Chapter Sixty One

Khushi couldn't believe she was doing this and that she was doing this alone. Then again she knew that she had to do this alone, and could only do this alone. So as she waited outside the Raizada house, swaying back and forth on her toes, she waited anxiously for the door to be opened by Arhat. Khushi had asked Anjali in advance if he would be home alone today, since she didn't want to face Kaushali and Kalavati just yet, and Anjali had confirmed that the two would be out today.

The door opened, revealing Arhat. "Khushi," he said with a smile. "Come in, come in."

Khushi followed him in and they sat down in the living room.

"Anjali, Khushi's here," Arhat called out.

Anjali came running down the stairs and gave Khushi a hug. Khushi looked at her in shock, not expecting her to be here, though she was somewhat relieved because she thought she would have to do this entirely alone.

"Oh boy," Anjali chirped as she sat down.

Khushi sat down across from Arhat as he sat down as well.

"Anjali told me you had something important to say," Arhat questioned.

Khushi looked at the man before her carefully. Although he tried not to show it, there was a hint of fear in his eyes, telling Khushi of what his fears were.

"Um, yes... I do...."

Arhat nodded, the hint of fear slightly growing.

"Um... well you see the thing is...."

Arhat nodded again and Khushi gulped. She slowly revealed her left hand from her pocket and held out the ring.

"Your son proposed... and I said yes."

Arhat's eyes widened as his eyes landed on the ring. Gone were his fears and he filled up with joy.

"That's... that's such great news," he beamed.

Khushi smiled and the two got up to hug. Khushi tried to bend down to get his blessings, but he stopped her.

"There's no need for that dear, you will always have my blessings," he smiled.

Khushi couldn't help the tears which pooled in her eyes.

"I'll go get some sweets," Anjali beamed, and she dashed off to the kitchen.

Arhat chuckled before looking at Khushi curiously. "She knew, didn't she? That explains why she bought all those sweets yesterday."

"She knew before me, apparently."

Arhat sighed sadly with a nod. "Of course she did," he said in a low voice.

Khushi held his hand and gave it a light squeeze. "Don't worry Papa..."

Arhat looked up at her.

"Everything will be okay."

He gave a small smile and placed his hand over her head. "With you in our lives, I know it will."

Khushi smiled softly as Anjali came into the room with a box of sweets in her hand. Arhat took one and fed it to Khushi.

"I no longer have one daughter, but two," Arhat smiled.

Khushi stopped herself from showing her confusion and let him hug her once more. What he had just said puzzled her.

One daughter? But what about Kala? Does he not consider her as his daughter? I mean she's his stepdaughter, but still.... What's going on?

The two pulled away and reveled in the sweets, but the thought of Kalavati's relationship with Arhat tugged at the back of her mind. As much as she wanted to ponder on it further, Khushi knew there were much more important things on hand to discuss.

"There's just one more thing Papa..."

Arhat looked at her curiously.

"And I don't know how you'll take it."

*~*

Arnav came out of the shower, wearing nothing but a pair of burgundy sweatpants. "Khushi, I-"

Arnav paused as he entered the living room. His eyes landed on Khushi, looking at her from head to toe as he looked at her in shock, seeing her wear a plain white salwar kameez. Khushi watched him, preparing herself for what was to come.

"Khushi why are you-?"

"Do you know what today is," Khushi nearly whispered.

Arnav looked away, down at the floor. Of course he knew what today was.

Khushi walked around the island of the kitchen and stood in front of him, but Arnav refused to meet her eyes. At first she didn't know what to say, so she gently reached out to caress his face, but Arnav moved away before she could do so. If it was any other day, Khushi would have fussed, but knowing what today was, she didn't say anything about it.

Khushi looked down at her feet. "Di and I..." Khushi cleared her throat. "Um... Di and I- or rather I...." She glanced up at him and looked back down at her feet. "I asked Di and Papa..."

Hearing her say papa caught Arnav's attention.

"... if we could... if we could hold a pooja for your mother's death anniversary."

Arnav's eyebrows shot up.

"I-I know you and your family have n-never done it but... but I wanted to."

Arnav looked at her from the corner of his eyes.

"We're holding it at your father's house."

Arnav looked away and Khushi knew he would say nothing more. So she turned around and picked up her keys from the bowl on the counter top and went to the door. Before she opened the door, she paused.

"Arnav?"

Khushi didn't expect him to respond and he didn't.

"I really hope that you do come to this - for us... and for Momma."

Without another word, Khushi left and Arnav turned as the door shut and locked. For a moment he stood there quietly, not even realizing that he had absentmindedly clenched his fists, channeling his sorrow and anger.

*~*

Khushi couldn't take her eyes off the beautiful woman in the picture frame. With long, tousled brown hair and soft brown eyes, Aisha looked beautiful in the photograph and Khushi could only imagine what it would have been like to see her face to face.

When Khushi had asked Arhat to hold a pooja for Aisha, it was then that Khushi had discovered that her death anniversary was right around the corner. So that was why Khushi had decided to do this, knowing that this was something that needed to be done.

As the pandit prepared for the pooja, Khushi, Anjali, and Arhat sat around the small, crackling fire. Anjali had managed to rid of Kaushali and Kalavati, telling them that there was a huge sale at Saks Fifth Avenue, driving both mom and daughter crazy to go shopping. It was necessary to make this small and intimate, and within the family.

Khushi looked at the door and then down at her hands.

Anjali placed her hand on Khushi's shoulder. She gave her a small smile, reassuring her that Arnav would come, or so she had hoped.

Khushi looked at Arhat. The poor man was busy gazing at the photo of his deceased wife. Not once did he look away since that photo had been placed in its spot, his eyes filled with emotions. It was clear to Khushi that he had been thinking of memories past, and she was sure that he would do anything to live them again or do anything to bring her back to life.

"It's about time for the pooja to begin," the pandit said.

Khushi glanced at the door. "Can't we wait just a little bit more?"

"Only a little. It isn't good to do it after the auspicious time."

Khushi glanced at her phone and wondered if she should call him. She believed he would come, but she was scared he wouldn't, and not knowing was killing her. Just as she made her decision to call and picked up her phone, the door opened, revealing Arnav. Arhat looked at him with surprise, Khushi grateful that he was here.

Arnav's eyes landed on the photo of his mother and remained there as his feet moved him forward. Slipping out of his shoes, Arnav sat down besides his father, his eyes still on his mother's photo. Arhat looked at his son, now also surprised that he was sitting beside him. He had hoped that his son would arrive for this, yet a small part of him had lost faith, thinking the worst. Seeing him brought back hope, but there was still that feeling of surprise. And for him to sit next to him, was even more surprising.

Khushi was happy Arnav had sat down next to Arhat. Khushi and Anjali had purposely sat down together so that son and father would sit together. They had hoped there would be no bickering, and now oddly enough, there was none.

Anjali looked at the pandit. "Panditji, you may start now."

The pandit nodded and began the prayers. The four did as they were told and prayed for the best for Aisha and that she was in peace.

When the pooja ended, the pandit left and everyone stood in quiet. Khushi noticed that Arhat was looking at Aisha's photo, standing several inches away from the photo. She looked at Arnav and saw that his eyes were on his mother's picture as well. But in actuality, Arnav was looking at his father as he gazed into his mother's photo. He simply stood there and watched his father for a moment, and then not knowing why, he walked towards him. Both Khushi and Anjali watched as Arnav stood beside Arhat and gazed at Aisha's photo.

"She looks beautiful," Arnav said in a low voice.

Arhat sighed with a nod. "She refused to take the photo," he said with a small smile.

"That sounds like Momma," Arnav smiled softly.

Arhat scoffed lightly. "I had to force her into the photo studio to get her to take this picture. She bickered and bickered, saying she didn't need a professional photo."

"Always the natural," Arnav scoffed lightly.

"Mm hmm."

Both men stood there quietly for a moment. Arnav remembered what Khushi had told them in the car back in Dubai. He glanced down at Arhat's hand and saw the very same ring he had always seen him wear when he was young, the one his mother had given him when the two had gotten married.

Arhat turned to his son and saw that he was looking down. When he realized he was looking at his hand, Arhat held it up and held it with his other hand.

"You still wear it."

It wasn't a question, but Arhat nodded. "Never took it off."

Arnav shook his head. "I've never noticed before."

"How would you," he smiled sadly.

Arnav looked up at his father. He had never noticed it before, but his father had aged - not radically, but he had aged. He had always remembered the man he knew when he was a young boy, not the man before him now, and it made him realize the truth. "I've hardly paid attention to you."

Arhat said nothing, looking down at his ring.

"... and it's my fault."

This made Arhat look at him. "Chote-"

"No dad... it's true."

Arhat turned his body to him. "Chote," he said sternly, but was cut off by his son once more.

"I blamed you. I blamed you for it all, I blamed you for her death. I thought... those rumors... I thought it was all true. ... and Momma-"

Arnav's voice cracked as his emotions took over him.

Arhat wanted to reach out to him, but he stopped himself. He didn't know how Arnav would take it, but in the end he didn't care because Arnav was his son, and he wanted to embrace him. So instead of reaching out to place his hand on his shoulder, Arhat hugged his son. Arnav was shocked by the sudden embrace and both Khushi and Anjali went into tears.

Arnav blinked several times before he hugged back his father. When his son hugged him back, Arhat went into tears. Although the two had hugged after Arnav's graduation. This hug meant more, so much more.

"I'm so sorry Dad," Arnav whispered through his tears.

"You don't have to apologize for anything Chote-"

"No, I do." Arnav pulled back and looked at his father. "I blamed you for everything. I never once tried to look at the situation carefully. I never even cared to open up my mind and clear the fog which shrouded my eyes. I know first hand how much you loved Momma, both Di and I did. I knew Dad - enough that I was even jealous when I was a kid."

Arhat chuckled lightly at the memory.

"I'm so so sorry Dad."

Arhat placed his hand over his head. "You never have to apologize to me for anything Chote. Know that I've always loved you, do, and forever will."

Arnav nodded and the two hugged again.

Khushi had tears streaming down her cheeks, and so did Anjali. Anjali gave her a side hug, knowing that this was all thanks to Khushi. The men pulled away and looked at them. The two ladies came forward and the four of them hugged.

This was right, absolutely right. Everything felt just right to Khushi, and she wanted it to stay just this way.

Arhat pulled back and placed his hand over Khushi's head. "Live long child, may you live long."

Khushi smiled at him through her tears.

Taking Arnav's hand, Arhat placed Khushi's in his. "I know you'll keep my son happy, I've known it since I first met you. You have my blessings forever child, and not just mine, but Aisha's as well."

Khushi looked at Arnav and Arnav squeezed her hand lightly.

Anjali grinned at the two. "So have you two set a date for the wedding?"

"Wedding?"

Khushi's eyes widened and she felt Arnav's grip tighten. She squeezed his hand as she looked back at Kaushali and Kalavati, holding shopping bags from many different stores and looking at them in shock.

Oh no.