Q/N - This is going to be a musical part due to nature of the topic, so brace yourselves and get headphones! I recommend watching all 3-4 songs below, they all are special and beautiful ❤
Co-incidentally it's international dance day today 💃
--*--
In the last 10 years in Raizada house, no function went by without Khushi gracing the dance floor with her enchanting moves and ended with a sensual duet with Arnav. They would make people wonder how their steps synced so well! Except the times of her pregnancies and childbirth of course, this tradition was well-maintained and now they were preparing for upcoming event that is Payal-Akash's new baby's naamkaran (naming ceremony).
Arnav looked with amusement as Khushi was going through different songs from the playlist in her I-Pod and was shortlisting songs for her performance as well as their duet. In all this process, she had listened to at least a dozen songs and dismissed most of them, 'we performed on this one at Mama-Mami's anniversary'; 'this one will require me to wear Rajasthani costume '; 'this is too slow' and so on!
"Khushi, select some English song this time, no?" He suggested tongue in cheek. Whenever he played one of those Enrique or David Guetta songs, she would make a face. Not that she had language problem, that wasn't the case, but those songs were little too outrageous for her! He had still made her dance with him on few of those in his office parties or when they were travelling abroad and attended events there.
"English gaana aur naamkaran pe? Arnavji, this is not your office party, this is a ghar ka function, where Naniji, mamiji, Amma, buaji and all others will be present. bhul gaye?" she looked at him as if he had spoken in alien language.
"Lier! seedhe seedhe bolo na that you can't dance on English songs!" He said with a smirk and got expected reaction out of her
"Don't challenge me Mr. Raizada, our history says you often lose!" she said pointing a finger and he quickly held it,
"Maybe I love to lose." he said and she hissed as he lightly bit her finger and then whispered, "waise bhi, I've lost myself to you long back, what's left?" making her blush
--*--
The next day too was going in similar way, but both Arnav and Khushi noticed one thing that Arohi automatically would start twirling and jumping whenever Khushi played those songs. Though not really a new thing, as even as a baby she used to move a lot hearing dancing songs, or when in Khushi's tummy, Khushi had felt rather prominent kicks when she heard some upbeat songs, and now they knew which baby was it!
"Are you thinking the same thing that I am?" Khushi asked Arnav,
"Yes, my baby has so much grace and rhythm in her steps, she's so natural." Aru's dada gushed.
Next few days Arohi and Khushi danced their hearts out, mostly Khushi dancing, and Aru twirling around her mamma. Piya and Chiku had decided to have their own performance while Pari was not keen to dancing and Arnav-Khushi decided to let her be. So, Arnav and Pari would be tending their rose garden while this dance practice went inside. As for his duet with Khushi, they would practice only a day before like every time. To be honest, they never even needed that, their dance steps always came naturally, and they fed off each other's energies.
It was a couple days before the function, when Arnav stood at their room's door watching his wife and daughter dance:
Main din bhar soch mein dubu, main raat mein jagu na sou, Tu hi dil mein rahata hai ho sajana
(I keep thinking whole day, I can't sleep at night, only you are in my heart, dear lover)
Maine payal hai chhankai, ab to aaja tu harjaai, Meri sanso mein tu hai basa, ho sajana aaja na ab tarasa
(My anklets are jingling, you are in my breaths, Oh dear lover meet me now, don't make me wait)
He stepped in only when they stopped amidst giggles and picked Aru while addressing khushi,
"Tum payal chankao aur main na aau ye kabhi hua hain? (has it ever happened that I didn't come after hearing your payal's sound)?" he asked her as she was wiping her sweaty face with a face towel and handed one to him for Aru. "wow, she is one heavy baby." Arnav said putting Aru down.
"Psst Arnavji nazar mat lagaiye hamari beti ko. She's just healthy and its baby fats which will go away!" Khushi never liked when anyone commented on her kids' weight, not even Arnav! She felt it jinxed them. Even Chiku was a chubby baby but now he had lost most of that weight and she knew Aru would too.
"Arre, I am not saying like that. Ok, fine. By the way which song did you select for us?" he was curious but she didn't answer,
"You'll see." she replied saucily and went to attend her other daughter, Pari, who now demanded her time for her own things...
--*--
On the evening on naamkaran, an excited crowd of Raizadas, Guptas and Sharmas were moving around, first for the main ceremony and later for dances! Not that it was a competition, but dances are a way of our culture to express joy and enjoy the small moments on stage.
Soon, Anjali announced the baby's name, Palash, as was chosen by Payal and Akash and everyone cheered for this new Raizada.
And then came first performance of the evening, Khushi and debuting with her, Arohi!
Aankh me kajra baal me gajra, Bindiya jo lagayi re, Dekhke teri mast jawaani, Chanda bhi sharmaye re
(Kohl in eyes, flower-string in hair and a bindi, seeing your beauty even moon is ashamed)
Everyone clapped when a cutely dressed Arohi danced with her mamma, while buaji kept taking their balaye (a hand gesture to ward off the evil), a proud dad of Arohi's was busy taking lots of photos on his phone and recoding it to reminisce for the rest of their lives! Sure, Aru's steps weren't as clean for a 2-year-old but she had terrific energy and that was visible.
The next performance was Mamaji and mamiji, who danced on 'Ae meri zohra jabeen' and next was Piya and Ckiku who did their own thing on 'Swag Se Swagat'. Anjali and her husband, Navin danced on 'Raabta'.
Even Nani surprised them all when she declared she had prepared a small performance too and then danced on 'Madhuban mein Radhika naache re'.
And like every time, the most awaited performance was by the star-couple of their family, Arnav-Khushi. When she had told him this song, for a minute he was disappointed that it wasn't what he had asked but a Bollywood song again, but when he heard the lyrics, he understood, it was 'their song'!
Koi kami si thi jeene mein, Jana yeh humne kahan (there was something lacking in my life, I never understood)
Aise mile ho jaise humpe, Ho mehereban yeh Khuda (you met me as if God's mercy on me)
Main wari jawan, Main wari jawan, Satho ki ho ya ek sur re, (I'll sacrifice myself for you, it's as if seven sur have become one)
Rab di marzi hai,Apna yeh milna, Barsa hai hum, Pe uska noor (Our union is God's wish, His light has been shining on us)
Piya o re piya, Piya re piya re piya
As every time, it ended amongst huge applause, but two people were in their own world!
It was a grand and successful function and after an equally grand dinner, they all retired for the night.
--*--
"Dance with me." She said as they stepped in their bedroom after putting their kids down to sleep.
"What?" He asked, surprised.
"Dance. With. Me." She repeated.
"But we just did, downstairs." he was confused. Sure he had thought she would have thought of his wish but when she picked that beautiful song earlier, he didn't mind. Now what was she up to?
"Exactly. That was for the audience, this one is for us!" She bit her cheek from inside, her eyes reflecting the same playful glint, something they had on a night long ago in their farmhouse, a day before their remarriage.
"Meet me here after 20 minutes." Saying so she pushed him out to poolside and quickly pulled the costume, a beautiful knee length, black satin dress she had brought keeping this night in mind. Once she changed her dress, she put a nude make up with only a gloss on her naturally pink lips and finally let her hair loose, with just few side pins so they don't come on her face while dancing.
And when she opened the door for him to step in their bedroom, he was mesmerized once again! He had never thought his one challenge would be taken to this height by her but he had no complaints! Just as he was wondering on her choice of song, he had another surprise, an English song with rather bold lyrics,
Don't blame me, love made me crazy, if it doesn't you ain't doing it right
Lord save me my drug is my baby I will be using for the rest of my life
She extended her hand for him and in daze, he held her small palm and watched with excitement and in-trance as his wife danced around him, for him and with him!!!
--*--
A/N – I love dancing myself so enjoyed writing this one a lot, hope you guys liked reading too :). I could totally see this picture of Khushi and that Jr. ASR dancing with her, like her dada! And then of course, Khushi's long time dance partner ASR sr. toh hain hi! :P I was going to make them dance on Senorita (Camila Cabello's) but then this one from Taylor swift is an old favorite and suited more! Sorry, I couldn't add lyrics of all otherwise it would be a longgg chapter lol.
About Arohi - Yes, she is going to follow Khushi's footsteps in dance, but not pursue seriously until she's in her teens. She will eventually grow up a chubby teen, like mentioned in Interlude II. (she's beautiful either way slim or curvaceous, fair, or dusky, but childhood obesity is a health issue). And then, dance will be her way to shed the extra pounds. (again, she's gorgeous either way)
I'll try to squeeze in Mother's day chapter before future sneak peek :)
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