The Bride Trilogy - Part 1 - The Chosen Bride

Chapter 8: Andaz Apna Apna

Khushi had heard the end of the conversation and left the kitchen. They said it right, eavesdroppers never heard anything good about themselves. The euphoria that had hit her when Arnav had called her beautiful, smart, generous and nice, had evaporated the instant she heard him telling his friend that she was his mother's choice. Was he marrying her just because she was his mother's choice? Did he have any feelings for her?

The fact that he called her all those adjectives would mean that he did like her, atleast a bit. But she'd gone ahead and fallen in love with him now, and she didn't want to be that arranged marriage where the family was more in love with her than her groom. She'd dreamt of a romantic attachment for so long, but unrequited love for the rest of her life was not something she wanted.

"Khushi, there you are! I'm been looking all over for you. Come with me. I need to show you something", Ratna walked over all excited and grabbed Khushi's hand.

"Where are we going, Ratna Aunty?"

Ratna stopped right there, and looked at her with a glare, "Ratna Aunty? What is that about? You're going to be my daughter now. Chote calls me Maa, you know", she said slyly.

Khushi smiled at her, her eyes slowly getting moist, "Maa sounds good", she acknowledged.

Ratna grinned from ear to ear, then hugged Khushi, and held her face in her palms, "Thank you, Khushi. You don't know how happy you have made me today"

Khushi smiled back at her moistly. Atleast Ratna loved her. And the rest of the Raizadas did too. She would start from there. Arnav had a good opinion of her, and maybe he'd come to love her too, as time goes by. Cause she was going to try her hardest to make him fall for her.

She smiled at her own resolution, shook her head, and asked Ratna, "What were you going to show me?"

"I got some jewelry for you. I'd already chosen all the jewelry that I was going to give my Chote's wife, but now that I know you, I got things that maybe you'd like more. Come see... and tell me if you like these"

"These are beautiful", Khushi told her as she gazed at the spread before her.

"Chote chose the engagement ring. Wouldn't listen to anyone, and chose that simple design. Don't know what he was thinking. I wanted to get a bigger diamond, but he was adamant about buying that one. But I got to choose all these pieces. These are more elaborate, but they're for fancy wear. There's some for regular wear too, lighter pieces that would go with western outfits too. Mano and Anjali chose those", Ratna was excited about gifting her daughter-in-law everything she could.

Khushi was amused and overwhelmed at the love that she was receiving, along with the huge spread of jewelry that was displayed in front of her. And the idea that Arnav had chosen the engagement ring for her was so delightful. Especially, since she absolutely loved it. But why would he be so adamant about choosing a ring for her if he was just going along with his family's choice of her as his bride?

Arnav reached them just as Ratna opened up the last of the boxes for all the elaborate jewelry that she was gifting Khushi, who looked overwhelmed.

"Are you ok?", he whispered as he sat down next to her, handing her a drink.

"Yes, of course. Why? Do I look not ok?", Khushi was a bit flustered cause he was really close to her right now, and her body began its tingly thing again.

"You just looked a bit lost, I thought"

"Its just.... it's a lot, you know. And so fast too. Two months ago, I was worrying about my exams, and now I'm getting married"

"Khushi, if its too much for you, or too soon, we can wait for the wedding. You don't have to feel rushed into anything", Arnav told her sincerely.