Chapter 21

Khushi would have appreciated a longer room tonight for herself. A longer room and a magic mirror for advice maybe. She had been pacing to and fro for past two hours in her room. From one end to the other. The clock was chiming 1 am and sleep was still no where near her. She had just been proposed marriage by Arnavji ... ARNAVJI. Well, not just, its been two hours ago, but her mind refused to acknowledge the time lapse. And her heart refused to acknowledge the proposal itself. And her feet had surprisingly not given away yet. Had someone told her that Arnavji would ask to marry her a year back, she would have gone into shock. But if that was the parameter of her reaction, she wasn't faring much better right now either, considering her audibly disarrayed monologue.

'Was he joking with me?'

'No. Maybe he was testing me. How would I react at a chance of grabbing a rich husband'.

'YUKKK Khushi. How low can you think? Has he not proven enough that he genuinely regrets his earlier stand?'

'Then what could it be? Is it all for custody only?'

'OMG. Again doubting Arnavji. He said that custody does not change anything in the marriage'.

'Then why me? I am a normal girl, normal face, nothing extraordinary'.

'Yeah. WHY THE HELL WOULD HE WANT TO MARRY ME when he can have any girl he wants?'

'He is ASR. THE scion of Raizada Empire. And me? NOTHING. NADA'.

'Should I try and talk him out of his stupid plan of marrying me. After all I am his friend. I should look out for him. Right?'

'ARGHHH ... Why can't he sort out custody issue without giving me a heart attack and ruining his own life?'

'What use is all this money of his, when he has to compromise on such a big thing in his life? HUH'.

'GOD Khushi, you are sounding so self-deprecating. Get a grip. Arnavji must have thought something before putting this proposal in front of you. He is so intelligent'.

'Well, to be truthful, his intelligence did not give him much leverage in this case'.

'For God's sake at least STOP deprecating HIS intelligence'.

'If I say no, then will he marry someone else?'

'Of course idiot, it's kids custody on the line here'

'But if I say yes, then I'll have to MARRY him. I'll have to marry ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA'.

'You catch on real fast girl. HUH'

'AAH. I get it. I am his best AVAILABLE option'

'GO ON. Delude yourself some more. Did you forget the women drooling over him at that restaurant? They might deliver a kid or two to marry him let alone win custody'.

'And he asked me. Of all the available girls, he asks me to marry him'.

 

'Does that mean he WANTS to get married to me? OMG is it?'

'GOD KHUSHI, you are losing it'  her feet finally gave away and she sat down on her bed. 

DEEP BREATH IN. DEEP BREATH OUT. DEEP BREATH IN. DEEP BREATH OUT.DEEP BREATH IN. DEEP BREATH OUT.

She decided to actually sleep over it like originally planned, but Arnavji's earnest face refused to leave her memory when he had told her that this marriage would be a REAL one. 'Who am I kidding?'  she groaned  'I have just been asked to marry the most eligible bachelor of Delhi and he had in no uncertain terms assured that this would not be a sham marriage'. 

SLEEP. SLEEP. SLEEP.

Think over it tomorrow with a calm mind, she told herself. Just that her tomorrow came just 4 hours later , when her mind jerked her out of slumber and nagged her to start thinking again. But much calmly this time. And Khushi started thinking, curled up in her bed, about the man who last night knocked on the door of her life and was waiting for her to answer it now.

From that-snob-brother-of-Anjali-bhabhi to Arnavji. From scaring her wits by icy cold glares to reassuring her with his honey brown eyes. From avoiding him royally to hugging him close when sick. From throwing money in her face for taking care of HIS niece and nephew to today asking her to be their co-guardian. YEAH, they have come a long way. Saale sahab of her Shyam bhai and Chotey of her Anjali bhabhi had asked her to become his wife. Who would have thought that this would happen one day. Khushi could not deny that Arnavji would have not approached her if he was not sincere. But what she can not figure out was, WHY HER? He said that she can live in the house no matter what. So Adit Adya's upbringing could not be the issue. Is she missing something?

Well, she'll have to stop thinking on that line, because only Arnavji's knows the answer to it. Maybe she'll ask him THAT as a doubt.

And the question he asked is does SHE want to marry him? Khushi had long ago stopped letting words like marriage, prince charming, happily ever afters delude her from her harsh reality. No matter how much Shyam bhai humored her, she always knew that with her background, he can not change the fact that she was not a socially viable daughter-in-law material for respected families. And she had made peace with her life. What she did not see coming was Arnav Singh Raizada taking over her life, and that too to this extent. He irked her for three long years, but when he decided to make up for it, he did that spectacularly. Becoming her best friend, her confidante and her guiding light. And now this proposal.

What will Arnavji get be making her his wife? He is such a nice man, a filthy rich catch for husband seeking girls and so handsome. She would lie if she says that she was never attracted to him during her stay here. It would be difficult to not get attracted to a man like him and she was no exception. Just the other day when he took care of her, she had caught her mind swimming into plethora of strange feelings towards him. And now with this new development, she just does not know what to do. Should she give her life a chance, with Arnavji, Adit and Adya? Or should she back out? One thing she was sure of was that if she goes ahead with his proposal, she will never regret it. She trusted him that much. Just that she did not want him to be shortchanged in all this.

But who could understand Arnavji's life better than her. She had lived and survived one of the worst phases of his life with him. Did that count for nothing? Adit Adya look up to them as their parents. Can that be belittled? They share their day and their problems with each other by the pool every day. The understanding that they've developed, does that count for nothing?  They care for each other unconditionally. Does that not mean anything? 

'Why am I thinking in terms of money and power? I would be shortchanging anyone I would marry in this life. I cannot match materialistic possessions of anyone with my background. And when a man is accepting me for who I am, I am being so uptight. He is seeing beyond the society and money, trying to protect the small world we have created here. Investing his immense faith in me by asking me to marry him. Looks like Arnavji turned out to be more perceptive of us two. The cold harsh businessman is more attuned to feelings than me who claims to be so emotional. Now what should I do? God please help me'  she thought with her eyes again drooping in need of some sleep.

In the other part of the house, the man who started it all was amazingly asleep with peace written all over his face. And why not, he had unloaded a huge burden he was carrying around off his chest on to the pretty mind of his lady love.

Next two days brought a lot of restlessness for the two souls. As time passed by, Arnav became skeptical about Khushi's reply. And Khushi on her part kept succumbing to dilemma on and off. Meals became a very quite affair, with small smiles and smaller conversations.

Khushi's mind was on a thinking spree. And think she did, from morning to afternoon, from afternoon to evening, into the night and still going strong. Today while feeding Adit Adya, she recalled the heart breaking feeling she encountered when she had thought he wants to marry someone else. That her angels will belong to some other women. Yesterday, when she was asking Hariprakashji to replenish Sugar-free in the pantry, she realized she wanted to take care of Arnavji. While waiting on dinner for him, it dawned on her that she had not eaten alone since so long. When Adya refused to sleep in Savita's arms, she could not shrug the glee at being wanted so dearly. And she was being offered a chance at all of this, a chance at normal life. Then why not take it? But will she make a good wife? Will she be a proper Raizada bahu? Oh god, she could give anything to get naniji or bhabhi's opinion right now. Will they approve of her? Would have they thought of her as a proper match for their beloved son and brother?

She was confounded to no end. She had contemplated calling Akash and asking his advice on the matter. Afterall he was her close friend and a lawyer too. But discarded the idea. Knowing how private a person Arnavji is, he might not like her discussing his personal matters with his employees. Well, if Akash would have asked her to marry him, she would have no doubt ran to Arnavji for advice, employee-boss-whatever he had had been not-with-standing, she chuckled. Marrying Arnavji will sure guarantee his advice on all matters that confuse her, which is actually not at all a bad deal, she smiled. Marrying him will also ensure the protective cocoon his presence provides her for all her life.

Hmmm, so if there is trust and friendship and protection, they can easily fall in love with each other, can't they? And if the thousand volt of current that passed through her body at his good night kiss is any indication, they have chemistry too, at least she does with him. Further, she'd accepted that it'll break her from within if her family is taken away from her. So for once she'll be selfish. Yes. Her social standing is something Arnavji will have to worry about. She can offer her heart and mind in this relationship, and he will have to make do with that. Yeah. She'll tell him exactly that and leave the decision to him. 

Arnav looked up from his laptop screen and smiled as Khushi knocked on the door of his room.

'Arnavji ...  I have come ...  to ... ask my doubt'  she haltingly said.

Arnav said nothing, but motioned her to sit on the bed, opposite the recliner he was sitting on.

'I did a lot of thinking on what you said'  she started.

'And?' he stiffened in anticipation.

'And I want to ask you, why me?'  she presented her most important doubt.

'Maybe because I like you'  he replied relaxing a little.

'You do?'  she was not prepared for THIS reply.

'Of course not. I love to propose marriage to a woman I absolutely hate, so that we can mutually ruin our lives and drag two innocent toddlers into hell along with us. SERIOUSLY Khushi? You think I don't like you?'  he sarcastically replied.

'Oh. I ... I know that. I was just asking. You don't have to be so mean'  she replied a little defensively.

'Can we move to your next doubt then?'  he offered.

'I don't have anymore doubts. THIS is my biggest concern. For the rest I trust you and I trust myself. But Why Me? I will not bring anything to the table in this relationship and you can get to marry anyone you wish. I don't want you to regret anything in future. So please answer me, why me?'  she pleaded.

Arnav smiled in his heart at Khushi's maturity. She had already ruled petty stuff out of their equation, trusting him and herself. Now he'll have to do his part and dispel her biggest concern.

'You are aware of my past, Raizada family past, aren't you?'  he asked.

She nodded.

'It is not about what you bring to the table in a relationship Khushi. Its how you treat the relationship once you're in it. On the risk of sounding pompous, I would like to say that both my father and Shyam jiju did not bring much into their relationship with Raizada women, in terms money or position. They were the ones benefiting from Raizada connection. But everyone knows how different the two relationships were. Just because jiju gave his heart to his marriage, to Di and Arvind Mallik sucked the heart out of his relationship. I trust you to give this relationship, me and the kids all you've got. And lemme tell you that you too have earned my trust. And in return I can promise you MYSELF in this marriage, all strengths and flaws included'  he put his innermost thoughts in front of her. 

Khushi could not speak for a while after his honest answer. If that's how he sees this marriage, then she as well might be the luckiest woman alive on the planet. She will give her ALL to this marriage. Yes, she has decided. Its a yes.

'Yes'  she muttered.

'What?'  he asked.

'I said Yes. I'll marry you'  she elaborated.

'Khushi, you did not ask me anything much. Are you sure?'  he blurted taken aback by this sudden acceptance.

'What else is there to ask Arnavji?'  she genuinely questioned.

'Ummm..  about LOVE in the marriage ... or maybe about our age difference ... I don't know. Girls are pretty stubborn about all this stuff, aren't they?'  he supplied.

'I guess am not one of those girls then. I believe that LOVE will come in its own time in our relationship and our age difference of 6 years does not bother me'  she smilingly replied.

'Are you sure that you'll learn to love me?'  he could not help but ask this.

'Arnavji, you cannot LEARN to love. You just FALL in love. And out of us two, we should worry about YOU. I'll manage just fine on that front but a cynic like YOU will not realize love even if it hits you in the face you know'  she replied cheekily.

'GOSH! This clueless creature is now MINE to cherish'  his eyes twinkled, as Khushi went on about her 'extensive knowledge' of love.

Deep down Arnav was ecstatic that marriage topic has not at all affected their comfort level, and that Khushi is agreeing to marry him. But instead of grabbing on to the opportunity, he decided to give Khushi once last chance to rethink, just to be sure.

So as Khushi stood up to leave after a few minutes, he seriously asked once more  'Khushi, you're sure you want to go ahead with the marriage?'. 

'Ji'  she replied.

'If you want you can take more time to decide. You can still ask more questions, tomorrow, day after and then answer'  the seriousness was still there.

'Are YOU having second thoughts?'  she frowned.

'No, ofcourse not'  he looked into her eyes.

'Then? I have said yes after taking my time and doing a lot of thinking. Do you think I'll change my mind?'  she challenged.

Instead of answering, Arnav stood up and walked to her, really close, his eyes just a few inches apart from hers, locking them effortlessly. She gulped, as the heat emanating from his body, and that woody musky smell of his touched her senses. TOO CLOSE, her suddenly racing heartbeats told her brain.

After looking into her eyes for five very long seconds, he said  'Khushi, the thing is, now that you've agreed, I will not.LET.you change your mind'  with an intensity that gave her goosebumps all over.