Chapter 29

"Why are these decorators here? Any special occasion?" questioned Jyotsna, caressing her seven-month bulging belly as she felt the baby kick strongly.

"Of course, a very special occasion indeed. Celebrating it is a given and I wanted to celebrate it just like someone would have wanted it," answered Arjun , grinning ear-to-ear, confusing Jyotsna with his behavior as the sight of Arjun Ranawat smiling was a rare sight in itself and grinning widely seemed like once in a blue moon phenomenon.

"Okay. I hope you can get some of my favorite dishes added to the menu so that I can binge on them," she exclaimed, smirking playfully at him.

"Depends on which one, really. If it is the more palatable variety, I would surely get them added but if it is one of your ingenious creations, I doubt if it could even be replicated by any sane chef," joked Arjun , raising his hands up in surrender as Jyotsna punched his shoulder playfully.

"You will drink orange juice with dark chocolate with sea salt today night, just so that you don't lose touch with my ingenious creations," she said, feigning fury at him, averting her eyes from him as she crossed her arms against her chest.

"Please! Any combination other than that, please!" laughed Arjun , reminiscing the time he had to accompany her as she relished the drink while he was dying with a sip of the drink.

"Then, I want Kachori Chaat, Shahi Paneer, Lachcha Paratha, some good sundae and for the dessert, I am not able to choose so you can choose the dessert. If I get these for the dinner, then you will be saved from the fate of having the drink," she remarked, smiling playfully at him.

"As you wish, my lady! But you need to do something as well. I want you to get dressed in this ensemble and wear these jewellery," he said, pointing at the exquisite golden embellished skirt with maroon borders with intricate embroidery done with rich silk thread but the highlight of the dress was the almost translucent silk veil of maroon color with light embroidery all over. The ensemble was light, in keeping with her pregnant state but also meant to stand out.

"It is beautiful but how can I join? I mean..." Jyotsna hesitated, knowing that there could be paparazzi waiting to cover her and if he appeared in the news, it would mean that the truth was out in front of her mother, who would be heartbroken.

"No paparazzi and just a handful of people. It is just a very special and intimate ceremony, that's all," assured Arjun , placing his hand over her shoulder and his mere touch was enough to reassure her that she would be fine.

"Okay."

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"Here she is! Come on, Jyotsna, take the seat!" exclaimed Arjun , rushing to her side to help her walk to the elevated dias created for the ceremony.

"What is happening here?" questioned Jyotsna, looking at everyone in the house assembled for the ceremony while she was being seated on the dias.

"It is your Godh Bharai ceremony! Honestly, Jyotsna, you thought I was just capable of fulfilling your weird cravings of food? I had heard you talking to yourself, wishing for the ceremony, so I thought to surprise you. How is it?" he asked joyfully, his arms snaked around her and his face merely centimeters away from her.

"Amazing. Thank you so much, Arjun. I thought..never mind, I will just enjoy the ceremony," replied Jyotsna with an exquisite smile playing on her lips, which coupled with her pregnancy glow to entice Arjun all the more.

"Do you have any problem if Namita and I join the ceremony, Bitiya? I know we have hurt you and possibly as a widow and Namita as a divorcee shouldn't attend this but we would be grateful if we can," questioned Indumati, her face turning into a canvas of regret and guilt.

"I am sure you care for the unborn, Indumati Ji. That's all that matters and about marital status, I am unmarried, not conventional, so I don't think even the attendees need to follow any conventions," answered Jyotsna, over the months she had seen their hung heads and regret voiced through actions, and she knew that if she was ready to give another chance to her brother and respected Arjun after everything, even his family deserves another chance.

Namita stepped in with a guilt-laden smile playing on her lips while her cheeks had hints of dried tears, which Jyotsna wondered if were due to a fight between the siblings. Namita picked up the turmeric paste meant to be applied to the soon-to-be mother and she began to apply it on her cheeks and arms.

"I hope and pray that you have a beautiful life ahead, Jyotsna. May your unborn have a wonderful life, filled with love, success and peace."

She began to apply the turmeric on Jyotsna's feet when the dried tears began to well up once again and descended down,

"I am sorry, Jyotsna. Sorry for everything I have done. I know that I have caused a great deal of pain to you, that it was due to my selfishness that you were brought into this situation and as if it was not enough, I tormented you through several other means. I am sorry, Jyotsna, I really am. I don't expect you to forgive me, I just wanted to apologize. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your baby shower," muttered Namita, her voice nothing but a rusty whisper of regret and turmoil.

"I don't know if I will be able to forgive you completely or not, Namita Ji. I know you had your reasons and I know what the reasons you had can make you do. But thank you for siding with me when I wanted this child. Maybe someday, maybe when I see this child playing with me, I will be able to forgive you," replied Jyotsna, reminiscing the time Arjun had told her about the reasoning Namita had given to him for her ideas.

The Jyotsna Khanna she had been in the past would have scoffed at her selfishness but after losing her first child, she was no longer the same Jyotsna Khanna. In fact, she did not know who she was and, in that recklessness, and helplessness, she had herself come up with requests that would be looked down.

She was lucky to have been surrounded by two men who were absolutely filled with guilt and were ready to do everything she demanded. But the woman in front of her was not so lucky. She was blamed for the loss of her own child and her husband had abandoned her side and the recklessness only heightened and the helplessness only intensified the madness.

But that could not bring her to forgive the woman and instead she could feel the guilt rubbing off her as she began to feel pangs of guilt for tormenting Arjun post the miscarriage. Maybe she would be able to only forgive her culprit when she was absolved by her own victim - Arjun Ranawat.

Little did she know that Arjun would be willing to trade his soul for her or maybe she knew and that is the reason for her heightened guilt.