Part 19 Denial and Acceptance

"Is he the serial killer?" Shashi asked.

Arnav nodded yes.

Shashi looked at them shockingly. He looked at Garima who was in an extreme level of shock.

"Why not we talk about the wedding after the police catch him?" Shashi asked.

Arnav looked at Khushi who was disappointed.

"May we know the reason?" Arnav asked.

"You are in danger. The serial killer seemed extremely dangerous. Then how could we get my daughter married to you?"

Arnav was silent. Shashi was not wrong. Aarav would not be quiet if he got to know Arnav involved in this case.

"We are ready to get them married if Arnav is ready to leave India immediately, leaving this adventure behind"

"But, you wanted him to help his friend Aman, right?" Khushi asked.

"At that time, I didn't know his back story. I didn't expect he would have a direct relationship with the killer who wanted to smack him down"

"He can do nothing Babuji..."

"He killed eight innocent girls in the capital tackling the police... remember?"

"It's because they were innocent. Arnav is not the one" Khushi argued.

"I don't doubt Arnav's ability but, I can't take a risk... It's my daughter's life after all..."

"But, Babuji..."

"My decision is final. The serial killer should be caught or, Arnav should go back to Scotland, leaving the case"

Arnav stood up.

"I'm sorry uncle. Neither I can leave the case nor will I go back to Scotland without Khushi"

Nani also stood up.

"Let's go Nani," Arnav said looking at Khushi who looked distraught.

Arnav was about to leave but Khushi came in front of him and stood blocking his way.

"That's all?" She asked.

Arnav blinked his eyes looking at Shashi.

"Don't look at my father because he doesn't know what you know"

"What I don't know?" Shashi asked.

"I will be safe only if I'm with Arnav..."

Shashi shrank his eyes.

"Because the killer knew I and Arnav have a connection. He knows me well. He must be searching for me. That's why I wear a burqa when going out. Will you protect me if he comes here? Do you think you are smarter than Arnav?"

"But how did he know you?"

"I met him in the shopping mall. I thought he was Arnav and talked to him unaware of the truth. But I understood he was not Arnav and escaped from him by managing him somehow. You have no idea how much Arnav tightened the protection around me after that"

Shashi sat with the thud. Arnav and Nani looked at him helplessly.

"My Babuji doesn't know about all the facts but you? You are walking away like a model having no responsibility...?"

"If your father is not ready to get you married to me, what can I do?"

"This is what you say?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"Won't you ask me to come with you?" She asked disappointedly.

"Will you come with me?"

"Why won't I come with you?"

"Ok, come..." he extended his hand.

Without second thought Khushi kept her hand on his, making the elders stun. Arnav clutched her hand. Khushi looked at Shashi and said,

"Until I'm with Arnav, the killer can do nothing to me but he will definitely try to take me off. you will understand that when he comes here searching for me"

"But, he will be arrested before he does that," Arnav said.

"I'm going with Arnav, Babuji. The killer will get to know about it only if we get married openly. So, we will go for a court marriage" Khushi said and looked at Arnav. he nodded yes.

"Shashiji, when they are so much clear, why are you suborn? Both of them think about Khushi's safety. You want the same. Then why are you thinking a lot?" Nani asked.

Shashi looked at Garima she blinked her eyes.

"Ok, we will go for a court marriage," Shashi said.

Garima looked at the calendar and said,

"Coming Friday is a good day"

"Shall we fix the date?" Shashi asked.

Arnav nodded yes and Nani sighed in relief.

"I'm sorry Maji, I was scared about the killer. That's why I hesitated but I didn't know the danger is already at my doorstep" Shashi literally apologized.

"You are Khushi bitiya's father. It's not wrong to be careful about her life. However, you understand the true condition and agree to the wedding. It's enough..." Nani smiled.

"I will make wedding arrangements"

Nani nodded ok.

"I don't want Arnav to be involved in the wedding preparations. If the killer follows him, he will get to know about their wedding"

"Ok, uncle," Arnav said.

"Thank you so much, Guptaji. We are leaving. I have to go to the Ashram before the saint Shanthoshanandha comes"

"He comes tomorrow only Nani"

"Yes, you have to drop me in the Ashram. You may leave me behind if you get any urgent work in between. That's why I'm hurrying" Nani smiled.

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"Let's go"

Nani nodded.

"Bye, uncle, bye aunty"

Shashi and Garima nodded ok. Arnav left GH with Nani.

Shashi looked at Khushi and asked,

"Why didn't you say you met the killer?"

"I just didn't want to make you panic..."

"How did you find out he was not Arnav?"

"He frowned seeing me. his gesture alerted me"

"If he gets to know you are Arnav's would-be wife, he will act smart. He will not show such a gesture on his face. Then how will you identify that he is not Arnav?"

"There is a difference between Arnav and Aarav"

"What?"

"A scar...! Aarav hit Arnav in his childhood. Arnav got a stitch mark below his left eyebrow"

"Oh..."

Khushi walked to her room and stopped.

"Babuji, I didn't intend to hurt you. I just said the reality. I can be safe with Arnav..."

Shashi nodded his head.

............

In the cab...

"I didn't expect, Khushi would be so brave, Chotte"

Arnav said nothing. He might have expected such a reaction from Khushi.

"She loves you so much... doesn't she?"

Arnav smiled.

"Thank God, everything is going nice...! I was fed up when Guptaji said he didn't want this wedding to happen soon"

Arnav nodded yes.

"Call me tomorrow evening. I will tell you when the Saint leaves our Ashram. Even though he stays there for long, I will however get permission to attend your wedding"

"Is it necessary to go back to the Ashram, Nani? Can't you just stay with me?"

"No, chotte. I want to meet the saint... I told you know. I will come to your wedding"

"You have to... there is no second thought"

Nani nodded smilingly.

.......

On the other side, Aarav waited for the saint Santhoshanandha in the Delhi, and Kedarnath highways with his partners in crimes. It was getting dark. He didn't think the saint would come in that last hour. Yet, he waited. His eyes slowly closed as he could not hold his sleep. He slipped his balance in his sleep and opened his eyes jerking.

That was when he saw a few men who were wearing white clothes coming towards them. He squeezed his eyes and saw them. They looked exactly like a Saint but Aarav had doubt whether they were the same saints he was waiting for because they were wearing white clothes. He decided to check. He woke up his friends. They sat and scratched their head. Aarav hit their head.

"The Saint is coming. Get ready"

"Oh... ok"

They got ready to do what Aarav instructed them.

To be continued...