After nearly 3 hours khushi knocked at the cabin door softly which read "Arnav Singh Raizada". She softly trailed her fingers over the name. A smile crept her lips.

Arnavji,
Her arnavji

She leaned at the door and let her fingers play with his name.
Snapping back to reality, her heart felt to its deepest pit knowing that her Arnavji is not her anymore.

He was never her's at first place.

Listening a faint "come in" she pushed the door open. Seeing him working on files, she cleared  her throat to gain his attention.

"Sir v-voh mera r-resignation...(Sir my r-resignation...)" She let her words trail down after that.

Fisting his hands, he calmed his nerves.

"Granted. Get your balance clear from accounts department. You can leave now." Arnav said not lifting his head from files to show his vulnerable state. He was crying badly for longer time. He had called at reception to not disturb him for few hours. Aman had already left as he had a date with his wife today. So he doesn't know anything about today's happening.

"Thank you sir. Thank you soo much. You helped me and gave me a job when I needed the most keeping aside my qualifications.
Whatever I do would be less for the favour you did to me."said khushi

"Tum khush ho(Are you happy?)" asked Arnav out of nowhere.

"Huh ?" Khushi was confused by the unexpected question.

"Vahi joh tumne suna. Kya tum is shaddi se khush ho Khushi ?(Same what you heard. Are you happy from this marriage Khushi?)"

This time arnav asked looking in her eyes directly. His eyes slightly misted and puffy from previous breakdown.

"J-ji sir.(Y-Yes sir)" was all khushi had with her to answer.

She don't know whether she was happy or sad. She just wants some respect, love, care in life. She knew him very well and also knew that if she gets married to this man, her life will be like in heaven. She would be treated as a Princess. She would get everything she dreamt of. Love, care, respect, family, happines, siblings and what not. She never dreamt of money in her happiness.

Sadly smiling at her, he whispered

"Good luck for the future and stay happy always."

Khushi too whispered shocked.
"Thank you sir."

With that she left the cabin.

After khushi left, he put his hand in his left pocket of blazer and took out a ring. A diamond ring which he brought long time back to propose her. A simple yet elegant and classy one.



Smiling at the ring he weeped harder at his fate.

Kuch bhi humein haasil nahi
Hai reh gayi manzil kahin
Hairaan hai dil, kis baat ki ye hai sazaa

Rone lagi hai ab duaa
Khud se huaa hai bepataa
Aye Rab mere mujhko zara tu ye bataa…

Kyu hua, kyu hua waqt humse khafa
Ishq se dil juda kyun hua, kyun huaa
Iss gham ki wajah kisko poochhe yahaan
Kyun huaa, kyun huaa Rab hi bezubaa..

Composing himself he winded up his work and left for his home with khushi never leaving his mind.

After granting her resignation letter, she came and collected her things. She glanced towards her sides for last time and left immediately after getting her balance cleared. She has no one in office who would bid her farewell and wish her luck for future.

Her thought went back when she last met Him. He wished her luck and happiness. She never in her 18 years of life heard someone wish this to her. She felt happy and blessed actually. This feeling was new to her. She wants to live her life in the arms of that man.

Don't know why but she felt safe around him as if he is her actual prince. She wants to hug him tightly and cry in his arms and ask him to never leave her. She is tired to fake a smile always to show everything is normal in her life like others.

Stepping out of the auto, she hired when she left the premises of AR, she paid the man his fare and walked towards home.

RAIZADA HOUSE

Upon reaching home he stood against the door to calm his breath and to look presentable for his family.

He knew how dramatic his family would get upon seeing him broken. He didnt tell anyone about Khushi at home. He never told Aman about his crush. It was he himself noticed him watching her, admiring her, caring for her, lost in her. Later he confronted and asked the matter to which he couldn't hide much. He told him every thing from start .

So it was only Aman who knew about his love on Khushi.

Pressing upon the bell, he waited for someone to show up. While losening his tie a bit, the door cracked open. There stands his mother with a bright smile as in welcoming her son. Cracking a small almost invisible smile, he handed his bag to her and made his way to his room.

"Chotte." Called his mother from back.

He stopped in his tracks and looked back.

"Kya hua hai tujhe aaj? Tu thik toh hai. Teri tabiyat toh thik hai na ?(What happened? Are you alright? Is your health alright?)" His mother bombarded the questions. The mother is only the person who can see the hidden pain, worry of her child.

"Kuch nhi ma. Mei thik hu. Bas thak gya hu or bhukh bhi lgi hai  bhut.(Nothing mother. I am fine. Little tired and hungry too.)"  saying this he made his way towards his room not waiting for her reply.

Feeling something fishy she went to kitchen to get a plate of food. She will ask about the matter later but firstly she has to feed his son the food. He actually feels tired and worn out as if he hasn't eaten for a day or two.

This is a mother's heart that speaks. A mother will always say that her son does not care for his health.

Making her way to his room, she pushed open the door to see him laying on his bed in his sweat pants and green hoodie. Smiling she sat beside him and made a bite of chapatti. Nearing his mouth she asked.

"Kya hua hai chotte ?(What's the matter son?)"

Opening his mouth and chewing the bite he diverted his eyes from his mother as if she will see the hidden pain in them.

"Kaha to hai ma. Kuch nhi. Bs aaj meetings bhut thi. Is liye thak gya hu. Sir mei bhi dard hai. Or kuch nhi.(Told you mother. Nothing. There were alot of meetings today so. Its just a headache nothing else.)" He smiled to her.

Not pushing the conversation further, she fed him the complete food and left after tugging him in blanket and kissing on his forehead.

Closing his eyes he tried to divert his mind from her thoughts. He just wish to sleep for sometime but this headache doesnot let him.

His mother again tiptoed in the room with some oil and balm very slowly not to disturb his sleep. Making her way to bed she sat beside him and gentlly placed his head in her lap. Taking some balm on her finger tips she ever softly massaged his forehead with a smile tugged permanently on her lips. After a good massage she oiled his hair for good number of minutes and then tucking him in sheets, she left him to sleep.

GOMTI SADAN

Khushi reached her home and saw that her family was sitting in living room discussing something very serious. Not to interfare, she left to fresh up when buaji called her.

"Aye khushi sun toh. (Khushi listen)"

"Ji buaji.(Yes buaji)"

"Istifa di aayi ya nahi tum?(Have you given your resignation?)"

"J-ji buaji hum de aaye.(Y-yes i have given.)"

"Acha kiya. Shyam babua ko pasand nahi ki o ki hone wali biwi kaam kre.(Good. Shyam dont like that his would be wife works.)"

"Or haan babua khe rha ki use yeh shaddi jaldi krni hai. Isliye ab tumhari shaddi ek hafte baad nhi blki parso hai. Smji?(And yes shyam said that he wants the Marriage as soon as possible. So now your marriage is not after a week but day after tomorrow. Understood?)" Said buaji giving a shock to khushi. She could have never thought about the sudden turn of events.

"Parso.....hamari shaddi.(Day after tomorrow......my marriage.)" Whispered a teary Khushi.

Nodding at buaji, she left to her room. Entering and closing the door behind she leaned over it and slid down crying over her fate.

She is marrying a person about whom she don't know anything except his name. What has life got for her! Her whole life is just based on expectations now.

Expect to get love from her groom.

Expect to get respect from him.

Expect to get care and affection.

Expect to get happiness.

Expect to trust him.

Expect to love him.
.

.

.

.

And many more countless expectation she can only expect.......

Shaddi zindigi ka voh mor hai jaha se ek nayi duniya dikhe gi

Aakhen bhi vhi hogi pr dekne ka nazariya badal jaye ga,

Kyuki phele aap aapne nazro se dekhte the, pr ab uski nazro se dekna hoga.

Its always a girl who has to adjust, has to compromise.

First in her own family.

Then with her siblings.

Then in society.

In her sasural.

With her husband.

With her in laws.

With her small wishes.

With her dreams.

With her happiness.....

Now what, she has to put a stop at her dreams, wishes, happiness.

Its has already started as she had resigned.

Adjustment with the dreams......................... Done ✓.

She mentally noted the first adjustment.

She always has adjusted and will adjust again. It should not be a big issue. Its wrong for a girl to expect and especially a girl who is orphan, right!! How can she love someone!! Who gave her the right to listen her heart, to expect something. When she clearly knows that she can't.

Thinking all this to calm and clear her mind she stood up. Freshening up she made her way to kitchen to prepare dinner.

Almost an hour and half later, she came out of kitchen when she overheard something. She knew eavesdropping was bad manners but she couldn't hold herself when she heard her name from her babuji's mouth. Leaning over the closed door she put her ear over it to listen clearly.

"Shashi babua shukar hoga ki voh kalmuhi hamri zindigi se nikal jaye gi. Uski jaane ke baad kono rishta rkhne ki jaroorat nahi hai uske saath. Shaddi ke baad humare liye voh marr jayegi.(Shashi it would be good when that ill fate girl will leave our house. We will not keep a relationship after she leaves. She is equal to dead for us after Marriage.)"

"Ji jiji. Sahi kha aapne. Bs ab us din ka intezar hai jab voh is ghar se jayegi.(Yes sister. Exactly. Now just waiting for the day when she leaves permanently.)" Smiled shashi

Nothing would be more painful for a bride to be to listen that her family will abonden her after her marriage.

She felt that she was a unwanted burden on them. Why.....why did they look after her for so many years. What was the need to adpot her when they wished for her death. Why didn't they kill her when they could have easily poisoned her food. No one would have doubted them. No one would question about her existence after.

She ran from their not able to hear more and came in her room.

She wished her death today but again, she unexpectedly wished something when she vowed never to expect recently.

Smiling sadly she wept and sat by the window and peeping into the sky to see the stars and clouds covering the sky. A slow breeze touched her face and sent chills down her spine. Covering herself with the duvet she again sat by window and leaned upon it and slowly sleep took over her.

__________________________

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