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."