Part 18 Proposal

"Anjali Di is neither a widow nor a married woman"

"Whaaaat?"

"Yes, Arnavji, she didn't complete seven pheras with the man who tied mangal sutra on her neck. So, as per Hindu wedding rules, they are not husband and wife. Their wedding is incomplete. If their wedding is incomplete how could she be a widow?" she asked with a cute expression hurriedly.

Arnav stood dumbfounded.

"Is it?"

"Yes... he fell down before even completing the first phera. So, they are not husband and wife"

"Oh... but, if it is the case, why Di and Mom are still sticking into it?" he shrank his eyes.

"Orthodox people won't think in this way, Arnavji. That's why they would not have realized it"

Arnav nodded yes as the reason was convincing. Ratna was indeed fond of rituals and customs. But, Anjali was not so conservative... then, why didn't she oppose calling herself a widow? He thought.

"By the way, why did you tell me about it so urgently?"

"Because you are going to France..."

"So?"

"I saw you fighting with Rajeev sir for making Di's life dreadful. I don't want you to go to France carrying Di's burden in your heart. Now, you can go without Di's tension."

"How?"

"You can get her married to a good guy. Di will get out of the grief that she is suppressing in her heart and will do the work peacefully"

Arnav nodded while adoring her. Here, he was trying to be her protector, and Khushi was fully set to send him to France with a peaceful mind.

Somewhat, Khushi was right. Arnav felt so relaxed knowing the truth. His sister was not a widow. She was not married in fact. Rajeev can be shut if he tried to highlight it.

Arnav bent down to keep the coffee cup on the tea table, Khushi extended her hand asking for the cup. Without giving the cup to her,

"You have not answered my question yet," he asked with a mild smile.

"What question?"

"Will you come to France with me?" he asked again.

She thought for a while.

"Could you arrange a job for me there?" She asked a question instead of answering.

"Job...?"

"I can get my duplicate certificate from the university," she said excitedly.

"University?" Arnav raised his brows.

Khushi nodded yes hurriedly.

"What are you?"

"I'm a Software Engineer," she said nonchalantly.

"Whaaaaat?" Arnav dropped his jaw.

Khushi nodded yes.

"I got distinction in computer engineering," she said casually.

Arnav ran his eyes on her from top to bottom unbelievably.

"Then why did you agree to be a servant when my Dad offered you the job?"

"I just want to be safe, away from the reach of Vijay Singh. That's why I accepted the job"

Arnav rolled his eyes high.

"I just can't believe this..."

"Why?" she asked making face.

"I have not seen such a simple software Engineer ever before."

Khushi bit her nail as she couldn't understand in which sense he said that.

"Is engineering your passion?"

"I love computers. When I studied in the government school, we won't get a chance to work on computers because our school had only two computers. I wanted to have a computer of my own. I asked Babuji for a computer. His economic condition was not in my favor to afford a computer. When I got a good mark in twelfth standard, I choose to study computer engineering and I got a seat in merit."

Arnav wondered. Her interest in computers amazed him. Did she choose to study Engineering just because she wanted to work on computers? He found it so cute.

"Great..." Arnav clapped his hands stylishly without making a sound.

"Will you arrange a job in France?"

Now, it made sense.

"Why is it in France?"

"I will be away from my problems. You will also be free from the burden that was suppressing you" she said hesitatingly.

Arnav gulped down hard. He knew very well; she was mentioning herself as BURDEN.

"I don't think you are a burden"

"You are so generous, Arnavji but how long could I be with you?"

"I promised your father. Remember?"

"It happened because of me. It would not have happened if I had not come to your place. You tried to help me but my father put you in trouble"

"I'm not in trouble. Saving the man's daughter who saved me can't be trouble..."

"But..."

Arnav showed his palm and stopped her.

"Khushi, the promise I made to your father could do nothing with you. It's between Mr. Shashi Gupta and me. I can't break it. I will arrange a job for you wherever WE go but I can't let you stay away from me..." he said sternly.

Khushi tried to say something,

"That's final..." he said strictly.

Khushi blinked her eyes slowly.

"Do you have any problem being with me?" Arnav asked.

"Who will have a problem being with GOD?" she said emotionally, making him flabbergasted.

"God and me? Don't make the original God angry by addressing me God" he chuckled.

"People who are true for themselves indeed God"

"I don't believe in God"

"No need. If you are loyal to yourself, God will take care of you no matter whether you believe in God or not."

Arnav smiled at her lovingly.

"If you believe in what you said, don't forget that ever," he said.

"What?"

"Think, your God wants to take care of a good girl like YOU. that's why he brought you to me. So, don't talk about going away from me ever...OK?"

Khushi pressed her lips together and nodded ok, making Arnav smile.

.........

Sinha Mahal

Rajeev was waiting for Shyam. Simran was sitting on the couch, fully ready to go to RM. Shyam entered in, talking on the phone.

"I need a good institution to learn French."

"...."

"Yeah... maximum time is one month. I will manage if I have basic knowledge of French."

"...."

"Ok, thank you" he disconnected the call.

He saw Rajeev and Simran looking at him with a weird expression.

"What do you think of me, Shyam?" Rajeev asked hotly.

"Nothing..."

"Why did you voluntarily ask Arnav for the France deal?"

"Because I want it... I want to prove that I can also do something getting away from my father's shadow"

Rajeev was dumbfounded.

"Shyam, listen to me... If Arnav goes to France, you will get the chance to rule AR. You can prove yourself then"

"Don't you think you are talking stupid? It's just four years since Arnav took the responsibility for AR. Its reputation increased four times than before in the four years. Not only me but no one can achieve that. You also know that"

"Don't you want to marry Anjali?"

Shyam looked at him without answering.

"I spoke to Arvind about your wedding. He is happy"

Shyam shrank his eyes.

"We are going to RM to take the proposal forward"

"I'm not coming..."

"But why?"

"I don't want to get a PRIZE TAG on my neck"

"What do you mean?"

"I meant what I mean"

"I have given word to Arvind"

"Who asked you to?"

"Shyam... don't play with me"

"What will you do, if I play?"

Rajeev rolled his eyes.

"Shyam, please... don't make me bow down in front of Raizadas again... you love Anjali. She too loved you. don't make it difficult"

"If you want me to agree to it, you should not bring Arnav and Simran into this"

Rajeev and Simran were shocked to the core.

"If you do it, you won't get my support. I will not stand for you in this matter because I don't want Anjali to think I'm marrying her only for our benefit and I don't want to get into something that will not happen"

"What do you mean?"

"We are working with Arnav for the past four years. Until now, we have not seen him getting compromised for anything. If it is the case, he won't be compromised in his WEDDING for sure"

"Ok, let's don't talk about it now. We will see it later. As of now, we will have to go to RM and finalize your wedding with Anjali"

"Ok... but don't think you can console me in the future"

Rajeev sighed.

"Are we going?"

"Yes..."

"Give me ten minutes" Shyam went to his room to get ready.

Simran sighed in relief. Thank God, Shyam agreed to marry Anjali. If Shyam went to France, Anjali will be with her. she will get many chances to manipulate her. even though Anjali would like to be in RM Simran can go to RM without any hindrance rightfully. Arnav could do nothing to stop her from entering RM. she thought.

RM

Arvind was pacing in the living room, expecting his friend's family, keeping the door wide open. Ratna saw that.

"Why the door is open?" she walked to the door.

"Wait, Ratna..." Arvind stopped her.

Ratna looked at him.

"Why?"

"Rajeev is coming to our home to change everything upside down. From here on, no one could talk rubbish about him"

Not only Ratna but also Anjali who came out of the kitchen frowned hearing that. Khushi who followed Anjali stayed back in the kitchen didn't want to annoy Rajeev.

"What are you talking about?" Ratna asked.

"My friend will prove who he is... he is ready to get Anju married to Shyam. He is going to get them married"

Ratna was stunned whereas Anjali's eyes went wide open. She could not understand anything. Was that even possible?

At the same time, Sinha's entered. Arvind hugged Rajeev happily. Shyam looked at Anjali gulping down who smiled at him. He felt something in his stomach, seeing her smile.

"Please take your seats," Arvind said.

"Call, Arnav" Rajeev said.

"Hari Prakash, call Chotte," Arvind said.

HP rushed to Arnav's room. Rajeev waited until Arnav came. He saw Arnav descending the stairs.

"We are here to talk about an important matter."

Everyone was looking at him silently as they already knew what he was going to talk about. Pride was visible on Simran's face. She was looking at only Arnav.

"I would like to get Shyam married to Anjali."

Arvind looked at Ratna and then Arnav proudly.

"I want this wedding to happen as soon as possible" Rajeev said.

All of them were shocked, hearing Anjali,

"I don't want to get married..."

To be continued...