Raizada Mansion:
Living room:
“Anju I invited Shashi ji and Garima ji for breakfast. They can take Sheetal with them for pagphere rasam” Ratna informed.
“Yes Mom, and I am excited to eat the sweet dish prepared by Sheetal,” Anjali said.
Ratna nodded.
Arshad and Shyam were listening to them sitting on the opposite couch.
“Dad I think Mom and Anju will get a heart attack, knowing Khushi is their Daughter-in-law and Sister-in-law, not Sheetal” Shyam whispered.
“Yes, and Guptas also coming means there will be a nice fight between them and I think I should thank Shashi personally” Arshad whispered.
“Why Dad?” Shyam frowned.
“Because of him, I got Khushi as my Daughter-in-law. If this marriage gets cancelled then again Ratna will search for a girl like Sheetal who doesn't know how to respect elders and support Arnav” Arshad whispered.
“Yes Dad you are right” Shyam agreed.
“What are you both whispering?” Anjali asked.
“Nothing much Anju. We were discussing some deal” Shyam replied.
Anjali nodded.
“How much time Arnav and Sheetal will take to get ready?” Ratna said, looking at the stairs.
“Mom, relax they will come. Ask Shashi uncle when they will reach?” Anjali said.
Nodding Ratna left to call them.
“Shyam, your Mother-in-law is getting impatient to receive lifetime shock” Arshad whispered.
“Yes, Dad and I hope Mom will accept Khushi”
“I don't think she will accept her, but I just hope Arnav should support her,” Arshad said.
Shyam nodded in agreement.
After a few minutes, they heard footsteps from the stairs. Ratna and Anjali looked at them in excitement but frowned seeing only Arnav.
“Arnav, where is Sheetal?” Anjali questioned.
Arnav without answering looked upstairs following his gaze they saw Khushi. By seeing her they became shocked and their shock increased tenfold seeing her with mangalsutra and sindoor.
She came and stood beside Arnav. She looked at him with nervousness. He blinked his eyes saying don't worry I will take care. She nodded her head and looked at the ground because she knew his family would be shocked, and she could feel Ratna and Anjali's gaze on her.
Whereas for Ratna and Anjali, shock can be a small thing because they felt a thunderstorm seeing Khushi beside Arnav clad in a saree with symbols of married women.
But their minds are still not able to conclude how it happened and why they were unaware of it.
Whereas Arshad and Shyam were enjoying seeing their shocked faces.
Arshad thought to take the initiative so that he could handle the situation.
“Chotte, what is this?” Arshad acted as if he knew nothing.
“Chotte, what is she doing with you?” Ratna asked, coming out of shock.
“Mom, she is my wife whom you selected,” Arnav said.
“No chotte, I selected Sheetal for you and she was the bride,” Ratna said, sending draggers to Khushi.
“I don't know Mom but I got married to her only” Arnav said.
Before Ratna could say anything Anjali saw Guptas who were standing at the main door.
“Shashi ji why did you come here now we have to face Ratnaji's questions?” Garima whispered.
“I am here to clear things with Raizadas. They are bigger than us, we can't run from them and also it's their wish to accept Khushi or not. We will leave after clearing our point” Shashi whispered back.
Garima nodded.
“What is this Shashi ji? ” Ratna shouted, showing Khushi.
“Sheetal ran away from her marriage so to save our reputation in society I replaced Khushi with Sheetal” Shashi answered.
“How can you do this Garima ji and Shashi ji? If Sheetal runs away from her marriage then you should have informed us. We would have stopped the marriage but how can you replace her with another girl and let her marry my son” Ratna shouted.
“We don't want this marriage to stop. That's Why we replaced Khushi with Sheetal. We don't want others to know that my daughter ran away from her marriage. We have a reputation in society and I don't want it to be spoiled” Shashi said without being affected by her shout.
“I don't accept Khushi as Chotte''s Wife” Ratna stated.
“It's your wish. If you want to accept her or not. We are here to clear things not to force you to accept Khushi, it's purely your wish” The hall echoed with his emotionless voice.
“Ok then take her with you. I don't want her as my daughter-in-law” Ratna held Khushi's hand to throw her out of the house.
But Arnav held her hand. Ratna looked at him with a questionable gaze.
“Mom It is my life and my marriage, the decision should be mine,” Arnav said looking at Khushi.
“Ok then you throw her out of the house” Ratna glared at Khushi.
“Mom, how can I throw her out of her house,” Arnav said while removing Khushi's hand from Ratna's grip.
“It is not her house chotte” Ratna said sternly.
“It is her house only Mom as she is my wife” Arnav said.
“I don't accept this marriage,” Ratna said.
“Mom, you were the one who forced me into this marriage then what is your problem now?” Arnav asked cooly.
“I wanted Sheetal as my Daughter-in-law, not a maid,” Ratna said.
“Khushi is not a maid Ratna. Shashi lied that she is a maid but the truth is she is his younger brother's daughter. Am I right Shashi?” Arshad asked in an intimidating tone.
Ratna looked at him with shock and shifted her gaze to Shashi for an answer. Shashi and Garima nodded, not getting any escape.
“Then also I don't accept her as I want Sheetal as my Daughter-in-law” Ratna said stubbornly.
“But I think Khushi is in my destiny that's why Sheetal ran away on marriage day and I accept her as my wife if you like or not” Arnav stated his point.
“Chotte, how can you go against your mother? You don't consider my wish” Ratna tried to do emotional blackmail.
“I considered your wish Mom, that's why I accepted this marriage in the first place. If on the marriage day, something unexpected happened then what can we do? ” Arnav tried to make her agree.
“We can change them chotte, You can give divorce to her” Ratna said.
“Mom, I am saying this last time. I accept this marriage and Khushi as my wife” Arnav said.
Ratna tried to speak but Arshad interrupted her.
“Ratna I am with chotte. Last time you tried to force your decision on him in our absence now I will support him and his decision” Arshad said.
“Yes Mom I am with Saleshab” Shyam followed Arshad.
Ratna left not before shooting daggers at Shashi, Garima and Khushi. Anjali followed her.
Khushi looked at Shashi and Garima with the hope they would talk to her, but they left without saying anything as Arnav, Shyam and Arshad were shouting draggers at them.
Arnav wanted to ask them the reason behind their behaviour towards Khushi but it would be better if he asked Khushi because they may lie. To ask Khushi he has to wait to gain her trust, and he also needs some space to adjust to a new relationship.
Khushi's face fell seeing them leaving without caring for her although it was not new this time she felt they would ask her 'How are you' as still now she thought they were ignorant towards her but now she realized that they never cared for her.
Raizada's men observed her change in expression.
“Khushi, will you accept me as your father,” Arshad asked.
“Will you accept me as your Daughter-in-law? ” Khushi asked.
Arshad nodded No. All of them looked at him with confusion as he asked her whether she accepted him or not.
“I will accept you as a daughter, not Daughter-in-law” Arshad said which caused Khushi to smile.
“Ok, I will accept you as my father” overwhelmed Khushi, hugged him as till now she never felt her father's love.
Her father passed away when she was five. She had no memories of her biological parents.
She got her mother's love from Madhumati, but she never felt her father's love.
The day she met Arshad she liked him for his caring behavior. She thought Anjali was lucky to have him as her father, and she never thought he would accept her as his daughter.
“Then Khushi will you accept me as your brother?” Shyam asked.
“Sure bhai,” Khushi said.
“Khushi you should call me Papa as you called Shyam as bhai” Arshad winched.
Khushi nodded with a smile.
Arnav was looking at them with a smile as Khushi's smile caused him to smile. He doesn't know the reason but soon he will get to know.
“Khushi it is your first day in our house so you have to prepare sweets,” Arshad said.
“Ok Papa, what is your favorite sweet? I will prepare it” Khushi asked, looking at them.
“Prepare your favourite sweet, we will eat your favourite,” Arshad said.
Khushi nodded.
“Khushi, cook some sweets with sweetener,” Arshad said.
Khushi looked at him with confusion.
“Chotte has diabetes,” Arshad said.
“How can you live?” Khushi asked.
“It is sweet Khushi, not oxygen that I am unable to live without it” Arnav replied.
“If I was in your place I would have died as I can't live a single day without sweets” Khushi said.
Raizada men laughed seeing her expressions.
To be continued......
✍keerthana
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