Part 38 Reaction

Arnav and Khushi occupied the back seat whereas Sagar took the passenger seat. Khushi gestured to Arnav, IS IT NECESSARY TO MEET MY PARENTS?

Arnav blinked his eyes with a smile.

Trimurthi looked at them through the rear-view mirror. He could see the disinterest on Khushi's face but Arnav looked so cool. Khushi didn't even look at Trimurthi nor did she ask him about his family life. Of course, Preethi already told her about his divorce case. In fact, Khushi was not interested in even meeting them... forget about talking with them.

Sagar observed his parents, turning his face, and smiled at them. It was clear that Khushi was tense. She plastered a smile but Arnav's smile was genuine. He somewhat understood something was wrong. Though he knew their story Khushi didn't tell him that completely. She didn't want him to know the toxic side of her parents. But poor she didn't know some things could not be hidden. We can hide the fire but the smoke would be revealed...!

Khushi could not resist recalling the past happenings when she got closer to the milk colony. The place in which she was born and brought up had changed a lot. She and Arnav spared a glance and smiled when they crossed the particular PALM TREE under which they met many times.

They reached the milk colony. An unknown nervousness occupied Khushi's mind. Understanding that, Arnav pressed her hand and blinked his eyes. Taking a long deep breath, Khushi nodded yes. She got down from the car with Arnav.

"Please come" Trimurthi greeted them formally.

Khushi saw her mother Megla making Maida(all-purpose flour) Dosa for everyone even though Khushi's sister and elder brother's wife were there at home. It told, how Megla was treated by them. Megla saw Trimurthi coming. Her eyes left him and searched for Khushi.

"Just now did you remember us?" She asked Khushi.

"She didn't remember us... It was me who reminded her about us" Trimurthi said.

Khushi was silent. She didn't like to say anything. She didn't think all the questions should be answered.

"Come and see your Babuji" clutching her hand, Megla pulled her to the next room in which Govind was lying.

Arnav followed them. He didn't expect Megla to greet him. In fact, she didn't even greet Khushi. Seeing the room setup, Arnav understood that Govind was bedridden.

Khushi stood like a statue, seeing her father's condition. The man who roamed carrying a weighted head was on the bed, and could not even do his work. Her heart melted, seeing him. She felt like crying. But, his words stopped her tears from rolling down.

"I heard your story from Trimurthi... You would have been happy if you would not elope from the airport that day" Govind said.

Khushi gulped her tears. She didn't think the man who was in front of her didn't deserve her tears. Arnav was observing her reactions.

"Don't you think of us in these years?" Govind asked.

Khushi nodded no firmly which made Govind and Megla disappointed whereas Arnav and Sagar were bewildered.

"I didn't think of you... Because, I don't want to pollute my mind because, whenever I think about you, I get hyper. I don't want to think about the people who are much more into their community than their daughter's happiness... Who separated her from her husband and didn't care about her feelings... Who tried to get her married to someone forcefully..." She panted hard.

"What did you guys lose after I eloped? I'm sure you would not have lost anything. You asked me whether I thought about you or not these days. How many times did YOU(she stressed) think about me in these years? I'm sure you would have forgotten me after one or two years. That's all... Yes, I struggled in my life. I lived alone... But it's worth doing because my husband is not like you. Though we didn't wait for each other we didn't forget each other. We lived in another one's memories. That's what our love is"

Arnav and Sagar were stunned. They didn't expect this. Sagar had never seen his mother standing for herself. And according to Arnav, she was not the same Khushi who they snatched from him twenty years ago. TIME should have transformed her this way. The experience that she gained would have taught her to fight.

"I don't want to come here. It was my husband who accepted (pointing at Trimurthi ) his greeting. That's why I came here"

Govind and Megla looked at Arnav, like, why would you like to come here? understanding their gesture, Arnav spoke,

"Our lives had been painful... because of you. But, I'm not here to taunt how wrong you are but to show you, how RIGHT our choices are. We lost the precious twenty years of our lives. I lived with Khushi's thoughts and she lived with my memories. Our son was raised without a father. Yet... finally, we met. I want you to know that. We are going to live in Delhi only. You can check us anytime that how we are living HAPPILY. "

Arnav came close to Khushi.

"This is why I brought you here. I just want them to know THEY COULD NOT SEPARATE US. Should not they know WHO WE ARE and HOW STRONG AND DEEP OUR LOVE IS?"

Khushi nodded yes, smiling.

"Shall we go?"

She nodded yes. Govind and Megla went speechless. They lost their speaking ability.

Arnav looked at Trimurthi.

"I heard you too loved someone... Did you get married to her? How is she?" Arnav asked.

Trimurthi looked somewhere but could not answer his question. Arnav looked at Khushi. She blinked at him.

"Let's go" they walked.

"Don't you want us?" Megla asked.

Khushi stopped.

"I lived without anyone. Raised my son without any help. I crossed all the difficulties alone. Just now I got MY LIFE back. It's enough for me"

Clutching Arnav's hand, Khushi walked. Arnav walked with her circling Sagar's shoulders.

Arnav booked a cab and waited. He saw Sagar in deep thought. He gestured Khushi looked at him.

"Khushi... What do you think?" He asked.

That grabbed Sagar's attention. He looked at them who were looking at him smiling.

"What are you thinking so seriously?" Arnav asked.

"Dad, I have never seen mom getting hyper as she got a few minutes ago"

Arnav smiled.

"She has a dangerous level of patience dad. You can see that when she handles children. I never know she is hurt to this extent" Sagar said.

Arnav looked at Khushi contently.

"He doesn't know the complete story but only the storyline," Khushi said.

"Oh... That means, there is a lot?" Sagar asked.

Khushi nodded yes.

"There are many things. Even your dad doesn't know about it" Khushi said.

Arnav nodded yes.

"We have many things to share. We will do that in the upcoming days" Said Arnav.

"You can share as much as you want as I'm going to be in the hostel. Enjoy your time..." Sagar said.

"You will come home within a few months. I'm talking about my life plan. And, don't think your presence will stop us... We will enjoy our beloved son's company to the fullest" Arnav said.

"I know dad"

"Where are we going now?" Khushi asked.

"Meerut" Arnav said.

"Meerut?" Khushi and Sagar asked in the same tone.

"Yes, Sagar's college reopens soon. You also have to get your transfer order. I asked Aman to find a house for us. All this process needs time. This is the correct time to visit Meerut"

Khushi and Sagar agreed.

"Where are you staying in Meerut?" Arnav asked.

"We are staying in a HOME's staff quarter"

"Home?"

"Yes... An NGO woman helped me when I escaped from my family. From the time, I and Sagar are staying in the home she is maintaining"

"Yes, dad... Mom studied from the home and got a job in a special school. Side by side, she is working for the home too"

The taxi arrived. They got into it. They reached Meerut in two and a half an hour. Khushi went to the office room of the home. Arnav waited outside with Sagar.

Khushi came with a woman who was in her late sixties.

"He is Arnav... my husband. Arnav, she is Kiran ma'am" Khushi introduced them.

Both Arnav and Kiran got stuck.

"You?" Both said in the same tone.

To be continued...