Scars ~ Part 18

“Arnavji… He’s… I… He’s my husband.”

 

Raj looked at Khushi.

 

“Wait, what. Say that again.”

“I’m married Raj. And I’m married to Arnav Singh Raizada.”

“You are joking right.”

 

Khushi pushed back her hair and there it was, light and hidden but he could clearly see it now, sindoor.

 

“Why… How? I don’t understand.”

 

Khushi explained how Arnav didn’t want to make their marriage known to the public, hence why she still hadn’t taken on his name, hence why no announcement had been made to notify the world that India’s most eligible bachelor was no longer a bachelor.

 

“But Khushi… The party, the other woman Arnav was with?”

“That’s his girlfriend, his true love.”

 

Khushi looked away and Raj saw the tears in her eyes. That’s when he fully understood, she wasn’t joking about this. Raj moved over to Khushi and tried to comfort her.

 

“Do La and the rest of the gang know?”

“No one knows, only our families and now you. Please don’t tell anyone.”

“But Khushi…”

“Swear to me that you won’t tell anyone.”

“I swear. But Khushi, this is wrong. He can’t be with someone and in love with someone when he’s married to you.”

“But he is… His only option was to marry me, his sister wanted him to marry me and he’d never go against her. He loves his family so much. He’s never do anything to hurt them.”

“But what about you? What about what you deserve?”

“The Raizada’s have been good to me. They don’t look down on me the way other people do, they care for me. They made an orphan their daughter in law and they have accepted me. They’ve given me the opportunity to be here, to do something for myself. They let me go out with my friends, what more can I ask from them.”

“But you deserve to be loved and accepted by your husband.”

“You can’t force someone to love you.”

“But…”

“Raj, I know you mean well. But this is my life. This is me. We can’t change what was meant to happen and to be honest this marriage has been one of the best things that’s happened to me in a very long time. I’m not happy, but I’m not unhappy. I’ve been in worse situations.”

“I don’t even know what to say.”

“Please, don’t say anything. Forget all of this and let us finish our drinks and go back to worrying about work.”

“Khushi, you can’t expect me to forget all this.”

“But you have to, for my sake.”

“Is that why you never want me to drop you off or pick you up, because you didn’t want me to find out.”

 

Khushi nodded and Raj smiled sadly. They finished their hot chocolates and they paid and left.

 

“Let me drop you off home today.”

 

Khushi thought for a moment and then nodded. They got a taxi and they began making their way to Raizada house. They didn’t speak much and Raj tried to digest everything that Khushi had told him. When they got to the gates of Shantivan, Khushi got out.

 

“Thank you. For everything Raj.”

“Khushi there’s one thing I want to say to you and that’s this, angel, you don’t need someone who treats you like anything less than what you actually are.”

 

Khushi looked at Raj, his words circling her mind over and over again. She smiled and then turned to leave. When she reached the door, Raj left and that’s when Khushi bumped into Arnav.

 

“Who was that?”

“Arnav, I’m not in the mood to…”

“I asked who that guy was.”

“I don’t need to tell you who I go out with.”

“I’m your husband. I have a right to know.”

“My husband. MY HUSBAND. Please, don’t annoy me, again I’m not in the mood.”

 

Arnav took hold of Khushi’s hand and took her away from the door and opened the door of his car and got her to get in. He then got in himself.

 

“Khushi, listen, I just want to look out for you.”

“I don’t need you to look out for me. I’ve always managed on my own and I can still manage on my own.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen how well you can cope on your own.”

“What the hell is that meant to mean?”

“Nothing, I just…”

 

Arnav took Khushi’s hands in his own, but Khushi pulled her hands away from him.

 

“Please, don’t touch me.”

“Okay, fine, I won’t. But Khushi, let me take care of you.”

“Again, I don’t need you to take care of me.”

“I know you’ve always managed on your own, but you don’t need to any more. You have Payal and Di and Nani and your friends… You have me.”

“But that’s the point, I don’t have you Arnavji. Don’t you see, you can never be mine.”

“Khushi this isn’t about me. I understand what you’re saying but that doesn’t change anything, I can still look out for you, care about you…”

 

Khushi turned away from him and began getting out of the car. Arnav banged the steering wheel and that’s when Khushi turned to him once more.

 

“It was Raj. He was the one that dropped me off.”

 

And with that she left. Arnav thought to himself.

 

“Raj…”

 

*****

 

“Hi, is that Raj? I’m Aman from AR Designs, Mr Raizada has asked me to let you know that he would like you and Miss Gupta to come in and take some more photographs for us. He was really impressed with your work and your teamwork and so we’d like you to come in again. We’ve already contacted your college and they’ve said it’s okay for the pair of you to be out of lessons tomorrow.”

“I’m flattered that Mr Raizada was so impressed with our work, however before I make any commitments, I will have to speak to Khushi. I mean if she doesn’t agree then I can’t do this without her.”

“I can understand, but please be sure to tell Miss Gupta that if you both are successful tomorrow, Mr Raizada is willing to offer you both internships here at AR.”

“Wow that really is amazing! Thank you so much, can you tell Mr Raizada I said thanks. Okay I’ll contact Khushi and then I’ll call you back.”

“Please let us know as soon as possible.”

“I will do.”

 

Raj disconnected the call and looked at his phone in disbelief. An internship at AR! That’s all he ever wanted! And to think his dream was coming true. But Khushi… And why was ASR doing this? He didn’t need them, he had teams and teams of professional photographers, why did he need them? Something wasn’t adding up, but the only way to find out would be by talking to the great ASR himself.

 

Raj called Khushi and explained what had just happened.

 

“That’s great Raj, you should go for it.”

“But the thing is, this isn’t an offer just for me, it’s for both of us, and I can’t do this without you. But I understand if you don’t want to.”

“No I’ll do it.”

“You will?”

“Of course, I know how much these means to you. What kind of a friend would I be if I put myself before your dreams.”

“Khushi, really you don’t have to.”

“Raj, it’ll be fine, trust me.”

 

*****

 

“So you’re coming to AR today?”

“Yes I am, would you rather I didn’t?”

“No of course not. I want you to come hence why I requested for you and Raj specially.”

“But why?”

“Because I like the work the pair of you produce.”

“But you have many, many people. Why do you want to have us, a pair of kids working for you?”

“Fresh talent, a new perspective.”

“I see.”

“Well hurry and get ready and I’ll take you with me.”

“There’s no need, I can get there myself.”

“I know you can, but I want to take you there.”

“Fine, just give me 10 minutes.”

 

Khushi went to the bathroom to get ready and Arnav smiled.

 

“If I can’t be the one to make you happy and give you what you deserve, than I will find someone who I think can make you happy.”