The Reveal (IPKKND Secret Romance #3) (aka Our Revelation)

Chapter 8: Family

Arnav ducked into the bathroom as Khushi returned to their families. On his way back to the living room, he saw a table he hadn't noticed before. It was small and low, covered with framed family photos. Khushi and Payal at a fair, holding oversized lollipops and grinning. Khushi in a school uniform, her hair in pigtails and a book clutched in her hands. Khushi and her father making jalebi together, Khushi's cheek smeared with something.

Reaching out, Arnav picked up the smallest photo on the table. Khushi was five or six, judging by the gaps in her smile, and she was wearing a dupatta draped as a makeshift sari and grinning up at the camera. Kneeling next to her were a man with her expressive eyes and a woman who had her brilliant smile and button nose. Emotion surged within Arnav as he wondered if her parents would approve of him as heartily as her adoptive parents and Bua-ji had.

I'll do my best to be everything she needs, he silently promised them.

"Arnav-babua?"

Bua-ji stood behind him, watching as he gently replaced the photo.

"Sorry, Bua-ji. I got distracted."

"She was such mischievous child," Bua-ji smiled fondly, "always getting into scraps because of her silly ideas. But she was never selfish, no. Everything she did, she did for someone else. She stole food to feed a friend who hadn't eaten in two days. She gave her homework to a friend who couldn't complete her own. She never thought anything through. She always saw what she wanted and went after it. And now, she wants to spend her life with you. If this is what you both you want then I will support it fully, but I need you to know the truth before this goes any further."

"No, Arnav-babua, don't interrupt. You see, Khushi was engaged a few months ago. He was a nice man on all accounts and we thought he was a perfect son-in-law. He was educated, poised to take over his father's business, and he had two sisters who'd married into very nice homes. He treated us with respect. He was always good to Khushi."

Arnav blinked away from her. He knew about Khushi's fiancé, knew that her family had loved the man, knew that Khushi had felt nothing for him. She'd declined the alliance repeatedly, refusing to answer her family's questions about why. But, broken and alone, she'd agreed to it on Diwali and been engaged the very next day.

And it had been his turn to break two days later when she'd stood in his bedroom and revealed it.

"The family always knew about Shashi-babua," Bua-ji continued, "they'd seen him in the wheelchair and spoken to him. They knew everything. Then, one day, my brother had a seizure when they were visiting."

Uncle had suffered a seizure on the day they'd all come to ask for Payal's hand for Aakash. Arnav remembered the helplessness they'd all felt, watching him thrash and kick while his family did their best to minimize the damage he did to himself. He'd watched Khushi's expression twist in pain as she watched her father, and had rushed to help her as she pushed the wheelchair back inside. When he'd asked if he could help in any way – call a doctor or arrange medication – Khushi had explained that nothing would help. He'd cursed his money then – what use was all the money in the world if it couldn't stop her tears?

"The seizure scared them," Bua-ji's voice wavered, "They left almost immediately and then called us later to cancel the wedding. They ... they didn't want to marry their son into a family that would rely on him financially. They said that their son had to support them and couldn't support a second family. We'd never ... we'd never expected any money from them. We never said a word about supporting Shashi-babua."

Arnav remembered the day well. Khushi had been in Shantivan attending Di's pooja when she'd received the call. She'd taken it at the poolside for privacy and he'd chanced on her as she cried, devastated by the news and afraid of her family's reaction. Khushi had clung to him, holding his arm as if it was her lifeline as she'd sobbed into his shoulder.

He'd never seen her that broken. He never wanted to see it again.

What Bua-ji didn't know, what Khushi had never told her, was that the man had called again a few days later. The family had been eager to put things behind them when they'd heard that Payal was marrying Aakash. Arnav had sat frozen on his sofa as Khushi, a cup of tea clutched in her hands, had relayed the story one afternoon after New Year's.

Bua-ji let out a small sob. Arnav reached towards her but didn't know what comfort he could offer. He settled for telling the truth.

"Khushi told me all of this. I don't care about any of it. That man and his family didn't deserve you all. Uncle will get better one day and I plan to be there every step of the way. I know you don't need my help but I'll do everything I can for him because that's my duty as your son-in-law. I'm not just marrying Khushi, Bua-ji, I'm making you all my family."

Bua-ji nodded.

"But babua ... we're marrying two girls into the same household. Our hands are tied. Whatever happens in one marriage will have consequences for the other. Even now, even if we wanted to refuse you, we couldn't in case it hurt Payal's marriage. Do you ... do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yes, Bua-ji."

"And Payaliya and Khushi. Khushi will be Payal's jethani."

"I understand, Bua-ji. You don't have to worry. Nothing will happen, I promise you."

Bua-ji nodded, smiling through her tears, and then embraced him. "Nand Kishore has blessed both my nieces with such wonderful husbands. Bless you, son."

Khushi had questions in her eyes when they returned to the living room but Arnav shook his head. He would tell her later. Nani waved away Bua-ji's apology for their absence, teasing her about keeping her new son-in-law all to herself. Arnav smiled as Khushi raised her eyebrows at him, grinning.

Too soon, he and his family were standing, ready to leave. Arnav watched sadness seep into Khushi's expression, matching the welling melancholy inside of him. He wished they could skip all the ceremonies and rituals and just be married already – he wanted to take her home.

He was the only one to see Khushi sneak out of the room, returning a minute later with something clutched in her hand. Arnav noticed their families determinedly look everywhere but directly at them, allowing what privacy they could, as Khushi shyly approached. She slipped a piece of paper in his hand and retreated without saying a word.

He smiled.