"Khushi, utho. Come on, wake up"
Arnavji's voice seemed to be coming from a great distance, like the music on her old radio transistor in Lucknow.
Khushi couldn't believe she was already dreaming about him, hadn't she just closed her eyes?
"Khushi"
She felt the warmth of his hand against her cheek and her eyelids fluttered open.
Arnavji was crouching over her and she couldn't help but let out a soft sigh at the vision before her. For a change, there were no tense lines dissecting his handsome features. He wore a crooked smile and his eyes were sparkling with excitement.
She felt herself being shaken gently by the shoulders.
"Hmm" she said, her eyelids growing heavy again.
As soon as her eyes closed, a switch turned on in her brain. If she was only dreaming of him, how was it that she felt his touch?
Khushi's eyes flew open and she sat up with a jerk, realizing it wasn't a dream.
Arnavji predicted her response accurately and brought his hand to cover her mouth before the startled cry left her.
"Shh" he said.
"Arnavji, aap yahan kya kar rahe hai?" she whispered, when he finally let her go.
"Mere saath chalo" he said, pushing aside the covers and taking her hand.
"Kya?" Khushi yelled, earning a glare from him.
"Kya?" she said again, lowering her voice. "Iss waqt?"
"Haan, come on" he said, with a firm tug on her hand.
Khushi stumbled out of bed saying, "Hum jaa kahan rahe hai?"
He didn't reply but let go, leapt across the window ledge and turned back to give her a hand.
Khushi stared at him with disbelief.
After dinner, Buaji had declared that the two of them had to sleep apart tonight. Even Amma had apologetically insisted upon it, citing that it was part of the wedding rituals.
Arnavji hadn't looked pleased when he was packed off to share the room with Babuji while Amma moved to Buaji's room for the night.
He had looked even less pleased when he caught her smirking at his despondent look.
But what was he thinking breaking into her room like this and dragging her off to God-knows-where?
"Arnavji, kya aapko lagtha hai ki humari shaadi me ab tak kum musibaten aayi hai?" she asked, "Buaji ne dekh liya'"
"Toh jaldi karo" he said, taking her hand again.
"Par hum jaa kahan rahe hai?" Khushi asked, stomping with frustration.
When he made to physically lift her out of the window she gave in. Grasping his hand tight, she climbed on the ledge and jumped down to the verandah.
He led her all the way to the back and up the flight of stairs to the roof, ignoring her as she kept up a litany of 'Kya kar rahe hai aap?' and 'Hum kahan jaa rahe hai?'
When they reached the terrace landing, Khushi shivered slightly as the cold night air hit her.
"Arnavji?" she said.
She heard a soft click and her jaw dropped as the roof lit up with streamers of fairy lights.
"Khushi, tum itni jaldi apna vaada bhool gayi?" Arnavji said, leaning so close that his breath warmed the side of her neck.
"Don't you remember maine kaha tha ki har raat sone se pehle and har subah uthne ke baad main sabse pehle tumhe dekhna chahtha hoon?"
He directed her gaze towards the twin mattresses arranged on the floor, against the opposite wall.
Khushi turned to him, her mouth still open with wonder.
"Don't worry, maine subah 5:30 ko alarm set kar diya hai" he said, "So Buaji ke uthne se pehle hum neeche chale jaenge"
Even though her heart was racing and her hand flew to cover her mouth, Khushi couldn't help grinning.
"Come" he said, returning her grin and taking her hand.
The thrill that came with breaking rules was like an old, forgotten friend of hers. It reminded her that she was still the same miscreant who had once stolen jalebis from Babuji's dukaan, read Jiji's diary behind her back and hidden Buaji's reading glasses when she was being too strict.
Arnavji straightened the pillows and arranged them against the wall.
He sat and pulled her down to sit beside him, both with their backs against the pillow and legs stretched in front of them.
He smiled and put his arm around her. And instead of its weight, Khushi felt an inexplicable lightness.
She settled against him, his breath tickling the hair of her forehead and his heart beating softly and rhythmically against her ear as she watched the twinkling stars and fairy lights.
For nearly all of her life, silence had frightened her. It felt as if the world was shutting down around her if someone wasn't speaking. But sitting there with Arnavji, Khushi was content just being.
After several minutes or hours, Khushi didn't know which, it was Arnavji who broke the silence.
"Khushi, kya soch rahi ho?" he asked, making small circles on her arm.
"Aapke aur humare Amma-Babuji ke baare me" she said, pointing at the sky.
She sensed his gaze turn upwards.
"You know Khushi, jab main itne din uss warehouse me bandh tha" he said slowly, tightening his grip on her shoulder when she shuddered. "Window se har raat taare dekhtha tha, it made me feel closer to you"
She felt a lump rising in her throat.
"And I realized you're right, baat sach ya jhoot ki nahi hai. It's about faith"
She looked up at him, surprised. She knew that Arnavji didn't believe and while it had bothered her in the past, she'd come to accept it as one of their many differences.
But here he was, telling her that he wasn't simply indulging her but trying to believe himself.
"What do you think?" he asked, with a small laugh. "Kya baaten kar rahe hone?"
"Zaroor humare baare me baat kar rahe honge" she said, "Ek doosre ko mubarak baat de rahe honge ki hum dono ko ek saath laane me kamyab ho gaye"
"Aisa bhi toh ho saktha hai ke voh soch rahe honge ki itne clues dene ke baad bhi humne apne aur ek doosre ke dil ki baat samjhne me itni der kar di" he said.
Khushi smiled into his chest.
"Ab kya karen, Devi Maiya ne aapko itna tez dimaag diya lekin dil ke maamlon me bilkul buddhi banaya"
"Buddhu?" he said, pulling back. "Aur tum? Tum toh sabke dil ki baat itni aasani se samjh leti ho, fir tumse itni der kaise ho gayi?"
Khushi bit her lip. How had she not seen this coming, especially when she'd just commented on his tez dimaag?
She snuggled closer and said, "Voh kya hai na, Devi Maiya kabhi kisiko koi keemthi cheez aasani se nahi deti, kyunki insaan ko fir uss cheez ki kadar nahi hota. Waise hi, itni muskhilo ke baad aap hume mile hai, tabhi toh aap aur yeh rishta humare liye anmol hai"
He felt him smiling even though she couldn't see his face.
"Aur hume lagtha hai ki humare Amma Babuji keh rahe honge ki der se hi sahi, hum kitne khush nasib hai ki hume sacha pyaar mila" she said.
"Tumhe kaise pata ki yeh sacha pyaar hai?" he asked, tilting her head back to rest in the crook of his elbow.
Was he kidding?
"Kyunki humari aankhon se nikla ek bhi aasoon aapke dil ko hazaar baar chot pahunchatha hai" she said, "Jab aap humse nafrat karthe the, toh aap kuch bhi kar sakthe the lekin aapne humse shaadi karli aur jab kabhi hume dukh diya, humse bhi zyaada takleef aapko hui"
"Har baar" he said, softly. "Jab bhi main uss sab ke baare me sochtha'"
She placed a finger on his lips and shook her head.
"Hum jaanthe hain" she said, touching his cheek. "Aur hume yakeen hai kyunki bina koi saboot ke, sirf humari aankhon me dekhke aapne humpe bharosa kiya. Aur ab toh humare liye aapne apne parivaar se'"
"Shh" he said, silencing her this time. He drew her close and kissed her forehead.
"Arnavji, agar aap humari zindagi me nahi aate toh hume kabhi sache pyaar ka ehsaas nahi hota" she said, remembering her conversation with Jiji that afternoon.
"Khushi agar tum meri zindagi me nahi aati toh mujhe kabhi zindagi ka ehsaas nahi hota" he said.
He raised a hand to wipe away the lone tear that escaped her eye.
"I never told you this before" he said, pulling her back against himself. "Lekin main hamesha aise nahi tha. I mean, Di kehthi hai ki bachpan se bahut short tempered tha but I wasn't like this. Papa ne jo kiya, Mamma ke saath jo hua, uske baad I couldn't trust anyone"
Arnavji didn't talk about his past often and hardly ever of how he felt about it. And even though there were so many things she wanted to tell him, she decided not to interrupt just yet.
"Aisa lagtha tha ki meri life se achaai, honesty, beauty'sab gayab ho gaya and sirf mera gussa reh gaya" he said, taking a deep breath.
Khushi took his hand and interlaced her fingers through his, squeezing gently. It tugged at her heartstrings to think that he'd gone for so many years without sharing his grief with anyone.
"But jab se tum meri zindagi me aayi ho, main apna past bhoolne laga. Sirf tumhare saath bitaye moments yaad rehne lage. Tumhare saath ladna, tumhare crazy plans, jaise baat baat pe tumhari naak laal ho jaathi hai, your jalebis'" he trailed off with a small laugh. "Just everything. And ab mujhe lagtha hai ki I want all this, I want to be happy"
He pulled back and cupped her face in his hands.
"Main apni zindagi ka har pal tumhare saath bitana chahtha hoon, tumhare saath hasna chahtha hoon, dance karna chahtha hoon" he said, pausing for breath. "I want to make love to you, I want ki humare bache ho and sabse important, I want to make you happy"
He kissed her forehead again and said, "I can't wait for tomorrow Khushi, I can't wait to marry you"
He tried but couldn't wipe away the stream of her tears. So, he leaned forward and kissed them, down one cheek first and then the other. And then he kissed her eyelids.
His lips twitching, he touched the tip of her nose before placing a feather-light kiss on it.
Khushi drew a sharp breath as butterflies erupted in her stomach.
Even in the nipping air of the night, his touch was searing.
She closed her eyes, her heartbeat and breathing quickly spiraling to dizzying speeds.
With a deep sigh, he pulled back.
"I'm sorry Khushi" he said, "Main jaantha hoon ki shaadi se pehle tumhe yeh sab'I know"
"Aap jaanthe hain" she said, not sure if she was asking or stating.
She opened her eyes and saw that he was looking down, trying to blink away the dampness in his eyes.
She pulled him into a hug, light at first but her grip tightened as it sank in just how considerate he was being. His words were echoing in her ears as they got etched in her memory forever.
He let her hold him until spent, she pulled back and took a deep breath.
When she looked at him again, his smirk was back in place.
"Itne din intezaar kar liya, ab ek aur din ki toh baat hai" he said.
She felt colour rising in her cheeks.
"Tumhe darr toh nahi lag raha?" he asked, leaning forward. "Kal shaadi me lehenga ulta toh nahi pehen ke aaogi?"
Khushi stared at him and then burst out laughing as memories of their previous suhag raat attempt came back to her. He really didn't play fair, she sniffed indignantly, still somewhat embarrassed by how easily he'd needled her.
'But just wait Mr. Raizada, I'll be the one with surprises this time' she said to herself, thinking of the most beautiful red and pink lehenga she'd ever seen and hoping Jiji wouldn't forget about it.
The fact that she felt more excited than scared amazed her and still blushing, she lay her head on his shoulder again and looped her arm through his as he lowered them both and pulled the duvet over them.
*****************************************************************************************************************
Khushi woke up to the sound of a grating alarm tone.
She tried to sit up but felt a blinding pain when her head collided with something.
Her eyes watering, she saw that it was Arnavji. He was sitting up, massaging the side of his head with a bemused smile.
"Good morning" he said.
And before she could reply, he leaned forward and banged his forehead against hers.
"What?" he asked with a teasing smile, when he saw her staring. "Tumne hi kaha thi seeng nikal aaenge"
Khushi gaped at him. But that was nothing compared to the astonishment she felt on finding herself on the terrace.
It took her several seconds to get her bearings as she squinted at her surroundings in the orange hues of daybreak.
"Khushi" he said, prodding her gently. "Buaji ke uthne se pehle hume neeche jaana chahiye"
He stood and gave her a hand up.
They made their way back downstairs stealthily and through the window into her room.
Rather belatedly, Khushi remembered the previous evening in its entirety.
"Aaj humari shaadi hai" she whispered.
Arnavji, who was heading for the door, stopped and turned around.
"Kyun?" he asked, smiling. "Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada ka irada badal gaya kya?"
He took a few predatory strides towards her and she couldn't help but giggle, remembering all the other times.
She shook her head and gave him a quick hug.
"Shaadi mubarak ho Arnavji" she said.
Before he could reply, there was a loud knock on the door.
"Aye Sanka Devi"
Khushi's jaw dropped and Arnavji cursed under his breath, his fist rising to his mouth.
"Hey Devi Maiya" Khushi whispered, "Ab kya karenge? Buaji ne dekh liya toh'"
"Relax Khushi" he said, patting her shoulder. "I don't think she'll mind"
He made to open the door.
But she grabbed his hand and pulled him back.
"Bahar jaenge, bade aaye Laad Governor" she said, and wagged her index finger at him. "Humne kaha tha aapse, humare shaadi me pehle se itni musibaten aayi hai, Hey Devi Maiya, ab kya hoga?"
"Aye Sanka Devi, tum ab tak jagi ki naahi? Jaldi karo, hume Damaadji ko bhi jagaana hai"
Khushi slapped her forehead and looked around the room. She wasn't sure why she was panicking exactly and if she'd paused to think she would have realized that Arnavji was right. But just then, it felt supremely important to keep their shenanigans a secret.
"Dekhiye, hum darvaza kholte hai" she said, "Aap almarih ke peeche chup jaaiye"
"What?" Arnavji said.
"Shhh" Khushi said, raising her finger to her lips. "Arnavji, hum nahi chahthe ki iss bar koi gadbad ho. Isliye hum jaisa keh rahe hai, aap vaisa kijiye. Jaiye"
"I really don't think'"
Khushi had to literally shove him into hiding behind the almarih. When he finally conceded, she took a deep breath and adjusted her dress before pulling open the door.
"Itna waqat kaahe lagaya Parmeshwari?" Buaji asked.
Khushi just smiled and yawned exaggeratedly, just for effect.
"Titaliya, aaj tumhra byah hai" Buaji said, patting her cheek. "Yaad hai ki naahi?"
"Yaad hai Buaji" Khushi said, shifting to stand at the doorway and block Buaji from entering.
"Jao, jaldi se haath muh dhoke aao. Hum tumhre liye chai kamre me hi leke aate hain" Buaji said, "Aaj muhurat tak, tum aur Damaadji ek doosre ko nahi dekh sakath hai, isliye chup-chap andar rehna, samjhi? Payaliya aathi hi hogi"
"Ji Buaji" Khushi said.
She allowed Buaji to drag her outside but as soon as Buaji went to the kitchen, Khushi doubled back to her room.
"Arnavji" she whispered, walking to the almirah, "Buaji rasoi ghar me chali gayi, aap jaldi se'"
She stopped when she saw Arnavji was laughing.
"Aap has kyun rahe hai?"
"Believe it or not" he said, "Hum yeh bhi pehle kar chuke. New Year's eve yaad hai?"
Before Khushi could reply, Buaji was at the door again. Khushi opened the almirah door to block Arnavji from view.
"Hum rasoi me gaye ki nahi tum bhaagke yihan vaapis kaahe aa gayi Parmeshwari?
"Ab'a..voh hum towliya lena bhool gaye na" she said, pulling out a towel.
"Aur kisse baat kar rahi thi Nandkishore?" Buaji asked.
"Khud se Buaji, hum khud se baat kar rahe the. Aaj mausam hai suhana, shaadi karne ka hai bahana" Khushi sang, with a strained smile and threw a furtive look behind the cupboard. "What the, what the, what the'"
"Arey pagla gayi ho ka? Jaldi karo" Buaji asked, turning away and mumbling. "Hum Damaadji se kahe rahe, ek baar firse sochlo. Sanka Devi aur ooka sanak sambhalna koi bachon ka khel'"
"Kya?" Khushi said, shutting the almirah with a loud bang. "Aap humari Buaji hai ya unki? Aur kya kaha unhone?"
Buaji turned around, trying to suppress a smile.
"Kya kahenge Nandkishore?" Buaji said, "Kehat rahe ki ab kismat me likha hai tho bhugathna padi hai"
"Kya?" Khushi said again, her hands on her hips. "Aisa kaha unhone?"
Buaji laughed, clutching the side of her head. "Kehat rahe ki ab soch-vichar ke liye bahut der ho gayi Nandkishore"
Khushi made a face and humphed while Buaji circled her hands around her and cracked her knuckles saying, "Ab jaldi karo, titaliya"
When Buaji left, she signaled for Arnavji to come out of hiding.
Peering out of the door, she saw the empty room and gestured that the path was safe for him to leave.
He hurried out of her room and just as she was about to sigh with relief, he doubled back inside.
"Shaadi mubarak ho Khushi" he said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
He was gone before Khushi could reply.
A few seconds later, she heard Amma say
"Arey bitwa, aap uth gaye? Hum abhi aapko jagaane aa rahe the"
"Haan Aunty, main voh'um jogging ke liye gaya tha"
Khushi smiled.
Arnavji was a terrible liar, she just hoped he sounded convincing enough not to get them caught.
And perhaps she was rubbing off on him, because Amma didn't suspect anything and their voices faded as Amma led him into their room, asking if he wanted his chai.
Leaning against the door and thanking Devi Maiya, she willed her heart to stop racing.
With a start like this, Khushi thought, her wedding day was going to be one hell of a day.
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