Chapter 38

A/N: Hello again!

I can't believe it's been TWO months since I last updated this story. As some of you might know, I got Corona positive in the first week of November and was still recovering from it. Then, at home, my mother became positive and that was much more stressful, keeping me away from the story and the forum. But, I kept logging in and checking your comments and messages. Thank you so much for all your 'take-care' messages. They gave me strength to come back and finish my story. I cannot thank you enough for your immense patience and support.

Also, I recently learnt that 'A Nameless Love' was chosen as the Best Fiction of 2019 in the Mixed Genre, both by popular choice and critics choice. I am most grateful to all those who nominated the story and voted for it. It was something that I wasn't expecting. So, thank you to all my readers and the judges. I am truly thankful for this appreciation. 

Now, without prolonging my ramble any more, I present the next chapter to you.

Here you go!

Chapter 38

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“You look so pretty, Khushi” Lavanya said, as she watched Payal putting a ‘gajra’ in Khushi’s loosely tied hair.

Khushi smiled and thanked her saying that it was Payal’s idea to use floral jewellery for the Haldi ceremony.

“A great idea indeed! You look good AND you smell good” Lavanya said with a soft chuckle.

“Here, why don’t you try some too? It’ll look good with your dress” Khushi said, gesturing towards the earrings made out of flowers.

“May I? Thanks. These are awesome” Lavanya said as she chose a shade of dark pink danglers, contrasting against her mustard yellow crop top and skirt.

Khushi, on the other hand, had donned a bright yellow lehenga with minimal design. She had paired it with a heavy dupatta and dark coloured floral jewellery, mostly green and red.

“And you’re all done” Payal said, tucking in the stray strands from Khushi’s hair.

“You look like a sunflower, fresh and beautiful” Preeto, Khushi’s neighbour commented as she clicked more pictures of Khushi.

“Now, it’s the time for a group selfie” She said.

“We really should be stepping out now. Babuji has called for us twice” Khushi said, even as she posed next to Preeto and Lavanya.

“After one more picture. My eyes look weird in this one” Lavanya said as she inspected the picture.

All four girls huddled together once more and this time, Lavanya held the phone when the door was knocked and a head peeped in!

“What is taking sooo” Akash stopped midway as he noticed the girls clicking a picture.

“I can’t believe it! Everyone’s waiting outside for the ceremony, Khushi and you are here posing with this Instagram model?” Akash jerked his thumb towards Lavanya who was still holding the phone in her hands.

“We are coming out in a second” Khushi said, making an innocent face before telling the girls to get going.

“Do you know how impatient Bhai is to see you?” Akash said to Khushi as she bunched the sides of her lehenga and began walking out of the room.

“That’s not really Khushi’s problem, is it? He should practice some patience” Lavanya replied, making Preeto giggle.

“Definitely! I do accept that it does take immense patience to deal with women” Akash replied.

“That’s not fair, Akash” It was Payal who replied, as she helped Khushi with her lehenga, making sure she doesn’t step on it.

“I don’t mean all women, Payal. Just some!” Akash replied, side-glancing at Lavanya.

“You’re, in fact, nowhere close to them” Akash added.

“Really? Where am I?” Payal’s face brightened while Khushi shook her head.

“You’re in my dependable list. You helped Khushi a lot which saved me a lot of trouble” Akash answered, making Payal smile even more.

This time, Lavanya shook her head.

“Has Nani ji come with everyone?” Khushi asked softly to Akash, right before they stepped into the main hall.

Akash nodded before stepping aside and letting the girls escort Khushi on the bride’s side. The room’s furniture had been removed and a yellow, translucent curtain divided the room into two halves. On one side, the bride’s family was seated on carpets, and on the other side, the groom sat with his family.

Khushi looked through the curtain and could see Arnav sitting cross-legged on the carpet. He too was wearing a yellow kurta and looking right at her.

Her eyes met with him and Khushi felt a rush of happiness. Her lips formed into a smile when she noticed he looked equally jubilant.

Payal made Khushi sit down on the carpet and Khushi watched as her father approached Arnav’s Nani. They exchanged a few words before Devyani stood up from her place and walked up to Khushi, parting the curtains.

Khushi caught Arnav’s eyes again and his words about the tattoo played in her head.

“That you’ll have to find out on our wedding day...or the night”

She wondered where the tattoo could be. Definitely some place covered. He was wearing a full-length Kurta so there was very little skin visible for Khushi to inspect from such a distance.

Khushi’s wonderings were put to a halt when Devyani’s slightly stooping gait obscured her vision.

Khushi noticed that Lavanya was now holding a plate which had Kumkum in it along with a bowl of turmeric paste. Lavanya extended the plate towards Devyani who first used the Kumkum to put a round dot on Khushi’s forehead and then dipping two fingers into the turmeric paste, she applied it on Khushi’s cheeks.

Khushi couldn’t help but smile a little.

“You look beautiful. May you always be healthy and happy” Devyani blessed Khushi, who then touched her feet.

Khushi noticed from the corner of her eye that her Babuji was doing the same thing with Arnav, applying tika and then blessing him.

“Now, it’s our turn, right, Dadi?” Lavanya asked Devyani who nodded her head.

After that, all the guests present applied small portions of Haldi to Khushi and Arnav.

By the time the ceremony rounded to a close, Khushi was entirely covered in turmeric paste. She kept stealing glances at Arnav who seemed to be growing restless with all the women and girls giggling around him and taking turns teasing him as he kept looking at Khushi.

Khushi wanted to be by his side and tell him how happy she was. With all their family and friends around, it was one of the happiest days for her.

Khushi ran her gaze around the room once again and noticed Dr. Kumar talking to Akash and NK. Lavanya was clicking more pictures with Preeto and some guy Khushi didn’t recognize.

Payal was sitting with Buaji. And her father was once again seemed to be in a discussion with Arnav’s Nani. Khushi wondered what they could be talking about.

At this point, Khushi realized that she really missed her Malik Uncle. He was bed-ridden and Dr. Kumar had advised him against attending the function.

So, Khushi decided to call him and let him know how much she was missing him.

~~**~~

“I am very grateful to you, Devyani ji. You came here all the way from Delhi despite your health. It’s an honour for me” Shashi Gupta repeated for the second time.

Devyani Raizada shook her head.

“It’s been my pleasure, Shashi. In fact, I am glad that I decided to come. Today’s ceremony went exactly as I wanted it to. Your readiness for this sudden change of plans is really appreciated. I know it must have been somewhat inconvenient for you, yet you agreed” Devyani said, allowing herself to sound genuinely grateful.

“Not at all, Devyani ji. It was no inconvenience. If anything, your arrival at the house today brightened the occasion. I can see that the kids also had a lot of fun” Shashi said, looking at NK and Lavanya who were now talking to Payal and Akash.

Devyani smiled slightly and nodded her head.

“I can see where Khushi gets her good naturednes from. You have raised her well” Devyani commented.

Shashi Gupta remained quiet for a second before saying, “She’s gotten all good things from her mother. Garima was very adept at being a parent. Whatever little I have done and know, it came from watching her”. Shashi’s voice ended with a tinge of sorrow, making Devyani quiet too.

“Yes, mothers are inherently instinctive and caring for their children. Their lives revolve around them. But, even in Khushi’s mother’s absence, you have taken good care of her, Shashi” Devyani said after a brief pause.

“There are very few men who are capable of being a good father, more so when they are single parent”. Devyani added and Shashi could guess that she was talking about Birendra Singh Malik. But, he chose to remain quiet on the matter.

“You too have done a very good job with Arnav. It must have been hard, trying to raise him after all that he suffered” Shashi said.

Devyani Raizada shook her head.

“Raising Arnav was the only thing that I had left. He gave my life a purpose, a new hope. He’s all that I have left of my daughter” Devyani replied in a soft voice.

Shashi nodded.

“That’s what I felt after Garima passed away too. Though Khushi was young enough to take care of herself, I immersed myself in her life because there was not much left. She’s been the light who’s guided me all these years” Shashi admitted, looking at Khushi who was on phone in the other corner of the room.

Devyani followed his gaze and then she looked at Arnav who was also looking at his to-be bride. There was a twinkling in his eyes that Devyani had begun noticing only after he had met Khushi.

“I agree with you on that, Shashi. Khushi is indeed a ray of light and she is most welcome in my house. We need her as much as you do” Devyani said, drawing a contended smile from Shashi.

~~**~~

The ceremony was all done with and Arnav still hadn’t gotten a single opportunity to talk to Khushi. All his excitement about the day was slowly waning. He had hoped to see Khushi’s mehendi and talk to her but it appeared that it was going to be difficult. He was surrounded by so many neighbourhood women and Khushi’s friends that he had never heard of. All the aunties wanted to know if he had a friend who was still unmarried and the friends wanted details of the supposed ‘love marriage’. Though Arnav was responding to most of them, he couldn’t stop looking at Khushi and hoping she would walk up to him and rescue him from these people.

He could see that she was on a phone call with someone.

“How’s it going, Bhai?” Akash walked over to Arnav.

Arnav looked at his brother who had a lopsided smile on his face.

“Perfect” Arnav replied, not wanting to crib about the extra attention he was garnering.

“Good good. Doctor Uncle told me to tell you that we’ll be leaving here in fifteen minutes. So, I am telling you” Akash said to Arnav.

“What? Already?” Arnav said, narrowing his eyes.

“Yes, why not? Everything’s done here. Nani ji seems a little exhausted. NK and Lavanya are ready to leave too” Akash said.

Arnav looked at Khushi again who was now talking to Payal.

“Well, I am not done. I need to talk to Khushi” He said.

Akash suppressed his smile and nodded.

“But don’t you remember? No meeting in alone until the wedding day. That’s the rule”

Arnav gave a grave look to Akash.

“Go, tell Khushi that I want to talk to her” He said to Akash, scowling.

“You can talk to her as much you’d like after the wedding, Arnav” It was Doctor Kumar who intercepted the conversation.

Arnav looked at the man with a ‘You-are-not-serious’ face.

“So, why did we even come all this way?” He said.

“Well, that’s what your Nani wanted. If not for her, we would have done the Haldi back at home. Now, we should be heading back. Malik is all by himself and I don’t like that” Doctor Kumar said.

“But..”

Arnav was saying when his phone rang.

He noticed the caller id and looked at the other side of the curtain where Khushi was sitting on a chair.

“Excuse me” Arnav said and moved to a different corner.

“Why is there such a deep frown line on your face?” Khushi asked as soon as Arnav picked up the phone.

She was looking at him.

“I want to talk to you” Arnav said.

“We are talking” Khushi replied.

“Not like this. Face to face. I want to see your mehendi”

“And I want to see your tattoo” Khushi said in a slow voice.

“I want to see you seeing my tattoo” Arnav replied.

He noticed Khushi’s blushing face through the curtain before she said, “it’s just one more day.

“An awfully long day” Arnav exclaimed, puzzled that he felt so impatient. Impatience was not one of his traits yet as the days were drawing closer, he felt urgency.

“Think of it this way. The next time we see each other, we’ll be getting married” Khushi said to him, making Arnav nod.

“I can’t wait to see you again, then” He replied.

“Me too” Khushi said before Arnav noticed Lavanya walking towards Khushi.

“I gotta go, Arnav” She said in the phone.

“Khushi” Arnav said hurriedly.

“Yes?” Khushi halted.

“I love you” Arnav said, the words easing some of his impatience...if only for a while.

Khushi gave him one of her rare smiles and said, “I love you too”.

“Bye” She said and hung up the phone.

“That was sweet” Arnav heard NK exclaim and turned to find his cousin behind him.

“You too, NK?” Arnav said, shaking his head.

“No, I mean it, Arnav. I am very happy for you. You seem different...happier..than you were before. You deserve it” NK said making Arnav nod his head once.

“Thank you for saying that” Arnav said.

NK nodded his head in return.

~~**~~

Sitting in his wheel-chair in the garden outside, Birendra Singh Malik had his gaze fixed towards the giant metal gates. It’s been too long and no one had returned from the Haldi. He had already called Doctor Kumar twice and asked what was taking so long.

“We’re on the way” Kumar had said.

Birendra was still looking at the gate when Ratan Kaka trotted his way to him.

“They are taking too long, aren’t they Malik Saheb?” He commented as he followed Malik’s gaze.

Malik nodded and asked Ratan Kaka to take a chair.

“Kumar said they shall be reaching home any minute. Yet, I feel very restless” Malik replied.

“Are you not feeling well, Malik Saheb? Should I get you some warm water to drink?” Ratan Kaka asked, noticing the pale face of his employer.

“No, I am fine, Ratan. Just do me a favour, will you? When you see their cars entering in, can you please wheel me inside? Kumar strictly told me not to sit outside” Malik said.

“Let me go and get Dayal. He’ll wheel you inside. These days, my back doesn’t let me do much” Ratan Kaka replied.

“Oh, right. I forgot about that. Are you taking the medicines that Kumar wrote for you?” Malik asked.

“I am, Malik Saheb. But as we know, even medicines cannot cure old age. This pain will go with me. You please wait a moment, I’ll go and send Dayal” Ratan Kaka said before trotting away again.

Malik watched the old man walk back into the Mahal and then looked at the gate again. Only a few seconds later, he saw the cars zooming in through the gate.

Too bad! He was going to be caught red-handed.

He contemplated for a second before putting his frail arms on the wheels and trying to move the chair. It didn’t budge.

Exhaling with exhaustion, he simply watched the cars speeding in and heading towards the parking. But, he could already see Doctor Kumar stepping down and moving towards him with an upturned frown on his face.

“What are..”

“I was bored of waiting inside. So, I was waiting here” Malik cut off Kumar’s question with his prompt reply.

“And who wheeled you out here?” Kumar asked, looking at Dayal with a deep scowl who was heading his way.

“Will you let it go? Where’s Arnav?” Malik asked, looking past Doctor Kumar.

“Get inside, first. He’s parking” Doctor Kumar replied before pushing the wheel chair into the Mahal.

“How did it go there? Does Shashi ji need help with anything? You did offer to help, right?” Malik asked as Doctor Kumar brought him to the drawing room.

“No, he said he does not need help. And, I did ask” Doctor Kumar replied.

“Khushi called me after the ceremony. We chatted for some time. She told me she really likes the lehenga that we sent for her” Malik said.

“Of course she does! You’ve quite the eye for clothes. Now, let’s get you back to the room. I need to take your vitals” Doctor Kumar said but Malik shook his head.

“Not now. I want to know everything about what happened there. Did Shashi ji meet Devyani ji? Did they seem to get along?” Malik asked but before Kumar could answer, more people walked in through the doors.

“What are you doing out here, Baba? You should be in bed” Akash was the first one to fuss as he walked in with NK, followed by Lavanya and Arnav.

“Yes, Uncle! You look so weak” NK chimed in as well while Arnav simply walked over to his father.

He placed a hand on Malik’s forehead, feeling his temperature.

“I am fine” Malik muttered, shaking his head at everyone.

“I feel a little chilly, that’s all, son!” He said to Arnav.

“That’s why we need to move this conversation to your room, Baba. We can talk once you’re in bed” Arnav said, before looking at Doctor Kumar.

Doctor Kumar nodded and wheeled Malik into his room. Arnav and Akash followed after them.

~~**~~

Khushi couldn’t fall asleep. She was to be married tomorrow. Various things coursed through her mind. Who would cook for her Babuji in the evenings after he would come home tired from the shop? Who would look after the account books at the shop?

What about her little garden outside the house?

Shashi wasn’t too attentive when it came to gardening. He barely had time for it. It was something Khushi had picked up from the Mahal. She had wanted a garden for herself after seeing a colourful sprawl in front of the Mahal one spring.

Though these were worries mostly of mundane nature, yet Khushi thought of them. In twenty four hours, her life would change.

She would become the wife of Arnav Singh Raizada.

Thinking of Arnav brought a sense of contentment to Khushi’s heart. It felt surreal to think of him as her husband. The word carried much weight in Khushi’s life. She had seen her Babuji stand tall with her Amma for more than twenty-five years. An example of true companionship! She wished the same with Arnav. She tried to imagine what her Amma would have thought of Arnav. He would have definitely charmed her just like he did with her Babuji. Just like he charmed you! Khushi smiled to herself.

Lifting her phone from the nightstand, she typed a message to him. And then she closed her eyes again, willing sleep to come.

~~**~~

The next morning Akash woke up to a quiet house, opposite of what he was expecting. When he walked in at the breakfast table he found it empty except Lavanya.

“Where’s everyone?” He asked her, sitting down.

Lavanya gave him a side look before taking a sip of her coffee.

“Everyone had chores to do” She replied.

“What chores?” Akash asked.

“How would I know? I woke up late and found that everyone was off doing one thing or the other” She replied.

“Yeah! I too slept late last night. There were some last minute things to be taken care of” Akash said while he served himself some fruit salad.

“I didn’t ask” Lavanya commented.

Akash narrowed his eyes at her before silently indulging in his breakfast.

“How well do you know Shobhit?” Lavanya asked him after a while.

“The wedding planner? Why?” Akash looked at her.

“Met him yesterday while we were leaving Khushi’s house. He’s kinda cute. And funny” Lavanya replied with a broad smile, one that made her dimples prominent. Akash noticed and frowned.

“He’s not your type” He replied.

“Really? Since when you know my type?” Lavanya asked, looking intently at Akash.

“It’s not that hard to guess. You must like the hedonistic type. You know? Those who go to parties on weekdays and return home in morning hours? The loud, boisterous types with zero tact of what to speak and when to speak!” Akash replied with a small laugh.

Lavanya pursed her lips.

“At least the people that I like don’t flirt publicly to prove that they have an interesting life” She replied sharply.

“What are you talking about?” Akash made a confused face.

“Payal? You were taking great pleasure in her attention” Lavanya answered with just a tinge of sourness in her voice.

Akash made an incredulous face.

“I was simply being polite. She’s a nice person and a good friend to Khushi” Akash’s voice came out defensive.

“Whatever” Lavanya finished her coffee and made a move to get up.

“Hold on! How did you even notice? I barely talked to her for fifteen minutes. Were you actively trying to notice?” Akash asked, turning towards Lavanya so that he was facing her fully.

A quick laugh escaped Lavanya’s mouth.

“Why would I notice? I was simply bored after the ceremony. That is, until I met Shobhit. He’s quite the charmer. Promised to show me around the city after the wedding” Lavanya said with an air of nonchalance.

“You are planning to stay after the wedding?” Akash asked, looking at her too closely, making Lavanya get up from her chair and stand.

“I haven’t made up my mind but I can be persuaded” She replied.

“By the wedding planner?” Akash stood up too, shaking his head.

“Haven’t made up my mind about him too! It’s too early to tell. I just met him yesterday. That’s why I asked your opinion of him” Lavanya said, watching as Akash stood up too.

He gave her a long stare before speaking.

“Do what you wish! I have no opinion on this” saying that, he walked off.

Lavanya watched him leave and then sighed.

She recalled the phone call she had received from her mother last night.

“So, how’s it going? Isn’t he the perfect man for you? Heir to the Malik empire AND single! I am telling you Lavu, this is a golden opportunity. All you have to do is say ‘yes’. I’ll manage the rest” was the first thing Manorama had said after asking how she was doing.

Lavanya hadn’t told her mother how denigrated and cheapened she felt by her words.

“I don’t care about his money, Mom” was the only thing she had said.

“You’re too naive, Lavu. If we are to live happy lives, we need money. A lot of it! Your father’s business is all but sinking. And we all know Arnav wouldn’t let us have a single penny from his company. Sasu Ma would also most likely leave everything in his name. So, in order to keep your life secure, I need you to marry rich. Akash is a good candidate for that. So, think about it, okay?” Manorama had said.

“I am sleepy, Mom. Good night” Lavanya had replied before hanging up instantly.

Akash wasn’t the first person her mother had presented before her. In the last five years, Manorama had suggested a good number of “candidates” for her to marry rich. Most of them had been insufferable, obnoxious men too used to getting what they wanted.

Lavanya had been repulsed by most of them. So, she had shot down the offers without much thought.

But, Akash seemed different.

He was real and grounded. She had known as much by now. But, that does not mean she would make attempts to get into an advantageous marriage with him.

If anything, it was all the more reason to keep her distance from him.

Which shouldn’t be too difficult!

As it was apparent, Akash wasn’t too fond of her company. Which is good! Lavanya told herself.

That way, you can attend this wedding, have some fun and then leave.

Thinking of fun, she decided to start prepping herself for the day; starting with a long, luxurious bath.

~~**~~

Devyani Raizada looked at the boxes brought in by Dayal.

“What is all this?” She asked.

“Malik Saheb asked me to bring them here”, the man replied.

Devyani stepped down her bed and opened one of the rectangular boxes.

“You can tell him that I have brought my own clothes. I don’t need gifts from him” She said, upon finding sarees, shawls and jewellery as she opened more boxes.

“Leave them here. And you can go, Dayal” Arnav said as he walked into the room.

Devyani looked at Arnav with a disagreeable face.

“There’s no need for all of this, Chote. I am not here to exchange gifts with him. I am only here to attend this wedding” She replied once they were left alone by Dayal.

“This is part of attending the wedding, Nani. You know it’s customary to send gifts to the groom’s family” Arnav replied, sitting down.

“From the bride’s father! Not from him. I can’t accept it” Devyani replied.

“He’s doing it because he’s happy, Nani” Arnav said.

“Of course he is! He finally has everything he ever wanted” Devyani muttered.

Arnav exhaled. There was no end to his Nani’s resentment against his father.

“Let me put it this way, Nani. He’s happy because I am happy. You too can be a part of this happiness. We don’t have to bring the past bitterness into our present. We can leave it behind. It’ll make our lives so much calmer” He said to her.

“I can do it for today” Devyani said after a brief pause, closing the boxes.

“Thank you, Nani” Arnav said.

~~**~~

Khushi looked at herself in the mirror and couldn’t believe it was really her.

“What do you say?” Both Preeto and Payal asked excitedly, after finishing Khushi’s makeup and hair.

Not wanting to indulge in self-admiration, Khushi nodded her head along with a smile.

Because, she looked beautiful!

There was no harm in accepting it for today. It was her day.

In her ruby colored lehenga, she looked like a fully blossomed rose. Her hair was tied up in an elegant bun with a white and red coloured ‘gajra’.

“Perfect” Preeto said as she fixed the dupatta on her head.

“Thank you” Khushi said to her friend with misted eyes.

“Come on, Khushi. You did the same for me when I was getting married” Preeto replied with a soft smile.

“And for me” Payal added, hugging Khushi from the side.

“Garima aunty would have been so happy to see you like this” Preeto said, putting a small black dot behind Khushi’s ear.

Khushi nodded, not saying that she had already cried in the morning for some time, thinking the exact same thing. Oddly enough, Arnav had called exactly five minutes after and that had cheered her. He had told her how he was having a difficult time getting used to the turban. It was a real turban and tying it was no easy task.

“Thank god for Doctor Kumar. He showed me how to do it properly or I would have sat here all day trying to get this thing wrapped the right way” He had said.

Khushi had told him how heavy her lehenga was and it was going to be a task carrying it for five hours.

Yet, the excitement on either part was palpable. By the time Khushi had hung up the phone, she was looking forward to the day.

“Hurry up, girls. Shashi Babua just told me that the Groom side has already left from the Mahal. They shall be here any minute” Khushi’s Buaji entered into the room and was struck quiet after seeing Khushi.

“You look like a doll, Titaliya! So beautiful” She said, putting a loving hand on Khushi’s cheek.

“Thank you, Buaji” Khushi replied.

“I am sure Amma is going to cry sometime during the ceremony” Payal said from behind.

“So what if I do? I am happy for my girl” Buaji said and kissed Khushi’s forehead.

It was right then Shashi walked in too. He too looked at Khushi.

“Ready?” He asked her with a smile.

“Ready” Khushi replied, with a bittersweet emotion.

__________

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