Part12 

Mathur Villa

Aman got stuck seeing Arvind Malik standing in front of him. He went lack of words. Though he doesn't like the man in front of him he welcomed him.

Arvind: I'm glad that you greeted me.

Aman: I'm ASR's manager. I know how to respect people.

He snapped him.

Arvind took seat whereas Aman stood in front of him, joining his fingers. He somewhat guessed why Arvind Malik is here.

Arvind: I heard Chotte got married...

There... his guess was right. Aman stood silent.

Arvind: See, how my fate is playing with me? I was not invited for my only son's marriage.

Aman wanted to whiplash him but he controlled himself as has no right to interfere with their personal matter.

Arvind(chocking): I'm so glad Chotte got someone for himself. But... Am I not allowed to bless my Bahu? Am I that worse?

Aman: I can do nothing with that, Sir. You can talk to your Bahu if ASR has no problem.

Arvind: What do you think? Will your ASR allow me to meet his wife?

Aman maintained silent as he knew Arnav will never allow him to meet Khushi.

Arvind: I know you can do nothing. But...as a father, I too have some responsibility. I don't even know who my Bahu is. It's embarrassing to face people who are asking about Arnav's wife and his sudden marriage. Who is she Aman? Why Arnav married to a girl who is utterly opposite to his lifestyle? I know he never went to Lucknow, then how did he know Khushi? What made him marry her?

Aman was hesitating to open up the matter.

Arvind clutched his hands.

Arvind: Please... tell me. Please... who is Khushi? Why he married her?

Aman: Ratna ma donated her heart before her death. Khushi Bhabi got transplantation with Ratna Ma's Heart. That's why ASR got married to her.

Arvind was bomb shelled by the truth.

Arvind: How did Arnav know about it when even I don't know that?

Aman: Lion's club members told him about it.

Arvind: Then?

Aman told him their marriage story. Arvind was not shocked as he knew his son. He knew how close Arnav and Ratna were. Ratna was everything to Arnav. It seems it's not just what he thought. It's something beyond everything. Arnav is emotionally tied with Khushi. No wonder if he is deeply in LOVE with Khushi. Maybe, Arnav doesn't know about his love but his attachment with Khushi will be something unimaginable.

Arvind: Didn't he tell her the truth about Ratna's Heart?

Aman: No.

Arvind: May I tell her?

Aman: No sir, ASR wanted to say it on his own... at the right time.

Arvind: Ask him not to waste time.

Aman(firmly): ASR knows, sir.

Arvind(sighing): I hope she will be Chotte's dawn...

Aman nodded yes slowly thinking about how Khushi is not cooperating with Arnav.

Arvind: Don't worry. Though Chotte is rude he will manage her by his love.

Aman looked at him amazingly.

Arvind: Yeah... he loves her. His love makes them happy. Mark my words.

He left Aman's house with a fulfilled heart.

Next day in RM

Uditha sensed something new in Khushi's gesture. She was glad about it though.

Uditha: Are you alright?

Khushi: Mmm...

Uditha: You look sad...

Khushi: I'm not.

Uditha: Do you want anything?

Khushi: What's his full name?

Uditha: HIS? Whose?

Khushi: Oh... my husband...

Uditha smiled inwardly hearing "My Husband" form Khushi.

Uditha: Don't you know his name?

Khushi nodded NO.

Uditha: Arnav Singh Raizada.

Khushi (in gauzy tone): Arnav Singh Raizada...

Uditha: What do you want then?

Khushi: I know nothing about him you know. See, I don't even know his full name... (hesitatingly) Will you help me?

Uditha: Do you want me to bring your Amma here?

She mocked, making a serious face. Khushi nodded NO pouting.

Uditha: Then?

Khushi: I would like to know about him.

Uditha: I will surely help you. (pause) can I ask you something?

Khushi: You can ask me anything as we are friends now.

Uditha: May I know about you and your family?

Khushi became silent.

Uditha: If you have a problem...

Khushi(cutting her): No... I have no problem.

She gulped and told Uditha her life story.

Uditha: Don't take me wrong. Vidyaji never treated you good. Still, do you believe her, leaving your husband behind?

Khushi: What would I do? Tell me? I had no one other than Vidya Amma after my father. Even though she is not good I have no one other than her. I have used to it. I trust Amma over my husband because KNOWN GHOST is better than an UNKNOWN ANGEL. In fact, I don't even know whether he is a ghost or Angel. I was afraid of trusting anyone Uditha. What's my mistake? Any girl in my place would be like this.

She said miserably. Uditha felt bad for Khushi as she was not wrong.

They stopped talking, seeing HP coming with the plate. He kept the plate on the table and about to left, Uditha stopped him.

Uditha: One minute.

HP: Jee...

Uditha: Khushiji wants to know something.

HP: Jee...

Uditha: Is Arnav sir, belong to Lucknow?

HP: No. He belongs to Delhi.

Uditha: Does he visit Lucknow often?

HP: He was in London for the past ten years. He didn't come to India after he went to London. He just came to Delhi for his mother's funeral last month.

Khushi looked at him confusingly. He came to India just last month, that too for his mother's funeral?

Uditha: How did his mother die?

HP: In an accident.

Uditha: Where is his father?

HP was pretended like he was hesitating to say.

Uditha gestured him to look at Khushi. He composed himself.

HP: Actually, Arnav baba doesn't like his father because he betrayed his mother for another woman. He hates his father. He loses his control whenever he sees his father. That's why Ratna ma sent him to London. Arnav baba wanted to be with his mother. He pleaded her always. But she never allowed him to come to India knowing his angry nature. He could come to India only after her death.

Uditha: Where is his father staying?

HP: He is with his second wife. He won't come here because Arnav baba gets angry whenever he sees his father.

Uditha: Do you know why ASR got married to Khushi?

HP: I don't know that. (pause) But there must be a strong reason.

Uditha: How do you say confidently?

His reply made them awestruck.

HP: Arnav baba doesn't like woman. He hates girls.

This information is new to Uditha also. She amazed hearing that.

Uditha: Really? How do you know that?

HP: He shares everything to Ratna ma through the call. Ratna ma always advises him not to hate girls. He even hit a girl, when he was studying in the college who tried to seduce him. That's when Ratna ma got his promise that he should not hit any girl no matter what. After that he never hit any girl.

Uditha clapped her hands in excitement. HP smiled at her. No need to say, Arnav got a BIG respect in Khushi's heart. Her lips curved into a beautiful smile. Uditha didn't miss noticing it.

Uditha: It seems, he loves his mother so much...

HP: More than anything...

Uditha: Thank you HPji for telling his wife about him.

HP nodded his head and left the room. Khushi was looking at HP's retiring figure, unbelievably.

Uditha: What do you think?

Khushi looked at her miserably.

Khushi: poor him...

She said gulping.

Uditha(nodding yes): I don't think, a girl could get a good man than him. Men are so mean. They change colors when they get chances. But you are so lucky to have such a husband who doesn't like girls but only you. He won't cheat on you because he himself got affected, right?

Khushi: But why did he marry me?

Uditha: Instead of behaving as same as your husband, try to be like YOU. (both of them chuckled) Then he will say the reason. Stop thinking like what you were taught. Think in a different way. Just omit how he married to you and start thinking why he did that. I don't think the man can be wrong; who carried her wife; not giving heed to the damn society. Don't spoil your life. Think; how he treated your wound. (pause)Do you think he is acting?

Khushi nodded NO.

Uditha: Really? Why?

Khushi: if he could act, he would have acted like a good man.

Uditha was excited. It seems Khushi started thinking in the right way. She nodded yes and left the room giving her the space to think. The much-needed space...

Khushi felt bad for Arnav. She thought she is the only one who is unlucky on the Earth. But Arnav's story seems more tragic than her. He also had no one like her. He loves his mother so much but not allowed to be with her. How pity... Will he say the reason why he married her if she asks him?

At the same time, Arnav came to her room to check her. Khushi looked at him kindly. Arnav searched here and there for Uditha. As he didn't find her, he turned towards Khushi and got stuck seeing her gazing at him. Why she is looking at him so softly?

Arnav: Where is the girl?

Khushi nodded like "I don't know"

Arnav: Did you have breakfast?

Khushi nodded YES.

Arnav: Medicine?

Khushi again nodded YES looking at him delicately. Arnav didn't feel to ask her to "say it in words" unlike before.

Seeing her delicate gaze, Arnav wanted to sit there with Khushi but he had no reason to do so. He stood, suffocating for a while and decided to leave the room. He took a step and stopped hearing something very very NEW... his heart raced like ever before hearing "ARNAVJI" from Khushi. He turned his head towards her unbelievably. "Shock" was visible on his face. Did she really call him or it was his imagination? He gulped hard and again took a step to leave, she again called him...

Khushi: Arnavji...

Arnav looked at her swallowing.

Khushi(pointing at the water bottle): Water...

Arnav looked at the bottle and then Khushi. He took the bottle and filled the glass. He extended it to Khushi. She gulped the water while her eyes searching something in his eyes. Damn this girl... he faced her rudeness easily but this... she drank the water taking time, not taking her eyes from his face, doing research. Is not he looking stylish? His eyes... his hair... his lips... She was shocked at her own thought and coughed. Arnav sat beside her and caressed her back.

Arnav: Slowly...

Khushi raised her eyelashes towards his face and nodded OK. What happened to this girl? Why she looks so naïve? What made her change? He stood.

Arnav( pointing at her leg): Is it paining?

Khushi nodded NO.

Arnav: Call me if you want anything.

Khushi (smiling): Jee...

His heart skipped its beat when she smiled at him. How flawless her smile is? And she smiled at him... God damn... what's happening? He felt the same "butterflies" in his stomach. He left the place couldn't control his smile.

To be continued....

Next update on Inkitt

Heart Feel

Malik Residence

Tina was crying non-stop. She couldn't accept the bitter truth of her life. She never imagined that her mother is "this kind". The man who she thought her father is not her father. In fact she doesn't know who her father is. How sick. Her mother left her father for money. In that, she destroyed Malik's family. But she never saw her mother regret for what she did to them. She thought Ratna is envying Asha. She was so angry with Arnav for disrespecting Asha. How wrong she had been. She felt ashamed of herself.

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