15 Confession
15 Confession
Khushi was shocked to hear Arnav’s idea of going to the mountain to bring the medicine.
“Arnav sir, I appreciate your good intention of curing Aunty Ratna, but I can’t allow you to go there because it’s highly risk. Please don’t go.”
“You said you like Ratna madam so much. You are supposed to be happy to know I will bring the medicine.”
“Of course, I’m happy about it IF (she stressed) you bring it, but you can’t. Not only you but no one can. People who went to the place didn’t return. Please try to understand.”
“You often said I have a purpose for coming to this village. What if the purpose is bringing the medicine?”
Arnav’s voice was filled with unwavering determination, his eyes reflecting his strong will.
Khushi gulped down and nodded no hurriedly.
“We can’t conclude it, Arnav sir. If it is the purpose, it will happen, but why do you want to risk your life?”
“What’s the purpose of my life, Khushi? Do I have anyone for myself? No… I have no one. I want my life to be useful for someone.” Arnav’s words were a mix of desperation and determination, his true intentions shrouded in his desire to help Khushi escape her unwanted marriage. But Khushi, unaware of his feelings, thought he was solely focused on curing Ratna.
“Why are you talking like this, Arnav sir? Look at me. Do I have anyone? No… At least you had a mother. You know who your mother is, what your clan is. But me? I’m an orphan. Yet, I never thought of losing my life for any purpose because we have no right to lose our life.”
“What’s the point, Khushi?” he asked with a smirk.
“I don’t want you to go. I’m worried about you,” she confessed, her concern for Arnav’s safety palpable in her voice, making him empathise with her fear.
“Why?”
“Please, don’t go.”
“This is not an answer to my question.”
“I will not have anyone for myself if anything unpleasant happens to you,” she said, her worry for Arnav’s safety palpable.
Arnav was stuck. What did she mean? Did she have him? Or did she want him to be with her for her lifetime? Could he be? Of course, he could be with her if they got into a relationship. He could also stop her from marrying an older man this way. But marriage should be based on LOVE, not any other reason. Without love, marrying her would not work.
Would it be challenging to love Khushi like a girl? Won’t he start loving her immediately if he got into the relationship? Khushi was a lovely girl with a good heart. She had no one, just like him. Why should he not marry her? Would she accept his proposal? Would she like to marry a man who was in the reform home? Why should he not try?
“You are talking as if you will be with me for my lifetime…”
“Why won’t I be with you if you want me to be with you?” She asked in a feeble tone.
Arnav was stuck. Did she like him? Really? Was he that fortunate?
“Do you understand what you are talking about? He asked.
Khushi looked down, not answering, fiddling with her half-saree pallu.
“If you want to be with me, we should have an authentic relationship,” Arnav said, looking at her face and sloping his head.
Khushi looked at him, raising her eyelashes. Arnav felt something in his heart, seeing her restless eyes.
“Will you marry me, Khushi?” he asked without beating around the bush.
“Will you marry a girl who has no address?” She asked hesitatingly.
“I, too, don’t have an address. I was in the reform home. Don’t forget that.”
“You were in reform home for a reason. Being a good son, anyone would do the same.”
“Ok, I’m glad that you understood me. Now, answer me. Will you marry me?”
“I like you very much. I will marry you with Uncle Arvind’s consent.” She said with a blush.
Arnav became annoyed. How could Arvind permit her to marry him when he wanted to marry her? To get rid of him, only Arnav wanted to marry Khushi, but she wanted his permission. What the hell!
“Will you not marry me if he doesn’t agree?” he asked her, unable to suppress his annoyance.
Khushi looked at him dumbfounded.
“Then you can’t stop me from going to the mountain,” Arnav said, leaving the place and horrifying Khushi.
After that, Arnav didn’t let Khushi talk to him, no matter how hard she tried to speak to him.
And Arnav realised one thing. Since he decided to marry Khushi, his heart wandered around her. His eyes followed her wherever she went—without her knowledge. His concentration was only on her. That was when he noticed something. Khushi was so beautiful. She was a girl any man would wish to have in his life.
She was talking to a palace worker. He smiled, seeing her nodding her head with a pout. She looked cute.
That was when their lunch arrived.
“All of you, stop working and have lunch,” Arnav said.
Workers left the work as it was. After washing their faces and hands, they went to have lunch. Palace servants spread mats in the temple’s pavilion and served food on banana leaves. The workers sat and ate the food. Khushi came to Arnav, who pretended he didn’t notice her.
“Don’t you have lunch?” she asked.
Arnav nodded NO, looking somewhere.
“Are not you hungry?”
“I’m…”
“Then why don’t you eat?”
“I don’t feel like eating”
“But you are hungry.”
“So?”
“If you are hungry, you should eat.”
“For whom should I eat? However, I will go to the mountain in a few days.”
“Please, don’t go, Arnav, sir.”
Arnav looked at her sharply.
“Why are you looking at me like this?”
“Why do you bother as if you are concerned about me?”
Khushi’s eyes teared up. Arnav felt terrible for her, but he didn’t give up. He had to be rude for a reason.
“Why are you crying now?”
“I… I’m concerned about you.”
“Oh, really?” he chuckled sarcastically.
“Yes, I like you so much. I will be happy if you are with me. I know you will protect me if we get married.”
“Not only I will protect you… I will LOVE you till my last breath.”
Khushi got stuck for a few seconds. She blushed, composing herself.
“I didn’t say anything wrong. I want permission from the man who looked after me like his daughter. What’s wrong with that?” she asked miserably.
“I, too, didn’t ask you anything wrong. I just asked you, won’t you marry me if he didn’t permit you? What’s wrong with that?”
Khushi was silent.
“Khushi, this is your life. You have the right to decide what you want.
Marriage is your personal matter. Why are you expecting his permission? Don’t you watch news?”
“Whaaat?”
“I mean, nowadays, guys are running away, leaving their whole family. Are not they happy?”
“I just wanted to be grateful to him, Arnav sir.”
“Ok… what if he doesn’t agree?”
“He will agree. I know”
“You don’t know…”
“What?”
Arnav rolled his eyes.
“Tell me one thing: what about the mystic’s words? Didn’t he say you will become a queen?”
“I don’t want to be queen. I want a peaceful life with a man who loves me wholeheartedly.”
“Who will love you wholeheartedly? Does anyone love you?”
Khushi bit her lip to control her sob and nodded no.
“Are you sure?”
Khushi was silent.
“How would anyone love you if you are not ready to accept?”
“Why are you hurting me like this?”
“It’s because I’m equally hurt. It’s because I love you,”
Khushi was stunned.
“I can’t tolerate your hesitation…”
“I don’t hesitate”
“Ok, I will talk to Arvind, sir, but I don’t care whether he agrees to our marriage.”
“He will agree…” she said hesitatingly.
“Let’s see…”
Evening
Arnav and Khushi returned to the palace. Arnav called Khushi.
“Khushiii…”
“Mmm?”
“Let’s go”
“Where?”
“To get Arvind sir’s permission.”
“Now?” She was shocked.
“Why? Is this not an auspicious time?” he mocked.
“Why so urgent?”
“What do you mean, urgent? I’m twenty-seven, and you are twenty-one. Are we not at the right age?”
Khushi bit her nail.
“Are you coming or not?”
Khushi clutched her half-saree pallu, gulping down.
“Ok… I’m leaving.”
“Where?”
“From the palace… forever…”
“No… don’t go” She blocked his way, spreading her hands.
“What do you want me to do, Khushi? You don’t want me to leave, nor do I talk to Arvind, sir. Get clear, what you want.” Arnav went to his room, fed up.
Khushi slowly followed him. She stood at his doorstep and said,
“I want you”
“But you don’t want me to talk to Arvind, sir. right?”
“You can talk to Arvind’s uncle, but not now. Please give me some time.”
Arnav rolled his eyes. That was when they heard,
“Why do you want time to talk to me, Khushi?”
Khushi froze, hearing Arvind’s voice. She closed her eyes tight, biting her lip.
To be continued…
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