Chapter Five

The doctor came out and everyone looked at him.

"We're prepared to begin the surgery. However we'll need you to sign some documents."

Nayan pursed his lips and nodded. The doctor handed him the documents and a pen, and Nayan sat down to sign them. However, when he held pen in his hand, his hand shook and he felt a rush of emotions. He couldn't bring himself to sign it, and he broke down.

Sumitra went to his side and held his arm, unable to contain her emotions as well. She tried to so that she could help her husband, but she couldn't. Everyone else began to get overtaken by their emotions, except for Arnav. He stood strong, and gently took the pen from Nayan.

"I'll sign it," Arnav said softly.

Nayan blinked up at him as his tears continued to stream. He watched as Arnav signed the documents and hand them back to the doctor.

"Thank you," the doctor replied softly.

He was about to head back in to speak with his colleagues, when Nayan sopped him.

"Can I speak to her once? Before she's...."

The doctor understood his pain and doubts, so he agreed. Taking Nayan back inside the room, he took him to Khushi once he had put some scrubs on. Nayan saw Khushi laying there quietly as she stared at the ceiling, listening to the various monitors beeped. She looked at Nayan when he got closer to her and he sat down on a chair at her right side.

Nayan placed his hand on her hair and Khushi shut her eyes, a tear escaping and streaming down her cheek.

"Hush," Nayan soothed. "You'll be okay," he said softly.

Khushi simply looked at him. "I might be, but will you?"

Nayan just looked at her.

"After what happened, why would anyone want to marry me," she said, tears forming once again.

Nayan looked down. I have to tell her.

And so he did. He told Khushi of Arnav and of his proposition.

"I can't," Khushi exclaimed, turning away.

Nayan tried to convince his daughter to marry, but Khushi refused.

"Khushi-"

"No Babusa, I cannot accept to this marriage."

"But why," he asked.

"Because I can't! Look at me," she exclaimed, turning back to him.

Nayan couldn't look at her for long because he couldn't take the sight if his daughter burned.

"But Khushi-"

"No Babusa! I don't want to hear any more of this!"

"But Khushi-"

"Why does he want to marry me? Huh? Does he feel bad for me? Because that… that marriage broke off? Or is he marrying me because no other man will ever marry me in my life and he's got pity on me?"

"Actually it's nothing like that."

Nayan and Khushi looked up at Arnav. He came in, walking over to them, and stood in front of Khushi's bed.

"Um, I'll leave you two to talk," Nayan said, and he got up.

Before Khushi and Arnav could stop him, he left. Khushi looked at Arnav and then turned away, shutting her eyes.

Arnav walked over to her side and sat down in the chair on Khushi's left. "I'm not marrying you for those reasons."

Khushi gulped. "Then why? Why are you marrying me?"

"Because my dad wants you as his daughter in-law. From the way he described you on the phone… I can tell that he really loves you." He put on a serious face. "And I love my dad. I will do anything for my dad to make him happy, which is why I'm marrying you."

She opened her eyes and looked him in the eye. She wanted to know if he was telling the truth, and his said that he was. But it didn't change her mind.

"Why would you want to marry me," she asked. "You're only doing this for your father? I'm sure your father would under-"

"I don't care. I want to marry you."

Her eyes swelled up with tears. She felt like it was her fault that he was getting involved with all of this and she turned away, revealing the burnt left half of her face.

It had been treated, the wound beginning to heal. There was a scar from the bottom of her face that went to her cheekbone. Above that, part of her cheek was burned, leading up to her forehead, her eyes unharmed.

If anyone else were to look, they would've been disgusted. But not Arnav. He just gazed at her and felt tempted. He reached out as Khushi had her eyes shut, crying.

At first he stopped himself and was about to move his hand forward again, but he stopped himself again. When he looked back at her, he couldn't help himself. He stroked her hair, running his fingers through it.

Khushi scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. She opened her eyes and looked from the corner of her eyes. She stopped him, placing her hand on his and he snapped back to reality.

She held onto his hand and bit down on her lower lip.

Arnav just looked at her, feeling that same feeling he had earlier. Something in his mind made him positive about his decision and he stood up.

"Khushi… will you marry me?"

He held onto her hand tightly as she calmed down. She looked at his hand and saw how he was holding onto it. She shut her eyes and took in a deep, shaky breath and spoke.

"I… I will marry you," she breathed.

Arnav looked at her and squeezed her hand lightly, then kissed it. Khushi's eyes sprang open and as she turned to look at him, he let go of her hand and left.

Outside, everyone waited patiently, but anxious. Arnav came out and Sameer went over to him.

"Arnav? What happened? What did she say?"

Arnav looked at his father. "Get ready to welcome your new daughter in-law."

Sameer smiled. "Really?"

Arnav nodded and Sameer hugged him. Arnav hugged him back and then let go. He went over to Nayan, who was completely shocked.

"She accepted," Nayan asked, who couldn't believe it.

Arnav nodded.

Sumitra went over to Arnav and held his face. "I hope all your wishes come true," she said softly.

Arnav smiled. "There's one thing that I'm wishing for right now, and only you can give it to me."

She scrunched her eyebrows. "What's that?"

He held her hands. "Can I call you my mom?"

This made Sumitra's eyes swell up with tears and she nodded. The two hugged and Sameer teared up as well.

*~*

Hours passed on as they all waited for the doctor to come back out. With the help of Sameer, he had gotten some of the best doctors around in the city. Everyone was tired, but they were more concerned and nervous than anything.

Finally, after what felt like ages, the doctor came out.

"Doctor, how is she" Nayan asked, rushing over to him.

"The operation was successful," the doctor smiled.

Everyone sighed in relief and smiled, thanking the heavens above.

"After 48 hours, we'll be able to remove the bandages," the doctor continued. "However, she will have to stay in the hospital for at least a month and a half, and then she can be taken home.

With that the doctor left and Sameer turned to Nayan.

"It seems like you'll be holding onto my daughter in-law a bit more longer than, huh? Fine, I don't mind, but when we do come to get her, you better greet us with a bang," Sameer grinned.

Nayan smiled through his tears and the two men hugged.

A wedding was now to be prepared for.

*~*

Sumitra took special care of her daughter for the next month and a half. Occasionally, Khushi would get visits from Arnav's family, everyone checking up on her to see how she was. Khushi's treatment was going well, and everything was positive.

Now and then, Arnav would come to see her when his father would go. He would watch as his father would treat Khushi as if she were his own daughter.

There's something special about her, Arnav said to himself. Papa sees it... maybe someday I will see it.

The nurse came in to do her dressing, so Sameer and Arnav stepped out of the room. They saw the doctor and spoke for a bit.

"Um, if it's alright," the doctor began, "I'd like to talk to Arnav for a moment."

"Uh yeah, sure," Arnav replied, and he followed the doctor to his office.

Both sat down and the doctor leaned forward in his chair with his hands folded.

"What I'm about to say is actually a bit personal, so please, I don't mean to be offensive."

Arnav nodded.

"Mr. Raizada, I understand that you're marrying Khushi in respect of your father. I find that very honorable and righteous."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. This past month has been quite an improvement for Khushi and she's doing well with the treatments. It's just a matter of days before we can release her. Once she is, she'll begin a new life, and that's not just because of your marriage.

"Although she'll recover physically, mentally she may not have fully. She'll need moral support, which she'll need mostly from you. With her new life, she'll begin it with you, and she'll be looking to you whenever she needs guidance. She'll look at the world through your eyes and she'll need you at her side.

"I understand that she's not entirely okay with this marriage, as she was once engaged to your brother. However, you will be her husband, which means you'll be the closest one to her. In many cases, people leave such victims at these times. I hope you will be strong for her."

"I will, doctor," Arnav replied. "I'll be strong for both of us and I will always take care of her. I will be there mentally and physically, no matter what. I can promise you that."

The doctor smiled humbly. "Good, I knew you would."

Chapter Four

Nayan and Sumitra rushed Khushi to the hospital immediately. She was put into the ICU and the doctors worked away. Nayan called Gaurav, telling him of the accident, and Gaurav rushed to the hospital immediately. 

"How is she," Gaurav asked as he came running in.

"I-I-I," but Nayan couldn't speak. He broke down immediately and Sumitra went over to him, trying to calm him down, but she broke down as well.

Time passed away very slowly. From seconds to a minute, minutes to an hour, and an hour to hours. Gaurav had called Sameer and told him about the accident and his whole family came running in.

"How is she," Sameer asked as he and his family came in.

"We don't know," Gaurav said.

Sameer went over to Nayan and helped him to control himself.

"We have to stay strong," Sameer said, but Nayan couldn't keep himself stable.

Sumitra cried away and Mona tried to comfort her.

"Auntyji, please don't cry," Mona said, but it was no use.

*~*

It was late into the night, when Sameer got a call.

"Hello?" He paused and his eyes widened. "No, we're not at home. Actually..." and he told them the whole story. He told the person how they were here and everyone looked at him confused.

"Who was that," Gaurav asked as Sameer hung up.

Just as Sameer was about to reply, the light above the ICU turned off and the doctor came out.

"Doctor,” Nayan said as he rushed over to him. “How is she?"

"Is my daughter okay," Sumitra asked, tearing away.

"She's currently being prepared for her operation," the doctor said. "But there are some problems."

"What," Sameer said.

"What kinds of problems," Nayan asked.

Everyone closed in around the doctor and he spoke.

"Because the rods fell down directly onto her, she has been burned severely."

Everyone gasped and the doctor continued.

"They are really severe and deep. We'll start operating on her once my team and I have sorted things out. If all goes well, then within time she will heal physically, so long as she is treated well. But...."

"But what doctor," Abhay asked.

The doctor took a moment and hesitated, but he eventually spoke.

“Not only was her body harmed... but her face as well."

"What," Abhay questioned. 

"I'm sorry to say this to you, but the side of your fiance's face got burned in the accident."

Nayan and Sumitra couldn't believe what they were hearing, Sumtra gripping onto her husband for balance.

"No… that can’t be," Sumitra exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, but it’s the truth. However the burns on her faces aren't as deep as the ones on her body. As I said, if she treats it well, then it won't be a problem. In fact, once it's been healed, she can do plastic surgery, should she wish to."

Nayan and Sumitra broke down again and the doctor allowed them to see her, but from a far distance. They went in and their eyes widened from what the saw. One side of Khushi's face was burned, covered in gauze, the other side unharmed. Sumitra broke into tears while Nayan was still in shock.

The doctor placed a hand on Nayan's shoulder.

"Does she know," Nayan simply asked.

"Yes; as soon as she woke up we told her and... showed her, her reflection."

"How did she react?"

"She was upset and she cried, but she got herself together and accepted it."

They couldn't take it anymore and walked out. Sameer held onto Nayan, helping him and supporting him, while Mona comforted Sumitra. Nayan was still motionless and he kept thinking about his daughter and how beautiful she used to look. All the time, people would always tell him how Khushi was a sight to see and other comments alike. And now... and he broke down again.

"Nayan, please," Sameer said. "Don't worry about a thing."

"But what about the wedding-"

"Don't worry; this wedding will happen."

"No."

Everyone looked up at Abhay.

"Abhay what are you-"

"No dad, I can't marry her. I don't mean to be rude, but I'm not marrying her."

"Abhay!"

"Yelling at me isn't gonna change her face! I'm not marrying her and that's final! And if you don't like it, then oh well."

Sameer looked at him in disbelief and everyone couldn't believe what he said.

"Abhay," Aditya yelled. "Is this what you were taught-?"

"Bhaiya please. Lecturing me isn't gonna do anything," and he walked away.

"Abhay! Abhay!! Abhay-"

"Face it Bhaiya! Who in the world would ever want to marry her? Forget this world, no one in this universe will marry her," and he turned around to walk away but he stopped.

A man stood at the end of the hallway.

Abhay's eyes widened and so did the others' in his family. Nayan, Gaurav and Sumitra looked at the man curiously and wondered who he was.

The man walked towards them and stopped in front of Abhay.

Abhay couldn't believe it. "Arnav... is it really you?"

Arnav just looked at Abhay. "Yes, it’s me... why Bhaiya?"

What? Bhaiya? This is what was going through Nayan's and Sumitra's minds. Gaurav was puzzled at first, but then he recognized him.

"Who is that," Nayan asked Gaurav.

"That," Sameer began, "is my youngest son. Arnav."

Arnav looked at his father and went over to him. He reached down to his father's feet to receive his blessings. 

"How are you dad?"

"I've been better. How have you been? All these years you've been gone to New York... and you came on such a day," Sameer cracked.

"Dad, relax. Don't cry, please." He looked at Nayan. "You too, please, don't cry."

He turned his attention back to his father. "It's a good thing you told me everything on the phone. Otherwise I would've ended up going home and would've been worried. Now, this girl... you said her name was Khushi right?"

Sameer nodded and Arnav turned to the doctor, who was just coming out of Khushi's room.

"Doctor, this is my youngest son Arnav," Sameer said, as Arnav shook hands with the doctor.

"May I go in and see her," Arnav asked.

The doctor nodded and took him in. Everyone else was confused and just looked at Arnav as he disappeared inside the room. Arnav walked in, put on some scrubs, and the doctor took him to Khushi. Arnav simply looked at her. She looked calm as she rested, and he couldn't help but to get a strange feeling inside of him.

After a few moments, Arnav turned away. He looked down at the floor, lost in thought, and then looked back up at her. He made up a decision, straightened his spine, and left to rejoin everyone outside.

When Arnav came out the room, Sameer went up to him.

"Arnav-"

"Dad, I'll marry her."

"What?"

"I will to marry her."

"What are you saying," Nayan asked. Before he could continue, Arnav went over to him and held his hand.

"Please, I want to marry her."

"But why?"

"It's hard for me to explain, but I will marry her. Plus my father loves her as if she were his own, so in his honor and respect, I would like to marry her. But first, please ask her of what she feels."

Nayan simply nodded, still faded by his words, and Sumitra teared even more. Arnav didn't like it and he went over to her, kneeling down before her before he held her hands.

"Please, stop crying.," Arnav said softly.

He smiled softly and Sumitra hugged him.

"Thank you," she cried softly.

"I don't know what relation we have," he said, "but I feel like as if you could've been someone close of mine from another life."

This touched Sumitra's heart and she held onto him. Sameer's heart filled up from the sight. When Arnav was only a little boy, his mother had passed away, leaving him, Sameer, and his other two brothers. 

Nayan watched Arnav and decided that he would take Arnav's decision to mind, and that he would ask Khushi of her opinion. What will she say?

Chapter Three

"Are you serious," Nayan asked, when he heard the news.

"Yes," Gaurav exclaimed. "They want to come the day after tomorrow to see her!"

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe this! I- yes! Of course, the date is settled! I have to tell Sumitra the good news!"

He hung up and went over to his wife and told her the good news. She was beyond happy and excited. They went over to Khushi and told her the news.

Khushi had decided from a long time that she'd get married to whomever her father chose. So after hearing this, she simply smiled lightly.

As planned, Sameer's family and Gaurav arrived on that day. Nayan and Sumitra welcomed them in and led them to the living room. Sumitra went upstairs to get Khushi and then brought her down. She sat down and met everyone. They talked away and finalized the wedding.

While all preparations were being made, Khushi couldn't help but get a feeling that she wasn't okay with this. She didn't think that marrying Abhay was right. She had this feeling running through her all day, thinking that there was someone out there for her, but who it was? Not a clue....

All the decorating and events were being prepared. Kids were playing away outside and were enjoying themselves.

"Give the kids something to eat," Nayan said to Sumitra.

"I would if the cooks had arrived!"

"But-"

"There we go, here they are."

The cook apologized for their tardiness and got to work immediately. Since they had to rush, they weren't thinking properly, and the head cook kept yelling away at them. One of the workers brought in huge barrels filled with oil and set it aside at the rooftop, where all the cooking was being done.

One of the workers were new and very clumsy. He had a tray in his hand filled with rasgolas that still had to be put in the sugary substance and another tray with jalebis in it. There was so much hustle and bustle, that the guy kept stopping every five seconds, afraid he'd drop the trays.

Some kids were up on the rooftop and one of them bumped into the guy. Luckily, none of the sweets fell, but he knocked down the barrel with oil, not even realizing. He walked away with the trays to put them down.

Meanwhile, the oil was spreading across the floor. No one was paying attention to it, and those who saw it thought someone just dropped water and that's all it was.

The oil spread throughout and trickled down the stairs. It kept going along and no one paid attention to it. It even went across the bars that went around the middle of the home. It prevented people from looking upstairs from the middle of the house, giving upstairs some privacy. Nayan wanted the house to be big and open, but Sumitra wanted the privacy, so he put the bar guards for that and for safety.

Up on the rooftop, a cook was being clumsy and couldn't get a match to light up. He eventually did, but someone called him and he dropped the match.

"FIRE!"

Nayan looked up immediately. He was talking to one of the workers and stared at the fire wide eyed. Everyone moved far away from the fire and the fire spread down on the oil. People tried to douse it with water, but it continued to spread.

Downstairs, Sumitra stood with Khushi, Sumitra talking to someone. Ever since the alliance was made, Khushi kept thinking about it.

Is this right? Should I be marrying this guy? Has DM made him for me?

All she kept doing was think these things and kept doubting the relation.

"SUMITRA! KHUSHI!"

They looked up to know why Nayan was yelling and saw the fire spread on the bar guard. It was already loose on a side and was about to fall. Both remained frozen from shock and stared wide eyed at it. It loosened more and was falling.

"Amma," Khushi yelled out and she pushed her out of the way.

Sumitra stumbled and when she looked back at her daughter, she saw the worst sight a mother could ever see.

"KHUSHI!"

Chapter Two

Gaurav didn't wait a minute and headed out immediately the next day. He drove up to a grand house and walked in.

The house was beautiful. When you walked in, there was a huge chandelier above the main hall. When you walked into the living room, it was huge, designed in a modern fashion. There were windows that went from the floor to the ceiling, which had see-through white curtains. Behind led to other rooms. There were curved staircases on both sides that led upstairs, everything highly decorated.

"Gaurav?"

Gaurav smiled. "Sameer!"

The two shook hands and sat down.

"It's been too long," Sameer said.

"It has. How's life?"

"What's there to say? My sons have grown up and help take care of my business. Now I basically relax."

The worker brought them tea and Gaurav spoke.

"So how's Aditya and Mona? And what about their daughter Maya?"

"Everyone is great," Sameer said. "Aditya went to work and Mona is dropping Maya off at school."

"That's nice. Sameer you are a very lucky man. You have not only a bahu, but a granddaughter as well."

"Not yet. Not until I see my family complete."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean when I get all my sons married, then I'll believe that I truly am lucky."

"Well why not get Abhay married," he asked, referring to one of Sameer's middle son.

"If I could find a girl for him."

"Well... what if I told you I knew a girl?"

"You do?"

"Indeed I do." He took out the picture of Khushi and handed it over to Sameer. "Her name is Khushi. She's very smart and very kind."

"Just by looking at her picture, I can tell she'd be the perfect bahu."

"Dad I'm leaving!"

The two turned to the sound of Abhay's voice, him all ready for the office.

"Abhay wait," Sameer said.

"What's wrong dad?"

"Come here," he motioned and Abhay sat beside his dad. He handed him the picture and Abhay looked at him confusedly. "Look at it."

Abhay did what his father told him to.

"Her name is Khushi," Sameer said. "I was thinking of getting you married to her."

"If that's what you want dad, then I'm fine with it."

With that he handed the picture back and left to work.

Chapter One

What is beauty? Is it the way you look on the outside? The inside? Or is it just something else? Many people might think of it as how they look, but to me? It never really mattered. All I think that matters is how a person acts, and nothing more. A person will only really attract to another, if they like their personality. That's what I believe.

Bapu always had high hopes for me. He would always dream of me being big one day and happy. My Bapu has always been loving. Not once has he ever scolded me in my life. Amma would tell him how he was spoiling me, but I never took advantage of his love.

As years of my life passed on, I graduated high school, went to college, graduated college, and now I help Bapu manage his small business.

"Khushi!"

Bapu was calling me. I was upstairs in my room, putting some stuff away. I headed downstairs and went into the living room.

"Gaurav Kaka!" I couldn't believe it. Gaurav Kaka is one of Bapu's old friends. He moves around from our town to the city for work.

"Arre Khushi," he said, "you're grown up so much!"

"Of course I've grown Kaka. If I don't grow up, whose gonna take care of Bapu?"

"Oh ho," Amma exclaimed, as she came into the room, "you're saying it in such a way like I don't exist."

"Bhabi, how are you," Kaka asked.

"I'm good, and you?"

"Awesome as ever!"

Amma and I headed to the kitchen while Bapu and Gaurav Kaka talked. We came back, Amma with a tray full of bowls with kheer, and I had a tray with cups of chai. They continued to talk and I stood by. After a while, Bapu and Kaka were heading outside. I handed Bapu his jacket and he smiled at me and left.

I was always there for Bapu - what would he do without me?

*~*

Once they were out, Gaurav had a question running through his mind.

"If you don''t mind me asking, Nayan," Gaurav began, "how come you haven't gotten Khushi married yet?"

"What can I say," Nayan replied. "I've always cared a lot for my daughter. It's always been that smile of hers that made me happy. It's hard to find a decent guy these days. Most of them are all messed up, and finding a decent guy isn't so easy."

"What if I said I know someone?"

Nayan widened his eyes. "You're joking right?"

"Nope. And Khushi is exactly the kind of bahu they're looking for. If you say so, then I will go to them with an alliance."

"Sure!"

'I'll just need a picture to show them."

"Sure, hold on a second."

Nayan went back to the house and got a picture of his daughter and headed right back out to give Gaurav the picture.

"I'm leaving for the city today," Gaurav said. "And don't you worry, I'm going over to the boys place tomorrow and I will definitely tell his family about Khushi."