kuts: Arhi FF - Married To Satisfy Her Last Wish

Chapter 24

(i made this banner.. LOL

)

Gupta House..

Evening..

Khushi reached home, with red eyes and wet nose.. As she entered her house, she saw her Babuji sleeping on the couch.. As soon as Shashi saw Khushi enter, he smiled wide and tried to get up.. Khushi moved towards her father and helped him sit properly.. He was feeble, she knew..

Shashi (happily)-Khushi, u came beta..

Khushi smiled weakly and nodded sitting besides her Babuji as he held her hand..

Shashi-My daughter is growing up ha! I am happy u are getting married Khushi.. I am really so happy..

Had Amma and Buaji not informed Shashi about her denial to marry that ASR, thought Khushi..

Khushi was about to open her mouth, when she felt her arms caught and pulled by some lady and she looked up feeling pain on her already red arms, just to find Garima pulling her inside and dragging her straight to her (Khushi's) room..

***

Khushi's Room..

Buaji closed the door behind and Garima and Buaji pushed Khushi to make her sit on the Bed.. Khushi was still not in a state of mind to talk to anyone as her last destructive encounter with ASR was still fresh in her mind.. Khushi tried to compose herself and looked at her Amma and Buaji who were just throwing daggers at her..

Khushi-What happened Amma?

Buaji (mocking)-What happened? U asking us what happened? *angry* What did u do Khushi?

Khushi (confused)-What did I do Buaji?

Garima (soft anger)-Khushi! Mushkil se ek rishta aaya tha tumre liye, tum usko bhi mana kar di? Kaa soch kar mana kiya tumne? Jara bata humko.. (Hardly a proposal came for u.. U denied that too? What for? Tell us..)

Khushi got what her Amma and Buaji were coming to.. She stood up to leave the room but Buaji blocked her way.. Khushi looked away flaring her nose and spoke bluntly..

Khushi-Buaji, hatiye.. (Buaji, move..)

Buaji-Ur Amma is asking u something.. Reply us.. This is not a question of stealing a jalebi and popping it in ur mouth.. It is a big matter Khushi.. U cant run away without answering it.. Tell us..

Khushi-What? What do u want to know?

Khushi looked at Buaji and almost yelled..

Buaji-Did u deny Arnav Babua for ur marriage? Am asking u Khushi.. Look at me and answer..

Khushi looked at Buaji and replied fearlessly..

Khushi-Yes! I denied.. U got ur answer?

Buaji was stunned by this behaviour of Khushi and so was Garima.. They never had seen Khushi back answering any elderly in such a serious way.. Garima came behind Khushi and turned her..

Garima-Khushi? How can u speak like that?

Khushi realized her tone and apologized looking away.. Garima tried to ask Khushi why she denied for this marriage proposal but Khushi dint reply even a word on this topic..

Garima-Khushi! U should not have done this beta.. If u denied for this proposal thinking about the past, then trust me, NK and Arnav are no same..

Khushi (frustrated)-That's not the point Amma.. U wont understand.. Leave this topic, plz..

Buaji-Why? Why leave it? Eh?

Buaji held Khushi's upper arms which were already paining due to ASR's grip they felt in the Raizada Mansion some hours back..

Khushi-Leave me Buaji.. I wont marry him..

Garima-What is with u Khushi?

Buaji-No, tell us what do u think of urself ha Khushi? U are no princess of anywhere..

Khushi-Leave me Buaji.. Amma plz, tell Buaji to - -

Garima-Khushi, bitiya.. It was Arnav babua's generosity that he agreed for this marriage.. He dint ask for any dowry too.. He is such a good hearted person.. I know he will keep u happy.. Plz say a YES for our sake, ur Babuji's sake.. He is also looking forward to this marriage..

Khushi-Enough Amma! I told u I wont marry him.. Why did u even tell a YES to Anjali ji? Why? U should not have told her a YES in the first place.. U don't know how arrogant and egoistic her brother is.. He is so - -

Buaji-Ae Khushi! Ur Amma is right.. Had it not been a proposal from their side initially, we wont have even thought to give u in such a big house.. And just if u have not thought, Arnav babua has accepted u even after knowing that u are a girl whose engagement is broken once..

Khushi looked down not knowing what to reply to her Buaji and tried to stay calm.. But ASR's actions and words which were still felt by her on her form, were getting difficult to be erased by the words her Buaji choose to speak next..

Buaji-Aise rishte baar baar nahi aate.. Maan ja Khushi.. (Such proposal's don't come often.. Just agree to it..)

Garima-Yes bitiya.. Trust us, he may speak less and he may be short tempered, but is very good at heart.. He is marrying u knowing all about u, ur weakness, ur past, ur present.. Is not that enough for u?

Only Khushi knew what was the true aim of ASR behind accepting her.. She too would have agreed to ASR's proposal happily, had he not crushed her dreams to spend her whole life with Him by revealing his condition to marry her only on this 'Contract Base'..

Buaji-Apne aap ko khushnaseeb samaj, itne bade aadmi hone ke bavajut, ek chhodi hui ladki ka haath thamne ki baat ki hai usne, toh kuch toh izzat kar uski.. Ha kar de Khushi.. (Consider urself lucky that being such a rich man he is, he still agreed to marry a girl like u who is left by someone else, respect him a bit at least.. Say a YES..)

Those words from Buaji hurted Khushi the most! HIS words from their Temple Meet a month back came rushing in her ears..

Arnav-Tumhari toh sagai tuti hai na? Kaunsa accha aadmi tumse shadi karega? (Ur engagement is broken right? Which good man will marry u?)

She closed her eyes feeling terrible not able to speak anything coz her heart dint allow her to, neither did her lips cope with her to speak up anything against him whom she thought she loved, she did..

Buaji and Garima tried to take out a YES from Khushi but failed.. None of the woman understood why was Khushi acting so adamant!

Just after a few moments, the Gupta ladies heard some noise and rushed out to the drawing room to see Shashi in a pitiable state.. Khushi was rooted in her place as she had never seen anything like this in her life.. Seeing her Babuji vomiting blood, left her scared and shocked at the same point.. Her feet went cold and her heart stopped feeling everything around numb..

***

Same time..

Raizada Mansion..

Arnav was in his room trying not at all to think on how he behaved with Khushi.. He never knew how to behave decently whenever his anger rose.. He knew he should not have behaved like that with her how ever he did.. He had no right to force her to marry him..

He was impatient, not coz Khushi had denied to his proposal, but for the words Khushi used for him.. How can she call him 'characterless' on his face?

ASR-Dammit.. How dare she?

ASR was not able to concentrate on a thing since Khushi left and bang closed the laptop in front of him and not wanting to work on anything.. He went to his poolside and tried to divert his mind by doing some gardening, but the poolside just reminded him more of her for obvious reasons..

ASR threw the gardening scissors in the pool in anger and fisted his palms..

ASR-Good that she denied to Marry me.. Its better.. I anyway never wanted to marry that Gupta Girl.. She is nothing.. Had it not been Di, I would never have continued to see her face everyday..

Suddenly ASR remembered, DI?? Arnav went to Anjali's room leaving his ego and anger behind..

***

Anjali's Room..

Anjali (shocked)-What?? I don't believe u chote! Khushiji cant deny u.. U are lying..

Anjali turned her back at Arnav now facing the dressing table mirror and Arnav walked ahead to face his Di..

Arnav-I swear on u Di, I had agreed in front of u.. That Gupta does not want to marry me and we cant force her.. U can ask her..

Anjali-I know! U would only have done something to force her to deny u chote.. She wont have denied u otherwise.. I know u both well..

Arnav-Okay Di, believe what so ever u want, that does not change the fact that I am not going to marry.. Not with Gupta, not with anyone else.. U wanted to try ur hand on my marriage and u did.. I guess u would have understood by now that u cant make me marry anyone for any given reason without my consent..

Arnav said that in one go and Anjali was stunned.. She held her breathe and moved a step close to her brother and asked..

Anjali-Wait! What did u just say?

Arnav-Just what u heard! I wont marry Di.. Now shut this topic forever and come and rest..

Anjali (in disbelief)-Wah chote wah! Here I am trying to settle everything for u so that u can live well after my death and u are just taking this all so lightly? U have any idea how serious I was back then and now.. Arnav why don't u understand that I have only u to take care of my baby after me and I have - -

Arnav (shocked)-DI???????? Wha - - wh - - what did u - - Di I have told u so many times that plz - -

Arnav stammered initially and got angry ultimately as Anjali spoke about her death..

Anjali-I have also told u so many times chote, find a girl of ur choice if not mine and marry her.. Did u listen to me? PAUSE.. If u think that life will always work according to u then u are wrong.. Nothing is in our hands chote..

Anjali was getting hyper suddenly.. Arnav thought its Anjali's pregnancy hormones, least he knew the real reason.. He moved a step ahead and tried to hold his Di's shoulders but Anjali pushed his hands back..

Anjali-Arnav why don't u understand this? I am not ur enemy to force u for things u don't like.. I know our thinking is different but - - .. Arnav I am not doing all this just for u.. I am thinking also about my baby.. I am dying Arnav.. I am dying.. My baby will have only u after I leave this world..

There, Anjali could not hold it any longer and she let the truth of her health out.. But, while revealing it all to Arnav, her eyes dint drop a single tear as she choose to stay strong.. Arnav was baffled to listen to all this, and that's when Anjali continued..

Anjali (yells)-Don't u dare stop me from speaking now.. YES.. U heard it correct.. I am dying.. *irritated* I have just a month to live Arnav.. And before I die, I want to get my chote and my baby's life secured giving these two in responsible hands..

Arnav-Di - - u - - u - - ..

Arnav was not able to speak anything and lost his energy to stand anymore.. He was dropped on the floor.. He still thought maybe he dint get anything properly until Anjali disclosed everything about her health to Arnav which left him shattered, totally..

Anjali-U could do nothing when Shyamji died, and u cant do anything to save me either.. But Arnav, u can at least fulfill my last wish, right?

Arnav looked at his Di with teary eyes and got up making her sit on the bed and replied firmly..

ASR (firmly)-That wont be necessary Di, coz u are not dying.. I wont let anything happen to u.. Trust me.. We will live together safely, I promise..

Anjali looked down holding Arnav's hands..

Anjali-I wont, but my baby will.. And all I can ask as my last wish is for u to marry Her and leave the rest on destiny.. I know u will agree if u care..

***

Gupta House..

Khushi saw Buaji and Garima hurrying towards Shashi and she turned her back on them feeling terribly shaken.. Shashi was taken to the hospital and Khushi did follow her Amma and Buaji this time..

***

Next Day..

Life Care Hospital..

Khushi's father was operated yesterday night.. He was kept in the ICU presently.. His stomach had a major cancer which had reached the last stage, and to add on to his pain, a small part of his smaller intestines was also completely destructed beyond repair now..

It took a day for the Gupta's to know what was Shashi's Health status.. Their night had not been an easy one..

Doctor's had given their sentence that Shashi Gupta is now counting his last days.. The most effected by that was his Wife, Garima.. Garima although knew this since long, she was not able to accept it.. Khushi had but of course never dreamed of her father leaving her forever any time soon..

The previous night, Khushi's mind was occupied with her Amma and Buaji's yesterday's words which kept ringing in her ears, but now, only the doctor's final sentence was heard to echo in her ears..

Khushi remembered her Babuji's face and that little glow on his face yesterday, when he spoke he was happy to know Khushi was getting married.. Khushi was not so strong to bear all this pain alone and made her way out of this corridor she had been standing, making her way to the small temple inside the hospital on the same floor..

Buaji who was also not able to stay strong wiped her own tears for Garima's sake.. She knew if she too would break down like Garima, their little family will flow away and break apart in this critical point of time..

***

Raizada Mansion..

Anjali was not talking to Arnav and Arnav was least bothered of that.. His mind was not working on anything since his Di told him she was dying.. He had gone completely dumb and dint come out of his room since yesterday night..

It was 10.00 am now, and still Arnav was in his room.. He had no more tears left to shed.. His room was already ruined by his anger last night.. Enough of getting weak, thought he, and got up to move out..

He was not ready to sit down and accept that his Di was dying.. He had to do something.. Had he known this thing earlier by any chance, he would have surely taken the Best decision in his Di's favour..

Time was less now, and but he cant give up.. He cant loose Anjali, she is all what was left with him.. Making way in Anjali's room, he saw her watching Shyam and Her Marriage photo and smiling talking to her baby.. But wait, she was alone..?

Where was the nurse? Where was Khushi?

He had to go out to meet some doctor for his Di's sake, but how could he go leaving his Di alone..?! And not after knowing what he heard yesterday.. He cant risk anything and waited for someone to come so he can leave.. The nurse arrived in a while, but Khushi dint..

Not caring to call Khushi and ask her to come, he left already..

***

The day went by and Anjali dint talk to Arnav at all.. Now that she had told everything about her and her baby's condition crystal clear to Arnav, she was adamant not to talk to him till he agreed for marriage with Khushi..

Anjali was not feeling great, but her situation was under control for now.. Her nurse gave Anjali some antidote which helped Anjali relax and fall asleep..

Shashi was still unconscious and Khushi stopped eating for today.. So was with Garima.. Buaji forcefully made these two eat something in the evening, and the day ended with all being in hospital only..

Next Day..

Khushi was completely lost in her own world to forget that someone named Raizada's existed for whom she worked.. She got a phone call today from ASR which she avoided and in return just sent him a TEXT MSG saying she wont be able to come.. Sending that, she switched OFF her mobile and could not help but silently weep inside her heart not understanding where life was taking her..

The doctor's had given their Final Word that Shashi wont survive more than one day and Khushi's chest was going hollow as each second passed..

She cried, but without support.. She let her hurt out, but none cared to listen..

***

Life Care Hospital..

ASR had talked to some doctors yesterday night, which made him aware of some Famous Gynaechologist arriving at the Life Care Hospital the next day, and so, ASR was in the Life Care Hospital presently.. He had come here carrying high hopes for his Di..

He met the Doctor, and got just in return what ASR never wanted to hear.. He left the Doctor's Cabin with some Files he had been carrying from home and with wet eyes and hard throat, he dragged his feet to leave for who knew where?!

Arnav was walking in the corridor of the hospital feeling defeated by destiny.

Anjali's case was hopeless now and ASR was falling apart.. He had moved out from that doctor's cabin with Anjali's pregnancy file in his hands which were now loosing his grip, and he went lost.. He kept walking passing many rooms.. His ears heard just Doctor's 'Sorry. We cant help u..' and Anjali's words from day before yesterday, on a repeat mode..

Anjali- I am dying..

U could do nothing when Shyamji died, and u cant do anything to save me either..

I have just a month to live Arnav..

Arnav had been walking lifelessly with Anajli's painful words and the doctors harsh truth cutting his life apart.. Just then, his ears alarmed when heard some two nurses talking..

Nurse 1-Yes, Shashi Gupta, that cancer patient.. He is counting his last breathes..

Nurse 2-Its better he is dying, he will have to suffer less at least..

Arnav went flat to have happened to hear this suddenly.. Just then Arnav turned his head and heard some very known feminine voice cry..

"Hey Devi Mayya! Shakti dena.." (Give me strength..)

Arnav turned to see vulnerable Khushi, sitting on some bench of this Life Care Hospital shedding tears.. Her hair messed up and eyes so tired.. He felt her saying again the same closing her eye..

Seeing her in such a state, the file from his hands slipped finally to meet the ground.. His lips automatically spoke..

Arnav-Khushi..

Khushi had her eyes closed, but felt someone watching her as the world around suddenly felt more silent.. She looked up to see a helpless figure of her Boss, Mr. Raizada.. She dint know if the person was really him or someone else?

But when she heard her name from his lips, she felt sun's light shattering more around..

As if Khushi was just waiting to hear this soothing voice which until now just gave her pain, she raised her lashes to let herself go loose and still at the same time.. Her throat chocked and her eyes overflowed..

Khushi stood up and least she knew why, she kept her palms on her face and started crying hardly seeing him around her.. She forgot every word of pain he ever told her till date, and feeling completely alone, her feet took a few weak steps towards him with sadness all written on her face, and then she took speed not able to wait anymore and she ran to push herself on him without second thoughts and with full force..

She tried sharing all her pain to him who was hollow already..

Khushi-Arnavji.. *cries* Hamaare Babuji..!!

She got what she needed, a shoulder to cry on, but what about him?

Khushi started wetting his shirt with her warm tears and sobbed harder by each passing moment.. He was not in a situation to handle himself like her, he could well understand her situation today..

He closed his eyes hearing her words and felt himself no less shattered than her..

Khushi-Nahi sehen hota humse.. Nahi hai himmat.. Thak gaye hai hum.. Nahi hota humse ye sab.. (I cant bear it.. I have no courage.. I am tired.. I cant do all this..)

Not able to gulp the lump in his throat, he left a sigh and his tears also lost the bridge of strength to wet her shoulders.. She needed him, he too needed someone.. Not thinking twice, he hugged her calling her close to him and she too pressed his shirt in her fists shutting her eyes and crying..

Khushi-Ek baar pehle bhi hum apne Babuji ko kho chuke hai.. Humse dubara nahi hoga.. Nahi hoga humse.. (I have lost my father once already.. I wont be able to do it again.. I cant..)

She needed someone to hear her and console her right now, so was for ASR..

Arnav who had been crying silently till now crushed her inside him and let out his hurt to her who heard him say..

Arnav-Nahi hai himmat mujhme bhi.. Puri tarah se tuut chuka hu, mai bhi.. (I too don't have any courage.. I am also shattered completely.) My Di is dying Khushi.. And I am not able to do anything.. Help me Khushi.. Helpme..

She came out of the hug to register what he said and realized how she just ran in his arms finding peace.. She had no time to feel embarrassed as his next words came out to fast..

He broke down in front of Khushi who cupped his face and heard him speak out how he knew Anjali was dying.. Khushi had no capacity in herself to think and console him as she was herself under emotional pressure..

Khushi was still not stable emotionally, but better than him.. They both sat on the waiting chairs aside and there was silence for a while.. Khushi could see The Arnav behind ASR, again.. The first time she saw him this much helpless was when Shyam died and Arnav ended up crying in her lap on an empty road..

Arnav felt light having poured all his tensions somewhere, but there was still so much going on inside him.. He was still to register that he had open up to Khushi once again, and ended up seeking comfort in her..

Khushi was also silent.. Both were seeking nothing in particular while staring the floor.. After a while, a nurse came to stand ahead of these two, and her words made the world more silent for Khushi..

Nurse-Miss Gupta, I am sorry.. Ur father is no more..

Chapter 25