Part 51 Change of plan
Arnav was shocked to see the fake Arjun standing with blood clots on his face and Pradeep was clutching his collar.
Arnav could not understand anything that why Pradeep was there with Arjun. The blood clots on his face told him that he was beaten up. Who beat him up? Did someone beat him and blamed him for the mistake he had not done? Was Pradeep planning to file a case on him for beating the fake Arjun? Arnav's mind whirled in thoughts.
Raizadas and Guptas rushed with Khushi to him and looked at Pradeep shockingly. He blinked his eyes.
"What are you doing here? Why did you bring this idiot here? Don't think we will trust your words... leave this place before we call the police" Khushi said wrathfully.
As they didn't expect, Pradeep left Nitin's collar and hit his head with force, making all of them jerk.
"Tell them" he raised his hand to hit him again.
Nitin raised his hands in a blocking manner fearfully and said,
"I will tell them..."
Arnav and Khushi looked at him like what he was going to say.
"I'm not Arjun..." Nitin said.
Arnav raised his brows, whereas, Khushi said,
"I know that... you bloody bugger"
"If you are not Arjun, why did you lie?" Arnav asked.
Nitin looked at Pradeep fearfully.
"Tell them everything..." he again hit his head.
"I was paid to say so..." Nitin said.
"Who paid you? Why?" Arnav questioned.
"He didn't want you to marry her. To stop your marriage only he sent me. He thought this girl would get confused if she met someone with Arjun's features and would not marry you"
"Who sent you?"
Nitin hesitated to tell his name.
"Tell them, otherwise, I will kill you" Pradeep threatened him.
"Anirudh sir," he said making everyone shocked.
Khushi looked at Arnav as his guess became right. Shashi and Garima looked at each other shockingly.
"But how did Anirudh know about your previous birth details?" Shashi asked.
Arnav and Khushi looked at Avinash.
"I told him," Avinash said.
"But why, Doctor?" Shashi asked.
"He came to my clinic for counseling when Khushi's wedding was fixed with Arnav. I wanted him to know the depth of Khushi's love. So that he would make up himself and forget Khushi. That's why I told him"
"But, he used it in another way to separate Khushi from Arnav," said Pradeep, surprising all of them, except Khushi. She was not ready to trust him.
Pradeep looked at Khushi.
"I saw you shouting at this guy a few minutes ago. I followed him and got to know the reason. That's why I brought him here."
"So what if he tried to stop our wedding? What's your problem with that?" Arnav asked.
"After you saw me in Delhi, I know you would doubt me if anything happened to stop your wedding. I didn't send him to stop your wedding. To tell you that only I came"
"Why do you think we would think like that?" Arnav asked.
"You may not think like that. Being Indhu, it's obvious if she doubts I would stop your wedding" he said looking at Khushi.
"I have no doubt... I'm sure about it. You are the one who would have sent him. And now, you are pretending like innocent. Don't I know you? What's your plan? Why are you doing this?" Khushi asked without fear.
"If I want to stop the marriage, I have many ways to do that. I won't do silly stunts like sending this useless guy" Pradeep said.
"You can't stop our wedding because we are not Arjun and Indhu now..." Khushi sneered.
"I know you are not Arjun and Indhu but Arnav and Khushi. Get to know something too... I'm also not that old Pradeep..."
"Stop your drama and leave" Khushi sneered.
"Call the police and hand over him to them. Then I will leave" Pradeep said that wondered them.
"Don't talk as if you are innocent"
"I didn't say I'm innocent. It doesn't mean I would be a criminal"
"We don't need your explanation"
"But, I ought to give you an explanation"
"We are not ready to listen to you"
"It's been twenty-eight years...! Many things changed... so is me..."
Pradeep looked at Arnav,
"Arjun, marry Indhu to avoid further issues. You don't have to trust me but marrying Indhu will not harm you but save you" Saying he left the place.
Arnav was looking at him. He looked at Nitin.
"What Anirudh asked you to do?"
"He wanted to stop your wedding. He gave me one lakh in advance and said, he would give one more lakh if I stopped the wedding"
"Who else was with him?" Arnav asked and Guptas understood why he asked that. He was doubting Akash's hand in the issue.
"No one was with him. He was alone when he narrated your previous birth story to me"
Arnav huffed in relief. So did Guptas. Arvind called the police to hand over Nitin.
"Arnav, I think Anirudh is planning something. That's why Pradeep warned you to get married to Khushi soon" Shashi said.
"We fixed the wedding day after tomorrow uncle. The wedding will happen as per the plan. No changes"
"Why shouldn't we marry today itself?" Asked Khushi restlessly.
Arnav looked at her perplexed.
"I'm scared Arnav. Pradeep is planning something I suppose. I won't trust him. He daringly came to RM. I think he has a plan"
Arnav looked at Nitin and said,
"The truth will come out if the police enquired him in their way"
"Sir, get married to her. She was right. You don't know about Anirudh. He is mad. He will do anything to get her. Whatever I said is true. Please let me go. I did that for money" he pleaded.
"What if Khushi agreed to marry you? What would have you done?" Arnav asked Nitin.
"I would have handed her over to Anirudh," Nitin said.
In no time, Khushi stormed towards him and clutched his hair. She slapped him hard wrathfully.
"How dare you...! What do you think of me? Is a girl's feelings game to you?"
Arnav didn't stop her. Such guys needed such treatment.
The police arrived. Nitin was handed over to them.
"Sir, he tried to stop my daughter's wedding on someone's order. He was paid to do that" Shashi said.
"Who paid you?" the inspector asked.
"Anirudh Mehta... he gave me one lakh as advance amount and agreed to give me one lakh after I handed her to him"
He was taken to the police station.
"Shashiji, call Akash and ask him to come here," Arvind said.
Shashi knew why he said that because the police would arrest Anirudh. When they did that, Arvind didn't want Akash to be with him but Shashi's thought differed from him.
"No, Arvindji... he should be with Anirudh when he is arrested. Then only he will get to know how low Anirudh stooped"
Arvind nodded yes.
Shashi saw Khushi look stressed.
"Beta, relax"
"Why everyone is behind us, Babuji? Why don't people let us be peaceful? What would they lose if we were happy? We struggled for births, yet, these people are playing with our feelings" Khushi spilled tears.
Arnav came to her,
"Khushi, don't feel bad...! I'm with you"
Arnav, please don't trust Pradeep. He is more dangerous than Anirudh. I feel bad vibes that he will come up with some other excuses"
"Khushi, this time, our family is with us. He can do nothing. You didn't get confused by the ploy. I'm still with you. So, you don't have to bother about anything"
Khushi sat on the couch, holding her head. Arnav looked at Shashi and Arvind who looked at each other.
"Arvindji, today is a good day..." Shashi said hesitatingly.
"I too think the same. If Khushi is not feeling secure, we will marry them today. What say?" Arvind asked.
Khushi raised her head and smiled, whereas Arnav was stunned.
"But, Dad...police will arrest Anirudh... we are safe here. Then, why are you guys scared?"
"It's because Khushi is not feeling good vibes. That's why" Said Arvind.
"Chotte, however, you are going to marry her in two days. Let the wedding happen today itself" Ratna said.
"I don't know what to say, Arnav bituwa..." Garima hesitated.
Arnav looked at Khushi who was looking at him restlessly.
"Ok, we will get married, right now," he said.
All of them sighed in relief.
"Go and get fresh," Shashi said.
Arnav went to his room and Aparna took Khushi to her room. They got fresh and changed their clothes. Aparna gave a new dress to Khushi as her wedding dress was semi-stitched.
Ratna rushed to the kitchen and brought a container. She put the holy sticks in that and fired them. Garima arranged the mangal sutra and vermillion on a plate. They lit the lamp before Devi Maiya Idol and waited for the Groom and Bride.
Arnav and Khushi came to the living room and stood before Devi Maiya idol. They exchanged the garlands. Arnav tied the mangal sutra around her neck and filled her partition. Taking the seven pharas, they became husband and wife.
To be continued...