58 Clear-cut declaration
Part 58 Clear-cut declaration
"Please, come in, MADAM", Arnav intentionally said, making Ratna stuck.
Ratna didn't expect that. What did that mean? Didn't Arnav consider her as his mother?
"Madam?" She murmured.
"Come in, Madam", he said again.
"Am I madam to you?"
"How could I conclude that?" He asked, cutting MADAM this time.
"Am I not your mother? Or, at least, equal to your mother? Or, do you think I can't become equal to your mother?"
"I didn't compare you with my mother. It's unnecessary because no one could take Mother's place. But that's not the reason why I am calling you Madam. It's you who should decide how I should address you. Without knowing what you want, how could I determine on your matter? You may not like me addressing you as my mother"
"Do you know how I lose my memory?"
"Yeah, I know. Khushi told me everything. She talked a lot about you, WHENEVER we are together..." Arnav intentionally highlighted their relationship.
"I see, that's nice. Khushi would have only talked about me well. I know her"
"Not only about you, she never talks badly about anyone but only the truth"
"I WAS (she stressed) not blessed with a child. My father-in-law, your grandfather, decided to get your father married to someone. He was not ready to give ear to my pleas. I had no choice but to kill myself. I tried to commit suicide and jumped into a well behind the palace. My head banged on a stepping stone of the well. After that, I didn't know what happened to me. I lost my conscience. Just this morning, I got my memory back."
Arnav was silently listening to her.
"Do you think I would have wished to commit suicide if I had a child?"
Arnav didn't reply.
"I was even ready to give my life...! Since I learned you are my husband's son, I thought I had one for myself. I was delighted thinking about you calling me Amma."
"I have no problem in addressing you, Amma, if you have no problem", Arnav said, and didn't give up.
"I would like to..."
"Ok, Amma..." Arnav said with a slight smile.
Ratna stepped in and advanced him. She clutched his hands and said,
"Thank you for accepting me as your Amma. Why did you show your anger at food?"
"I don't like her talk like that. I don't think accepting me as your son is a favour. It's a feeling. Isn't it?"
"Yes. I understood that. I would have handled her. Don't leave the food for anything or anyone. Come and eat first," she said, pulling him to the dining table. Arnav followed her silently.
She made him sit next to Arvind. He smiled contentedly at Arnav. Arnav blinked his eyes. He knew why Arvind didn't take the lead; he wanted Ratna to answer the Murthy family. That was why he kept silent.
Savithri was supposed to say something,
"Anni (Bhabi), don't talk about anything while eating" Ratna stopped her.
They supposed that none of them spoke until Arnav finished eating. Ratna served them sitting next to him.
That was when Khushi entered the Palace. Ratna saw her and smiled.
"Khushi, come, you too eat"
"It's ok, aunty... I will eat later," Khushi said.
Arnav looked at her and said,
"Khushiiii, come and eat"
Khushi stood hesitatingly.
"Do what I said"
Ratna didn't take it differently because Arnav told her they had a good relationship.
"What are you waiting for, Khushi? Don't you hear what Arnav said?" Arvind said.
Khushi slowly moved towards them and said,
"I just had Prasad in the temple, uncle. That's why I don't feel like having anything"
"What Prasad did you have?" Arnav asked.
Before she answered,
"No special Prasad would have been distributed today, as this is a typical day." He added.
"I had bananas..."
"Bananas? Are they enough for you?" Ratna asked, and Arnav glared at her.
"Stop giving excuses... come", Ratna pulled her hand and made her sit on the chair.
Savithri and Chandra Murthy looked at each other.
"Didn't you eat, aunty?" Khushi asked.
"Yeah, I will eat after serving them"
"You eat, aunty. I will serve," Khushi said.
"No, no... You eat"
Savithri waited for them to finish.
Arnav stood up, finishing his lunch.
"Ratna, you said, you want to ask Arnav something", Savithri said.
Arnav looked at Ratna, shrinking his eyes. What did Ratna want to talk to him about that Savithri was so interested in?
Ratna smiled at Arnav and said,
"Nothing, Arnav. You can go to your room and take a rest" She didn't want to nag him right away as they had already talked enough.
Arnav looked at Arvind meaningfully. He gestured to him as if he didn't know anything.
"Tell me, Amma, what do you want to talk to me about?" Arnav said.
"It's ok, Arnav. We will talk later."
Arnav nodded and took a step to leave, but stopped hearing Savithri.
"She wanted to talk to you about an important matter"
"Anni... can't you understand what I say? I know when and how to talk to him," Ratna said.
Arnav looked at Khushi, who was silently looking at her plate.
"Don't take me wrong, Ratna. Khushi was there when we talked about it. I thought she would have told Arnav about it already. So, there is nothing to delay..."
Arnav looked at Khushi disappointedly. Was she there when they talked about it? Then why didn't she say anything to him? That was when something kicked his mind. Was that the reason for her to speak to him oddly? This was why she was there in the temple? Was she hurt at any cost?
Ratna also looked at Khushi curiously. If she had shared everything with Arnav, she would have told him about the proposal she was supposed to forward.
"Did you tell him, Khushi?" Ratna asked.
Khushi nodded no.
"It's YOUR FAMILY MATTER after all..." Khushi purposely said.
Arvind was disappointed with her answer, and Arnav gritted his teeth. He was supposed to reply. Ratna took the lead.
"You are also one among our family, Khushi"
Khushi smiled softly and jerked, hearing,
"Khushiiii... what's the matter?" Arnav asked.
Khushi looked at Ratna gulping down. Ratna understood, however, that Arnav would learn the issue through Khushi. As she wanted to talk to Arnav about it, she didn't want to hold it any longer.
"Arnav, it's me who wanted to talk to you", Ratna said.
Arnav looked at her.
"I don't like beating around the bush, Amma. If you tell me the matter, you will get the straight answer," Arnav said.
"That's nice. I, too, want the same," Ratna smiled.
Arvind felt bad vibes. He didn't know why.
"Ratna, what was that you wanted to talk to Arnav about? Even your sister-in-law knows about it, but me? What's all this? Don't you feel like sharing it with me before you share it with them?" Arvind asked.
"No, no... You are mistaken. It's Anna and Anni who put the idea in front of me," Ratna said. That alerted Arnav and Arvind.
"What's that?" Arvind asked.
"I want Arnav to marry Madhavi. Anna and Anni also wish the same. I would be happy if it happened," Ratna said with a mild smile, but her smile vanished when she heard Arnav's reply.
"You will be happy, but not me..."
Ratna was shocked.
"But, why, Arnav? Don't you want to marry my brother's daughter?"
"I don't know what to name this cheap act of your brothers. Your brothers and the whole village know whom I want to marry. I openly declared it. I could have married her long ago but waited for your recovery. Your brothers were the ones who asked me to wait for you, but I didn't know they would play their dirty cards like this"
"Did your wedding fix? With whom?" Ratna asked stammering.
"With Khushi... I love her. I will marry her with your blessings if you have no problem. Or else, I will leave this village, taking her with me... that's final," Arnav said clearly.
To be continued...
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen3h.Co