"Chotte stop. I don't want another wedding to come to an end even before it starts" Nani halted the raging Arnav who was ready to bounce on Shyam.
Arnav furrowed his brows "What does aakash marriage do with that bastard? I am not going to tolerate him around my di even for a minute. He keeps feigning as a good man right under my nose and you want me keep silent and watch di living in a fake world. I can't Nani, don't even think to stop me"
"Don't think hastily chotte. Do you even realise the consequences, if you confront him now. Already guests started to grace their presence for Aakash wedding. And here you're ready to give them a reason to gossip about our family. Didn't we heard enough? Did you for once thought about Payal betiya? You do know how it feels if a girl marriage stops at last minute, do you want Payal to feel that way?
It was happening again, history is repeating. But this time we have a chance to control the happenings unlike in past. Please chotte, be calm. Think wisely. Don't let the history to repeat! I am not saying to leave Shyam just like that, but keep calm until this marriage finishes" Nani said in a breaking tone.
Her chest weighed constraint with pain. Never in her dreams, she thought her granddaughter will also have the fate of her daughter. She was happy at first seeing how caring and loving husband her Anjali betiya got unlike her daughter, who had devoid of love in her life.
"Why is it always girl child from our family was betrayed? Why Anjali betiya have to go through the same fate of Ratna? Why is it always we came to know about the betrayals in a wedding day? Chotte, I don't want another Ratna in our home. Do something please... I want my Anjali betiya with me. This old lady have no heart to see another tragedy on another wedding. Please.. chotte..." She burst out crying and as a result she have trouble to breath as the weight of pain keeps increasing by the mere thought of future of her granddaughter fate.
Khushi hopped forward supporting her. Seeing Nani state her eyes also misted. Her words brought back the old memories of Payal broken marriage.
She doesn't want to be the reason for this marriage too, if it happens. She doesn't have the strength to see her family breaking once again hearing awful words from neighbours. She couldn't even imagine Payal state.
Lifting her lashes she stared at Arnav eyes as if conveying the same. Sighing he nodded accepting her pleads.
"Once the marriage finishes, I am going to expose him. Be ready" Announcing this he called Aman to collect shyam details.
"Khushi betiya, go to your home. Your family must be apprehensive about your arrival. Aakash go and get ready like a groom. Today is your marriage, it happens only once. Enjoy to the fullest, leave all the worries to chotte. He's here" Nani placed her palm against his cheeks caressing him warmly.
"Nani is right. Don't trouble yourself in this special day" Arnav assured him hiding his own pain.
Nodding Aakash took Nani with him stating he'll drop her to her room.
Khushi looked at Arnav who stood staring at the back of Nani and Aakash. She took baby steps towards him and placed her palm on his shoulder.
"Everything will be fine arnavji" She uttered turning him to her.
"How... How'll di bear this?" He whispers in broken voice as a lone tear rolled down his eyes.
Shaking her head as no, she tugged his hand wiping his lone tear. Taking as a token, he jumped on her arms hiding his face on her shoulder.
She throws her arms around his neck crushing him to her trying to transfer her strength to him. Silent tears of his cascaded down on her skin making her flinch.
"If you broke down, who'll stand as pillar to di?" She whispered on his ear.
He cling to her more "I can't. Khushi... It happened with maa too.. And she left... me just like that. Wh--what if di too take wrong step? I--I can't Khushi" He choked on his words as more tears blurred his eyes running down freely.
"Shh.. shh... You can. You're The ASR, there's nothing you cannot do. Di have you. She'll overcome this struggle" She tightened her hold rubbing his back. She feared for this, thinking this only she hide the truth at the first place and now this is happening and she can't do anything other than seeing her love crying.
"It was happening.. each time.. If.. If ever happiness... Knock into our lives.. then some bad.. has bound to happen... Why is it always??? You.. you always say, your devimaaiyaa will never let their adherent devotee to be sad. What.. happened to that? Didn't di worshipped her more? Then why didn't she never had... her share of... happiness?... Why Khushi?... I am not believer of God, but di and you are. Why didn't she made your both life.. with full of happiness?... Why.. is she troubling you both more and more? Why..???" His hiccupped in between.
Khushi rubbed his back and forth as his body shuddered against her by his hiccupps and crying and all. Her own tears cascaded down freely.
She don't know how to console him when he keeps repeating the same thing again and again. His questions even made her to believe that her devimaaiyaa was indeed so partial towards them.
She tried to broke the hug but he didn't let her. He wiped his tears on her shoulders rubbing across her clothed collarbone. If it was another time she would've shied away.
"Arnavji. Do you want everyone to find about the problem, now? If you keep crying like this, one glance is enough for anyone to find about your turmoil. Do ASR accept this?" She asked forcefully breaking the hug.
He nodded as no and staring her with vulnerable eyes like a lost puppy. The ever proud, arrogant eyes are now misted with unshed tears which churned something under the pit of her stomach. Ignoring the uneasiness she wiped his tears and face with her dupatta.
"I will be always with you" She whispered as he pulled her to his arms once again. As if his heart was waiting for that six words, it calmed down finding solace in her arms and words. Never he felt so content in his life when he was going through a bad phase. Infact he never allowed anyone beside him at worst times. Maybe the time has come to let a person in. And it was only khushi.
"I feel better"
"That's like my arnavji" She broke the hug and pinched his nose.
"I am not a kid" He whined pushing her hands away.
"Aww... You're so cute" She pinched his cheeks this time.
"Khushi" He darted his face shying away. He never knows he can blush too.
He turned away to hide that. Suddenly his ASR brain caught something.
"Wait, what did you said? That's like my arnavji?" He raised his brows in a teasing smile.
"Is it?" She pretended to think and smiled moving away not wanting to give in first.
"Khushi wait.. Answer me" He yelled as she ran out with mischievous smile.
He stood smiling like an idiot in the middle of the room where he broke down not to few seconds before. Life would be easy with her.
As says, If one door closes then another opens, is right in their case.
_____
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Updated new one shot: I am proudly yours. Do check it guys.