Hearts Unfettered💞

15

The next few days passed away in a blur for both Khushi in Ahmedabad and Arnav in Delhi. Arnav was busy with conferences with business delegates and meeting with heads of departments of AR associates reviewing their performances and in different quarters as the financial year came to an end. Khushi on the other hand, was having the best time of her life in Ahmedabad living alone for probably the first time of her life as an adult. She felt a good sense of self and independence living alone. 

A few days after Arnav left, she asked Garima if she could come visit her sometime as she wanted to continue living in Ahemedabad for a few more days/weeks, Garima first told her to come back as soon as possible after finishing her work there, but after some convincing from Khushi's end and Garima's own change of heart, agreed to let Khushi live there, but only a max of two weeks, but told she couldn't come visit her in the meantime, cause she had to take Babuji to some new hospital Akash was taking them to. 

Buaji was all set to come to visit Khushi but fell sick just the day before the day of travel and couldn't come. So, it was just Khushi in Ahmedabad and Khushi actually started liking it. Unlike how people thought and she herself thought she would be, she liked this solitude and was alone for sure but not lonely.

Arnav and she messaged throughout the day, short texts of what they are doing, good morning, good nights and every night, they spoke at length, for an hour or more before going to bed telling each other what they did throughout the day. 

Khushi realised Arnav sure loved talking less but would open up and divulge the details when asked and is very excited dropping details of the office and the progress AR has made in the last year. She was happy for him and she found it very heartening to see he was so passionate about AR and work. 

She wanted that for herself too and she had a feeling what she would be doing too and is working on that little by little. In the last week, once her childhood house was completely cleaned including the carpets, rugs, curtains, and everything, she decided to do a small grihapravesh. When she told the idea to Arnav, he rolled his eyes and said, pooja again? so, she decided to not include him in this grihapravesh as a punishment and invited all the family except him whom she strictly told to not come. He made a face at that but immediately cut the call saying he was busy anyway – traveling to London and couldn't visit even if she requested. Whatever!, she thought and continued with her preparations. 

Anjali had been very excited to come here as was her nature and also because, she took a new interest in travelling and also started writing a blog article about her experiences. Khushi read a few of them and found them very intriguing and touching. Akash who would be done with the work by the end of the week, immediately said yes and Payal was excited as well to see Khushi's childhood home which she never saw herself. 

Mamiji took some convincing but Mamaji was on board as soon as she invited. Naniji too said yes when Khushi called and they will all be coming to Ahmedabad in a private plane in an hour Arnav arranged for. Khushi with the help of Yash had made multiple trips to various grocery stores, supermarkets, furniture shops and textile stores and also hired a pundit to perform the ceremony. 

 One hour later, sitting by the stairs, she and Arnav sat on a few days ago, Khushi waited for the family to arrive. Dressed in the same orange saree, she wore for Teej last year, with the same bangles and a gajra in her hair, she reminisced that day and blushed. Who knew her life would turn upside down in an year and she would like it actually. She herself had prohibited Arnav from coming here, one because, he wasn't interested in all this and also because she knew he had an important meeting at London the same day, but she wished he was here and he performed the ceremony with her here. 

But she also understood, the kind of grihapravesh they performed at the house in Ashesh estates in Delhi is not the same as the one she would be performing here, though she convinced herself for the previous one that they were together and that is enough, she wouldn't be able to convince the elders here, that she wanted to perform the ceremony with Arnav without marrying him. The honks of the car indicated the arrival of the family. 

Everyone was all smiles seeing her and she hugged each and every one of them, they all appreciated her efforts in bringing the house back to its old glory. Even Mami who wouldn't wait a moment to point out things said that the house was beautiful, cosy and reminded her of her own childhood home back in Lucknow. Her mother tearfully hugged her and kissed her forehead saying she is so proud of her. She took blessings of Nani, Mama- Mami, Buaji, and her mother, and father, who was still in a wheelchair, and started performing the ceremony with an old photo frame for her parents in her hand. 

NK recorded the entire thing and everyone cheered as she took the first step inside the house. Lunch was a hearty affair, though Khushi had set up the kitchen fully, she organized food from a local catering service for the day and everyone enjoyed the local delicacies while serving each other and teasing each other. 

The modest house enhanced the intimacy and feeling of domesticity, creating a stronger bond among everyone present. After lunch, while Nani, and Babuji rested and Mama- Mami went out to shop and also to visit Rakesh and his family, the rest of the family went through Khushi's childhood photographs and played board games. In the evening as the chai was served, it was time to return to Delhi and though everyone planned on returning in the evening except for Buaji, after visiting, Anjali decided to stay back for a few more days as she really liked how peaceful it is here and also wanted to explore the city. 

After Anjali said this, even NK said he would love to stay here for a couple more days as he didn't have any plans per se in Delhi. Payal too contemplated staying back and after discussing with Akash, she decided she would stay back a couple more days too. 

On the return flight, Mama-Mami, Nani, Garima, and Babuji returned back to Delhi tired. Though Nani had all the intention of discussing the marriage with Khushi and her parents today, after seeing how happy she is and also the way she treated them like her own family, just like how she used to treat them when she was in Shantivan before all that remarriage fiasco, she decided to give Khushi and Arnav some more time. 

Honestly, she was just so happy with the events of the day. All she ever wanted was for her children to be happy and together and have genuine care and love for each other, she always believed as long as they all are together, they can overcome any kind of issues that life may throw at them. Seeing the way Khushi once again brought the family together, and showered love and care on each and every one of them once again reaffirm her belief she is the right person for her grandson. She thanked the goddess for sending Payal and Khushi into their lives. 

Seeing Anjali recover so well made her realize how innately strong and resilient her grandchildren are. She decided to support them more, in whichever way they need her to be, even if it meant that she had to bend her ideologies a bit. She slept that night with gratitude in her heart and a small smile on her face.

Arnav woke up with a jerk as the pilot made the announcement that they are going to land in another 15 minutes asking the passengers to tighten their seatbelts. 

He had been dreaming something about him and Khushi in some magical garden he had never been to before and that brought a small smile onto his face. He didn't remember the details of the dream that vividly but it had him and Khushi and they were happy as Khushi calls it, their choti si duniya. 

She is such a simpleton, it amuses him to no end and also makes him want to secure her in his arms and protect her from the entire world. 

But she is also such a fierce person, he himself gets scared of her every now and then. It's been almost a month now since their almost wedding and he didn't know where they are going to go from here. 

They spoke every day for hours at length but not once did Khushi ever bring up the wedding and he didn't too. Except for the tiny little senseless fear he has every now and then that Khushi would one day leave him, he is actually liking the place where they are in. He realized he is getting more and more secure in their relationship these days. He is getting to know her more and more with each passing day, more than he ever knew before and he is falling deeply and irrevocably in love with her each passing day and he had no complaints. 

The landing of the flight brought him out of his thoughts. He wished the next few days passed away fast so that he could fly back to her directly from here. 

Damn ! he missed her much.