Part 28 Turned Game

The whole village was at Akash's residence, crying for Payal. We already know she slipped in the washroom and got hit on her head.

NK was helping in the rituals, running here and there. Arnav was standing with Aman whereas Shyam standing a little aloof from them, observing the rituals. Arnav couldn't stand Khushi's outburst. She was continuously crying, looking at her sister's lifeless body. Garima's stance squeezed their hearts.

"Hey merciless God... Why did you give my vision and make me see my daughter in this state? This is how you want to punish me? Why didn't you take me before my child? Instead of making me see my child living happily, why do you make me see her death?" she cried hitting on her face.

Khushi looked at Arnav who gulped hard.

Payal's final rituals got over. Akash fainted after giving fire to Payal's body, screaming her name. The villagers lifted him to the house. Everyone felt bad for him.

The next day

Arnav heard a knock on the door and surprised, seeing Akash.

"Yeah..."

"I know Khushi was the one who provided you food. She couldn't do that for a few days...until the rituals got over. But you don't have to worry about it anymore. You can eat at my house. I hope you won't take me wrong." Akash said politely.

Arnav looked at Aman and Shyam. Arnav had no problem as that will be a good chance to meet Khushi. Aman will also do that for Arnav but Shyam.

"We will come," Shyam said making them wonder.

Akash smiled at him.

"Thank you for your concern." Shyam also smiled at him.

After all, they are casino mates, Arnav supposed.

"I will be waiting for you," Akash said.

Arnav nodded yes.

Khushi was surprised, seeing Arnav in Akash's place. Arnav understood, seeing Khushi's face that Khushi has not come out of the tragedy yet.

"How are you?" he asked her in a delicate tone.

She nodded ok.

"You here?" she asked him.

"Akash called us," Arnav said.

Khushi smiled at Akash thankfully who also smiled at her warmly. She served them food with satisfaction. She was worried about their food. Thank god, Akash understood that.

They finished eating and sat there for a while. Shyam asked Akash.

"How did your wife slip?"

"I don't know... I ran to the washroom, hearing her scream, and saw her lying on the floor in the pool of blood. There was no movement in her." Akash chocked while saying that.

Arnav felt bad. It's very hard to see our beloved one's death in front of our eyes.

"We have to go as we have to submit the results of our work in a week," Shyam said.

Akash nodded ok. Arnav looked at Khushi and gestured her BYE. She nodded ok.

Akash regularly called them to his house as he didn't want them to struggle for food which made Arnav and Aman get a good impression on Akash.

One week later

It was the last day of the ritual. That day evening Garima and Khushi would leave Akash's place. Khushi was busy helping in the kitchen as the villagers would have food in Akash's place today.

Garima and Akash's mother, Mohini were crying in front of Payal's photo in the main hall whereas gents were sitting outside. The villagers were around them lamenting.

"I don't know what my son is going to do without his wife... She was his life... Don't know how she left him alone." Akash's mother wailed.

"Don't cry Mohini, it's all fate..." an old lady said.

"My son has not experienced anything in his life. He is all alone. What will be his condition if something happens to me? He will be left alone like an orphan." Mohini blabbered.

"Why do you bother? Is he a gray bread or what? He has life. Get him married. Your new daughter in law will give you an heir." An old woman uttered.

"She is right... Get him married... he will get diverted." Another one said.

"They are not wrong Mohiniji... Akash bituwa is a good guy. He deserves happiness in his life." Garima said touching her shoulder.

"Do you think he will agree to get married? He won't accept anyone in Payal's place. I know my son... I know how much he loves Payal. He will never let a stranger take Payal's place." She cried again.

"What if he doesn't accept a stranger? Get him married to someone who he knows well." The same old lady said.

"Who will marry a widower?" Mohini asked wiping her tears.

"Why are you searching outside when you already have one?"

"Whom are you talking about?"

"Who else...? I'm talking about Khushi."

Garima got shocked. She looked at Mohini with the same expression.

"What's there to get shocked, Garimaji? Is it new or what? When the sister dies, the man gets married to her younger sister... It happens usually..." the old lady said.

"Haan Garima, you have no one. You should be alone after Khushi gets married to someone. You can be with your daughter if she gets married to Akash..." another one said.

Garima looked down.

"See, if she is not ready to give her daughter's hand to a widower then who will give?" Mohini said sadly.

"No Mohiniji... not like that."

"Then what?"

Garima was silent.

"Tell me Garimaji."

"I will tell you later." She said running her eyes on the villagers.

"Leave it Garimaji... but think once, would I ever taunt at Payal for not giving the heir? Would she ever complain about my son and me?"

"No, no Mohiniji... she never did that."

"Then, will Khushi get such a good man like Akash as her husband?"

"I'm sure Akash bituwa is a good guy. But..." she hesitated.

"It's all fate...I think we have someone to give shoulder..." She cried again.

"Actually, Khushi loves someone."

"Whaaaat? Whooo?" Mohini asked shockingly.

"He is one of the archeologists."

Mohini made up herself.

"It's all common at this young age, Garimaji. It's just infatuation, nothing more than that. Seeing a good looking man, she would have liked him. it doesn't matter at all." She said casually.

"Actually, he is the one who spent money for my operation... Akash bituwa also knew it."

"Ohh... that's why are you hesitating? Don't worry. We will return his money back."

"Actually, Khushi..."

"She is a small girl. Does she know what's good and bad? You are the one who should make her understand."

"But..." she hesitated.

Cutting her,

"Ok Garimaji... please stop giving excuses. I understood that you are not interested in. I should not have expected it from you. I should have understood that not everyone would be like me." She cried.

"Please try to understand Mohiniji..."

"This is why we don't allow strangers to enter our village. See, what happened?" the old lady yelled.

"You said right. We should not have let them enter into our village." Another one barked.

"We should take a good decision in PANCHAYAT. We should send them out of the village." The old lady said.

"Stop it... go and do your work. It's their wish. I got to know that they are not satisfied with my son and me..." Mohini controlled the women.

"Please don't say like that Mohiniji..."

"Then what do you want me to say Garimaji? Tell me one thing, how could you give your daughter's hand to a stranger, about whom you know nothing? Does anyone give you money without any motive? He is not our villager. What if he does anything to Khushi? He is roaming around India... his life is not stable. What if he likes some other girl in another place? You have already lost a daughter. Don't you see her living happily?"

Garima got horrorstruck. Why didn't she think of these possibilities? What Khushi knows? She is a small girl after all. It's obvious if she falls for a good-looking man. It can't be LOVE.

"You have a point, Mohiniji. I should not give my daughter's hand to him."

"That means, are you fine with our proposal?"

Garima nodded yes.

"Really?"

"Haan Mohiniji. I want my daughter to be in front of my eyes."

Mohini hugged Garima happily.

The old lady took flowers and fruits which was being kept near Payal's photo. She arranged it on a plate and handed it to Garima.

"Handed it to Mohini and confirm the proposal." The old lady said to Garima.

"I'm giving my daughter's hand to Akash bituwa wholeheartedly."

Garima handed the plate to Mohini, officially engaging Khushi to Akash.

At the same time, Khushi came there and stood not understanding anything.

To be continued...

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Khushi stood there not understanding anything. The old lady saw her and said,

"Here the bride came."

Khushi sulked, hearing the word BRIDE. She looked at Garima who was gulping down.

"What is this, Amma?" She asked with fear, sensing something bad.