Shantivan.. Arshi room..
Arnav was about to open the door of his room when Anjali came in front of him and stood between him and the door. She grinned, showing her hand to him, "Won't you give something to your sister?"
"What now Di?" Arnav rolled his eyes.
"Money Chote! The groom's sister usually asks money to her brother and only then he's allowed to meet his bride!" Anjali shook her head at his lack of knowledge of the Indian marriage ceremonies.
"Why don't you ask money to your husband?" Arnav teased her as he took his wallet out of pocket and handed money to her.
Anjali smiled happily and pinched his cheek. She left from there, shouting to Nani and Mami, that she got money from Akash and Arnav.
Arnav smiled at her. He opened the door of his room and saw his wife sitting on his bed in bridal position.
Khushi glanced at him and without breaking their eyelock, he closed the door with his leg and walked towards her.
Khushi looked away when Arnav sat beside her.
"You already lifted your veil!" he said staring at her veil laid on their bed.
"What a miracle.. You know that you're supposed to lift my veil?" she asked with fake astonishment.
"I remember when Di got married to Jiju.. she was sitting like this.. and she told me that Jiju would come and lift her veil.." Arnav said, "Why didn't you wait for me?"
Khushi looked away with moist eyes.
Arnav caressed her cheek and made her look at him, "What happened? Aren't you happy?"
"You didn't marry me out of love.. How can I be happy Arnav ji?" she asked as a lone tear rolled down her right cheek.
Arnav wiped away her tears with his thumb.
"Bauji told me everything Arnav Ji.. How could you do this with me? Why did you even marry me when you're still not ready for marriage?.. I told you that I was willing to wait for you.. then why?" she asked.
"You're more important to me than my own insecurities Khushi.." he replied.
"You don't love me Arnav Ji.. If you married me without being clear about your own feelings, then it means I'm just a responsibility to you, a burden.. You just married me because you felt guilty that people are questioning my character once again because of you.. You didn't want our past to repeat again.. You didn't want people to speak ill of me.. You just wanted to save me Arnav ji.. This marriage is nothing but a responsibility you felt you have towards me, a way to protect me from the society!" she cried.
"Wrong.. I never said that I don't love you Khushi.." Arnav stare intently at her, "And if you remember properly, then in past.. I had said that trust is more important to me than love in a relationship.. And I said that I trust you.. You're not just my responsibility.. What I feel for you is way beyond Love.."
"Yes, I married you to save your dignity.. I felt the need of doing so.. It doesn't even matter to me what people say or not about us, but it matters to me what you and our families will face because of them.. I couldn't just leave you to face it alone Khushi just because I've my own insecurities.. I can't just think about myself all the time.. You're always selfless with me.. You always put me first in your life.. Then why can't I do the same for you?" Arnav asked.
"I already told you there's no Tit for Tat in relationships!" Khushi said.
"And I told you that balanced relationships always work better!" he pinched her nose with a soft smile playing on his lips.
