Trusting heart - ArShi - show based

14 - Stronger than they thought !

In the farmhouse, everyone gathered in the covered terrace with snacks and drinks. The elder women were on the couches, talking about some satsang they wanted toattend. Mama led Sashi's wheelchair around the garden, both rolled in warm coats, Mama was doing the talking, as Sashi could only nod. He couldn't wait to be able to speak again!

The youngsters sat in a circle on the ground as NK and Khushi came with the idea of playing truth or dare, much to Arnav's displeasure. But he couldn't deny his wife and siblings by always being a spoilt sport.

Khushi was the first one to play. She spun an empty bottle and it landed on Anjali.

"Ha ! So truth or dare my dear Di? I promise I won't be too harsh since it's you and my favorite nephew"

Khushi teased her, earning chuckles from the other players.

"Since I'm going first, I'll stay safe with a truth"

Khushi started thinking what to ask, putting her hand under her chin and humming lightly.

Arnav, who was right next to her, couldn't help himself. He brought his hand up and caressed her cheek lightly, she was too cute when doing such antics, and he was definitely head over heels for his woman.

Khushi leaned on his hand and smiled at his loving gesture, almost forgetting her question.

The others were a little taken aback by Arnav's gesture. He was never one to display his feelings, always stern, only showing bribes of his emotions once in a while and here he was behaving lovingly in front of everyone.

The siblings were happy to see him like that, and Payal was relieved to see that he wasn't the same cold man around her sister. She feared, sometimes, that what he felt for her sister was only physical attraction, but she was pleased to see her brother in law's love filled eyes.

Akash cleared his throat to bring the lovers back from their love land and they both smiled shyly. The others had the courtesy to not tease them and both were thankful, especially Khushi who was already blushing.

"I'm still waiting Khushi-ji"

Said Anjali teasingly

"Emmm... yeah... Di.... Yes! I found a question : Arnav-ji told me that you have a college degree in psychology, have you ever thought of using it in your own clinic?"

The others looked at her a little taken aback, nobody would have thought about such a question, Anjali working was just out of the world for them.

She had worked for some years in a psychiatric clinic, but she stopped when Arnav began to earn enough money to cover the expenses of the whole household. She loved her job, but her nani preferred for her not to work, and concentrate on being the most perfect housewife and find a suitable husband. That was the hardest task. After all, everyone knew her story, her broken wedding, her parent's suicide on her wedding day and her limp. No mother in their friend circle wanted her as a daughter in law, she was considered a bad omen. So she did as she was told to please her grandmother. Arnav was also happy to take care of his sister. And when she finally met Shyam at the temple and he proposed to her some times later, she was happy to finally please her grandmother. They didn't have a big wedding, she didn't want to relive the memories of her parent's death, but they celebrated their wedding anniversaries in a grand way every year to make up for it.

So while everyone looked at Khushi shockingly, Anjali smiled at her, thinking about her dreams of helping others when she studied psychology. She wanted to work for an NGO or help in an orphanage, not a private clinic like she used to when she needed a salary to help her family. She was baffled at how her 18 years old sister in law understood in a few weeks her need to do something outside the house, a need no body in her family saw in years, wanting her to just stay protected in their cocoon.