Part 46 Marriage

"MARRY HER," Said Nani.

Arnav and Khushi were shocked to the core as they didn't expect Nani would come up with such a solution. They looked at each other and gulped down hard. Arnav was about to say something but he stopped hearing Khushi.

"No, Naniji, it won't work," she said.

Arnav stared at her blankly as he understood which mean she said that.

"What do you mean 'it won't work?" Nani asked.

"I don't want to put him on the fire just because of the critical situation, Naniji"

"But, you are already standing on the fire, Khushi"

"I will handle it, Naniji..."

"Answer my question and then go"

Khushi looked at her to know the question.

"Do you like Chotte or not?"

Khushi was stuck. Though Arnav knew the answer he wanted to know what answer she gave to Nani.

"I...I like him very much Naniji"

"Then why are you hesitating?"

"It's not about my wish Naniji. We know his idea about marriage and his hatred towards intuition."

"This is not a time to think about it, Khushi bitiya. The whole world is watching you. How we are going to answer the reporters is what matters now"

"Please, try to understand, Naniji..."

"I have no problem in announcing that she is my fiancé," Arnav said, which was unexpected.

Khushi looked at him surprisingly. was he really ready to announce her as his fiance?

"Announce? What does that mean, Chotte?"

"I will meet the press reporters and will say we are getting married in a few days"

"So, you are going to prove them right..."

"I'm trying to kill the issue, Nani"

"The way you want to kill it will regenerate it again in a few days."

"Then what else do you want me to do?"

"Come with me"

Clutching their hands, Nani walked, taking them with her. Arnav and Khushi walked, looking at each other. Restlessness overflew on their faces as they didn't know what Nani wanted them to do. Nani brought them to the Pooja room and made them stand in front of the Devi Maiya Idol. She removed the mangal sutra from Devi Maiya's Idol and kept it in the pooja plate where there was a vermillion box. She extended it to Arnav who looked at her widening his eyes.

"Tie this mangal sutra in her neck and accept her as your wife. it will solve all the problems" Nani said.

Arnav looked at Khushi.

"Naniji... in order to solve my problem, you are creating a problem for Arnavji"

Nani looked at Arnav.

"I told you the solution, Chotte. Now, the ball is in your court. Decide what should be done. But, before making a decision, keep Khushi's future in your mind" Nani said.

Arnav thought for a while. Don't know what was running through his mind. Khushi closed her eyes and made up herself accept the denial. She opened her eyes to say something, but she got stuck, seeing Arnav taking the mangal sutra in his hands. She looked at him surprisingly. Arnav came close to her with the mangal sutra and stood in front of her.

"Ar...nav...ji..."

Arnav tied the mangal sutra on her neck, making Khushi overwhelmed and Nani delighted. Khushi was looking into Arnav's eyes. Neither she found hesitation nor did she find regret in them. Taking a pinch of vermillion from the box, he applied it to her forehead. Nani showered flower petals on them with a smile. They looked at Nani and touched her feet, bending down.

"Live long... with a lot of love and happiness..."

Khushi smiled at Nani with teary eyes.

"Welcome to the Raizada family" Nani hugged her gladly.

"I will be back, Nani" Arnav walked out.

The reporters looked at the main gate of the Raizada mansion, hearing the gate opening sound. Seeing Arnav out of the house, they rushed to him with Mike. People who were watching the news sat straight, including Amrita and Avinash groups.

Arnav stood with a stern expression.

"Sir, who is the girl with you in your house?"

"What's the relationship between you two?

"Is she your girlfriend?"

"Are you guys in a live-in relationship?"

"Why can't you just let the world know about it?"

"Why do you keep the issue secret?"

They arrowed the questions. Arnav folded his hands.

"Have you finished questioning? Will you let me answer or will continue with your questions?"

The reporters became silent.

" Shall I start answering?"

The reporters nodded yes.

"The girl in my house is Khushi Gupta... the relationship I share with her is a HUSBAND AND WIFE relationship."

There was chatter between the reporters.

"She is not my girlfriend but my wife" Arnav added.

"If she is your wife why don't you let the world know about her? why do you keep it personally?"

"Because it's my PERSONAL matter. Why should I do propaganda about my personal issue? Have you ever seen me do that? My public relationship is always in distance. Everyone knew that"

"When did you marry her and why did you marry her suddenly?"

"I liked her... she liked me... we got married suddenly due to some personal issues. There is nothing more than that to say."

"Did your families agree to your marriage?"

"We got married with my Nani's blessings only."

"Won't you introduce her to us?" one of the reporters asked.

Arnav removed his phone and called Nani. She attended it.

"Nani... bring Khushi" Arnav said.

Nani came with Khushi. Reporters saw a girl with mangal sutra and vermillion on her forehead.

In the meanwhile,

Anjali's mobile started ringing. She attended it as it was her friend's call.

"Haan, Seema..."

"Anjali, watch the NewsXX channel"

"NewsXX?"

Taking the remote, Anjali turned the TV on. She was delighted, to see Khushi in the news. The very next second, she was bewildered, seeing Khushi with Mangal sutra and Vermillion on her forehead.

"Are you Khushi Gupta?" a reporter asked.

"Khushi Gupta Singh Raizada..." Said, Khushi.

Anjali was shocked. Did Khushi marry Arnav Singh Raizada?

At the same time, Arnav felt something in his stomach, hearing her new surname.

"Naniji, are you fine with this wedding?" a reporter extended the mike towards Nani.

"Why won't I be fine with this wedding, when the bride is Khushi? She is a nice girl. I like her very much. In fact, Arnav married her because I want her as my bahu" Nani said.

"I hope you guys will stop talking rubbish about my wife," Arnav said heated up.

"Please end this, here itself. This is about the reputation of our Bahu, thank you" Nani said.

"Let's go, Khushi bitiya" Nani took Khushi inside.

Arnav ran his eyes in the surroundings cautiously. The particular person, hid behind a tree with disappointment as his plan backfired. He thought something and something opposite to it happened here. he thought Arnav would send her back. But, as he didn't expect, Khushi became someone's wife. He himself showed them a path. No need to say who the person would be. The reader's guess is right. He was none other than Shyam.

On the other side, Anjali was happy as Khushi was in safer hands. Though she was sad as Khushi got married without her knowledge she was happy because Khushi settled into her life... that too, with the great music director Arnav Singh Raizada. She huffed in relief. She wanted to meet Khushi to say how happy she was.

Arnav came inside, closing the door. He saw Khushi sitting in the living room, fiddling with her shawl. Nani was talking with Pandit on phone.

"The marriage happened suddenly... could you please check whether this is a good day?"

"......"

"Thank you Panditji"

Arnav rolled his eyes. Nani saw that and understood what was running in his mind.

"I know the wedding is over. We can't change it now. you may think, why should I bother about it, now, right?"

Arnav said nothing but looked at her.

"I agree, we can't change it now but we can do redemptions... because I want you and Khushi to live long, happily"

Arnav saw Khushi who was fiddling with her shawl, stopped, hearing that. She was looking down silently. He could not believe that she was his wife now. WIFE... not just a friend. He heard his own heartbeat. He had stepped into something that he never wanted to... family... marriage... wife... he didn't know how he was going to carry all this together. He had no confidence in himself that he would play the husband role well. As of now, he didn't have any idea how his life was going to be. He was confused.

On the other side, Khushi was clear about their relationship. She had no idea to force him into anything. She decided to maintain the same distance from Arnav just like she did before the marriage because she didn't think marriage could change anything between her and Arnav. She didn't want to trouble him in the name of marriage or wife because she knew Arnav and his mind.

To be continued...