Wedlock - Part 30

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Chapter 30

“No Khushi, No” Khushi speaks to herself in the mirror. “This is your only chance to set your life back on track. You cannot miss this golden opportunity”

After sharing the news with Anjali, Khushi suddenly started thinking from the other point of view. What will happen when Arnav Singh Raizada gets to know this? Will he be happy? Will he use his power to cancel this offer and make her stay back in India? But .. if he likes her and wants her to aspire her dreams, he will let her take this one step. He cannot be that selfish!! But everything is far in love and war. What if Arnav uses this one line to set happiness in his life at the cost of her missing this opportunity? No!! He can’t do that, can he?





“Whatever happens. I will not step back now” she shows some strength. “I have decided to move out and this is it”

She again looks in the mirror with extra confidence.
“Don’t be scared Khushi. This is your life and no Arnav Singh Raizada can snatch that from you” she repeats. She decides to practice her lines well so that when she has to have this conversation with Arnav today, she will be prepared. She slides to the closet and takes out his Suit and wears it. She now pretends to be Arnav Singh Raizada and gets a frown on her face.

“What The!! San Francisco? No ways, tell your Boss to find someone else. I won’t let you go and work away from me” she screams faking his voice and taking off his suit, she stands opposite now.
“Arnav.. I am not asking you this.. I am telling you. This is my dream job. I will go”

She again wears his suit to pretend being him. She fakes clutching her forearms, assuming that’s what he would have done to her in anger; clutch her arms and drag her closer.

“Don’t you ever talk to me like that” she yells faking his voice again. It’s like she has memorized all his dialogues, this one being one of his signature lines whenever she has argued with him.
Taking off the suit again she becomes herself. She fakes a yelp considering he has clutched her forearms.
“That’s a great idea. Let’s stop communicating after I leave to San Francisco. That way you won’t lose your temper and even I would be able to work without your pressure”

She laughs at her own self for being so confident and arguing with an invisible Arnav Singh Raizada. She is having fun by doing it. Suddenly she feels a gust of wind blowing on her face. It’s a totally new feeling. She has never felt this before. She turns around and finds the man she was pretending to be, a while ago, is leaning at the door, watching her intently. Oh No!! Did he witness her entire drama? She hopes not. She gets speechless and picks his suit from the recliner.

“Uhh… I.. I was cleaning the closet.. and . realized this suit is dusted. I .. I will give it for laundry”

She takes the suit and makes her way to the door. She reaches him and waits for him to give her way to move out, but he doesn’t. He takes his Suit back from her.

“This Suit was dry cleaned yesterday” he replies.

Khushi’s jaw drops. Couldn’t she find any other excuse? Not that he asked her one!! But, what should she do now? Give up? Or play hard again to get what she wants? Just few minutes back she was so confident and now when he is actually here, she is fishing for words?

“So..” she clears her throat “You.. got to know about my Onsite Offer?” she asks.
“I saw you switching roles” he replies.
Khushi gulps.
“So… ? What have you decided?” she asks him again.
“What would you do if you were me?” he cross questions. “If your husband whom you have feelings for was going to walk away from you, for a year, would you let him do that or not?”

Khushi is clueless. Why is he asking her that? She cannot take this decision.

“I don’t know. And I can never think in that angle” she snaps. “Because I cannot feel something which I don’t feel at all. So, don’t put me into this web, Arnav. Just say what you think about me going to San Francisco and end this”

Arnav sighs. His gaze never leaving hers.
“Is my decision going to change anything?” he asks. “Will you give me that power to stop you from going away from me?”

Khushi feels the heat between them. She is unable to meet his eyes because there is so much hope and need of assurance in them. He wants to desperately control her fate and she is not going to let him do it this time.
“No” she spats.

Arnav smirks. He had expected a similar reply. Who says she is fickle minded? He sees her as a strong woman who knows to take decisions for herself, who puts forth her choices before people without any remorse. She is not what she used to be one. She has developed and he is very confident that she can take care of herself hereon. He gently holds her hands. No more pinning, pulling or pushing. It’s a simple hand hold.

“If you ask me this again, I might never let you go, Khushi. But I respect your decision because that’s what every good husband would do. My motive is never to stop you from touching skies, I just want to be beside you and watch you live with joy. If only you give me this chance ever in future”

Khushi is overwhelmed.

“Achieve whatever you want.. stand on your feet… earn yourself.. get your confidence back to live independently… Get every wish fulfilled of yours.. because at the end of all of this… when you sit back alone and think.. you will realize the need of having someone to share this joy.. someone who can pat your back, praise you, guide you and celebrate with you. I will wait for that day when you actually start missing the importance of relationship, marriage and love. I want to be the only person you think about that day, Khushi”

Her heart beats louder. She can feel it beating in her ears, its that loud. Her voice is stuck and she cannot take her eyes off his. Why? What is happening to her? Is this his plan? To distract her and make her stay? But… The moment she thinks in this angle, he leaves her hand and heads inside the bathroom to freshen up. She finally breathes again!! Was that a Yes? Has he agreed to let her go to San Francisco? He just wished her all luck, didn’t he? She smiles and suddenly the smile fades away. But.. why did he say she will some day sit alone and think about him? Want him to be beside her.. That she will want this marriage to work? Will this happen in future? She shuts her eyes to stop her brain from overthinking. Right now she has to celebrate his approval and start packing. She also has to give her final confirmation to Prem who will then make further arrangements for her. She cannot wait to go away. From this place.. From her father who never cared for her.. and from her husband who has left her currently in a very confused state. She is unable to decipher where their relationship stands exactly and where will it be after one more year? How long will they drag this?

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

At the Dinner, Arnav shares his decision of acceptance to let Khushi work in San Francisco. Anjali is shocked to hear that. She thought Arnav would oppose it considering he seems to be serious in Khushi now.

“Chotte, I understand you want to support Khushi in her career but what about your relationship?”
“What about it, Di? Everything stays as is.” He replies.

Khushi shifts uncomfortably beside him. As is? What is that supposed to mean?
“Long distance relationship works these days, why can’t long distance marriage work for us then?” he asks.
Khushi swallows the food and keeps chewing the next morsel. Maybe he is saying this to keep Di’s heart.

“Why can’t you shift in San Francisco too?” Shyam interrupts.
Arnav sighs.
“Wish I could. But I have business to run here. Plus, the new joint Venture between Raizadas and Guptas will need my presence in South Africa too in between. And most importantly” he turns to see Khushi. “I don’t want to overcrowd Khushi there and meddle with her work”
Khushi glances at him. He has been taking her side too often lately. What is all this? The practice of becoming a good husband henceforth?

“Hmm” Anjali smiles. “Khushi, you will be staying with us then”
“No Di” Khushi denies. “Shikha will be there too. So, the company is making arrangements of our stay. I have suggested them to look for something which is nearby your residence so that I can visit you and Jeeju frequently”
“What? We will stay in same city and not together? That’s unfair” Anjali argues.
“Di.. Please understand. Why I am doing all this? Why am I taking up this offer there? To be independent right? Then how will I be independent if you and Jeeju constantly make me feel like home? I promise I will spend the weekends with you two”

Shyam agrees. Anjali’s agreement is still On hold. But thinking from Khushi’s perspective she ca understand her need of staying away. That way she will be more confident and handle things on her own.  Nani doesn’t utter a word in between. She is so happy with the changes here. Finally, without doing anything much, Khushi is going to be very far from their lives, especially Arnav’s. What else does she want?

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

Khushi shares the news with Lavanya who is shocked at first but happy that Khushi is shaping up her career beautifully. They promise to see each other soon when one of them is free to travel and meet the other. Khushi comes back in the room and notices Arnav working on his laptop. She has no words to describe how much relaxed she feels right now, because he has given her that support to go away from this place and work independently. If nothing else, she has to be thankful to him at least. She doesn’t know if she will miss this regular good husband-wife acting which they do, after she reaches to San Francisco. Maybe she will miss it for some time and then forget it and move on. The same can be expected from him too. He might be feeling all that for her today, but who knows, he might stop having those feelings later and she hopes that happens. So that she will not have this slight ache anymore in her heart for hurting someone’s emotions and walking away. Now that reminds her of some other important topic. She has to inform her father too about it before she leaves this place. She just hopes he doesn’t argue much because it’s not going to have any effect on her.

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

Gupta Residence

The next day Khushi comes to Gupta house early morning before her father can leave for work. She wants to speak to him and not his wife alone about this.

“Khushi.. what a pleasant surprise. Come in.. What will you have for breakfast?” Shashi asks keeping the newspaper away. He gets up and hugs his daughter.
“No thanks Dad. I had mine before coming here”
“Okay.. sit”

Kyle comes out from the Kitchen. She has no clue Khushi is here.

“Darling.. Your favorite French Toast is ready” she keeps the plate on the table and that’s when she notices Khushi.

Khushi glances at her. Whatever this woman is, at least she takes care of her husband, loves him, so what if she couldn’t love her husband’s daughter? If her father is happy, she is happy too. Doesn’t matter if he ever cared for her real happiness or not.

“Khushi?” Kyle comes ahead.
“Khushi” Shashi breaks her chain of thoughts. “What got you here so early morning? Is everything fine in Shantivan?”
“Yes” Khushi nods. “All is good. Di is leaving back to San Franciso and so am I”

Shashi and Kyle, both get confused.

“I have got an onsite offer from my company. To work in San Francisco for a year. I have accepted it”
“What?” Shashi snaps. “But ASR? Did he agree? I am sure he must have gone mad listening about this”
Before Khushi could clear his doubts, Kyle pokes.
“I am sure you have argued with your husband again and came here to help us convince him. We are not going to do that Khushi. It’s your personal life now, we cannot interfere”

Khushi throws an angered glance to her.

“I don’t remember if you both ever cared about my relationship with him. And even if you did for 1 percent, it was only to make your Business alliance with Raizadas up-to-date.”

Both Shashi and Kyle are struck by her sudden downpour of emotions. Khushi gets up.

“Anyways, I came here to inform you that I am leaving Dad. And the Raizadas support my decision. I am not running away this time.”
Shashi is still skeptical.
“What is the need of doing all this, Khushi? You have a family now, a husband and house. Concentrate on that instead of trying to prove something”

Khushi laughs sarcastically.

“Dad… You must be the first father who doesn’t want to see his baby doing things on his own. Why?” she growls. “Only seeing your daughter living a lavish life is not enough Dad. Only throwing money at her for her needs is not enough. She has other needs.. other dreams.. other wishes to fulfil and I don’t know how but you always missed seeing them in my eyes”

Her eyes become moist. She was not prepared for this conversation here with Shashi but somehow she couldn’t avoid it now.

“I needed more, Dad.. I needed You.. Your time.. Your love. And you missed giving it to me at every step. I loved Maa.. I mourned for her when she died. And the only person who could get me out of that misery was you. I needed your support and what did you do instead? Found another Mother for me and gave me a Surprise. I wasn’t prepared. It was your duty to prepare me. You know when you married Kyle, what I thought?” she comes forward. “I thought you were waiting for Maa to die so that you can marry again”

Shashi is angered.

“How dare you Khushi?”
“Yes.. How dare I think that way?” she snaps. “I was misled by my own mind and heart and it was your responsibility to show me the truth. But you failed. Can’t blame you.. You wanted to give all love and respect to your new wife and the ultimate goal of yours to get happiness in your daughter’s life was crushed by your own foot”

Kyle is speechless just like her husband. But she still doesn’t keep quiet.

“Don’t think we didn’t love you. We got you married to the best man but what you did? Ran away the next day, letting people laugh at us” Kyle taunts.
“Oh Yes.. Marriage” Khushi now turns to her. “Right. So, tell me one thing Mrs. Kyle Gupta.. If you had a daughter and she was misled, would you still get her married away to a man whom she doesn’t even know? You would get rid of her, like forever? Is that what you would do? Is marriage the only solution for treating every over pampered and stubborn child? Tell me. because.. If that’s what you think it is, then I am glad you and my father never made children because his or her life would have been spoiled too just like mine”
“Khushi” Kyle screams at her in anger and even raises her arm but Khushi holds it at the right time.
“Another mistake, Kyle.. Watch yourself!! You have been making a series of mistakes and don’t even have a count of it. Don’t be like me.. I have been doing the same in my life so far. But now, I have learnt. I know to take responsibility of my own sins and even have the guts to bring a change in me. I wish, you both could also learn this skill someday”

Saying that and giving Shashi a final glance, Khushi walks out of the house.


To be Continued.


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