21. OS 20. The Temperamental Tyrant (Part 21)

Part 21

The Raizadas watched the Guptas with interested eyes. The Guptas watched them with wary eyes.

Buaji finally said, “Bitwaa, it is kind of you to want to marry Khussi, but you must forgive us when we refuse your proposal, Nandkisore.”

Garima and Sasi stared at buaji with wide eyes.

“Don’t you think I would make Khushi a good husband, buaji?” Arnav asked quietly even as his family fretted at the refusal.

Buaji looked away. Then she said, “Nandkisore, we are ordinary people and it is better that we form relationships with ordinary people like us. We will marry Khussi off to a boy who comes from a poor family like ours.”

Garima and Sasi stared at buaji, wondering why she was being so stern and not even considering the proposal.

“How do you think we are different, buaji?” Arnav asked softly.

Buaji looked into his earnest eyes and averted her gaze. The boy was innocent, but his nani was an old bag of tricks.

“Won’t you permit our marriage even if Khushi wants to marry me?” Arnav asked.

Garima caught hold of Sasi’s hand, her bewildered eyes asking him silently what was going on.

Buaji grew flustered. The true meaning of Khushi’s tears when she had returned home from the Raizadas like a whipped dog hit her.

“Bitwaa,” Sasi stepped in. “Yeh sab kaa he?”

“I met Khushi when she was working in our house,” Arnav began softly.

Nani continued, “I am afraid I was...rude to Khussi.” She looked uncomfortable. The Guptas looked like the epitome of respectability and she had clearly made an error in judgement.

Buaji sniffed. “We may be poor, but we have raised our daughters to be sanskaari. Nandkisore knows how much we take care of them and value our respectability,” she said, with a sharp look at nani.

Nani looked away.

Mami quickly stepped in, “Yejj, we know that, hello hi bye bye!”

“Sasiji, please consider hamre Arnav bitwaa’s proposal for your daughter,” mama requested. “He has his own business and will look after Khussi bitiya like a rani.”

Mami nodded vigorously.

Sasi looked at his sister’s cross visage and said gently,”If you are so well-off, you should look for a bride from a family that matches you in wealth. I am just a halwai.” A frown formed on his face. “Raizada?” He looked confused. “There was a family in Lucknow...but maybe you don’t know them.”

Arnav clenched his jaw, knowing that it was time to laid bare his family history before the Guptas. He could only hope that they wouldn’t be too repulsed by what they heard.

Anjali looked down at her hands clasped on her lap.

“We are the same family,” nani replied, her voice low but firm.

Garima covered her mouth with her hand.

“Hai re Nandkisore!” buaji was loud in her prayer.

Mami looked anxiously at mama.

Nani’s eyes fell. The Guptas apparently weren’t blinded by Chotey’s wealth and considered their past important, especially Khushi’s parents’ death.

Sasi swallowed hard. “The family that was related to the Malliks who lived in Sheesh Mahal?” he asked.

“Yes,” Arnav admitted.

The groom belonged to the family that had a double suicide and had a murderer? And that too one who had killed Khushi’s parents? Sasi drew in a deep breath and said, “You must forgive us. We don’t wish to marry off Khushi at this time.”

“You don’t want me to marry your daughter because my chacha killed her parents,” Arnav stated bluntly.

Garima, Sasi and buaji stared at him.

“You refer to him as the Devil, don’t you?” Arnav asked.

“Bitwaa,” Sasi tried to remonstrate with him. “How can Khushi marry her parents’ killer’s nephew?”

Arnav took a moment to reflect. Then he said, “Because love is greater than hatred.”

Akash’s eyes bulged. His bhai was an expert on love?

Buaji shook her head in agitation. “No, Nandkisore,” she said. “Our Sanka Devi has no one. When we marry her off, it should be into a family that accepts her fully. Hamara kya he? Aaj he, kal nahi honge. Jab hum nahi honge, our children should have families that love them and treasure them.”

“I promise you, buaji, that Khushi will never be alone or helpless,” Arnav promised.

The Raizadas nodded their agreement.

“Hamre Arnav bitwaa bill take her of her like I takes care of my makeup kittiya he bought phor me phrom phorein,” mami assured the Guptas.

“Aap hamara yakeen keejiye,” Anjali added.

“My mama found out that papa was involved with another woman and shot herself on my di’s wedding day. The wedding was cancelled. Two hours later, papa killed himself. Di and I, we went to stay with nani, mama, mami and Akash,” Arnav confessed, not wanting any misunderstandings.

Sasi wiped the sweat off his forehead. “You are Arvind Mallik’s son?” he asked, feeling weak. His eyes ran over the fine features, the cold eyes and the ruthless lips.

“And Ratna Raizada’s,” Arnav added. “I know all this has been a surprise to you, babuji. Why don’t you discuss the proposal with Khushi and let us know tomorrow? We will be here at 12 tomorrow.”

Sasi nodded, relieved to get some time to process all the information.

The Raizadas left.

                                                                  ***

The Guptas had a difficult discussion with Khushi as Payal watched in shock.

“Khussi, do you know an Arnav Singh Raizada?” Sasi asked, hoping she would tell him she wasn’t interested in marrying him.

But his hopes were dashed.

She beamed at him. “Arnavji came here to propose marriage, babuji?” she asked, excited. “Did you agree?”

Before he could mumble a reply, she asked, “Did his nani come here too?”

He nodded.

“I don’t like her, lekin the rest of the family is good,” she informed him. “Didn’t you like Arnavji, babuji? Isn’t he the sweetest person ever?”

Sasi looked at buaji and Garima. He hadn’t noticed any sweetness about Arnav Singh Raizada.

“Khussi,” Garima said anxiously, “Bitiya, you will get a better groom. It is better that we don’t link ourselves to this family.”

“Yes, Sanka Devi,” buaji added. “Go and make laddoo. We will refuse the proposal when they come tomorrow.”

“But I don’t want you to,” cried Khushi. “Babuji, I want to marry Arnavji.”

“Jiji,” Garima whispered.

Buaji said, “Are you mad, Sanka Devi? Will we let you marry a man with such a family, Nandkisore? His nani called you names, didn’t she?”

“Yes, but she came here to apologise, didn’t she?” Khushi asked.

“Bitiya, listen,” Sasi said with a sigh. “The family is not good.”

“Is it because of his parents’ suicide?” she asked.

“You know about it, Nandkisore?” buaji asked, astonished.

“Yes, Arnavji told me,” Khushi replied simply.

“He did?” Sasi was shocked.

“Yes,” Khushi replied. “He is a very honest, direct man, babuji. Bilkul aap jaise.”

“It was such a scandal,” Garima murmured. “And now Arvind Mallik’s son wants to marry Khussi.” She buried her head in her hands.

“Do you want a fate like his mother’s, Nandkisore?” buaji asked Khushi bluntly.

“No, buaji,” Khushi replied. “I don’t. And I will never have a fate like his mother’s because Arnavji is not like his father, but like his mother.”

“Bitiya, hum yakeen kaise karein?” Sasi tried to dissuade her.

Khushi smiled at him. “Arnavji is khadoos, full of ghussa. He doesn’t know how to get along with people. He is like a sanyaasi, babuji, who sits on a mountain praying. The only difference is that he has a laptop with him and he is working all the time.”

“A sanyaasi with a laptop?” Sasi tried to wrap his head around this picture of Arnav Singh Raizada.

“He is also diabetic,” Khushi informed them.

“A sant with a laptop and shakkar ki beemari,” Sasi murmured.

“It doesn’t matter even if he is Raja Harishchandra,“ Garima said sternly. “We can’t let you be associated with him. You have no idea, Khussi.”

“Is it because Arnavji’s chacha killed my amma and babuji?” Khushi asked directly.

The Guptas gasped.

“How did you know?” Sasi asked, flabbergasted.

“Arnavji told me,” Khushi replied.

“He told you?” Sasi gasped.

“You want to marry the nephew of the Devil?” Garima asked. “Yeh kya hua he iss ladki ko?”

“He was the Devil, amma. More than you knew. Otherwise would he throw out his brother’s children and that too a day after their parents’ death?” Khushi asked.

“What?” buaji asked. “Kaa bak rahi ho, Sanka Devi?”

“Sach keh rahi hoon, buaji,” Khushi replied, her eyes filling with tears. “Arnavji was fourteen, Anjaliji eighteen. Their nani, mama and mami came and took them to stay with them. Nahi to woh kya karte?”

“Hai Re Nandkisore!” buaji exclaimed.

“Arnavji bought Sheesh Mahal from his chacha and turned it into a hotel so that he could employ me and then come to ask for permission for our shaadi,” Khushi went on happily.

“Huh?” buaji asked, unable to believe that a suljhe hue man like Arnav Singh Raizada, who apparently ran businesses, would behave in such a juvenile manner for her Sanka Devi.

“Really?” Sasi asked in doubt.

“Really,” Khushi said, beaming. “Arnavji loves me, bahut.”

“What did he see in this fool?” Garima asked under her breath to her husband.

“Bought Sheesh Mahal for you?” Sasi still couldn’t believe his ears.

“Yes,” Khushi assured him.

“They will return tomorrow, Nandkisore,” buaji warned Sasi.

“Yes,” Sasi sighed.

                                                              ***

The Raizadas presented themselves on time at the Guptas.

Sasi drew in a deep breath. Khussi wanted to marry Arnav and Arnav wanted to marry Khussi. There wasn’t really anything he could say.

“Babuji,” Arnav called.

“Yes?” Sasi asked.

“I promise you, I will take good care of Khushi. I am not like my father,” he said.

Sasi looked into his eyes. They were honest and direct.

Sasi nodded.

“Can I meet her for a moment?” he asked.

Sasi called, “Khussi?”

She came to the living room and stopped short.

“Arnavji!” she squealed, her eyes lighting up with joy.

And then Sasi saw a transformation that gave him goosebumps. The cold, steely eyes of Arnav Singh Raizada became molten chocolate and literally melted, becoming mellow and soft for Khushi. His firm lips relaxed into contentment.

Arnav said, “Khushi.” His husky voice and the intonation spoke volumes.

Sasi sat down. He waited till everyone settled down and then asked nani directly, “I believe you insulted Khushi when she was working at your house, accusing her of trying to attract your grandson. Do you still think so?”

“No,” nani replied.

Mami jumped in to save her Arnav bitwaa’s goose from being cooked.

“Oo kaa he, Saasumma was not angriya with Khussi. She was angriya with me. I was working in their housewaa when Akass bitwaajj phather and I phell in love. Isliye Saasumma was scared that wohi phir se was happenings,” mami explained.

The Guptas looked at her bold make up and classy get up and blinked to save their eyes.

Then Sasi warned nani, “We are willing to conduct the wedding even though your family’s past is terrible and enough to put away most people only because Khushi wants to marry your grandson. If you have agreed half-heartedly to this shaadi, then we don’t want to send our daughter to your house.”

All eyes rested on nani.

Nani looked at Arnav’s tense face and Akash’s pleading expression. Mama caught hold of nani’s hand and pressed, warning her to be careful. It was a make or break situation.

“We are fully willing to have Khussi as Chotey’s wife, Sasiji,” nani said quietly and with dignity.

“She will be our bhabi and our family’s bahu,” Anjali reassured them.

All heaved a sigh of relief.

“Then it is fixed,” Sasi said. “When would you like to have the shaadi?”

“As soon as possible,” mama said with a smile.

“Yes!” Akash said in excitement.

“Good thing, why asks, asks?” mami asked.

“Why don’t you fix the date, Sasiji?” nani asked wearily. “You know priests here. We haven’t been here in years.”

“Ji,” Sasi said. He turned to his wife, daughter and sister and said with a smile, “Garimaji, our daughter is getting married. Jiji, Payaliya, we have to start the preparations.”

“Ji,” Garima replied, smiling.

“May the Raizadas never regret their decision, Nandkisore,” bauji muttered under her breath, one eye on Khushi who looked happy enough to leap on the poor fool who was ready to marry her.

                                                                    ***

“Nani, thanks,” Arnav said as soon a sthey entered Sheesh Mahal.

All looked at nani.

Nani nodded. “I hope you are happy now, Chotey,” she said wearily.

“Very,” he replied.

“I hope you never regret this day,” nani said, walking towards her suite.

Arnav stood there, looking thoughtfully at his nani as she walked away.

He needed to remove the last vestige of doubt that remained in nani’s mind if he wanted Khushi to be happy on her wedding day and after the function, living in his house.

                                                              ***

The next morning, Arnav told his family, “Khushi will be joining us for breakfast.”

“That’s nice, Chotey,” Anjali said with a smile.

“Our bahuriya ijj coming here?” mami asked with a sly smile. “Hamre Arnav bitwaa must have inbited her. Can’t stay bithout seeing her phor one day?”

Akash, Anjali, Arnav and mama smiled.

Nani looked at the smile on Arnav’s face and consoled herself that maybe Khushi would look after him, that Arnav wouldn’t have to face more sorrow in his life.

A few minutes later, Khushi reached there.

“Khushi, come in,” Arnav invited, throwing the door open.

She waltzed in, to be greeted by his family with affection. As she was talking to Anjali about the colour of her wedding saree, her eyes that were tracking her Arnavji, widened.

“Arnavji!” she screamed as she rushed towards Arnav, who was weaving on his feet.

As the whole family watched in shock, Khushi clasped a weak-headed Arnav to her bosom and preventing him from falling hard on the floor, slid to sit down with him lying against her.

“Bring food,” she yelled. “Akashji, his sugar is low. Get food.”

Akash ran to the breakfast table and grabbed a glass of juice. Anjali grabbed a slice of toast. They ran to Arnav and crouched by him, trying to feed him.

Tears flowed down mami’s cheeks as she and mama kneeled by a fallen Arnav.

Nani fell into a chair, her sharp eyes on Khushi and Arnav.

“Bhai, please drink this,” sobbed Akash.

Arnav lay comatose.

Khushi grabbed the glass of juice and caught hold of Arnav’s jaw, trying to prise his mouth open.

Anjali wailed.

“Arnavji, muh kholiye. Arnavji, please. Arnavji...” Tears were trailing down Khushi's cheeks as she pushed and pulled Arnav into opening his eyes first and then his mouth.

She held the glass to his mouth and chiding him, forced him to sip the juice.

He choked on it.

“You didn’t have dinner properly, did you?” she scolded in between sobs. “And then you had to invite me here today, staying hungry till I came. Aap ko khaa leni chahiye tha na? You promised me you would take care of your health. Didn’t you? Boliye, didn’t you? When you fainted in your room and I broke in through the window, you promised me you would take care. Phir kiya kyon nahi? Aap ko kuch ho jaata to?” She pushed the toast into his mouth. “Khayiye. Poora khayiye.”

“Chotey,” Anjali wept.

“Khayiye,” Khushi encouraged and threatened at the same time.

“Enough,” Arnav said, his voice feeble.

“Kaahe ki enough?” Khushi asked, a menacing frown on her face. “Chup chaap khayiye.” She grabbed more slices of toast from the plate Akash had brought to her and began feeding them to Arnav.

“I am fine now,” Arnav said, slowly sitting up with Khushi’s help. He looked at his teary-eyed family and said, “My sugar levels dropped. That’s all. I—I just felt dizzy for a moment.”

“You scared us, Chotey,” Anjali whispered.

Khushi and Akash helped Arnav stand and then sit in a chair.

Khushi held on to his hand as if it were her lifeline. Her cheeks were wet and her eyes, resting on Arnav, were full of love and worry.

Nani called, “Khussi bitiya.”

All stared at the elderly lady.

Khushi shook her head. Maybe she had imagined it.

Arnav tried to hide his smirk. His plan had worked.

“Khussi bitiya, tanik idhar aayiye,” nani called again.

Arnav slowly nudged Khushi towards nani.

Khushi walked up to her.

Nani extended her hand and caught Khushi’s hand in hers. “Khussi bitiya, welcome to the family. I am very happy that you are marrying Chotey.”

Khushi blinked, unable to believe her ears.

“I was worried about Chotey and how he would manage with me gone. Now I know I will be leaving him in capable hands,” she said from her heart.

Mami, delighted that her Saasumma had finally seen sense, started to clap her hands loudly.

All laughed.