Part 7
Buaji stared at Arjun in shock.
"Buaji... kuch toh kaho (say something)."
"But why? What's brought this on all of a sudden? Do you know about...?"
Arjun nodded. "Khushi told me everything, and I understand she's been through a lot of pain. But I can take care of her, Buaji. Think about it - if she's married to me, Arnav can't hurt her. He can't even come near her because he would have absolutely no right to. I can make her happy and give her the life she deserves."
"Look Arjun, we think of you as our son. You know how much respect we have for you, and I know what a caring young man you are. But is this really the best way to keep Khushi happy? You couldn't just achieve the same thing as her best friend? You know how she's never been lucky in marriages - first her engagement to Shyam, then this marriage with Arnav... I'm sure you can understand where I'm going with this. I don't think this will be good for her."
"I understand your concern Buaji, really I do. But you're forgetting that I've known Khushi ever since we were little kids. I know her likes and dislikes, I know when she's happy and when she's just pretending. I know Khushi. I would never do anything to hurt her. I care deeply for her, and I feel that eventually she'll forget all about the pain she's had to go through recently. She'll forget Arnav Singh Raizada's name; she'll forget he ever existed. He will be nothing but an insignificant speck of her past."
Buaji shook her head. "Things don't happen with that much ease, Arjun."
"But why not?"
"There's not just me to think about, here. What about Khushi's parents? I haven't had the best record in finding good matches for her, and I don't intend on repeating my mistakes. They know what's best for her better than I do." She paused. "Oh, and there's another person we've forgotten here. The most important person - we need to see if Khushi would even be willing to marry once more." She looked down and sighed. "I'll speak to her."
"Thank you Bua-"
"Don't thank me yet, son. We haven't heard what her thoughts are on the matter yet."
Khushi was just about to go to bed when she heard a knock at the door. She opened it, a confused expression on her face.
"Buaji? What are you doing here so late?"
"I need to speak to you. Urgently." Khushi's confusion soon turned into worry.
"What is it, Buaji? Is everything okay?"
"I wanted to speak to you... about marriage." Khushi froze.
"M-marriage? Who's marriage, and to who?"
"Your marriage... to Arjun." Khushi surprised Buaji by bursting out laughing.
"Oh, I had no idea you were so funny Buaji! Now listen, it's late. I think you need some rest, you sound delirious."
"Khushi, I'm serious." Khushi stopped dead in her tracks. She lowered her voice to a pained whisper.
"Buaji, how can you honestly think I'd be ready to get married again so soon? That too, to my best friend? I'm sorry, the answer's no."
"That's what I said when Arjun asked me. I knew you wouldn't be ready." Khushi looked at Buaji in shock. Arjun asked for her hand in marriage? "But then I started thinking that perhaps this could be good for you."
"Buaji, I've heard of rebound relationships. There's a reason there's no such thing as a rebound marriage. I wouldn't be marrying Arjun for the right reasons. I don't see him in that way at all."
Buaji sighed and raised her voice. "Can't you see, Sanka-Devi?! Can you not see beyond your illusion of true love and fairytales? The man you loved didn't love you! If he did, why did he not come and beg for your forgiveness when you got divorced?" Because his ego was too big, thought Khushi. "Why didn't he come, riding on a horse, and whisk you off into the sunset like a real prince? Face facts Khushi - he wasn't right for you and he never will be." Tears sprung to Khushi's eyes. She may hate him for all the pain he had brought to her, but in her heart of hearts all she held was love for him. Love he didn't deserve, but she loved him nonetheless. Whenever she thought of Arnav, she thought of their love... the Arnav she saw the day before their wedding, the Arnav she only caught tiny glimpses of after their wedding... that was the man she fell in love with. And she knew he fell in love with her too. It was this mutual love that caused the rift between them - if he could not trust her how could he have been worthy of her love? But Buaji didn't understand; no one understood except the two of them.
"Buaji, I-"
Her voice softened. "Khushi, think of it how I see it. Please, for one second. You know how much all of us worry about you. You have got an offer of marriage from a very respectable young man, an accountant who was educated in England, someone you have known your entire life. You know how much Arjun cares about you. Everything would be the same between the two of you, only there would be some legality behind your relationship. When will you be ready to marry again? 5 years? 10? What is the point in prolonging this? Instead, you will marry someone who is not worthy of you. Or you'll live your life as a spinster, while Arnav Singh Raizada will probably have found a new glamorous woman and married her. How many proposals will you get that are as good as this, Khushi? People blame failed marriages on women. Unfortunately, that is just how society works. You already have two. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but someone has to tell you how all of this looks. People begin to think there's something wrong with you, and you'll never get another proposal like this. I know you don't see Arjun in that way, but give it time -feelings can grow. You should know that better than anyone." She patted Khushi's knee affectionately. "Sleep on it, and if you're completely against it in the morning I won't mention it again. Just don't let Arnav cloud your judgement." Buaji got up to leave, when Khushi spoke.
"I don't need to think about it because I've made up my mind." She paused and looked up at Buaji. "I'll marry him. I'll marry Arjun."
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