Part 18 Doubt

Arnav was mesmerized, seeing Khushi's smiling face. There is no flaw in her face or her smile. He can't believe a girl is ready to marry him even after knowing everything about him. To more surprise, she got to know everything from none other than her father. Within a few days, she will become his wife. He was thinking so deeply, looking at her. He jerked when Aman grinned, looking at him, turning the phone to his side. Arnav rolled his eyes.

"Didn't she look gorgeous?" Aman asked.

"Cut the call..." Arnav said as usual.

"Yeah... the ritual got over... How was the LIVE telecast?"

"Cut the damn call..."

Arnav himself disconnected the call, not waiting for Aman to do that. Aman kept the phone in his pocket, chuckling.

Manorama stood from the couch.

"Khushi beta, can I use your washroom?" she asked Khushi.

"Yeah sure, aunty. Let's go..."

Ratna was about to accompany them,

"You stay here, jeeji. I will just come." She stopped her from following them.

Ratna sat on the couch, looking at Manorama contently. Manorama went with Khushi. Khushi took her to the room and showed her the washroom. Khushi waited out. And Manorama came out. Khushi was supposed to leave the room but she stopped hearing Manorama.

"Can I get some water?" she asked looking at the water jug which was on the side table. Khushi poured water into the glass and extended it to Manorama.

Taking the glass, Manorama asked,

"Have you seen our Arnav bituwa?"

Khushi got struck. She had met him two times but nobody knew it except Shashi and he too doesn't know about the second meeting. She had not told about it to Ratna also. She came to the composure, to tell the truth. So, she nodded yes.

"Really...? Where?"

"In the temple..."

"Temple...? But Arnav bituwa never go to the temple..." She asked unbelievably.

Khushi nodded yes smilingly.

"He didn't come to do worship but seeing me entering into the temple..."

Manorama's eyes widened.

"He came to manipulate me as he was not ready for the relationship..." She cleared, why he came to the temple.

"What did he say?"

"He said everything."

"Means?" there was a shiver in her tone.

"Everything means everything..."

"But..."

"I knew everything even before he said... in fact, I knew more than what he said..."

"How do you know?"

"My father and his father are friends"

"Oh, your father told you about him?"

"No... he shares everything with mom. I heard it sometimes."

"Still, do you want to marry him?"

"I didn't understand your question."

"You are ten years younger than him... usually, girls would like to marry a youngster to enjoy life... and adding to it, Arnav is a..."

Cutting her,

"YOUNGNESS depends upon the person. My dad feels always young you know... he was fifty-five. And I don't mind about his past, aunty..."

"Why?"

"It's because he is a good man..."

"I'm happy about your decision of marrying him but it will not be easy..."

Cutting her,

"At first..."

"Means..."

"As time passed, it will become easier"

"By the way, how Arnav bituwa knew you...?"

"Means?"

"Didn't you say he came to meet you in the temple?"

Khushi's eyes sparkled because she never thought about it.

"Yeah... how did he recognize me?" She back questioned her.

"I have not thought about it yet." Khushi chuckled.

That's when Ratna came inside, hearing their talks.

"Did you guys meet before?" She asked Khushi.

Khushi nodded yes.

"Arnav bituwa wanted her to say NO, jeeji..." Manorama said.

"Really?"

Khushi nodded yes again.

Ratna wondered. Arnav met her to change her mind. But... said YES to the marriage...did he like her? Didn't he say YES to the marriage because of her emotional blackmail?

"Let's go Jeeji," Manorama said.

"See you beta" Ratna left the room with Manorama with a lot of thoughts.

AR

Arnav lifted his head, hearing a knock on the door. It was Aman. Arnav again looked at the file which was in his hands.

"ASR... your marriage has officially declared."

Arnav nodded yes not taking his eyes from the file.

"Didn't sister look beautiful?"

"Which sister?"

"My sister..."

"You have no sisters damn it"

"I mean Khushi..."

"From when she became your sister...?" He asked raising his brows.

"From a few minutes ago...your wife is my sister, yaar. Isn't she?"

"Whatever..."

Aman sat in front of him.

"I'm so happy ASR..."

Arnav looked at him, lifting his eyelashes. Though his lips were not smiling his eyes sparkled.

"Did you click a screenshot of my sister?" he asked teasingly.

"Out," he said while checking the file.

"Yes, Boss... I'm going to be vanishing from the office often... from here on"

"Why?"

"My sister's marriage is going to happen in a week... I have to do the entire preparations, sir..." he said sanding in the attention pose.

"Get last..." Arnav said with a serious expression.

"Thank you, Boss..." Aman rushed out of the cabin, leaving smiling Arnav.

That's when his phone rang. His face brightened, seeing his would-be wife's number. He waited for four rings and then attended it. He doesn't want her to think that he is interested in her.

"Hello, who is this?" He intentionally asked her as if he didn't save her number.

"Can I talk to Mr. Arnav?" she intentionally asked recognizing his voice.

Arnav leaned on the chair.

"Speaking..."

"Oh... is it? I can't recognize you..." she chuckled.

Arnav bit his lip, raising his brows.

"You are going to be punished for not saving my number Mr. Arnav..." she warned.

There was silence on Arnav's side.

"Hello... Are you there? Or... have you run away?" She teased again.

"Tell me why did you call me?"

"We are engaged you know?"

"Ohh..."

" And... I have many reasons to call you... have you eaten...? Have you slept peacefully last night...? What color dress are you wearing...? I can ask such questions... ok?"

"Now, what question you are going to ask?"

"No questions today... save my number."

"Mmm"

"In what name are you going to save?"

"How many names do you have?"

"I have only one name... but you can call me as per your wish."

Arnav scratched his forehead, smilingly.

"Do you know how I have saved your name?"

Arnav so wanted to know HOW but...

"I won't say. You find it by yourself. Bye..."

She disconnected the call.

How would she have saved his name? He was curious to know that... but how?

Evening

RM

Ratna and Manorama were discussing Arnav and Khushi while having tea.

"Jeeji I think, Khushi loves Arnav bituwa..."

"Yeah... she likes him very much. That's why she agreed to marry him"

"I mean... she should have started loving him from long ago..."

"No way... she was a very small girl at that time... studying in the eleventh standard... she looked so cute in their sweet shop opening ceremony you know?" Ratna said.

"I don't know how young she was... but something is missing..."

"Go... you suspect everything..."

"Khushi likes Arnav bituwa... what about Arnav bituwa, does he like her?"

"I think yes... he should have said yes after meeting her in the temple."

"But how Arnav bituwa knows Khushi? Did he meet her before?"

"No... never..."

"Then...? Did you show her pic?"

Ratna thought for a while.

"Hanna...I think he should have seen her photo in Shashi Bhai's WhatsApp profile."

"Might be...however, Arnav bituwa got a good girl as his wife..."

"GOT...? Really...? They have not gotten married yet. Don't forget that..." Ratna laughed.

"He almost got her... and she will be the dawn of his life."

"Do you think so?"

Manorama nodded yes. They saw Arnav coming with his laptop bag.

"I don't think so, Jeeji..." she winked at Ratna and gestured for her to look at Arnav. Ratna understood her gesture and nodded ok.

"Why Mano?"

"I'm going to collect all the details about Khushi. I don't want any mistake to happen this time."

Arnav stopped, hearing that.

"Chotte, do you want coffee?" Ratna asked.

Arnav nodded NO.

"I don't think it will be a good idea... they will feel bad if they get to know," he said calmly.

Ratna and Manorama spared a glance.

"About whom you are talking, Chotte?"

"Didn't you say you are going to collect all the details about Khushi?"

"Haan... So?"

"Don't do that..." he left the place.

Ratna and Manorama stood there, looking at his retreating figure. They turned their head towards one another and shared a hi-fi happily.

To be continued...