Dark Paradise Chapter One

Khushi side stepped behind Arnav to reveal to all her family and his that they had eloped, married in secret. Naniji, Anjali, Payal, Akash, Buaji, Bauji, Amma and NK were all gawping at Khushi in her bridal attire. Naniji and Anjali couldn't fathom it, why elope they wouldn't have minded after all they let Akash and Payal get married despite Mami's protesting. Mami was the first to break the silence,
"Hello Hi bye bye ek to agaye abh yeh patthi saree bee free mein agaye!" She said with a callousness, Khushi looked up at Arnav helplessly, she'd never felt so lost. Arnav looked at her masking his own worry with firmness and then they both looked out on the sea of family who were confused and shocked. Arnav took particular notice about how enraged Shyam looked, he took solace in that and held his hand out towards Khushi who hesitantly took it in her own. Arnav gave her a reassuring squeeze and then he spoke.
"Mammiji yeh patthi saree nahi hain, izaat se baat kar, she's my wife and the Raizada's eldest bahu." Khushi took a deep breath when Arnav made his statement. That's what she was Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada, she'd dreamt about it but never thought it would happen and especially not like this. She'd wanted a dhamaka of a wedding instead she had a secret small ceremony. At least Devi Maiya was there to witness it even if her sister, mother and father couldn't.

"But Chotte yeh kya hai, Khushiji and you? Tumne shaadi ki hai aur without telling us?" Anjali was more hurt by the latter, she loved Khushiji and was happy they were together but why the secret? Chotte never kept anything from her and after her good news which she had shared with everyone why did he hide such a happy occassion from his family? It made no sense to her.
"Di please, maine decision karliya ta ki mujhe Khushi se shaadi karni thi. I didn't want any shor and I don't really believe in all these traditions so we got married in the mandhir bina kisi se bathaye. Because I knew if you found out you would have never let us." Arnav said calmly, Khushi was amazed at how well he lied, effortlessly...it almost worried her, his performance was incredibly compelling. Anjali remained shocked, Arnav didn't tell her because she'd make a big deal out of it? Of course she would it was her brother's wedding! But Anjali knew being angry wouldn't help anything, she had to think about how everyone else would take it, she was used to Chotte's stubborness and the problems it caused, everyone else however...
"Yeh tumne teek nahi ki Arnav bitua! Humse chupake, kya sabit karna chata tu?" Naniji accused and Arnav just held his hand up to signal everyone stop.
"Di, aarti ki taal." Arnav said and Anjali looked puzzled, "Aren't you going to welcome my wife in with all your rasams and what not." Arnav said and Anjali complied, she came back with the taal as well as a copper cup full of rice which she put in front of Khushi's feet. She welcomed them according to the custom then stood aside as Khushi knocked over the rice.

Arnav and Khushi took their first steps as man and wife, their fist steps that defied their family, their first steps with secrets making their hearts heavy and their heads weary however they never let go of each other's hand. Anjali held out another taal with haldi, Khushi placed her hands in them and imprinted her hands on the wall next to Payal's. Payal, her jiji who stood looking helplessly confused as she watched her younger sister do all this, what had driven Khushi to take such a drastic step? Khushi turned after imprinting her hands in this house allowing herself to merge as part of it, she closed her eyes and had a secret exchange with Devi Maiya praying that she and Arnav wouldn't have to deal with more of the family's questions. Arnav went back to holding her hand even though it was stained with haldi, he took the vermala from her hand and put it in the crook of his arm with his own. He walked past Anjali and handed them to HP. He walked past Naniji, the Gupta parivaar (now his in-laws) and then he and Khushi both stopped in front of Payal and Akash.
"I'm sorry Akash, Payal we didn't mean to take away from you're day it just seemed like the best step to take at the time. We're sorry everyone." Arnav said to all, everyone noted that an apology from Arnav meant a lot and so they remained quiet.
"Chaal ab khoob masti hoagaye, ab hum saab ko chalna chahiye." Buaji said attempting to lighten the situation. Naniji nodded, not happy with the current situation but unable to complain due to Arnav's calm demeanour. The Raizada family showed out the Guptas and then they turned to look upon the two jodi's Akash and Payal who everything had fallen into place relatively easily, they had gotten married conventionally with everyone's blessings. Then they looked at Arnav and Khushi who had gone rogue and done as they pleased without telling anyone.

Before Naniji could start, Arnav interrupted.
"Naniji kafi raat hogayi, I think hum sub ko sona chaiye. Its not good for Di to be up so late, isn't that right Jijaji?" Arnav said all the while not looking at Shyam knowing that snake was staring at his Khushi, his wife and not even thinking about his sister!
"Hmmm, ha, ha bilkul chalo Rani Sahiba!" Shyam said putting up his mask of a good husband for all. Nani was about to protest.
"Nani, please lets talk about in the morning." He said and he turned leading Khushi to their room. Khushi turned to look on her new family who all looked hurt and worried, she knew it made no sense to them and maybe even hurt them but this was for their benefit...they just didn't know it.
Khushi took off her wedding ornaments as Arnav was in the bathroom washing his face, probably to calm down, she thought. Everything happened so quickly she hardly realised when she changed from Khushi Kumari Gupta to Khushi Singh Raizada.On the inside she questioned whether this had been the right decision or not, after all Arnav and she had only just begun to understand their separate feelings for each other. She removed the earrings and all other ornaments in her hair. She left her choora on as was custom and then sat awkwardly on the bed. What was she going to do now?

Arnav needed time to think but he knew he didn't have it, she was waiting for him, depending on him, so much depended on him, his family, his business and now Khushi. He exhaled deeply and walked into his room and saw Khushi had loosened her hair and removed her jewellery. She wrestled her hands with one another obviously consumed by the same question Arnav was bothered by: Now what? They had ran into each other moments before the ceremony and Khushi confronted him with Shyam's true identity and Arnav told her he had seen them together and he didn't believe her, but then what other choice did he have but to believe Khushi. Khushi had no proof though and without proof Arnav could not let her or himself ruin Di's life when she was so happy. So Arnav made a promise to Khushi that he would marry her keep her safe from Shyam and if she could prove he was guilty then they could save Di's life also. Khushi was sceptical she wanted to marry Arnav but not just so she could show Shyam for the snake he was but so that she could be with him in the way she knew she should be when she fell in love because...because that's what this was it was love. She knew she had few options Shyam's actions had become increasingly insane and violent. She trusted Arnav but wasn't sure if he loved her. She gave up on listening to her brain and listened to her heart. She looked into Arnav's earnest eyes and agreed. They both made it seem like a deal but it meant so much more to them. Not that they would tell each other that. Arnav had treated her so lovingly recently, opened up to her in ways she never imagined and she didn't want that to stop. However he never said out loud to her that he loved her, she hoped he would but he didn't. She held her mangalsutra close to her heart remembering how he had carefully placed it around her neck and how while they took their holy rounds around the sacred fire he held her hand. How he held her hand in front of everyone if he didn't love her why did he do that?

He cleared his throat which broke Khushi's train of thought, she stood up immediately and then felt silly for doing so. She looked at him and he hesitated, instead of saying anything he took a pillow from the bed and a blanket from the wardrobe and made a makeshift bed on the floor. Khushi assumed it was for her and made her way to the space on the floor he stopped her by gently putting his hands on her shoulders.
"Khushi you sleep on my bed, I'll sleep here." He said, she opened her mouth to argue, it was his room and his bed but he shook his head. He grabbed a set of his pyjamas and went to the bathroom to change. Khushi had nothing with her to change into so she just got in the bed and lay down. Looking into the dark of the room listening to him pad across from the bathroom to the bedroom floor she felt calm and at peace. The small gestures showed her he cared and he trusted her, it may take time but there was hope. And so in the dark of the night with Arnav she found her own small dark paradise.


Read other parts to this here