Part 9 Arnav is IN

In the meanwhile,

"Poor girl," Shushma said feeling sad for Khushi.

"Yes... You always feel bad for being an orphan. But, you have the freedom to decide what you want. You can make decisions in your life. You are ready to go to the UK as you wished. But, Khushi...? She has parents... She has goodwill in society, yet she is not happy. She is left washed up... Compared to her, being an orphan is much better." Doctor Preeto said.

"You are right, Doctor. She has to live her life with someone and has to carry another one's child which she is not fine with" Sushma said.

That's when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," Doctor Preeto said.

A nurse came in opening the door.

"Shushma sister, your friend is here to meet you"

Shushma frowned.

"Who is that?"

"Go and see who is that," Preeto said.

"Excuse me, doctor" Sushma came out.

She smiled at her friend who came to the hospital to meet her.

"Arnav... You here?" Sushma said maintaining the same smile.

"How won't I come to meet you if you leave India?"

"I expected this"

"When will you have to leave?"

"In two days..."

"Anyhow, your dream of going to the UK is coming true"

"Yes... What about your dream of a software company?"

"Don't ask me about it" Arnav said wearily.

"Why are you talking with disappointment?"

"I need one and a half lakhs to go to Canada. From where could I get the huge amount? Who will give money without any surety to an orphan like me? That too for going abroad?"

"Didn't you try for money?"

"I tried my level best... I have asked all our friends who brought up us in the home. But nothing worked"

"What are you going to do?"

"What can I do? I have to be in India... I think my dream will always remain a dream... ( he sighed) helpless like me should not dream big... Is it?"

"I can help you..."

"You? But, you have already spent your savings to get the abroad chance..."

"I'm not going to give you money but going to tell you a way to get money"

"What way?"

"You can get money in one payment if you agree to me"

"What do you want me to do?" He asked, reading her face keenly.

"Sperm donation"

"What...?" He frowned.

"You know this is a fertility hospital. A rich family needs a healthy and intelligent child"

"So?"

"Their son is impotent... They are searching for someone who is healthy, brilliant, and talented. If you are ready, I will recommend you"

"Me? No no... I don't think I can do it"

"But, why, Arnav?"

"Don't you feel it's hard for me? We are orphans. My child is my treasure. How could I give him/her to someone? Is not my child my property...? My feelings? My emotions?"

"You are not going to give your CHILD... get it cleared"

"But..."

"Please, Arnav... don't miss the chance that is falling in your hand. get settled in your life and give a good life to your son who is going to be your feelings... emotions... and treasure"

"Do you know how does it feel whenever I think my son is living somewhere with someone in the world?"

"Arnav, please don't be so mean..."

Arnav nodded no. Sushma clutched his hand.

"Arnav, you are my brother... I want you to settle down in your life, achieve in your life. We can't get such a great chance. Please don't miss it... Just think this way, your child is going to become a rich family's heir. He will get a reputation, a big family, everything that you didn't get... please Arnav" Sushma pleaded.

Arnav was hesitant.

"Not everyone would get such an opportunity but you are getting... utilize it. Go to Canada... stand firm... show the world orphan like us can also make achievements... you can help people who are like us... don't think in your perspective, Arnav."

Arnav gulped down.

"Shall I talk to the Chief Doctor?"

Arnav looked at her said nothing.

"Please say yes..."

Arnav nodded ok slowly.

"That's it..." she said happily.

"By the way, you said they need a healthy, brilliant, and talented child. Do you think my child will be the one?" Arnav asked with curiosity.

"Of course... don't I know how good marks did you score in school? You are an athletic Champion... Gold medalist in the University... and I know you personally too... see, how sentimentally you are thinking...! The child will be fond of his father and mother too"

"But, I won't be his father," he said in a feeble tone.

"But, you will be a good father of your son"

Arnav sighed.

"Wait for a while... I will be back" Sushma made him sit outside the chief doctor's room and went inside.

Sushma talked to the doctor and she asked to test Arnav. She was with Arnav and helped him to give tests.

"If the tests are satisfactory to the doctor, you should come to the hospital in a day or two"

Arnav nodded ok and left.

Sushma went back to Preeto's room to tell her about Arnav. She smiled at Preeto. Before she said anything to Preeto,

"Who was the good-looking guy, Sushma?" Preeto asked teasingly.

"He is Arnav. We belong to the same home."

"You mean he is also..."

Cutting her,

"An orphan like me"

"I'm sorry..."

"That's ok..."

"Did he come to meet you before you go to the UK?"

"Yes..."

"Why did you take him to the Chief doctor?"

"I recommended him for Khushi's case"

"Is it?"

"Yes... he will be fit... and Khushi will get a lovable child," Sushma said.

"That's great..." Preeto said.

..................

Gupta couple were standing in front of Khushi's in-laws helplessly.

"We don't know your daughter would be so disrespectful. Do you know how rudely she talked to us? We thought your upbringing would be good. That's why we asked her hand for our son. We are highly disappointed with her" Khushi's mother-in-law, Heera exclaimed with teary eyes.

Shashi and Garima stood could not understand anything.

"Do you know what she asked us? She said she got married only to sleep with a man"

Shashi and Garima were shocked. Though Khushi talks a lot she was not the kind of girl who talks like that.

"I agree my son has little problem... he is in treatment. The doctor said he will get cured soon. But, we don't want to wait for it because we know this society will question your daughter. We don't want it to happen. That's why we took her to the hospital. We did that only for her betterment... but she insulted us" Heera cried.

Shashi gulped down.

"We want her to be happy... I thought she will be another daughter to me... but she didn't understand us... she insulted us. What do you want us to do? We don't want to spoil her life. If she doesn't like to be here, she is free to do what she wants. We are ready to accept your decision but before taking any decision, think about her future. Society will talk rubbish about the girl who dared to say, I want to sleep with a man" Heera said sobbing.

"My son slapped her in anger. Who won't get angry if someone insults his mother? Won't YOU get angry if your wife insults your mother, Guptaji?"

"Where is she?" Shashi asked.

"She is in her room."

Shashi and Garima headed to her room. Seeing them, Khushi rushed to Garima and about to hug her,

"Why did you insult your mother-in-law?" Garima asked furiously.

"Amma, they cheated on us... he is..."

Cutting her,

"Haan, he is in treatment... we know that"

"Did you know?" Khushi was horrified.

"So what, Khushi?"

"He is impotent..."

"What's your point?"

Khushi looked at her with confusion. She didn't expect this kind of reaction from her parents. She thought they would seethe in anger. They would feel bad for making her life hell.

"What are you talking about, Babuji?"

Garima looked at Shashi and gestured something. He nodded yes and left the place.

"Khushi, look at me... life is not all about sex. You got a good husband and family. Is not it enough for you? They are concerned about you, Khushi... try to understand how precious life you have gotten. Go and say sorry to your mother-in-law for insulting her"

"Whaaaat? Did I insult her? Amma, they spoilt my life. They are planning to make me carry someone's child to get their heir"

"So, what? the child will be your heir too... the world won't question you if you give birth to a child. See the issue from another point. THIS IS YOUR LIFE... YOU HAVE TO LIVE THIS. So, do what they say" Garima said.

Khushi stood shockingly. Her eyes flew uncontrolled. She understood, her in-laws played the cards before she talked to her parents. She could not believe her parent came up with someone's words without even thinking of talking to her about it. She didn't know what to do. Should she live this life? She should tolerate these people for her lifetime? She cried closing her face. Garima stood with a stony expression.

To be continued...