Chapter 35
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OS 2: Finding Khushi
Part 14
Section 1
It was Payal & Akash's sangeet. The Raizada mansion was decorated like a bride, with red & golden drapes, huge garlands of fragrant flowers, lights...
A huge stage was erected on the premises to showcase the talent of the family members, especially Mami...
The Raizadas waited near the door to welcome the army of guests they had invited to join them in celebrating this once-in-a-lifetime event. Richly dressed women and elegant men thronged the house.
The arrival of Buaji, Amma, Babuji, Payal, & Khushi was greeted with loud cries of welcome. Guests peeked over the heads of others for a glimpse of the bride-to-be.
Payal, in a golden lehenga, looked beautiful, her flawless complexion and the rich clothes lending enchantment to her person.
Moving on from Payal, all eyes lingered on Khushi in a peach saree.
"Who is that beautiful girl? The one in the peach saree? Standing behind the bride? Is she married?" The ladies with sons & nephews to be married off, asked with the delight of having seen an oasis in a desert!
But no one could match the eagerness in the eyes of Arnav Singh Raizada, watching her from a distance...
As he watched, NK danced up to the Guptas, crying, "Khushiji! You have come!"
Khushi smiled at him and greeted him. "How have you been, Nanheji?"
"Very Mushroom! Very Mushroom, Khushiji!"
Khushi stared at him. Buaji said, "Hein?"
Akash sighed, and said, "Mashroof (busy), NK Bhai! Mashroof!"
All laughed. Khushi had to place her hand over her mouth to control her fit of giggles. She looked up and saw HIM watching her.
Arnav Singh Raizada! That too in a white kurta! Khushi felt her acidity & dhak dhak build up.
Even from a distance, she could feel his eyes run all over her body. Khushi Kumari Gupta, you should not have worn a sari! A sack would have been better! Made of metal! His eyes... She quickly pulled the pleat of her sari over her waist, hoping to hide the lines of her figure from his all-seeing eyes...
Arnav slowly walked down the steps to greet Buaji, Amma, Babuji, & Payal. He then casuallymoved to stand by Khushi. She moved a step away. He moved a step closer to her. She looked frantically around for a means of escape.
Nanheji was helping HP serve tall glasses of chilled juice to the guests.
"Let me help you, Nanheji!", Khushi said, as she made her way to him on hasty feet.
"No, no, Khushiji! You are Marhoom here! Let me serve you!", NK smiled.
Khushi clutched her heart. "Don't say this to anyone else, Nanheji! Marhoom means 'dead'!"
"Really?", NK's eyes widened. "When did it change meaning? I thought it meant 'guests'?"
"Mehmaan, Nanheji!", Khushi sighed, smiling. NK scratched his head.
Arnav smiled.
"Did you see, Anjali Bitiyaa! Khussi ijj run, ran, run from hamre Arnav Bitwaa!", Mami whispered in Anjali's ear.
"Yes, Mami.", Anjali sighed.
"Ab hamein hi kuch karega padi!", Mami said.
Nani & Anjali nodded.
Soon, the performances started.
Mami & Buaji danced to Hookah Bar. The stage shook in time to their rhythmic steps, and the crowd clapped their hands and jumped up and down, joining in the fun.
Teri akhiyon ka waar jaise sher ka shikar...
Buaji looked to the left & right with her kajal-lined eyes, and fluttered her eyelashes. Khushi's eyes met Arnav's burning ones, and skittered away.
Tera husn dhueydaar jaise jaltaa cigar...
Mami blew smoke rings from a lit cigar!
Tere pyar ka nasha kabhi aar kabhi paar
Tera pyaar pyaar pyaar hookah bar...
Tera pyaar pyaar pyaar hookah bar...
The crowd sang along with them. Khushi clapped her hands in time to music, very aware of a lion stalking her but pretending not to see him...
Nani & NK took the stage, dancing to Jawani Jaaneman.
Nani was in a red sari, and her moves sent teenagers crying. NK had a tough time keeping up with her.
Jawaani jaan-e-man haseen dilruba
Milein do dil jawaan nisaar ho gaya
Shikaar khud yahaan shikaar ho gaya...
Milein do dil jawaan nisaar ho gaya
Shikaar khud yahaan shikaar ho gaya...
The crowd loved them.
Arnav watched Khushi watching them, laughing her heart out at Nani's naughtiness, and smiled.
Yeh kya sitam huwa
Yeh kya gulam huwa
Yeh kya ghazab huwa
Yeh kaise kab huwa
Na jaanoon main na jaane woh, aha...
After the dance, NK panted, "Naniji, you are budhiyaa!"
Nani laughed.
Buaji & Nani danced to Ude jab jab zulfen teri
Kavaariyon ka dil machle, jind meriye
Kavaariyon ka dil machle, jind meriye
Oh Jab aise chikne chehre
To kaise na nazar phisle, jind meriye...
Arnav saw nothing except Khushi, her smiles, her hair dancing in the wind, her twinkling eyes...
Then it was time for dinner. Khushi quickly hid herself among her family members, attaching herself to her Buaji's pallu. She sat between Buaji & Amma, her heart thudding with the fear that he would join her...
Her fear was not unfounded.
The Raizadas joined the Guptas at their table. Amma got up to move Babuji's wheelchair to a more comfortable position, & Anjali quickly slipped into her vacant seat.
Khushi drew a deep breath of relief. But it was too soon.
"Chotey! Why don't you sit here, with us? You can see the stage well from here.", Anjali invited him.
Her Chotey, never one to miss an opportunity, dragged a chair and placed it between Anjali & Khushi, in the space Anjali had provided by moving her chair.
Khushi shut her eyes for a few moments, praying desperately to Devi Maiyya for deliverance. But she was apparently otherwise occupied.
He sat very close to her, his left arm rubbing against her right. She pulled her arm away. He moved closer, and leaned towards her to speak in her ear.
"Tum theek ho, Khushi?" His husky whisper and the raw passion in his eyes made her heart stop for a moment, and then run like a speeding train.
Khushi swallowed with difficulty.
"khushiji, you are not eating anything!", Anjali complained with a pout.
Khushi gave a wan smile and popped a piece of something into her mouth.
It tasted like plastic. Was it plastic? Khushi frowned. She choked.
To her horror she realized that choking in Arnav Singh Raizada's vicinity was injurious to her health!
His hand came up to rub her back beneath the fall of her hair, his fingers lovingly trailing on the bare skin revealed by her low neck & two flimsy doris! His fingers touched the lower dori, and played with it...
Khushi's breath caught, and she stared into his naughty eyes with horror.
"Are you all right, Khushiji?", Anjali asked.
Khushi bobbed her head like a doll. What was wrong with this family? Had they taken the patent, the theka for "Tum Theek Ho?"
As others smiled at Arnav & Khushi and began to talk & eat, Arnav blew into her ear. She shuddered.
'Are you sure you are fine, Khushi?", he drawled.
Khushi glared at him. "How can I be fine when you are...?"
"When I am... ?", he dared to smile.
Khushi saw red. And unfortunately, anger made her say what should have remained unspoken. For her sake.
"Touching me here and there... Looking at me like children look at an ice stick... What is wrong with you? Can't you let me breathe in peace? This dhak dhak & acidity will kill me... Stay away from me... Don't even breathe the same air as me..."
"Then will your..." Arnav had to swallow his laugh, " ...what was it?... Oh, your dhak dhak & acidity leave you?"
"Yes. And don't look at me.", Khushi instructed.
"So I shouldn't touch you.", he mused, taking hold of her hand on her lap, under the table. "Not even your hand?"
"No...", she panted.
"And I shouldn't even look at you?"
"No...o.." Her voice was less sure.
"Khussi!", came Mami's call.
"Ji..i..?"
"Your dance is after dinner. Change clotheswaa in hamre Arnav Bitwaa's room!"
"No!", Khushi squeaked.
Mami frowned as though she had understood nothing.
"Bill you dance in thijj saree? Kapde change naahi karoge? Makeuppiya naahi karoge?"
"Mami is right.", Anjali smiled. "Don't be shy!"
Nani nodded, smiling. Arnav smiled innocently at her.
Shy? Who was shy? She was so furious that he was in danger of becoming a pile of ash if she so much as looked at him, Khushi fretted & fumed. The picture of Arnav Singh Raizada slowly crumbling into a pile of ash at her feet was so satisfying that she dwelt upon that image with relish.
Arnav hid his smile.
After dinner, Khushi grabbed her costume bag from Amma & ran to Arnavji's room. He was talking to some business acquaintances and had his back to her.
She entered his room and shut the door after her. She raced to his bed, dumped her bag on it and raised her hand to pull her pallu off. Her hand stilled. She looked at the door in trepidation. Had she locked it?
She ran to the door. It was not locked. She fastened the lock, and fell against it gasping. She then ran to the door to the pool and locked it. She turned her head to look at the bathroom. Maybe he was hiding in it!
She ran to the bathroom and barged into it to catch him red handed. The room was empty.
Sighing in relief, she ran back to the bed and began shedding her clothes in earnest.
If there was a contest for undressing & dressing in record time, Khushi Kumari Gupta would have won it hands down. Within a few seconds, Khushi was dressed and made up, her hair in a plait. What if she was short of breath? Atleast she had her clothes on!
Khushi looked at the door anxiously, and then coiled heavy garlands around her hair. She looked at herself in the mirror. Dishevelled! Panicky! In imminent danger of a heart attack!
She was supposed to be Radha, complaining about Krishna's naughtiness. Not an accident victim filing a report in a police station. She smoothed down her skirt, straightened her blouse, tried smiling, and slowly left the room.
She peeked into the corridor. There was no one there. She emerged from the room, and walked towards the stage.
Kaahe Chhed, Chhed Mohe Garwa Lagaayi ...
Kaahe Chhed, Chhed Mohe...
Kaahe Chhed, Chhed Mohe...
She twirled, the folds of her skirt flying around her. Arnav's eyes took in her beauty with eager eyes. Te purple skirt... the short choli... The long plait with flowers... the jewellery making her glitter on stage... The infectious smile... her complaining eyes...
Nanda Ko Laal Aiso Dheet...
Khushi's eyes caught Arnav's intent ones. She skipped a step.
Barbas Mori Laaj Leeni, Laaj Leeni, Laaj Leeni
Barbas Mori Laaj Leeni...
Her eyes lowered, unable to meet his.
Bindashaam Maanat Naahi, Bindashaam Maanat Naahi
Kaase Kahoon Main Apne Jiya Ki Soonat Naahi Maayi
Kaahe Chhed, Chhed Mohe...
Arnav moved closer to the stage. She looked at him. Why did it feel as though she were dancing only for him?
Kar Pakadata Choodiyaan Sab Karki Karki Karki Karki...
Arnav smiled. Khushi gulped.
Kar Pakadata Choodiyaan Sab Karki Karki Karki
Khushi looked at Anjali, Mami, & Nani.
O Maayi
Bindashaam Maanat Naahi, Bindashaam Maanat Naahi
Kaase Kahoon Main Apne Jiya Ki Soonat Naahi Maayi...
Bindashaam Maanat Naahi, Bindashaam Maanat Naahi
Kaase Kahoon Main Apne Jiya Ki Soonat Naahi Maayi...
Khushi looked at Arnav. His eyes... they looked as though he could eat her alive...
Kaahe Chhed, Kaahe Chhed
Kaahe Chhed, Chhed Mohe...
The dance came to an end, and the crowd shouted, clapped, and whistled their appreciation.
Khushi did not wait to hear it. Knowing what was good for her, she lifted her lehenga and ran as if the hounds of hell were chasing her.
"Khushiji!", Anjali called.
"Ji!"
"It was beautiful!"
"Ji!" She let Anjaliji kiss her cheek, and then turned to run. Nani & Mami caught hold of her.
Escaping from their clutches, she turned to leave.
"Khushiji!" It was Nanheji's turn. "You dance so well! You are such a good Nautanki!"
She dashed into Arnavji's room, slamming the door after her. She leaned against it to catch her breath. She took a step towards the bed & stopped short.
Arnavji was lying on her peach sari on the bed, her choli and other pieces of attire scattered around him.
"Khushi, I was waiting for you.", he drawled.
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