Part 29 The Truth

In the meanwhile,

Arnav got a call on his mobile. He rolled his eyes with annoyance. He thought for a while and attended it.

"You are in Delhi... but you don't feel to meet us..."

"I didn't think of meeting you because I know what you and Mom will do. Please stop asking me to get married, Dad" Arnav said

"Why Arnav? Being your parents, should not we wish you see you settling down in your life?" his father asked painfully.

"I don't want to settle down..." Arnav exclaimed.

"Ok.. don't do that... I called you to say something. Your mother is not well"

"Another lie to bring me home?" he sighed.

"Trust me... I don't lie..."

"Please stop it Dad. I know your tactics"

"Trust me Arnav... We lied once but this time, I'm not. Please come home if you have a little concern for us"

The call got disconnected. Arnav sat on the chair, sighing. At the same time,

Sagar came searching for his father, and could not hold his tears. He knew the consequence of the issue would be severe but he was not ready to back off. He believed his father would understand them and handle the problem also.

Sagar saw Arnav sitting in the courtyard. He came to him and stood in front of him. Arnav sat straight, seeing him, managing his mood.

"I would like to talk to you," Sagar said.

Arnav stood, frowning. He sensed something wrong with him because his eyes were red.

"Is everything alright, Sagar? Why are you looking tense? Tell me, Sagar. What do you want to talk to me about?"

"Could you give your twenty-four hours?" Though he came to the point Arnav could not understand it.

Arnav was confused, hearing that.

"Twenty-four hours? What are you talking about, Sagar?"

"I never intended to talk to you about it... but now, I so wanted to... Being a son, I would like to fulfill my mother's only wish"

Sagar's words confused Arnav more. At the same time, he became alert. Mother's wish? Why did Sagar want to talk to him about his mother's wish?

"My mother faced the worst in her life... she never wished anything for herself. I didn't even know what was there in her heart. She never let anyone know what she wanted so far. She used to bury her wishes in her heart. But today, I got a chance to know what she wants. You don't have to fear us. We will never disturb you again... please, give your twenty-four hours to my mother. She wants to be with you for at least twenty-four hours before she dies"

Arnav's eyes widened in shock.

"What did you say? What does that mean, Sagar?" he clutched his shoulder and shook.

That was when Arnav's phone rang. It was Aman's call. he disconnected it and concentrated on Sagar.

"She lived her life without you but her days never passed without your memories... do you know how hard it is for a woman to live ALONE? She told me how good you are. If you are good, you will understand her feelings..."

Arnav was taken aback. What Sagar was talking about? Khushi's feelings? Did he know about their story? How? He tried to connect the dots but he could not. Arnav gulped hard.

Arnav's phone rang again. Though he didn't want to get distracted from Sagar he could not as it was Aman who called him again.

"One minute..." He excused himself from Sagar.

He attended the call, clutching Sagar's hand as he didn't want him to leave the place.

"Haan, Aman?"

"ASR, Nisha is not attending my call. Please ask her to call me"

"OK" Arnav disconnected the call.

Arnav saw Kalpana crossing them. She smiled at Arnav.

"Aman called me now. It seems Nisha is not attending his call. Could you please ask her to call him?"

"Nisha said he is coming tomorrow... Can't he be without talking to his wife at least for one day?" Kalpana teased.

Arnav plastered a smile as he was not in the mood. But Sagar widened his eyes. What did Kalpana say? Aman's wife?

"Sagar..." Arnav was about to say something,

Cutting him,

"Who is Aman?"

"My friend..."

"Nisha aunty?"

"His wife..."

Sagar was taken back.

"Is Nisha aunty your friend's wife?"

"Yeah... he is in Singapore for an official trip. So, he requested me to join Nisha as she could not handle Sanjay alone"

"Your family?"

"My parents are in Delhi... Sister is in Goa... and brother is in Army"

"Are not you married?" Sagar asked.

Arnav didn't know whether he should say YES or NO.

Sagar might have understood his state of mind,

"I mean... didn't you get married after you got separated from Mom?"

That question shook Arnav to the core but the excitement on Sagar's face gave him courage. Sagar would not have been happy if he had hated their relationship. But how he didn't hate their relationship? What about his father? didn't Sagar say, his father was a great man?

"How do you know about our wedding?"

"I know... answer me now..."

Arnav nodded NO.

"I didn't get married"

In no time, Sagar hugged Arnav.

"Dad..." he choked... that froze Arnav's blood.

DAD? Arnav pulled him from the hug and read his face where there was only happiness.

"I'm your son, Dad... Mom also didn't marry anyone. She escaped from her family and led her life as a single mother..."

Arnav stood with an unbelievable expression. Khushi was STILL his wife. No damn man could win over her. He cupped Sagar's face.

"Is it?"

Sagar nodded yes with happy tears. Arnav wiped the tears with his thumbs. He kissed Sagar's forehead strongly and hugged him. he broke the hug and asked,

"Why didn't you tell me anything before itself?"

"Didn't I say, my mother doesn't want me to share anything about my father?"

"I can't believe the man whom you are talking about is none other than me"

"I talked about undoubtedly you Dad"

Arnav took a deep breath,

"Let me meet your mother, MY SON" Arnav smiled.

"Please..." Sagar smiled.

In no time, he ran inside. He saw Khushi talking with Preethi, sitting on the couch. He zoomed into her.

Nisha saw him running like mad. She followed him to know what made him run so.

Khushi saw him entering her room like a storm. Arnav came to Khushi and lifted her, clutching her shoulders, making her shocked. What happened to him all of a sudden? She met his eyes where there was only happiness but she didn't get anything that what made him happy.

"Don't you get married?" he asked her with uncontrollable happiness.

Khushi was horror-struck and looked at her surroundings gulping down. Her eyes rooted on Nisha who was looking at them shockingly.

"Tell me, Khushi "he shook her.

"We will talk later," she said in a feeble tone, looking down.

"No... now... right away" he shouted.

"Arnav..." Nisha tried to say something,

"Don't you dare interfere in this..." Arnav's strict voice stopped her.

"Arnav, please listen to me..." Khushi pleaded.

The way she voiced out his name confused Nisha.

"Answer my question first, Khushi... didn't you get married after getting separated from me?"

Khushi closed her eyes tight and nodded NO. Arnav sighed with a smile, hearing that from Khushi.

"Sagar is my son right?"

She again looked at Nisha whose expression was worth watching. She was shocked to the core as she didn't expect the twist.

"What do you mean, Arnav? Is Sagar your son?" Nisha asked.

Arnav nodded yes looking at Khushi.

"Sagar is my son and Khushi is my wife," Arnav said.

"Why didn't you say anything to me?" Nisha asked.

"It's because of your husband. He wants me to stay away from Khushi because I and he thought Khushi got married to someone"

Khushi was looking at him bewildered. What did he say? HER HUSBAND? What did that mean? Was not Arnav Nisha's husband?

"Aman told me about you and Khushi but I don't know, she is the same Khushi," Nisha said unbelievably.

"Aman?" Khushi asked.

"Yeah... I'm Mrs. Aman" Nisha said.

"Mrs. Aman? Are not you..." she sighed with tears.

"What did you think?" Arnav asked cupping her face.

"You too didn't get married?" She asked with a choking voice.

He nodded no.

"My Khushi is not replaceable..." he smiled with teary eyes.

In no time, Khushi threw herself on his chest and burst out crying. Arnav hugged her passionately... like there is no tomorrow.

Sagar and Preeto also had tears in their eyes. undoubtedly it was happy tears. Arnav kissed her hair, letting her cry. He made sure, that was the last time she cried.

To be continued...