80 Gratitude
Part 80 Gratitude
Arnav lowered his phone from his ear, looking at Khushi with mixed feelings who was congratulating Lavanya on her marriage. Arnav came to her and touched her shoulder. Khushi looked at him.
"Khushi, we have to go to GH," Arnav said.
"GH? I'm sorry, Arnavji... I won't come. If you want to invite your mother-in-law to your sister's wedding then, I have no problem but I don't come" she again concentrated on Lavanya.
"Khushiii..." Arnav blinked his eyes.
Khushi read his eyes and got confused.
"What happened, Arnavji?" Khushi asked seeing his changed facial expression.
Arnav gulped down.
"Is anything wrong?" She asked suspiciously.
Arnav nodded yes.
"What happened Arnavji?" she clutched his shoulders.
"Your mother..."
Cutting him,
"My mother?" she asked losing her patience.
"Your mother is dead..."
Khushi widened her eyes in shock. If it was not Arnav who told her that, she would not have believed it.
"Swaraj killed her"
Khushi felt a shiver running up her spine. Her heart drumming like hell. She dropped herself down, losing consciousness. Arnav circled her waist and pulled her onto his chest.
"Khushiiiii...."
Picking her in his arms, he rushed to the bed whereas Aman ran towards the water jug. In no time, Lavanya ran out to convey the message to Nani and Anjali.
Arnav sprinkled water on her face. Khushi slowly opened her eyes and cried, circling her knees. Arnav sat next to her.
"Khushi, I know how critical this situation is but you have to withstand it. Please be brave. We have to go to GH. We should be there" he said.
Khushi looked at him spilling tears.
"Come..." He made her stand.
"Shall we?"
Khushi nodded ok slowly, sobbing.
When they came downstairs, Nani and Anjali were waiting for them with Lavanya. Obviously, they were crying. Clutching Khushi's hand, Arnav walked without stopping there. He knew what will happen if he stayed there for even a minute. They would start crying and won't stop. Anjali, Lavanya, Aman, and Nani followed them.
GH
Khushi got down from the car and saw the big crowd around Gupta house. Swaraj was sitting in the police jeep, bowing down, handcuffing. Khushi walked inside the house without thinking of anything. the girl who didn't want to see her mother's face entered the house to see her mother for the first time after her wedding... unfortunately, that was the last time too. Arnav followed Khushi.
"Hey, who are you?" The police who were there to investigate the case asked.
Before Arnav said anything, Sara rushed to him and said,
"She is her daughter, Khushi Singh Raizada, Sir"
"Oh..."
Khushi looked here and there and found Garima in the pool of blood with open eyes. Her neck had been cut with the gold chain which she was wearing. Khushi felt her heart so heavy. She didn't know what to say. Garima always wanted to wear a thick gold chain. It was her dream. She would never have dreamt that the chain itself would take her life one day.
"Who are the eye witness?" The inspector asked.
Garima's servant Laxmi came forward and stood in front of the inspector.
"It's me, sir"
"What happened?"
"Her son Swaraj came here asking for money as usual. She denied it as usual. Swaraj fought with his mother saying that she was lying. They were involved in an argument. The argument became severe. Garimaji strictly said that she had no money but Swaraj was not ready to believe it. As he didn't get money from Garimaji, he asked about the chain which she was wearing. She warned him not to ask that. without giving heed to her warning, he tried to pull her chain. She ran to her room and Swaraj caught her chain from behind and pulled it forcefully. As it was a thick chain, it cut her neck but Swaraj didn't stop pulling it... That was why I hit his head with a roller pin. Then only he left her but no use... she fell down losing her life" Laxmi finished telling him.
Khushi was blankly looking at her, listening to her. tears rolled down from her eyes non-stop.
After marking Garima's position, Garima was taken to the postmortem and Swaraj was to the prison.
Arnav started looking after the funeral work of his mother-in-law.
"You stay with Khushi. I will go to the hospital" Aman said.
Arnav nodded ok and Aman went to bring Garima's body, completing the postmortem. Anjali and Lavanya did what should be done with Sara's guidance. None disturbed Khushi. She was not in the condition to involve in anything.
Nani and Anjali came to Sara.
"Madam, we should bring Swaraj in bail to do the funeral," Anjali said.
Khushi looked at them, controlling her anger. She didn't want Swaraj to do the ritual as he was the one who killed Garima. She was about to voice it out,
"No need... he doesn't have to do it," Arnav said.
"But, Chotte, he is her son. He is the one who should give fire to her body" Anjali said.
"What if Garima aunty doesn't have a son? Someone would do that right? just think she has no son."
"Then who will do that, Chotte?"
"I will do that... son-in-law can do that"
Anjali and Nani spared a glance whereas Khushi was stunned. Though she was angry with Garima she could not keep venom in her heart for the dead mother. She was emolliated with Arnav's concern. but how did he read her mind that she didn't want Swaraj to do Garima's funeral?
"If you do that, you should stay at GH until the rituals get over," Sara said.
"Yeah... I and Khushi will be staying here until all the rituals get over"
"I will also be here," Lavanya said.
"Yes, Nani, if Chotte is doing the rituals, then we should also be here," Anjali said.
Nani nodded ok.
Garima's body arrived at GH. Arnav started doing the formalities on the behalf of her son.
Khushi was looking at her mother's body, like, *what life is this? * the woman who was roaming, flauntingly until yesterday was no more now. For this inconstant life, why humans are doing so many dirty things? How haughtiness... how pride... she thought wearily.
Garima's body was taken to the cemetery. Arnav gave fire to the woman who was the reason for him to get a treasure called KHUSHI. Yes, this was the way of showing his gratitude to Garima. No matter how greedy she was, Arnav wanted to thank her for making his life bloom. He could not even think of his life without Khushi.
HP came to GH with RM's servants and cleaned it after Garima was taken to the graveyard. They were ready to prepare the dinner for not only Raizadas but also the area people. But Arnav asked Aman to order food from a famous restaurant.
Khushi didn't deny having dinner but she had very less. Arnav didn't compel her to have more.
"I will come tomorrow," Sara said.
Arnav nodded ok.
"Take care of Khushi. she is not showing her grief openly. it doesn't mean she is not feeling sad"
"I will take care of her," Arnav said.
Sara left GH.
Khushi asked Raizada woman to stay in her room. Filling the lamp with oil that was in front of Garima's photo, Khushi went to her mother's room with Arnav.
Arnav lay on the bed, looking at her. Khushi occupied the other side of the bed. Arnav pulled her onto his chest and cuddled her. Khushi circled his waist, placing her head on his chest.
"I'm sorry, Khushi. I don't know how to console you"
"Some things can't be consoled, Arnavji. Some losses can't be equalized... the woman who wanted to adorn herself with gold lost her life because of the gold. What can we name it other than fate?"
"Please don't think much Khushi..."
"They got me married to you for money. Finally, both lost their life in a different ways for the same money."
"But, why aunty didn't give Swaraj money? What did she do to the money?"
"I don't know what she did, Arnavji. I will check tomorrow"
"No need... leave it... everything is over. There is no use of that money"
Khushi was silent. It didn't mean she was not thinking of the money. She had a purpose for the money.
To be continued...
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