Chapter 1

rulama

@rulama

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

RECALLING ARNAV

Dedicated to Prash_FF.

PRELUDE

Khushi sat looking at the dead fire in the havan kund, dark smoke rising from the wet embers, the wood dripping water thrown over it by Dadi who had wanted to stop the wedding and had spewed vicious accusations against her Amma.

Dadi had said that Arnavji wouldn't come, that he did not want to marry her, that he hated the very thought of her, that he did not want anything to do with the niece of the woman who had killed his mother and father. But how could Arnavji abandon her? How could he forget their love? How could he live without her? How could he leave her behind when he knew that she could not live without him?

"Titliyaa, udho, Nandkisore." Buaji whispered. "Arnav bitwaa won't come. Let us.. let us go home."

Khushi shook her hands away. What did Buaji know of their love?

Babuji sat in his wheelchair, too helpless to even wipe away the tears flowing down his face. Garima sat at his feet, weeping, knowing that she had destroyed her daughters' lives.

"Khushi, it is no use waiting. Arnavji won't come." Payal wept in to Khushi's shoulder.

Khushi shrugged Payal away. Why did her Jiji have so little faith in Arnavji? The love that bound her to Arnavji till the end of time and beyond? Their love was greater than hatred, greater than pain, far far greater than prejudice.

"Khussi bitiyaa, go home. The wedding won't happen tonight." Nani wept.

Khushi turned wet eyes to look at the elderly lady. How could Naniji have so little faith in Arnavji?

Khushi looked around.

Mami was sitting by her Saasumma, her head in her hands. Anjaliji was weeping. Nanheji had tears in his eyes. Akash Jiju was looking at her with pity.

What was wrong with all of them? Why couldn't they see how much Arnavji loved her and how much she loved him? How their breaths would stop if they went away from each other. How their hearts picked up the other's beat when they came close? Were they all blind? Khushi wondered, frantic, feeling as though she were swimming in a sea of honey, the sticky liquid trying to drown her, pull her down. Their love had been tested time and again and it had emerged strong, glowing. Neither Shyam's lies nor Arnavji's past had been able to kill it.

Arnavji would come. He may be late, but he would come.

Anjaliji's phone rang. All eyes turned to her. She answered the call with shaking fingers.

"Chotey?" she whispered, but the whisper was as loud as a bomb burst.

"Aren't you returning home, Di?" ASR's voice came through, but it didn't sound like his voice.

"Chotey... the wedding... Khushiji..." Anjali gasped.

"There will be no wedding. Return home, Di." His voice sounded cold.

"Chotey, Khushiji"she is waiting." Anjali's voice was a thin thread.

Khushi grabbed the phone from Anjali's hands.

"Arnavji, it is me. Arnavji, when are you coming?" Tears dripped down her cheeks.

There was cold silence.

"Arnavji, you promised. You said you wouldn't be late today. That you wouldn't make me wait. Arnavji..." She sobbed.

Silence was her only answer.

"Arnavji, dekhiye, I am in my wedding joda. Our family is here, waiting for you," Khushi wept. "Where are you, Arnavji?" Her limbs trembled.

"I am not coming for the wedding, Khushi."

Ice filled her veins.

"I have no desire to marry the girl who is the niece of the woman who had an affair with my father and caused my mother's suicide."

Khushi stood frozen, his words filling her ears.

"The same blood runs through your veins, Khushi. I will not marry you."

Khushi stood still, the phone held to her ear.

"Go away, Khushi. Get out of my life. Don't set foot in our house any more. The Raizadas are dead to you."

Khushi swallowed, her whole body trembling violently.

"Every moment of my life after we met, after you destroyed my show at Sheesh Mahal, has been filled with pain, loss, trouble and aggravation. No more. Get out. And stay out." He cut the call, the phone falling from his nerveless fingers as he ripped out a part of his bleeding heart and threw it away as far as he could.

The dead phone fell from her numb fingers. Khushi fell to the ground in a dead faint.

Part 1: 99755180

rulama2014-01-18 20:42:11