Khushi POV

"Khushi, what happened beta? I am seeing you from the time you came from shopping. You aren't the same Khushi who went out eagerly. Did something happened? Did damadji dadiji said anything? You still didn't even change your clothes." I looked up from my laptop hearing amma voice.

Pushing aside my work materials, I stood up from my work table. Taking her hands, I made her sit on my bed and laid my head on her lap.

Voluntarily, her fingers caressed my head fondly whereas I gripped her other hand and kept it against my chest. Few minutes passed with silence. First, I need to gather up myself to share my worries with her. Second, I am scared to tell her about my decisions. Third, I am not sure how'll she take the news. Nevertheless, that doesn't going to restrict me from sharing my decision with her.

"Dadiji didn't said anything." I slipped the first reason slowly.

"Damadji said anything?"

"Hmm." I hmmed closing my eyes knowing the upcoming questionnare session.

"Is he upset with you? Give him some time he may come around." Said she like a doting mom.

"That's what I did." I said in barely audible voice. Little did she come to know that how I let him on his way.

"Are you hurt by that?" Asked she after a brief silence.

"He... wanted to part ways from me. And I let him do that."

A shock gasp escaped from her mouth. That was expected, isn't it?

"What? That means..."

"Amma don't worry so much. I am sure, we'll come around soon. He was just confused on what he needs from this life at the moment. Trust me." I explained hurriedly before she goes fretting about this thing.

"Is this a joke? There should be a limit for everything. Already I said you to not accept this proposal. It's you who was hell bent on marrying him. He's no match for you Khushi. His financial status was not great, but you said you're earning more than enough for you both. He's just an undergraduate but you've masters. He's struggling in his career well, you settled already. Just tell me, how will you both cope up in this relationship if you both aren't in same boat. Now he himself gave you a perfect reason to break this relationship. Forget him. You'll get better groom than him. I just accepted because your horoscope matches with him. Let it be, there are many groom in this world."

"Amma.." I raised my voice in horror. I never know she has venom developing inside her for Arnav just because he's in low financial standards. And what was with that groom thing.

"Don't forget we aren't rich to mock his status. I agree, I earn but that was from past one year, isn't it? Before that, we're also normal middle class people. And.."

"Don't be devil's advocate. Just give me one reason to accept him as my son-in-law."

"He loves me." I breathed out confidently.

"Did he confess it to you?" She counter backs which caught me off guard.

"His eyes conveyed it to me." I replied not accepting the way the conversation was leading.

"Eyes talks, heart beats in sync, stars falling from the sky, incandescent surroundings, Music around you. Don't give me these serial dialogues. It was life not some stupid serial. Why are you being obstinate?"

"You surely had an arranged marriage, hadn't you?" I muttered in annoyance. What does she think of herself? Admitted, she's being in motherly shoes concern for my future. But doesn't mean she has right to call my feelings stupid. And his too even though he still have long way to realise that.

"My marriage is not concern now. You said, he is confused on choosing what he wants from his life. Just tell me how can I trust that person with my daughter? He's not small child Khushi, he's 26. He attained the age of taking decisions for himself. In next few years he need to take decision for your child too if you marry. Do you want me to darken your generation by handing you to him? Never. I'll never agree even if he claims to loves you. A man who struggles to choose what he wants from in life is never gonna be a good man enough for his family." She roared expressing her sheer disgust for him.

Tears cascaded down my jaws involuntarily. It pains. It pains to see my amma lowering down my arnavji. How can she say that? I thought she would accept my decision like always. I thought I can share about the reason behind my actions and to ask opinions on that. But here...

I know, he loves me. I know, he care for me. I know, I matter to him. I know, he wishes to have me in his life. My intuition is always right. I just freaking know that he was depressed by the thought of leaving me. I did see his misted eyes when he caressed the mangalsutra which he bought for me. A serene feeling soothed my heart at the thought.

I deliberately asked him to buy a mangalsutra for me. A smile broke out on my lips remembering his recklessness.

"Will you come to my marriage? I want you to see how this mangalsutra fits on my neck. Will you?"

He startled at my question. He starts hyperventilating. But nevertheless his confused eyes pave way for me to read him.

"Will you?"

"We'll see." Said he generally dodging the topic.

He is just clueless. Surely he'll come to know my importance, if he stays aloof for few days. Afterall, Distance makes heart to grew fonder.

"Here I am shouting on top of my voice. And there you're immersed in your lala land. Will you be serious khushi?" I was jolted back to the present by her shout.

As her words registered, I went towards her and put my arms over her shoulder hugging her by side "I never know you have knowledge about La La land movie existence. It was an American film amma. Wow my amma was on mission to sharpen her brain these days."

"SHUT UP KHUSHI."

Fortunately, her shout was depleted by a shrill of ring tone. I ran towards my bag escaping from Amma's slap.

Caller ID shows dadi. Must be arnavji told about our breakup. She must be heartbroken. Having no heart to keep her in dark, I pressed the green button.

"Dadiji don't hear your stupid grandson. Only I am your bahu. No one else." I said hurriedly giving no choice for her to greet me.

But for the first time, I am wrong.

"Kh..us..hi... Beta... I... fell... on Durga temple nearby your house. Will you come here please? My vision is.. going dark... My.. head is spinning... Khu... Arnav.. is not with me... He isn't picking up h..is phone..."

"Dadiji... Dadiji I am coming. Don't lose your conscious ok. Stay awake. Don't close your eyes. I am coming. Does anybody standing beside you? Dadi..."

I blabbered in haste stuffing a water bottle in my hand bag and hung it on my shoulder. The line went dead.

"Khushi... What happened?"

"Dadiji... Amma she fell on temple. I must need to go there. She needs me." I replied half running, half walking towards the entrance.

"Khushi but.. khushi your slipper."

I ran back towards the door and hurriedly slipped my foot into it before running towards the direction of temple. Did Arnav broke out his decision with her?

Crossing the distance between our home and temple in record speed, I roamed my eyes on the shop area. She isn't here. Climbing two steps at once, I hurried upstairs throwing my slippers somewhere.

With laboured breathing, I run towards dadi in relief. She was leaning on the wall. Her head was bleeding profusely. And her cheeks and lips also has red hue of liquid. Her eyes half closed. Her arm dangled in air as if she was seeking someone help.

I held her stretched hand in my palms and laid her head on my lap.

"Dadi... Dadi.." I patted her cheeks as she was close to getting unconscious.

"Dadi..." I heard another male voice.

Ignoring the voice, I ruffled my hand bag and took the water bottle. My heart stopped for a moment before it get backs to work again seeing the tangled mangalsutra on the Bottle cap. I remembered keeping the mangalsutra in box before putting it safely in my bag. But... I throw the bottle inside in haste. Maybe it got tangled by all the running I had.

Scolding myself for unwanted thoughts, I slowly detangles the mangalsutra from the bottle and sprinkled water on her face.

"Dadi..."

"Dadiji..."

"Hmm..."

"Dadi you'll be fine. We'll go to hospital. Khushi..." His voice finally registered on my brain, it's Arnav.

He held dadi one arm and gestured me to lift her head. While my arm go behind her head she held my wrist in her tight grip and started to hyperventilate.

"Dadi... Dadiji..." We shouted in chorus.

"I... I can't breath... I couldn't see.. anything... I... see.... God is calling me..." She blabbered in semi-conscious state.

"Dadi. It's nothing. You'll be fine." I heard him assure dadi and he tried to lift her but she held his arm like she did to me.

"I.. am seeing my... last... I cannot stay more in this world... I... Cho... Chotte..." She took uneven breath horrifying us. Arnav eyes got moist in no time. And I felt wet on my cheeks too.  

"Dadi..."

"Khu..Shi.. I... Chotte... Marry her... I... Want to close my eyes knowing you are in safe hands... G..ive me the privilege of seeing your marriage... My soul will rest in peace only if... You... Stay... In peace..." I gasped in horror.

"Dadi.. NOO..." He yelled tried to lift her again. But she was stubborn enough to not cooperate with us. At least it would be easy to lift her, if she lay unconscious.

She inhaled a sharp breath terrifying us to the core.

"I will marry her. I'll. But please don't close your eyes. I... Need you... Please... Dadi..."

At once I turned figurine. I just can't believe until a cold thing hit my neck. My pupils dilated. Mouth wide open in shock. I bend my head down to fathom the thing in my neck was indeed mangalsutra which Arnav bought for me. And indeed he tied it on my neck. I looked back at him. His eyes are looking at dadi pleadingly who lifted her hands in air and dangled it. My brain was blocked to an extent that I didn't even had the thought to check what she needs and why Arnav run towards his left leaving dadi just like that.

A moment later, I flinched as his thumb run over my partition with red colour smeared on it.

"V...vows..." I heard her say and in no time I was on my feet and my palms was on his hold. Like a doll, I went behind him and went in front of him like a hyptonised person.

"Finally.... Shukriya Devimaaiyaa..."

I gaped in terror. He uttered something that doesn't matters.

"What the!"

"My grandson finally got married."

Dadi was standing in front of us like nothing happened.

Am I in la la land?

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Stay tuned for answers!