Part 13 Challenge

Khushi got the cheque from Arnav.

"ASR, I'm leaving. As you asked me, I brought Khushi back safely. Happy?" Aman asked making Arnav embarrassed.

"No... I just..."

"I can understand ASR. Khushi is new to the field... so, you want her to be safe. Right?"

Arnav looked at Khushi, and said nothing.

"You know ASR, Khushi found out that Aryan has some issues with you. She doesn't want to work with people who hate you" he laughed.

Arnav smiled softly.

"This field is like that, Khushi. No one would like your success. ASR will tell you about it briefly... Now, I'm taking your leave. Bye"

Arnav nodded ok and Aman left. Arnav smiled at Khushi.

"Congratulations," he said.

"For what, Arnavji?"

"For getting one more chance"

"Thank you" She extended her hand for a shake.

Arnav clutched her hand gently and shook hands with her.

"I wanted to ask you something," he said without leaving her hand.

"About what, Arnavji?"

"About what you spoke to me yesterday"

Khushi remembered their conversation about LOVE, RELATIONSHIP, MARRIAGE, and COMMITMENTS.

"You know what, I thought you don't like love and relationship" he didn't hesitate to start.

"What made you think so?"

"You scolded your friend for getting into a relationship... but you advised me to get into a relationship. Actually, what's your opinion about relationships?"

Khushi got stuck. She scolded Preeto only to get into Arnav's good book. But now, she had to clear it as Arnav questioned her directly about it. That was not expected. She thought for a while and composed herself.

"I scolded my friend because I don't want her to be left alone. Arranged marriage gives safety. Her parents' support will be lifelong. She won't get it in the love marriage"

"Then why did you ask me to LOVE?"

"You are an independent man with reputation and wealth. Girls are dying for you. no one will think of leaving you but my friend's condition is not like that. she should be depended on her life partner. I don't know whether he will stand for her."

"So, you agree that marriage is CAT ON THE WALL issue. It can jump any side..." Arnav cornered her.

"Not only marriage... anything in our life is CAT ON THE WALL issue only. We don't know whether people will like my voice or not. Yet, I sing with hope. Life is also the same. Hope for good. You will get a good partner"

"What if I don't get a good partner?" he asked the genuine doubt.

"Why are you thinking negatively, Arnavji?"

"What could I do if my life was full of negativity?"

"No, Arnavji, it's you who is seeing things through the magnification glass called your bitter past. That's why you see things BIG. Actually, it's an exaggeration. Just throw them away and see them with naked eyes. you will see the real size of the problem that is not at all a matter. And you will find happiness for sure"

"I'm already happy, Khushi"

"I won't agree..."

"Why?"

"Your happiness lies in your music. It's not real happiness. Real happiness is, having someone to share our happiness... sadness... victory... downfall... grief... heartbreak, and everything that belongs to us. We need someone for us... especially, when we get old"

"My music is enough for me"

"If it is so, let's check"

"How?"

"If you don't think anything beyond music, music is enough for you"

"I don't want anything beyond music"

"Ok... just remain calm doing nothing. You should not compose any tunes for just two days"

"Is it a challenge?"

"Yessss..."

"What if I would remain calm doing nothing for two days...?"

"If your mind thought about ONLY music, nothing more than that, then I will agree, music is enough for you"

Arnav folded his hands with a smirk.

"How do you know what I think in my mind? What if I lie?" he asked teasingly.

"This is your self-examination. I don't have to know what you are thinking in your mind but you. You may lie to me but you can't lie to your own self. Just get to know what you really are"

Arnav's facial expression became serious.

"I'm sure you would never have done that ever before. Each and every human needs this TEST... Self-examination test. Everyone should know what we want... what we don't want. Then only we should be firm in our decision"

She looked at her watch.

"Now the time is, 4:00 pm... your forty-eight hours start now..."

She walked to Nani's room with a smile, leaving a smile lost Arnav. Would he really get to know what he wanted? Could he be without thinking of anything? what was there to think beyond music? Nothing... he will show how strong his mind was. Arnav thought.

Nani smiled at Khushi. she gave the cheques to Nani.

"My first salary, Naniji" She touched her feet to take her blessings.

"May God give you all the happiness in the world" Nani blessed her.

"Thank you, so much Naniji"

"Your sister will feel happy, right?"

"Undoubtedly"

"Do one thing..."

"What Naniji?"

"Don't say anything to her now. Take her to your audio launch directly and make her surprise"

"That would be a blast" Khushi hoped happily.

Nani called Hari Prakash and asked him to bring Sweet for Khushi. She fed it to Khushi cheerfully.

"Thank you so much Naniji..."

"You are welcome, bitiya"

After chitchatting with Naniji for a while, Khushi left RM.

Arnav came to Nani's room searching for Khushi.

"Nani, where is Khushi?"

"She left"

"Did she eat anything?"

"No... I just fed her a sweet because she earned her first salary. Why Chotte?"

"She was in the song recording for the whole day and came to RM straight from the studio. Don't know whether she ate anything"

"Would not she have eaten anything in the studio?"

"I don't know Nani..."

"What Chotte...? you should have asked her to eat something. don't you know about Cini field?"

"We were discussing something. in that, I have forgotten to ask her about it"

"Ok... leave it, Chotte... she would have reached her home by now"

Though Nani said Arnav felt bad for not asking her to have something. It was not even ONE hour but Arnav started thinking about Khushi.

Shali Vilas

When Khushi entered the house,

"Welcome Bride..." Anjali chuckled.

"Bride?" Khushi frowned.

"You should not go anywhere tomorrow because the Groom family is coming to meet you tomorrow evening," she said strictly.

"Oh..."

"The Groom looks handsome, Khushi. He is a mechanical engineer who is working in a famous Motor company... earns in six digits... own house and only son of his parents. We can never get such an alliance Khushi" Anjali said happily.

"Di, if you liked him, no problem"

"No no... I don't want you to complain later. Meet him... talk to him and then tell me your opinion"

"Done"

"Stay at home tomorrow"

"Done"

"Wear saree tomorrow"

"Done"

"Tell me something other than DONE"

"Done"

Anjali pouted. Khushi laughed at her.

"Cool, Di... I will do whatever you say. Ok?" she hugged her sideways.

"My sweet sister" Anjali kissed her cheek.

"For me too..." they heard a mild voice.

They saw Shali standing. She raised her hands, asking for them to pick her up.

Khushi lifted her and hugged her with Anjali.

"Hey Devi Maiya, my wedding should be fixed before Shyam comes to India. My sister should be happy no matter how her husband is... she deserves happiness. Please get me married to the right person as soon as possible" Khushi prayed inwardly.

Of course, Devi Maiya was going to get her married to the right person only but the right person was not the one who Anjali wanted to fix Khushi's marriage with.

To be continued...