Part 10

Next morning:

Khushi got up and saw Arnav sleeping hugging her. She smiled to him and went into washroom.

When she came down Arnav is still sleeping. She went downstairs for her daily work.

She was in the kitchen when Anjali and Nani came there.

"Khushi bitiya. Is everything ready for pooja ?"asked Nani.

"ji Nani. Everything is ready"said Khushi.

"Fine. Panditji said he will arrive at 10'o clock. You and chote be ready by that time"said Nani. Khushi nodded her head and they got immersed in arranging for pooja.

After sometime Arnav woke up, he got ready in new dress given by NK saying about pooja and came downstairs. He saw Khushi in kitchen and went there.

"Khushi. How I am looking ?"asked Arnav.

"Handsome. Exactly like my Rajkumar"said Khushi.

"Waah Khushiji. You gave very good complement for my chote"said Anjali who heard their conversation. Khushi just smiled to her shyly.

"Ok now come with me Khushiji. Nani is calling you "said Anjali. Khushi nodded her head.

"Where ?"asked Arnav.

"Chote. I have work with Khushiji. So I am taking her"said Anjali.

"What work ? I too will come"said Arnav.

"Chote. You just be here."said Anjali. Arnav nodded her head. Khushi followed Anjali.

They both went into Nani's room. Seeing them Nani smiled and gestured to come in.

"Sit bitiya"said Nani sitting on the bed. Khushi sat beside her.

Nani signaled Anjali something and she nodding her head went near cupboard.

Anjali brought some jewellary boxes and gave them to Nani. Nani opened all of them and placed on the bed. Khushi looked at them confusingly.

"These are all my mamma's jewellary"said Anjali. Khushi could sense the sadness in her tone and tear drop falling from her eye didn't go unnoticed by her.

Khushi placed her hand on Anjali's shoulder assuring her. Anjali composed herself.

Nani said" Yes bitiya. These are all my daughter Ratna's jewellary. She wanted to chote's wife. so I am giving them to you. You wear this jewellary to pooja"

"But Naniji. These much jewellary.."murmured Khushi.

"Khushi bitiya. You are the bahu of this house. You have every rights on this "said Naniji. Khushi nodded her head and took them.

"Now you go and get ready."said Naniji. Khushi went into her room.

After sometime, in the hall, panditji arrived and all arrangements are completed. Only Khushi has to come.

After sometime Khushi came down wearing red saree selected by Arnav and jewellary given by Nani and Anjali.

"Khushiji. You are looking beautiful"said Anjali.

"Thank you Di"said Khushi.

"Let's start pooja"said Nani.

"Where is ghee ?"asked panditji.

"I will bring it"said Khushi and went into kitchen.

Shyam followed her.

"Khushiji!!"called Shyam. Khushi looked at him startled and faking a smile asked" Do you want anything jijaji ?"

The word jijaji is making Shyam very angry.

"Nothing. Woo you are looking very beautiful"said Shyam. Khushi just looked at him and continued her work.

"Khushiji. What is this ? I gave a complement for you. Were you not happy with my complement"said Shyam.

"Jijaaji. For any married woman if her husband gives a complement she will feel happy. Other than husband , if anyone give it won't have any value and won't consider. If Arnavji says I am looking beautiful, then I will accept I am looking beautiful and feels happy"said Khushi with a stern voice. Shyam fumed in anger.

Khushi was going out when Shyam called her, she turned looked at him.

"Khushiji plz. Don't call me jijaaji"said Shyam angrily.

Khushi thought for a while and said"Ok Bhai" And left from there leaving a shocked Shyam there.

The pooja went well without issues. Nani made Arnav and Khushi sit for Havan. Arnav couldn't sit for long time but Khushi some what consoled him to sit silently.

After the pooja is completed, Arshi took blessings from panditji. Arnav did as Khushi said while taking blessings. Khushi is giving prashad to all. when she was giving to Arnav, he said" Khushi Really you are looking very beautiful in this saree."

Khushi said shyly"Thank you Arnavji" All the members smiled to Arnav's comment while Shyam fumed in anger seeing Khushi feeling shy to Arnav's comment.

"But not more than me"said Arnav. Khushi and others looked at him confused.

"Don't feel so happy. You are not looking more handsome than me"said Arnav and went from there.

All looked at him with wide eye and bursted out into a laugh for his innocence.

It was evening. Khushi kept all her jewellery on the bed to arrange in the cupboard. Arnav came into room.

He saw the jewellary on the bed. He went and saw them.

"Khushi. Who gave you all these ?"asked Arnav.

"woo Arnavji. Di and Naniji gave me. These are all your mother's jewellery"said Khushi.

Hearing no voice, she turned and looked at Arnav who is holding kangans of his mother and crying.

Khushi got panicked seeing him like this. She immediately rushed to him and asked" Arnavji. What happened ? Why are you crying ?"

Arnav hugged her by waist and said" Khushi. Mumma...........mumma left me"

Khushi stroked his hair. Arnav immediately got up and went near poolside. Khushi was going behind him but saw Anjali with tears at the door. She signaled him to come near her.

Khushi went near her. Anjali said" Leave chote alone for sometime Khushiji. You come with me". they both left to Anjali's room.

In Anjali's room, Both sat on the bed. Shyam was out.

"Khushiji. I want to tell you about my mamma and papa. You have every right to know. Mamma, papa, Chote and me were our family. Our chachu too used to live with us. We were living in lucknow at sheesh mahal. Our father is a lucknow's No.1 Business man. He would always be busy with his business so he won't time to spend with us. We were close to mamma. More than me chote is very close to mamma.

When chote was 14 yrs, on the day of my marriage, mumma came to know that my father have an illicit relation with other woman. Mamma couldn't bear this and she committed suicide. Thinking he was the sole responsible for mamma's death, my father too committed suicide. My marriage stopped. Our chachu took whole property , threw me and chote out of the house. Nani , mama, mami brought us here. They looked after us very well. Mami would love us like her own children. Chote was very much affected by mamma's death. He constructed a wall around him in his heart not allowing to enter anyone. He became a rude, arrogant and stone. Then only he changed his name to mamma's surname singh Raizada and became Arnav singh Raizada. He hates papa soo much"said Anjali with tears flowing from her eyes. Khushi hugged her and she too reciprocated it.

After sometime, Anjali became normal. Khushi asked" Di. Now Arnavji is like a small child , then how can he remember about this incident"

"Now Chote doesn't know about this Khushiji. he forgot everything. When he wokeup form accident, he at first asked for mamma. We then managed saying something. Later we consoled him saying mamma and papa died in an accident. From the childhood, he is more attached to mom, so he will cry whenever he see any of mamma's things"said Anjali.

Their trance was broken by the door knock. Hp was standing there.

"Anjali didi. Naniji is calling you"said HP. Anjali nodded her head and went from there. Khushi felt sorry for Arnav and Anjali. She was lost in her thoughts when she heard "Khushiji"

She looked up and saw Shyam standing there.

"What are you doing here ?"asked Shyam. Then she realized that she is in Anjali's room.

" Sorry "said Khushi and was about to go when Shyam blocked her way.

"Khushiji. why are you looking soo sad ?'asked Shyam.

"Nothing'said Khushi.

"I know Khushiji why are you sad ?"said Shyam. Khushi looked at him confusingly.

"Yes Khushiji. You are sad thinking about your life. You don't have any happiness from Arnav. You have to look after him like a child. Every wife expects his husband to love her. But Arnav doesn't know about what love is. . Arnav will never become normal. I too feel very bad for you. You have to spend your whole life like this. If you want I can help you"said Shyam evily.

"How could you say that Arnavji will never become normal again confidently?"asked Khushi.

Shyam's face became pale and he said" woo , we are using medicines from the past one year but still there is no improvement in his health"

" Arnavji will definitely become normal. I have that faith. Don't worry about me bhaiyya. Do you know I always used to pray devimayya for a brother like u who would be my wellwisher and thiNK about my future. See now she had given me a brother like you"said Khushi and went away from there smirking while the snake fumed in anger.

Thanks to those who have voted and commented on previous update.