Posted:
19th May '14 - 28th September '14
Pearl... Don't you think, you took little more gap between updates?
Pearl... Don't you think, you took little more gap between updates?
A/N: Hello friends. Long time eh? So, finally I am here with the new chapter of this forlorn story and before I offer it to you, I want to thank each and every person out there who waited patiently for me to update this one. This really means a lot to me. Thank you for being the best readers. đł
A special mention to AALUSLOLWA and Divyahet for their not so-patient-waiting and indirectly threatening me to update this story. đ Another thank you to Sankadevi_lg for... everything. đ¤
Now, here is the chapter. đ
(Kindly overlook the typing errors, if any)
Banner Credit: asrcraze đ¤
Chapter 24: Marry Me
If you think the difficult time in Raizada Mansion had come to an end youâre certainly embracing an untrue notion. The difficult time had just set in and was in no mood to bereave the house of its presence. Anjali had spent more than few days in complete solitude dismissing everyone from her personal space.
Only Naniji was allowed to enter in and look after her. The arrangement wounded everyone but the most damaged person was Arnav. Anjali had refused to talk to him and wouldnât look at him. As for Khushi, she had stood beside Arnav and tried her best to provide him the strength he needed the most.
It was only today that Anjali had stepped out of her room and joined the family for breakfast but words still eluded her. Silence was her companion.
After the breakfast, Arnav had offered to walk her back to her room but was refused by a silent shake of head from her. Arnav would have pressed on but one look at Anjaliâs unmoving face was enough to drop the idea.
As of now, Anjali was seated in the center of her bed, hugging her knees while her eyes were passively fixed upon a drawer which housed her Mangalsutra and Sindoor.
She had locked them away in the drawer the very same day Shyam had been taken prisoner. She was aware about the divorce case filed in the court and also the case for fraud and tricking the Gupta family.
Shashi Gupta had been in a speedy recovery mode and it was revealed that Shyam was the cause of his inability.
A report had been filed for the same based upon the written statement provided by Shashi Gupta who was still struggling with speech problems.
This new revelation had further come as a shock to Gupta family and the Raizada family but both the families had rather dealt with the news quite well.
So, now while Anjali was meditating alone in her room a soft tap at the door perked her attention yet she didnât respond. The tap was repeated again and again until Anjali left the bed and attended it.
Upon opening the door, she found a dishevelled Arnav on the door. To say she was surprised wouldnât represent the situation rightfully. Anjali was surprised cum confused.
âMay I come in, Di?â she heard him say and blinked, waiting for the words to sink in.
âYou donât have to ask. The house is yoursâ Anjali replied and walked back to her earlier posture back on the bed.
If the words hurt him, his face didnât betray the emotion.
âWhy are you here?â Anjali had to break the silence after ten minutes since Arnav didnât.
He continued to stand next to the bed and watch her.
âYou wonât address me as Chote, Di?â Arnav asked in an aggrieving voice.
âWhy should I? You certainly arenât the person I used to address as Chote. You have grown up, too grown up to be called Chote, havenât you? Or should I say you have ceased to be the person who was my Chote? Because you definitely werenât my Chote when you learnt the true face of that vile person and decided to keep it hidden from me. You werenât my Chote when you allowed yourself to make decisions which should have been made by me. So, now why do you want me to address you as Chote? Havenât all this while you have proved how grown up and efficient you are? You didnât need your Di all this while, so why now? Why are you here? Because you think I am hurting? Because you think I need your support? Are you once again here to tell me how grown up you are? That you can handle this entire thing and I canât? Why Chote? Why do you think you need to babysit me all the time?â Anjali shot questions one after the other and did not cry even once. Her face was drained of the tenderness everyone was used to. The tenderness was replaced by something fierce and challenging. After a very long time, Anjali Jha had let Anjali Singh Raizada surface up. She was sounding like an elder sister would, and not like a sister who was only capable of love and affection and tears.
Arnav was surprised enough and could not find word because each question was rightly framed. He had allowed himself to play the role of the elder sibling but that was instinctive on his part. He had done it because he was used to doing it. After the death of his parents, Anjali had been too broken to shoulder the responsibilities which originally were hers so Arnav had taken them onto his shoulders and Anjali hadnât complained, ever. But today she was challenging her brother, raising questions so as to why he took decisions on her behalf. It was a mixed feeling for Arnav. He was happy to see the long lost side of his sister but he was sad for the situation it took for Anjali to find herself back. So, as he was busy processing the situation and did not answer back Anjali decided to let the words flow out of her. She needed to speak out every single thought she had dwelled upon in the past one week.
âDo you know what is ironical about this situation? That man, he fooled me by making me believe he loves me and you fooled me too. You fooled me by making me believe my world is spinning in the right direction while it was not. You shouldnât have done that. You should have talked to me right when you discovered the truth. That would have saved you from hurting her, Chote. In your impulsive act to secure my hopeless married life you destroyed Khushiji's life. And in doing so you made me hate myself. I have become the reason of all the pain and hurt Khushiji is going through. I find it impossible to meet her eyes. It was my husband who tried to taint her life and it is my brother who has sentenced her to a life of misery and pain. This is what makes the situation unforgivable. I can forgive you for keeping me in the dark but I cannot forgive you for what you did to Khushijiâ Anjali paused to catch her breath while Arnav looked as if he had been struck by lightning. His face was expressionless but his eyes held enormous pain, pain which had been inflicted by Anjaliâs words. After a great deal of effort he had managed to step out of the sea of guilt and self-loathing for hurting Khushi and make himself believe he can re-earn her love and trust; but hearing these words once again he doubted if he deserved that love or not.
âDi,..â He tried to speak up but Anjali resumed speaking.
âI know you want to know how do I know about your and Khushi jiâs contract marriage and why did you marry her. He told meâ Anjali interposed, clenching her fists as she referred to her husband.
âShyam?â Arnav did not know how did that word escaped his lips for he was surprised once again. Shyam told Anjali? How? When?
âYes, he did. He told me when I visited him. After he had been taken away and you thought I was sleeping in my room I visited him. I needed some answers from him and it was then I learnt about your contract marriage. He was proud when he told me how he had managed to ruin Khushi jiâs life. He said she deserved this for refusing to belong to him. He also said I deserved his betrayal because I limp. He told me he was always ashamed of my leg but the money I have allowed him to tolerate me. He never loved me. He said he does not want this baby and that if I abort this baby he will come back to me. And he wants money and bail in returnâ Anjali went on talking and Arnav could see she was now talking to herself, reliving the disgusting memory.
He moved forward and tried to shake off the trance Anjali was slipping into. It was like she was going back to the memory she was recounting and Arnav could feel panic setting in. He was afraid to see his sister in such a condition.
âDi, you need to forget those wordsâ Arnav said in a strong voice, holding Anjali by her shoulders and forcing her to look in his eyes.
She finally did and Arnav felt relief flooding in but before he could speak any further Anjali spoke again, this time in a firm voice.
âI slapped himâ she said and looked into her brotherâs eyes.
âHe deserved it. Didnât he?â She asked and Arnav nodded. She finally hugged him. Arnav hugged her back.
âI am happy, Chote. I am not going to waste my tears over a man who never loved me. I wonât mourn his loss. I am too happy with what I am left with i.e., my child. I donât need himâ Anjali said and Arnav stroked her hair.
âI am sorry, Di. I should have told you about himâ Arnav answered.
âYes, you should have, Chote but I forgive you. And at the same time I cannot forgive you for what you did to Khushiji. You have committed a sin, you know that? Khushi ji should hate youâ Anjali said and felt it when he winced at the words. But that was true and Anjali was not going to take her words back.
âMaybe she hates me Di but I love herâ Arnav said and this was the time for Anjali to be surprised. She pulled back from the hug and looked up at her brother with disbelieving eyes.
âYou donât mean it, Chote. If you would have loved Khushi ji you wouldnât have reduced her to what she is now. When was the last time you heard her laugh freelyâ Anjali asked the question which had been lurking in the back of Arnavâs mind ever since he had forced Khushi into the contract marriage.
He smiled at that, an aching smile.
âI have been a terrible person to her, Di but I am trying to make up to her. I really am. And trust me; I am not trying to win her back because I want her. It is because I need her. Need her as much as I need my next breath. I will do my best to make her believe in me, to love me back but in the end, it will be her decision to stay with me or leave me. I donât have it in me to force her again into somethingâ
Anjali, who by now had only been aware of the pain she was going through, could suddenly see that her brother was hurting more than her. She had never thought it was possible for someone to feel the pain he was inflicting on other. But here it was. Arnav had inflicted pain upon Khushi but he had felt it too, maybe more than Khushi felt because hurting the person you love is a task which slowly consumes you. If this was a tough situation for Anjali it was a tougher situation for Arnav.
She had lost a husband who never loved her but Arnav was on the verge on losing the only person who he had come to love. In this minute, Anjali realised this was her chance to decide what kind of person she wants to be and she made the decision without wasting a second. She wanted to the elder sister to his Chote. All her life, Arnav had played the role of an elder sibling in her life and now it was her turn to shoulder the same responsibility. She will put her pain behind. Mourning and nursing sorrow for a worthless man was not going to be her. The decision made her smile and made her feel better.
âDonât worry,, Chote. I am sure if you can communicate your true feelings to Khushi ji she will see how sorry you are. She may not forget all the pain you have caused her but I am sure sooner or later she would be able to put it behind herâ she told her brother.
It also made Arnav feel better and the siblings got busy discussing the divorce case which was already in progress.
All this while they remained oblivious of Khushiâs presence at the door who had heard every word of the conversation ever since Arnav had entered in the room and with tears in her eyes, she carried the glass of juice back to the kitchen.
~~***~~
Three more days passed and Shyam had been forced to sign the divorce papers under the third degree treatment of Indian Police (if you know how effective it can be in situations such as these). Anjali signed the papers too and it was only the matter of a few days before she could once again carry the Raizada surname with her.
Everyone at Raizada mansion had once again begun to hope for happiness but Arnav knew better. There was still a big, unmoving stone obstructing the road to happiness but he had all the intentions to get past it.
He took Khushi out for movies (particularly Salman Khan), brought Gol Gappas for her, learnt to prepare Chaat for her and burnt his hand while trying to fry Jalebis. Obviously, Khushi was touched by all his gestures and Anjali never forgot to exclaim publicly how sweet Arnav was being to his wife but Arnav could see that none of the smiles Khushi gave ever reached to her eyes. He could see through her and that only made him feel anxious. Maybe he was too late. She had forgiven him and she smiled at him, even laughed at times. They slept on the same bed and she cuddled into him. They woke up in the mornings and she still pretended to sleep so he would kiss her forehead. But among all this something was missing. Something Arnav couldnât place his finger upon.
He had four more days to make her stay and he thought harder and harder, trying to come up with something which would make her stay. He finally got his answer.
~~***~~
Four more days. Khushi thought as she lay motionless in her bed. Their bed, she corrected. The sun was rising and rays splintered in the room through the glass windows. It was his time to wake up and her time to do her best and pretend sheâs asleep. Sometimes she wondered if he knew she feigns sleeping but there was no chance he could know that, can he?
She willed her heart to go easy when she heard him shifting beside her and when she felt him sliding closer to her body and mentally sighed in approval. One of his hands reached her face and then the other. His touch seemed different today, somehow it felt more intimate and it burned her skin with more intensity. She stayed silent and passive and then she felt his soft lips landing on her forehead. It warmed her skin and pleasured her soul. She counted and realised he lingered longer than usual. Good for you. Her mind commented but her heart was busy savouring the moment.
He pulled back after a minute but like every time she did not voice out her disapproval. She waited for him to move back but her heart started fluttering wildly when his hot breath continued caressing her face.
What is he doing? She wished she could open her eyes and see him but she would not risk it. He does not need to know that this is a moment when she wants time to freeze. So, she does not open her eyes. Her stomach is feeling funny when she feels him leaning in, once again. Is he going to kiss her again? But this time she doesnât feel him leaning down to her forehead.
Her heart stops beating when she feels his lips against hers, moving ever so slowly, softly. Pretence jumps out of the window and her hand finds his hair, threading them.
She moans and the pressure of his lips grows stronger. He sweeps his tongue over her lower lip and she arches her body into his.
The kiss reminds her of the previous kiss they had shared but before she could think any further his hands nest her face in his palms and deepen the kiss. Reason abandons her.
âI love you, Khushiâ He murmurs against her lips and she nods. She knows he loves her. She loves him too and she wants to tell him that but she will not. Itâs just a matter of four days.
Four days. The reminder of four days jolts the senses back into her but she doesnât have to pull back from the kiss. He is already pulling back and then he leaves the room.
Khushi is bemused by what just took place. She takes her own time and waits till her heartbeats become normal and then she leaves the bed to begin her day.
~~***~~
Another day passes by and she sees less of him. Heâs keeping busy. Last night, he returned home late and ate his dinner in silence. Then he slept. When she woke up he had already left, without kissing her at all. She tries not to feel disappointed for itâs just a matter of three days.
She wonders if the previous morning was some kind of closure on his end, acceptance of the situation. Maybe he has given up trying to win her back. The kiss was his goodbye. The thought wrenches her gut and tears rise in her eyes. She wipes them and recalls his words to Anjali.
ââŚI will do my best to make her believe in me, to love me back but in the end, it will be her decision to stay with me or leave me. I donât have it in me to force her again into somethingâ
Maybe he has realised what her decision is. Maybe he assumes she doesnât want to be with him. The thought smashes her heart to smithereens. She will always want to be with him but on what basis?
The only thread which is holding her to him is the contract marriage which is going to dissolve in next three days. What right she would have on him then? She cries a little more and then there is commotion downstairs. Wiping her tears, she heads down.
~~***~~
Arnav is standing in the middle of the room and her family surrounds him. They look angry and so does his family. Well, only Naniji and Mamaji look angry. Mamiji is more like confused and Akash, Payal and Anjali have resigned looks on their faces.
Most angry person is her Buaji who is pointing her small, fleshy and stout finger at him and saying how undeserving person he is. Undeserving of the love and respect the family had for him. Her Amma too looks angry but sheâs trying to calm down her Buaji.
As the spectacle goes on, Arnav stands silent and hears everything. Khushi wonders at the source of his patience but slowly anger fills her too.
Why he had to do this? It was just three more days and things could have remained buried. Why did he pull her family in? Why did he reveal the truth to them? Why now? Why canât he let this end peacefully?
She hears her Buaji telling him she is going to file a court case against him for forcing her 'delicate as flower' child into a contract marriage against her wish.
âThatâs enoughâ Khushi hears her voice travel through the room and it pulls everyoneâs attention to her.
Disregarding every single gaze in the room that is directed to her, her eyes connect with Arnavâs and she reads something undecipherable in them. Is that hope? Happiness? What makes him happy about the situation? Is he happy that her family is here to fetch her? He wants her to go with them? Of course. Why else will he call her family here and tell them about the contract marriage. Heâs finally given up his attempts to win her back. That hurts more than she would like to admit. She thinks of his soft lips which kissed her, she thinks of his eyes which carried love in them, she thinks of his touch which always incinerates her skin. She will have none of them henceforth. The realisation appals her.
âTitaliya, how are you?â Her Buajiâs voice pulls her out of hurting thoughts.
âI am very good, Buaji. What would happen to me?â She asks as she joins where everyone is standing.
âWe are sorry for what Chote did to you, Khushi bitiya. We realise how wrong he has beenâ Naniji cuts in.
âHe didnât do anything wrong, Naniji and he never forced me. What happened was by our mutual consent. So, I donât see why everyone is blaming, Arnavji. This mistake is as much mine as it is his. I agreed for this. So, none of you have a right to blame himâ Khushi spoke in a voice more firm than she had ever used before her family.
âBut he blackmailed you into agreeing for the contract marriage. He threatened you that he wouldnât let Akash marry Payalâ This was said by Garima who was clearly offended by Khushiâs words.
âI know that, Amma and I have forgiven Arnavji for that. Heâs sorry for what he did. He did it because he was misled by Shyam or he wouldnât have ever done that to me. Arnavji is a good person. What he did, he did it only to save his sisterâs lifeâ Khushi finished.
âNo, that wasnât the only reason, Khushi. I did it also because I wanted you in my lifeâ Arnav interposed, speaking for the first time she reached in the hall and he said the words with great conviction, his eyes staring directly into hers. She had to look away.
âBut Arnav chose a wrong wayâ This was said by Mamaji.
âI know that Mamaji and I am sorry for that, sorry more than I can express. And I wanted all of you to know that this has always been my mistake. Khushi was never wrong. It was meâ Arnav said.
âThat we see now and we will take our daughter away. She doesnât have to live here with you. This contract is expiring anyways. You will have no right on herâ Buaji spoke again and before Arnav could argue, Khushi intervened.
âI will not comeâ
Garima looked ready to speak.
âI am still Arnav jiâs wife and I have to stay hereâ
âHe is not your husband. There was no priest in the temple when you married. There was no fire. You did not take Pheras. Signing a piece of paper is not marriageâ
It was all it took Khushi to break down. She burst into tears.
âI know that but he is my husband. I am going to live with him for another two days. That is all I knowâ Khushi spoke in between her sobs and Arnav hurried to her.
âShhâŚKhushi. donât cry. I will make everything rightâ He whispered to her while Anjali asked everyone to calm down and think rationally.
She signalled Arnav to carry Khushi to their room while she talks with the family. Arnav nodded and scooped Khushi in his arms. She did not protest.
It felt good to be held by him and she closed her eyes, one of his hands fisting the front of his shirt and her other hand around his neck.
She opened her eyes when he placed her on the bed. She reluctantly let go of his shirt and looked away.
âI am sorryâ she heard him speak. Why was he sorry now? He did what he had to. Went ahead and made her life a little more difficult. As if the pain of leaving him wasnât enough he also had to let everyone know how cruel he had been to her. What did he actually achieve by this?
âYou donât need to be sorry, Arnavji. You always do what you feel is good enough. So, you called my family and narrated them how unjust you have been to me. But you really didnât need to do this. There was no need for you to face the brunt of their anger. This could have been buried. So why did you do it? This day is as good as spent and that leaves us only two more days to be together so why not spend these two days in peace? Why do you have to play a knight in the shining armour when I donât expect you to? Are you trying to earn my sympathy?â Khushi had intently chosen the harsher words because she wanted to hurt him.
But he did not even flinch. Khushi wondered why so? Wasnât he supposed to scream back at her and manhandle her? Hold her by her arms and bruise them under the force of his steel grip? Somehow it was still hard for her to believe that he wasnât the same person who yelled at her every now and then. To be precise, she did not believe that we wouldnât go back to being the same person with her. She trusted his angry side but she was still learning to trust his good side.
âI donât want to earn anything more than your trust, Khushiâ He spoke after a while.
âAnd how would revealing the contract marriage to my family would make me trust you, Arnavji?â She asked.
âI did that because I want you to know I will never ever allow anyone to blame you for things you did not do. It was my mistake and only I should be blamed for itâ He said with utmost sincerity and caressed her cheek. She could tell he was thinking of the slap Garima had landed upon the same cheek when they had appeared before the family with wedding garlands around their neck.
âI want you to know I will never allow anyone to hurt youâŚnot even myselfâ He said, sitting on his knees before the bed so he could look in her eyes as he talked.
âTrust meâ He muttered, his hand slipping down to clasp hers.
âWe only have two daysâ She spoke weakly.
âWe have forever Khushi that is only if you want itâ He spoke, his voice ringing with hope and love.
âMarry meâ He said.
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