Chapter 28

'I ---never asked him---' Khushi began, when she was interrupted by the older man.

'Hear me out first.

7 years ago, I saw my son distraught and depressed.

I learned later, it was because you had got married.

7 years I have seen my son try and fail in relationships with a few women.

He tried to make it with Lavanya, but he failed there too.

7 years I have seen my son live half a life.

I am not a good father. I never cared for him, the way I should. I never gave him any emotional fulfillment.

But you had given him something precious, he has been unable to forget.

He lived a fake life for seven years, always burning in his private hell.

He was extremely successful at work, because he put all his energy there.

But even a bad father like me noticed that my son was never happy.'

Ajay Singh Raizada, was silent for a while and Khushi was paralyzed with emotions to speak.

' I confess I have never bothered much for my son.

But even a father like me can love his son and want his happiness.

Money I have in plenty and being my only son, he will get it in abundance.

But, love, contentment fulfillment----it lies with you,' he concluded.

As Khushi continued to be silent, the older man continued

'My son takes after his mother in many ways.

But in a lot of ways he is like me too.

He loves deeply and never expresses it.

I loved my wife.

When she died, I stopped caring for anything.

Women became pleasure things who never meant much.

My second marriage was more for companionship and social contacts, than anything else.

I know the pain of living without the person one loves.

I know what it is to want to feel complete and happy, with the right woman and not being able to have it with anyone else.

Unlike me, Arnav did not go berserk and become a Casanova.

Somewhere in his heart, he had the burning hope of finding you again and having a life with you. It was illogical I know, since you were supposed to be married. But hope defies logic and that hope, I am sure kept him going---' he concluded.

Moving forward he took Khushi's hand in both his hands,' please don't take away the hope and happiness from my son.

Make him complete again.

I can buy him anything but his happiness.

That is something only you can give,' he concluded.

Khushi was tossed into an emotional turmoil due to the confession of Ajay Singh Raizada. She had never imagined she had such a prominent place in Arnav's life. The emotional words spoken by Arnav's normally cold and stoic father left her shaken.

'Can I ask you something Khushi?' the older man said.

'Yes sir,' Khushi said.

'Do you love my son?' he asked earnestly.

Without a moment's thought she said 'Of course. More than my life'.

A blaze of joy shone in his eyes and he raised his hand to touch her head in a blessing. 'Bless you.

And Khushi.

I may not be as great a parent as yours were.

But for what it is worth I beg you,

Don't let me to go to my grave with the unfulfilled wish of Arnav's marriage and happy life.

Please let me live and die with the happiness that my only child is happy in his life.

Your parents are no more, but I am still alive. So, please' he finished.

Finally Khushi found her voice, 'I promise to do my best to fulfill your wish, if that is what your son wants.'

The older man smiled and turned around to leave and added before leaving, 'I will be a terrible father-in-law too, but I will give it my best shot.'

Long after he left, Khushi sat frozen. Did Arnav's father just beg her to marry his son? What a drastic change. Had her Arnav really cared so much for her that his father was here to plead for him? But how did he know where she lived and that she was in two minds about Arnav? Only one person could have told him-Arnav----

Mumbai 3.00 pm

'So what did she say Dad?' Arnav asked his father sitting across his Dad in their guest house.

'She loves you Arnav. She is trying hard not to give in. I can see that. You have met your match in stubbornness Arnav. But I guess she will as she loves you a lot. I can see that too.

Are you sure, this emotional blackmail which you made me do is right? Shouldn't you be trying in the right way instead of this underhand way?' the older man asked his son.

'All is fair in love and war Dad.

I am trying both ways. For a week or more, I never pushed her. I let her be and I have taken each day as it comes, giving her time. She is happy with me, but avoids the future.

I had to do something to make her think again.

So I tried making you talk to her.

I just want her in my life Dad. I will be lost without her,' he said.

'Yes I know. Initially I was wondering whether I was doing the right thing by going along with your plan. But then, I thought, if you find happiness and move on with your life, I will be more than happy. As it is I have never done much for you,' Ajay Singh Raizada said with regret.

'It's ok Dad. What you did meant the world to me. I also thought of asking you for help as all my wooing was not resulting in breaking her barriers about her parents.

I thought, why not make her look at the point of view of another parent.

I admit it was sneaky. But then I don't always play fair. Not when the end justifies the means,' he said.

'I went for you, but ended up talking for myself.

Have you ever wondered why I went astray after your mom died?

Why I became a womanizer?

Why I never cared much for you?

Because, a part of me died with your mom. Nothing and no one mattered after her, not even you.

True love happens only once and after it is gone, life has no essence.

What you feel for Khushi is true love and I don't want you to be lost again by losing her again.

I am sorry I have been such a terrible father Arnav.

As I grow older, I realize I have failed miserably to fulfill your emotional needs,' Ajay Singh Raizada said.

'It's Ok Dad. It hasn't changed how much I care for you. And you are here for me, when I need you the most to win my love for me. She will be mine, won't she Dad?' Arnav asked, needing the reassurance of his father.

At that moment Ajay Singh Raizada was reminded of the 14 year-old Arnav when his mother had been battling her life in the hospital, asking him 'She won't leave me will she Dad?'

He did what he failed to do then, being engulfed in his own sorrow. He reached out and hugged his son 'Yes son. This time no one and nothing will rob you of the woman you love.'

'Thank you Daddy,' Arnav said, not realizing that this was the first time he had called his father 'Daddy' in 14 years.

But for Ajay Singh Raizada, it was a moment to treasure----