Epilogue

One Year Later

Arnav slammed into the office in a temper. He glared at Lavanya.

“Where is she?!”

Lavanya grinned, apparently completely unperturbed at the sight of the famous ASR temper.

“At the site,” she said innocently, her eyes wide and guileless. Arnav cursed fluently and Lavanya listened, impressed at his vocabulary. She said as much when he paused for breath, and he scowled.

“That girl! She’ll never listen, will she! I told her not to go, I said I’ll handle it. That contractor is a fool and a thief … he’ll run rings around her …”

Lavanya listened patiently as he went off again, his initial tirade softened to a mere grumbling tone now that he had ascertained Khushi's whereabouts. His annoyance rolled over her like water off a duck’s back. She knew him much better now and knew very well that his anger was a front – thinly disguised – for his overwhelming love and concern for Khushi. Most times he didn't even try to disguise it.

The last year had been a picnic at the office – Arnav had bought over part share of the firm, of course, and now they all worked out of his own office. Khushi was part-owner, and her share of the profits went towards the Dewans and their care, as well as that of Pratibha and her baby, now an active toddler. Mr Suri had chosen wisely for his old friend. Thanks to Khushi, the Dewans would never have to worry about their subsistence again. 

Mr. Dewan had recovered much of his mental faculties, and slowly reconciled to the loss of his only child. A good deal of the credit for his recovery went to Sona, now an adorable one year old. She was the apple of her doting grandfather's eye, and of her grandmother's. They continued to live in the house Arnav had arranged for them, and Pratibha, now fully recovered, had proved to be a good daughter-in-law, looking after them with affection and care. Khushi's mind was at peace with regard to the two elderly people who had looked after her with so much affection, ever since the loss of her own parents.

The last year had brought much change in Khushi as well. After she accepted Arnav's proposal, that impatient man lost no further time. Khushi was introduced to his grandfather, as were the Dewans, the very next day, and the wedding date settled for the next month. Within a month, Khushi was Mrs. Khushi Singh Raizada, and as her proud husband proclaimed, the wife of the luckiest man in the world. 

     

Today Khushi was a changed person, happy, smiling, confident, completely secure in his love … and Arnav … obviously crazy about his wife, it was a joy to see him fuss over Khushi, hold her hand, pull her close to him, and kiss her whenever he thought no one was looking. He got plenty of opportunity as Khushi and he shared their office.

They both looked up as Khushi appeared at the door of the office, her face bearing a triumphant grin. She waved a sheaf of papers as she walked in. Arnav tried to glare at her, but failed completely as she came up to him and planted a kiss on his cheek.

“Are you being a bear again?” she asked cheerfully. “Stop grumping. He agreed. I told you …”

“And I told you …” he started, then stopped. “He agreed?!”

She nodded and started to hand the papers to Lavanya.

“Lavs, sweetie, make some copies, please, will you? All signed … all done.”

Arnav snatched the papers out of her hand and shook his head. She scowled at him and tried to snatch them back. He resisted easily, holding her hands in one of his, while he looked at the papers.

“I don’t believe this,” he said ruefully. “I’ve been trying to pin him down for the last two weeks! He’s even given a firm starting date! How did you manage this?”

Khushi twinkled at him.

“How? My irresistible charm, of course! You should have let me talk to him earlier!”

He grinned and pulled her to him.

“On principle,” he said seriously, his tone at odds with the gleam in his eye, “I don’t let my wife talk to any strange men. I’m very particular that way. You just gave me the slip this time!”

Khushi giggled and Lavanya laughed.

“Very wise,” Lavanya agreed. “If one of them kidnaps her … you should keep her under lock and key, Arnav.”

Arnav mock-glared at her, and pulled Khushi closer.

“I have a better idea,” he said mildly, “I’ll just chain her to me instead.”

Lavanya’s eyes danced.

“As though you don’t already,” she said, and Khushi laughed.

“Thanks, Lavs … just what I need!”

“But you love it … don’t you?” asked Arnav in a lower voice as he touched his forehead to hers, his arm firmly around her, and Khushi blushed slightly as she leaned against him. They looked at each other for a long moment, small smiles on their faces. A slight deliberate cough made them look up. Lavanya was looking at them severely, hands on hips.

“Ahem … young innocent child in room,” she said. “Just in case you both forgot, I’m still here. Can I have the papers and go, please? I’m feeling like a third wheel here.”

Arnav grinned and handed her the papers.

“Next time,” he said, trying to make his tone as severe as possible, without much visible effect on Lavanya, “tell me when this girl goes haring off somewhere.”

“No, don’t,” said Khushi, equally firmly. “Lavs … you’re on my side, remember?! You tell him what I tell you to tell him. Not a word more!”

“Yes, Sir, yes, Ma’am,” retorted Lavanya, and Arnav shook a finger at her.

 “You …” he said, his annoyed tone belied by the grin in his eyes, on his face. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. You encourage Khushi all the time … Lavanya, remember I’m your boss, you wretched girl … a little bit of respect here please? … at least for name’s sake …?”

Lavanya giggled.

“Stop flirting with your wife in the office and I’ll think about it,” she promised, and Arnav and Khushi laughed.

“Now that I can’t do,” said Arnav, holding Khushi even tighter. “What you need, my girl, is a boyfriend of your own …”

His phone rang and he looked at it with a surprised expression on his face.

“Neil?!”

Both he and Khushi looked at each other, then at Lavanya. They grinned. Lavanya looked at them and shook her head slowly.

“No,” she said, firmly. “Oh no!”

“Oh yes!” said Arnav and Khushi together.

THE END 

Note: New Arshi FF Kaise Yeh Rishtey here -

http://kaiseyehrishtey.blogspot.in/

Changing Shades - 22

Chapter 22

Arnav parked his car, and walked into the meadow overlooking the block of flats, where he had first talked to her.

He saw her almost at once. She was sitting near a tree some way off, her knees drawn up, and her head resting on them. Her feet were bare, her sandals kicked off and lying near her on the grass. Her beautiful eyes looked unseeingly into the distance. 

She didn't notice him until he was just a couple of feet away. He came up to her, looking at her steadily, his gaze never leaving hers. She met it unflinchingly, but her expression was impossible to read.

He sat down, not too close. She looked at him, but didn't say anything. He looked steadily back at her, his eyes warm. She looked away after a while, and spoke, so softly, that he had to strain to catch her words.

“You knew I would be here, didn’t you?”

Arnav nodded. His fingers played idly with a blade of grass.

“Deja vu, isn't it, Khushi? It was a meadow very much like this one, where I asked you to marry me the first time, what was it, four? five years ago? Where I asked you if you were happy. If you knew what you wanted.”

Khushi nodded. She was silent for a while, then she spoke again. Her fingers twisted the dupatta of her salwar suit, crushing the flimsy material between them, but that was the only outward sign of her turmoil. Her voice was even softer when she spoke again.

“I didn't know what I wanted then,” she said slowly, hesitantly. “Not till you forced me to face myself. And then, too, I couldn't follow my own feelings. I had to choose between duty and love. I had to make that choice, Arnav.”

She turned then to look at him. Her tone was pleading, as though she was asking for his understanding.

"I had to choose, Arnav," she repeated. "And I really didn't have a choice." 

He put his hands over hers, stilling their nervous movements. His eyes were warm, reassuring.

“I know that, Khushi,” he said softly. “I know that, now, and I understand why you did what you did. It’s all right.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head ... wanting him to understand, to know. “You don’t understand, Arnav. I did try. The day after … the picnic, I … I knew I loved you, and I couldn’t go through with it, with marrying Manish. I thought I’d tell mummy … she’d always been so close to me, I knew she would understand. But when I went to the house to tell her, baba’s doctor had come. I heard him tell mummy that baba’s BP was so much better – that the marriage was helping him, keeping him going – he was taking his medicines on time, doing his exercise, diet, everything … waiting, and hoping that our marriage would be the making of Manish … and the doctor said, now don’t postpone this marriage even by a single day … it will kill him …”

She stopped, swallowed and looked at Arnav again.

“What could I have done?” she asked him softly. “Arnav, what could I have done?”

Nothing, he thought regretfully ... nothing, except what she had eventually done. Knowing her the way he did, knowing the whole story of her relationship with Manish and his parents, she had really had no choice. Between duty and love, love hadn’t stood a chance. And if she had tried, and that stroke had happened five years ago to Manish’s father, their – Arnav and Khushi’s - relationship wouldn’t have stood a chance. Today, having seen with his own eyes, the relationship between her and Manish’s parents, he understood - more clearly than he ever had.

“I wish you’d told me,” he said softly, sadly. “I wish I’d known, wish I’d listened. Khushi, can’t we put it all behind us? It’s been a nightmare, but it’s over now. I never forgot you, Khushi, however much I tried, but I couldn’t. That’s why I was so bitter with you, so angry. Seeing you again …one look at you and I knew … I’d never gotten over you and never would. And still thinking you were with Manish …”

He came close and held her hand tightly and she felt the pain he had gone through, knowing he still loved her, but thinking she was still married, thinking his feelings illicit, impossible … his own impotence and frustrations had made him lash out at her. She looked up at him, now so close she could feel his breath on her cheek.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “Khushi, from now on, it will be whatever you say. Tell me what you want. Five years ago, you made a decision …one you had to make. Today, you have to make another decision. But this time, you decide - what you want, what will make you happy. This time no one else matters, Khushi, only you. But all I want to tell you, is that this time, if you turn me down, I'm not going to walk out of your life. I'm going to stay around and wait, all my life, if necessary, for you. I’ll be here for you – in whatever way you want, for however long you want. I've waited too long for you, and lost you once. Now that I've found you, I won’t lose you again.”

Khushi's eyes filled. She stood up and faced him, her hands clenched in front of her, in an unconsciously pleading gesture.

“I chose duty once, Arnav. Haven't I earned some happiness now?”

He stood too, and came close to her, not touching her.

“What do you think?” he asked, softly. “What do you want, Khushi? Where is your happiness? If you're happier on your own, so be it. If your happiness is with me, for God's sake, Khushi, say yes. Say yes this time. Just … follow your heart.”

Tears were in her eyes, and on her cheeks as she gazed at him, and he took her hands in his.

“I love you,” he said softly. “I love you and always will. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, travel life’s journey with you next to me, with me always, standing beside me, matching me step to step. I want to hold your hand every step of the way. I want to grow old with you, till we sit on our rocking chairs on our porch, watching the sunset and grumbling about our scamp of a son, so like his father, marvelling at our daughter, beautiful like her mother …”

She gave a little laugh which broke in the middle.

“Why are you calling my son a scamp?” she protested softly, in a voice that was not quite steady. “He’ll be strong and handsome and loving … like his father. Arnav …”

And then she was in his arms, clinging to him, his arms were around her crushing her to him as though he would never let her go, her face buried in his shoulder. He held her tightly, fiercely, as a tidal wave of relief and sheer love swept through him, as she filled his arms … and his heart.

After a long time he raised his head and his eyes were suspiciously bright. They moved apart and he held her hands in his tightly.

“Marry me?” he said, his voice husky, urgent. “Please? I don’t want to live without you any longer.”

“Yes,” she whispered. “Oh yes. I can’t live without you any more either, Arnav” she confessed, her tears slipping down her cheeks, and he let out a long sigh and took her into his arms again. He raised her face to his, gently wiping away her tears, and kissed her, a kiss of promise, of hope and of love … for the rest of their lives.