Part 10

Arnav barely managed to pull himself out of the shower room. Seeing Khushi wrapped in just a towel and then getting drenched was too much for him. She seemed to be equally affected but he had to give it to her, the girl did have some form of self control. Speaking of self control- his was at a dangerously low level and it was only morning. They still had the rest of the day to go through and knowing his family, it was going to be a long and difficult day.

He sighed as he got dressed. How was he going to placate his family? Was there a way? And he had to try and resolve the issues with Khushi and her family. Yes, her father had given his blessing but Khushi wanted her mother and aunt's blessings too.

Didn't he say that he would look after everything, yet he could do nothing but watch as Khushi took charge and dishonour herself. He had to make it right, surely. Now that he was her husband.

Arnav made his way  to the sofa and grabbed his ear piece. Immediately he made a call to Aman. As soon as he heard the familiar voice, he spoke. "Anything Aman?"

"Not yet sir. But I've got the best investigators on it and they said they will be able to provide a preliminary report tomorrow and a complete report in less than 48 hours. Shall I arrange a meeting at the office?"

"That would be good. Tomorrow at 9am. What about last night? Everything sorted?"

"Yes. Pictures have been released and media have been informed. How they run with it is a good guess since normally we are particular about maintaining privacy. I've been assured that they would do a good job and only stay with the photos. but you know what the media is like - untrusted lot! I'm keeping the potential to threaten lawsuit should it go out of hand."

"Very well." Arnav was impressed. Aman had thought of everything. For once in his life, Arnav needed the media if his plan was to succeed.

"I'm not in the office today, Aman but am reachable by phone. If there is anything, contact me ASAP." Arnav disconnected the call as he heard the bathroom door open. He discretely placed his phone in his suit pocket and turned to look at Khushi.

She was dressed in yesterday's outfit and looked serene with her hair down. She walked slowly to the dresser and stood in front of the mirror. Her fingers played with her hair, separating them to three separate strands as she attempted to plait her hair.

"Leave it Khushi." He moved closer to her and placed his arms around her waist. "I like your hair left alone" He met her gaze through the reflection. "Please." He whispered as he carefully stroked her hand, loosening her hold on her hair.

"Please Arnavji." Khushi mumbled.

"Please what? I'm not doing anything. Am I?" Arnav continued, feeling her breathing accelerate.

He took several steps back and studied her in the mirror. "You look beautiful Khushi. Except there is one thing missing."

"What?" she asked as her handsly fumbled in an attempt to arrange her mangalsutra and straightened her outfit.

"Allow me" Arnav moved closer and picked up a little box filled with vermillion red powder. He inched closer and carefully placed a pinched of powder on her hair parting. His eyes never leaving hers and he watched as her expression moved from awe to pure bliss. Arnav moved back and gradually turned her to face him. "Now, you're perfect. Shall we go to the pooja?""

Khushi felt the heat returning on her cheeks. "Are you coming?"

"Should I not?"

"I didn't mean that. You normally don't believe in religious rituals but it would be good if you came."

"You believe in them and since today is the first day after our marriage, I think it is important I attend the pooja as well. I'm sure my." Arnav stopped. "Sorry. Our family will be up to something. It's better for both of us to tackle the issue than being separate."

"And work?"

"When has a newly wedded groom gone to work the next day?"

"I don't know. I've not been married before."

"We have that to be grateful for then. Let's go." Arnav intertwined his fingers with Khushi and let her down to the pooja hall.

Arnav stood watching as his sister performed the morning prayer. He stood a fair distance back not to seem like a hypocrite. He had agreed to attend but to provide an emotional support to Khushi instead of what he actually believed in. He seemed to struggle with the notion of god especially when all his life his sister had done nothing but pray and devote her life to her religious beliefs and yet, here she was being betrayed by her husband. He glanced to his right and left and noticed that Shyam was no where to be seen. Probably off to some no good activity, he thought. His final days. He was hoping that the investigation would reveal something and then he would plan his next mode of action.

1. Check facts-  was on its way.

He now had investigators digging up the dirt on Shyam as he and his family stood here, engrossed in prayer. He wondered how his family would react when they found out the truth about his loving jijaji. He would need to prepare them  and for that he would need allies. He glanced towards his left and say Mamaji chanting though Mamiji continued to look unfavourably at the two new Raizada daughter-in-laws. Maybe he should have a word with her again. But Arnav thought the better of it. It was now time for Akash to stand up for his wife and protect her instead.

He watched as Anjali continued to do the arti and he allowed his thoughts to returned to his plan of action.

2. Review facts and all documentation.

That should be on his desk in less than 48 hours. Again, he was not sure if that was enough time to preprare his family for the news. He would have to hope that they were strong. Afterall, they had been through betrayal in the past : his father and then his uncle and not to forget, his mother for not being strong enough and playing with her life. But he guess maybe she was driven to it. Would Anjali be driven to the same ends?! Immediately, his breathing accelerated. He hoped not. He was too young to stop his mother from taking the drastic action. But now he was older and not alone:  he had his wife with him and his brothers. He would have to utilise all of them in order to prepare Anjali and then to protect her when she found out the truth about her lying husband.

He glared at Devi Mayaa. How could you?! She does nothing but pray to you and yet you give her another test. How many more tests can she cope with? Is this because of karma or something else? Khushi trusts you completely and I don't know whether that is right or not. Anjali trust you completely too. If she means anything, then help me resolve this issue with as little damage as possible.

Arnav couldn't help but be amaze. Here he was, having  a conversation with Devi Mayaa like what Khushi would normally do. But he guess, he didn't have much choice. He was going to control their fate as much as he could but he could do with all the support he could get. For his sister's happiness, he would do anything.

He turned to Akash and watched as his brother looked in amazement at his new bride. He would need Akash for definite. He would have to take him and maybe Payal to the office when the evidence was in and a strategy would be discussed on how to go forward. Arnav now felt lighter. There had to be a way forward on the Shyamgate issue.

Another issue now niggled him. Khushi stated she was pregnant. Soon she would have to show if she was. They did not even have time to discuss about it last night. Both of them had become too engrossed in being with each other and introducing the other to their respective parents and then they were both shattered with the day's events. He had to speak to Khushi before anyone asked them about it again. They had to at least get the timings right on how far gone she was.

His attention returned to the pooja room as Anjali completed the pooja. She gave the pooja thali to Payal and Arnav watched as Payal made away around the whole room, deliberately ignoring Khushi. The sadness in Khushi's eyes fuelled the rage in him and without thinking, he was at Payal's side and placed his hand on the tray. "Let me."

With the tray he walked towards Khushi. "Have some prashad Khushi, for you and our baby" He stressed on the latter.

He watched as Khushi looked at him dejected and obediently extended her hand. She forced a smile though it stopped prematurely at her cheeks. Arnav then walked back to Payal and handed her the tray. He then faced his family.

"Let's not forget that Khushi is my wife and rightly the eldest daughter-in-law of the house."

"But Arnav beta. This peti sari."

"Stop mamiji. Like you and Payal, she is the daughter-in-law of this house. Granted we got married in haste and for that we upset you. I'm sorry. But she is now my wife and carrying the Raizada heir."

Before Arnav could continue, Mamaji interrupted nervously. "Has anyone seen Ammaji?"

"Naniji?" Anjali asked. "No. I've not seen her since this morning Has anyone?"

Arnav watched as everyone shook their head.

"Ammaji, never misses the morning pooja." Mamaji explained. "Maybe something is wrong with her."

Without much thought, everyone raced to Naniji's room to find her door shut.

"Naniji?" Arnav and Akash knocked on the door but the room remain silent.

"Hari Prakash?" Arnav shouted.

"Yes sir?"

"Have you seen Naniji?" Arnav spoke.

"No. not since last night"

"What?! What am I paying you for? To watch soaps on TV?!" Arnav continued to knock on the door. "Did it not cross your mind that maybe something is wrong and you needed to let anyone of us know."

"Bhai, please come down. I'm sure nothing has happened to Naniji."

Arnav stared at Akash. "Easy for you to say Akash. She must be upset with me." Arnav could not help curtail the guilt in him. Of all the things he visualised, his grandmother taking his news badly was not one of them. She had spent most of his adult life wanting him to settle with someone like Khushi. And now that he did, he seemed to screw it up somehow.

"What's with all the noise, Rani Sahiba. Has something happened to Naniji?"

Arnav turned to face Shyam. Great. The snake had turned up for the show. To gloat.

Arnav felt his anger levels were reaching new highs with the commotion of panic happening behind him with his sister and her husband, and not to forget Mamiji. He turned towards Akash and commanded "Help me break the door, Akash, before I hurt somebody."

After three-four bangings and showings, the door eventually gave way and as they hurdled into Naniji's room, they found her lying on the bed, engrossed at the TV. Background of an excited couple on TV flooded the room.

"What the?!" Arnav approached her. "Did you not hear us Naniji?"

She looked at him and turned her attention to the TV. She pointed to the rest of the family to follow her gaze.

"What are you watching?!" Arnav turned and then stood frozen. It wasn't the pictures on the screen of his and Khushi's wedding, that he had authorised to leak. It was far worse. It was a commentator having an interview with Mr and Mrs Singh, whom he recognised from the Nainital dabba who were excitedly relaying that he and Khushi were at the dabba few months ago and adamantly insisting that he and Khushi were already married then and had spent their first suhaag raat at the hotel connected to the dabba.

Arnav turned to Khushi and watched as she stared in horror at the screen. Well, served him right for doing business with the media. Well now they were both doomed in front of their families. Maybe something was salvageable. There had to be. He had to be positive. Maybe now they may not have to create a whole new story of how they got pregnant. It was just presented to them on screen.

Arnav took a deep breath and turned to face his grandmother, whom he knew from her stone cold expressions was containing her anger immensely well. Grilling session no 2 was due to begin and hopefully, he had learnt from the session last night and would be able to scale through it with minimal damage. Well he managed a laugh internally, things surely could not get any worse!

With new resolved, he stepped into the firing line.

"Naniji, I can explain."