Reawakening

Part 37 - Punishment

***************************Part 37 - Punishment

"Have you forgotten what I told you yesterday", Khushi was still thinking when Arnav bent forward and whispered, "punishment.." and he walked towards her house.. Khushi sat dazed, following him with her eyes . Unbelieving...

"Arnav ji, you can't do this. Why do you want to talk to my Babuji, I told you I am not ready for marriage, then why are you doing this to me. This is like forcing me into it. There was a time when I was ready, but now, there are other things that are more important to me. I need to prove for myself..."

Khushi sat in the car thinking of all the reasons. For a moment she hated what he was doing. This was like blackmailing her. When he knows her situation he should not be forcing her. Arnav had long gone inside.

"Arrey babua, come inside. " Garima welcomed him, but stood at the door waiting for Khushi. When she didn't turn up, Garima looked at Arnav who had sat down and hesitantly asked, "Khushi?"

With a slight smile on his face, Arnav answered, "She is in the car thinking. She will come. I wanted to talk to Uncle"

Garima murmerd "Khushi and thinking? Then something must be the matter. It was late in the evening, she will be totally sanki when she comes. Hey devj maiyya" and went inside to call Shashi. Looking at Arnav she spoke, "I will call him, he is catching up with his friend Sharma, the priest you saw."

As soon as he went inside, he could sense the sadness in everyone's face. With Payal gone, the whole house looked lifeless. He just didn't want to imagine how they would feel if Khushi left too.

With hundreds of thoughts bombarding her head, Khushi did not know how time had passed. When she did, she barged inside the house. The first thing she heard was her Babuji saying, "Beta, I think it is very good, but will my daughter agree."

Khushi looked at Arnav who greeted her with a smiling Arnav, raising her fears further. He was sitting at the edge of his seat discussing, while her Babuji and Sharma Uncle sat with not much expression, though Khushi thought they were smiling. Now, When she was expecting the whole household to be sad, here they were smiling. Even Buaji seemed to be in a pleasant mood. Her sudden thought was, "OMG, has this laad governor even spoke to the priest and got the dates for the marriage, Hey Devi maiyya, how can I talk to Babuji."

"Come bitiya, I have been waiting for you.. Arnav was.." Babuji was trying to tell her, but she rushed inside, holding her Babuji's hands, "Babuji please, I have no problem, but I need some time. I was going to talk to you long back, but I thought let Jijis wedding finish."

Shashi looked confused. She was so fast, he could barely understand. Sharma spoke with a smile on his face. Khushi, you will never change" looking at Arnav, he told, "You know even as a little girl, she used to come running to me hiding some jilebis. My wife never let me have because I was diabetic. Those were the best jilebis. Even then your Buaji used to call you sanki."Looking at Khushi, he explained, "Arnav has explained to us, It is a good offer, and he says he will be there to help. So you can think about it. Tell us what your problems are? We can always discuss and there will be ways."