118. Thanking Arnav

Arnav & Khushi OS: Thanking Arnav

(For Supriya, my Titli)

 Section 1

Khushi gulped as she looked at the entrance of RM, the door thrown wide open to welcome the Guptas and other guests for the mehendi ceremony of Payal.

‘The Laad Governaar will be here, smirking at me, looking all superior after helping me out during the Teri Meri dance yesterday,’ she thought scowling at the harmless chain of marigold flowers hanging along the door.

‘If only Sarita had not slipped on a banana peel last evening and broken her leg!’ Khushi thought with a grimace. ‘But it had to happen. After all it was Khushi Kumari Gupta’s plan of winning against Arnav Singh Raizada. How could Devi Maiyya make it easy for me?”

She watched the Raizada ladies greet the Guptas and welcome them in. Khushi looked nervously for the black-coated Rakshas on the stairs leading to his room and the vast expanse of the hall. 

He was absent.

Khushi drew in a relieved breath. She attached herself to Buaji’s pallu, feeling her heart encased in a green choli beat at a rapid pace.

“Khushiji, aayiye. Do you have the mehendi cones with you?” Anjali asked.

“Ji, Anjaliji.” Khushi whispered, hoping that her voice wouldn’t carry and attract the attention of one man.

“Is something wrong with your throat, Khushiji?” Anjali asked anxiously. “I will ask Hari Prakashji to make a kadda.”

“No, no.” Khushi smiled nervously. “I am fine.”

Nani smiled at Buaji. “I have forbidden the boys from coming down to join us, Madhumatiji.”

Khushi felt the weight on her chest lift.

“Acha he, Nandkisore. This is just for girls. What will the boys do with the mehendi cones?” Buaji chuckled. 

Garima & Babuji joined her. 

Mami smiled. “Hamre Arnav Bitwaa hajj no problem. Give him a laptops and his black tea. He will sits for hours. But NK & Akass Bitwaa…”

All smiled. Payal blushed thinking of her bespectacled lover and his eagerness to see her.

 Khushi alone heaved a sigh of relief. At least she would be spared the sight of her nemesis. ‘Devi Maiyya ki jai ho!’ she chanted in her mind.

                                        ***

Soon an army of ladies poured in. All of them gathered around the bride and began selecting designs amongst laughter and jokes. Payal was one big blush, being the centre of everybody’s attention and merciless teasing.

Akash and NK peeked at the ladies from above, trying to catch a glimpse of the happenings there.

“Akash, I want to see what is happening there.” NK complained for the hundredth time, chomping on chips, the bag held open in his hands.

If Akash were a more violent man, he would have knocked NK down the steps. 

He said, “Me too. But what can we do? Nani has given strict instructions that we are not to join the ladies.” Akash leaned forward, almost falling over the banister in his desperation to see Payal.

As they watched with incredulous eyes, ASR walked casually past them down the stairs, leaving the two boys flabbergasted.

“Nannav! Where are you going?” NK asked. “Nani will scold you,” he hissed.

ASR looked at their pale faces with unconcern, knowing that his reputation as India’s biggest khadoos would stand him in good stead. “I am going to get a glass of water.” He walked down, scanning the guests with his sharp gaze.

  

His eyes rested on the girl in blue-green lehenga, who was looking at the design being drawn on her palm, a small smile on her lips. She was looking gorgeous, the blue and green throwing the creaminess of her skin in to relief. ‘How to get her alone?’ he wondered. He noticed Nani look at him. He averted his eyes from Khushi and looked down at his phone.

The ladies looked at ASR. He was looking at the display of his phone as he walked by them.

“Chotey?” Nani called.

ASR looked at her, preoccupied.

“You came down for water?” she asked.

“Yes.” ASR said, his eyes stealing to Khushi who raised a pale face to his.

All the ladies smiled at him. Unhindered, he walked to the kitchen.

NK looked at Akash.

“Akash, did you see that?”

“Yes, NK Bhai. We too can try that.” an eager Akash said.

“Nani, we want water too,” NK called, leaning over the banister. “I am very thirsty.”

Akash nodded. “Me too, Dadi.”

The ladies giggled.

Nani hid her smile with great difficulty. “I will send it with HP.”

“Nani!” NK protested.

“Shall I comes up with a bucket of it? To pours over your heads, Hello Hi Bye Bye?” Mami asked.

NK & Akash looked at each other with wide eyes and then withdrew in to their rooms, giving up the fight.

                                     ***

“Arnav Bhaiyya!” poor HP gasped. “You wanted water? Hamein bula lete. I would have…”

“It is OK, HP,” ASR said, blushing slightly. He sipped the water and made his way out of the kitchen and across the hall on slow feet.

Khushi panted, her eyes tracking the movement of his feet. ‘Why was he ambling? Why couldn’t he walk fast?’ she asked herself.

“Khushiji, which letter of the alphabet do you want me to write on your palm?” the lady drawing the design asked.

Khushi flushed, cursing fate, taking care not to look in the direction of Arnavji who was walking by her.

“Write ‘T’ for Titliyaa,” laughed Buaji. “Or ‘S’ for Sanka Devi. Or ‘P’ for Parmeswari.”

Khushi scowled at Buaji. She stole a look at the smirk on Arnavji’s face and made to clench her fingers in aggravation.

“Careful!” the mehendi lady warned her.

Khushi glared at the mehendi on her palms. “Please write ‘K’,” she whispered.

“A?” the lady asked loudly.

Khushi paled as all looked at her, especially one pair of twinkling eyes.

“K,” Khushi said loudly.

ASR walked by, smirking.

                                        ***

“Khushiji, can you do me a favour?” Anjali asked, smiling sweetly.

“Ji?” Khushi smiled, willing to help out, sparing a glance at the red mehendi on her hands.

“Can you go up to Chotey’s room and get the bangles that we have made for Payalji?” Anjali asked. “It is in his locker.”

Khushi paled. And gasped. “Nahin!” Even her mehendi became pale in shock.

All looked at her.

“I mean, Anjaliji, I mean—I mean why should you give Jiji bangles?’ Khushi panted.

All looked at her as though she had a screw loose. Which she did.

“We want to give it to Payalji.” Anjali smiled. “Please get it for me, Khushiji. You know how difficult it is for me to go up the steps,” Anjali pleaded nicely.

Khushi looked around at the family members gathered around her. All were looking expectantly at her. She could only nod.

 She looked at the steps with feverish eyes, her breath coming in a rush. She would have to go to the Rakshas!

‘He Devi Maiyya, why do you throw me from one pot of hot water to the next? Kabhi kabhi cold water mein bhi daala keejiye hamein!’ she told her friend. ‘This man is bad for my heart.’ The picture of him entering the room she had been changing clothes in last night rushed through her mind. Why had he unclipped her hair? She placed one foot in front of the other and slowly made her way up.

Soon she stood before his partially shut door. She raised a hand and knocked—gently. ‘Please let him be deaf, Devi Maiyya! Let him be digging at the roots of his plants! Let him not hear me!' she prayed fervently, but Devi Maiyya was in no mood to hear her.

“Come in.” ASR murmured.

Khushi swallowed hard, her throat dry as a desert. Slowly she pushed the door fully open and moved in to his line of vision.

“Khushi?” he frowned. “Why are you here?”

His matter-of-fact approach soothed her—somewhat.

“Kangan. Kangan asked me to get Anjaliji,” Khushi said in a low voice.

Laughter sprung in to his wicked eyes but was controlled swiftly. The prey should not be spooked.

“Di asked you to get the kangan she made for Payal?” he asked.

“Ji.” Khushi said.

“Why are you clinging to the door as if you are scared? Come in.” he said, getting up from his recliner and moving towards his locker.

Khushi snatched her fingers away from the door she had been gripping as though it were a lifeline and she a passenger of the Titanic left to drown in the ocean.

“Sacred?” Khushi asked in a feeble voice. “I am not scared,” she said more firmly, with great effort.

“Good.” ASR said as he walked to her and handed over a small box.

Khushi took it from him, taking care that her fingers did not brush against his by mistake.

“Open it and check if the two bangles are in it.” ASR instructed.

Khushi obeyed, fiddling with the lock, frowning at the box. Fearing her displeasure, it opened rather rapidly and the bangles fell to the ground.

Khushi bent to take them. She held them in her fingers and turned them this way and that. 

“They are beautiful,” Khushi said with pleasure. “Jiji will like them.”

“Good,” he said.

Khushi frowned at the bangles. Why was his voice coming from behind her? She turned to see him standing against a locked door, his arms crossed, looking at her with a pronounced smirk on his face. His eyes were twinkling in unholy merriment.

Khushi gulped, all thoughts flying out of her head.

She watched as the hungry lion walked towards her, his stride slow and purposeful. He came to stand near her.

Khushi looked at him, her eyes terrified.

“Scared, Khushi?” he challenged.

Khushi shook her head in the negative, her voice having left her behind in his den on its hasty way out of RM.

Her fear-filled eyes looked in to his.

He took the bangles and the box from her nerveless fingers and threw them on the bed.

Khushi felt a shiver travel along the length of her spine.

“You didn’t have time to thank me yesterday. Thank me now,” he demanded.

Khushi gulped. “I—I thanked you.”

“That is not the thanks I want.” He looked at her lips. He was clear about his expectations but Khushi was too naive to understand him.

Khushi parted her lips to ask him what he wanted, but her question remained unasked as he bent his head and brought his lips close to hers.

She saw his face coming closer and closer till his strong nose nudged hers.

 Khushi jerked, her eyes rushing to his lips.

 His hands caught her shoulders and tugged gently, bringing her closer and holding her in place.

His warm lips touched her rosy cheek and moved towards the curve of her lips.

Khushi pushed against his torso, panic lending strength to her arms. She squirmed her way out of his arms and rushed to the door.

As she fumbled with the door, ASR murmured, “Khushi, the bangles.”

She got the door open and turned to look at him, making sure that she was standing safely out of the room. She was panting asthough she had participated in a marathon—and collapsed halfway through.

He walked up to her holding out the box with the bangles in it.

Khushi extended trembling fingers to take it.

He caught hold of her hand and placed the box in her palm. He closed her trembling fingers around the box.

“Khushi.”

She looked at him, her breath erratic, her hand trembling.

“I never forget what is owed me.”

Khushi gasped, pulled her arm out, and ran for her life.

                                        ***

Khushi went home with the others, throwing scared backward glances to see if he was looking at her. But he was conspicuous by his absence.

“It all went well, Nandkisore. Titliyaa, show me your mehendi,” Buaji invited.

Khushi extended her arms for Buaji to take a peek.

“It is red. Very red. Acha he, Nandkisore!” Buaji smiled. As she was about to turn her head, she paused, struck by something she had seen.

“Payaliyaa, give me my glasses,” she asked.

Payal handed it over to her, and asked, “Kya hua, Buaji? Is the design smudged?”

Buaji wore her specs and looked at Khushi’s palm. “Oo kaa he, Nandkisore? ‘A’ ya ‘K’?”

Khushi’s head turned at the speed of light to stare at her palm.

A beautiful ‘A’ smiled at her from the base of her thumb. She opened her mouth to gasp, but was too shocked to find breath.

“I have studied only up to 4^th class, Nandkisore, but that ‘K’ looks like ‘A’ to me.” Buaji declared.

Garima peered at the design on Khushi’s palm. “It looks like ‘A’, Jiji.”

Payal whispered to Khushi, “How did you manage to goof up, Khushi?”

“Ho gaya, Jiji.” Khushi grit her teeth so tight that it was a miracle that her teeth were not ground in to stubs.

Payal looked at Khushi’s disturbed countenance and Buaji’s confused frown. She smiled, and making light of the matter, said, “The mehendi lady must have made a mistake, Buaji. I am going to bed. Bahut thak gayi hoon.”

She succeeded in changing the topic.

“Haan, Nandkisore. Tomorrow is haldi. Titliyaa, go with Payaliyaa and get some sleep. We are going to be very busy tomorrow.” Buaji sighed.

The girls left the room.

“Jiji, I will set out the kurta for Akass Bitwaa before I go to bed. Khussi can take it to him in the morning,” Garima told Buaji.

“Theek he, Nandkisore!” 

                                          ***

“Di, do you need my help?” ASR asked Anjali.

The thali fell from Anjali’s hand with a clang. “Chotey, what did you ask? I think my ears are not working.”

Nani & Mami laughed.

“Is there anything you want me to do for haldi? I mean, I am going to the office now. Is there anything you want me to give the Guptas? I can stop there on my way.” ASR tried very hard not to blush. 

Anjali smiled. “No, my papad ka tukda. There is nothing to give.”

Mami frowned. “Akass bitwaa’s yellow kurta should be here by now, Hello Hi Bye Bye!” She looked at the clock. “How bill he wear the late kurta?”

“Don’t worry, Mami. Buaji called just now. Khushiji is bringing it.” Anjali laughed. “Chotey, are you leaving now?”

ASR put his laptop bag down. “I will have a cup of coffee, Di.”

Nani, Mami, & Anjali stopped to stare at him.

“Chotey, aap theek to hein?” Nani asked, worried.

“I am perfect, Nani. I am thirsty, that’s all.” ASR looked away to hide his eyes.

Mami frowned and muttered, “Hamre Arnav Bitwaa’s thirst has increased these days. Water during mehendi, coffee during haldi. Bhat ijj happenings?”

The door bell rang.

ASR strode to the door before HP could and pulled the door open.

“Namaste Hari P…” Khushi felt her breath stop. She closed her fingers in a tight fist. What if he saw the ‘A’ in her mehendi?

“Hi.”

ASR’s husky voice took away the rest of her breath. And why was he being so polite, a slight smile adorning his face?

Khushi turned to look behind her. There was no one there except Laxmiji. She turned her head towards Arnavji, confusion writ large on her beautiful face.

 The smile on his face grew more pronounced.

“Aap hum se keh rahe hein?” she clarified.

ASR nodded, not trusting his voice.

“Oh. Namaste.” She folded her hands. The yellow kurta slipped out of the bag and fell to the ground.

“Awww!” Khushi’s mouth fell open. She fell to the ground on her knees and gathered up the clothes and stuffed them in to the bag.

ASR enjoyed the show.

“Khushiji!” Anjali and the others came up to her.

“The kurta.” Khushi handed over the bag.

“Khushiji, come inside,” Anjali invited her.

“No!” Khushi exclaimed. “I mean, I have to go home.” Khushi avoided his knowing eyes, trying to still her heart.

“Khussi bitiya, what is the hurry?” Nani smiled. “Come and sit with us for a while.”

“Khushiji, come in. Please help me choose. Should I wear the blue sherwani or the pink one? Please come to my room and help me select.” NK invited.

Khushi swallowed as she saw Arnavji’s hands clench and felt his body tense.

“Anything will look good on you, Nanheji. I have to go now.” Khushi turned away.

“I will drop you, Khushi.” ASR declared.

“Nahi! Hum chale jaayenge.” Khushi tried to run away.

“Khushiji, let Chotey drop you. Chotey, are you sure you don’t want that coffee?” Anjali asked.

“What coffee? Oh, that coffee. No, no, I will have it at the office. Khushi, come with me.” ASR strode towards his car, dragging Khushi behind him.

 Section 2 To be updated later

“Chodiye hamein!” Khushi tried to pull her hand out of the Shaitan’s hold.

“No, I won’t,” he said, like an adamant child. “Why did you run away yesterday like a scared baby?”

Khushi drew in a deep breath. It never paid to admit your weakness to your enemy. “I was not scared. Nor am I a baby. Aap ko diabates ke saath saath blindness bhi he, kya?”

ASR controlled the quirk in his lips. “I know you are not a baby.” He looked her up and down, his burning eyes singeing the hairs on her skin. “But you are scared. I can see the fear in your eyes.” He looked deep in to her beautiful eyes.

Khushi turned her head away. She tried to pull her arm out of his hold, but his fingers were holding her arm firmly.

He opened the car door. “Get in, Khushi.”

“No, I don’t want to go with you.” She turned her head away, letting her hair fan out.

“You didn’t say that when you fell unconscious in my arms that night at the Guest House.” ASR retorted. “I carried you home.”

Khushi glared at him. “Who made me unconscious? You did!” She punctuated her sentence with a jab at his chest with her finger. “You sent me to that godforsaken place. You made sure I did not have any breakfast, sitting across from me at the table and scowling at me, Laad Governaar kahin ka. You made me sit up all night typing that stupid report from 1998 that even a self-respecting rat won’t want to nibble on. You made me stand in the rain for hours at night, showing drivers where to park their cars. Why did they need help to park cars? Couldn’t they see where there was an empty space? If they couldn’t see, then why were they driving?” Her finger continued to jab him as she listed every crime against her.

ASR glowered at her, his sense of guilt firing his fury.

“And you broke my bangles and hurt my arm.” She looked down at her arm as though she could locate the wound now.

“Khushi!” His voice held regret.

Khushi pouted, turning her head away.

ASR sighed. Being his usual overbearing self was not going to win him any brownie points with her.

“Let me drop you home. You must have a lot of work waiting for you,” he said, sounding very reasonable.

She looked at him. She did have a busy day. “Yes.” Khushi had to admit.

He helped her in, took his seat and drove away.

A while later he asked her, “What will you do when you reach home?”

Khushi sighed. “All the ladies will be there for the haldi. After the cleaning up is over, I have to serve food to all of them. Then clean the whole house. Stack all the gifts. Help Jiji pack the last minute additions to her big suitcase…” Her face fell. 

Jiji would be going away tomorrow. It was only now that the consequences of Jiji’s marriage struck her. Khushi blinked her tears away.

He looked at her pained face and swallowed hard. He would ask Payal to stay back in Laxmi Nagar if he could, but Akash…

ASR stopped the car. They had reached Laxmi Nagar.

“Khushi, she will be in Delhi. You can visit any time.” He reminded her.

Khushi nodded, not really convinced that her loss was not his gain.

“I will look after her. Khushi, Payal will never want for anything.” He insisted, wanting to see a smile on her face.

“I know.” Khushi turned her head to look at him. “Buaji said that as long as you are the head of the family, Jiji will never have  a problem.”

ASR was touched by Buaji’s trust in him. “Buaji said that?”

“Ji. She doesn’t know you. She doesn’t know that you create all the problems before solving them.” Khushi made to open her door.

ASR caught hold of her arm.

“Khushi, I promise. I will look after Payal. Just as I look after Di.” He was dead serious.

Khushi looked in to his eyes with moist ones. Finally, she nodded.

“And I will look after you,” he promised.

Khushi frowned. “Why should you look after me? I am perfectly capable of looking after myself,” she claimed. The tears vanished.

ASR smiled. “I know. But let me keep an eye on you.”

“Keep an eye on me? Why should you keep an eye on me? Am I a chor for you to keep an eye on me?” Khushi asked, affronted. 

“Yes.”

“Aww!” Khushi’s mouth fell open.

ASR bent to kiss her arm at the very spot that he had hurt her that night at the Guest House.

Khushi looked at him, her eyes wide in shock. Her arm felt as it had when she had tried to iron her salwar a few years back and the electric iron had given her a rude shock.

“You have stolen too many things from me, Khushi.”

“What? What did I take from you?” Khushi’s hurt eyes looked in to his intent ones.

“Do you want to know?” he asked.

Khushi nodded, determined to wrestle him to the ground if he so much as dared to call her a thief again.

“I will give you a list tomorrow,” he promised.

Khushi glared at him, feeling wounded. “At the wedding?”

“After the wedding. Meet me on the terrace after the wedding.” His husky voice send  a thrill through her nerves.

                     ***

ASR was ready with the others to welcome the Guptas in to RM for the wedding.

Buaji pushed Babuji in his wheelchair in to the house. They were followed by Garima & Payal. Khushi came behind them, looking all lost, happy and sad at the same time.

She was in a green and red lehenga, and Arnav felt his heart stop for a second at his first sight of her.

She saw the Raizadas and smiled at them, especially at Nanheji. Behind Nanheji stood Arnavji like a pillar of stone, dressed in a black sherwani. Khushi tried to drag her eyes away from him.

Nanheji was in pink.

“Khushiji, how do I look?” NK asked, all smiles.

“Very good, Nanheji.” Khushi smiled at him.

“I am showing off my halkat jawani, Khushiji” NK said and Khushi & he giggled.

ASR fumed.

“Akash is getting dressed. His sherwani is golden in colour.”

“Acha.” Khushi smiled.

“I told Nannav not to wear black, but when does he ever listen to anyone?” NK asked.

ASR’s eyes grew cold.

Khushi’s eyes skittered away from his.

 The Raizadas and the Guptas moved in to the house, the hosts showing off the arrangements and the Guptas awestruck at the grand scale on which they had organised the function.

ASR walked by Khushi as NK left them to assist Akash.

“Remember. The terrace. After the wedding.” ASR whispered, just for Khushi’s ears.

Khushi looked warily at him but nodded. She had to know what she had stolen from RM.

Khushi stood by Buaji as the wedding ceremonies took place one after the other.

Her eyes clashed with Arnavji’s during Payal & Akash’s jaimala.

Khush felt her heart increase its dhak dhak. ‘Why is he looking at me like this?’ she wondered. ‘Just like I look at jalebis?’

He ran his eyes over the luscious lines of her figure that the modestly draped dupatta could not fully cover.

Khushi moved behind Buaji, taking refuge behind her appreciable girth to hide herself from his knowing eyes. ‘Will he summon the police and hand me over? But how can he do that to his sister-in-law’s sister? And that too, immediately after the marriage? How can I prove to him that I have not stolen anything from RM?’ she wondered.

The rituals of marriage happened one after the other but ASR had eyes only for Khushi and Khushi had eyes only for ASR. He read her fear, her unwilling attraction for him, her helpless fascination for him, her wariness and her longing for him in her eyes. 

The guests threw flowers at the couple. Khushi, who was staring at Arnav and could see only him in the hall full of people including her Jiji & Jiju who were busy getting married, threw the flowers in her hand at him.

The rose petals fell on his hair, face and shoulders.

He smiled. Khushi looked at the curve of his lips, rapt.

Buaji frowned at her. “Titliyaa, Akash Bitwaa is marrying Payaliyaa. Why are you throwing flowers at Arnav Bitwaa, Nandkisore?”

Khushi’s eyes flew wide open. Red colour flooded her cheeks. ‘What am I doing, Devi Maiyya? Did you take away the little brains you gave me when I was born?’ she asked silently.

“Suno Sanka Devi. Take this thali and give it to Arnav Bitwaa.” Buaji instructed.

Khushi lifted the thali and stood hesitating. “Buaji, you want me to give this to Arnavji, right?” she made sure.

Buaji sighed. “How many Jetjis does your sister have?”

“One. Arnavji.” Khushi was sure about this.

“Then give it to him, Nandkisore!” Buaji said.

ASR watched Khushi walk up to him with the thali.

“Buaji asked me to give this to you,” she said.

ASR looked at her, loving the blush on her cheeks.

 “I am not giving this to you because I want to give it to you,” she explained. “But because this has to be given to Jiji’s Jetji. And Jiji has only one Jetji. That is you. So what else can I do?” She swallowed hard.

ASR stood looking at her, his lips still smiling.

“Take it.” She pushed the thali in to his hands. He closed his fingers over hers.

“The terrace, Khushi. In ten minutes.” ASR reminded her.

Khushi pulled her hands away and nodded obediently. 

‘He Devi Maiyya, what is going to happen to me?’ she asked silently.

The rest of the guests were enjoying their dinner when Khushi saw ASR motioning towards the steps with his head. He slowly moved away and out of the room without attracting undue attention.

Khushi gave the loaded dinner tables a regretful glance and slowly moved away in the direction indicated by him. She followed him up the steps to his room, crossed its length, went out through his garden by the pool and up the steps to the terrace.

He was standing at one end of the terrace, waiting for her. Mild light from thousands of fairy lights strung in chains all over the terrace fell on his face. Khushi swallowed nervously. It was just the two of them, a fate she had tried very hard to avoid.

ASR turned to look at Khushi. She was standing near the door, hesitant to come closer to him.

“Shut the door and come in, Khushi. We have  a lot to talk about.” His voice was low.

He watched her turn to lock the door and then walk up to him on unsteady feet, a fairy gliding towards him. She stopped a few feet away from him.

“Closer, Khushi,” he instructed.

She moved a few steps closer.

“Khushi.”

“Hum aapko bata doon, I have not stolen anything from you.” Khushi said, trying to prove her innocence.

“You have.”

"I have? What?”

“My sleep.”

“Hum machar thodi na he ki I will steal your sleep!” Khushi protested.

“You are more dangerous than machar.”

“Uuggh?”

“You have stolen my peace.” Arnav said.

Khushi looked at him, her eyes wide, her mouth open. What was wrong with him? But soon her amazement was replaced by glee.

“You can’t call the police and complain that I have stolen your neend and chain,” she giggled.

“You are a menace, Khushi Kumari Gupta. You won’t let me work in peace. You come in between with your smiles and your jokes,” ASR said. His voice was casual in the extreme, but his eyes were alert.

Khushi frowned at him.

“Aapko ek doctor ki sakt zaroorat he,” Khushi said finally.

“I need you, not a doctor.” ASR said.

Khushi looked away.

“Khushi, who do you think about when you go to sleep?” he asked.

“Devi Maiyya first. Then I think about you. How can I not? You irritate me so much that I spend my nights plotting ways to make you pay.” Khushi said with conviction.

“And who do you think about when you wake up?” he asked softly.

“You. I think about how I can put my plans to thwart you in action.” Khushi smiled.

As ASR watched, the wind blew her unbound hair over her shoulder and across her face. She lifted her hand to brush the strands away.

ASR caught hold of her hand.

Khushi stared at him.

He tugged her closer still and looked at her palm.

“A?” he asked.

Khushi paled and tried to get sole use of her hand back but to no avail.

“Why have you written ‘A’ in your mehendi, Khushi?” Joy laced his voice.

“Woh—woh—I said ‘K’. That lady must have been deaf. She wrote ‘A’.” Khushi pouted, shifting all the blame on to the lady.

“She wrote right, Khushi. I am not letting you write any other alphabet on your palm. Not as long as I am alive.” ASR staked his claim.

ASR looked at Khushi’s pale face.

“You asked me, “Farak kyon padta he?"” he said slowly.

Khushi swallowed. ASR’s eyes traced the movement of her throat muscles.

“Farak padta he, Khushi. Everything that you do, say, don’t do, don’t say—they all make a difference to me. Because I love you,” he confessed.

ASR watched Khushi’s wan face, her chest that remained still as she had forgotten to draw breath.

“Will you marry me, Khushi?” he asked.

He watched as Khushi’s eyes filled with tears. She turned away from him.

“Khushi.”

Khushi made to leave him.

ASR caught hold of her arm. “Khushi.”

She stood silent, her head lowered.

“Khushi, I want an answer.” It was more a plea than a demand.

“Will you change your mind if I say ‘yes’?” she asked.

ASR stared at her.

She pulled her arm out of his hold.

“Lavanyaji thought you would marry her. She bought clothes, planned your honeymoon, let her family and friends know—and at the last minute, you changed your mind. She left in tears.”

“Khushi.”

She turned to face him. She had nothing more to hide.

“If you do the same with me, it will hurt Jiji & Jiju. It will damage the relationship between your family and mine. The Buaji who is now singing your praises will run after you with her belan.”

ASR stared at the small smile on her face, his own face drawn & pale. 

“So think twice before proposing to me,” she warned.

ASR stared at her, his heart in his mouth.

“I—I am tired of crying. Ten years. I—I have been alone for ten years. When I get married, I want a good man who will stay by me for ever, in good times and bad. I don’t want someone who changes his mind whenever the wind changes direction.” Khushi’s direct eyes looked in to his.

“Shall we get married now, Khushi?” he asked.

Her brows flew up.

“I did not want to marry Lavanya, but I do want to marry you. Desperately.”

Khushi looked at him.

“Khushi, do you love me?” he asked.

“Yes.” What was the use of hiding the truth? “I don’t know why, but…” Khushi paused.

ASR swallowed. He needed to go down on his knees and thank her Devi Maiyya for this blessing.

“Like a moth attracted by the flame, I come running to you even after you hurt me with your words and actions,” she mused.

“I am sorry, Khushi. For hurting you. For making you cry,” he said softly.

Khushi looked at him, silent.

“After the guests leave, I will talk to both families and get their permission. We can marry tomorrow,” he offered.

Khushi nodded. “Are you sure?” she asked.

“More sure than I have been about anything in my life.” His voice was clear and determined. “Khushi, do you want me to propose before everyone?”

Khushi looked at him.

He walked to her and bent on one knee.

“Marry me, Khushi.” he begged.

“I will marry you, Arnavji. But leave the dramebaazi and nautanki to me. Why are you standing on one knee like a kid in nursery punished for some mischief? Udh jaayiye.” She helped him stand up. “You don’t have to lower yourself in the eyes of the world to prove your love to me. Just don’t hurt me like you hurt Lavanyaji. That’s all.”

“Never, Khushi.” he promised.

“She could run away to England to her family. Where will I run off to? I have no where to go if you decide not to marry me at the last minute.” Khushi said directly.

“Khushi, as long as I am alive, I will never leave you. And if you leave me, I will—die.” ASR whispered.

Khushi looked in to his eyes. She couldn’t bear to see the torment there any longer. She rushed to him and hugged him tight.

The lovers stood on the terrace in each other’s arms, lost to the revelry downstairs.

The post-wedding games finally ended, and the guests left one by one, group by group. Finally, it was just the Guptas and the Raizadas who leaned exhausted against plush cushions. NK was chewing chips with a vengeance.

Before Payal & Akash could be led to their room, ASR said, “Babuji, Amma, Buaji, Nani, Mama, Mami, Di, I need to tell you something.”

All looked at him. The Guptas were curious; the Raizadas who knew him well were anxious. What was Chotey up to now?

“I would like to get married.” he said.

All brows shot up.

“Chotey…” Nani hesitated.

“I love Khushi. I want to marry her.”

All gasped, looking from Arnav to a blushing Khushi.

“You love Khushiji?” Anjali asked.

“Yes.”

“And—and she loves you?” Anjali had to be sure.

“Yes.”

Anjlai looked at Khushi for confirmation. Khushi lowered her head, blushing.

The Raizadas began to smile. Maybe miracles could happen.

Buaji asked Arnav, “Are you sure, Bitwaa? Woh kaa he, Khussi thodi sanki he…”

 

“I like her that way, Buaji.” ASR smiled.

The Guptas heaved a sigh of relief. Payal smiled at Akash.

Seeing all the smiling faces around him, NK said, “Bidai ho, bidai ho!”

“Hein? Bidai? Aur ab, Nandkisore? Shadi to ho jaane do, bitwaa!” Buaji exclaimed.

“Badhai ho, NK Bhai!” Akash corrected him.

“Sorry!” NK pulled his ear. All laughed.

“Can we get married tomorrow?” ASR was not one to waste time.

All gasped and laughed. 

“Jaldi kaa he, Arnav Bitwaa? Yeh kabootari ud nahi jaayegi, Hello Hi Bye Bye!” Mami teased.

All joined her.

Finally, Nani said, “Shall we have it tomorrow?” She was scared that her Chotey would change his mind. Anjali & Mami took one look at her face, read her mind and nodded vigorously, sharing her qualms.

"Yes, good work, bhy baste (waste) taime?" Mami asked.

 

Buaji looked at Sasi & Garima, and said slowly, “If that is what you want…”

“Then tomorrow it is.” Nani heaved a sigh of relief. “The mandap need not be demolished.”

“I will book the same caterers & the decorators.” Di said.

 All nodded, caught up in the arrangements.

ASR smiled in to Khushi’s eyes. She blushed.

ASR dropped the Guptas at their home after the wedding. He helped Garima and Buaji unload Babuji’s wheelchair. As the ladies pushed him in to the house, ASR caught hold of Khushi’s arm.

She looked at him.

“You did not thank me for helping you out on Sangeet night.” His husky voice made her shiver.

Khushi looked behind her. Her family was no where in sight.

 She looked around. There was no one on the road.

She leaned forward and pressed her plump, soft lips against his lean, hard cheek.

His eyes fluttered shut. He stood caught in the poignant sweetness of that simple touch.

Her lips left him reluctantly.

“Thank you, Arnavji,” she whispered, her breath against his cheek.

“No, thank you, Khushi. For marrying me. For loving me. For not giving up on me. For giving me a chance.” He rubbed his lips against the swollen curves of her lips. “Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.”