Head over Heels

Chapter 4 - Khushi

🎶Kitni Baatein - Lakshya (What a song! <3)

"Khushi, are you okay?"

"Yes, Ji-ji," replied Khushi mustering a smile. They were in the kitchen cleaning up after the Sharmas' visit. Yet another rishta for her Ji-ji had vacated their doorstep. The general atmosphere in their home was overall positive.

The Guptas had entertained a string of proposals for her Jij-ji in the past four weeks, a whole miserable month had passed by for Khushi while her family arranged for a suitable match for her sister.

"I'll wrap up here, Ji-ji," said Khushi, praying desperately to be alone. Handling mango leaves for pooja had brought on painful memories of the rainforest and...she shook her head, she refused to dwell on reminders from Teej.

Khushi was happy to witness her family's joy at receiving new prospects, the shadow of her sister's broken engagement was soon waning from their sight. The hopeful light in Ji-ji's eyes was one of the few aspects that seem to keep Khushi afloat.

Khushi had awoken in the hospital on that accursed day, with her family surrounding her sick bed. She had been informed that the medical fees had been taken care of by the Raizadas.

She had received a text from Arnav-ji upon her discharge, it was short and crisp asking if she was okay. Khushi had pondered heavily over the question, saddened that he hadn't waited to meet and ask her in person. Arnav-ji then called when she hadn't responded for hours.

"Khushi... are you okay?"

"Yes"

"Hmm... please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything."

...

"Thank you."

That was the last time Khushi heard from Arnav Singh Raizada. The emptiness she felt was intertwined with disbelief, leaving her uncertain about the source of her anguish.

What was he to her, why were her insides twisted every time she thought of him, why had her heart dared to let him take control?

Khushi had agonized over her emotions, the most painful aspect of all was envisioning Lavanya-ji's presence in his arms, arms that had protected her from mortal danger, hands that had comforted her at her most vulnerable moments.

Khushi hugged herself, abandoning her task. Amma walked into the kitchen and stopped abruptly at witnessing Khushi hunched over.

"Bitiya, everything okay?"

"Y-yes, Amma," said Khushi, straightening and fixing a smile on her face. Amma strolled up to her and placed a finger under chin.

"Don't think it has slipped our notice but you've been different lately. Does the forthcoming bidayi from your sister trouble you so? Silly girl, every woman has to one day leave her family to set up her own."

Khushi let a few tears escape, the guilt at using that excuse weighed on her mind, but revealing the truth was too much to bear.

"There is one other thing I wanted to discuss with you, come let's take a seat."

Amma guided Khushi to the dinner table and sat her down, taking a seat next to her. She drew Khushi's hands in a tight hold.

"You've not been the same since being rescued from that trip, that Arnav Singh Raizada..." Khushi tensed. Amma continued hesitantly. "Well we've all witnessed the kind of a man he is, he all but tortured you at work, and then to think you were stuck in that godforsaken forest with him overnight."

Amma shuddered. Khushi frowned, waiting for her to continue. "I have no easy way to put this, the family and I have been wondering...well did he do something wrong? Did he perhaps behave dishonorably-"

"No!" Khushi was on her feet, the chair clattered to the ground. Temper flared white hot at the vile allegations against his character, she had snarled the word like it was a curse.

Amma gazed back shocked. If only Khushi could put into words the extraordinary lengths that he had taken to ensure her safety, the depth of his devotion and the risks he had faced for her well-being.

"I'll say this," said Khushi, fisting her shaking hands. "I am alive today because of him, you have nothing to worry about, so please never bring this up again."

Khushi dropped to her knees and took Amma's hands again. She managed a smile and squeezed her fingers. "It was traumatic, yes, but it'll pass, I promise I'll be back on my feet in no time."

Amma stroked Khushi's cheek and nodded. Bua-ji barged into the living room, the pair had ignored the din of the phone ringing. She threw them a puzzled look before answering the call.

"Hello Nanda Kishore! Oh Smitha-ji, how nice of you to call! Yes, yes - it went well with the Sharmas'. Oh you have another prospect?"

Amma went up to Bua-ji to take notes, Khushi slipped back into the kitchen to wrap up her chores. Bua-ji's booming voice resounded with surprise.

"An influential family from Lucknow? That is excellent! They er...are informed about Payal's past, yes?"

Khushi's heart twinged waiting for a response from the marriage broker. Bua-ji let out a relieved laugh and finished the conversation on a happier note, Khushi let out her breath and wrapped up her work.

Ji-ji was waiting in the bedroom when Khushi entered, she bombarded her with questions.

"Offo Ji-ji, let me catch my breath," said Khushi, guiding her sister to the bed and sat them down.

"Naya rishta! An influential family from our home town! Isn't that exciting," Khushi squealed.

"Sure," muttered Ji-ji, turning away. Khushi had long since felt that she wasn't the only one keeping secrets. She respected her sister's need for privacy, understanding since she herself guarded her own.

"Did Anil Sharma manage to make a mark?" asked Khushi considering today's prospect, he came across as pleasant to Khushi but her sister's opinion mattered the most.

"Sure," Ji-ji repeated, not meeting Khushi's eyes.

"Well, if anything, tomorrow is a new day. Bhaisahab Lucknowi wale hain, we'll put in the extra effort - you should wear the bottle green saree, it really brings out your eyes."

***

The Gupta household was in an uproar, chaos ensued since the break of dawn. The family had all but peeled the paint off in an effort to clean up their home. Today's prospect was rich and effluent, according to Bua-ji, the Guptas should give them no reason to lift a finger.

Khushi had rolled her eyes at this, grand or not, if they raised their high-handed gaze at their family, she would be the first to put her foot down and reject them before Jij-ji got a chance to speak.

The sisters were forced into their most expensive outfits, Khushi had protested against wearing the gold and pink saree that she had specifically been saving for a special day.

"But they're coming here to see Ji-ji, not me!" Khushi had whined when Bua-ji had all but shoved the saree under her nose.

Close to noon, the Guptas were assembled in the living room, poised and ready. Khushi fretted over her pallu, the hurried demands of a last-minute task having left her with no time to don an apron. The dark brown stain from the mustard oil had only worsened when she had desperately tried to wipe it away.

Enduring Bua-ji's taunts, she pleated the pallu in an attempt to hide the unsightly smudge between the folds instead of her preferred style of letting it fan out over her arm.

The doorbell rang at exactly 12 p.m. Taking a minute to admire their punctuality, Khushi volunteered to open the double doors.

The earth seemed to have stood still, she looked up into a pair of dark brown eyes, her vision expanded to take in the form of Arnav Singh Raizada framed at her door.