Part 34 Relationship

Khushi was getting ready for the temple thinking about Abhi and his plea. She remembered what Preeto said. She wanted Khushi to be in saree in the temple. She was supposed to remove a black designer saree from the cupboard, but she stopped. She remembered that BLACK should not be worn to an auspicious place like a temple. She didn't have many sarees. She always preferred suits as she felt pretty comfortable in them.

She grabbed a RED saree with gold jari work and draped it. Preeto gifted her the saree for her birthday. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. The thin chain on her neck didn't look apt to the saree. Removing the chain from her neck, she wore a necklace with matching eardrops. She admired herself for a while forgetting herself. She almost stopped doing adornment as she lost interest in it. But that day, she did that for Preeto. She will feel happy seeing her for sure.

She turned to leave and stopped thinking about something. Didn't Arnav say, RED was his favorite color when she went to his house searching for Abhi? Suddenly, she got panic remembering their swimming pool encounter. That day also she was wearing a red plain saree. She got stuck as she didn't know whether she should be in a red saree or should remove it.

That's when Abhi knocked on the door, shouting,

"Mom... Come fast"

Khushi opened the door to ask him to wait for a while. Abhi got awe-struck.

"Woooow... Mom, you are looking so pretty today"

Khushi smiled mildly. She sensed his mood back.

"Really? I thought to change this saree... "

"Why Mom? You are looking like an Angel..."

Khushi chuckled.

"But, I have no wings..."she said seriously, waving her saree pallu.

"Mom, please don't remove it..." he pleaded.

Before Khushi countered again, they heard a calling bell sound.

"Go and open the door," Khushi said.

"No... I won't... If I go, you will go to your room and will change the saree" Abhi said spreading his hand, blocking the way to her room.

Khushi nodded no smilingly and opened the door. The man at the doorstep got mesmerized seeing his love lady so gorgeous in his favorite color. Khushi stumbled, seeing his penetrating gaze on her.

Abhi rushed to Arnav shouting,

"Daaaadddd...."

Abhi's voice brought Arnav to reality.

"Mom, shall we ask dad about your saree?" Abhi asked

Khushi was dumbfounded whereas Arnav was curious to know what they were going to ask him about the saree.

"Dad, is not Mom looking like an Angle in this saree?"

Arnav's lips curved into a cute smile and his eyes ran back to Khushi.

"Tell us, Dad... Mom is not accepting it. She wants to change the saree. Tell her she looks beautiful." Abhi demanded.

A sudden restlessness raised in Arnav's mind. He didn't want Khushi to change the saree.

"Tell us, Dad," Abhi asked Arnav again.

"Beautiful... Excellent... Fantastic..." Said Arnav.

"Didn't I say you are looking like an angel?" Abhi spilled a winning smile.

"No Abhi..." Arnav said.

Not only Abhi but also Khushi looked at him.

"I don't think Angels would be so fetching in saree as your mom does," he said without hesitating.

"Super, Dad" He shared hi-fi with Arnav, making Khushi suffocate.

"What have you chosen to draw in the competition?" Arnav diverted Abhi, didn't want to make Khushi's condition more difficult.

Khushi went to the kitchen, giving them space.

Arnav gave Abhi some tips for the perfect drawing finishing. Abhi grabbed them with full attention.

Khushi came with coffee for Arnav and a chocolate milkshake for Abhi. She served it to them. Arnav smiled inwardly as the situation seemed they were there to SEE the bride. She turned to leave,

"Don't you have coffee?" Arnav asked Khushi.

"Mom likes to have coffee" Abhi answered before Khushi did.

"Oh..."

Keeping his mug on the tea table, Abhi rushed to the kitchen. He brought Khushi's cup and handed it to her.

"You too have with us, Mom" he pleaded.

Khushi plastered a smile and sat before them. Though Arnav was talking with Abhi his eyes were talking with Khushi even though she didn't.

After finishing the chocolate shake, Abhi stood up.

"Dad, you too come with mom to drop me off."

Arnav nodded ok and stood up. They dropped Abhi at the venue. Khushi saw the pride on Abhi's face. He was talking with his friends, pointing at Arnav. It was not hard for Khushi to understand what he was doing. Within a few minutes, almost all the children in the hall got to know who Arnav was. Khushi sighed. the children were asked to take their respective places and parents were asked to wait outside the hall until the competition got over.

Arnav and Khushi started to the temple. When they entered the temple, Sushma also reached with John. They smiled at each other. They got confused not seeing any of Preeto's relatives there.

"Come" Preeto started dragging Khushi with her.

"Preeto, where are aunty and uncle?" Khushi asked.

"They don't come," Preeto said while walking.

"But why?"

"They don't have to be here.

"What do you mean?" Khushi frowned.

"Because it's your marriage"

Khushi widened her eyes with shock. So did Arnav. They looked at each other unbelievably.

"Khushi, you are right. Arnav is Abhi's father, not your husband. You can't be with a man who is not your husband. So, marry him and accept him as your husband."

Khushi gulped down. She was about to say something,

"No Preeto... I don't want her to be forced for anything. This is not done. Let her decide what she wants. Let her take time. I don't want to marry her without her acceptance" Arnav said making everyone awestruck.

"How long will you give her time, Arnav? Your son is growing. Before he gets to know the real issue, please get married." Sushma said.

"I agree Abhi is important... it doesn't mean we can kill Khushi's feelings. If she is not completely ready to accept me, forcing her to accept me won't make sense because she too has emotions and feelings. We should respect her love for Abhi because it's purer than anything. She has faced a tough time to bring up Abhi... she knew what's better for him" Arnav said.

"What about you, Arnav? Will you be like this? Don't you want to be with your family?"

"Of course, I want to be with Abhi and Khushi... I so want her to give me a chance to prove myself. But... what can do if she doesn't like me? What can I do if it's my fate to be alone? I used to be alone in my life. Let it be..."

Sushma's eyes tear up. Preeto looked at Khushi painfully who was already in pain. Don't know why her heart ached whenever she saw Arnav so vulnerable. She spilled tears silently.

Sushma pulled Arnav in front of Khushi, clutching his hand.

"Khushi, touch your heart and say, don't you like Arnav? Do you think he won't be a good husband of yours? Are you really scared of giving your life to him? tell us, Khushi..." she asked with teary eyes.

Arnav tried to say something,

"You shut up... you don't have to say anything... you have already done. Let her speak..." Sushma said.

Arnav looked at Khushi nervously. He was scared that she may say something negative. What if she got angry with them for arranging her marriage?

To his surprise, Khushi nodded NO. Arnav gazed at her surprisingly.

"I don't think so. I never think about him like that. He is not my problem but I'm. I don't know what my real problem is. I have faced many problems alone... I had withstood wild storms daringly but him. Not because I doubt his ability... it's because I'm doubting my own ability. I made up my mind to stand alone. I don't know whether I could stand with him joining hands. I don't think I can be a good wife to him"

"You don't have to be..." Said Arnav making everyone frown.

"Just be with me, be yourself. It's enough for me. I can wait until you make up your mind. I promise I won't take advantage of our relationship until you want to... You can trust me. More than a husband and wife relationship, let's be friends. Talk to me, eat with me, roam with me, make fun of me, make me feel like I have someone for myself. Will you?" Arnav asked with a lot of expectations, letting her know about his expectations.

Khushi took a deep breath and nodded YES. Preeto and Sushma sighed in relief whereas Karna and john screamed in happiness. The man who was the beneficiary stood like a statue could not believe it. An unbelievable soft chuckle jumped out of his throat.

Preeto led them to the altar where the Pandit was waiting. Arnav and Khushi sat next to each other. Arnav could not believe it was his wedding day. He was getting married to Khushi, the only woman he loved from the bottom of his heart.

The Pandit passed the mangal sutra to Arnav. Khushi could not hold herself from thinking about her first wedding. She managed herself, inhaling a deep breath. Throwing the old thoughts away, she looked into Arnav's eyes when he tied the mangal sutra and filled the vermillion on her forehead. Arnav saw something NEW in her eyes that gave him hope. They completed the pheras and got wishes from their well-wishers. Preeto hugged Khushi emotionally.

"I'm so glad about you, Khushi"

Khushi smiled.

"Take care of Arnav," Sushma said.

Khushi nodded ok.

"See you"

"Bye"

They send Arshi off. Arnav started the car with a joy-filled heart.

To be continued...