Chapter Sixty

Their trip to Dubai soon came to its end, creating wonderful memories for both Arnav and Khushi that they would most certainly never forget. As sad as she was to leave her own little world with Arnav, she was also excited to get back home, not to mention very anxious.

I'm engaged now. Holy crap, I'm engaged and I have to tell everyone?

"Angel?"

Khushi snapped back to reality.

"If you stare at the ring too hard, you might destroy it with laser vision," he smirked lightly.

Khushi frowned and stuck her tongue at him, then continued to look at her ring. Arnav watched her for a moment, then reached out and held her hand.

"Hey, what's wrong," he said softly.

Khushi shook her head. "Nothing is wrong. In fact everything is perfect... until we land."

"What do you mean?"

"Well by now, who knows how many people Anjali- Di has told by now-"

"You don't have to call her Di you know."

"I know, but you do."

Arnav smiled softly.

"It's the storm that awaits that I'm worrying about. There's Lavanya, who I'm sure is going to go bat shit crazy and scream her head off, so that's like telling five people at once. Then I have to tell my brother, which feels like mission impossible. Then there's the awkwardness of telling my folks. And of course we have to tell Dad before anyone if you ask me."

"Dad?"

Khushi tilted her head. "Your father, of course."

Arnav didn't say anything and looked at the ring on her finger. Khushi watched him toy with it then reached out and held his other hand with her free hand.

"He's not a bad guy Arnav," she said softly. "He loves you. You know that right?"

Arnav didn't say anything, toying with her ring. Khushi wondered if he knew that his father was innocent and that he still wore his ring from Aisha.

"Arnav?"

"Hmm?"

"You know that your father is innocent right?"

Arnav's eyes shot up to hers and Khushi gulped.

"W-well not exactly innocent but...."

Arnav resumed to toy with her ring.

"He... he didn't cheat on your mom."

Arnav paused.

"One of his business rivals had spread that rumor about him, feeding it to your mother, breaking her heart and...."

Arnav toyed with the ring a little faster.

"He still wears her ring."

This time when his eyes met hers, they were filled with confusion, his eyebrows scrunched at the middle.

"He never took it off," she whispered.

Arnav let go of her hand and turned away. "Angel-"

"I'm not lying Arnav." She reached into her purse and took out her phone, going to her pictures.

She pulled up a picture of her and Arnav's father from the night of their graduation. She had Anjali take them when they had gotten a moment.

Khushi zoomed into the picture. "See, look."

Khushi put the phone in front of his face, forcing him to look. Arnav's eyes met the screen and his eyes slightly widened before his eyebrows scrunched. He took the phone in his hand and looked at the picture carefully.

"He loved her Arnav. Always did and still does."

His eyes met hers. "So then why did he marry her?"

Khushi shook her head. "I don't know why her specifically, but he wanted you and Di to have a maternal figure."

Arnav handed her phone back to her as they arrived to the tarmac. They boarded their plane and once everything was set to go, they took off. Once they were free to move around, the two went to the back and laid in bed. Ever since their trip in the car, Arnav hadn't spoken a word to her - just a few words here and there to the crew, but not to her. Khushi was slightly worried, hoping that she hadn't made their trip end badly.

Khushi looked up at Arnav. He was once again playing with her ring, though absentmindedly.

"Arnav," she called out, nearly whispering.

Arnav sighed and looked down at her. "I'm not mad at you angel," he said, looking into her eyes.

Khushi just looked at him.

"I just find it all... I don't know. Ever since Momma passed away, I barely acknowledged that man; I never paid attention to him. And now I find out that he's always been wearing her ring. Every time I try to recall an encounter with him, I remember nothing because I would always ignore him."

Khushi held his hand and gave it a light squeeze.

"He wears her ring but...." Arnav looked up at the ceiling. "Why the hell did he even marry that Kaushali devi?"

Khushi's eyebrows shot up. She had never heard him acknowledge that woman, forget about what he calls her.

"None of it makes sense," he whispered.

Khushi brought his hand to her lips and kissed it. "We'll find out together."

Arnav looked at her.

"We do everything together now. I will always help you with everything and will forever be with you - no matter what."

Arnav nodded and gave her a kiss, then pulled her into him. Several minutes passed when Khushi could tell by his even breathing that Arnav had fallen asleep. She tried to get some sleep as well, but he mind was filled with many thoughts.

Why did Arhat specifically marry Kaushali? Why marry someone with a child? Why not someone who didn't have a child? Why does Arnav call her Kaushali devi? Does he usually call her that by that nickname? Or was it something he kept more to herself? And what is the deal between Arnav and Kalavati? Would she ever find out?

Her mind asked questions, nonstop, when Arnav groaned.

"Stop it," he muttered.

Khushi looked up at him.

"Don't overthink that pretty head of yours angel. Get some sleep."

"I can't help it," she whispered.

Arnav opened his eyes, tired as he was. "Why?"

"There's just so many things I don't understand."

"Like?"

"Like why Dad would marry her, or why you called her Kaushali devi, or why you hate Kala so much, or-"

"Breathe Khushi. Breathe."

Khushi did as he said, letting out a heavy sigh. He caressed her her cheek and placed a kiss atop of her head.

"Don't worry about it."

"How can I not Arnav? You're going to be my husband in some matter of time. I'm going to be a part of your family. Shouldn't I know these things? These secrets? Your secrets," she whispered in the end.

Arnav looked into her eyes for a moment. "Shouldn't I know yours as well," he said softly.

Khushi's eyes widened a fraction before she turned away. A tinge of fear went through her and she forced herself not to think of that night.

Arnav wrapped his arms around her protectively and nuzzled her hair. "Get some sleep, baby," and he dozed off again.

But Khushi just couldn't get herself to do it. He was absolutely right - how could she be asking him such a question when she herself was scared out of her soul to tell him hers.

But if he finds out, he'll never see me the same way ever again. I'll never be his angel again... I'll be a monster in his eyes forever.

Arnav sighed and nuzzled into her again, his grip on her loosening a bit. Khushi took hold of his hand and held it over her chest with both hands.

I will never let you go, never again. Not now, not ever.

*~*

Although it wasn't Dubai, Khushi was glad to be home, and this time in her home. She and Arnav would be staying there for the time being, and Khushi was glad to have her little world back of just the two of them.

On their first day back, the two allowed themselves to recover from jet lag. The day after, Arnav went to the office and Khushi decided to set her plan into motion and met up with Anjali for brunch.

"You want to do what," Anjali questioned in shock.

"Have a pooja at your house for Momma," Khushi repeated.

Anjali just blinked.

"You don't like my idea?"

"No, no, I like it, it's just... I never expected anyone to ever say it out loud and make it happen."

Khushi pursed her lips.

"I think it's something necessary to happen. Just the family, keep it private, no outsiders - only you, me, Chote, and dad."

Khushi nodded. "That's what I was thinking."

"You can also get Momma's blessings this way too, though I'm sure you already do."

Khushi smiled softly.

"Let's do it."

Khushi nodded. "I'm afraid to tell your brother though. I don't know how he'll feel about it."

Anjali nodded as she thought about it. "Neither do I."

Khushi sighed. "I would prefer to keep it as a secret from him until it seems right to tell him."

"Okay, I guess. Who knows how Chote will react."

Khushi nodded.

"So have you told your brother?"

Khushi shook her head and looked at her ring on her finger. Every now and then, Khushi would check her finger to make sure it was still there, paranoid by its most-definitely expensive price.

"I hope you haven't," Khushi said.

"Nope. You want to tell everyone and I respect that; it's your big news."

"Thank you, I appreciate it."

"So who are you going to tell first?"

"Dad, for sure. And then... I don't know."

Anjali nodded in acknowledgement. "Okay."

"I don't know why this feels so hard, I mean it shouldn't be yet it feels so hard."

"Don't worry, you'll be fine."

"I really hope so."