Arnav whizzed off in his car, driving the night streets of Delhi rather recklessly, his mind blank. He zipped around the city like a madman, focusing on driving not thinking. Or trying not thinking what Dadi had just said – about that night 14 years ago, that today was his wedding, that Khushi was waiting for him – damn damn and triple damn! He raced the car further as if to run away from it all till he was exhausted and spent broken and defeated he went to his sanctuary.
His mother, she would help him.
Only she couldโฆโฆ
It was dark and the lone light at the end of the garden gave an ethereal sense to the whole place. Almost instantly a sense of calm descended over him.
Help me Mamma
Patience Chotte patience! He could still hear her as he nagged her again and again – when will this become a tree Mamma? Her soft laughter, her warm embrace, it was all too real here.
He stared at their tree like a lost little boy, what should I do Mamma?
Their tree never failed to amaze him, inspire him, a symbol of patience and determination. A tender delicate sapling left all alone, exposed to the harshest of elements. It would have been so easy to give up, to yield to the continuously changing seasons and adverse conditions. Yet she stood strong, tall and proud, her gnarled twisted branches witness to lifeโs scars. Despite everything, she embraced life with open arms, as if to defy nature to do her worst, undeterred and ever graceful through the myriad seasons of time.
He sank down under the tree as if to soak in her strength and patience and sat quietly, looking up at the sky at his mother twinkling brightly in the night sky. He closed his eyes and tried to listen to her voice in his heart. After an eon he could hear her clearly as if she were standing next to him.
What is done and gone can never be undone. Look ahead my son and be happy. If you are not happy how can I be happy? Listen to your heart.
Would you be happy without her?
What purpose would be served by not accepting her and who would be avenged?
What would be the purpose of such revenge? Would I come back to life?
Whom would you be punishing by not marrying her? Khushi, yourself or me or all three?
You told her right here just the other day that she was my bahu from that day. So why this confusion? She is already my bahu, the pheras are for the rest of the family, the society. Would my son desert my bahu in her time of need, at the first sign of adversity as a married couple? Would I be proud of such a son? ย And most importantly, is any of this her fault? You punished her once for a fault that was not hers for your sister’s sake now you intend to repeat that mistake again for my sake? For how many peopleโs fault is she going to pay?
He sat there for a long time mulling over all that his heart was telling him shutting out everything else he sat till he could no longer see his mother. He got up. ย It was time. He had already broken his promise to Khushi to marry her today but this would be the last promise he ever broke he vowed. He took a last look at his sanctuary silently promised I will be back soon Mamma with her.
He drove back home at breakneck speed and dashed into RM, shouting, โKhushi, Khushiiii!โ
Everyone sitting in the lobby turned to look at him. Anjali came hurrying forward, โChotte! Where were you? I have been so worried, your phone was also switched offโฆโ
โDi!โ Arnav interrupted her, โWhere is Khushi? I need to talk to her?โ
โKhushi? But we thought she was with you!โ
Everyone looked around in consternation.
Where was Khushi? Where could she have gone and that too without telling anyone?
Arnav, looked angrily around. โWhere is Khushi? Everyone is here and no one knows where Khushi is? What the…!!! I was gone for a few hours and none of you could take care of her?โ He blasted one and all. โKHUSHIIIIII!!!โ
โChotte,โ Di put a calming hand on his shoulder, โShe is not at home, we have checked.โ She bit her lip. โWe thought she had gone with you.โ
โGone with me?โ Arnav was incredulous. โDidn’t you see how I was? Do you seriously think I was in a rational enough state to take Khushi along with me of all people? Khushiiiiiii!!!โ
โArnav,โ Dadi spoke, her face glowing with smug self-satisfaction, โit is good that girl is no longer here, at least she has more sense and shame than her Maasi who is still here,โ she sneered. โI say good riddance to bad rubbish.โ
โDADI!โ ASR turned on her. โDont talk like that about Khushi. I have made my decision.โ He raised a hand. ย โI am going to marry Khushi and that is final. Actually we are already married and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. But where is Khushi?โ
โChotte!โ Di exclaimed unable to believe what she was hearing. โWhat are you saying?โ
Arnavโs expression darkened. โDi please! At least you should understand?โ
โARNAV,โ Dadi cracked the whip once again, โEven after knowing the truth, you want to marry that girl? Are you in your senses Arnav? Her Maasi trapped your father for his money, destroyed our familyโฆโ
โStop it Dadi!โ Arnav clenched his fists. โWhat her Maasi did or did not do is not Khushiโs fault.โ His eyes bored into hers. โJust as what Dad did is not my fault. Besides, you cannot clap with one hand can you?โ
โUnbelievable!โ Dadiโs icy calm demeanor cracked, as did her voice. โI canโt believe this! What spell has this girl cast on you? She has trapped you in her web of deceit for your money! Are you so blind that you canโt see it?โ
โNo Dadi I canโt see it.โ He retorted evenly. โAnd you still donโt get it do you? I love Khushi. And I know she also loves me.โ He paused. โNothing else matters.โ
โBut Arnavโฆ.โ
Arnav raised his hand, โBut Dadi, even if what you say is correct. Even if she wants only my money, she is welcome to it. All my money is worthless, my life is worthless without her.โ
โArnav! Donโt be so foolish and emotional, use your head, donโt be led astray by your heartโฆ.โ
โRight Dadi,โ He held her gaze, โlet me use my head then. Where did you get the photograph from?โ
โThat is not important Arnav, what is important is that we got it before it is too late, before the weddingโฆ.โ
โNo Dadi, it is too late. Khushi and I are already married. We have been husband and wife for the past 6 months so it is too late to do anything. I was just doing this for your sake, if you object, sure we wonโt go ahead with the rest of the rituals, but Khushi remains my wife,โ he paused before continuing softly with a steely note in his voice, โWith or without your blessings.โ
โCalm down Chotte,โ Nani stepped in, โHaan Sumi, tell me who gave you the photo and when did you get to know about Garima? You didn’t need the photo to identify her did you? You told me you would never forget her face and did you not did you? The tension between you to on the day you gave the bangles was very evident. Yet you deliberately chose to keep quiet? You decided to come forth only now at the time of the wedding? Why Sumi why?โ
โYes, I got to know earlier,โ Dadi accepted unemotionally, โbut I wanted Garima to undergo the same agony that we underwent 14 years ago.โ
โGreat Dadi,โ Arnav gave a bitter laugh, โEven if it is at the cost of your own grandson’s future, life and happiness? I hope you enjoy your revenge,โ he dismissed her and looked around, โbut where is that Khushi? She really drives me crazy,โ he fretted, โWhere could she have gone?โ Suddenly he turned to his Di and snapped, โWhere is Shyam?โ
Anjali was rather taken aback with his tone. โWohโฆ.he was here till sometime agoโฆ.but he had a headache,โ she faltered, โHe said he wanted to lie down, HP can you see if your Jijaji is inside?โ
โNo Didi, he is not in his room.โ
Anjali, looked apprehensively at ASR. โAchcha, let me call him.โ Arnav paced up and down restlessly as she moved away to call him.
โKahan hai aap?โ She questioned softly. โI was so worried, everyone is here only you are not here. You know Khushi is missing and Chotte is very angry. He is asking about you, okay, please, come soon.โ She disconnected the phone. โChotte, heโs outside taking some fresh air. He will be here in just a moment.โ
Chotte, grunted. He had a bad feeling and it was growing by the minute. Khushi, Khushi, if only you had a little more faith, a little more patience, I was coming backโฆ
Oh really? How would you have reacted, if she had left you standing at the altar?
Khushiโฆwhere could she have goneโฆ.Laxmi Nagar?
โDo you think Khushi has gone to Laxmi Nagar?โ He asked Buaji who was consoling Garima having climbed down from her moralistic high horse after Arnavโs blistering attack on his Dadi.
Buaji shook her head, โThe keys are with me.โ
โDamn it!โ Arnav turned on his heels and drove off to the temple. Khushi was sure to be here, he told himself. But she wasnโt. Yet he could feel her here. He had met her here so many times. How could she not be here? I kept running away from her and yet she kept crossing my path. And now when I need her, sheโs nowhere. Is this what is called kismet? Hey Devi Maiyya his heart called out silently as Khushiโs face with all its myriad expressions floated up help me find her, he sank down on the steps.
His phone rang, an unknown number; he picked it up. โHello?โ
โArnavji, hum Khushi bol rahe hainโฆโ
***
Click here for Chapter 4
After Dadi’s revelation, Arnav left the house hurriedly. Hours after he returned clear in his mind that It was not Khushi’s fault what happened with his mother. His silent conversation with his mother in her garden made him realise that he cannot keep punishing Khushi for other people’s faults. He told his Dadi Khushi was his wife already and that she will remain his wife rituals or not.
Khushi has disappeared and no one knows where did she go. Shyam is missing too. A phonecall from Khushi but what is she going to tell Arnav?
Thank you, Dahlia
LikeLiked by 3 people
That’s a neat summary Ferdi! ๐
LikeLiked by 3 people
๐๐๐.I was very good at doing a summary at school , never at analysing the story or characters. So I ended up dropping literature and doing sciences.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I think you underestimate yourself! Done quite a lot of analysis on my blog itselfโบ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Finally, she contacted him.. and don’t you love Nani.. she is the most sanest Raizada ( well, if you overlook her fondness for Lakshmi Ji ๐)
LikeLiked by 3 people
Arre Lakshmiji was her sone pe suhaaga
LikeLiked by 3 people
This was Arnav and ASR blended in so wonderfully.
I love the way you wrote about Maa’s tree. Life lessons for us all.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oh I am so glad you liked the ๐ฒ๐ด๐ณ bit. I find them fascinating and hugely inspiring. And my blog has loads of their photos in their varying myriad forms and messages๐ฅฐ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Ruchi, I too loved Dahlia’s description of the tree…I felt I was sitting in front of it…and yes, with Arnav beside me ๐
LikeLiked by 2 people
Arre Anu zaara us taraf bhi dekhlo – poora khandan err I mean fandom bhi saath me hi hai ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Acha, munge toh nahi nazar aa rahe ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
๐
LikeLike
Thank God Arnav is back. I hope Khushi is fine.
LikeLike
Hello sweet Dahlia, so glad you dug out this long forgotten draft and shared it with us. This sansani khes was a real test for Arnav and this time he listened to his inner voice for a change, par beech beech mean bechara bhatak jata hai,aur Khushi ko, ya Dahliaji ko, use line par lana padta hai…khair, hume toh jaisa hai waisa hi bohat pyara lagta hai apna, nahi, Nani ka bitwa ๐
LikeLike
Loved your description of the tree…. life’s lessons!! All pertinent questions, learning to handle the tussles between his mind and heart.
Hmmm, do I see a hint of exasperation for his Di ?????
“She really drives me crazy”…. hahaaa, exactly ASR and I empathise with you ๐๐๐
Dahlia, you really can get into writing episodes for our Indian shows …… dramatical endings will bring in the maximum trps ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bas aap aaye hume aur kya chahiye๐๐
LikeLike