Warrior - Chapter Seven

As we walked back to rejoin the others, we remained in silence. When the others noticed us coming back, their eyes turned to us. Anxiousness was clear as day in my mother's eyes and it was obvious she couldn't figure out how things had gone between us.

Shalini Singh Raizada resumed to where she was sitting before, as did I.

"I hope you didn't bore Khushi with all of your flower questions," Aryan Singh Raizada teased his wife lightly.

"Oh stop it," she tried to frown, though her smile was evident as she lightly hit his arm.

She then turned her attention to my mother. "You really do have such a wonderful garden, the flowers are just absolutely wonderful."

"O-oh, thank you," Amma smiled lightly.

I bet you she was expecting to hear an insult about me from Shalini - that would explain the little bit of shock in her eyes.

"I'd say it's about time we served our guests brunch, wouldn't you say so dear," Babuji said, snapping mom out of her wonder.

"Oh yes," and she stood up. "Please, follow me."

The rest of us stood up and the Raizada's followed after my parents. As soon as they did, baby sis came darting to my side, gripping onto my arm in excitement to keep me in place.

Not like I was going anywhere.

Payal watched them as they left and once they were out of earshot, she beamed up at me. "Oh my gosh Di! What happened? What did she say? You guys were gone for a while!"

I lightly slapped at her hands, getting her to let go of her vice grip on my arm.

"Sorry! Now tell me!"

Suddenly our butler, Gomez, appeared. Gomez has been with the family for quite a long time. In fact, he's been here for as long as Babuji can even remember. In a way, Gomez was family.

"Madam, your phone has been ringing nonstop," he said.

"Oh right, I left it in the study. Thank you, Gomez."

"Uh, Gomez," baby sis quickly called out before he left.

"Yes Madam?"

"What's your opinion of the Raizada's?"

Ah, smart move squirt, asking the right questions again. You see, not only has he been our butler for so long, but he's also been rather resourceful on gaining Intel, if you catch my drift.

Too bad no one thought to think of using it on him and his family.

Given the look on Payal's face, Gomez understood. "Well Madam, I find the Raizada's to actually be one of the rare few good people in this town."

Oh? It's ever so rare Gomez approves of anyone, asides from us that is.

"May I presume Miss Khushi knows about Mrs. Raizada's, er, situation of the past, shall we say."

Well now I do. I nodded.

"I find her qualities to remind me of a Phoenix rising out of its ashes - very much like you, Miss Khushi."

A Phoenix rising out of its ashes... rebirth as she had put it.

"Thank you, Gomez, that'll be all," I smiled softly.

With a small nod, Gomez headed back to work.

"Huh," I heard baby sis say beside me. "Very much like you, hmm?"

I looked her up and down for a moment. "Would you agree, squirt?"

Payal looked up at me. "From what I researched? Yeah I would."

I arched my brow at her and she held her hands up.

"Hey man, just because you wouldn't even look up the guy until I forced you to, doesn't mean not only would I have done that, but researched his folks as well."

"So then you know of the ancient gossip."

I didn't have to question it. It was obvious Payal had learned of it.

"Duh," she said anyways. "While you two were gone, I was wondering if she was going to make any mention of that to you. So what happened?"

Typical squirt, always trying to find out what she needs. I tapped her lightly on her head then headed back to the house.

"What- Di! You didn't say anything!"

I turned back to her, still walking towards the house. "I'm older, I don't have to."

A scowl covered her face, making me smirk, and I turned back around, heading to the house. I cut through the kitchen, which smelled rather delicious, then made my way to the study, having avoided the dining hall where the others would be. Entering the room, I saw my phone on my desk and picked it up.

Missed calls from the office, huh?

Settling down in my seat, I called back, reaching my assistant, Ivy. Her name is actually Iravathi, but she preferred to be known as Ivy - whatever floats your boat, mate.

Ivy notified me of a meeting she had been able to arrange with a person I had been trying to get for so long - Mr. Desai. You see, I've been trying to enter the family company into the fashion world, or at least a division of it. I had a whole plan of starting a blog, an online subscription - the whole works! But Desai was my ticket to getting good advertising on it. However, the man is always so busy - particularly with his mistresses and/or golf - so it's hard to get a hold on him.

"Job well done Ivy, but what's with the numerous calls?"

"Well... it wasn't exactly easy getting the meeting, because he kept saying he was booked and would be on the golf fields, so I managed to arrange a meeting there."

A small smirk crawled onto my face. "Let me guess, you were panicking over the fact if I knew how to golf well or not."

"Yes," she squeaked. "This man oddly takes golf way too seriously."

"Not surprised; but no worries Ivy. When am I meeting him?"

"This coming Thursday."

"Cool. Keep me posted," and I hung up the call just as Babuji appeared at the doors.

"It's a little rude to have left the guests, no," he smirked playfully.

The question was rhetorical. My father knew all to well how work came before anything - well except family. My family, that is.

Going over to his side, I linked my arm with his and we headed to the dining room.

"What's going through that head of yours," he asked.

"I'm wondering why golf had to be the rich man's sport. Why couldn't it be something more interesting? Like shuffleboard - that's something you don't hear about every day."

"True... but I was thinking in relation to our guests."

I paused and so did Babuji. I simply looked at him and he looked at me, before the old man sighed and cupped my cheek. I saw the pain that flashed before his eyes, so I reached up and squeezed his hand.

"I don't think I'll ever forgive myself," he nearly whispered.

"It's not your fault."

"Let's not lie, Khushi," he smiled sadly.

Pinching my lips together, I hugged Babuji and a shuddering sigh escaped from his lips.

Like any good father, I know my father had tried to find the right man for me. He was the one who had learned about him and his family through a business associate, therefore Babuji being the one to reach out to his family. After what had happened, it was no surprise Babuji blamed himself - that's why he wouldn't even be able to meet my eyes in the beginning. He held himself liable for what had happened to me. Part of me even blamed him - part of me still does. Another part of me didn't, and it still doesn't.

In simple terms, it's a fucked up complex.

"You understand that your mother has only good intentions, yes," he asked, his voice low.

I only hummed in return. Deep down, I want to 100% believe that his words are true. But given the events of life, I don't think I ever will. No matter what, there will always be a large essence of doubt, which I'm almost positive will never leave. Yes, I know my mother has good intentions... yet a part of me will have doubt, thinking she's trying to set me up for another disaster.

It can't be helped. Not that I'll say anything about it, of course.

Babuji pulled back and looked at me. "Shall we?"

I nodded, and we headed to the dining room together. We found Amma engaged in conversation with Shalini and her husband, while Payal was chatting up Arnav.

Well, its clear baby sis is on board for this. Even though she was only 18-turning-19 when I first got married, she didn't care nor feel the need to talk when his family first came. I know a part of her feels some responsibility, even going as far as to say that if she had spoken to him at the time, she would've quickly discovered the snake that he really was. Unfortunately, there would never be a way to tell.

"Ah, there you are Khushi," Amma said as Babuji and I sat down.

"My apologies, I had an important business phone call to make," I said, pinching my lips together.

"Oh that's completely understandable," Aryan Singh Raizada said. "Chote is just like that, too."

Huh?

"We call our Arnav that, lovingly," Shalini explained.

I glanced over at their son, who was looking away.

Imagine that implied for something... insert evil smirk here.

"Oh, that's sweet," Amma said. "My sister in-law loves to call Khushi her sanka devi."

Really mom?

She went into a full animated conversation over it, which I tried to tune it out. Instead, I focused on my plate of food before me. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed Payal still talking to Arnav - baby sis is clearly conducting a full inquiry.

Not long later, the table was cleared and the Raizada's prepared to leave. Amma tried to convince them to stay for tea, but the Raizada's insisted. Amma and Shalini exchanged a hug, while Babuji and Aryan shook hands. As they exchanged niceties, I saw Payal shaking hands with Arnav. I looked the man over - a small, polite smile graced his face as he shook baby sis' hand, his other hand in his pocket.

Not gonna lie, but the man looked fine in his outfit.

Gomez held the door open, and outside, I saw a Black Badge waiting, a chauffeur standing by the door.

Not bad, Raizada's, not bad at all.

Shalini and her husband came before me, bringing my attention away from the black beauty.

"A pleasure meeting you," Mr. Raizada said, holding his hand out.

"You as well," I nodded curtly, shaking his hand.

Shalini stepped forward and hugged me. "I hope you'll consider what I said," she murmured, before pulling back and smiling at me, caressing my cheek.

The couple turned to leave, bidding farewells once again to my parents, thanking them. From the corner of my eyes, I watched Arnav join his parents and to my surprise, he was watching me from the corner of his. Both of us caught the other but neither looked away.

Bold.

With that, the Raizada's left, and as soon as the car pulled away and the front door shut, Amma rolled loose like the way your fat does when you take off your spanx.

"Oh my gosh, how did that go," she freaked, turning to Babuji. "Did it go well? I hope it went well, did it though? Did they like our Khushi? I thought they did, it seemed Shalini did, but Arnav never even spoke to her? They never asked for the two to speak? Did we mess up? Did they not like her and just be nice? Did-?"

"Garima, breathe," Babuji said, holding her shoulders.

While dad tried to calm her, Payal came over to my side.

"By the way Di, what did Arnav's mom say to you in the end? I noticed she whispered something to you."

I glanced at her - ever so inquisitive, eh baby sis?

Amma and Babuji had heard what Payal said and looked at me in confusion. But I only looked forward at the door; I have to admit, Shalini Singh Raizada had my respect.

"What did she say," Amma asked.

"Nothing important," and I headed upstairs to my room, hearing my mother groan with slight frustration, the woman unsure of what to think.

When I reached my room, I entered my walk-in closet and sat at my vanity as I began removing my earrings.

"I hope you'll consider what I said."

Shalini's last words came to mind, which then took me back to our last words when we were in the garden.

"Well don't look so surprised dear, it's true. What matters first is what you want. After what happened previously in your life, I'm sure another marriage is one thing you do not care for right now, or even ever, I bet."

"And yet, here you are."

"And yet, here I am."

Shalini stepped over to me, standing several inches before me.

"I leave it all up to you now," she said, holding her hands in front of her. "I've explained to you why it is that I would like for my son to marry you. However, it is all your choice. If you would like to, you can meet my son, I'll arrange a meeting. That way you can talk to him, get to know him, just as he will get to know you. I won't pressure you into anything, that is why I'm only saying this to you and not before your parents."

Oh?

"Whatever happens forward regarding this, is strictly your decision. As I said, I understand that you have zero cares for another marriage. But I can say this to you, Khushi, that my son is not a vile man, and I don't just say that because I'm his mother," she quickly threw in when she heard me scoff.

"Sure, mothers never want to accept when their child is bad - a child is always an angel in their mother's eyes," she continued. "A mother believes that their child can do no wrong, even willing to turn a blind eye. Some mothers do it so much, they do turn blind, even willing to deny everything after their child cheats and plays them. But when it comes to my son, Khushi, you'll never find another like him. And I can tell you this Khushi - if by some miracle you do agree to marry Arnav, he will do nothing but try to bring light and happiness to your life."

I pursed my lips together, holding back my chuckle - woman really does have balls.

"Please consider my words, Khushi. Please meet him once, at least. Then you can tell me your final decision."

Blinking out of the memory, I looked at my reflection, placing my earrings down.

"You really are one interesting woman, Shalini Singh Raizada."