23 Overheard TM
Part 23 Overheard TM
Arnav looked at Khushi mischievously, a playful thought crossing his mind. Clutching her hand, he pulled her behind a tree near a bush. Khushi was taken aback when he pinned her between his arms.
"Arnav sir, what are you doing?" she asked fearfully.
Arnav leaned closer, but Khushi instinctively tried to push him away, turning her face to the side.
"Leave me, Arnav sir... This isn't right. Let me go," she said, closing her eyes and making a defiant expression.
Arnav smiled at her, amused by her reaction. Khushi continued to struggle, refusing to look at him.
"Khushi..." he said in a husky tone.
She still avoided eye contact.
"Khushi, look at me."
Reluctantly, she glanced his way and realised he wasn't moving further.
He asked,
"What happened? Why are you sacred?"
"Oh... you..." she replied, looking down.
"Yes, I tried to kiss you. So what? Didn't you say I'm a nice person? That means my intentions wouldn't be wrong, right? You know I love you and want to marry you. So why are you nervous?"
Khushi struggled to find the words.
"Don't you trust me?"
"No, I mean, this isn't just about trust."
"Then what is it?"
"I'm just not used to this kind of thing..."
"Oh really? I'm used to kissing ten girls a day," Arnav teased.
Khushi glared at him, her expression angry.
"You shouldn't do that either. You'll lose your 'good man' reputation," she pouted.
"Oh... Are you only concerned about my reputation as a good man?"
She shot him a pointed look.
"Just tell me directly: I shouldn't kiss anyone other than you..."
"That's how a good relationship should work."
"Our relationship will be good. You don't need to worry. But remember, if you want your husband to stay by your side, you must be a good wife. You should learn how to tie him to you with your saree pallu," he smirked.
"I'll fulfil my wifely duties after marriage."
"Then let's get married. Our horari match well, so why should we delay? I can't wait to see you in your wifely role."
"What happened to you today? Why are you talking so differently?"
"What would I do if you behave like an elementary school kid with no feelings for me? We can't expect change until we try something different, right?"
"You can't bring about change just by behaving differently..." she stammered.
"Really?" He smiled.
"Don't underestimate me," she said, frowning.
"Do you think I can't make you do things for me?"
Khushi looked at him, speechless.
"Why don't you answer? Aren't you confident in your confidence?" He smiled.
"I... I am confident..."
"Oh... Shall we test that?"
"Look, Arnav sir, if anyone sees us like this, it could end badly."
"What do you mean 'badly'?"
"The villagers might harm you."
"Back to square one. You've returned to the same argument, saying nothing will happen to me because I'm good. Okay, that's my stand in this village. But what I'm asking is, what would YOU do if anyone wanted to hurt me or even kill me? Would you let them harm me, or would you let me die?"
Khushi closed his mouth.
"Stop talking ominously," she chided.
Arnav removed Khushi's hand from his mouth and placed it on his cheek, closing his eyes and making her feel perplexed. When he slowly opened his eyes, he saw Khushi looking at him in confusion.
He let go of her hand and stepped back.
"Let's go," he said, starting to walk ahead.
Noticing Khushi wasn't following, he turned around and saw her standing still, staring at him.
"Don't you have the heart to leave?" he asked.
After a moment, Khushi began to walk, and Arnav smiled, about to turn away when he noticed a small pathway leading up toward the mountain peak.
"What path is that, Khushi?" he asked.
"It leads to the peak," she replied.
Arnav lifted his gaze, trying to see the peak, which was covered in thick trees. He couldn't discern any clear pathway.
"What do you think?" she asked.
"You mentioned that the people who went to the top to collect the medicine for Ratna ma'am never returned," Arnav noted.
Khushi nodded in agreement.
"It doesn't seem tough," he added.
"It's not what you think. There is another mountain behind this one, and a root bridge connects the two mountains. Crossing it is the toughest part," she explained.
"How would it be?" he inquired.
"The bridge is formed from the roots of wild trees," she described.
"But you said no one returned. How do you know about the root bridge?" Arnav asked.
"No one returned who went with the intention of bringing the medicine, except for one person—someone who went to find out why no one returned. He told us about the bridge," Khushi replied.
"Who is that?" he asked curiously.
"The son of the Kali temple pandit," she answered.
"The one who died yesterday?" Arnav asked, piecing things together.
"Yes..." Khushi confirmed.
"Where is he now?"
"Where else? In the village," she said.
"Can I talk to him?" he requested.
"Why do you want to talk to him?" Khushi questioned.
"Just to know about the way to the peak," he replied.
"I think you didn't understand. I said he didn't go to bring the medicine. He returned, which means he didn't cross the root bridge," she explained.
"Mmm... what's his name?" Arnav asked.
"Pasupathi," she answered.
"Why didn't you tell me about him before?" Arnav pressed.
Khushi fell silent. She hadn't told him because she was aware of his intention to go to the peak to retrieve the medicine.
"I asked you something," he reminded her.
"I didn't tell you because I don't want you to go there," she admitted.
"Would I go if I knew about the path?" he mocked.
"Who knows when and how your mind might change? You always do the unbelievable and unexpected things..." she murmured, not entirely inaudible.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, trying to clarify.
Khushi shook her head in response.
"Tell me. I won't take it the wrong way," he insisted.
"There's nothing to take the wrong way," she replied firmly.
"Why do I think you're referring to that moment a few minutes ago?" he teased.
"I don't think about how you tried to kiss me," she said, avoiding his gaze.
"But I didn't say you were thinking about it..."
Khushi was caught off-guard. She noticed him trying to suppress a smile. Frustrated, she slammed her feet down on the ground and walked away.
"Khushi, answer me... Why do you think I'm talking about the kiss?" he called after her, still smiling, making her walk faster.
They went to the Kala Bairava temple to resume their work. Khushi noticed Arnav smiling at her teasingly whenever she saw him. So, she avoided seeing him.
When they returned to the palace in the evening, they saw Arvind taking the Siddha temple Pandit to his office room. Arnav pulled Khushi's hand and hid behind a wall. Arvind locked the door from inside.
"What are you doing?" Khushi whispered.
"Shh... Wait..." Arnav replied.
"Why?" she asked.
"Look over there. Arvind sir is taking the Pandit to the office room."
"Didn't he call him to meet him?" Khushi asked.
"Yes. I want to know why he called the Pandit."
"Why are you doing unnecessary stunts?"
"How do you know it's unnecessary? We can only determine that after hearing their conversation."
"Overhearing someone's conversation is indecent."
"Okay, you can go..."
"You should come too."
"No..."
"Then you go..."
"Arnav sir..."
"Sh... Come with me if you don't want to leave me alone."
"Of course, I don't want to leave you alone. But at the same time, I don't want you to go."
"I will go..."
"Won't you listen to me? Then what's the point of marrying a disobedient guy? Go, I won't marry you." Khushi said making a face.
Arnav was taken aback but composed himself and smiled.
"Okay, this is the first and last time I'm defying you. I won't do anything if you don't want me to... Okay?"
"But..."
"If we keep arguing like this, they'll finish talking. Come on."
He dragged her towards Arvind's office room. He noticed the window was not fully closed, as a wire ran inside. Arnav spotted it and stood near the window, listening to their conversation, while Khushi looked around cautiously to see if anyone was coming.
"I can't believe this. What else can we call it other than fate?" the Pandit said.
"Yes, Panditji... I never believed in karma before, but now I can't deny it," Arvind replied.
Arnav and Khushi didn't understand what they were talking about.
"What do you want me to do?" the Pandit asked.
"Arnav wants to marry Khushi. He loves her..."
Arnav looked at Khushi and said,
"Didn't I tell you?"
Khushi, now curious, focused on their conversation.
"I saw them together today. I can sense their interest in each other," the Pandit continued.
"Are you interested in me too?" Arnav teased with a smile.
"Shhh..." Khushi whispered.
Arnav bit his lip, suppressing a laugh.
"I want you to check the horary astrology for them," Arvind requested.
"You won't believe it, but I honored Arnav with God's garland. Do you know why?" the Pandit replied.
"Why, Panditji?" Arvind asked.
"When I took Aarti for them, the vibe was divine."
"Really?" Arvind responded, intrigued.
"Yes. They can be joined at any time. No problem. They will lead a happy life," the Pandit assured.
Arnav smiled at Khushi, who blushed cutely.
"Thank you, Panditji. I wanted to know about it. I called you here because you know I can't come to the temple alone. I don't want this matter to leak, which is why I wanted you to come here," Arvind explained.
"I understand..." the Pandit said as he stood up.
Arnav gestured for Khushi to move away. They left the area silently. Arnav waited for the Pandit to leave, then approached Arvind.
"Did the Pandit leave?" he asked.
"Yeah, why? Do you want to meet him?" Arvind replied.
"I thought I'd ask him about my wedding when he came here."
"I asked him about it," Arvind said.
"Oh, really? What did he say?"
"He said your time is not good, so you should wait for six months," Arvind said, leaving Arnav stunned.
To be continued...
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