Chapter 32

"Amma, did Arnavji return home?" Khushi phoned her mother from her sweet shop.

"No, Khussi."

"He went early in the morning," Khushi grumbled, worried. "It is late noon now. Where is he?"

"He will come back, Khussi," Garima consoled her.

"Pata nahi if he has had his lunch or not," Khushi fretted. "And Gopalganj is not so far away that he needs half a day to tavel to and fro."

"Khussi!" Garima warned her. "Don't worry. When Arnav bitwaa finishes his work, he will return."

"Yes," Khushi cut the call, not really convinced.

A while later she looked at her phone. She could call Arnavji. But she didn't have his number.

She called home again.

"Amma, is Anjaliji there?" Khushi asked.

"Yes,"

"Can you call her to the phoone?" Khushi requested. "I need to get Arnavji's number from her."

Arnav's phone rang.

"Arnav Singh Raizada here," he said formally.

"I know it is you," Khushi laughed. "Will Jiju pick up your phoone?"

"Khushi," Arnav's voice melted, the huskiness pronounced. It was as though she had heard his unspoken plea and touched him from miles apart.

Sunehri who was packing, looked at him, astounded at the change in his tone.

"Arnavji, is your meeting over?" Khushi asked.

"Yes," he sighed.

"When are you coming back?" she asked.

"I have to be here for a few more hours. I will get there by night," Arnav said.

"Did you have lunch?"

"No,"

"Arnavji!" Khushi protested.

"I will have it," he promised.

"Promise?" she asked.

"Promise," he said.

"Arnavji, if I am asleep when you get back, will you wake me up?" Khushi asked.

"You want me to?" he asked.

"Yes," she said. "Otherwise I will worry."

Arnav swallowed. "I will," he said softly.

"Acha, hum phoone rakhte hein," Khushi smiled.

"I will see you tonight," Arnav smiled.

Sunehri left the room to pack Asha's clothes, smiling.

"Khushi, this phone number...?" Arnav asked.

"It is my new phoone, Arnavji. Buaji said my old one is missing," Khushi sighed. "Otherwise I could have called all the contacts in my old phoone and maybe that would have helped me remember my past."

Arnav swallowed. "I will see you tonight."

"Ji. Hum phoone rakte hein," Khushi smiled.

"Who is that?" Sunehri who had returned to get a bag, asked timidly, too struck by the change in Arnav to withhold her curiosity.

Arnav smiled softly. "Khushi."

"Your... wife?" she guessed.

"My wife," Arnav said with conviction.

Sunehri smiled.

Arnav said, "I... I will just go out and buy lunch for all of us. Aman will be here soon."

"I will finish packing," Sunehri said smiling slightly.

Arnav parked his car before Gomti Sadan late at night and sat thinking.

Should he or should he not tell his family the truth about Sunehri? His instinct was to tell all, but his Nani and his Di would be very hurt. How would they react to the news of Asha's existence?

He thought of everything that had happened till then, the web of lies that his father and Chacha had woven, a web that had trapped his Mama and Garima aunty... the coil that Shyam's lies had created, lies that had almost destroyed many lives and had given indescribable pain to the victims.

No, no more lies..., Arnav decided. It is better to know the truth even if it bitter. What is the use of letting Di live in a dream world when the reality is waiting at her doorstep to pounce on her?...

He alighted from the car and slowly entered the courtyard on soft feet.

The Raizada ladies and the Guptas were sitting on cots, chatting. Akash, NK & Mamaji had returned to Delhi on a lightning visit.

Khushi jumped up from her seat.

"Arnavji," she called, smiling. "Aap aa gaye! I will get dinner for you," she ran to the kitchen.

"Khushi didn't go to bed?" Arnav asked the others It was way past her bedtime.

"She refused to go, Nandkisore, saying that she would sleep only after you had gotten home safely," Buaji grimaced.

"Did you meet her, Chotey?" Anjali asked, anxious.

"Yes," Arnav drew in a deep breath to say more.

"Arnavji, " Khushi called from the dining room.

"Have dinner, Chotey. We will wait here for you," Nani said.

Arnav nodded and moved towards Khushi.

Khushi sat by him as he ate, serving him, seeing to it that he finished everything. She did not chatter, somehow sensing that he was at the end of his tether, very disturbed.

As she was about to clear the dishes, Arnav caught hold of her arm.

"Khushi,"

She looked at him, surprised.

With molten caramel eyes filled with love, he said, "Thank you,"

"For what?" she asked.

"For being you. For being with me," he said.

Khushi stared at him.

"Khushi, my Mama killed herself," Arnav began.

Khushi gasped, her eyes filling with empathetic tears.

"I was 14,"

"He Devi Maiyya, so young!" Khushi whispered.

"Mama found out that ... my father was having an affair."

Khushi could only look at him.

"It was Di's wedding day. That is when Mama found out and sh... shot herself," Arnav said, tired of carrying this terrible burden of painful memories.

Khushi moved towards him on fast feet and hugged him, pressing his face against her soft, warm bosom.

Arnav let out a deep sigh of relief. He hadn't been hugged for so long... in fact since Khushi had left. He had gotten used to being wrapped in her arms at the slightest excuse. The few months he had lived with her had made him addicted to her generous hugs. The softness and warmth of her silky-smooth body pressed against his hard one, the jasmine fragrance of her hair and skin, the heart-felt, giving cloak of her arms around his shoulders... he had missed them so.

"Khushi, come to the courtyard, please?" he murmured against her heart. "I have something to tell all of you."

She nodded, freeing him from her arms reluctantly.

They walked together to the two families gathered in the courtyard.

At the end of his narrative, there was a shocked, teary silence.

"Chotey," Anjali's voice was feeble.

"Yes, Di," Arnav answered her unspoken question.

"Poor Ratna," Nani lamented, thinking about her daughter. "I should never have trusted Sumi when she told me that her son was the epitome of all virtues when she brought his proposal for Ratna."

"Ek aur bacha. Woh bhi bimaar, Hello Hi Bye Bye!" Mami exclaimed.

"You had a lucky escape, Garima," Buaji said. "Nandkisore was very kind to you."

"Yes, Jiji. Otherwise..." Garima looked at Sasi, her eyes full of pain and tears.

"What have you planned for Asha, Chotey?" Nani asked, tired of life.

"Treatment. She needs to see a doctor in Delhi. Sunehri & she need a place to live and a means of livelihood. I need to ensure all this," Arnav said.

"One more burden on hamre Arnav Bitwaa's shoulders," Mami said bitterly. If she could have met her brother-in-law for 5 minutes, she would have torn him to shreds with her bare hands for destroying his children's lives. "Bura mat maanna, Saasumma. But I am glad that Anurag killed his brother. Nahi to humein unka khoon karega padi."

"Go to sleep, Chotey. Today has been a terrible day for you," Nani caught hold of Arnav's hand and lovingly pressed his fingers.

Anjali nodded. "You have done everything necessary, Chotey. We can deal with the rest when we get to Delhi."

Arnav nodded.

All stood up to go to bed.

Khushi walked behind Arnav as he moved towards his room. As he reached his door, Khushi stopped him by tugging at his hand.

He turned around to be rewarded by a warm, Khushi hug. Standing there with his arms full of Khushi and the cool night air ruffling his locks, he felt as though he had everything he ever wanted to live happily forever.

Khushi lifted her head to look at him.

"Arnavji, you are such a good man," she whispered, her breath singeing the stubble on his lean cheek.

Her arms tightened around his shoulders and her fingers caressed his back clad in formal clothing.

At that moment he felt he could be anything. Good. Noble. But not a saint.

"You made everything alright. You helped that lady and her child," Khushi murmured. Unknowingly she pressed herself closer to his hard body.

"I owed it to her," he managed to say through a constricted throat.

"Your mother will be so proud of you, Arnavji," she said.

Arnav's eyes grew moist.

Khushi leaned forward and kissed him soundly on his cheek. "Shubh Ratri."

"Good night," his lips brushed against her soft, smooth, creamy cheek lingeringly.