Chapter 36

Chapter 36

“Hello, Chote! Aren’t you happy to see me here?” Devyani Singh Raizada asked after looking at her grandson’s astonished face.

She could see that Arnav was genuinely surprised to see her, which was expected.

“I’ll call you in a while, Khushi” Arnav said in his phone before putting it away and then looking at his Naani again.

“How?” He said, to her and others around her.

“It’s a long story, Arnav! First, let’s settle into these very comfortable looking sofas” Lavanya said, putting the trolley aside and plopping down on the couch.

“Naani ji, please sit. Hema, bring some refreshments” It was Akash who gestured Devyani to sit.

Devyani nodded and let NK help her sit down on the Sofa.

Arnav, in the meanwhile, kept standing and looking at all the faces, waiting to be explained what was happening.

He caught Akash’s eye and mouthed the word ‘how’ but Akash gestured him to take a seat.

After everyone had settled down and refreshments were served on the table, Arnav turned to his Naani again.

“I thought you weren’t coming, Naani” He said, already seated beside her on the couch.

“I changed my mind, Chote. Akash has been calling since the last week and yesterday when both Lavanya and NK requested as well, I decided to come. I know you wanted me here too. So, I thought it’s best if I come. It’s your wedding and despite everything, I do not want to miss it” Devyani replied, looking at everyone’s face as she spoke.

Arnav looked at Akash and then at his cousins with gratitude.

“I am very happy that you are here, Naani” He said, turning back to Devyani who offered him a stiff smile.

“I shall rest for a bit now. I have been on a plane after so long. I feel like I am still mid-air” Devyani said.

“Let me show you to your room, Nani ji” Akash stepped up and said.

“Are the rooms prepared, Akash?” Arnav asked.

“Yes, Bhai. The second guest room is for Naani ji and for NK and Lavanya, I asked Hema to prepare the rooms on the first floor” Akash answered.

“Okay. I’ll take Naani to her room then. You can guide NK and Lavanya” Arnav said and stood up.

“Yeah, I too need a bath as soon as possible so I can feel fresh” Lavanya said, standing up and looking around for her trolley.

“All the luggage, including your trolley, has been moved to the rooms by Dayal” Akash said, making her nod.

“This is a beautiful place, Akash. I really like the work on the ceiling and these pillars. How old is this Mahal?” NK asked, as Akash led the siblings towards the stairs.

“It was first built in 1898, but since then there have been many repairs and remodelling” Akash supplied the information.

“WOW! So, this palace is more than a century and half old. That’s impressive. I would love to know more about its history” NK exclaimed.

“Then you must definitely spend some time with Baba. He loves going into the history of how the Mahal came about and all the Nawabs who visited. There’s a gallery too, on the third storey. There you can find lots of old paintings of the Mahal and of the people who have lived here” Akash said, as they climbed the steps.

“Yeah, NK would love that, wouldn’t you brother? He’s a history buff. I, on the other hand, find history to be very exhausting. Too many people and places and dates! To that I say, past is in the past, you know? Like the’ Let it Go’ song? From Frozen?” Lavanya said, making NK shake his head.

Akash shook his head too, slightly chuckling.

“What? Don’t tell me you’re a fan of dusty books filled with gory war details and conquests” Lavanya said, posing a direct question to Akash for the first time.

“I do like books. But, not historical! I am more into fiction” Akash responded, walking ahead without looking at Lavanya.

“Should have guessed it!” Lavanya replied, smirking.

Akash turned and looked at her.

“What does that mean?” He asked, eyes narrowed at her.

“You know what it means!” Lavanya laughed and kept moving ahead.

“Ignore her, Akash. My sister barely understands the concepts of civility and personal space. She’s a bit daft, to be honest” NK said, patting Akash’s shoulder as the latter stared after Lavanya who was walking ahead of them now, admiring the work on the ceiling and walls of the gallery.

“Yeah. I agree” Akash replied, cracking a smile at NK.

“These are your rooms” He said a little loudly so Lavanya would hear.

“Splendid!” NK exclaimed as he pushed open the door on the left side of the corridor.

“This one is mine?” Lavanya reached them and asked, pointing to the door on the right side of the corridor.

“Yes” Akash said.

“Cool! See you later, Brother” She said and disappeared in the opposite room.

“This girl!” NK shook his head.

“Thanks a lot for walking us to our rooms, Akash” He said to Akash, shaking his hands.

“It was my pleasure, NK. If you need anything, you can let me know or Hema. I have asked her to attend to both Lavanya and you. She’ll keep checking” Akash said and then stepped out of the room. The door closed once he was out in the corridor and it was only then Akash turned towards the opposite door.

It was closed too. He waited a few seconds before finally knocking at it, his taps soft.

The door flew open in an instant and Akash found Lavanya staring at him. Then, she stepped aside and Akash walked in.

Once the door closed behind him, Akash turned to Lavanya and gave a broad smile.

“I can’t believe we did it” He spoke, proud and ecstatic.

Lavanya’s smile broadened as well.

“I told you I can do it anything once I set my eyes on it” Lavanya replied, chin in air as she walked further into the room.

Akash followed, shaking his head.

“We did it. Not just you”.

“Yeah right! All you did was plan it. I was the one who drove the final nail in the coffin. I wore down my grandmother. You know how challenging it was? I had to make use of all the skills I learnt in my drama class. I appealed to Daadi’s emotions and she bought it” Lavanya said, still proud.

“I’ll give you that. Changing Naani ji’s mind is no simple task. But, it was I who told you that we need to make Naani ji attend the wedding” Akash said.

“Whatever! It’s not like you did it purely on goodwill. That was your asking price for agreeing to tell my mother that you don’t want to marry me. Which, by the way you are yet to deliver. I did my part. I brought Daadi ji here. Now, once this wedding is done, you call my mother and tell her you are not interested in me” Lavanya said, zipping open her bags and unpacking her stuff.

“I remember my part of the deal. I’ll do that as soon as this wedding is done” Akash replied, looking at all the stuff Lavanya had crammed full in just one bag.

“Yes. I didn’t say this before but your suggestion was quite good. If you would have told my mother you don’t like me without meeting me, she wouldn’t have given up her attempts to get us together. But, now that we have met and will be spending some time together during the meeting, it will look more convincing to her. That was good thinking on your part” Lavanya said.

“Of course it was! Unlike you, I think before doing things” Akash said, narrowing his eyes and then shifting his gaze as Lavanya began pulling out her undergarments from the bag.

“Oh really?” Lavanya asked, her voice mocking as she turned towards Akash.

“Yes, really! And please keep your bra out of my face” Akash replied, pointing towards the ones Lavanya was holding in her hands.

“Gladly” Lavanya realized and quickly put it away, rolling her eyes in the process.

“So, I see that you haven’t told Khushi about us” Lavanya said, turning back to Akash who raised an eyebrow at her.

“About us? What’s there to tell?” Akash asked.

“Alright then! So, it’s okay with you if I tell her that you and I have been talking for the past month and then we hatched this plan to bring Daadi ji to Lucknow for the wedding?” Lavanya asked.

“First of all, we have been talking because you called me first. Regarding that, I still cannot believe you called me to yell at me. How could you possibly think that it was I who was interested in marrying you? Also, you still haven’t told me how you got my contact number” Akash said, crossing his arms.

“Haa! Look at you playing the innocent card. If out of nowhere, my mother calls me and tells me to get back to Delhi as soon as possible so that I can meet “an eligible suitor”, why wouldn’t I doubt you? You have been frequenting my house every year, meeting my mother every summer. It was quite possible that you had put the idea in her head”

“But, I hadn’t. It was she who signalled towards this whole thing” Akash huffed.

“I know that now. Didn’t know it back then, did I? That’s why I had to call you and tell you to back off. I have no intentions of getting married to some schmuck who lives in Lucknow, of all the places in the world. My last boyfriend was from The Netherlands! No offense!” Lavanya said, as she began unpacking her other trolley.

“You’re unbelievable! As if I want to marry some high maintenance princess from the land of Sydney! No offense” Akash replied.

“None taken! I am proud of who I am” Lavanya said.

“Good for you” Akash replied and stood up to leave.

“Although” Lavanya drawled.

“Yes?”

“You’re not marriage material but you aren’t too shabby to be my friend, Akash. If you can get rid of your perpetual-gloom persona, we can be good friends. We did manage to pull off this huge plan together. I am sure we can manage to have a functional friendship too. Just for the time we are here” Lavanya said, taking a step towards Akash.

Akash looked at Lavanya’s outstretched hand when she asked, “Friends?”

“No, I am good” He replied and enjoyed the look of indignation on her face. Totally worth it!

“See you around” He said and walked out of the room.

“You’re so gonna pay for this, Mr” Lavanya made a face and locked the door from the inside, fuming at being overturned outright.

~~**~~

“It’s pretty unbelievable for me too” Arnav said to Khushi over the phone.

“And you think Akash already knew that Nani ji was coming?” Khushi asked.

“That’s the only explanation for the way he was behaving right before leaving for the airport. I am sure he knew. Nani even said that Akash has been asking her to come for weeks” Arnav said.

“Why didn’t he tell us then?” Khushi wondered.

“Maybe he wasn’t sure if Naani would come. I was sure she wouldn’t. She says Lavanya helped her change her mind. Why would Lavanya do that?” Arnav posed his next confusion.

“I guess I know the answer” Khushi replied.

“You do?”

“The day we were coming back to Lucknow? Right before we left for the airport, Lavanya came to see me and we were talking. She asked me what gift I wanted for the wedding. I knew it was wishful thinking but I told her it would be really nice if Naani ji attended our wedding. I know how much you wanted her to come. I told Lavanya that. Maybe, that’s why she convinced Naani ji to come” Khushi told Arnav.

“That could be the reason. I should thank her for doing it. And I shall ask Akash why did he hid it from me”

“Maybe he wanted to surprise you. Which you are!” Khushi said.

“Yes. I sure am surprised. I just hope everything goes well until the wedding. Things between Naani and Baba can get volatile because both of them have unresolved issues” Arnav stated.

“I think both Malik uncle and Naani ji would avoid confrontation. They are here for you and wouldn’t like to cause any disruption” Khushi said.

“I really hope so” Arnav said, still dubious.

“Tomorrow is the Mehendi ceremony” Khushi said, trying to change the topic.

“Yes, that’s what Baba told me too. He said I too have to apply Mehendi on my hands” Arnav said, instantly smiling.

“You better write my name in yours because Preeto told me she will write your name in my mehendi. Then, you have to find out your name hidden in the pattern” Khushi said.

“I don’t think that’s the tradition. My mehendi will be more basic. Just a little dab because it’s auspicious” Arnav said.

“So, what? You can insist that they write my name in it” Khushi said.

“I didn’t know you were so keen on seeing your name on my hands” Arnav said, finding Khushi’s demand to be cute.

“I am not keen! It’s only fair. I write your name on mine and you write mine on yours” Khushi exclaimed.

“Okay” Arnav replied.

“Great! Now, I gotta go. Babuji is calling me” Khushi said.

“Okay. I’ll call you later. Bye” Arnav said before disconnecting the call.

~~**~~

A few hours later, Arnav walked up to his father’s room to find it already occupied.

NK was sitting in the room and seemed to be in the middle of an animated conversation with his father and Doctor Kumar.

“Come, sit with us, Arnav” It was Doctor Kumar who noticed Arnav first and spoke.

“What’s going on here? I thought Baba must be resting. I came to check up on his medicines” Arnav said.

“I came for the same reason but then I found this young man here, engaging into a deep conversation with your father about the post-colonial development of the Oudh region” Doctor Kumar said.

Arnav shook his head as he took a seat on the chairs placed near the bed. Malik was still lying in the bed, and though he looked pale, there was happiness on his face.

“Did you know, Arnav, that your cousin has such deep knowledge of Indian History? Despite spending so little time in India, he’s been an avid reader of modern interpretations of Indian history” Malik said to Arnav.

“Yes, NK has been quite a scholar. His company offers insurance to ancient relics and artefacts, right NK?” Arnav too turned to NK.

“Yes, Arnav! Though, it’s a new venture. We recently received some funding from UNESCO and are in the middle of an official tie-up” NK explained.

“That’s really good, NK” It was Doctor Kumar who replied and then continued, “Malik too has some rare books in his collection. I would like to discuss further about insuring them. Right, Malik?”

“Yes, that’s good investment. What do you say, son?” Malik replied and then looked at Arnav.

“Sure, Baba. We can do that” Arnav replied, slowly nodding his head.

Malik then looked at Doctor Kumar.

“Kumar, you should show the books to Nandkishor” He said to him.

“Right now?” Doctor Kumar looked at Malik.

“Yes, why not? I am sure Nandkishor will want to see them?” Malik looked at NK.

“Yes, sure, Uncle” NK replied politely and followed after Doctor Kumar.

Only Arnav and Malik remained in the room.

“What is it, son?” Malik patted the space on his bed, gesturing Arnav to come and sit.

Arnav stood up from the chair and sat down next to his father.

“How did you know I wanted to talk to you alone?” Arnav asked his father, feeling an odd sense of contentment.

“I just do” Malik replied, raising his frail hand and touching the side of Arnav’s head.

“Tell me” Malik said when Arnav put his own hand upon his father’s hand, holding it gently.

“Nani ji is here, Baba” He said.

Malik realized what Arnav was worried about and he nodded.

“Yes, I know. Akash told me yesterday that she has agreed to come” He said.

“Oh? Akash knew since yesterday?” Arnav asked, curiously.

“Yes. That’s when he told me and I am happy, Arnav. It’s good that she chose to come here despite her...feelings. It shows how much she loves you” Malik continued.

“Yes, Baba! She’s been my anchor in all these years. She has never let me feel that I didn’t have a mother growing up. She’s given years of love and care to me. I am most grateful to her” Arnav answered.

Malik nodded his head.

“I too am grateful to her for that. She was there for you when you needed her the most. I can never repay her for doing that, Arnav. It is why I decided to let go the resentment I have been holding on to. I no longer wish to hold my anger against her for...not telling you the complete truth and keeping me away from you. I can see now that it was her way of shielding you from all the pain. For that, I cannot fault her. Not anymore! Whatever she did, whatever I did, all of it has brought you here, next to me. That is all I ever wanted, son. So, you do not have to be worried anymore. She is most welcome to stay here for as long as she wants to” Malik said to Arnav.

“Thank you so much, Baba. Hearing this from you; it means a lot to me” Arnav said, clearing his throat.

“Anything for you, son” Malik replied with his half-smile, and Arnav could see how similar it was to his own smile.

“The wedding is in three days” Arnav further said.

“It’s going to be a magical day. Every time I think that Khushi would be coming to my home, as my daughter-in-law, I feel happiness beyond measure. It’s been my dream for too long” Malik said.

Arnav looked at his father and he could see the satisfaction. He knew the feeling. He too had waited too long for this.

“It’s a dream that I never thought would come true. But it is” Arnav replied.

“It had to, Arnav. When we truly love something, it finds its way to us. Regardless of how long it takes or how much pain we go through, in the end, the wait is worth all the trouble” Malik said.

“Does this mean you’re happy with Doctor Kumar, Baba?” Arnav asked, looking at his father in adulation.

“As happy as a man can ever be! He’s the reason I feel that I have not lived my life in vain. Through years of pain, suffering and guilt, Kumar has been my only saving grace. He stood by me through the worst and through the best. He’s the man I didn’t deserve. He was always too good for me, too pure. And when he finally chose to be with me against the judgment of the world, I felt like I had been granted all the happiness in the world” Malik said, thinking back about the time when Kumar decided to stay with him in the Mahal for good.

Arnav gave his half smile and an understanding nod to his father, “That’s what I too feel these days”.

“I am happy to know that, son. I wish you go on feeling this happiness until time ends. You deserve it. Both Khushi and you! It’s my blessing for you and her” Malik said.

“Thank you, Baba! I love you” Arnav said, the words leaving his mouth on their own and his voice cracked just a little.

“I love you too, son” Birendra Singh Malik replied, his own voice breaking with emotion.

~~**~~

By the time evening arrived, Arnav was sitting in the hall with Doctor Kumar, trying to work out the details of the reception party.

“Does it have to be this huge?” Arnav asked for the third time when Doctor Kumar showed him the guest list.

“See it this way! This is the first and the last time Malik gets to show off his happiness to the world” Doctor Kumar replied, scribbling more names on the list.

“What?” Arnav asked, eyebrows furrowed!

“His words, not mine. I asked the same thing a week ago and he almost bit my head off. You want simple? You take it up with him” Doctor Kumar replied, looking at the decoration layouts.

“If I have to talk to him, then what good are you for?” Arnav said, picking up the menu cards one more time.

“I managed to get him to agree that we have the reception in the Mahal. He wanted to look at other venue options” Doctor Kumar replied, while staring at his ringing phone.

“You aren’t going to pick it up?” Arnav asked.

“It’s the orchestra!” Doctor Kumar sighed.

“An orchestra?” Arnav asked, eyes wide.

“Yes! An orchestra can play slow songs too. It would be perfect for dancing” Doctor Kumar said.

“Baba’s words?” Arnav asked.

“Precisely” Doctor Kumar replied.

“I better take it” He said and excused himself.

“An ORCHESTRA?” Arnav repeated, shaking his head. It was beginning to sound like one of those big, fat Indian weddings he read about in the papers. His father was really going overboard.

Arnav was still in wonder when Akash, NK and Lavanya walked in through the doors, carrying multiple shopping bags.

“That was some great kulfi, Akash. We ought to go there again” NK was saying while Lavanya was struggling to hold the bags.

“What’s all in here?” Arnav got up and helped Lavanya with some of the bags.

“Accessories” Lavanya replied, handing rest of the bags to Hema who appeared in the hall.

“To what?” Arnav asked, counting half a dozen bags.

“You don’t wanna know, Bhai. We had to scour entire Aminabad, back and forth, every little lane” Akash said, sitting down on the couch with an expression of relief on his face.

“Don’t bleat, Akash! You had a good time ogling those girls in the earring-lane” Lavanya said, sitting down as well.

“It’s called gadbad-jhaala, not earring-lane” Akash replied, narrowing his eyes at Lavanya.

“Who cares? You people have got a name for every lane” Lavanya replied.

Arnav looked at the two and then at NK who shrugged his shoulders.

“These two have been constantly bickering the entire time. I stopped listening after the first two hours” NK said, taking a seat next to Arnav.

“Which is why you weren’t helpful at all. I wish Khushi could have come with us. She would have been a big help” Lavanya said to NK.

“Yeah! Your chatter-box has the same frequency as hers. You two would get along well” Akash answered, laughing.

“Unlike you, Khushi knows how to take a joke” Lavanya said.

“Unlike me, she also..”

“Can we have some quiet please? Arnav, why don’t you tell them?” NK said, full of pleading.

“I am still trying to understand what’s happening here” Arnav replied, looking at Lavanya and Akash.

“I’ll tell you, cuz. Your brother is a full time dullard. I don’t know how Khushi managed to be his friend for so many years” Lavanya replied, her voice exasperated.

“You hear that, Bhai? She barely knows me and yet this is how she talks about me. I have never met a person who is so full of herself” Akash said to Arnav.

“Excuse me” Lavanya said in a sharp tone.

“Lavanya, Akash, quit it! Time to start behaving like two mature adults, please” Arnav finally interjected.

“Thank you, Arnav” NK said.

Both Akash and Lavanya stared each other anyway, looking peeved.

“Now, we have the Mehendi ceremony tomorrow, then Haldi and finally the wedding. Doctor Kumar is going to need a lot of help from you two” Arnav pointed at Akash and NK “and Lavanya, you should keep in touch with Khushi. Her friends from college will be coming to the wedding but with Akash occupied here, she doesn’t have anyone else to rely on much. Can you please keep a tab on her for me?” Arnav asked.

“Oh, sure thing, cuz! I’d be happy to help” Lavanya replied, immediately excited.

“Thank you” Arnav said, feeling grateful. He didn’t know if Lavanya would like to assist Khushi but it seemed like letting Akash and Lavanya spend more time together might result into a full-time brawl.

“So, NK and Akash with Doctor Kumar! Lavanya with Khushi. And I will manage everything for Baba and myself. All clear?”

“What about me?” It was Devyani who walked into the drawing room.

Akash immediately got up and helped Devyani towards the chair.

“Looks like you forgot me” She said, once settled into the chair.

Arnav smiled.

“Not for a second, Nani. It’s already understood that all of us here will be for you. Especially me” Arnav said, standing up and taking a seat next to Devyani.

“Good. But, I’ll need to talk to both Malik and the Doctor. I want this wedding to happen according to the Raizada traditions. I know Sujata would have wanted it” Devyani said.

Arnav looked at his Nani and then at Akash.

“I don’t think the traditions are that different, Nani” Arnav said.

“Yes, they are. In our family, there is no mehendi ceremony on the groom’s side. Mehendi is not meant for men. But, here the Maliks have a Mehendi function. For Haldi, we visit the bride’s family. Maliks carry out the ceremony at the groom’s house. It’s plenty different. Also after the wedding, the new bride is supposed to prepare sweet dishes for the first five days in her kitchen. So, after the wedding, we will have to immediately move back to Delhi” Devyani said, silencing everyone in the room.

“You can carry out the wedding ceremonies as per your family’s tradition” Doctor Kumar said, stepping back into the hall after his phone call.

Devyani Raizada looked at him, her gaze turning cold. It reminded Arnav of how he had reacted upon seeing Doctor Kumar for the first time on coming back. It had been a tense conversation at the breakfast table and he had ended up asking when his father will die. It had angered Doctor Kumar to no limit.

He hoped no such thing happened at the moment.

“I am glad to hear that” His Nani replied to Doctor Kumar, making Arnav sigh in relief.

“But, Arnav and Khushi would not be going back anytime soon. They will stay here after the wedding” Doctor Kumar said, making Arnav realize that he had breathed in relief a second too soon.

_______

A/N: You can click on the 'Follow' button to receive notifications of further chapters. 

Regards,

Kiran

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