PART 12. NAANIJI THROWS A GOOGLY!
Previously on Kya Pyar Karoge Mujhse
Arnav sighed as he came out of his thoughts just as Khushi spoke up, "Ab Arushi, tum soch rahi hogi ki aisa kya hua ki tumhaari mummy zindagi ulat pulat hone ki baat kar rahi hai? Toh yeh raha uska jawaab! Naaniji ne humein aur tumhaare papa ko bulaaya aur jab hum dono Naaniji ke saamne pahunche toh..."
Two and half years earlier...
A Day after Rain Romance
"Humne faisla kar liya hai!", Naaniji announced just as Arnav and Khushi came into the living room and stood before her. Khushi looked on confusedly. "Bahut jald hum Arnav Bitwa ki shaadi karwaayenge!" Khushi felt the earth shift beneath her. She looked down in horror. Her Arnavji was getting married! She could not breathe. She felt the walls close around her. Blackness was threatening to darken her eyesight. Somewhere she heard Arnav roar asking who was the girl but his voice seemed so far away. She felt like she was under water and drowning. Just when she thought she was going to faint Naaniji's voice rang out clearly, acting as an anchor and pulling her out of what she thought was her nightmare, "Khushi Bitiya se! Aur kis se!"
The darkness cleared and Khushi came back to herself. She looked at Naaniji in shock. Her! Arnavji's bride was her, Khushi Kumari Gupta! Hey Devi Maiyya! She felt hope blossom in her heart and slowly the hope took wings. Her heart started beating faster and tears of happiness filled her eyes. She was getting married to her Arnavji! Her mind started racing as she imagined their wedding, him dressed royally in sherwani and her looking like a princess. Just as she imagined their saath phere, Arnav roared again, "What! How could you Naaniji? Aap kaise mere zindagi ka itna bada faisla aise kar sakti hain?"
Khushi's eyes widened in shock as her brain went blank. All she could do was stare at Arnav in shock. In her happiness of falling in love for Arnav, she never once considered the possibility that Arnav might not love her. Hey Devi Maiyya! Nahi! Yeh aap humaare saath mat keejiye! Humaara dil is tarah mat todiye!
"Chillaayiye mat!", Naaniji roared as she stood up, "Aapan bhool rahe hain ki hum aapki Naani hain! Aur us rishte ke naate humein poora haq banta hai aapke liye ladki dhundhne ka aur use apne ghar ki bahu banaane ka! Aap toh koi naya kadam uthaate nahi, koi ladki pasand karte hi nahi. Isliye humein hi kuch karna pada! Ab humne Khushi Bitiya ko chun liya hai! Uske Bauji se bhi baat ho chuki hai aur unhonein bhi iss rishte ke liye haan kardiya hai! Toh ab toh yeh shaadi hoke rahegi!"
Arnav glared at Naaniji for a second and then turning around he stormed off to his room. Khushi felt her knees wobble. Her family wanted them married. His family wanted them married. She wanted them married. But the person she wanted to marry did not want her! Tears welled in her eyes and she ran away from the hall to her room to avoid breaking down in front of his family. Paayal's voice echoed behind her, "Dekha Naaniji! Khushi sharma gayi!"
The moment she reached her room, she flung herself on to the bed and sobbed her heart out on the pillow. Why? Why was this happening with her? Why can't Arnavji love her? Was there something wrong with her? Why? And now she can't even refuse to this marriage. Because she never had gone against her Bauji and she would never go against him now either. She had to marry Arnavji. If only he loved her back, today would have been the happiest day of her life.
Khushi continued to cry for another half hour before there were no tears left to come out of her eyes. She sat on her bed hugging her legs to her chest, her head against the wall as she stared at a distance. Her thoughts were all jumbled. Was it that bad marrying Arnavji? It was obvious he cared for her. And yes, he did not love her and did not wish to marry her but atleast she was getting to marry the love of her life. How many girls in the world were that lucky? Very few, Khushi realised. Not everyone gets what they want. She was getting it. She was getting Arnavji as her husband. She should be happy.
Suddenly, another thought entered her head. What if Arnavji refused to marry her? Then what? She took a deep breath. Then so be it. Devi Maiyya ne aaj tak humaare saath koi bura nahi kiya hai! Aaj bhi nahi karenge! Agar humaare naseeb mein Arnavji ka pyaar likha hai toh woh humein jaroor milega! Aur agar Arnavji ka pyaar nahi likha hai, toh hum kitna bhi ro lein woh humein nahi milega! Aur usi tarah agar humaare naseeb mein Arnavji ki patni hona likha hai toh woh hoke rahega aur nahi likha toh nahi hoga! Bas humein Devi Maiyya pe bharosa rakhna hoga aur humaari zindagi jahaan humein le chale humein wahaan jaana hoga!
Khushi nodded to herself. She had left her fate on her Devi Maiyya. Whatever she decided, she was ready to accept it. And if she had to live with Arnav as his wife but not as the person he loved, then so be it. Atleast she will be close to her Arnavji and that was more than enough. Khushi stood up with determination and decided to put her thoughts away. She was getting married and she will be happy with that. She went and stood in front of a mirror and smiled widely, too widely for it to be genuine. I am getting married to my Arnavji! Be happy Khushi! Be happy!
Present...
"Aur iss tarah humaari zindagi ek jhatke mein bikhar gayi!", Khushi reminisced as she talked to herself not noticing that Arushi had already slept, "Of course! Baad mein sab kuch theek hogaya! Arnavji aur humaari shaadi hui, phir dedh saal baad tum hui, humaari zindagi khoobsurat hogayi! Lekin us waqt..." Khushi shook her head, lost in her thoughts.
Outside, Arnav sighed. Of course! Of course Khushi would think like that! In his mind, the day meant something else totally. Of course he behaved very stupidly at first but his actions were valid because he wanted something else and something else happened. Arnav smiled as his mind went back to those days.
Two and half years earlier...
A Day after Rain Romance
"Humne faisla kar liya hai!", Naaniji announced just as Arnav and Khushi came into the living room and stood before her. Arnav looked at Anjali and Paayal for some indication about what Naaniji had planned. Why do I feel as if Naaniji is going to ruin my plans? Arnav had a bad feeling when Paayal and Anjali looked excited. Kuch toh gadbad hai Arnav! Something is gonna go wrong!
"Bahut jald hum Arnav Bitwa ki shaadi karwaayenge!", Naaniji announced and Arnav's eyes widened. What? Nahi! No way! "NAANIJI!", Arnav roared loudly, "Yeh kya keh rahi hain aap? Aap aise kaise kar sakti hain mere saath? Mujhpe aise koi ek rishta kaise thop sakti hain? Aur yeh ladki hai kaun jisse aap meri shaadi karwa rahi hain?"
Arnav was agitated and he had the right to be agitated. How can his Naani make him marry someone? He loved Khushi! He cannot marry someone else!
"Khushi Bitiya se! Aur kis se!", Naaniji announced and Arnav was shocked the umpteenth time. Slowly his shock changed to hope, then to happiness as he realised that he was marrying his Khushi and then to despair and slowly the despair turned into anger. He looked at his Naaniji furiously, "What! How could you Naaniji? Aap kaise mere zindagi ka itna bada faisla aise kar sakti hain?" No! No! No Naaniji! How could you! I had plans of proposing Khushi, of spending some quality time with her and then telling you people about our love and you went and ruined my plans. Why Naani? Why?
"Chillaayiye mat!", Naaniji roared as she stood up, "Aapan bhool rahe hain ki hum aapki Naani hain! Aur us rishte ke naate humein poora haq banta hai aapke liye ladki dhundhne ka aur use apne ghar ki bahu banaane ka! Aap toh koi naya kadam uthaate nahi, koi ladki pasand karte hi nahi. Isliye humein hi kuch karna pada! Ab humne Khushi Bitiya ko chun liya hai! Uske Bauji se bhi baat ho chuki hai aur unhonein bhi iss rishte ke liye haan kardiya hai! Toh ab toh yeh shaadi hoke rahegi!"
Arnav glared at Naaniji for a second feeling annoyance at his elaborate plans for confessing his love going down the drain and turning around he stormed off to his room.
As Arnav entered his room, he sat down and fumed in anger. Why? Why was this happening to him? Why can't things happen the way I want? Mujhe kya chaahiye tha? Yahi na ki ab jab Khushi mujhse pyaar karti hai toh main use apne style mein aise propose karun ki woh din woh zindagi bhar yaad rakhe! Lekin mila kya? Saari planning waste gayi. Arranged marriage hi karna tha toh do saal pehle Khushi ko job nahi dilwaata! Do saal pehle hi jab Khushi aur meri shaadi ki baat ho rahi thi tabhi hi main uss shaadi ko hone deta! Damn! Achche khaase do saal ki mehnat pe paani fer diya Naani ne! Arnav continued to fume in anger when Naaniji marched into the room.
"ARNAV! YEH KYA HARQAT HAI AAPKI? Iss tarah koi rishte ko thukraata hai kya?", Naaniji shouted. Arnav stood up and shook his head, "Aap nahi samjhengi Naaniji!"
"Hum samajhte hain! Hum sab samajhte hain!", Naaniji spoke and Arnav looked at her in shock. What the! How the hell does she know about my plans!
Naaniji continued, "Hum jaanat hain ki aapan Khushi se pyaar karat hain! Aur hum yeh bhi jaanat hain ki aapko ab tak iss baat ka ehsaas nahi hua." Arnav blinked and then blinked again. Errr...what?
Naaniji sighed, "Do saal!", she took a pause and then continued, "Do saal se humka pata hai ki aapan Khushi Bitiya se pyaar karat hain. Aur do saal se hum ruke rahe ki kabhi na kabhi aapko ehsaas hoga ki aapan Khushi se pyaar karat hain aur aap humse aake apne rishte ki baat chalaane ko kahenge! Lekin naahi! Aapki iss dimaag mein koi baat ghuse tab na! Sach kehte hain hum Arnav Bitwa! Aap duniya ke sabse badhiya businessman honge lekin dil se ek dum bewakoof hain! Aur romance ka R' bhi aapko nahi pata!"
Arnav stared with open mouth as Naaniji ranted at him. He? He, who made all this plans to win Khushi's heart, was a fool at heart? He, who planned such an elaborate proposal for Khushi, had no knowledge of romance? He blinked. I did not know that I was so good at acting that even my Naani, who claims to know me the best, did not understand my intentions. Shabaash Arnav bitwa! Ise kehte hain khudki pair pe kuraadi maarna! Karo aur planning aur intezaar Khushi ke izhaar ka! Ab karni padi na arranged marriage!
While Arnav was musing and scolding himself, Naaniji continued her rant, "Ab bas! Bahut hogaya! Agar hum aapan ke liye aise hi rukte rahe toh aapko apne pyaar ka ehsaas hone tak Khushi aur aap dono buddhe ho chuke honge! Toh isliye humne faisla kar liya hai ki che mahine mein aapki aur Khushi ki shaadi hai!"
Arnav felt restlessness well up in him. No! He had to tell Naaniji! He had to tell her that he loved Khushi and planned to propose elaborately. He had to tell her his plans! Maybe she might postpone his wedding and give Khushi and him some alone time too. Yes! He will tell Naaniji! He will include her in his plans! Kya pata? She might even help him. Arnav nodded and opened his mouth.
"Nahi Chote!" Naaniji said sternly, cutting him off before he could even speak, "Humka aur kuch nahi sunna! 6 months mein aapki shaadi hogi matlab hogi!"
"But Naaniji ...", Arnav spoke up and Naaniji hushed him, "Chup! Ek dum chup! Agar aap apni Naani ka zara sa bhi lihaaz karat hain toh aapan iss vishay pe ek aur shabd naahi bolenge!"
Arnav sighed and shut his mouth promptly. He looked down and his shoulders slumped in a defeated manner. Naaniji turned to walk out of the room but stopped at the threshold. She turned around, "Aur Arnav bitwa..."
Arnav raised his head and looked at her. Naaniji continued, "Humka pata hai ki aap aage ka karenge!" Arnav frowned and Naaniji spoke, "Aap jaake Khushi Bitiya se baat karne ki koshish karenge aur use manaayenge ki woh iss shaadi ke liye manaa kar dein! Aur humein poora yakeen hai aapke manmaani ke aage uuki naahi chalegi aur woh bechaari aapki baat ko maan bhi legi! Lekin hum aisan naahi hone denge! Hum iss shaadi ko rukne nahi denge! Aur isliye hum kal hi Khushi Bitiya ko waapis Lucknow bhej rahe hain! Ab woh iss ghar mein shaadi ke baad hi aayegi!"
Arnav collapsed onto the bed aghast as Naaniji turned ahead and walked away. Khushi was going! He won't be seeing her for six months! No! No way! Yeh nahi ho sakta! He shook his head and fell backwards on the bed. Why? Why is this happening with me?
Half an hour later, Arnav stormed out of the house. He had to plan something. He can't accept defeat this easily. He will have his way! With determination, Arnav entered his car and went for a long drive, hoping that the long drive would cool his anger down and inspire his brain for a new plan.
Three hours later, Arnav entered his house with determination written all over his face. His anger had cooled down due to driving just as he predicted and now armed with a plan of action he dashed towards the terrace. Till few hours earlier, Arnav's plan of action after hearing that Khushi also loved him was to the point. He was going to have an elaborate proposal for Khushi, a proposal so unique that Khushi would never forget it. His goal behind his plans of wooing Khushi was quite simple from start, and that was to give Khushi a love marriage. He knew that he could have easily allowed Naaniji to get them married two years ago itself, when she was planning for it and he was in love with Khushi but he believed that Khushi deserved a beautiful love story, a love story in which he was the hero, she was the heroine and their life was happily ever after. And one of the important step in love marriage was expressing their love to each other and spending some time together and Arnav did not want Khushi to miss out on that.
But thanks to his Naaniji, Arnav's plan for elaborate proposal and time spending went down the drain. While he drove around the city mindlessly, he realised one thing. He might not be able to give Khushi those lovely moments lovers create when they spend time with each other before marriage and his proposal might not be elaborate but he would still be able to express his love to her and she will have the chance the express her love for him. And that is when Arnav decided that he would tell Khushi about his feelings in the evening itself, so that when she would leave the house in the morning for Lucknow, her mind will be filled with dreams about their future and her heart will be filled with the love that he had for her.
Arnav smiled as he imagined their phone calls where he would whisper sweet nothings into the phone and would hear her reply shyly. She might be in Lucknow and he might be in Dilli but he would call her daily so that they would be close to each other even with the distance between them. And when he will go to her house on the ghodi with his baaraat she would be readily waiting for him with twinkling eyes, radiant face and a shy smile on her lips.
Arnav continued to imagine their wedding as he climbed the stairs of his house when he heard Aakash talk behind him, "Achcha! Toh bus Dilli se baahar nikal gayi? Badi fast hai! Good! Achcha dekho! Call me the moment you reach Lucknow ok?" Arnav's eyes widened in shock. Lucknow!! He turned around only to see Aakash entering the house swinging the car keys in his hands, talking in his phone, "Kya? Oh ok!... Haan! Bye!... Kya?...I love you too Jaan!". Aakash sighed dreamily as he disconnected the call.
Arnav ran down the stairs and questioned Aakash with surprise on his face, "Lucknow? Bus? Kya?"
Aakash looked up from his phone and was surprised to see his brother look so agitated, "Bhai? What's wrong?" Arnav shook his head and fumbled, "Wrong? Nothing is wrong! Why should something be wrong? Nothing is wrong! You just tell me! Kisse kya baat kar rahe the?"
Aakash rolled his eyes, "I was talking to Paayal, Bhai! Aur kaun hai meri Jaan? Achcha yeh sab chodiye aur yeh bataayiye aap kahaan the? Pata hai main aapko kab se dhund raha tha?" Aakash started walking towards his room and Arnav joined him. Aakash continued to talk as he climbed the stairs, "Socha Khushi ke jaane se pehle aap dono ek duje ko goodbye bol dein lekin aap the gaayab! Bechaari Khushi kitni sad thi pata hai jab use pata chala ki aap use bye bhi bolne nahi aaye!"
"Ek minute! Ek minute!", Arnav grabbed Aakash and both stopped walking. "Yeh kya baat kar rahe ho? Khushi kahaan gayi?" Aakash huffed, "Bhai! Khushi! Gayi Lucknow! Paayal ke saath!"
"Kya?", Arnav roared in shock. Aakash nodded, "Haan Bhai! Naaniji ne Khushi ko Lucknow bhej diya. Paayal was missing her family toh woh bhi saath mein gayi. Abhi just dono ko bus mein chadhaake aaya hun! Infact abhi Paayal ka phone aaya tha! They are already out of Dilli!"
Arnav was beyond shocked. All his plans to tell his feelings to Khushi smashed into pieces right in front of his eyes. Khushi gayi? Yeh bina jaane ki mere life mein uski kya ehmiyat hai? No! No! NO! Arnav looked at Aakash agitated, "Par woh aaj gayi kyun? Woh toh kal jaane waali thi na?"
Aakash nodded, "Haan! But Daadiji ne unhein aaj hi jaane ko kahaan! God knows why!" Aakash shrugged and walked away while Arnav stood there is shock. Naani? Naani ne yeh kyun kiya? Mujhe Naani se baat karni padegi! Haan! I have to talk to her! He turned around and ran towards Naaniji's room.
"Naaniji!", Arnav stumbled into Naaniji's room with such a force that Naaniji who was relaxing on the bed almost jumped.
"Chote!", she shouted in shock as she placed her right hand over her heart, "Ee ka harqat hui? Aisan koi kamre mein aavat hai ka? Hum kitna dar gaye the!"
"Naaniji! I have no time for your drama! Aap bas mere sawaal ka jawaab deejiye!", Arnav announced.
Naaniji huffed. Arnav continued to speak, "Naaniji! Khushi toh kal jaane waali thi na? Phir aapne use aaj kyun bheja?"
Naaniji smirked, "Arre waah! Aapko badi padi hai ki Khushi Bitiya aaj gayi ki kal? Humein laga tha aapan ko unki koi kadar naahi?"
Arnav rolled his eyes, "Naaniji! Stop beating around the bushes and answer me!"
Naaniji shrugged, "Theek hai! Theek hai! Humein apni akad dikhaane ki jaroorat naahi! Khushi Bitiya ko humne aaj hi ke aaj isliye bheja kyunki hum aapan ko achchi tarah se jaanat hain!"
Arnav frowned in confusion. Seeing his reaction, Naaniji stood up from her seat and glared at him, "Haan Chote! Hum aapki rag rag se waaqif hain! Aap mauka nahi chodenge use behla phuslaake dara dhamkaake iss rishte ko thukraane ke liye! Isliye humne use jaldi bhej diya! Taaki aapan ko ek bhi mauka naahi mile uu se baat karne ka! Ab milna Khushi Bitiya se direct shaadi ke mandap ma!"
Naaniji huffed and stormed out of her room while Arnav stood there in shock. Yeh ho kya raha hai yahaan? Arnav could not understand a single thing. Ek simple plan tha! Khushi ko apne feelings bataane the! Aur woh plan ko bhi chaknachoor kar diya Naaniji ne! He collapsed on the bed and stared at the distance. Kya kiya aapne Naaniji! Bechaari Khushi yeh sochke gayi hogi ki main use pyaar nahi karta! What did you do Naaniji? What did you do? Mere achche khaase love story ko arrange marriage kar diya!
Arnav got up and dejectedly walked out of the room. He reached his room lost in his thoughts. As he sat down on his bed he stared around blankly for a while. After few minutes, he stood up. No! He won't let his Naani ruin his dreams. Mera plan kaamyaab hoke rahega! Aaj I love you nahi bola toh kya? Phir kabhi bol dunga! I have got six months! In mahinon mein ek din toh mauka mil hi jaayega dil ki baat bolne ka! Roka, sagaai, haldi, mehendi kitne functions hain shaadi mein! Inme se ek function mein toh chance mil hi jaayega! Aur uske pehle bhi toh main wahaan kisi bahaane se jaakar Khushi se baat kar sakta hun! Yes! I should not give up now! Main apne pyaar ka izhaar karke rahunga!
Arnav then sat down and frowned. Par tab tak kya karun? He looked around and then smiled. Haan! Khushi ki taste ke hisaab se iss kamre ko saja sakta hun! He smiled as he imagined Khushi entering their room after their wedding and getting delighted at the room decorated in her favorite way. Yes! Arnav nodded. This is the best plan! But pehle I will get a stereo for this room. Khushi ko gaane se bahut pyaar hai right? So she will have the best stereo in the world in her new room!
Excited about his new plan, he fell back on the bed and closed his eyes daydreaming about the stereo playing while he danced with Khushi in their room.
PRECAP:
Next update, epilogue for Kya Pyar Karoge Mujhse but not the end of this unique love story!
Thanks for reading, take care and have fun,
Kalpana
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