Wedlock - Part 31

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Gupta House

“Shashi.. Say something” Kyle insists. Its been an hour since Khushi has left and her husband has not uttered a word. He is shattered and in a completely different world. “Don’t take her words to heart. You know how she can get at times.” She adds.

Shashi swallows the lump of tears formed in his throat. Today, his daughter just showed him the mirror. She was holding up all of it from so many years? Why he failed to read her heart?

“She has got wings ever since she has joined the Raizada family again” Kyle snaps.
“Enough” Shashi shouts at her. “Not one more word against my daughter”





Kyle looks horribly at her husband. This is the first time he is behaving so mad at her.

“What wrong did I say, Shashi? You didn’t hear what all she thought about us? We gave her everything? You fulfilled all her demands and she still thinks we pushed her away? How many times has she embarrassed us before? Have we ever kept a count on that? No! But what did she do? She has measured and judged every single action of ours which was for her benefit only.”

Shashi gets up from the couch.

“What benefit Kyle? What did we do that benefited her?” he asks.
Kyle stands up on her feet.
“What every parent does, we did the same for her. We educated her, spent money on her lavish living, gave her the freedom Shashi and what did she give us in return? This? Slang words and underrated advices of counting our sins?”

Shashi grits his teeth.

“You still don’t get this, Kyle. My girl lost trust in me because I didn’t pay enough attention on her when she needed me the most. I pushed her away, overlooked her”

Kyle frowns.
“And just like she said, do you also think I am responsible for this? Do you think its me who kept you away from her?”
“You didn’t guide me to either to take the right measures for her” he snaps.
Kyle is stupefied.
“That’s a serious allegation you are putting on your wife Shashi”
Shashi rubs his forehead. He is stressed.
“Just leave me alone Kyle.. Please”

He heads for the stairs. Kyle doesn’t follow him to their room. Everything was fine until Khushi visited them today and created this rift between the couple.

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

AR Office

Aman keeps updating Arnav about the status of their projects while Arnav has no ears for it. He is lost. In 2 days, Khushi is leaving and he cannot do anything about it. She had left him and this marriage earlier too but there was no pain. He just thought marrying her was a wrong decision of his life and moved on. But this time he knows it was he who misunderstood her at that instance and probably gave more priority to the little perk which she got in her life even though she had left him forever. Her mother’s will!! He was biased.
The attraction towards Khushi was always there. He saw her once, they kissed and it ignited something within him to have this woman in his life. She is the only woman he has ever felt that magnetism with. How could he lose her? But he was dumb in this subject. Woman and Marriage was not his expertise. He has taken every decision in his life with much thought process and consideration. Marrying Khushi was not one of his usual approach. How could he possibly deny that? Instead of dealing it further with his mind, he should have used his heart. He could have avoided a lot of this pain today. If he had saved their marriage the last time, things would have been different today. She is not wrong to point him for the failure of their marriage. She had no clue of what he felt for her, she didn’t even know she had met him, kissed him. It was his duty to share that incident with her much prior to putting the marriage proposal to her father. He should have met her again, talked to her, understood her pain and reasons to agree for an arranged marriage. But he did none of this. Why? Was he so eager to get her in his life just for the Will? If the will was so important to him, why didn’t he ever encash it?

“Sir” Aman breaks his chain of thoughts this time.

Arnav breathes heavily. His mind is unable to process anything business right now.
“Aman, we will take this up later. I am going home”
“Are you not feeling well Sir?”
“No.. I am okay”

He picks his phone and leaves the cabin.

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

The next day Khushi gets her Visas and tickets. She has to fly exactly 2 days after Anjali and Shyam leaves to San Francisco tonight. She could have travelled along with them but she decides not to. She has her colleague Shikha with her whom she cannot leave back to travel alone. And she also has to shop some basic things before flying. All this needs time. Today, as she finishes her work early, she decides to shop something for Anjali and Shyam. She knows Arnav will never plan any such formalities. So, she will buy it and then maybe they can give it together.

She walks into a Gift shop and to her dismay, Shagufta Khanna is already here.

“Khushi” Shagufta fakes a smile on her face and reaches her. “What a pleasant surprise”
“Hi Shagufta”
“Well, I heard you are going to San Francisco”

How did she know? Who tells her all this? She must be having her own spies who keep a close watch on her favorite subject probably.. Which happens to Arnav Singh Raizada.. her husband.

“Yes”
“That’s great. You should go. I think every woman should stand on her own feet”
OH!! Why wont she like her going away? That will give her chance to lure Arnav again. But Khushi somehow trusts him not to fall in this woman’s trap.
“Thanks, will you please excuse me, I have to buy a gift”
“I can help you” she offers. “I know exactly what Arnav likes” Shagufta adds.
Khushi grits her teeth and passes a sarcastic smirk at her.
“The gift happens to be for his Sister. And I know what she likes, so thanks for your offer but I can manage to look on my own”

Shagufta frowns as Khushi turns around, ignoring her and starts looking for gifts.

“Looks like you and Arnav had a fight!!” she comments again. “Is he unhappy about you leaving to San Francisco?”
Khushi doesn’t reply. She keeps searching.
“Or is this about your mother’s will”

Khushi freezes. Mother’s will? She turns back to Shagufta with a confusion on her face.
“My mother’s will? What the hell are you talking about?”

Shagufta grins in her heart and then pretends to be sorry. She was fully aware that Arnav has not shared any such thing with her and she used the best weapon to kill whatever existed between this couple.

“Oh .. I didn’t want to bring this up. But.. That’s okay… It’s nothing. I am no one to talk about it. I thought Arnav might have told you and.. Anyways.. I should leave”

Khushi holds her hand.

“What do you know about my Mother’s will? What has Arnav to do with this?”

Shagufta pretends to be nervous still.

“Look Khushi, I don’t want to come between you both.”
“Stop pretending to be so nice and speak up” she scowls.
Shagufta nods.
“If you insist”
Khushi leaves her hand.
“Arnav has married you because of your mother’s will Khushi. You know he is business minded. He always was. He doesn’t do anything until he is not profited by it. I don’t know much about the will but it has a clause which can benefit the man who marries you. That’s what I know. The rest, you need to find out yourself”

Khushi feels like the world just ended. Can this be true? But Arnav said he was smitten by her and he couldn’t resist asking her hand in marriage. Something doesn’t match!! Did Arnav lie to her or is Shagufta lying?

“Find the will, Khushi. You will get to know everything”

Saying that Shagufta leaves the store. Khushi feels torn and cheated. If there is even one percent of truth in whatever Shagufta said, she is never going to forgive Arnav, she swears.

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

Shantivan

Khushi comes back home and starts assisting Anjali in her final packing. They are going to head for the Airport now. She is still not feeling good. The Will of her mother is making her curious. And she cannot wait to know the truth behind it. Should she ask Arnav about it directly? No!! Not until she finds the Will and read its contents.

“Khushi… where are you so lost?” Anjali clicks her fingers to get her attention.
“Nothing Di..”

Anjali sits next to her and holds her hand.

“Can I ask you something?”
Khushi curtly nods.
“I know this onsite job of yours is very important for you. Right now, this is what you want. And it is hardly a matter of one year”

Khushi keenly listens to her. She does not understand where this conversation is leading.

“And as Chotte said, people do handle long distance relationships well but.. I somehow feel its too early for you both to separate again from each other. You were already away from months after your marriage. And how much long did you stay together? More than a month, that’s all”

Khushi grips Anjali’s arm to calm her down because while discussing this topic, she sees how Anjali Di is losing her patience and becoming too much emotional.

“Di.. What is your point? What do you want to ask me?” Khushi comes to the point.
“Will you leave my Chotte again?”

Khushi has no reply to that. All this time they stayed together was for the Deal, to keep Di happy. Amidst all this faking came a turning point when Arnav confessed that he was attracted to her the moment they met for the first time. That Kiss.. meant something to him. Though Khushi had no such feelings equalizing his, she still could sustain that but whatever she learnt from Shagufta today, doesn’t make her very sure of their future anymore. If it has any truth, she will break their relationship forever. Not now.. maybe someday.. when Anjali Di can absorb that pain and respect her decision.

“Di” Arnav steps inside the room. “The car is ready. We have to leave”

Anjali nods. Khushi shares a quick glance with Arnav and gets up from the bed with Anjali. That’s when she notices a Red Saree lying on the bed, unpacked.

“Di. You forgot to pack this”
Anjali smiles.
“That’s for you. I Had bought it for you recently, as a good bye gift when I leave.”

Khushi takes it happily and they both hug each other.

“Have a Safe trip Di” she murmurs.
“You too. Just don’t forget anything here. Shyam will pick you up from the Airport”
“Thanks”

Anjali smiles and pats her cheek. They come down. Nani cries.

“Nani.. You can come to see me when the baby is born. I will need you there for some time to assist me taking care of the newborn” Anjali cheers her up.
“I will.. I will definitely come when the baby arrives”
“Good”

Arnav opens the backseat door for his Di to get in. He is going to drop them to Airport where his Private Jet will take them further aboard. Khushi waits at home. She waves her hand for Shyam and Anjali, hoping to see them soon again. Arnav drives out the Gates and Khushi heads back to their room. She has very less time in his absence to find that Will which Shagufta had mentioned.

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

Arnav comes back home after 2 hours. He is tired mentally. He was not prepared to see off his Di and Jeejaji so soon. He thought they would stay here for a month more which didn’t go as planned. And now, after 2 days Khushi is leaving too. How is going to survive all of this? He steps in the room, expecting Khushi to be asleep but she is not. The bed is vacant. That’s when he sees her at the dressing table. She is wearing the same Red Saree which his Di had just gifted her before leaving. She might not be wearing the Marital Chain or Sindoor, but she looks perfect. his wife.. Somehow the same emotions which ran inside him the first time they kissed, tickles his stomach again. She meets his eyes. He fails to read the pain in them from far. His feet automatically stride to her. Khushi swallows the lump of pain formed in her throat as he reaches her and palms her cheek. He is so mesmerized. Why did she dress like that? Is this some kind of hint that she wants their relationship to work? He doesn’t know. He can just hope for that.. He strokes her cheek with his thumb. Khushi shuts her eyes. It lures him all the more. He gazes her parted lips and strokes them with his thumb too. Is this really happening or is this just his dream? He wants to kiss her.. The moment he shifts his gaze from her lips and looks in her eyes, he realizes she has been crying.

“Khushi?” he tries to cup her cheeks but she pushes him back and shows him the Papers she had been hiding at her back.

"So, this is why you married me?" she asks tearfully.

Arnav is speechless. She found her Mother's will? How? It was locked in the closet in a very secret drawer whose keys he forgot to carry with him today at work, like he usually does.

"Khushi..  Let me explain" he tries to come closer but she steps back.
"All that was a lie? You smitten by me, that kiss meant something to you and all that?"

Arnav gulps.
"Don’t link them. They are two different things" he snaps.
"You lied to me Arnav. And this Will proves it"
"I lied?" he growls back. "Can’t you read my eyes Khushi? My body language the moment I see you? My expressions? Can’t you read any of these?"

Khushi swallows the ache again. Yes, that’s what she wanted to analyze. So, she chose to wear the same Saree which his Di gifted her.. his favorite color, see what effect it has on her. And somehow, she felt that intensity in his eyes… he gets drawn to her like a moth to a fire. It’s cannot be just for the Will that he married her, it’s also because he is attracted to her, doesn’t matter if she is totally opposite to the kind of woman he has always appreciated and been surrounded with. But it still doesn’t prove him sane.

"I am too hurt to read your feelings right now because of this..." she shoves the papers again before his eyes.
"This... Is a mistake" he admits.
"Mistake?" she snaps.  "A mistake which your best friend knows about and not your wife?"

Arnav narrows his eyes. Is she talking about Shagufta?  Did Shagufta tell her about the Will? Why is that woman so adamant in breaking their marriage when he has clearly shown her the red signal? But he will deal this separately. Right now, sorting Khushi's misunderstanding is important.

"I can explain it"

"This is self-explanatory Arnav. You married me for your monetary benefit.”
He comes ahead and clutches her arms tight.
“Allow me to explain” this time he doesn’t plead… he demands.

Khushi tries to shrug him off but fails. She looks mercilessly at him. She is not going to give him any chance to explain, just like he didn’t on the next day of their marriage. But she cannot be that cruel. She cannot repeat things which can tangle their relationship more. She inhales deep as if showing signs of listening. The moment she calms down, Arnav loosens his grip from her.


To be Continued


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