Chapter 36 — You Are My Family

Arnav looked at Ritika as she continued to cry.

Slowly, he reached toward her and gently removed her hands from her face.

Arnav: Look at me, Ritu.

Ritika hesitated.

Then she slowly lifted her eyes and looked at him.

Arnav: Did I ever make you feel like that when we met for the first time?

Ritika remained quiet.

Arnav: When you first met me, did I ever make you feel that I was ashamed of your past?

Ritika shook her head.

Arnav: Did my parents make you feel that way?

Ritika: No.

Arnav: Did Phupi?

Ritika: No.

Arnav looked into her eyes.

Arnav: Then don't let one person's words decide what you mean to this family.

Ritika's eyes filled again.

Arnav: You are my wife, Ritika Arnav Qureshi.

He paused.

Arnav: Not because I was forced into this marriage. Not because my parents asked me to. I accepted you.

Ritika looked at him silently.

Arnav: And Rishi is mine too.

Ritika's lips trembled.

Arnav: Maybe I am not his birth father.

He gently held her hand.

Arnav: But he calls me Baba wholeheartedly.

A faint tear slipped down Ritika's cheek.

Arnav: Nobody taught him to call me that. Nobody forced him.

He looked toward the door of Rishi's room.

Arnav: He chose it himself.

He turned back to Ritika.

Arnav: And I accepted it myself.

Ritika lowered her eyes.

Arnav: So don't ever think I see Rishi as baggage.

His voice became firm.

Arnav: He is a child who has already been through enough. If he wants me in his life, I will be there.

Ritika: Arnav...

Arnav: And about Khala...

His expression hardened.

Arnav: What she said was wrong.

He paused.

Arnav: She looked at you and saw only a widow and a child.

His voice softened.

Arnav: I look at you and see my wife.

He touched her cheek gently.

Arnav: And when I look at Rishi, I see the little boy who ran to me and called me Baba without hesitation.

Ritika began crying again.

Arnav: Khala's words don't decide your worth.

He gently wiped her tears.

Arnav: And my words tonight were wrong too.

Ritika looked at him.

Arnav: I had no right to accuse you of trying to separate me from my family.

He took a breath.

Arnav: You have every right to love your parents. You have every right to go to your home. And you have every right to spend time with them.

Ritika's expression softened.

Arnav: Tomorrow, you, Rishi and I are going to the Singh mansion.

He looked at her steadily.

Arnav: And if you want to stay there for some time, stay.

Ritika: You won't be angry?

Arnav shook his head.

Arnav: No.

He gently held her closer.

Arnav: Because being your husband doesn't mean I get to take away the people you love.

Ritika finally leaned against him, still crying.

Arnav quietly held her.

For the first time that night, the distance between them began to disappear.