Part 34 Khushi's answer

Arnav got discharged from the hospital. Khushi avoided going to his room because she could not see Arnav as bedridden. She occupied the kitchen under the pretext of assisting Ratna. But Ratna deliberately sent her to Arnav's room with small excuses.

"Khushi beta, could you give this juice to Chotte?" She asked as usual.

Khushi nodded ok as she had no guts to deny Ratna. Taking the glass of juice glass, she strode to Arnav's room. She saw Arnav sitting, leaning on the pillows.

He smiled at her. Khushi advanced him plastering a smile. She forwarded the glass to him. Taking it from her, Arnav drank, gaping at her. Khushi waited until he finished the juice. Arnav gave the empty glass to Khushi. Taking it from him, she turned to leave, Arnav called her.

"Khushiiii..."

"Haan...?"

"My back is aching. Could you help me to lay down?"

Khushi nodded ok. Keeping the empty glass on the table, she slowly removed the pillows one by one. At one point, Arnav could not sit without support. Sitting on the bed, she held his shoulder with one hand and removed the pillows with another. She made him lay down slowly. She stood from the bed and felt a tug in her hand. She saw Arnav clutching her hand.

"Thanks..." He smiled.

"You no need to thank me." She said.

"Why?" Arnav asked.

"It's my duty to serve you"

"Why?"

"Because I ought to help you Arnavji"

"Why?"

"You are everything to me... Because of you, I'm alive today. What I'm doing now is nothing compared to what you did for me"

Arnav smiled.

"Do you want something?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"What do you want? Tell me"

"Not now" he smiled.

Khushi chuckled mildly with a painful expression.

"By the way, where are you going so urgently? Sit here"

Khushi was bewildered. Sitting with Arnav would be the challenging one. She sat on the chair with hesitancy,

"Talk to me about something"

"what do you want me to talk about?"

"Something... I'm bored sitting in this room. Di became busy with her phone calls with Shyam and Mom is busy preparing healthy food for me. You are the only one who left for me. So, talk to me"

"I don't know what to talk about, Arnavji"

"Ok, tell me, how to make Badam Halwa"

Khushi looked at him surprisingly.

"Badam Halwa?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"We have to soak the almond overnight and should peel the skin off. after that, it should be blent well..." Khushi stopped,

"I will prepare for you if you want to eat it, Arnavji"

Arnav smiled.

"Ok, you go..." He said.

Khushi nodded ok and rushed out. Arnav closed his eyes smilingly.

.........

Arvind and Ratna were discussing Arnav's report.

"We should take Chotte to America. He will get an advanced level of treatment there" Ratna said.

"Did you forget what the doctor said?" Arvind asked contently.

"What?"

"Didn't you say, Chotte needs treatment with CARE and LOVE?"

"Haan... so what? We are here to take care of him showering love"

"No... I don't think it's enough" Arvind said.

"What do you want to do?"

"Chotte is distressed. He needs such love that gives him confidence. Didn't you see how low he feels? He almost lost his confidence, Ratna. To get it back, our love is not enough"

"I didn't get you"

"We should get him married"

Ratna was shocked.

"Whaaaaat? Marriage? In this condition? Chotte won't agree"

"Of course, he won't agree at first but he will... later..."

Ratna became thoughtful.

"We know Simran loves him. Chotte doesn't have feelings for her so far. This is the right time to make him understand her love. Chotte will get to know the depth of her love if she marries him, ignoring his disability. What say?"

Ratna felt pity for him. at the same time, that was the right time to make Arvind understand who really Simran was.

"What an idea you have given...!" She chirped.

"I too want my son to be happy..."

Ratna smiled inwardly.

"Rajeev is coming to RM to meet Chotte today evening"

"Then, you can ask his opinion, in front of Chotte immediately. Then, Chotte will also be left with no choice other than to agree to the wedding"

Arvind nodded yes feeling relieved whereas Ratna smirked and at the same time, she felt bad for her innocent husband. Poor him, he hadn't understood people yet.

Evening

As Arvind and Ratna didn't expect, Rajeev came to RM with his family. Arvind welcomed them delightedly. Shyam smiled at Anjali who reciprocated him.

"How is Arnav?" Rajeev asked.

"Fine..." Arvind simply said.

"We didn't meet Arnav after the accident. So, we thought to meet him." Rajeev said.

"Please..." Arvind led them to Arnav's room.

Ratna called Khushi. She rushed out of the kitchen.

"Beta, could you bring them coffee?" Ratna asked.

"I will bring it," Anjali said.

"No, Anju... you go to Chotte's room. Khushi will bring"

Anjali shrank her eyes. Ratna blinked her eyes. Anjali nodded ok and followed them.

"Beta, please..." Ratna asked Khushi.

Khushi nodded ok and went to the kitchen.

Sinhas entered Arnav's room with Arvind. They saw Arnav laying on the bed, keeping his right forearm on his forehead. He saw them and smiled at Shyam pleasantly. His unshaved beard of four days gave him a deprived look. He tried to sit but hissed, clutching his waist. Arvind helped him to sit. Keeping a few pillows behind him, Shyam helped them. Rajeev sat at the corners of the bed whereas Simran sat on the recliner.

"How are you Arnav?" Shyam asked.

"Don't you see how I'm?" Arnav asked with a sigh.

"What are you going to do, Arvind?" Rajeev asked. Arvind understood that he was asking about Arnav's treatment.

"We are planning to take him to the US for further treatment. The doctor said he has twenty percent of possibilities to get cured" he said with hope.

Arnav let out a painful chuckle. Shyam gulped down hard.

"Don't lose hope Arnav. You will be alright soon. We will definitely see you like before" Shyam said.

Arnav sighed hopelessly which pricked Anjali. How confident Arnav had been...! How hopeless he was looking now...! She felt terrible for him.

"The doctor advised us to do something too..." Arvind started slowly.

All of them looked at him including Arnav. At the same time, Khushi entered the room with a coffee tray. Ratna gestured her to serve it to them. Khushi served the coffee to the guests.

"What the doctor said?" Rajeev asked.

"He said, Chotte needs CARE and LOVE"

Arnav tightened his jaws, flaring his nose.

"We think he needs someone for himself wholly..."

Arnav frowned, looking at Arvind.

"I think this is the right time to get him married"

Arnav was shocked. Khushi could not hold herself from looking at Arnav.

"We know how deeply Simran loves Chotte. I'm sure she will shower care and love on Chotte that will cure him definitely" Arvind said confidently.

Rajeev glanced at Simran whereas Shyam observed his father and sister. Simran's face emitted an extreme level of shock.

"I think she should be with Chotte when he goes to America for the treatment and..."

"Excuse me, uncle..." Simran stood up.

All of them looked at her.

"What do you think of me? Am I here to treat your son or what? I'm not a nurse. I have status. People should feel jealous of me when they see me with my husband. Will it happen if I marry him?"

Arvind was shocked to the core. Was that really Simran?

"But, you love him..."

Again cutting him,

"I LIKED him when he was fit and fine. Who will marry a person who could not even sit on his own?"

Arvind felt humiliated and also was shocked.

"Hey..." Simran flicked her fingers, looking at Khushi.

Khushi looked at her jerking.

"Even she won't like to marry him," Simran said.

She looked at Arvind.

"How could you expect me to marry him? Arnav saved Khushi... gave her shelter... treated her like anything... we know her status... yet, even she won't marry him..."

She again looked at Khushi.

"Tell them, Khushi, make them understand what a girl wishes for. Tell them how a girl likes to get a husband..." Simran said sarcastically.

She said that to shut Arvind's mouth though. But, as she didn't expect, Khushi said,

"A girl wishes to have a husband who protects her... respects her... treats her equally. Arnavji is the only man I have ever seen with such qualities."

"Oh really...? then YOU (She stressed) marry him..." Simran said.

"I will marry Arnavji if HE (she stressed) is ready to marry a low-class girl like me. He might have lost his confidence; it doesn't mean his standard became low. Lion would be lion no matter what" she said looking straight.

Arnav tightened his jaws flaring his nose... he did the same a few minutes ago too when his father spoke about his marriage but he did that with annoyance. But now, he did that to control his overwhelming sensation.

Simran was standing like a statue, looking at Khushi. Khushi left the place, hugging the coffee tray and bowing down.

To be continued...

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