Part 28 Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada

Raizadas and Guptas were shocked, seeing Arnav and Khushi with a garland on their necks. They stood like statues, could not get anything. Khushi was bowing down not having the guts to look at them but Arnav daringly watched them with a stern expression. Akash's eyes automatically went to Shyam who was fuming.

"Chotte... what's this?" Anjali broke the silence.

"I married Khushi," he said simply as if he just bought a chocolate.

"Married? What are you saying, Chotte?"

"Yes, Di... I married Khushi"

"But why?"

"it's because I like her"

Everyone was like what the...!

Garima advanced Khushi wrathfully.

"Khushiii..."

Before she even touched Khushi, Arnav came in front of her throwing a glare. Garima moved back at the same speed perplexed.

"Chotte, behave... she is Khushi's mother" Anjali chided.

"I'm Khushi's husband. I can't let anyone hurt my wife. No matter whom it is..." He said looking at Shyam.

"Stop being rude, Chotte..."

"What's wrong with you guys? I like her. So, I married her"

"What so urgent? Don't you guys have us? We would have gotten you married..."

"I know what would happen if I told you. You would have tortured me with your bloody rituals. I don't believe in your ridiculous rituals and am not ready to waste my time in useless customs." No expression on Arnav's face when he said that.

"Khushi bitiya, how did you agree to it? Don't you know the value of marriage?" Nani asked.

Before Khushi looked at Nani, Arnav said,

"She didn't..." Arnav said.

"Whaaaat?"

"She didn't agree to the marriage..."

All were looking at each other with confusion.

"Then how did she marry you, Arnav Bituwa?" Manorama asked.

"I FORCED her" Came from Arnav without hesitation.

"Whaaaat? Did you force her?" Manorama asked.

Khushi looked at him with a horrified expression. Why did he lie when he did not do it?

"Forced?" Anjali was angry.

"Yes, don't you guys know Khushi? She has a tenfold belief in rituals. So, I didn't have a choice other than forcing her"

"My daughter could not be forced, Arnav Bituwa. She is a brave girl," Shashi spoke.

"I told her I won't let her sister's wedding happen..."

All were shocked to the core.

"Now also will you say she could not be forced?"

Anjali came to him and clutched his coat with anger.

"Why did you do that, Chotte? Why? What do you think of yourself? Look at Khushi... what's wrong did she do? Don't you have concerns about her wish? Why should she go with your wish... won't she have a dream? Won't she have wishes?"

"She obeyed my wish this time. I will compensate it for my whole life by obeying her wishes" He said looking at Khushi who was looking at him stopping crying. She could not understand anything.

Anjali's clutch on his collar slackened. She looked at Khushi painfully.

"Khushiji, please forgive us..." Anjali said.

Khushi again bowed down as she could not stand her plea.

"Khushi... did you agree to marry him for Payal?" Garima cried hugging her.

Khushi looked at Arnav not knowing how to react to it. She thought she would have to face Raizadas and Guptas' wrath. She thought they would humiliate her with degrading words. She didn't know why Arnav put all the blame on him, for saving her.

"Khushiji, you don't have to accept this relationship that is imposed on you. Let me see, what he does" Anjali said furiously.

Without giving a chance for Khushi to talk, Arnav clutched her hand.

"She is my wife. She will do what I want. Don't try to manipulate her, Di" he said in a warning tone.

"This is too much, Chotte..."

"Why Di? You wanted me to marry a conservative girl like Khushi. I married Khushi who you like. Then why are you shouting at me as if I had done something unforgivable"

"Agree or not, what you did is unforgivable"

"Ok, if you don't want to accept our wedding, I will leave RM with my wife..." he said making everyone shocked, including Khushi.

Arnav looked at Shashi,

"What's wrong with me, uncle? Will you find a Groom better than me for your daughter?" Arnav asked a million-dollar question.

"You don't understand what we are saying, Chotte..."

As no one expected, Akash came forward.

"Di... please, stop creating a scene. Don't we know Bhai?"

"We know him, doesn't mean we can expect everyone to understand him"

"Khushiji is none other than my sister-in-law. My brother liked her and married her"

Anjali was about to say something, but he stopped her showing his palm.

"I didn't say it's right but it just happened, Di...Khushiji became his wife. He likes her. You wanted him to get married. He just did...! The only problem is he did that without our consent... that's all. We should be happy about his wedding because the bride is Khushiji"

All of them looked at Khushi who was looking down.

"Khushiji..." Anjali called.

Arnav was supposed to say something,

"Chotte... you already have spoken enough...! It's enough. If you don't want me to talk, I will not interfere in your matter... ever..."

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"Khushiji, I don't know what to say. I apologize to you for the mistake my brother made"

"I didn't make any mistake," Arnav said.

Anjali glared at him and then again looked at Khushi. Clutching her hand, Anjali tried to take her to her room. Arnav held Khushi's other hand and stopped her.

"I can't allow you to take my wife"

"Why? Are you scared?"

Arnav was about to say, something but stopped as Khushi spoke.

"Anjaliji, I can't go against Arnavji. I will obey only him" She said not looking at her.

"Did you listen to her? Is it enough?" Arnav asked.

"I don't know what did you tell her that she is scared to this extent. Chotte, every ritual has a meaning"

"This is why I married her without your consent... I know you would torture me with your conservative thoughts"

Anjali tried to say something again,

"Leave it Anjali bitiya. They at least took Phares..." Manorama said.

"We didn't take phares..." Said Arnav making all of them to the core.

"Whaaaaat? Didn't you take phares?" Nani asked shockingly.

"I don't believe it all. Do you think people who took seven holy vows follow that?" Arnav asked heated up, looking at Shyam.

"Chotte, stop your philosophy... without taking phares, this is not considered a wedding. This is not at all a wedding. You just wear a chain on Khushiji's neck and exchange garlands like kids. Is this what marriage?" Nani shouted.

"Yes, Arnav bituwa... we can't consider this as a wedding. We can't let our daughter be with you without completing the wedding. You can't be her husband until you take seven phares. We are taking Khushi with us" Buaji said.

That made Arnav frustrated. He saw Shyam smirking which made him furious. He saw the pandit who conducted Akash and Payal's wedding getting ready to leave RM.

"One minute..." Arnav raised his voice.

The pandit looked at him.

"I would like to take phares with my wife... arrange for it," he said.

The pandit looked at Anjali and Nani who was stunned.

"Panditji, do it" Akash said.

The Pandit nodded ok and went to the holy fire that was still blazing. He put a few more sticks in it and poured ghee on them. It started burning again. Clutching Khushi's hand, Arnav walked to the stage and started circling the holy fire, in front of their family. The pandit explained the vows when they circled it. Though Arnav said he was not interested in rituals, the meaning of the vows touched his heart because the vows connected him with HIS Khushi.

While everyone stood dumbfounded looking at them, Akash stuffed flower petals in Payal and NK's hands. They started throwing flowers at them.

Arnav got down from the stage with Khushi.

"Happy? Now, will you accept it as a wedding?" He asked.

"We are happy you understand the value of the rituals..."

"I took phares not because I understood the value of rituals. It's because I respect my wife. I don't want her to be taunted. That's why I completed our wedding. I have no problem in giving up my stubbornness if it will give recognition to Khushi" Arnav uttered it looking at Khushi.

Khushi looked at him surprisingly. How badly she guessed about him! She thought he didn't want to recognize her but he was not in such an intention it seemed.

"I can't understand how Arnav bituwa became fond of Patti Sadi all of a sudden," Manorama said sighing.

"Excuse me, Mami... she is not Patti Sadi... she has a nice name. Don't forget now she is Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada... my wife...!" Arnav said making everyone speechless, including Khushi.

Clutching her hand, Arnav took Khushi with him, leaving everyone helpless.

To be continued...