Foundation of Marriage

Part 29 - Worth

Arnav's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the ringing of his phone. It was Aman, his ever-reliable right hand man. Aman's voice came through, steady and efficient as always. "I'm ready with the pictures. Just wanted your final approval before we publish them." Arnav glanced at the couple of photos Aman had sent. They were candid shots of him and Khushi, beautifully timed and full of chemistry. 

In one, Arnav was caught gazing at Khushi with an intensity that was impossible to deny, while in another, Khushi was laughing, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him. It wasn't difficult to see why people would believe they were deeply in love. With a small nod of satisfaction, Arnav gave Aman the go-ahead. "Release them tomorrow" he instructed. He was ready to announce his marriage to the media and public at large. Arnav was tired of the speculation, of the wandering eyes, of people assuming Khushi was just some girl in his life. But more than that, he had heard Shyam make snide, misleading remarks to embarrass Khushi, especially after their sudden marriage had come up in conversation one morning at the breakfast table.

The plan was set in motion. He'd made sure the first set of posts would portray him as utterly smitten, constantly drawn to her, and her equally captivated by him. The media would swirl immediately with rumours about the mysterious woman who had captured ASR's heart. And just as the gossip reached a feverish pitch, his team would release another set of posts, an official statement. Their wedding pictures, along with other intimate moments of the two of them, would be splashed across all platforms. Apart from his business circle and associates not very many people knew that he was married, especially the media people. 

The announcement would shock everyone, including his own family, who had no idea what he was planning. But Khushi, of course, had to throw a wrench into his perfect plan. She wasn't here at Shantivan, she had gone off to Laxminagar to stay with her family. Nevertheless, the plan was in motion, and he couldn't wait to see Shyam's reaction tomorrow. Arnav could already picture the shock on Shyam's face when the news hit. The snake had been weaving his web of lies and deceit for far too long, and though Arnav hadn't yet found enough evidence to destroy him completely, this would be a satisfying watch. Arnav had recently uncovered some of Shyam's dirty tricks in the court along with some shady dealings. But without concrete evidence, it wasn't enough to bring him down legally or to convince Anjali of the truth. Shyam had been careful, leaving behind no obvious traces, and the mysterious woman Roy had mentioned as Shyam's supposed wife had seemingly vanished into thin air.

Still, on the Khushi front, Arnav felt like everything was great. Tomorrow's marriage announcement would be a major blow to Shyam's plans. It would be clear to the world, and to Shyam, that Khushi was indeed Mrs Arnav Singh Raizada, and no one could ever come between them. Arnav thought about calling Khushi, just to hear her voice, maybe to let her know about the surprise that was coming tomorrow. But then he decided against it. She was probably enjoying herself at Buaji's house, spending time with her family, laughing and being her usual self. He didn't want to disturb her. With a sigh, Arnav closed his eyes, hoping sleep would come soon, though the frustration of not having Khushi beside him made it difficult.

In the Gupta house, the warmth and familiarity of home brought a wide smile to Khushi's face. She was overjoyed to be surrounded by her Buaji, Amma, and Babuji, and the night was filled with laughter and stories. Khushi animatedly shared tales of the party, her business adventures, and the playful banter with Arnav that had everyone in stitches. Amidst the joy, Garima couldn't help but notice that Payal was unusually quiet. While everyone else was laughing and talking, Payal seemed lost in her own thoughts. Garima made a mental note to speak to her elder daughter the next day, sensing that something was weighing heavily on her mind.

The next morning, Khushi received some exciting news. Her close friend Preeto had also come to Laxminagar to spend time with her maternal family. Khushi couldn't resist the opportunity to visit her friend, and hurried after finishing her breakfast. She set off for Preeto's house, eager to catch up. With Khushi out of the house, Garima and Buaji decided it was the perfect time to talk to Payal. They had found her in the kitchen, quietly preparing tea, her mind was clearly elsewhere. Garima approached her gently.