Part 13 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 then and now a good girl was ready to marry him but he missed her.

Arnav came downstairs, getting ready. Ratna looked at him while serving Arvind. She filled Arnav's plate also. Neither Ratna talk to him nor did she ask him anything. She behaved like she is upset. Arnav ate silently. Arvind looked at Ratna and gestured to her to talk to Arnav. Ratna nodded NO.

"Chotte, I'm going to our site as the minister is visiting the sight. You send someone to Gupta sweets to bring the ordered sweets."

"Sweets...?" he asked confusingly.

"Have you forgotten? Today is AR day... I started AR on this day, eighteen years ago..." Arvind smiled.

Yeah... how did he forget it? He is the one who always does all the arrangements for the day. Yeah... he goes to Gupta sweets to buy sweets, every year.

"Chotte..." Arvind's voice brought him out of his thoughts.

Arnav nodded ok.

"Don't forget to bring it from Gupta Sweets. I will be at AR after lunch." Arvind said.

Arnav nodded ok without reacting.

At that time, Ratna's phone rang. Arnav looked at her phone, which is close to him. It was Shashi's call.

"Chotte, pass the phone," Ratna asked him.

Arnav passed her phone.

"Shashi Bhai's call..." Ratna said to Arvind and then attended the call.

"Hello, Bhai..."

Ratna's face lit, hearing the other side.

"This is Khushi aunty..."

Ratna's excitement was not estimated.

"Khushiiiii.....you? I thought it was Shashi Bhai's call"

Arnav raised his head and looked at her without blinking.

"I came to Babuji's shop, aunty."

"Are you in the shop? Anything special?"

"No aunty... I often visit the shop..."

"By the way, how are you beat?"

Arnav wondered how his mother is showing the same excitement with Khushi even after her marriage got fixed with someone.

"I'm fine aunty. How are you?"

"Don't ask about me, beta... I can't say I'm fine..."

Arnav gulped down.

"Why aunty? Are you alright?" she asked caringly.

"Yes, beta...physically I'm fine..."

Arnav looked at her with a stern gaze.

"I want to talk to you..." Khushi said.

"Tell me beta..."

"In-person, aunty..."

"In-person...?"

"Yes, aunty...Could you come to the temple today evening?"

"Sure... I will surely come to the temple..."

Arnav finished eating yet he was sitting to know what was going on between them.

"See you, aunty..." Khushi disconnected the call but Ratna continued talking, pretending like Khushi is on the line.

"No problem beta. I'm not lucky to have you as my bahu... I'm happy that at least, I get a chance to talk to you..." she said looking at Arnav.

He stood from the chair and went to the washbasin. Ratna disconnected the call.

"Is that call from Khushi?"

"Yes, she wants to meet me..."

"Didn't she tell you the reason?"

"No...I didn't ask her because before she becomes a bahu of another family, I too want to meet her." she was observing Arnav.

"When will you go?"

"Today evening... Devi Maiya temple..."

Arnav left RM. He drove the car towards AR. He saw the TAKE DIVERSION board being kept, blocking the way. He stopped the car and sighed. He has to go passing Gupta Sweets now... no choice... As per Ratna and Khushi's phone talks, Khushi is in Gupta Sweets. Without a second thought, he turned the car to his left side and drove towards Gupta sweets.

When he crossed the Gupta Sweets, his head turned towards the shop which was on his right side. He stopped the car as the road has been crowded with traffic. He couldn't accelerate anymore. He saw Khushi distributing sweets to street children, outside of the shop. Khushi was smilingly distributing sweets and Arnav tried hard not to look at her smiling face. No matter how hard he tried, his mind couldn't win over his heart.

Finishing the sweet distribution, Khushi raised her head and got struck, seeing Arnav. She went inside the shop with the plate not reacting to him.

Arnav remembered that he has to send someone to collect the sweets from Gupta Sweets. He found a place to park the car. He headed to the shop, parking  the car . He saw Shashi at the cash counter. Shashi got down from the chair and came to Arnav.

"Arnav... you here?"

"Dad asked to collect the sweet boxes."

"Ohh...take your seat, Arnav."

Shashi looked here and there.

"Sanjay..." he called someone.

"Jee..." Sanjay came running.

"Keep the sweet boxes in the car," Shashi said pointing to the sweet boxes which were being kept near the cash counter readily.

The worker nodded ok and went to complete the task. Arnav released the center lock of his car from the shop, through the remote.

"Take your seat, Arnav."

"No, uncle, I have to go..."

"Arrey... sit and eat your favorite almond halwa..."

{In this story, Arnav is not diabetic. Let him eat sweets yaar}

Shashi turned towards Khushi,

"Khushi..."

Khushi looked at Shashi and Arnav looked at her.

"Bring a little almond halwa."

Khushi nodded ok and brought it to Shashi.

"He is Arnav... My friend Arvind's son." Shashi introduced him formally.

"I know Babuji... he already met me two days ago in a temple."

Shashi looked at Arnav surprisingly which made Arnav embarrassed.

"He doesn't want to get married. So, he tried to manipulate me..." She said calmly.

Arnav looked at her penetratingly.

"Oh..." Shashi smiled.

Khushi forwarded the almond halwa bowl to Arnav.

"Take it Arnav..." Shashi said.

Arnav looked at Khushi and then at the bowl.

"You can take it... we won't force you into the marriage. You can be relaxed." She said sarcastically with a serious expression.

Taking it from her hand, he stood without eating it.

"I think he should eat only if I go..." Saying, she moved from there.

Shashi laughed at her.

"Please take your seat, Arnav. We won't force you to get married..." he repeated Khushi's stance laughingly.

Arnav sat on the chair and ate it silently, stealing Khushi's glance. She was collecting the cash, sitting at the cash counter. She didn't look at him at least once and Arnav didn't expect it. She had changed her mind to get married to someone it seems. He sighed inwardly.

"I'm leaving uncle...Thank you" He stood, finishing the halwa.

"Our pleasure..."

Arnav looked at Khushi before leaving the shop. He wanted to ask her WHY DOES SHE WANT TO MEET HIS MOTHER. But what if she asks WHO ARE YOU TO QUESTION ME? He thought no one will like him except his parents and Aman but she did. But now, she is going to marry someone...

He started the car and geared it up, concluding that she slipped from his hand. At the same time, he wanted to know the concept of his mother and Khushi's meeting. Today evening they will meet at the temple. Maybe, she will tell about their temple meeting to Ratna just like she told Shashi. His mind was rotating in a whirl of thoughts.

But there is no chance for him to know, their meeting is going to fix everything... including his marriage...

To be continued...

The next part is available on Inkitt