All guests left one after another as the wedding rituals were completed.
Shashi and Garima were faking cries so that Raizadas would not suspect them.
“I will miss you, Sheetal,” Garima said while hugging her.
“Don't worry Garimaji, she will be happy with us,” Ratna assured.
“Ratnaji don't remove her veil. It is our ritual that the husband only should remove her veil” Garima requested.
“Ok, Garima Ji we will respect your rituals,” Ratna said.
Guptas left after her bidai.
Khushi performed Griha Pravesh rituals. Ratna asked Arnav to carry her to the living room. They felt a sudden spark when he lifted her. Khushi was trying hard to keep her veil covering her face.
Ratna took Khushi to Arnav's room and helped her sit on the bed.
“I am so happy that I got you as my Daughter-in-law Sheetal” Ratna said while caressing her hair through the veil.
Khushi nodded her head. She was feeling nervous thinking what would be her unexpected husband's reaction. Will he accept her or not?
Now she knows guptas will never let her stay with them. Where will she go if Arnav or his family refuses to accept her?
Hey, Devi Maiya where you brought me. I don't know if my unexpected husband will accept me or not but I have confidence in you that you will never let anything bad happen to me.
I know you are testing me in my life by creating struggles and I will stay strong and face those struggles. This is one of them. Give me strength to stay strong Devi maiya..... Prayed Khushi.
Her thoughts were disturbed by the door locking sound. lifting her head she found Arnav and she clenched her lehenga with nervousness.
Arnav felt that something had changed from the time his bride sat beside him at the altar which caused a relief.
From that time he wanted to see her face, but he didn't get a chance at alter but now he can see her.
He sat beside her. He lifted her veil only to witness her closed eyes and moving lips as she was chanting her Devi Maiya's name.
He felt like his heart skipping its beat seeing her face which was looking like a cute innocent baby. She didn't dare to open her eyes, and he didn't feel like asking her as he was busy observing her facial features. He never saw a beauty like her even staying in the fashion world. He forgot the track of time while gazing at her.
Khushi was wondering why he was silent and thinking he left the place she slowly opened her one eye. Arnav who was busy gazing at her, observed her opening one eye which caused his lips to move upwards. Seeing his smile she frowned thinking of the reason.
“Why are you laughing?” Khushi asked, opening her eyes completely.
“By seeing your childish acts” Arnav replied.
“I am not a child to behave childishly,” Khushi said.
Arnav nodded.
“Ok, change your dress, it must be heavy,” Arnav advised.
Nodding Khushi got up from bed then she realized that he was behaving normally.
“Why are you behaving normally like nothing happened?” Khushi asked.
“What do you mean?
I should behave abnormally” Arnav replied with confusion.
“If there is any other person in your place, then they would've started shouting” Khushi replied.
“Why should I shout? ” Arnav asked with amusement seeing her behavior.
“By seeing my face,” Khushi said.
“Why are you a chudail?” Arnav asked while laughing.
“No, I am not chudail. I am your replaced bride” Khushi replied.
“Ok... Wait What did you say?
Replaced bride” Arnav asked with a serious expression.
“Yes, bade Papa and badi ma made me your bride because Sheetal Di ran away from her wedding” Khushi said without a hint of sadness in her voice.
“What that!! means you are not my bride?” Arnav asked while standing before her.
“Yes and Why are you asking me? You should know your bride's name and her face,” Khushi asked.
“I don't know her name and I never saw her picture,” Arnav replied.
“Without seeing her you agreed to marriage.
How can you do that? ” Khushi asked.
“You also become my bride without seeing me” Arnav asked.
“I am not supposed to be your bride. I am a replaced bride, so they didn't give me a chance to see your picture” Khushi replied.
“Then you have the option to run away right?” Arnav asked.
“No, I have believed in my Devi Maiya and also Vimala Kaki said that whatever Devi Maiya will do it is for my best only.
What about you?” Khushi questioned.
“I will tell you later.
Mom and Dad know about you being replaced” Arnav asked.
“No, they don't know.
If you and your family don't want me to be your wife then I will leave but please don't say anything to bade papa” Khushi said with tears.
“What is your name?” asked Arnav ignoring her words.
“Khushi”
“Khushi it is already midnight, get changed and sleep,” Arnav said without caring about her previous words.
Khushi nodded thinking about what was stored in her future.
Whereas Arnav was in a dilemma when he saw her face and her childish acts. He wanted to give this marriage a chance but now he has come to know that for her this is an unexpected marriage.
He messaged Arshad and Shyam to be at the terrace without getting noticed by Ratna and Anjali
He reached the terrace after making sure that Khushi slept. He found Arshad and Shyam waiting for him.
“Chotte What do you want to talk about?” Arshad asked.
“What is my bride's name?” asked Arnav.
Arshad and Shyam spared a glance thinking what he was asking.
“Sheetal, You should have asked her right? She is with you in your room” Arshad replied.
“The person with me said her name is Khushi” Arnav dropped the bomb.
“What?!!! ” shouted a shocked Arshad and Shyam.
“Yes Mr Gupta replaced Khushi with Sheetal as she ran away from her marriage” Arnav calmly replied.
“Dad Khushi means that girl right?” Shyam asked.
Arshad nodded.
“What do you mean by ‘that girl’, Shyam?” Arnav asked.
“On the day we went to see Sheetal. Shashi introduced her as their maid but I heard their servants saying that Khushi is Shashi's younger brother's daughter.
But I don't know Why he said that” Arshad replied.
“Yes, and she is a nice and soft-spoken girl” Shyam added.
“That means now Khushi is my Daughter-in-law, not Sheetal” Reliasation drew on Arshad causing him to squeal in excitement.
“Yes Dad, but What about Mom and Anjali? ” Shyam asked.
“Chotte, your Mom will never accept her so the decision is up to you.
I know you were not interested in marrying Sheetal so if you want to give this marriage a chance then give it after knowing Khushi's stance as she is forced into this marriage” Arshad advised.
Arnav nodded.
“Arnav I can say Khushi is a nice girl as she has respect for guptas after what they did and I think we know less about her life with Guptas. So try to give this unexpected marriage a chance” Shyam added.
Arnav nodded.
He came to his room and saw Khushi was sleeping.
I don't know why I have a belief that we have a future Khushi........ Arnav thought.
The morning when he woke up he saw Khushi chewing her nails while sitting on the bed.
“What are you thinking?” Arnav asked.
“I am thinking about where and with whom I can stay as I know your family will never accept me,” Khushi replied.
“Why did you agree with your bade papa?” Arnav asked.
“He didn't ask for my opinion. He just ordered me” Khushi replied.
“Khushi, I will ask you one question, will you answer honestly?” Arnav asked.
Khushi nodded.
“Do you love anyone?” asked Arnav.
“No” Khushi's answer.
“What do you think about marriage?” Arnav asked.
“Marriage is a bond, a relationship where we have to accept our partners with their flaws and support them with our lifelong love,” Khushi replied.
“Then ours is a marriage right,” Arnav asked.
Khushi nodded.
“I want to give this marriage a chance. Will you also give this marriage a chance” Arnav asked.
Khushi was looking at him with wide eyes.
“What happened? ” Arnav asked.
“You want to give this marriage a chance means you will accept me as your wife( Arnav nodded) then what about your family? I know they will never accept” Khushi voiced her concern.
“I am asking for your answer Khushi don't think about my family”
“I believe in Devi Maiya, If she gets me married to you, I will accept her decision,” Khushi said with determination.
“Ok, then get ready we will go down”
“I don't have any dress to wear. I slept win my lengha”
Before Arnav could reply they heard a door knock.
“Khushi, hide in the bathroom I will open the door”
Nodding, she rushed to the washroom.
Arnav opened the door and saw Anjali.
“Chotte I brought a saree for Sheetal. Where is she? ” Anjali asked while scanning the room.
“She is in the washroom Di” Arnav replied.
Nodding, she went away.
Khushi came out after Anjali left.
“Wear this saree,” Arnav said, handing her the clothes.
Nodding she left to freshen up.
Arnav was determined to stand against Ratna if she didn't accept Khushi.
To be continued.....
✍keerthana
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