Part 34 The Promise

There was complete silence in the car. That was the height of awkwardness for Khushi. She was sitting next to the man who proposed her for the marriage. She dined him because she knew how prideful he is. Having a bitter past, she was not ready to get married to anyone...especially a rich man like Arnav. He gives more importance to status and she herself witnessed it.

Khushi knew he will surely ask her that's why she fainted and reacted that way, seeing the fire. She was absolutely right. Arnav badly wanted to ask her about it. So, she closed her eyes in a manner to escape from his question.

It is nature... life often makes us remember the thing which we never want to remember. Likewise, Khushi remembered the incident which she badly wanted to forget.

Flashback

Twelve years ago, Lucknow

Twelve years old girl, Khushi rushed to her cousin sister Arpita who came from Delhi. Arpita hugged Khushi gladly.

"How are you Beta?" Shashi asked her.

"I'm fine Badi babuji."

Khushi's mother Karishma was surprised, seeing her sister Garima and Jeejai Shashi.

"Arrey... what a surprise...! You guys didn't even tell me about your visit?"

"It's because it's a surprise." Arpita said sharing high-five with Khushi.

They took seat and Karishma treated them with coffee.

"We are here to attend a marriage. So, we thought to shock you." Garima said smilingly.

"Khushi, why don't you go to school today?" Arpita asked her.

Khushi looked at her mother, without answering which made Garima and Shashi share a glance.

"Actually, she had stomach pain in the morning....that's why..." Karishma said smiling awkwardly.

"Khushi beta, come here," Garima called her.

This time, Khushi rushed to Garima, without looking at her mother.

"You are a good girl... I know you don't lie to me. Tell me, why don't you go to school?"

Khushi was about to turn her head towards her mother and Garima stopped her from doing that by holding her jaws.

"Don't you tell me the truth?"

"I was sent out of the school as we have not paid the fees."

Khushi said bowing down.

"Whatttt! Is it true Karishma?" Shashi asked her shockingly.

"Why didn't you tell us about it?" Garima questioned her with a pitiful expression.

"How could she tell us Garima, it's all about her husband, after all...." Shashi said wearily.

"Babuji hits mother if she asks for money," Khushi said with teary eyes.

Garima gritted her teeth.

"I won't leave him..."

"No Jeeji, there is no use of asking him. He completely slipped from our hands. He stays in a sozzled state anytime. I don't know where he gets money to drink because he lost his job due to his drinking habit. I heard he asks money from anyone shamelessly. He is becoming big trouble to this area people."

"He was lying on the road yesterday. I and Amma brought him home." Khushi said in a feeble tone.

"Whatever... I won't leave Lucknow without sorting this problem. Before that, I will pay Khushi's school fees and send her to school."

"Thank you Badi babuji... I thought I can't go to school again." Khushi hugged Shashi happily.

"You don't have to think so... we are here for you. I will make you study because you are a brilliant girl."

Khushi's face brightened, hearing Shashi's promising words.

"Garima get ready for the marriage. I will just come."

Shashi came back within a few minutes as he went to the nearby ATM center to drop money. He gave the money to Karishma.

"Pay the fees... Khushi is my responsibility. Don't hesitate to ask us anything. Her education is very important."

"Could you help me Jeejaji?"

"Anything..."

"Please, find me a job here. I will make her study."

Shashi nodded yes.

"I will arrange for you a job... still, Khushi is my responsibility. Ok?"

Karishma nodded OK.

Guptas went to the marriage. Khushi hugged her mother happily.

"I'm so happy, Amma"

"I'm also happy. You should be grateful to your Badima and Badi Babuji. You should never forget their timing help."

"I will grateful to them..."

"For that, you should study well. That's what you have to do. Education is very important to a girl. See, I can do nothing against your father... there won't be any necessity to expect your drunkard father's hands if I studied well. You must understand that. You should grow your skills...and confidences...understand?"

Khushi nodded ok smilingly.

"And, keep smiling...always...and be happy. I don't want anything than that."

"I will be happy because you are going to pay for my school fees," Khushi said happily.

Her expression changed, hearing her father Vikram.

"What...? Fees? Means, you have money.... Give me the money..." He was swaying in a fuddle.

The mother and the daughter horrified, hearing that. Karishma hides the money, behind her.

"Look, this is for Khushi's school fees..."

"What's necessary to go to school? After all, she is a girl..."

He pulled her hand to snatch the money. Karishma was struggling to save the money from her drunken husband. Khushi went to the corner of the room and stood nervously, looking at her parents' fight.

"Give me the money..." Vikram tried hard to get the money.

"I won't give even if I die."

Finally, he snatched the money. Karishma took the knife and threatened him. Khushi scared, seeing their fight getting worse. She rushed to bring her neighbor for help.

"I will kill you if you don't give the money back."

Vikram pushed her with force and she fell on the kerosene tin and the oil fell on the floor and drenched Karishma. Taking a knife, Karishma advanced Vikram. He pushed her on the burning stove. In no time, the fire caught Karishma's oil spreader body. Khushi who came with her neighbor saw the scene. Vikram left the place with money. Karishma started, screaming terrifically. Khushi tried to rush to her mother and people clutched her tightly as the fire may spread into Khushi also.

Gupta's came, hearing the horrible news, leaving the marriage in the middle. They saw Khushi crying badly, seeing her mother's burnt body.

Flashback Ends

Arnav applied the brake as a dog crossed the road suddenly which brought Khushi out of the flashback. She opened her eyes jerking and found herself in her BOSS's car. She looked at her surroundings and understood that she reached her area.

"Drop me here, sir."

"Just one more lane..."

Khushi did cut her.

"Please, sir... you wanted to know whether I reach home safely or not... now, I'm reached."

Arnav released the center lock and Khushi got down from the car. Arnav was looking at her retreating figure, sitting in the car. Why she looks so disturbed? That's when he remembered that he forgot to give her the medicine. Didn't the doctor insist on him not to forget? He got down from the car and headed to her home.

He removed his mobile while walking and saw eight missed calls from Rohan. That's when he remembered that he put his mobile in silent mode while Khushi resting in his cabin. He dialed Rohan and he attended the call in the first ring itself.

"ASR..."

"Tell me..."

"Today, Krish and his mother went to Gupta House to ask Khushi ma'am's hand for marriage."

"What the f..."

"Yes, it seems, Khushi's mother is double ok with the proposal."

"How do you know?"

"I heard her talking on the phone with her husband about the proposal happily."

"Ok... just keep tabbing Krish."

Arnav disconnected the call, tightening his jaws. How dare he...? This is not done. He can't be quiet anymore. Khushi couldn't escape without answering him. He stormed towards GH wrathfully.

But his legs slowed down, hearing something unexpected. He got rooted, hearing their talks.

In the meanwhile

Garima rushed to Khushi with sweet. Khushi stopped Garima when she was about to feed it to Khushi.

"Arrey, eat this sweet... you got...."

Khushi cut her.

"This marriage won't happen."

Garima's hand which was holding sweet got down in shock.

"Whaaaat!"

Khushi was silent.

"What have you done, Khushi?"

"I told the truth to Krish's mother."

"What truth?" Garima asked nervously.

"The biggest truth of my life."

"Whaaaat! But why, Khushi?"

"Because it's a truth..."

"It's died truth."

"TRUTH can never die, Amma."

"Have you really said the truth?"

Khushi nodded yes. Garima sat there with a thud. Khushi kneeled in front of her.

The man who standing outside the house doesn't know what truth these two are talking about.

"Amma, I'm sorry... you don't know about these RICH people. They won't respect PEOPLE and their FEELINGS but only MONEY. They won't hesitate to insult us. I myself witnessed it on my face. Don't trust RICH people, Amma. Krish is not in love with me. He just wants my skills to develop his business. That's all."

She stood, wiping her tears.

"And... I don't want to get married. I don't want to tell anyone that my father is a killer. I don't want to bow down in front of anyone."

"What do you mean Khushi?"

"I mean, I'm going to be with you and Babuji forever because this world is so much interested in playing with our weakness Amma. I can't tolerate it if people taunt me. Please don't think of my marriage. Please...."

"Means....Don't you think of us as your parents? This is what you are thinking, Khushi?"

"Of course, you are my parents... after my mother; I love you guys so much. You gave me life... education...everything..."

"Then think that we are your parents and you are our daughter... forget your past. Understood?"

"Amma... no doubt you are my parents..."

"Is that true?"

"Are you suspecting my love?"

"I never suspected your love before... but now, I do...."

"Amma, please try to understand me. My love is true. It's my mother's last words before she died. She wanted me to be grateful to you."

"If you are grateful...(she took Khushi's hand and kept it on her head.) You should not tell anyone the truth who asks your hand for marriage."

"Amma..." She was shocked.

"Promise me Khushi."

"Do you want me to be guilty? How could I be happy if I hide the truth?"

"Why should you get punished for the mistake which you had not done, Khushi? Your father burnt your mother alive... what's your mistake in that?"

"But people call me a murder's daughter..."

"You don't need to care about those. Your fate is already destined. Your life partner is already born... I believe that Devi Maiya will give your hand to such a person who understands your pain."

"There can't be such person in the earth, Amma..."

"No, Khushi. Trust Devi Maiya... face the life... your mother also wants the same. She wants her daughter to be like a warrior. Be like one."

Khushi was silent. She doesn't think that she could make Garima understand.

"Promise me..."

"I won't tell the truth... until anyone asks me."

"Means?"

"I won't lie if anyone asks about my past."

"But..."

"You think it may cause problems in my life, right...? that's why I don't want to get married."

"No Khushi, if people got to know about your good heart, they won't create a problem on your past. And trust me; I will give your hand to the person who shows a willingness to marry you. We ourselves won't go to anyone with the proposal. That's why I was happy about Krish's proposal. He is your friend after all."

"But I knew his mother...she is a prideful woman. She won't accept a murderer's daughter as her bahu and she will create problems if she gets to know about my past. That's why I told her everything."

Garima nodded yes wearily.

"I'm sorry Amma..."

"Go and wash your face. I will bring you coffee."

Khushi nodded yes making face and went to her room. She knew Garima is upset with her. But she has no choice. She can't take risks because she knew Pavitra.

Arnav Singh Raizada who heard much more shocking things also left the place silently.

To be continued...

The next part is available on Inkitt

Two more DOTS...

LONG DRIVE...which gives the solution to Arnav in the hard times and also peaceful to his heart. Arnav was riding his car thinking about what he just heard from his girl. Her statements about RICH people hit him brutally because her words remembered his previous acts. He insulted her... he didn't respect her... his words always overflew with pride... he gave importance to his status over her feelings... he did wrong by doing those, unaware of her wound. He had hurt the girl who is already suffering from a horrible past. Then how could she agree to marry him?