As they left, Khushi turned to take one last look at the beloved old building that had sheltered her for the past 10 years. Her eyes filled with tears.
"Let's come back for a visit... after our wedding.", said Arnav softly, taking hold of her hand as he drove through the comparatively less crowded lane leading to the Main Road.
Khushi nodded, trying not to let the tears fall.
"Then you can take me to your school...", he suggested.
Khushi smiled widely through her tears. "My biology teacher will ask you how you put up with me!"
"I will tell her that I can't do without you.", he smiled, pressing her fingers. Khushi blushed.
"She will faint, pukka!", she mumbled.
Arnav smiled. "And we can go to the thandai shop, the kirana store, the channawala, and visit all your friends..." It was a relief to think about Lucknow without seeing Sheesh Mahal in his mind's eye, without feeling a cruel hand close around his heart, without feeling that his head would burst with a replay of terrible scenes from the past...
Khushi looked at his relaxed visage, and hesitated.
Arnav looked at her, an eyebrow raised in question.
"Arnavji... you didn't mind coming to Lucknow for me?" Her voice was low. So low that Arnav had to cock his ears to hear her question.
"Mind?", he asked.
"With your past..", she paused.
Arnav smiled. "No."
Khushi sighed in relief.
Arnav slammed on the brakes, and lifted her hand to his lips for a loving kiss. "You have freed me, Khushi. The past no longer hurts. We can come to Lucknow as many times as you want to, every year. And maybe one day, Nani, Di, Akash,Mami, Mamaji, Payal, you, me, we can all visit Sheesh Mahal together."
Khushi looked at him, amazed at the change in him.
comment:
p_commentcount