Wedlock Part 27

CLICK HERE FOR PREVIOUS PART. 



CHAPTER 27


Trendy Pub

"That Kiss doesn’t mean a thing to me"

"You didn’t even show interest in knowing me more than that one night in this Pub"

"I didn’t want the marriage. I didn’t want to be passed on from my father to some other man only because I was overburdening him. "

"Neither this marriage meant anything to me, neither the contract we have now for keeping Di’s wishes nor the new side of your interest in me which you just confronted."

"It’s too late to woe me. "

"Love.. relationships… healthy marriage is the last thing I am looking for right now"





Arnav Singh Raizada gulps the drink, trying to forget these painful dialogues which his wife said to him before leaving him stranded here in this Pub. The same place where she had made beautiful memories for him years back, now poisoned it. He was wrong the whole damn time. He was too much involved in running business. Had he invested a part of his precious time in wooing his wife, things wouldn’t have been so messed up today. What did he think? He would get her to South Africa, confess how they met the first time, show him she had made a place in his heart since then, and she would easily fall for him? He is such an idiot!! Whatever Khushi has seen and felt from her childhood has made her run away from relationships and he is also equally responsible for making her feel so insecure. Falling for a woman is easy, getting her into your life is easier, but protecting her, taking her responsibility, learning her problems, likes, dislikes, living her pain and contributing to her happiness is the toughest part and he missed it out. Does he even stand a chance to try this again? Plus, this was just the first half of his confession and she ran away, what will happen when she gets to know about her mother’s will and how that is interlinked with their marriage somehow? She wont like it at all. She might hate him all the more and that’s the last thing he wants to happen right now. He cannot take that risk. Not today. Not here.

Arnav Singh Raizada finishes his drink, pays the bartender and walks out of the Pub, exhausted by the musings of his mind.

*******************

Hotel

Khushi pushes open the door of their room and kicks out her boots. She took a cab ride all the way to the Hotel. She felt suffocated there. She cannot believe what she heard today. She and Arnav Singh Raizada had met each other first in such an unusual circumstance. She kissed him and didn’t even recall it until he opened up to her about this incident? No wonder that man started thinking she doesn’t care for such actions. She might not have cared before, but now she does.

She sits on the bed, depressed. Arnav’s each and every word said to her in the Pub starts ringing in her ears again.

"You are the first woman to do something so impactful on me"

"I was smitten by you for no idea how long"

"Why do you think I proposed your father for giving your hand in marriage to me?"

"I was wrong to leave you like that."

"I should have used the opportunity to share this with you much prior to our wedding"

"I wasted your life.. I should have taken the responsibility of our marriage"

"I was totally wrong in judging you"

Khushi’s shuts her ears. She doesn’t want to hear his voice, his justifications any more. Only because he has now realized the importance of their marriage, she is not going to change her mind or feelings for him. She only wants to concentrate on her job and make her career. If that breaks his heart, so be it. She doesn’t care. She doesn’t want to care.

*********************

When Arnav reaches back their hotel room, he finds Khushi asleep on the bed. He locks the door and comes to her. She is fast asleep or at least that’s what he hopes because she needs rest after that Jet Lag and whatever argument they had in the Pub. He realizes she is slowly shivering and that’s because she has not covered herself. He quickly covers her with the Duvet and shuts the bed lamp. Disturbing her is the last thing he wants. He strides to the other side of the bed to sleep but stops. After what happened today, he cannot scare her anymore. He will take the Couch tonight. He heads to the Couch and lies down facing the bed. Khushi opens her eyes and pulls the Duvet slowly to cover her neck. She was not fully asleep but when he covered her, she woke up, yet decided to keep her eyes closed. She is not in for another conversation or argument tonight. But what surprises her is seeing Arnav sleeping on the Couch and not the bed. Does this mean he has understood what she wants out of this marriage and is okay with it? She hopes so. She closes her eyes and sleep overpowers her thoughts once again.

*********************

Khushi feels his lips on hers. And the worst thing is that she is the one who initiated the kiss, not him. How can she be so vulnerable and foolish? She headed to the couch early morning, when the sun had not even risen and she leaned over him and kissed? Is she insane? What scares her more is that she is not even able to pull away. That’s worse!!

Khushi opens her eyes wide in shock, her breathing rough. She acknowledges that was a dream. She is still on bed but it felt so real. She is glad it isn’t because that’s really the last thing she would want to do. However hard she determines not to fall into this marriage trap by her husband, she still cannot ignore the fact that they have to be on speaking terms at least until Di is with them. She looks at the couch and finds it empty. … where is Arnav? She recollects the morning after their wedding night. Something similar had happened. When she woke up, her husband had left her.. for like.. forever.. Is he gone again?

The bathroom door opens and he comes out, freshly showered. He looks at her and quickly gauges her expressions.

“I am not going anywhere this time” he says wiping his head with the Towel. She feels uneasy to face him. Perhaps her has the same uneasy feeling but he knows to mask it well unlike her.

She frowns and glances at him quickly.
“Arnav. .our last conversation ..”
“Didn’t go well, I know” he interrupts. “but that doesn’t mean you will stop behaving normal with me. It’s fine if you don’t want love, relationships or healthy marriage right now, but some day you will” he exclaims coming to the bed and sitting on the edge, facing her. “We can be friends until then”

He is taking it all backwards again, she knows. But why? To comfort her? She nods in denial.

“I know your trick. First friends.. then lovers… then partners. I am interested in none of this. Let’s finish the contract and take our separate ways”

She gets down the bed and wears her slippers. Arnav is unhappy with her determination.

“Khushi” he interrupts her again, getting up from bed. She is about to get in the bathroom but she stops. She turns around before and speaks before he can say anything.
“I have been famous for being Fickle minded person. Dad, Kyle, La everyone has been telling me that I don’t stick to one decision. For the first time in my life, I have seriously determined to do something, Arnav. To stand on my own feet, don’t divert me from this. I want to achieve something and be independent of you or my father. Let me be that if you really care about me. Please”

Her words create a deep impact on Arnav today. He has never seen her so serious for something before. He plainly nods at her demands.
“Thank you” she mutters and rushes inside the bathroom. Arnav shuts his eyes briefly. This matter is slipping from his hands and he has no clue what to do.

*********************

“What?” Lavanya screams over the phone. Khushi just happened to call her today and somehow, she couldn’t resist to tell Lavanya what happened between her and Arnav. “You guys had met before your wedding and you even kissed him? That’s horrible. How could you forget this Khushi? Out of everything else, this one scene should have been pinned to your head all the time because I don’t remember you allowing any other man get close to you. How could you possibly forget this?”

Khushi grits her teeth. She had been asking herself the same question since last night.

“I don’t know La.. You have no clue how I am feeling right now.”
“I .. I do understand baby.” Lavanya tries to show some sympathy. “But what are you going to do now? He seems to be smitten, wants this marriage to work. Will you give him a chance?”

Khushi is silenced.
“I don’t know. I have denied him and my decision is final”
“Hmm. Don’t worry darling. Just come back here and we will talk on this. Where is he now?”
“Work!! I told you about his Joint Venture. He is gone for a meeting and I am in the room, resting”
“Why don’t you go out and chill? It will mend your mood too”
Khushi recollects she has a better way to mend her mood. She can talk to Anjali Di for some time.
“Thanks La.. I know what can mend my mood. Will call you later. Bye”
“Okay.. See you soon”

Khushi disconnects and then dials Anjali’s number. The bell rings completely but no one answers. Maybe her phone is in Silent mode. She decides to call up Shyam and check. He receives the call after few rings.

“Jeejaji, Where is Di? I have been trying to reach her”
“Uh. Yea.. she .. she is resting”
“Resting?” Khushi asks. She feels some distress in Shyam’s voice. “Is all okay there Jeejaji?”
“Yes. Uuh.. I will call you back Khushi”
“No wait” she interrupts. “Something is wrong, isn’t it? What happened Jeeju? Is Di fine?”

Shyam gives up his resolve to hide this matter anymore.

“Khushi.. I am in the clinic with Anjali. She got severe pain again and I got her here”
“What? Pain? But she was fine so far. What did the Doctor say?”
“She is undergoing some tests, I hope she is fine”
Khushi’s eyes become moist and she feels disoriented. She cannot imagine anything happening to Anjali or the baby. She had heard it from Aman that even before Anjali had miscarriages at such crucial phases of her pregnancy. That’s why this time they were taking so much precautions for her. Shyam tells her he will update them once he hears from the Doctor. He then disconnects the call. Khushi is worried. She immediately dials Arnav. However busy he is, he doesn’t ignore her call. He walks out of the conference room and talks to her. The moment he hears her panicked voice, he realizes something wrong has happened. And when she tells him about Anjali’s sudden pain, he strides out of the Office.

“Pack everything and reach the Airport. I will see you there” he commands.

Khushi doesn’t ask him anything further. She knows this is the right thing to do. They both cannot leave Anjali and Shyam alone there to handle this matter. Everything else can wait but this.
∞∞∞
Arnav reaches the Airport where Khushi has already been waiting for him. He comes to her and they walk to their Private Jet.
“I had called Nani. She said Di is still in the Hospital” he informs.
“The baby? Is the baby okay?”
“The tests are still going on. Seems the baby’s heartbeat is not diagnosed”
Khushi feels a lump in her throat. They get inside the Private Jet and fastened their seats. She notices the worried expressions on his face and holds his hand to give him some strength.

“Nothing will happen to Di or the baby this time” she murmurs.

Her assurance means a lot to him today. Ever since he has learnt about Di’s condition, he couldn’t hold his panic. He has seen his Di breaking down during the last miscarriage and he cannot see all that happening again. He looks out of the jet window to avoid letting Khushi see his moist eyes. Khushi feels his pain and keeps holding his hand. She knows what position his Di carries in his life and she will always pray that nothing ill happens to this family this time.

*********************

After a tiresome journey of 10+ hours, when they land in Delhi Airport, Arnav instantly takes another follow up from his Nani and she gives him the latest update confirming Anjali is brought back home. Both Arnav and Khushi are glad to hear that. They quickly get in the car and reach Shantivan. Nani is the first one to see them coming.

“How is Di?” Arnav asks.
“She is resting in the room.” Nani replies.

Arnav makes his way to the bedroom and Khushi is about to follow him but Nani holds her hand.

“This is why I denied you to break out Anjali’s pregnancy news to the media” Nani scowls at her. “People have a bad eye on other’s happiness”

Khushi is not orthodox like her but she feels guilty for doing this. Nani leaves her hand and
Walks away. Khushi suppresses the guilt and strides to Anjali’s room. Anjali is sleeping. Arnav and Shyam seem to be talking little away from her bed. Khushi joins them too.

“What did the Doctor say, Jeejaji? I hope you are not hiding anything from us” Arnav asks.
“No Saale Sahab. She is fine. The baby is breathing normal inside her. Not to worry. But the Doctor has strictly asked Anjali not to travel from next month. Which means we will be leaving back to San Francisco this weekend only”

Both Arnav and Khushi freeze hearing that.

“Why don’t you continue the rest of her treatment here?” Arnav suggests “We all are here to look after Di”
“We have better facilities there, Saale Sahab. Plus, the Doctors there know Anjali’s entire medical history. They can take good care of her if needed. I have already talked to Anjali on this and she wants the same. So, we will have to go”

Arnav swallows hard. He knows what the implications of his Di leaving back to San Franciso will be. His Contract with Khushi will stand cancelled before its deadline and probably Khushi will also choose to leave Shantivan because she will no longer have the reasons to stick at this place. Khushi walks to the bed and sits next to Anjali. She keeps caressing her hand.

“Saale Sahab” Shyam places his arm on Arnav’s shoulder. “It’s hardly a matter of 4 more months. Once the baby is born, we will come back here to spend time with you all. And meanwhile, you , Nani and Khushi can come anything there to meet us”

Arnav passes him a weak smile. If only, all this was so easy.


To be Continued.


NEXT PART



READ WEDLOCK FROM THE START. HERE