Arshi FF: Second Love and Marriage  2
Chapter 13       

Arnav is in the room looking at Aryan who is sleeping. His temperature reduced but still he is weak. He was arranging clothes in the wardrobe when he remembered the gifts he brought for his family. He din’t gave the gifts to them. He took out all the gifts. He thought to give them now. Aryan just slept so he won’t woke up. He took the gift and left the room securing Aryan with pillows.

He first went to Nani’s room. Nani is watching TV where some preaches are going on. He knocked the door and she looked at him. Surprised she kept the TV on mute. Arnav entered the room.

“ Nani. I brought this for you” said Arnav and forwarded the gift. Nani looked at him once directly and looked away showing her rejection.

Sighing, Arnav placed the gift on the couch and left from there.

The same scene repeated when he went to his Chacha-Chachi’s room.

Finally he came to his parents room. His heart is beating loudly and thos would be his direct conversation with his mother. He looked in the room. Ratna is searching something in the wardrobe. He knocked the door.

“ Haan HP come in. Amma’s medicines were over. Go and bring them.” Said Ratna but when she din’t get any response she turned and looked at Arnav who is standing at the door.

“ Why did you come here ??’asked Ratna to Arnav.

“ I came to give this gifts” said Arnav. it is the direct conversation between the mother and son duo for the first time.

“ We don’t need your gifts. Leave from here” said Ratna.

“ Maa. I..” Arnav is going to says something but Ratna turned away her face. 

Arnav felt a prick in his heart when his mother turned away her face. He silently kept the gifts at door step gulping down the lump. HP came there them/

“ mam saab. You called me” said HP.

“ Yes..Go and bring maa’s tablets. “ said Ratna and then showing gifts “ remove these from here”

Arnav heard it and couldn’t say anything. He just left from there taking his gifts back.

Arnav entered the room with a sad face. He sat on the bed patting Aryan’s back lovingly. Will his parents ever forgive him ?? He had to apologize them. Even before his parents, he have to apologize Shashi uncle and Khushi first. He had not seen Shashi uncle or Garima aunty from the time he came. He heard that Garima aunty went to lucknow as Buaji is not well. May be Shashi uncle too accompanied her.

“ Bhai” Anjali knocked his door. He looked up and smiled to her. She came to him and looked at Aryan.

“ Did Aryan’s fever reduced ??”asked Anjali.

“ Yes.. I just fed him with khichdi HP brought” said Arnav.

“ Maa prepared it Bhai.” Said Anjali.

“ I know “ said Arnav. Anjali looked at him questioningly.

“ I tasted it before feeding him and I understood it is made by mumma. “ said Arnav. Anjali nodded her head understanding then her eyes fell on the gifts.   

“ Bhai. These gifts…” said  Anjali.

“ I brought them for you all.” Said Arnav and extended her gift.

“ Thank you Bhai.. Don’t say me this is my marriage gift” said Anjali.

“ No. This is not..” said Arnav.

“ Hmm OK. Because I want something from you as my marriage gift” said Anjali.

“ Now what ??” asked Arnav with a little bit of worry.

“ Not more. Don’t worry. I just want you to design my wedding dress” said Anjali.

“ What !! Anju what are you saying ??”asked Arnav “ I am not a designer now.”

“ I know bhai but you are a fashion designer. You have dreamed to establish a fashion house. You are great designer bhai. So, it won’t be tough for you to design” said Anjali.

When Arnav din’t say anything Anjali held his chin and pleaded him. He finally have to agree.

“ Thank you Bhai” said Anjali hugging him.

“ Ok. Tomorrow you have to come to AR. You have to meet the stitching department and deal with material, everything” said Anjali.

“ What !!AR” said Arnav. He was feeling uncomfortable. “ But how can I Anju ?”

“ Bhai. Plz.. come What’s problem in that ??”asked Anjali.

“ Ok. I will” said Arnav. His sister is the stubborn girl.

“ Did you gave Nk Bhai and Lav their gifts ??”asked Anjali.

“ Nope. Not yet. I just went to give others” said Arnav.

“ Did they accepted their gifts ??”asked Anjali.

“ Nani and Chachi din’t say anything. I just took placed them in their rooms. But mumma * choking a bit* din’t accepted them” said Arnav sadly.

Anjali placed her hand on his shoulder assuring him.

“ I will give NK, Lav and Aki after they return” said Arnav composing himself. Anjali nodded her head.

“ Hmm.. Anju!! I brought gifts for Guptas too” said Arnav hesitating.

Anjali smiled at him “ Good Bhai !! I will give them”

“ No. I will give them” said Arnav and went near wardrobe brought the gifts. 

“ See. I have brought this for Payal, this one for Khushi, this one for Garima aunty and this one Shashi uncle” said Arnav.

Hearing Shashi’s name, Anjali’s smile flattered. Bhai still doesn’t know about Shashi uncle’s death thought Anjali.

“ Bhai. Actually woo….” Anjali is going to say something when Chachi came in rushed “ Anjali Bitiya. Come fast. The jeweler had come. Ratna Bhabi is calling you”

Before Anjali can say anything, Chachi dragged her from there.

Akash is standing at the balcony of his room. He can have a good view of Gupta’s garden from his room. Garima aunty is examining the plants. She returned back an hour ago.

His room door knocked and he asked the person to come in without looking. It was only when Arnav came and stood beside , he saw him. Arnav smiled to him but he Akash din’t respond.

“ I brought this for you” said Arnav extending his gift. Akash looked other side not taking the gift. Sighing Arnav kept the gift on the table. He turned around to go back when his eyes fell on Garima. Her face devoid of sindoor, hands without bangles and no mangalsutra. His eyes grew wide.

Akash looked at Arnav to see why he is not leaving ?? Seeing the shocked look of Arnav’s face, he followed the gaze. He saw Arnav watching Garima with shock but din’t understand why ??

“ What happened ??”asked Akash frowning.

“ Aki. Why is Garima aunty not wearing mangalsutra and sindoor ?? That means Shashi uncle….” Stopped Arnav not able to say further.

“ Did you really don’t know about Shashi uncle’s death or Are you pretending ??” asked Akash.

“ Shashi uncle’s death!!” gasped Arnav with shock.

“ When did it happen ?? How ??”asked Arnav.

Akash gave a sarcastic smile to him, “ Shashi uncle died on the same day as soon as you left the altar accusing them. He had an heart attack as people started whispering bad about them.  Which father can take if his daughter’s marriage stopped at the altar and the groom accuses his family ?? Which friend can take when his loyalty was questioned ?? Don’t you know the value of Shashi uncle.. For papa, he is not just a friend... He is more than that. He was like a big brother to him. Did they ever behaved like gold diggers ?? Didn’t you know whatever we are now is because of Guptas ?? Did you forgot how Shashi uncle took the bullet to save papa ?? That day if he din’t take the bullet, we would have become fatherless in our childhood only.  Papa was always proud of you but this is what you gave him... His friend’s death.? It’s ok if you won’t love her, but why din’t you said about your love to us. How could you even think that maa and papa won’t listen to your words ?? Don’t you know how much maa papa love us and respect our likes.. And Khushi. What is her fault in it ? Because of your deeds, she was tagged as characterless girl... No one came to marry her. She is not that same khushi anymore. I din’t find my old friend Khushi. Papa lost his best friend and I lost my best friend because of you Bhai.  You were once my role model. I wanted to become like you but now I don’t even like to see your face Bhai. Why Bhai ?? Why did you do this ?? You made everyone cry and see now even you are not happy. You too lost your love, your wife....  I am not cursing you but I am saying if you could have once said about your love, the situations today would have been different”

Akash left from there putting his heart out while Arnav sat on the chair hearing his brother’s words. Shashi uncle died because of his words. Khushi was tagged as characterless. He damaged it to a great extent.  How can he compensate this loss ??