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Chapter 3 - Past

Next week
In between these days, Arshi did talk to each other through phone. Arnav was busy in making arrangements for Ratna's death anniversary.
A day before the anniversary.
Arnav reached Arvind's room and found him standing near his bed holding an album. He was flipping the pages and caring the face of Ratna

"Papa"

"Come here Arnav"

Arnav sat near his father
"Did you checked every the arrangements?"

"Yes...everything fine...You want to talk papa?" Arnav asked seeing the distress on his father's face. Arvind was silent for a moment then continued.

"I don't know beta....when I saw these pictures I'm feeling so emotional, which didn't happen till now....I did get emotional but today it is bit more...I don't know why? Arnav, I tried hard to fill the gap of a mother's role in your life. I don't know how much successful I'm in that."
Arnav took his father's hand in his.
"Papa, you are the best father one could ever get. You not only filled the gap of my mother, but you filled the gap of a friend and a brother. If I'm ASR today, it is only because of you, your undying trust in me. Don't belittle yourself in front of me. The place for my father in my heart is very high. I don't believe in god, but I believe in you." Arnav said hugging his father while tears formed in his eyes.
He remembered about those days when arvind used to get him ready for school, stayed late nights when he used to study for exams, prepared his favorite dishes even after being tired from work, the embarrassment and sadness when he won't be able to do thing which every father does for their child. He know that he was everything to the man he held in his arms.
"You know Arnav, I am the luckiest father in this world to have a son like you...My Little Arnav." Arvind said placing a kiss on his forehead.
"And I'm the luckiest son to have you as my father."
Arvind sat next to him and talked.
"Beta, I never told you about me and your mother....and you never asked about us...why?
"I knew how much you loved her and misses her...I don't want to make you sad"
"Today I want to tell you this...about me and Ratna. I think this is the right time."
Arnav nodded his head.

"From all these talks we had ...you must have understood that I and your maa had a love marriage. I and ratna were neighbors. I was a single child, was born 10 yrs. after my parents' marriage. Ratna had an elder sister and an elder brother. She was from a rich family. I used to play with her when she used to visit her Nani's house which was near to our house in Lucknow. After tenth, I and Ratna was send to a college. I was cheerful boy who mingled with everyone, even though some of them were mean."

"Ratna and I were friends. I secretly liked her. I don't know how and when she fell in love with me. When we were in our second year, on my birthday she told me that she loves me. I was on ninth cloud, but I don't want to ruin her life. I don't have anything to offer her and I knew that her parents won't agree to this. I want to put her out of misery and for that I mocked her love and rejected her. She didn't come to college for a week after that incident. When she came to college, she ignored me completely. I was sad...but happy. It is for her own benefit. Then I came to know that the playboy in our college was interested in Ratna. I wanted to protect her. So I went to warn her about it and she started arguing with me. In that heated moment I blunted out my feelings to her. I tried hard to make her understand that this relationship wouldn't work, but she was stubborn and adamant. That is one big thing u got from her....stubbornness and anger."
Arvind smile at Arnav while touching his cheek.

"Then, what happened papa?"

"I finally accepted her love. Her love was the only thing I wanted in my life. We kept our relationship very secret. We would write letter to each other in our own secret language. We went out after classes are over."

"Papa you were so romantic." Arnav said with a smiling.

"So how did you exchange the letters?" Arnav asked.

"Same way as every lovers do, library. But we would keep letters in the bottom row....so that I can access it and my size did helped us a lot....I would hide behind some table or desk when someone comes when we used to stay in college after the classes."
Arnav's eyes popped out hearing all these.

"Everything was going smoothly. In between all these, Ratna's bro and sis got married. When we finished our studies, I started searching for a job and got one in Delhi. I moved here with my father. My mom already died when we were in studying. We used to write letters to each other through one of my close friend."

"One day I got a letter from Ratna saying that her parents were thinking about her marriage. So I went to her home with my father and asked her hand for marriage. They were surprised, they never thought that a man like me ever approach them with such a proposal. I asked them to give us time, so that we can have a bright future. They didn't believe me when I told them that we are in love. So they asked Ratna, she told them the truth that she wants to marry me. They refused to accept our relationship and restricted us from meeting."

"She was under house arrest and her parents fixed her marriage. I was feeling helpless. One day, I got a letter from her saying that she don't want this marriage and if this marriage happen she would commit suicide. I went to see her at night, my friend helped me to climb the walls to reach her room. We planned to elope a day before her wedding."

"I was guilty....I don't want her to do this. I don't want us to get eloped and marry.... That is not what she deserves. We decided to meet at the temple and go to Kolkata till everything gets under control."

"On that day in the temple....we just had a small marriage ceremony. My father...one of my friend...Ratna's sister and her daughter were there"
"So maa's sister supported you....?"

"Yeah...your badimaa ...she knew me and she don't have any problem with me. She heard our conversion that day and confronted Ratna. She understood us, her daughter Anjali...she was a cutie pie....we only got a little time to interact. Then we moved to Kolkata. I got a small job there."
"We were happy in our world, but the guilty of elopement consumed me. Ratna had to work up on that a lot. Finally everything was under control and we moved to Delhi after a few months. Then u were born ....we were very happy. You don't knew that feeling I had when I held u for the first time. You were sooo small..fragile... cute....I don't know how to make you understand that....may be in future when u have your own child you will understand"

"I constantly feared about your growth, but your mother was not at all concerned by it....I know that I can't do anything with my condition...but I don't want you to go through what I had been. Ratna was like ..... Even if you turn out to be a dwarf.... U have me as a role model...to be a good man..that's what your maa used say all the time."

"Sometimes I feel that your mother was some angel send by god for me. I made u take all the test to ensure that u won't be like me."

"So I have a badimaa and mamaji..."

"Yup"

"You know your badimaa and Anjali have seen you as a baby. You were 3 months old then. We were in some park...when they found us... Anjali was over the moon when she took you in arms....She was telling me that she was your di...I wish if she was here with us, to see who you have become."

"Papa, why didn't you express your feeling of missing maa till now...?

"Because I have you... When I look into your eyes...I can see my Ratna smiling at me. Even though she left me...she left you for me...."
Arnav wiped Arvind's tears

"I'm sure that maa will be watching over us...now she would want me to let her beloved husband sleep
Go to sleep papa...."

"Let me sleep with your Mother's beloved son today"

Saying this, Arvind lifted his arms and Arnav followed his dad's wish.

"You know I'm the luckiest father."

"Yeah...you are"

"Who will get such a chance to get lifted by their son.... In your childhood I used to lift you...now you are lifting me' Arnav smiled at him and entered the room

They both slept peacefully thinking of some good memories related to Ratna.
Next day,
They had the pooja, visited orphanage and distributed food and other things to them.

Arnav saw Arvind sitting in the lawn with a box....
Arnav sat next to him

"Is that the letters?

"Yup...."

Arnav saw the inscriptions and don't understand anything.

"this is some serious secret language. where did this box comes from?"

"It was with me in my room....I never let u see this...

"Ohh...what about this newspaper cutting?"
Saying this Arnav took that and started reading

As he read that his eyes filled with tears

"maa...she died while saving me??? You never..."

"Both of you were coming to give me my lunch, but the bus got into an accident ....she shielded you so that nothing would happens to you. Her head got hit badly. Later I got a call from the hospital. You were with a nurse while Ratna was in ICU. For two days she her conditions was not well, but on the third day her condition got stable. I thought god heard my prayer, at evening her condition got worse....and then...." arvind couldn't complete his sentence.

After a few minutes of silence....Arvind said

"Don't feel that you are responsible for what she did. If I were at that situation I would do that same. You were a baby and for parents their children mean everything. For them they would risk their life....Don't feel responsible for all these...that will hurt my Ratna's soul...Even though I miss her physically... I knew that she is with us.... It's just we can't see her."
To divert the topic arnav said.

"You know when I saw this box I though it is maa's ornaments box. Where is it? I don't find that in your locker."

Arvind tried to avoid eye contact with him.

"I gave that for cleaning."
Arnav was not fully satisfied with the answer....but act like he did

"Come now....lets have our lunch...." Arnav said

"I don't want anything."

"OK....I too don't want anything"

Arvind didn't say anything... Sat there silently

"maa....I know that you are here...look at your husband he don't care about me a bit...I'm hungry and he is sitting here like this.... Bechara beta.... No one to feed....Who will feed this poor child?"

"Sometimes u do drama than me..." Arvind said pullin his son's cheek.

"Genes papa...genes"

"Come now....have this"

"You ignored me...now I'm not in a mood to have food by myself."

"OK then don't have any food....I'm going to eat."

"What kind of father are you? I told that I won't have it myself...so you have to feed me...."

Saying this he opened his mouth and Arvind started feeding him and Arnav to feed him.

After that Arvind went to his room...
Arnav drove to Khushi's restaurant which was about to close.

Arnav reached the restaurant, waited for Khushi.

Khushi emerged out of the kitchen with something in her hand.

"Arnav you here at this time...the restaurant is closed."

"Can't I come here to meet my friend?"

"Yeah....surely you can....can you wait for a minute.....I will join you back soon."

"Sure."

Arnav sat there waiting for Khushi.

After a few minutes Khushi came there with two coffee mugs.

"Someone told me that the restaurant is closed."

"Yeah it is closed... But you know perksof being the owner's friend."
Arnav smiled and started having the coffee...

"What is it Arnav?"

"What?"

"You are not the Arnav I know? What happened? If you don't want to share its OK...I will..."

"It's my mother's death anniversary today"
"Ohh.... I'm sorry I didn't know....how uncle is doing?"

"He is not OK... He misses maa a lot.... He never showed it to me. Am I a failure as a son?"

"No...Arnav...you are not....I have never seen a son father relationship more beautiful than yours. When you both are together it's like a happiness everywhere....you know I like you both coming to my restaurant...both of you spread positive energy everywhere."

"Coming to your father missing your maa.... One will miss the person they loves a lot...it's bound to happen. Above all these your father have you in his life....in you there is a part of your mother... I'm sure when your father look at you he would feel like his wife is still there. If u feel like a failure you are letting your father down and uncle don't deserve that."

"No parents will want their children to know about their misery. May be uncle didn't get a chance to mourn about your mother....because he has you to take care off. Support him and be his strength and dare you say that you are a failure. If u do that I will crush your nose and make soup out of it...."

Arnav smiled at her warning and hugged her while saying thank you. He doesn't know how lucky he is to have her in his life. He encased her in his arms, buried his face in the hollow of her neck. Khushi got startled when he hugged her spontaneously, she felt his breathe on her neck. Hesitantly she placed her hand on his back hugging him.They don't know how much time they stayed in each other's arm. They were interrupted by the loud noise of her mobile.
Khushi was attending the call

What was I doing by hugging her like that....how can I hug her like that...but it felt soothing...

"hmmm...Arnav.....I have to go now..."

"Yeah...I should also go..."

"Take care of yourself and uncle."

"I will and you too....thank you Khushi for being there for me"

"I will be....you are...my...Fri...end..."

Saying this Khushi got into her Scooty. Arnav followed her till she reaches her home.

Khushi in her room
What was that? Why did I hugged him like that? Why it felt different? Why I felt that it was more than a hug between friends.

Khushi looked at the mirror and smiled. Soon she noticed something.
She looked at her body which was not at all a zero size. She lifted her top and saw the not so flat tummy with stretch marks. She looked at her face, the drown complexion she had.
Khushi smiled at herself and her silly thought....

Me and my crazy mind....he would never get attracted to a girl like me....he can have any girl he wanted...
Khushi smiled at herself with a sad face.

Days passed
Without Khushi's knowledge she was falling in love with him. Her face lit up whenever Arnav message her or call her. Every day she kept looking for him to appear in her restaurant and felt disappointed when he didn't. Nani did noticed this glow on her face at particular time.

One day Arnav was talking to Khushi about Arvind's birthday. Usually they will have a Pooja at home ....distribute food and things to needy people....Spend the day together

Khushi find that so boring and asked him to meet her.

"Arnav....let's give a surprise to uncle."

"I like that idea....but where?"

Arnav can't have Khushi at his home as she don't know that he is ASR.

"Here....in this restaurant...."

"What...? No Khushi... I don't want you to do that...."

"You can't refuse me."

'I can"
"Do u remembers our pani puri challenge... I won and I'm asking you this ...you have to do let me do this."

"You can't blackmail Khushi..."

"It is not blackmail.... It is about the challenge... I'm collecting my reward... I'm a businesswoman and this is bound to happen."

Arnav smirked hearing her saying this.

"Bossy, are we? OK...but I will send a helper here....I don't want you to strain...."

"So how many people will be here...."

"Me...Papa...Ravi and Santhosh uncle...that's it."

"OK....we will arrange everything, but I will be making the cake for uncle....."
"Ok... looking forward to the birthday celebration."

They discussed about the things and left.
*****

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