Reawakening

Part 29 - Back to square one

How more disturbing could it get? For the first time, ARS felt jealous and he was ashamed of it. "How can I be envious of you Akash?"

He remembered the conversation Nani and Akash were having when he went to get updates. Akash was all courteous when he saw his brother, and unknowingly Arnav had felt a little small. Nani was beaming with pride at her grand son. "I am proud of you Akash. Just as we are lucky, the Guptas are equally fortunate to get a son in law like you."

"Dadi, I have made the offer, but they want some time to think." The ever patient Akash complained.

"It is not a matter of changing clothes Akash bitwa, the whole family has to move. If you were told to pack up everything and move in next two weeks, how would you be?" Nani tried to explain.

Seeing Arnav had also joined in the conversation, Akash mentioned, "you are right Nani, all of them are saddened, especially Khushi."

It was funny how Akash silently enjoyed the desperation in Arnav to get information on Khushi..

"True Nani, Khushi is really sad. Payal is also devastated." Akash reiterated once again seeing Arnav fidget in his seat like a worm, hard to accept he had been side-lined and they had made all the decisions.

When nobody told him anything clearly, giving up his ego, Arnav finally asked, "What is the plan now?"

Though pleased the Guptas would be returning to Delhi, Arnav plunged into the depth of sadness thinking about their lives, how his one action had shook the basic foundation of their lives. He was the cause of all the distress they were now going through. He took it upon himself more seriously to bring some relief into their lives. Well, he remembered Payal had clearly mentioned, "Everything happened for the best" And, when he finally fell asleep in the early hours of the morning, he had sorted it all out in his head. It was full of solutions, results, and it seemed perfect.

However the morning did not bring in much hope. He woke up with a groggy and heavy head, and all the clear plans seemed muddled and confused. His dreams were plagued by various dialogues

"Arnav ji, why do you interfere in everything?"

"You are the elder son in law..."

"Leave us to ourselves, we are already having serious problems"

"I am proud of you Akash.."

"I am nobody to you Arnav ji"

"Elder son in law, Akash has sorted out everything...".......

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"Anjali bitiya, make aloo puri, Khushi bitiya likes it." Arnav, all ears, stood listening to his Nani talk to Anjali. Deliberately entering the kitchen to know more, Arnav asked, "Di can I have a strong coffee please..." and waited..... when nothing came off it, he asked with a sigh,...

"What's happening Di, you seem quite excited for the first time in the last one month you have been here in Delhi? Anybody coming?"

"Chote, Akash has called the Guptas for dinner. It has been a month since uncle has started his physio. He is much better now gaining enough strength to do a bit of socialising, so we thought we will call them over and discuss about the wedding." Giving a wink to his brother, Anjali whispered, "Akash is desperate to get married soon. Well, how long can he wait,.. I can't see him like that..."

Arnav did not show much emotion. Taking his coffee, he hurried off to his room with, "Di, I need to make some important calls so I may not come down, .." but really,.. he did not want to miss this opportunity and finish his work....