Part 12 Helplessness

Arnav thanked Ratna inwardly as she is not waiting for his acceptance of the marriage. He was in the condition; neither could he say YES nor could he say NO. Yes, he didn't want to say NO. How could anyone say NO to a respectable girl like Khushi? Seeing Ratna adamant to get him married to Khushi, he was relaxed because he no needs to say his opinion anymore.

At the same time, he was not sure whether his parents are going to Gupta's house to ask for Khushi's hand for marriage. As Ratna is not ready to wait for him, he doesn't have to be worried about it anymore because Ratna won't listen to him. Arnav consoled himself in this way.

It was already late. Arnav came down, getting ready to go to the office. When he came down, Ratna attends a call. He stopped to hear the conversation as it was Aman's call.

"Mom...

"Haan, Aman beta..."

"I came to get sweets from Gupta Sweets. As Shashi's uncle is not here, I asked a worker about him. He said..." he stopped hesitating.

"What he said?"

"Someone is coming to GH to ask Khushi's hand for the marriage..."

"Whaaaaat?" Ratna was shocked.

"Haan, Mom. That's why Shashi's uncle didn't come to the shop today. What's this Mom? Why Shashi's uncle is doing this?"

"I too don't know Aman beta. Shashi Bhai didn't come to RM today which he never did before."

Seeing Ratna worrying about Shashi, Arnav thought something is wrong with Shashi.

"I was happy that ASR got a good alliance, I'm upset now," Aman said with disappointment.

"I too can't understand anything, Aman beat..." Ratna's throat choked.

"I'm cutting the call Mom. Tell the matter to Dad."

"Yeah... he is here only..."

"Bye Mom."

Aman disconnected the call.

"What's the matter, Ratna?" Arvind asked, seeing her worried face.

"Aman's call... It seems someone is coming to GH to ask for Khushi's hand for marriage."

"Whaaaat? How does Shashi do that? Let me call him..." he stood from the couch.

"No..." Ratna stopped him.

"Why Ratna?" Arvind asked confusingly and Arnav also was in the same state.

"Let him decide what he wants... He asked us for marriage... but we didn't respond to him. Khushi is a good girl. She should be happy. Could you give the assurance for her happiness if she marries Chotte?"

Arnav gulped down. This is the worst situation. His mother lost hope in him.

"Don't ask Shashi Bhai anything... he has all the right to find a good guy for his daughter... would you say it's wrong?"

"But Chotte won't get a kind girl like Khushi and a good father-in-law like Shashi," Arvind said repenting.

"I agree. Chotte had taken a brilliant decision once but he lost that ability. He can't conclude what's right and wrong. I'm fed up. I don't know how I could make him understand. Leave it... nothing is in our hands. Everything will happen as per fate..." She went to the kitchen, blabbering.

Arvind felt bad whereas Arnav was helpless. He doesn't know what to do. He missed the most clever girl he had ever seen. She is going to marry someone. The person who marries her is a lucky champ and that lucky champ is not him which made him hate himself. He never felt helpless like that day. He went to the office without even having breakfast. His mind didn't get into the work also.

Khushi's words are disturbing his mind again and again. The girl he met for only one time occupied his mind with her benevolent gesture. Don't know why his heart is aching... Don't know why it feels like he lost everything. He leaned on the seat, closing his eyes.

"I don't care about your past..."

"If you are scared about how our relationship will be, I will be truthful to it..."

"By the way, I like you...."

"By the way, I like you..."

"By the way, I like you..."

Her stance echoed in his ears.

Evening

Shashi came to RM. Ratna plastered a smile.

"Where is Arvind?"

"He went to sight."

"Ohh... I couldn't come in the morning. That's why I came to meet him."

"He will come in an hour."

"That's ok... give it to him...he likes it."

Shashi gave a sweet box to Ratna. She took it from his hand, nodding yes.

"I'm leaving..."

Ratna nodded ok. Shashi stopped.

"How is Arnav?"

"As usual..." she smiled painfully.

"Hope he will say YES to the marriage."

Ratna was perplexed. She doesn't know what to say. She came to the composure. Still, he is talking about marriage. That means, he had not changed his mind... Thank God...

"Bhai..."

"Haan?"

"Is Garima fine with this marriage?" she tried to get the matter in some way.

"Yeah... Khushi consoled her... she lessened my burden..." Shashi laughed.

Ratna was dumbfounded. Did Khushi console Garima? Is it true? She couldn't control the happy tears.

"Really...?"

"Haan... Garima told me..."

"Ohh..."

"Thank God, she consoled Garima. Or else, I would have been suffocated today."

"What are you talking about? Did Garima get angry?"

"No no... Garima's distant relationship came to our house today. We thought it was a normal visit. But they asked Khushi's hand for their son. I was terrified. Thank God, Garima herself handled them." He said smiling.

"I didn't expect Garima will say yes to the marriage so soon," Ratna said gladly.

"It's because of Khushi. She made her mother understand..."

"Thanks to Devi Maiya..."

"Only Arnav's side of YES is remaining." Shashi reminded.

"I'm sorry for making you wait..." Ratna regretted.

"That's not a problem. Khushi is enjoying at home" he smiled.

"I want to meet her... it's very long since I met her..."

"It's not a big deal. You can come to GH anytime."

"No, Bhai. Until the marriage is fixed, it won't be good to visit GH."

"Ok then, she goes to Chandni Chowk Mathaji Temple every Friday evening."

"Ohh..."

"If you want to meet her then I will tell her."

"Sure Bhai..."

"I'm leaving... I will call Arvind later"

"Ok..."

Shashi left RM. Ratna rushed to the pooja room and kneeled in front of Devi Maiya's statue with tears.

"Thank you Devi Maiya... I thought you have forgotten my prayer... but NO... you have heard my prayer..."

She sat on the floor and wrote two chits, thinking about something. She put them on DM's feet.

"I don't know what to do. If you say YES, then I will proceed."

Praying DM, she took one among them. She opened it slowly. Her face lit with a happy smile. Yes, DM permitted her to GO AHEAD.

She wiped her tears and kept the sweet box that was given by Shashi and offered it to DM.

She went to the kitchen and prepared a strong coffee. From the morning, her head was aching due to overthinking. She came to the living room with the coffee cup and sat. Taking time, she relished it. She heard Arvind's voice. It seems he is talking to Arnav. Are they coming together? Yes, they entered in.

"Where did you guys meet?" she asked.

"I went to the office for a meeting and joined Chotte."

Ratna looked at Arnav and she sensed that he was stressed.

"Do you want coffee?" She asked Arvind.

"Not now... Did Shashi come?"

Ratna looked at Arnav who was gulping down.

"Didn't he call you?" Ratna back questioned him without answering his question.

"No... he didn't call me."

"He must be busy with the groom's family."

She said noticing Arnav by the corner of her eyes. Arnav looked at her tightening his jaws.

"Yeah... let him take time," Arvind said sadly.

Arnav went to his room and said nothing.

Ratna told Arvind about Shashi's arrival. Arvind huffed in relief.

"Then why did you say he will be busy with the groom's family?"

"To see Chotte's expression..."

"What did you see?"

"Helplessness..."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to meet Khushi."

"When?"

"Coming Friday"

"Oh... go ahead... I will be back soon."

"Where are you going?"

"To meet Shashi... he will be in the shop."

Ratna nodded OK smilingly.

Arnav was looking at the ceiling, thinking about Khushi. He remembered the way she said, "BY THE WAY I LIKE YOU."

She likes him...even after knowing everything about him...

He never expected that he would think about a girl so deeply. He never wanted to get married again because he thought no girl will agree to marry him WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

But now... he is thinking about a girl deeply... he is thinking about second marriage...and a girl agreed to marry him wholeheartedly yet he missed her... Arnav supposed.

To be continued...

The next part is available on Inkitt

The whirl of thoughts...

Arnav was cursing himself. What life is this? Someone said if we lose something in our life, we will get something better than that. It's somewhat right. When he was ready to adopt a married life, his wife cheated on him. He is distressed now and a good girl was ready to marry him but he missed her.