnav babu is coming back to Jagatpur," Ashok revealed.

Rudra angrily turned around away from the mirror, and held his collar.

"And this is you are telling me now?" he asked. Seeing raw anger in his made him gulp.

"Bhai, but the good news his flight got late...and he won't be able to get here on time!"

His anger vanished, and let go off his shoulder, and smiled. "Wasn't I telling you, fate is on my side?" he said, and turned back again to see himself in a mirror. "And by the way no power in the world can stop me from getting married to my Khushi today...Now what you are doing here? Just go and make sure he doesn't get here...Get security, kill him where ever you see him!"

***

She knew Arnav was going to be here in any moment, she took Mala's phone and called him to enquire where he was.

"Hello, Arnav ji, where are you?"

"Hey, Khushi, how are you?" he said, in a gloomy tone.

"Arnav ji, what happened?" she immediately asked, her heart beat went wild thinking of every worst scenario.

"Khushi, my flight is delayed. I am afraid I won't reach at your place before 12:00 in the afternoon," he told her in a fear.

"Don't worry, Arnav ji, I am waiting for you," she said. "I promise I will only be your bride!"

"Khushi, I promise I will keep up my promises too. I won't let you down!" he said.

Khushi saw herself in the mirror, her make up did nothing good to hide her worries, she wish it could have. Just so that she could feel little better. Now hearing he wasn't going to be here before eleven she was even more scared.

To see herself as a bride was her dream since childhood. Today, it was going to be fulfilled but not the way she wanted it. She realised life was not a fairytale.  And anyways, none of the actual fairytales were as beautiful they seemed, they were all twisted one way or the other. Hers too was slowly taking twists...Then she put all her thoughts to the end before they wandered freely. She couldn't have let herself fall weak. She needed to put all the things in a right order, just the way she wanted.  When it was about her whole life. And three lives were going to be ruined, not for anyone's good.

"Has Rudra come?"

"How come he would? He must be sleeping!" she said and laughed.

"Where is Savitri?"

"She is not back yet," she told her.

Khushi's world takes a drastic upside down turn when she hears drums beating.

"Baraat?" they both says to each other and rush to see out of the window. Rudra had come.

"How is it even possible?" Mala said. And see Savitri coming. "Savi, how is it even possible?"

"I don't know!" she too comes and stands at the window with her friends. "I went to his home and put sleeping pills in his water..."

"Hey devi maiyan!" Mala winced. "Savi, do you even know for what he was asking water for?"

"I am pretty sure to drink..."

"He could have asked to get it for someone else..."

"No! Crap! How could I be so stupid?"

Khushi's mind went numb when she looked at the clock, it was 10:30 am...She wished somehow some miracle happens and Arnav gets here before time.

***

"Arnav, how long it will get us to get to Khushi's place?" Lavanya asked.

"La, from here her house is one hour away. I guess we will get there soon," he said. He was driving as fast as he could.

"La, I am sorry, I know you are scared of fast cars but..."

"Don't worry ASR, I am fine...Right now it's really important for us to hurry."

"La, if we have thought before instead of taking a direct flight to Rajasthan, we could have been here much more faster...Then from there directly to here, things could have been lot more better...

"ASR, it happens, I tell you...When you need to get somewhere important, these hurdles do come in a way...Even Aman is behind us!" La said, looking behind. She screamed when Arnav immediately put his car to stop.

"ASR, what happen?" she asked, but when she saw men standing in their way with sticks and axes, and swords she gulped in fear.

Behind his, Aman's car stopped abruptly.

Arnav pressed the Bluetooth button to receive his call.

"Aman, we don't have an escape route from here, I am pretty sure these men are sent by Rudra. La is with us, we have to make sure they are safe."

"So what shall we do, sir?!"

"We are already late, 11:00 am. There Khushi must be waiting for me..."

Men approached them.

"ASR, they are coming here!" Lavanya said scared.

"La, stay calm...They won't be able to do anything...I am going out, as soon I do that sit behind the wheel..."

"ASR, please don't go out. They are way too many..."

"They are way too less for me, La! Don't worry. I am here. Just stay calm. Everything will be okay...Aman, come out."

"Yes, boss!" he said.

***

"Babu ji, please wait for few minutes, Arnav ji is coming. He will explain you everything. He and Lavanya aren't getting married. It was his grandma who wanted it to happen, not Arnav ji!"

Her father was mad now...

"Khushi, don't embarrass me in front of these many people. Everyone is waiting for you. What took him two weeks to get here? I gave you and him a chance...You might be proving you love him, but not him...If you have his number, just call him and tell him to leave this place before I throw him out of here...Get this in his and in your head clearly...I don't want any drama."

"Babu ji, I will never be happy with Rudra...I promise after this I won't ask for anything from you, just this time please listen."

"My decision is final. Now let's go downstairs..." he said.

"Please, babu ji!" she cried. But it went unheard.

***

Aman and Arnav didn't leave any stone unturned to fight with Rudra's men. Lavanya was finally able to breathe seeing both of them trashing the gang.

"Too sad that your boss only send rats!" Aman said, and punched in the man's face.

***

Khushi reluctantly sat beside Rudra. "What say, Khushi? Didn't I tell you, only you could be mine! And no Arnav can come and simply take you away..."

Khushi clenched her hands on her knees, as tears spilled down her eyes.

"Too bad your idea to make me sleep through this wedding day failed. What did you think you will send your friend at my place to mix few sleeping pills to mess everything up, and I will let it happen? Next time before doing anything of this sought do think twice, I have got not only one pair of eyes but hundred. Every time any idea comes into your mind to go against me, it will be killed. And God knows what Arnav must be going through...who knows he might never get here!"

"Hey, pandit, do you have anything to say that you are waiting to start the pheras?" Rudra asked.

"Rudra, son, I am warning you yet again, this time is not good for you to get married to her..."

"I am reminding you yet again if you didn't proceed I will take no time to end your game right here..."

He gulped.

"Please rise for pheras!" he said.

"Rise up, my beautiful Khushi..." he said.

Khushi's eyes were at the door, as any moment he would come, but not when she was all ready for the rounds around the sacred fire. Time was rushing as if it wanted her marriage with Rudra.

She rose up, and clenched the bottle of sleeping in her hand so that it goes unnoticed, that she had already consumed. She looked at her bhua ji through her veil who was also looking at her only.

***Flashback***

"Khushi, you have no other option. Take this!"

Khushi looked at her in shock. "Khushi, these are sleeping pills. Take five or six...It won't harm you, you will just pass out...I will get ved ji here, and he will make sure you are fine..."

[END OF FLASHBACK]

Khushi's head swirled, she knew pills were working. She hoped everything went well.

***

Arnav opened the car door and sat inside so did Aman, and they pulled out safely before the gang could stop them.

"That was a narrow escape!" Aman muttered.

***

Khushi lost her balance and her brother rushed in to catch her in his arms. "Khushi, you okay?"

She nodded and tried to stand on her feet. "I am okay, bhaiya!" she said. But her eyes were heavy, and her legs were wiggling. Bhua ji, hoped she hadn't consumed not many pills.

"Khushi, you need water?" her brother asked.

"I think she is fine!" Rudra said, thinking she was doing drama.. "Here we are getting late. Let's get done with pheras..."

Khushi's brother looked at him as there was none a sign of worries on his forehead.

Khushi's father came forward and asked his son to take Khushi inside her room.

"Babu ji, we will run out of time!" Rudra said. Mr. Gupta looked at him angry, but didn't say a word.

Khushi stood on her feet. "I am fine, babu ji!" she said. Even knowing she shouldn't be saying it. But she was afraid they might see the pills in her hand. That what made her realised she shouldn't have even taken such a step.

"Khushi!" everyone heard a loud call. Khushi's senses that was going numb immediately regained itself for a moment. She finally saw Arnav standing at the door. She slowly started to walk towards him forgetting there were hundreds of people around her, and just the way she walked gave no good  indication to him that she was fine. Seeing blood and his messy condition she was afraid neither he had come from anywhere safe. She knew it must be Rudra's doing.

Arnav walked little faster to her, people automatically made a way for both of them. Khushi held him by his shoulder for a support. But only fell back, and finally her tries to keep the empty bottle out of her hand failed. He wouldn't have noticed it if it hadn't fallen on his foot. He casually looked what slipped from her hand. As the bottle rolled, it was empty. To worst he thought it was a poison.

"Khushi, what did you do?"

"Nothing!" she said and smiled. "I am fine...I was waiting for you and I knew you would come."

"Then why did you do this, Khushi? Tell what did you have? Someone please call the doctor!" he shouted, helplessly, as if his own life was loosing. Khushi's family got alarmed and her brothers rushed to her.

"It was important, Arnav ji!" she said. "You are here I am happy...I don't want to loose you!"

"Khushi, you have me. But right now you need help..."

Rudra's blood boiled seeing him present to ruin his day.

"I have a car, we can take her to the dispensary!" Arnav said to Khushi's elder brother Soham.

Khushi refused to leave. Bhua ji came forward with a vermilion in her hand.

"Make her yours. Nobody will stop you!" Bhua ji said.

"Bhua ji, what are you doing?" Soham asked.

"Arnav, babua, do it!" Bhua ji said. Arnav saw Khushi and a smile on her face. She had waited for him, it clearly showed on her face. 

"Please take her to the dispensary!" Arnav said. Soham didn't wait and took Khushi.

"I am not refusing to marry Khushi, auntie ji. It is the first thing I want to do. But not by a force or anything. I never got to talk to you as Khushi's family, therefore I want it now. Who is Thakur ji here?" he asked.

"I am Khushi's Bhua ji, and he is Khushi's father," she said gesturing towards Mr. Gupta.

Arnav folded his hand in front of him. "Uncle ji, I know you have many questions, but all I have to tell is that I love your daughter. And all the misunderstanding that you have, that is me and Lavanya (La, came forward, she was nervous seeing these many strangers eyeing her) are going to get married. We aren't. We are just friends...I have told her that I only want to get married to Khushi. She understands that. Please believe me I am not lying. I leave all the decisions up to you, I know you don't even know me properly but all I can say is you can trust me with your daughter. I think we have lot of time for this but right now Khushi's life is more important."

Mr. Gupta heard it all, but again he said not a word.

"May I know what's going on here?" Mr. Sarpanch spoke up. "Who is this fellow? And what drama really is going on?"

"He is Khushi's lover!" Rudra spoke without caring about her image in front of the village. "Babu ji, he doesn't care for Khushi at all..."

Anjali and her friends looked at him. "As if he cares for it," Mala taunted.

Mr. Gupta's hand clenched in a fist hearing Rudra's statement. 

"I know!" he said to Rudra looking at Arnav. Rudra smirked.

It is all about us: Sangam Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Arnav was worried that Khushi hadn't come to see him today, and she had sent breakfast from her friend's hand.

He didn't even know where she lived and he couldn't ask her or her friends about her resident. So he himself decided to leave the dispensary and look for her around in the village, he was quite bored since the day he had come he was sitting in the room, sick.

Arnav looked all around, village was just like any other village, but much more clean and green. Houses were small, but all quite the same height and the width.

Children played in the streets, woman could be seen doing house chores. And men walking by him and few talking to each other with their friends on the streets. Some looked at him, as they knew he was not from their village. Arnav smiled looking at the people. He felt so warm but not at all peaceful, he wished things weren't dirty otherwise, he would have his house in this village. He had the dark reason to hate this place, and love was only for the fact that Khushi was there. Now once again he was thinking of her. He wondered if she shy to come in front of him. This thought made him smile to himself.

He asked the people around and one of the child told him that she must be at the lake side. Arnav thanked him and he  immediately went to the lake.

As he saw her, he finally took a sigh of relief. She was talking to her friends, she looked quite mad for some reason, he could tell from the tone that in which she was talking to her four friends. When her friends saw him coming towards them, they, one by one slid out of the sight so that they could talk, but Arnav gestured Savitri to stay, without Khushi knew about it and she stayed.

"What if he comes to know that Thakur ji is no one but my father and I will become a lier in his eyes. This is a shame. My image will be ruined in front of him!"

Arnav was surprised to know that she was Thakur ji's daughter, well good for him, he thought.

"So you haven't told him that you are his daughter?" Savitri asked.

Arnav sat on the old tree trunk lied scrap to sit, behind Khushi.

"Savitri, he will than hate me and will never believe me!" she added and angrily threw stone in the lake.

Arnav looked at Savitri and she asked,
"Khushi, why do you care he will think of you such high?"

"It does matter to me," she immediately answered, as she thought of the last night, and the confession. "Savitri, after Anjali bhabi, you all are my best friends. I share with you everything, you know what I..." she stopped, when she didn't get respond from her other friends.

Arnav was waiting with so much anticipation, his heart beat increased as he too wanted to know what she wanted.

When Khushi looked at Savitri and her laughing at someone behind her, "why are laughing?" she asked, as she too looked were Savitri was looking at and laughing, Khushi was so scared to see who it was.

She gulped down the lump in her throat and looked back, she almost screamed and she suddenly got up, her foot stuck in her lehanga and she was going to fall back in the lake when Arnav quickly stood and held her hand and saved her from falling.

Savitri ran out of there laughing, leaving them both alone.

"Savitri, where are you going?" she asked at her back, but it was too late.

"Arnav, babu, when did you come?" she asked, her face flushed.

Arnav was looking at her, her skin glowed in the bright sunlight, her cheeks rose petal shining under the sunlight. Her eyes looking everywhere in front of her but him looking at her with pure affection.

Arnav elegantly made her stand, but only to pull her towards himself. She held his shoulders for support. "You are looking beautiful today," he said.

"You...you here!" she stammered.

"Yes...yes, me here!" he mocked.

She was finding it hard to not to look into his eyes, and his hands on her waist made her feel lost. "Somebody will come!" she said, as she breathed heavily.

"Let them!" he said in his husky tone.

His breath on her skin as he spoke made her close her eyes and her breath even heavier.

"People will talk about us!"

"Let them!"

"My babu ji has lot of respect in this village!" she merely whispered, but the only thing on her mind was to stay seated in his laps like this for forever. The sense of every wrong and right ended when he was the only person she wanted to be with.

"Don't worry with due respect I will make you my bride."

"Come to my home and talk to my father, otherwise there are many guys in this village."

His hands flew in her braid and he clenched it firmly, but not harshly that might have hurt her. "You are mine and I have never felt this possessive for anyone or even near it, but you. I have never felt for anyone that I cannot live without, so you better..."

"What if you are lying?"

"You wouldn't have minded sit close this to me, you wouldn't have been asking these question as you so wanted the answers for,  you wouldn't have showed your sweet gesture that you also like me..."

"Like you is a underestimation, Arnav ji," she corrected him. "You have already made place in my heart!"

"What if I am only doing this to cheat you?" he now counter questioned her to know if she really trusted him. The expression on her face didn't change a bit, her eyes had the same affection, same love.

"I know you wouldn't."

"How much you know about me?"

"Not much, but your eyes can't lie," she said.

"What if I leave without saying a word?"

"I will wait for you for forever."

"What if I never returned?"

"I will die in your wait," she answered.

"What if I only want your body?" he asked.

"You won't! If it will happen first I will kill you and then myself!" she quickly answered this without any thought.

A little smile played on his lips.
"You shouldn't trust a unknown person like this!"

"You are not unknown person to me anymore."

"Are these only words?"

"You can trust me anytime," she said.

Rudra was burning in anger as he saw Khushi in Arnav's arms. "Bhai, what are you waiting for? On your one command, he will be in your feet."

Rudra held his hound by his collar to stop him. "Calm down," he said, coldly. Rage burning in his mind seeing them two together. "Tonight, finish him!"

"It will be done, bhai!"

"Right now go and get my suit boot ready, I am going to Khushi's house for an alliance."

"Okay, bhai!" his men said and left.

"Screw you shehre babu, I promise tonight you will be breathing your last breaths."

***
Khushi fell backwards as she was suffocated after holding on to her could breath, Arnav nearly caught her in his arms, and looked at her as she had her eyes closed.

"You are safe, you can open your eyes!" he said.

Her eyes open as flower bloom and the tears sparkled as a mist in the early morning sun, and his heart swept away by the fragrance and coldness of it.

"You are beautiful!" he said, "I can tell you this everyday!"

He slowly lifted her up and now she was  again sitting in his laps.

"Smart yet innocent beauty," he muttered to himself.

Khushi slowly stood up and was going to run away when Arnav held her hand.

"Khushi, I have to talk to you!"

She sat beside him seeing a serious look on his face. "Is anything serious?"

"Khushi, I want to go the place where my car met with an accident."

Khushi looked up at the tall hill in front of her. "There?"

"Yes, is there any way to get there?"

"Motor vehicle, yes."

"Okay, I have called in my new car and it will be here in a day or two then we can go as soon as it here. And one more thing I want to get my car out of the water.

"The one that fell in this lake? It must be destroyed."

"Any way to get it out of the water?"

"Yes, but was there anything important in it," as she looked at the lake.
"So, are you ready?"

She snapped her neck towards him. "Ready?"

"Tonight, I will come to your home to talk to your father for your hand."

Khushi blushed and finally got up and ran. "Khushi, I hope you won't run away when I will need you the most!"

She stopped hearing his words, she turned back huffing and looked at him, she could tell from a distance that he was aching for her. Even before he opened his arms she ran towards him, at that point in the moment he was assured that she was the only one for whom he would give his life for. The one and only girl of his dreams.

He closed his arms around her and felt the warmth and closeness of hers. Never he felt so relaxed. "I would not let you down, Arnav ji!" she said.

"I know!" he said.

***
She entered her home with a great mood but when she saw Rudra and his family in her haveli, it turned bitter.
"Khushi, you have come, go and wear these clothes fast!" Khushi's bhabi, Ahana said but Khushi looked at Anjali, who seemed to steal her gaze from her.

"Anjali, bhabi, can you get me ready?" she said. Anjali nodded, but she still hadn't looked at Khushi. She followed her without a word.

As they both reached in Khushi's room Khushi closed and locked the door and said, "Bhabi, what is that Rudra doing in this house?"

"Khushi, Rudra has come with his family for your hand, and your brothers and your father has not said yes, yet, as they want to know what you want. But you know that sarpanch and babu ji are best friends. However, Khushi I tried my best to tell your brother to tell him about you and Arnav but I couldn't able to gather a courage."

Khushi cupped her face, "Bhabi, please do not take stress. It's not your mistake."

"Khushi, what would you do now?"

"That I should have to."

"Tell Rudra's family that I am ready for the marriage on my behalf!" she said. "But right now I have to leave!"

"Khushi, what are you saying? You could tell your brothers and babu ji that you don't want to get married to him."

"Bhabi, it's not going to end like this, and yes, I know babu ji has not made his decision and this means he would definitely listen me, but bhabi you don't know Rudra. Anyways, forget about this and please take care of everything behind me!"

"But, Khushi?"

"Bhabi, please, bye."

***
"Arnav ji!" Khushi said and hugged him.

All of sudden seeing her crying he got worried. "Khushi, what happen? Why are crying?

"Khushi, if you will keep crying like this how would I know what is wrong?"

She moved back. "I am sorry," she apologised.

"Khushi, it's okay, but tell me what's wrong?"

Khushi told him the reason why she was crying.

"Hmm...so this is the reason!" he sounded calm. "So what you are gonna do?"

"I will get married to him, what else?" Even she joked.

"Are you kidding me? Here I thought you were crying that you are sad that you were going to get married to that guy!"

Khushi hit him on his shoulder. "I was crying because I missed you!"

He laughed as it was only an hour ago she had went to her home. But he knew she was joking. He held her arms, "Khushi, you cannot be anybody else's."

"My family has not said, yes but if this is something my father wants, they will get me married to that guy, and I will not take another breath."

Arnav kept his finger on his lips. "Khushi, don't ever say that again."
He cupped her face. "If you say right now I can go to your house with you, and talk to your dad!"

It is all about us: Sangam Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6: What is our fate? 

"Baba, I don't want to get married to Rudra," Khushi said, looking down at the floor, scared; after gathering a courage to stand in front of her father and say her words.

Her father and her brothers looked at her in shock. Her three sister-in-laws and bhua ji wondered what was wrong with her that she all of sudden saying no to Rudra.

"What are you saying, Khushi?" her bhua ji asked in an anger tone.

"Khushi, why a sudden no?" her elder brother asked. "Do you even know what you are saying?"

Her father raised his hand to stop everyone from asking further questions. Everyone fell silent in a matter of second.

Her heart beat was going wild every second her father chose not to say a word.

"Khushi, do you have a reason?" he asked. "Before you say anything, think twice, be it a perfect reason to convince me. Keep this in mind too, this is going to be only your first and a very last chance to speak out on this particular matter."

"Babu ji, I..." she stammered. Her tongue fidgeted, none a word was ready to come out clear, loud, and her mind paused for no good reason at all. She was struck by a fear as if her death was no closer than an inch away from her.

Everyone around her waited for her reply.

She played with her hands in nervousness. She got it, today was her chance. If not today than never.

"Babu ji, I don't want to get married because..."

Anjali looked at her, hoping her to finally tell her whole family a reason. "Khushi, say something..." she prayed. "Say it..."

Khushi looked at Anjali worriedly. [

  "Do or die!" she overplayed this mantra in her head, loosing count of it.

"Khushi, we are waiting!" Mr. Gupta said.

Dead silence prevailed around as if not even a single life existed.

Khushi closed her eyes; by letting the darkness cool her mind, her overexcited nerves.

She needed Arnav. She loved him. He needed her. He loved her. She had promised him that no matter what she shall wait for him. Even it is for a whole life. She reminded herself of everything before opening her eyes, to see her audience who was still waiting for her to speak.

She still kept her eyes on the floor though. Floor that was blurring in front of her eyes.

"Babu ji, I..."

"Would you say beyond that?" Khushi's elder brother spoke, maintaining his cool.

Khushi didn't get to lift her eyes up at her father. Knowing that her courage will fall flat if in case she did look him in his eyes.

"Baba, I don't like him," words left her mouth, dull.

Mr. Gupta looked at her not pleased at all by her reasoning, his chest popped out he let his hands intertwined behind his back.

"What are you saying, Titliya? Have you gone insane?" Bhua ji broke her silence.

"Jiji..." Mr. Gupta said to let him speak. "And why is that so?" he asked.
Khushi was surprised that he was still calm.

She had her reasons but she couldn't get herself to say it.

"What should I take your silence as, child?"

Khushi for the first time raised her eyes up the floor to her father. "Babu ji, that..."

Her father understood she was scared. She needed time to put her words out of her body. So he let his mind go calm first.

"Okay, tell me, why did you say yes at first place?" he asked.

Khushi took her sweet time to answer him.

"Khushi, speak whenever you are ready!" Still Khushi had no idea she was only making her audience impatient.

Anjali was expecting Khushi to tell the truth and not to waste her time on stupid reasons. No wonder she was getting irritated a little more than everyone else because of her pregnancy.

"Didn't I ask you what you wanted?" he asked. "...before fixing your alliance with Rudra, even when you had said yes?"

"Babu ji, I love someone else!" she said, her words left her mouth at a speed of a light, all at once. Her confession shocked everyone, even more than when she said she didn't want to get married to Rudra.

"Babu ji, why you even care to ask these questions? She is insane. After saying yes to the marriage she is decided on something else. It can't happen."

"Calm down, Soham," his father said, before getting back to Khushi. "Hmm...who is the person that you love?"

Khushi's fear had taken a back seat but not her surprise. And she knew he was definitely going to get mad when she will take Arnav's name.

"Who is it, Khushi?"

"Arnav...Ji," she said in a merely inaudible tone.

"Speak louder!" he shouted.

Khushi trembled, in every possible way she had tested his patience by now.

"Arnav ji!" she said, but still she ate his name in her mouth.

"It's Arnav ji, babu ji!" she said.

Her father took a long deep sigh. Khushi couldn't understand if it was to swallow his anger or something worse than that.

"How long it has been going on? Before you said yes or after...?"

"Before..."

Her brothers and bhua ji, and sister-in-laws, were all dumbstruck. They had so many questions to ask but since Mr. Gupta was doing the talk nobody tried to raise a voice.

"And he loves you too?"

"Yes, babu ji!" she didn't wait to answer him this.

"Khushi, as you know this, that you mean to all of us, everything. And we do love you. For your happiness we will do anything. If you don't want to get married to Rudra, it's alright. I will talk to Mr. Sarpanch (Head of a village)."

Mr. Gupta didn't know how relieved he had made Khushi.  Khushi immediately went to her father and touched his feet. But Mr. Gupta stopped her. Instead he hugged her. "I believe, my daughter will go to that house where she would be happy and would like to go."

Khushi burst into tears, she for the first time came to know what really she meant for her father. He wasn't wrong when every time he said she was the apple of his eyes.

"Don't cry, my child," he said and pulled her away from a hug. "So, tell me when Arnav babu is coming?"

Khushi looked at his face through her teary eyes. She had no answers to question of his. She wiped her tears. "Babu ji, he has gone back to Mumbai for some work. But he will be back soon."

"Hmm..." he said. "We will wait for him to come back. Even I want to meet him, we had long been trying to have a chat with each other since he was deciding to stay at our place," he said.

Khushi looked at Anjali, who was smiling looking back at her. Both were finally feeling that breathing was coming normal to them. Now Khushi had to try to know that where Arnav was.

***
"Oh, man, did you send someone after that Arnav?" Rudra asked his friend Ashok, as he sat in front of a bonfire. Drinking.

"Bhaiya, I did and he will give us the information very soon."

"Did you give him the money?"

"Yes, bhaiya ji, 1 lakh."

"Good, and I hope you would have made sure to explain what we expect."

"Bhaiya ji, you don't worry this time there will not be any problem."

"There shouldn't be," he said. "Otherwise, the condition I have made of other six men will be nothing of what I will make of him."

"Bhaiya ji, he will keep us updated," he reassured him.

"Hmm...Hopefully I can sleep peacefully, and wake up with a good news," he said and laid on a cot, throwing an empty glass of an alcohol on a sand.

***
Rudra's assistant saw Arnav entering in a guest house. He followed him inside, by hiding himself behind bushes and trees. Before he was finally standing at the door, where he could see and hear the conversation without any obstacle.

"Good evening, Nani!" he said.

"What took you to come home this late?" she asked. Arnav hugged her as he meeting her after a long time.

"I apologise, Nani!" he said. "Meeting with an investors on a cruise took a lot of time!"

"It's alright. It's good you are back. Back for a good. You have someone waiting for you."

Rudra's assistant looked through a glass window and had his ear open in a hope to get some of a good news that can excite his boss. He didn't know it would be a fortune for him this soon.

"Someone waiting for me? Who?"

"Lavanya," Nani called. Lavanya came out of the room.

Arnav saw her. "Lavanya, hey," he said.

But he still didn't get what was so surprising about her. She was his friend and he gets to meet her on a regular basis.

"Is there anything that you want to tell each other?"

Arnav was slightly confused but seeing Lavnaya blushing a fear born in his chest. "What is it, Nani?"

"Well, what I believe is you both should get married! You both are friends, you enjoy each other's company. I know I should have waited for this but you know I couldn't I was so excited."

Arnav was so blown out with this news that for a moment of a second he wasn't even sure he heard what Nani said.

Lavanya was blushing looking at Arnav, she was unable to stop her smile. On the other hand, Arnav showed no sign of excitement, not even close to it. Colour drained from his face. Lavanya's smile disappeared seeing his face.

"Look at you, Chote. La, didn't I tell you that he will be dumbstruck."

"Yeah!" she said.

***
"Bhaiya ji, wake up?"

Rudra growled upon disturbed in his sleep. He slapped him and kicked him away.

"Bhaiya ji, I was going to give you a good news!" he said, sadly.

"What in the middle of the night?"

"That Arnav babu, has gone to Goa..."

"So what the F*ck is exciting about it?"

"Bhaiya ji, the guy we sent has found out that his Nani is trying to hook him up with this girl..." he said, getting up from the floor. In a scared manner showing him his phone to him. A picture of him and Lavanya.

"Boy," he screamed in a joy. He got up the cot and hugged him. "I am sorry man, you were to give me such a good news and I was just...I am so sorry..." He kissed his forehead in an excitement. "You are the best, bro. You are the best...I promise if this news is true you will get whatever you want. Now this is what I say an icing on the cake. Call that pandit, I really want him to tell me the best day for me and Khushi to get married to..."

He squealed.

***
Khushi laid on the floor of the terrace of her haveli, watching a sheet of stars as they were there to celebrate with her. She felt her heart flying with breeze. Tonight for her was special. Even though it was already 2:00 AM in the morning she couldn't get herself to sleep, she didn't mind it either. But she had her fears she hadn't talked to Arnav yet not he had called her. May be soon right in the morning, she thought. She had her hopes high because she believed Arnav wanted her as well. She couldn't help stop herself from smiling.

***

It is all about us: Sangam Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Seeing Aman and Kaka in front of himself, Arnav was relieved. And felt half of the burden off his shoulder. Otherwise, until now he was breathing in a regret that because of him they both had to go through a life threatening situation. Since they were there, safe, he had to just make sure that they both returned safely to Mumbai.

"Aman, Kaka!" he said, and walked in a rush towards them. "Thank god, you both are here and safe."

"Sir, yes, we both are fine by God grace," Aman said, he was too relieved to see him fit. If Khushi's friends hadn't told him that he was fine, he would have not even stayed at the hospital for his treatment.

"Kaka, you didn't get enough injuries right? You are fine, right?" he asked, restless.

"Yes, baba, I am absolutely fine. How are you? You must have gotten injuries, you fell down the hill."

"Kaka, there is nothing to worry about. I am fully recovered now."

"Baba, if Deviyani madam comes to know about this accident she will be really mad."

That was so, he thought.

"Baba, I don't know how did the brakes of the car failed? I got it fully checked, and on our way it was perfectly fine, till that accident happened.

About this even Aman was concerned, he looked at Arnav worried. "Don't worry, I will find out about it," Aman said. "But, sir, we did stop at the tea shop on the way, that too near this village. Do you think this could be the work of the person who doesn't want you to buy the land that you are after? Because they might know that we are here and our purpose."

"It could be," he said, being little unsure. He changed the topic giving no hint of his past and unnecessary tension to his fellow mates.

"Aman, did you get to call Nani or you called her?"

"It's not long ago she called, sir. I told her that your phone broke down. And you will call her as soon as you get a new one."

Arnav was worried again, he had lied his Nani to come to Jagatpur. And he knew if he didn't return, she will find out his whereabouts. She has done everything to keep herself and him from this village, and if she get even a hint behind the reason of him to come back to this place, he was gone.

"Aman, get me a new phone," he said.
"Yes, sir."

***
"Hello, Nani, how are you?" he said, concealing his fear.
"Good afternoon, Chote, how are meetings going in Goa?" she asked. "Finally thought of mine came in your mind."
"Nani, it's nothing like that. I was so busy and my phone broke down."
"Yes, Aman told me."
"Nani, you tell me how are you?" he tried to sound normal.
"I am really good, son. When you are coming? Come before I go to England."

Arnav shut his eyes in relief at a thought that he didn't have to worry about her since she will be leaving to England. And he could stay at Jagatpur until his job was done.

"England, when?" he asked.

"This coming week, by the way which hotel you are staying in?"

"Nani, I am staying at the guest house."

"Hmm...I am here in Goa. Tell me where is the guest house I come to see you."

"What?" he almost shouted. "I mean, you are here in Goa, Nani."

"Yes, why? Why are you so surprised."

"Surprised? Me no."

"Shit," he muttered to himself, as he was already thinking how he would reach Goa.

"Chote, you didn't tell me where is the guest house?" Nani asked.

"Nani, I text you the address. But I will see you in the evening," he said. "Right now I am on the cruise with my clients," he said whatever came into his mind at the moment. He was sweating in fear. He knew he was in a big trouble.

"Chote, are you hiding something from me?"

"Hiding, no, Nani. What I would hide?"

"That you know," she said.

"No, Nani. I am not hiding anything."

"I was just pulling your leg, Chote. Come back. I am dying to see you."

"Yes, Nani," he said. He scratched his head thinking how he would leave when he had to convince Khushi's father to get her married to him. Plus the problem that she had already said yes to Rudra. It was going to be hard to change their decisions especially when Rudra was adamant to get married to Khushi. But for now he had to just send message to Khushi, telling her that he had to leave for few days. Now leaving Khushi alone was troubling him. He knew she was going to understand his problem. And it wasn't that her family going to get her and Rudra married within a week. That thought gave him a little relief.

"Aman, we have to return back to Mumbai for few days," he conveyed.

Then he didn't know how to contact Khushi and get all his bag packs. "I have to get all my bags, and from there I will go back, even I will get to tell Khushi know that I will leave," he decided.

***
"Rudra, bhai, that shehre babu is leaving."
"Leaving, where?"
"To Mumbai. And he is going to Haveli to let Khushi bhabi know this and to get his luggage."
"Oh!" he murmured. In fraction of seconds he had a plan ready in his head. "Run now to haveli and tell Thakur ji, and Khushi's brother that my father wants to see them."
"What will happen with that?"
"You just don't listen the whole thing," he said angrily.
"Sorry, bhai."
"Do you know where is Khushi?"
"Yes, bhabi, and all her bhabis has gone to the hospital for Anjali bhabi's check up."
"Looks like my good time is going on. That priest was right. Khushi is only written in my fate. You become Gupta's servant and throw his luggage in his face. If he will ask you let Khushi know something, tell him that you will."
"I got it, bhai," he said and ran to get his job done.

***
Arnav went to Haveli with a hope in his heart that he will meet Khushi and her family as well, and if possible even talk about their alliance and then he won't have to worry about anything. But his all hopes came crashing when he found none was at home.

"Excuse me," Arnav said. And Rudra's friend turned.
"Yes, sir!"
"Can you tell where is everyone?"
"Sir, right now no one is at home."
"No one?"
"No, sir."
"May I know where they are and when they are coming?" he enquired.
"Sir, Thakur ji and his sons are gone out for some work. And ladies are gone out for a shopping. They will be here by evening. Sir, may I know who you are?"
Arnav was in deep thoughts now. He was going to be late if he had waited till evening.
"I am Arnav, can you please give my luggage? It is in the guest room."
"Yes, sir I know you. But sir why luggage? Are you going somewhere?"
"Yes, can you please get my luggage?" he asked. He was angry and upset at the same time.
"Okay, sir!"

He decided to write a letter.

He grabbed a scarp paper from the table and a pen from his pocket.

***


Khushi,

I am sorry to tell you that due to the some reason I have to leave to Mumbai, but I promise that I will come back very soon (within a week). Till then please make sure that you do everything to postpone engagement or even the marriage. Khushi, it will be so hard to spend even a single minute without you. I am leaving my number, you may call me. Rest I will tell you everything on phone.

Take care of yourself.

Yours,
Arnav.
Rudra crumpled the letter in his hands. "Sure, she will call you, Mr. Arnav. Now I see before you come back how I haven't made Khushi completely mine."

"Get the marriage preparations start," he amused.

His friends danced in happiness.

***
"Arnav, sir, we are getting late. Please sit in the car," Aman said.

Arnav still looked backwards. He didn't want to go, but he knew if he had to save a chance to come back to Khushi and get what he wanted, he had to leave.

***
"Khushi, Mr. Arnav has gone back to Mumbai," Savitri said as soon as she entered Khushi's room. "My auntie said she saw him with his other two friends leaving."

Khushi looked at her in bewilderment. "This is totally rubbish. He said he will be coming to Haveli today."

"Khushi, I told you what I was told."

Anjali looked at her. "Khushi, babu ji, has fixed your engagement date with Rudra."

"Now I should leave," Savitri said.

"Khushi, I don't think Arnav really meant his words."

Khushi fell on the floor, when her own body gave up on her.

"Khushi, get hold of yourself."

Khushi didn't say a word, feeling callous. Anjali knew if she tried to pacify her now it wouldn't work. "Khushi, forget him as your bad dream.

Khushi looked at her instantly, and statement made by Anjali forced her to break her silence.

"Bhabi, you haven't seen him, you haven't talked to him, I have. I know there must be some reason as he had to leave like this. . He will be back. Very very soon. I have promised that I will wait for him, even if I have to wait for forever," she said, confidently, looking deep into Anjali's eyes. But tears did form in her eyes.