47 Acceptance
Part 47 Acceptance
Arnav and Ratna stood in shock, unable to believe that Khushi had just agreed to marry Arnav.
After washing her hands, Khushi took a step to leave the room, but Ratna quickly rushed to her and held her shoulders.
"Khushi beta, are you... are you really ready to marry Chotte?" Ratna asked, her voice filled with concern.
Khushi smiled gently but said nothing. Ratna, overwhelmed with emotion, hugged her tightly. Khushi returned the hug, still smiling. She then raised her eyelids to glance at Arnav, whose expression still showed disbelief.
"I don't know what to say. You have no idea how happy I am!" Ratna exclaimed, breaking the hug to kiss Khushi's forehead.
"We will go for a court marriage, Aunty. Let's keep it simple..." Khushi replied.
Ratna nodded, her smile growing even more expansive.
"Good night, Aunty," Khushi said as she walked towards her room.
"Chotte, finally, your penance is ending," Ratna said, kissing Arnav's forehead.
Khushi paused and turned back to look at them. "Penance?" she thought. Arnav's gaze remained fixed on Khushi, and he understood the meaning behind her expression. Yes, it had indeed been a long penance.
"Dadi, what will we do for the marriage?" Aashi asked curiously.
"Dad will tie a mangal sutra around Mom's neck. They will exchange garlands, and then they will be considered husband and wife," Ratna explained.
"We won't be separated after that, right?" Aashi asked anxiously.
"Yes, we will always be together," Ratna assured her, looking at Arnav, who wore a gentle smile on his face.
"Heyyyy... thanks a lot, Dad. You are so good!" She pulled his finger to make him bend to her level. Then, she kissed his cheek.
"You should really thank Mom. It's because of her that we're all together right now. Don't forget that, beta." Arnav taught her to be thankful.
"Should I thank Mom then?"
"Absolutely, you should..."
"Alright," Aashi said as she dashed off to their room.
Ratna exchanged a proud smile with Arnav.
"Mom, let's get this marriage sorted out soon..." Arnav said earnestly.
"Chotte, time's getting tight. We won't be able to do your marriage today..." Ratna teased.
"Then let's do it tomorrow," he responded thoughtfully.
Ratna raised her eyebrows, taken aback.
"Chotte, do you actually think Khushi might change her mind if we delay the marriage?"
"No, Mom. I don't think so, but someone could try manipulating her." He said thoughtfully.
"Who are you referring to?"
"Her father."
"Her father?"
"Yes... Pramod visited Khushi at her clinic today and insisted she come with him to Hotel Paradise..."
"For what purpose?"
"To prove I'm a cheater..."
"Did Khushi say anything about it?"
"Before she could respond, I took care of it."
"You confronted him?"
"I broke his face."
"Did you?"
Arnav nodded firmly.
"He threatened to separate Khushi from me. I couldn't just stand by."
"You broke Pramod's face... What if Khushi's father retaliates? Are you planning to confront him, too?"
Arnav hesitated for a moment but was resolute.
"Don't think about it. You need to understand something important: it's Khushi who should deal with her father, not you," Ratna stated firmly.
"Mom, Khushi deeply loves her father, but the biggest letdown in her life is his lack of trust."
"Then why does it bother you? He's already disappointed her with his distrust. You should let Khushi handle it. She will choose who deserves a place in her life."
"Do you really think she would pick me over him?"
"She already has. By agreeing to marry you, she's made her choice."
"But she hasn't seen her father yet..."
"Exactly. She hasn't even considered meeting him, which shows his actions still hurt her. Understand this: it can happen even after marriage if she can be swayed now."
"Oh, really? She's just Khushi right now, but she'll be Mrs. Raizada—my wife after our marriage. I won't let her slip away."
"Have you discussed her father with her?"
"No, I haven't..."
"You need to. It's important."
"Me?"
"Who else?" She snapped.
In the meantime, Aashi approached Khushi and leaned on her lap as she sat at the edge of the bed.
"Thank you so much, Mom." She kissed Khushi's knuckle cutely.
"For what?" Khushi pinched her cheek lovingly.
"For agreeing to marry Dad."
"I agreed to marry your dad because he is your DAD..."
Aashi nodded her head without understanding the meaning.
"By the way, when did you start thanking me?"
"Dad asked me to be thankful to you because you agreed to marry him only for me..."
Khushi smiled. Did she really agree to marry Arnav solely for Aashi?
"Ok, Mom. I'm going to Dadi's room... Good night"
"Won't you sleep with me?"
"Will you tell me stories?"
Khushi flipped her lip.
"Dadi knows so many stories. I want to listen to them, Mom." She pouted.
Khushi sighed.
"Shall I go?"
Khushi blinked.
"Thank you, Mom..." Aashi rushed out.
Arnav, who waited for her to leave, headed to Khushi's room. Khushi was stuck, seeing him, who was about to close the door.
"I need to talk to you,"
Khushi nodded.
"May I come in?"
Khushi gave him a space to enter. Arnav got in. Khushi looked at her firmly with a questioning gaze. Her solid look did something in him.
"Actually... I hit Pramod..."
"He deserves it..." Khushi said.
"He might have told your father about US."
"But, he would not have told him the TRUTH because he would get trapped in his own web if he did that."
"But, he said, he had proof."
"What do you think?"
"He was the one who deleted the CCTV footage. So, he will try to bring the Hotel Staff as a witness."
"What will happen if he brings him?"
"He will prove without revealing the truth."
"So what if he proves?"
"Your father will get angry with you for staying with the man who spoilt your life..."
"I'm not just staying but going to marry him..."
"So?"
"Leave it, Arnav. I will handle my father."
"Could you?"
She nodded.
"Actually, I'm at fault..."
Cutting him,
"No... you are not..." Khushi said.
Arnav looked at her perplexed. She nodded yes.
"I don't think you are at fault. It was me who ended up in your room. If I had not ended up in your room, Sheetal and Pramod would have taken me somewhere else and made me stay with Pramod. I don't know what would have happened to me if their plan had succeeded. I might not have considered leaving India. I would have married him if the scenario had changed..."
Arnav gulped down hard.
"I was also at fault. If I had not left the hotel immediately and learned who you are, the scenario would have taken an unexpected turn. We might have married long ago. Right? Things might have been different if I had stayed in the hotel a little longer."
Arnav stayed calm.
"I left the hotel immediately because you were in SUCH condition. I was not brave enough to face such a situation at that time. I could not stand a STRANGER's nudity." She said, looking somewhere.
Arnav closed his eyes regretfully.
"We both are victims. So you don't need to blame yourself. You are a gentleman. After knowing the truth, you didn't think of escaping from me but brought Aashi and me to your place and protected us. Don't feel bad for something you are not responsible for."
Taking a few long steps, Arnav reached Khushi and hugged her tight. Khushi was scattered at first, but she sensed him emotional.
"I'm sorry, Khushi. I'm really sorry. I was not in a sense to control myself. Trust me; I would have married you if you stayed in the hotel until I woke up." He chocked.
Khushi, who stood silently, tapped his back in a consoling manner and said,
"I trust you."
Arnav broke the hug and wiped his face. Khushi saw him getting composure.
"I... I didn't know what happened to me that day. I sensed something terrible was happening within. I wanted to control myself, but I failed. I didn't know why I behaved so..." He regretted.
"The medicine mixed in your drink is the reason. I don't know how these guys got such medicines," Khushi said.
"I'm sorry, Khushi. You struggled a lot because of me."
"I didn't struggle a lot..."
Arnav looked at her, wondering.
"Payal helped me get a visa and sent me to London, where my friend Lavanya works. She helped me to get a job in London. The same year, she married NK and brought him to London. Then she got him a job there. Both were so respectful towards me. Because of them, I never felt it was hard to raise Aashi. They looked after her like their own child. I struggled only one day in my life, and it turned my life upside down; I was insulted, and I was thrown out of my loved ones' lives. That's what made me furious. I didn't think about the other side of the coin. I didn't expect possibilities. You are right. If you had a bad intention, you would have left the room right after you finished the matter."
"Actually..."
"Leave it, Arnav. There is no use in talking about it."
"Are you still angry with me?"
"No... I'm not angry because it's you. I know you would not have made such a sin."
Arnav huffed in relief and was about to say something, but they heard a calling bell. Arnav and Khushi spared a glance. Arnav walked out, and Khushi followed him. HP opened the door, and Pramod entered, followed by Shashi and Shyam.
To be continued...
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