Part 33 

Khushi got horror stuck, reading the report. Lavanya was pregnant by forty-five days. She read it again and again in disbelief. Lavanya was pregnant. No need to say Khushi's eyes stared overflowing.

This is why Lavanya committed suicide? At first, she would have thought of giving a chance to a life with Arnav. She would have changed her mind after knowing that she is pregnant. She must have feared the truth that her wrong deeds will come out in a few days. Khushi's anger rose into no limits. How Lavanya could be so careless...? What she was up to? What was in her mind about her family and future?

Cherry on the cake... Arnav knew it... he didn't open his mouth about it. It seems, he didn't even say anything to even Ratna. Why? Why did he hide the truth from everyone? What's in his mind? Maybe, he doesn't want people to think low about Lavanya. Does he love Lavanya to that extend? She gulped.

She hid the paper, under the quilt as Ratna called her. She handed the Mehra Fabrics file to the AR staff. She faced a tough time not to show her anxiety to Ratna.

Khushi sat on the recliner. She couldn't take it easy. How BIG issue PREGNANCY is.... that too before marriage? It's a matter of family reputation. How Lavanya forgot all of this? What a girl she was?

Khushi's thought got broken by Arnav's entry. His face brightened, seeing Khushi.

Arnav: Hi...

Khushi looked at him not reciprocating.

Arnav: Are you fine?

Still, there is no response from Khushi's side.

Arnav: Hey... what happened? Why are you glaring at me?

They heard Ratna calling Khushi.

Ratna: Khushi beta... Chotte asked for coffee... come and take it.

Khushi left the room making face. Arnav frowned at her.

Arnav: What happened to her?

He went to the washroom to get fresh. Khushi brought the coffee. She kept it on the tea table and sat on the bed silently. Arnav sensed it wired. He was observing her while sipping the coffee. Didn't she look so energetic in the morning? Did anyone fight with her in the college? Why she looks upset?

Arnav kept the empty cup on the table. Khushi removed the Post-mortem report from under the quilt. She extended it towards Arnav.

Khushi: What is this, Arnavji?

Shock was visible on Arnav's face. This is why she was upset? How did she get it? But... it doesn't matter now. Arnav tried to take the paper from her hand.

Khushi pulled her hand back.

Khushi: You know very well what this is.

Arnav blinked his eyes slowly.

Khushi: Why Arnavji? Why didn't you say about it to anyone? Not even to me... why did you hide it?

Arnav: What would have happened if I had told about it? What's the use of telling the truth who is no more on the Earth?

Khushi: I agree my parents would have felt dejected...

Arnav: Not only that Khushi... you would have been affected ultimately...

Khushi: Me?

Arnav(nodding yes): You are at the end of your college life. These are enjoyable days. These days won't come back in your life. You would have lost your freedom if I had told the truth about Lavanya because your father would have made you as a scapegoat to show how conservative his family is. He would have tried his best to show his upbringing is not wrong... through you. you would have lost your freedom. I don't want you to get affected by Lavanya's mistake.

Khushi was speechless. He hid the truth just for her happiness?

Khushi: But Lavanya should not have done that Arnavji... how could she? How could she lose her purity before her marriage?

Arnav: She lost her purity because her love was pure.

Khushi: What do you mean?

Arnav: She would have loved Vikas to deeply... truly... that's what made her break all the issues. She wouldn't have felt anything BIGGER than her love for Vikas.... That's what love Khushi.

Khushi: You mean... Lavanya was not wrong?

Arnav: According to her...she was not wrong. What we know, how much she loved Vikas?

Khushi: Is this what love? Isn't love a matter of heart?

Arnav: After getting deep inside the heart... Love makes everything right... our HEART won't say anything wrong when it comes to the person we love. Think once Khushi... how much she would have believed him that she even submitted herself? How Vikas would have made her trust him...? It's an Honor Khushi....

Khushi was gazing at him, getting surprised by his derivation about LOVE.

Arnav: Lavanya is not a bad girl... she didn't try to make things normal. If she had mingled with me, she could have easily made everyone believed that the child is mine. But she didn't do it.

Khushi: I know you love Lavanya very much...

Arnav(cutting her): No... I never loved Lavanya...

It was indeed a shock for Khushi.

Khushi: What do you mean you don't love her? Amma said...

Arnav: It was utterly a misunderstanding... Neither I love her... nor did we talk to each other, after our marriage.

Khushi: Whaaaaa!

Arnav: Yes, Lavanya never talked to me. She didn't even try to give a chance to our relationship. She looked rigid always. And me, I never loved her...

Khushi: Then why did you want to marry her?

Arnav smiled at her...

Arnav: It happened because of a misunderstanding.

Khushi: Misunderstanding?

Arnav nodded yes.

No doubt, Khushi was delighted that he doesn't love Lavanya but if he didn't love Lavanya then what made him advocate for LOVE so much?

Khushi (hesitatingly): Did you love someone before you getting married to Lavanya?

Though Arnav didn't expect this question he answered gladly.

Arnav (smiling): Yes... I did...

Khushi gulped hard...

Arnav: I loved a girl at first sight... which I never did. I wanted to marry her... I said yes for marriage.

Khushi (shocked): Marriage?

She felt like crying. He wanted to marry the girl? His marriage with the girl got stopped or what? He didn't love Lavanya but someone else? What the hell...?

Arnav observed she is swallowing her tears.

Arnav: Yes... I wanted to marry her... but FATE tied me with HER sister, Lavanya...

He said looking at her deeply.

Khushi: But Lavanya....

She stopped... Whaaaat! What he said? He got married to HER sister, Lavanya...? means?

She looked at him unbelievably. Her tongue got stuck in her mouth.

Khushi: You... mean....

Arnav: I said yes to the marriage thinking that YOU are the BRIDE...

Khushi's state couldn't be explained in words. She went totally wordless. There can't be a miracle than this in her life. Arnav loved her but got married to Lavanya... how? what would have happened?

Khushi: But how...?

Arnav: I saw you watering plants in Gupta house, one morning. I liked you very much as you looked so fresh without makeup. I didn't know Guptas have two daughters. I thought you are the Bride and said YES to marriage. Circumstance forced me to go to Srilanka... I got stuck there due to bomb blasts. I got disconnected from India because of curfew. So I didn't get any information about the real BRIDE. When I got to know you are not Bride, everything had been slipped from my hands.

Khushi couldn't believe that there were many things happened in her life without her knowledge. How casually she had roamed around him unaware of the truth?

Khushi (stammering): Amma said, you liked the Bride very much at first sight.... Is that me?

Arnav: Only you...

She moved towards him losing her sense.

Khushi: You loved me....? Not Lavanya?

She asked again and again in disbelief. Arnav nodded yes.

Khushi(Keeping her hands on his chest): I can't believe this Arnavji... I just can't...

Arnav: You have to...because it's true. You were, are, will be my Love, Khushi...

Khushi: Seeing you avoiding me, I thought you don't like me...

Arnav: It's because... when Lavanya kept a distance from me, I felt relieved because I need time to get mingled in the new life. But whenever I saw you I struggled to control my heart. I couldn't avoid you as you moved with me so innocently. That's why I ran away from you. But I didn't expect the twist... that we will get married.

Khushi: But you showed disinterest in our marriage?

She searched for an answer in his eyes curiously.

Arnav: Disinterest? And me? Only I knew how tensed I was until you said yes. I just want to know your stance. I didn't want you to get forced.

Khushi: it all seems a dream...

Arnav pulled her close to him and pinched her nose.

Khushi: Ouch...

Arnav: You are not dreaming.

Khushi: Why didn't you say that you love me?

Arnav: You love Lavanya a lot... I know Lavanya's death broke you down completely. I don't know how you would react to it as Lavanya committed suicide.

Khushi: But you could have told me at least after my confession....

Arnav: That's what I supposed to do it in the dinner date.

Khushi: Really?

Arnav nodded yes.

Khushi (cupping his cheek): I didn't expect this Arnavji... I don't know how to react to it. You made everything upside down... you just amazed me...

Arnav lifted her from the ground, circling her waist, making her more amazed.

To be continued......

Today's Inkitt update

Dumber?

Arnav lifted Khushi from the ground, circling her waist. He looked at her intensively.

Khushi: What are you looking at me?

Arnav: My wife... I will look at her...

Khushi: Oh...then?

Arnav: I will kiss her...

Khushi: What about your famous dialogue "we should not do anything... ANYTHING means ANYTHING...?"

Arnav: It's just a dialogue...