Part 38 Flexible

The wedding preparations started. Arnav hired a marriage assembler for the wedding arrangements. As they had a very short time, they had no time to make arrangements independently.

On the other side,

Shashi became busy inviting people. He and Garima started inviting people to the wedding. After all, he was a Tahsildar and it was his district. Adding to it, Khushi's engagement matter spread throughout the district as it was published in the newspaper. So, Shashi could not ignore anyone. In fact, he was supposed to invite only close friends and relatives but people themselves came forward and said they would come to the wedding and an invitation was not needed. That made Shashi embarrassed.

They came home and sat on the couch all exhausted. Khushi brought- them water and gave it to them.

"Damadji said the wedding expenses would be his. We should tell him how many invitations we distributed. Then only he could arrange food accordingly" Garima said.

"That's what makes me embarrassed. The expenses are his but we are distributing invitations limitless... It feels awkward..." Shashi said embarrassingly.

"But, we can't avoid people because all are our friends and relatives as this is our native. It seems people will attend the wedding even if we don't invite them" Garima chuckled.

"That's what embarrassing me"

Khushi silently listened to them. She could understand their state. It was really awkward to let someone look after the expenses. It was too hard, especially for the self-esteemed man like Shashi.

"Can't you understand people's mentality, Shashiji?"

Shashi and Khushi looked at Garima.

"It's because our Damadji is a collector. That's why people don't expect usual respect from us. They just want to show off that they are our relatives"

"It doesn't matter, Garima"

"Talk to Damadji. Tell him we will share the wedding expenses"

"How could I talk to him? he seems a collector in my eyes. Words are not coming from my throat" Shashi said chuckling.

"Shall I talk?" Garima asked.

"Will you?" asked Shashi.

It seemed Shashi expected the same as Garima spoke to Aranv rightfully.

"Why not? I can even threaten him"

Shashi raised his brows.

"I'm going to say, he should have to accept our demand. Otherwise, we won't give our daughter's hand to him... what say?"

Shashi was stunned.

"Leave it on me. I will talk to him" Garima said confidently.

Shashi and Khushi became curious because they Knew Arnav. He was not what Garima was thinking. His way of handling people was always remarkable.

"Will he be free now?" Garima asked.

"Let me check" Shashi removed his phone and dialed Aman.

He attended the call.

"Hello, Shashi Sir..." Aman said.

"Aman, is Collector sir free?"

"Collector sir? Like really?" Aman chuckled teasingly.

Shashi smiled.

"he is going to be your son-in-law in a few days. Still, are you calling him Collector sir?"

"I really can't change it, Aman"

"He is a nice person, sir. He won't feel bad if you call him Damadji"

"Is he in the office?"

"No sir, he just went to the Camp Office for lunch"

"Lunch? But, it's 8 pm... did he skip lunch today?"

"Yes, sir... he was trapped in a PEACE meeting. He didn't get time to eat. The meeting just got over"

"Didn't he eat anything?"

"No...Don't we know him? He forgets to eat under the work pressure"

"Mmm... ok, I will talk to him"

"How is the wedding arrangement going, sir?"

"Going on..."

"Tell me if you want my help..."

"Thank you so much, Aman"

"Bye, sir"

"Bye," Shashi disconnected the call and looked at Garima.

"He is in the Camp Office only. Talk to him before he goes to the office again"

Garima dialed Arnav. He attended the call. Before Garima said anything,

"Hello, Aunty, how are you?" Asked Arnav, making her wonder.

"How do you know it's me, Damadji?"

"Why won't I know? After all, you are my mother-in-law..."

"Do you have my number?"

"I do"

"You rocked..." Garima chuckled.

"Tell me, Aunty... how do the wedding preparations go?"

"It's going good but we are highly upset with you"

Arnav raised his brows.

"Upset for?"

"We decided to invite very limited people but unexpectedly, people voluntarily got committed to the wedding program... without our invitation"

"Ok... but, you should feel good instead of being upset with me..."

"How could we be when the expenses are yours? Your friends and family are not going to attend the wedding. Only our relatives are going to attend but the expenses are yours... it's really embarrassing"

"Why are you embarrassed?"

"Why won't we be?"

"That means, you don't accept me as your Damad wholeheartedly. Still, you are feeling distant from me... right?"

"Not like that..."

"Then? If you think of me as your family, why would you feel embarrassed? Will you feel embarrassed if Khushi spends her money?"

Garima was speechless. She didn't expect Arnav would corner her this way. She didn't know what to say.

"I and Khushi are the same. I have the same rights in your family as much as Khushi has in our family. If you think of me as your SON, you won't feel awkward... right?"

"Jee..."

"Anything else?"

"Nothing..."

"See you, aunty... feel free... bye"

"Bye..."

Arnav disconnected the call. Garima looked at Shashi and Khushi who were looking at her flushed face. Even though they didn't know what Arnav said, Garima's facial expression told them that nothing happened as she expected.

"What happened, Garima?"

She sighed.

"I underestimated him"

Shashi chuckled and Khushi controlled her smile.

"How simply he turned the table...!"

"What did he say?"

Garima narrated to them what he said. Though their effort failed, they felt proud.

"Could you understand why I don't have the guts to talk to him?" Shashi asked.

Garima made a face and nodded yes.

"He is a master in handling problems. He knew where and how to hit people. Or else, how is he ruling a district successfully?" Shashi smiled.

Garima looked at Khushi and said,

"Don't be in the illusion that you can make him accept your decisions in the future"

Khushi smiled and said nothing.

"She is right, beta... Collector sir is not like your father who nods to all your mother's decisions"

Garima dropped her jaw and Khushi laughed.

After finishing dinner, Khushi came to the bed. Keeping her phone in her hand, she waited, looking at the phone screen. She expected Arnav to call her and Arnav didn't disappoint her. He called her. Khushi attended the call. Before she said anything,

"You too upset with me?" He asked.

"Why would I be upset with you?"

"Your parents are upset with me for not letting them spend money on our wedding. I thought you would also be upset with me"

"I'm not upset with you"

"Thank God...! Tell your parent that I'm capable of feeding a few people at our wedding" he chuckled.

"They want them to spend money not because you are not capable... it's about their satisfaction. It's their daughter's wedding. Won't a parent like to spend money on their daughter's wedding?"

"Do you want them to spend money on our wedding?"

"No... I don't..."

"Really?"

"According to me, you both are the same. There is no difference between you. It doesn't matter who is spending money" She said and Arnav smiled.

"So, you accepted me as your family..."

"What do you think, Arnavji?"

"I think you accepted me as your husband..."

Both of them smiled.

"I can become your family only if you accept me as your husband...right?"

"You can think in that way too..."

"Hello, madam, I'm not talking about what I'm thinking but what you are thinking"

"As of now, I think nothing..."

Cutting her,

"Other than me...?"

Without answering him,

"Why didn't you have lunch today?"

"I was attending a peace meeting. It was a LAND problem. Both village people were not ready to compromise. So, it took a long to come to an end"

"Did you compromise them?"

"Finally..."

"Mmm"

"This is how my routine would be..."

"What will you do if I say I will wait for you without eating?"

"Please don't do that, Khushi"

"Why?"

"Don't you know my work pressure? I can't eat on time and definitely can't come home on time"

"I don't demand your time. I just will wait for you..."

"Khushiiii... don't be adamant and make me embarrassed"

"Why should you be embarrassed? I just am going to do what satisfies me..."

"But, your satisfaction will put me under pressure, Khushi"

"Likewise, your satisfaction put my parents under pressure, Arnavji. You are an expert in handling all the problems. Why don't you think standing in their shoes? They accepted all your demands even though they are not fine with it because they respect you. You said you are our family. Will you be stubborn if your parents like to do something? Won't you consider their wish? Being a good son, is not it your responsibility to make them happy?"

Arnav was stunned.

"Don't take me wrong, Arnavji. I'm not trying to manipulate you..."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Let them share the expenses"

"Ok..."

"Are you upset with me?"

"Certainly not. I already told you. My parents never opposed me for anything. I have been thinking all my decisions would be right. You can tell me if you feel I'm wrong"

"You are not wrong, Arnavji. You can't be. Sometimes, you have to be a little flexible... that's all"

"As you say, Madam" he smiled, making Khushi feel relief.

To be continued...