Part 6 Khushi's choice

Shashi stood smilingly and about to leave, Khushi clutched his hand. Shashi looked at her.

"If YOU (she stressed in the same way as Shashi did) have no problem, I will marry Arnav." She said meeting Shashi's eyes boldly.

Shashi sat beside her again, not taking his eyes from her face.

"It's YOU who is going to be worried than me if I'm not happy in my life, Babuji. So, it's your problem... not mine." Khushi said sternly.

Shashi stunned, seeing her advanced level of thinking ability.

"But you are the one who is going to live with Arnav," Shashi said the reality.

"I will accept anything which is coming into my life, Babuji. If Arnav is destined for me, I'm fine with that. I will try my best to make the relationship work."

She said and it was a solid assurance, no one could give. Shashi supposed. He touched her head lovingly.

"Arnav is a good guy beta. His fate played worse in his past. He deserves a happy life. I don't think, he will get an understanding girl like you. And Ratnaji and Arvind are good in-laws no one could get." He said caringly.

"I trust you Babuji. You will do anything, only for our betterment." She smiled.

Shashi felt so proud... correction... Khushi made him feel proud.

He went to his room and saw Garima sleeping. He knew Garima will not be fine with this marriage. Don't know what explosion he has to face tomorrow morning when he says his decision to her.

The next morning

When Shashi woke up, NK and Khushi were not at home. NK went to drop Khushi at her friend's house. Garima came with coffee as usual. Shashi waited until she finishes the coffee.

"Garima, I want to talk to you an important matter."

"Tell me," She asked, sipping the coffee.

"I have been decided to get Khushi and Arnav married." He came to the point straight.

"Whaaaaat! What did you say?" Garima asked shockingly.

Keeping the cup on the tea table, she stood furiously.

"What you heard is right."

"Have you gone mad? How could you decide without talking to me?"

"Look, Garima... Arnav is a good guy...."

"He killed his wife.... Are you thinking to fulfill his wife's place with our daughter? What father you are? How could you dare ruin my daughter's life? I will never let it happen.... Never..." She shouted.

"Don't get temper Garima. I had analyzed everything..."

"What have you analyzed? Haaannnn? She is just twenty-one and he....? Thirty-one..."

"I and you have the same age difference... don't forget that...."

"That's why you are making decisions without talking to me... That's why you are making me dance to your words..."

"Garima, do you think I will ruin our daughter's life?"

"Until now, I never thought so... but I was wrong it seems...what will Khushi think about you if she gets to know about your decision?"

"She is ready to marry Arnav," Shashi said calmly.

"Whaaaat!" Her shock was not estimated.

"She agreed to marry Arnav."

"What does she know about life? She is a small girl... you should have brainwashed her..." She howled. Tears rolled down from her eyes which she controlled until then.

"Garima... calm down..."

"How could I be calm...? I won't let it happen..."

They stopped fighting and looked at the entrance, hearing,

"Amma...."

They saw Khushi standing.

"Khushi, what he said to you? Did he force you to marry Arnav?" She asked with doubt.

Khushi nodded NO.

"Babuji didn't force me to marry Arnav. It's me who agreed to marry him when Dad asked me."

"Noooo... you should not marry him."

"I gave words to Babuji, Amma..." She said distressed.

"How could you do that, Khushi?" she asked unbelievably.

"He is my father, Amma. How would he think badly for me?"

"He is... he is thinking bad for you which no father would do."

"When she is ready to marry Arnav, why are you shouting Garima?"

Without answering to Shashi,

"Khushi, tell him that you are not interested."

Khushi looked at Shashi who was looking disappointed.

"I have given a word to Babuji, Amma. How could I amend it? How could I be peaceful in my life if I can't keep my words to my father?"

"What's your point?" Garima asked her, clutching her shoulders.

"I will marry Arnav..."

Garima tightened her jaws.

"Trust me, I will be happy..."

"How? How could you be happy with a ......"

Khushi closed Garima's mouth before she uttered the word, MURDERER.

"Please don't say that Amma. It happened four years before. All of us got changed... so would Arnav be..."

Garima was disappointed whereas Shashi was dumbfounded. He didn't expect Khushi would face Garima bravely. He came to Khushi.

"Can I talk to them about the marriage?" He asked Khushi.

She nodded yes, looking at Garima. Shashi left the house. Khushi went to her room whereas Garima stood there not getting anything.

She called NK.

"Where are you?"

"I'm in Indira Nagar... purchasing GHEE."

"I want you to come home...now. I want to talk to you something very important."

"What happened, Amma? You sound tensed..."

"Yes, I'm tensed... come home. We will talk in person."

"Ok I will be there in an hour."

Garima disconnected the call.

RM

Arvind and Ratna delighted, seeing Shashi at their place in the morning.

"Shashi... don't you go to the shop?"

"I will go. Before that, I have to talk to you about an important matter."

"Tell us, Shashi..."

Taking a deep breath, Shashi started slowly.

"If you don't mind... I'm ready to give Khushi's hand to Arnav." He said without expression.

Arvind and Ratna felt like everything around them got stopped. They looked at each other bewildered.

"We are not up to your status. If you don't mind about the status then I have no problem giving Khushi's hand to your son. Ball is in your court."

"What are you talking about, Shashi? When did I see the status between us?"

"Haan Bhai... we are just speechless... words are not coming out of our throat... what else other than this can make us happy? Khushi will become not only our Bahu but our daughter if she marries Chotte." Ratna said emotionally.

"I know you will treat my daughter better than us..." Shashi said smilingly.

"But... what about Khushi? Does she agree to marry Chotte?"

"She is my daughter after all... she will follow my steps without questioning. She trusts me..."

Arvind hugged Shashi with happy tears.

"Thank you so much Shashi... you have no idea what are you doing for us."

"I know what I'm doing..." Shashi said smilingly.

Ratna nodded yes.

"Now onwards, it's your problem to deal with Arnav." Shashi laughed.

"When you are ready to give your daughter's hand, it's my responsibility to make him agree to the marriage," Ratna said.

"Don't talk to him about the marriage now... let him relaxed. Give him time. After a month or two, you can slowly start to open up the matter. I told you right away because I want you people to be stress-free..."

Ratna nodded ok emotionally.

"I have to go... Don't say anything to Arnav... be careful..."

They nodded ok and Shashi left.

Don't need to say, Ratna and Arvind became happy. They turned towards the stairs and saw Arnav looking at them shrinking his eyes. They spared a glance and composed themselves.

"Chotte, are you ready to go to the office?" Ratna asked him silly question.

Arnav walked to the dinning with a stern gaze on them.

"What Shashi uncle told you about?"

Ratna gulped hard, looking at Arvind.

"He said, don't say anything to Arnav? What he doesn't want you to talk to me?"

"Nothing Chotte... I think you heard wrong..."

Arnav nodded NO. Ratna's nervousness made him furious.

"What's the matter Mom?" he asked gritting his teeth.

"Chotte... nothing like what you are thinking..."

"Just tell me what's the bloody matter is...." He yelled, losing his patience.

"Tell him, Ratna..." Arvind said and Ratna sighed.

"Shashi uncle is ready to give his daughter's hand to you." she spat the matter finally.

It was enough to make Arnav mad.

"Why the hell do you not understand me, Mom?" He shouted.

"Chotte, we have no idea to do the marriage now... we will go with your wish... we will do the marriage only when you are fine." Ratna tried to cool him down.

"Mom.... I don't want to get married."

"How long will you be alone Chotte? Being your parents, how could we let you be alone?" Ratna pleaded with tears which surely melted Arnav's heart.

"Mom, please.... I used to be alone. And I don't have a problem being alone. I'm not ready to get into a relationship again." he said controlling his anger.

"Just because a woman ruined your life, it's not right to ignore all the women, Chotte," Ratna said. She was not ready to leave the matter unfinished as it got started.

"I'm not in the state of thinking positivity. I don't care who is right and wrong." Arnav said fisting his fingers.

"Chotte, please listen to me. Shashi Bhai's daughter is a good girl."

"I don't want to ruin a good girl's life because I don't think I can be a good husband," he said plainly.

"Chotte, I know you. You won't be like that. You can't ruin anyone's life."

"Mom, please, don't make me embarrassed. Tell me one thing; being a mother, will you give your daughter's hand to a murderer? If she is your daughter, will you be fine with this marriage?" he asked with a ache.

Ratna was stuck. She doesn't expect this question.

"You are my son Chotte... I want you to be happy..."

"Like the same, her mother also would like her to be happy, Mom. (he said painfully) Shashi uncle is doing this for Dad and his happiness... he is ready to ruin his daughter's life. I won't let it happen."

Taking a few back steps, Arnav turned towards the entrance and left RM. Ratna was nervous.

"Where is he going?" Arvind asked tensely.

"What if he goes to GH and says he is not interested in the marriage?" Ratna asked more tensely.

"Let me call Shashi" Arvind removed his phone whereas Ratna ran to call Aman to convey the message.

And... Ratna was not wrong. Arnav is going to undoubtedly GH.

To be continued...

The next chapter is available on Inkitt

Quarreling

Ratna called Aman and said the matter. Aman became tensed, hearing Arnav is going to GH to stop the marriage. Taking his bike key, he moved out while talking on the phone with Ratna.

"Aman beta, I'm nervous. If he says he is not interested in marriage then we can do nothing..." Ratna said sadly.

"You don't worry mom. I will go to Gupta House and try to stop ASR." Aman gave her hope.