Part 26 The Wedding Night

The guests started dispersing. Garima and Buaji were ready to leave RM. They came to the room where Khushi was waiting. Khushi rushed to Garima, seeing her.

"Amma, what's happening here? Why did Neerav get married to Laila all of a sudden without any announcement?" Khushi asked whispering.

"I don't want you to bother about him on your wedding day. That's why I didn't say anything before." Garima said.

"Bother? What's there to be bothered?" Khushi asked.

"He misbehaved with Laila when she was alone in the guestroom. Her parents created a big scene regarding. Without any choice, Arvind Bhai and Ratna agreed to get him married to her... poor them" Garima said sadly.

"Without any choice means?"

"Laila's father asked Arvind Bhai to do so"

"Did Laila agree to marry Neerav?" Khushi asked.

"What else she could do?"

Khushi frowned. She knew Laila's character. She is not a girl who agrees to marry the person who misbehaves with her and it was a little hard for her to believe Neerav misbehaved with her. That too, on his elder brother's wedding day. Something is not right. She thought but didn't say anything to Garima and Buaji.

"You don't have to worry about them... just concentrate on your life. Arvind Bhai and Ratna will take care of them" Buaji said.

Khushi nodded ok even though she was not fine with what Buaji said. How could she not care about them when they were parts of the Raizada Family? Garima and Buaji left taking her leave.

Though Arvind and Ratna were dissatisfied with Neerav's wedding they didn't want to spoil Arnav and Khushi's wedding mood by showing it. They called the Grooms and Brides to perform the Grahapravesh ritual. All the four gathered at the entrance of the Raizada mansion to perform the ritual.

"You have to lift your wife in your arms and should walk to your room," Ratna said while arranging the KALASH, without looking at them.

Khushi looked at Arnav bewildered whereas Laila looked down. Neerav waited for Arnav to start as he was the elder son of Raizada. Arnav didn't hesitate to do that. In no time, he scooped Khushi in his arms and walked in.

Arvind and Ratna gestured to Neerav to do the same. Removing the garland from his neck, Neerav threw it on the floor and walked to his room, leaving horrified Laila. Neither he was ready to perform the ritual nor did he want to touch Laila.

"Neerav... stop it, I say..." Arvind shouted but Neerav didn't give heed to his shout.

Arnav who was about to enter his room with Khushi stopped, hearing Arvind's high tone voice. Khushi tried to get down from his hand. Arnav put her down inside his room. But he didn't feel to stop Neerav. Neerav locked his door from inside. Arvind and Ratna looked at Laila who was standing, fuming. She changed her facial expression into a sad one, seeing their gaze on her. Arvind and Ratna rushed towards Neerav's room and knocked on the door. Arnav couldn't hold himself. He ran to Neerav's room and banged on the door.

"Neerav, open the damn door" he shouted.

Neerav opened the door and stood blocking the way. Arvind was about to say something, Neerav stopped him, showing his palm.

"This is a matter between me and her... you can make me marry forcefully but can't make me..." he stopped.

"Neerav..." Ratna shouted.

"I mean you can't force me to live with her," he said looking at Laila who came there.

"She is your wife," Arvind said.

"I won't accept her as my wife, Dad..." Neerav said strongly.

"Neerav..." Ratna pleaded.

"Mom, please don't waste your time here. She lied that I misbehaved with her... she humiliated me... made me bow down in front of people... it will be good for her if she doesn't step into my room. then don't feel bad if I kill her" his voice sounded dangerous that made Laila scared.

"You go inside... let's see what he does," Arvind said.

"Then I will leave RM... forever" he warned.

Raizadas horrified.

"You come with me," Ratna asked Laila.

Laila nodded ok and about to go with Ratna,

"If she leaves this place, she can never enter my room," Neerav said.

They looked at him with disbelief. Arnav was shaken to the core, seeing his stubbornness.

"I will be here," Laila said, suppressing her anger.

Ratna and Arvind stood helplessly. Arnav sighed and left the place that made Laila more furious. Here, she is getting insulted and he is so keen to perform his first night. She fumed. Why Raizadas didn't even point what he did with her. Why? Can't they lash him over? she thought.

Arshi's room

Arnav came inside, locking the door. Khushi who was sitting on the recliner, hearing everything stood, seeing Arnav. Arnav smiled at her pleasantly but Khushi didn't reciprocate it. She looked disturbed.

"Relax..." Arnav said.

"Are not you disturbed?"

"I'm... but we can do nothing about it"

Arnav sat on the bed.

"Shall I say something?" Khushi asked.

"You can say anything... before that, sit"

Khushi sighed and sat on the bed, giving enough space between them that was not gone unobserved by Arnav.

"Tell me"

"I don't think HE would have done that"

"You mean Neerav?"

Khushi nodded yes.

"Why do you think so?"

"The much I know, he never tried to take advantage... with me. He came to my college once to meet me but he left without meeting me. I got to know that Arvind uncle called him back home. After that, he never disturbed me..."

"So, what's the point?"

"Nothing... I just feel to tell you"

"I too don't believe it..." Arnav said.

"And... I heard someone saying in the wedding hall..." She hesitated.

Arnav looked at her plainly. Khushi looked down and said,

"That... she wanted to marry you..." she raised her eyelashes towards him slowly.

Arnav smirked.

"Is that true?" she asked.

"Yes... she wanted to..."

"Did her parents bring the proposal?"

"She herself brought the proposal" Arnav chuckled.

Khushi raised her brows in amazement.

"When? After you came to India?"

"No... she called me when I was in London" he removed his phone and gave it to her.

Khushi took it from him with confusion.

"Check it"

"No... I didn't mean it... I mean I didn't suspect you..."

"I too didn't mean you suspect me but you should know about it"

"No, Arnav... I asked you about her. it doesn't mean you should answer me..."

"I should..." Arnav opened his WhatsApp and scrolled down.

He showed Laila's number that was being blocked. Khushi looked at him wondering.

"Why did you block her?"

"She is an irritating character... the whole family tried hard to get her married to me... even after I came to India"

Khushi sighed.

"Leave it... this is our first night..." Arnav said.

Khushi looked at him widening her eyes.

"I mean, let's talk something else," he said suppressing his smile.

"Let me change" she stood, from the bed.

Arnav clutched her hand.

"This Lehanga suits you well..." he said smirking.

"But, it's heavy..." she said as if she didn't get him.

"I didn't talk about it," Arnav said.

Khushi knew he was talking about the measurements of the Lehanga.

"Mmm... it suits me well"

Arnav stood from the bed and turned her towards him.

"You are so smart... acting like, you are not affected," he said meeting her eyes.

Khushi looked somewhere and gulped down.

"Khushi..."

She swallowed hard again.

"Go and get change..." he said huskily.

Why the hell he talks in a husky voice? Khushi left the place hurriedly. Taking her dress, she walked to the washroom. Arnav got changed and laid down on the bed.

Khushi came out of the washroom and laid down on the next side of the bed, facing her back to Arnav. She jerked hearing him calling her.

"Khushi..."

She looked at him turning her face.

"Good night," he said.

"Good night," she said and again turned opposite to him.

Arnav switched the light off smilingly.

..........

Laila was standing out of Neerav's room could do nothing. She peeped into his room and saw him laying down on the bed. He was gazing at the ceiling blankly.

"Idiot... don't know when did he sleep" Laila murmured gritting her teeth. She didn't know Neerav was intentionally up not wanting to let her IN.

To be continued...