Nothing To Me (COMPLETE)

Chapter Twelve

*Some Bengali - translations in parentheses*

"Purnima," Anannya said, "what are you saying? She's older now and the truth is out so-"

"So she can't go like this," Purnima replied. 

"What?"

"She's going to her sasural! Khushi emon kore jaite parbena (Khushi can't go like this)! She has to be given away properly."

"Of course, of course!" Anannya sucked her teeth. "Don't scare me like that Purnima. You'll never change."

Purnima laughed. She took Khushi in and Khushi washed up and brought Khushi out, all dressed up in a lehenga and adorned with jewelry. Arnav gazed away at her and Khushi didn't dare to look up, all shy.

Purnima held a box in her hand and opened it up. "Malik, I've held onto this for a long time and have taken really good care of these."

Arnav looked in and took out a mangalsutra. 

Anannya's eyes swelled with tears. "You held onto this?"

"Of course," Purnima replied. She turned to Arnav. "Malik, would you please?"

Arnav nodded and unhooked the necklace and placed it around Khushi's neck. Khushi felt a tickle on her neck and she looked up at Arnav, who was already gazing at her. Purnima took out the small pot of sindoor and Arnav took a pinch of it. He looked into Khushi's eyes and she stared back. As he placed the sindoor on her maang, Khushi kept her eyes shut, officially leaving her single life. 

Purnima held a tray with rice and as Khushi left, she tossed handfuls of rice behind her. She sat in the car and they drove over to Raizada Estate and Khushi was happily welcomed into her new home. She knocked over the little pot with rice over and stepped into a pool of alta and stepped into her new home. 

"There's just one thing left to do," Dadi said. 

"And what's that," Anjali asked. 

"We have a family tradition that when a man in our family gets married, he has to carry his newly wedded wife to their room."

"Really," Arnav asked. 

"Of course," Arbaz said. "I did the same when I married your mother, kyun meri jaan," and he nudged Anannya lightly. 

"Aap bhi na," Anannya blushed. 

"Well then," Anjali said, and she went over to Arnav's side, "tradition is tradition Chote, and I know you don't-"

"Di, say no more," Arnav said and he swooped down and picked Khushi up. 

Everyone clapped and Arnav looked down at his wife, who was holding onto him and staring into his eyes. Arnav went up the stairs and walked down the hall and into his room, shutting the french doors with his feet. 

Arnav stood still and looked at Khushi. She looked away, anywhere but his face. Arnav put her down and Khushi turned away. He placed his hands on her waist and tried to nibble on her neck but Khushi moved his hands away and moved away. She tried to walk out of his grip but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her in. Arnav looked at her but Khushi looked away.

He scrunched his eyebrows. "Khushi?" He held her face. "What's wrong?"

Khushi moved his hands off her face. "Nothing."

"Then why are you acting like this?"

"Because I can. Got a problem with that?"

"Khushi please. Tell me. Everything is okay now and you're my wife-"