Part 39 Arnav's Question

"Shyam, book a grand wedding hall" Arnav again amazed them.

Shyam nodded ok. Ratna and Anjali looked at him surprisingly and then one another.

"You don't stress yourself with marriage works, Shyam. We will assign a wedding assembler. Giving all the responsibility to them, get ready for the wedding. One more thing, the wedding would happen grandly" Arnav told Shyam. He nodded ok.

Arnav called Aman. He attended the call immediately.

"Hi, Aman"

"ASR... how are you feeling now?"

"What happened to me, Man? I'm fit and fine"

Aman sensed happiness in his voice.

"I'm glad to hear your happy tone again, ASR"

"You will become happier if I tell you the reason for my call"

"what's that ASR?"

"My wedding is fixed"

"Wedding?" Aman asked unbelievably.

"Yes, mine and Shyam's wedding are fixed. You are the one who is going to make arrangements"

"Glaaa...dly... ASR" Aman stammered.

"Fix a good marriage assembler. The wedding arrangements should be grand as well as the bride's sarees. Ok?"

"Sure ASR"

"Get Di and Khushi's acceptance before selecting the sarees. They should be satisfied with the sarees because they are the Brides..."

"Of course..."

"Come to RM and get my signatures on the needed cheques. No work should delay due to lack of money. Understand?"

"Understood, ASR"

Arnav disconnected the call smilingly. He saw all of them were looking at him with an unbelievable stare. What happened to him that he was behaving completely opposite to his current condition? They thought Arnav would not like to get married in the crowd with his disability but he was asking to arrange a grand wedding. Was that because of Khushi? Was he happy because Khushi agreed to marry him? they knew Arnav was happy with Khushi's acceptance but they didn't expect he would be happier than they expected.

Arnav again dialed someone's number. The call was attended to immediately. They got to know who was on the other side when Arnav started speaking.

"Chotte...I'm sorry, Chotte" Arvind pleaded.

"I don't call you to talk about anything that broke our home. I just thought to convey something important"

"Chotte, listen to me"

"Will you listen to me or do you want me to disconnect the call?"

"No... tell me"

"I don't know whether it's an IMPORTANT matter to you or not because of all your important issues including your friend so far. Let it be anything... let me tell you what I want to say... Di and my weddings are fixed."

No need to say Arvind was shocked.

"Di is getting married to Shyam and..."

"You?"

"I don't think it's necessary to tell you about my Bride. She definitely won't be like the girl you want me to marry. Coming Friday is our wedding. The decision to come to our wedding is purely your wish. I'm inviting you because this stupid world won't blame the person who ruined the beautiful life but the one who didn't give a chance to the wrongdoer. I don't want to be the one."

"Does Ratna know about your invitation?"

"She is here only... listening to my talks... for your kind information, she is not as weak as before because she has nothing to lose anymore."

Arvind gulped down hard.

"I will let you know the venue when we finalize it" Arnav disconnected the call and looked at his mother who was gazing at him, standing like a statue.

Arnav smiled at her.

"Mom, I have talked about you to your husband with pride. Please don't fall down flat, seeing your husband" he teased.

Ratna rolled her eyes.

"Keep your stubbornness at least for a while even though you want to get patch-up"

"What do you think of me, Chotte?"

"What else? Every woman is weaker when it comes to the matter of a husband. Am I right Khushi?" Arnav asked controlling his laughter.

Khushi looked at him bewildered, didn't know what to answer.

"What are you thinking, Khushi? Don't you take my side forgetting all my mistakes if I do anything wrong?" he asked feeling disappointed.

Before Khushi answered,

"Say NO, Khushi" Ratna said.

"Why mom?"

"What do you think of women? They forgive easily it doesn't mean they have no values. That means they know the values of relationships and family. They keep almost silent in the critical situation because they don't want to break the family. Do you know why? It's because men are selfish. They always think about only themselves. No responsibility... no duty concern... nothing. In some families they don't even know how their children are growing up... but women are not like that. Their family always comes first. When it comes to their children, they do mind about self-respect but sacrifice their happiness too" She stopped panting hard.

"Shyam..." Arnav called.

"Yeah..."

"Do you understand how we should not be?"

"Yeah..."

"Keep it in your mind, our wives will not be like my Mom because she herself is changed it seems"

"So what if I start thinking about my self-respect? Is it wrong?" Ratna asked.

"Nope... when did I say so? Just be a warrior..."

"Ok, Arnav... I have to leave. There are much more things to do" Shyam said smilingly, looking at Anjali.

"Yeah, take care"

"Bye, Anju, Bye, Aunty" Shyam left the place.

Anjali followed him to send him off.

"Khushi, bring me something. I'm hungry" Arnav said.

In no time, Khushi rushed to the kitchen. Arnav extended his hand toward Ratna. She clutched it and smiled.

"Sit here, mom"

Ratna sat beside him.

"Are you upset with me for teasing you?"

She nodded no.

"I just am kidding"

"I know... who else other than you has the right to tease me?"

"I'm sorry for whatever happened, Mom"

"Without having any mistake on you, you don't have to be sorry"

"Are you alright?"

"Of course... I'm happy seeing you so excited about your wedding"

"why not, Mom? I'm going to marry the same girl I love"

"Do you love Khushi that much?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"I'm glad Khushi agreed to marry you"

Arnav smiled.

"Ask Aman to make arrangements for your treatment in the US"

"We will do that later..."

Cutting her,

"Later? But why?"

"We will think about it after sending Shyam and Di to France"

"Can't we do both the arrangements?"

"How much work Aman will do at a time, all alone?"

Ratna sighed.

"Going to France is unavoidable. Shyam must be there on time. We will go next week, after sending them off"

Ratna nodded ok.

They saw Khushi coming with coffee.

"I will prepare dinner"

"I will help you Amma," Khushi said.

"I will take Hari Prakash's help. Don't make Chotte feel lonely, beta" Ratna said.

Khushi nodded ok, looking down. Ratna left after throwing a smile at Arnav.

"See, what Mom said... you always make me feel lonely" Arnav said sadly.

"In Lucknow, Groom and Bride won't meet before the wedding," she said in a feeble tone.

"Khushi, this is not Lucknow but Delhi and the man in front of you is Arnav Singh Raizada"

"So? What will change? Mom will always be Mom right?"

"Mom will always be Mom and WIFE will always be WIFE..."

She smiled. She saw Arnav move uncomfortably.

"What do you want Arnavji? are not you feeling comfortable?"

"My back is aching"

"Do you want to lay down?"

"Mmmm"

"Shall I massage your back?"

Arnav widened his eyes wondering.

"Are you really ready to massage my back?"

"Actually... you said it's aching..." she said hesitatingly.

"Ok, help me to lay down"

Removing the pillows from his back, she made him lay down. Arnav laid all the way, smiling at Khushi. She made him lay on his left side. Arnav lifted his T-shirt a little away. Taking a pain balm, she massaged his back softly.

"Khushi... why your hands are shivering?" Arnav asked smilingly.

Khushi didn't answer the awkward question. After a few minutes,

"How are you feeling now? Is it ok?"

"I'm ready to be bedridden for my whole life if you are ready to massage my back like this"

"Please don't say like that, Arnavji"

"Then you say"

"What?"

"That, you will massage my back no matter whether I'm bedridden or not"

"This is a simple thing... for that, why are you talking BIG words?"

"So, you will massage my back, right?"

"Mmm"

Arnav smiled.

"You know what, Khushi..."

"What?"

"Your hands are so soft" he smiled.

Khushi bit her teeth awkwardly. Arnav turned towards her and hissed.

"Arnavji, careful..." she panicked.

Arnav nodded ok with a smile. Khushi tried to get down from the bed, but Arnav clutched her hand and pulled her close to him. Khushi looked at him bewildered. Arnav caressed her knuckle on his cheek, making her gulp hard.

"You are so sweet" he kissed her knuckle.

Khushi tried to pull her hand but Arnav gripped her hand more.

"In Lucknow, don't the Groom and Bride kiss each other before their wedding?" he asked with a penetrating gaze.

Khushi pressed her lips tight and bowed down.

"Khushi..."

Khushi lifted her hand a little and looked at him.

"Will you forgive my mistakes?"

Khushi looked at him blinking her eyes.

"Or, will you be like my Mom, not want to forgive your husband?"

"What mistake?"

"What if I cheat on you? Will you forgive me?"

"Cheat? But why?"

"To get what I want"

"Will you cheat me just to get what you want?"

"Sometimes... if the MATTER is bigger than anything... I will cheat on you to get it"

Taking a deep breath, Khushi composed herself.

"I don't like if anyone cheats me"

"Oh... what do you do?"

"I won't talk to the person who cheats me"

"That means, won't you talk to me too?"

Khushi nodded NO with an angry pout.

"Make me sit"

Khushi turned her face opposite him.

"Please..."

Khushi helped him to sit with the same facial expression.

"Do you know what I will do if you don't talk to me?"

"What?" she asked not looking at him.

"This is what I will do"

He pulled towards her and locked her lips giving her shock.

To be continued...