Part 9
"I'm sorry Khushi, we didn't know'" Khushi shook her head in disbelief.
"Jiji, you had to tell Di so soon that anyone could have overheard? You couldn't have waited until after breakfast?"
"Look, Khushi, it's done now. He was going to find out eventually anyway."
"Yeah, when I was ready to tell him! Or maybe I didn't want him to know at all. I just wanted all of this to happen without any fuss, but now..." She sighed. "I'm guessing I can expect a visit soon?"
"Well, he just stormed out of the house so possibly. I'll warn you now, he might be angry." Khushi rolled her eyes.
"That's nothing I haven't dealt with before, Jiji. I'll sort something out, don't worry." Khushi hung up the phone, and her heart impulsively began to beat at twice its normal speed at the thought of seeing Arnav. She shook herself. "Don't give in, Khushi - don't let him think that he's got any sort of hold on you. Just be civilised; you don't need to justify yourself to anyone." She took a deep breath and sat down, waiting for Arnav's arrival.
She waited. And waited. Hours passed, yet there was no sign of Arnav anywhere. She knew that she should be happy that he wasn't there, perhaps he had finally realised that he needed to let her go. But a part of her worried about him; there was no way that after hearing such big news he wouldn't even confront her about it. What if something's happened to him? She got her phone out; not a single call from him. She was about to dial his number when she heard a knock at the door. She rushed to the door, relief evident on her face, and threw it open.
" Ar..." She stopped midway as she acknowledged the figure in front of her. "Oh, hi Arjun."
" Wow, did I come at a bad time?"
"Um, of course not. No - not at all. Besides, you're a guest staying here; there is no good or bad time for you to come." She attempted a smile.
"Well, not anymore." Khushi looked confused.
"What? Why?"
"Since we're... since we're getting married," Khushi looked down at this. "I've realised that it would be inappropriate for me to stay in the same house as you."
"But Arjun, we'd never..." Khushi involuntarily shook from discomfort at the thought of her and Arjun sneaking around and being intimate.
"Look, it's for my peace of mind more than anything else. I'm just here to pick up the rest of my stuff. Uh, can I come in?"
"Oh yes, of course." She opened the door to let Arjun in, trying to hide the dismay she felt.
A few days had passed, and Khushi still hadn't heard a word from Arnav. He hasn't done anything stupid, has he? she thought. Khushi, before she realised what she was doing, began furiously making jalebis whilst the TV was on in the living room.
"...guests including Arnav Singh Raizada..." Khushi stopped and raced to the TV so she could hear the news more clearly. There he was, on her TV screen, looking dashing as always in a smart black suit. Khushi felt a blush creep up her cheeks. All of a sudden, a woman appeared on the screen next to him. "...and who's this mystery woman? Seems like Arnav Singh Raizada's moved on from his broken marriage, and found himself a new date..." Khushi froze, staring blankly at the screen whilst they repeatedly showed a clip of Arnav arm-in-arm with another woman. Someone rich and glamorous. Khushi, fighting the urge to smash the TV into a thousand pieces, switched it off.
It took him 3 days. 3 days. Does he even remember my name? Khushi paced up and down the room, lost in thought. Everything we've been through, he just forgot all of that and moved onto his shiny new toy. How could he do this to me? For a fleeting moment, Khushi thought that perhaps this was to get back at her; after all, this is exactly what she was doing with Arjun. What she was doing was worse, because she was actually marrying him. This is different, Khushi, she assured herself. You're doing this so you can have a good future, Arnav is just being petty. Above the hurt of hearing about Arnav's new girlfriend, Khushi felt disappointment. She was disappointed that Arnav didn't come running, all guns blazing, and attempt to knock some sense into her. As horrible as it sounds, she was surprised that Arnav didn't do anything to Arjun because he got engaged to her. She wanted him to fight for her, prove that she mattered to him. But obviously not. No, instead he lived up to everyone's expectations and moved on. What did she expect? He'd spend the rest of his life regretting what he did and beg for her forgiveness? ASR doesn't regret; there was Khushi thinking he had changed, when he hadn't. He was still the same cold-hearted person she had first met, the one who believed that he himself was God and he wrote his own destiny.
Days turned into weeks, and there still wasn't a word from Arnav. Khushi went along with the wedding preparations, trying on outfits and picking colour schemes half-heartedly. Her wedding was to happen as quickly as possible, as Khushi had specifically asked Buaji to get it done as soon as she could. Buaji, thinking it was because Khushi couldn't wait to be Arjun's, happily obliged. But Khushi knew, once she was married she would be able to bury all thoughts she had about Arnav; she would forget him, and she couldn't wait. She wouldn't waste one more moment pining after him, imagining him everywhere she went or with everything she did - it was pathetic.
Before she knew it, the day was here. It was Khushi's Mehndi & Haldi ceremony. The wedding was in a matter of days, and Khushi couldn't wait for it to all be over. Just a legal marriage, Khushi, nothing to worry about. Pull yourself together. There was a knock on Khushi's bedroom door.
"Jiji!" Khushi ran and hugged Payal.
"Di said she couldn't come, under the circumstances..." Khushi's heart sank.
"Oh, so no one else is coming?"
"I can't say I blame them, if I'm honest. Another wedding this quick, Khushi? Are you sure you're ready for this?" Khushi turned away from Payal.
"I've made my decision; I want to be with Arjun, Jiji."
"It's not too late to back out, you know."
"Look, Jiji," Her voice faltered "I-I love..." Arnav. "Arjun, and he cares about me. He'll make me happy, and that's what I want. Don't worry, everything is going to be fine." Khushi smiled half-heartedly.
Payal stroked her face. "That's all any of us want for you, Khushi." She smiled. "Now, hurry up and get ready. The guests will be arriving soon!"
Payal turned to leave, and stopped.
"Khushi,"
"Yes, Jiji?"
"You do know you can tell me anything, don't you?"
"Yeah, of course I do."
"So will you ever tell me the reason behind your wedding with Arnav, the abrupt divorce?"
Khushi looked at Payal and attempted to mask her pain. I did it to protect you, she thought, but I can't tell you that.
"Jiji, it happens. People get married and realise that they're too different, and things don't work out." A lump began to form at the back of Khushi's throat but she swallowed it down.
"So why can't you meet my eyes when you're saying all of this, Khushi?"
"Look Jiji, I'm marrying Arjun now. Whatever happened between me and Arnav is irrelevant. I've moved on... and it's evident that he has too."
"What? What do you-" Payal was interrupted by Buaji.
"Sanka Devi, you're still not ready? The guests are coming soon, what are you playing at?"
Payal and Buaji left the room and Khushi began to get dressed, changing into a pale yellow sari (like the one below, with the pallu over her shoulder).
Khushi struggled with tying the string at the back, and was about to call Payal for help when she felt something. Two hands, ever-so-gently slowly swept her hair to one side, sending goosebumps and shivers down her spine. Khushi relished the feeling. He tied the string, his hands lingering on her back and slowly moving downwards, teasing her, setting her body alight with his touch. Her heart felt as if it would burst out of her chest at any moment. She leaned back into his shoulder and whispered his name.
"Arnav..."
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