Chapter 45
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OS 2: Finding Khushi
Part 15
Section 3
"Chotey!", Anjali called. "Don't you have work to do?", she teased him.
"Haan, Chotey. Sitting here, looking at the ladies putting on mehendi! Are you sure we are not boring you?", Nani added, a naughty smile in her eyes.
"Err.. no..", Arnav flushed slightly.
He was Arnav Singh Raizada, but she was Arnav Singh Raizada's Nani.
"Mere haathon mein do do choodiyaan he,
Thoda thehro, sajan, majbooriyaan he'
Milan hogaa abhi ik raat ki dooriyaan hain'", Mami hummed, leaning close to him & nudging him, her eyes on the bangles on Khushi's arms.
Khushi blushed, & Arnav smiled slightly. His Mami was incorrigible.
Nani & Di giggled.
"Let me see the design, Khushiji!", Anjali caught hold of Khushi's arm.
She gasped. "'A...? Khushiji?" Nani & Mami looked at each other in a pretense of shock.
"Ee... A... kahan se aa gaya?", asked Mami.
Khushi blushed, not knowing where to look.
"Woh... woh..." She stopped trying.
Arnav smiled.
"Crajjie (crazy) kiya re, crajjie kiya re...", Mami sang. "Jaagi soyi rahoon, Khoi Khoi rahoon, Uske Yadon Mein, Uske dreamzwwa Mein, Jhoome Jiya Re! Crajjie kiya re..ta nan..nan.. Crajjie kiye re'"
Nani & Di laughed. Buaji & Amma joined them.
Arnav caught hold of Khushi's arm, helped her up, and led her away to a new wave of laughter.
Mami sang after them,
"Mein herewaa bhi gai
Mein therewaa bhi gai
Socha pal pal usse
Mein jahan bhi gai...
Mein therewaa bhi gai
Socha pal pal usse
Mein jahan bhi gai...
Crajjie kiya re.. ta nan..nan.. Crajjie kiya Re..."
Arnav led Khushi into the store room, and shut the door behind them.
Khushi was panting after the mad rush, a rosy hue still lingering on her cheeks. Arnav smiled fondly at her, his chocolate brown eyes showering love on her.
Khushi gulped & looked away.
Arnav opened a huge cabinet, and pulled a box out. It was made of wood, with a huge lock.
He carried the box to an old cot and placed it there. He fished a key out of his pocket, and unlocked it.
There were 3 old albums on top.
Arnav removed his coat & threw it on the back of a chair there. He then led Khushi to sit on the cot, and sat down by her.
He took out the first album, and showed her the old photos.
"Your mother is so beautiful..."
"Your father is so handsome!"
"Anjaliji had long hair!"
"You had such a cross look!", she giggled.
Arnav looked at her, a smile in his eyes. "I hadn't met you then, Khushi!"
"You have your mother's eyes, Arnavji!"
"Your Nanaji? His moustache! It is so big! It must have tickled Naniji!"
Arnav burst out laughing. "Don't go asking her!"
Time flew.
Arnav took out the saris that his mother had set aside for her bahuriya, and placed them on Khushi's lap.
Khushi sat looking at the rich fabric and the intricate gold work on them, feeling tears fill her eyes. She was holding the hopes and dreams of his mother in her hands...
Arnav kissed her cheeks.
"Don't cry, Khushi.", he whispered. "Your Saasumma loves you very much. As much as her son does."
He took out the pair of stone-studded sandals.
Khushi gasped. "They are so beautiful!"
Arnav lifted her feet onto his lap, and eased thesandals on to her feet. They were a perfect fit.
Arnav stared at her feet. "How did she know..?"
They looked at each other.
"Maybe it was a lucky guess...", Arnav whispered. Khushi nodded.
There was a knock on the door.
Arnav went to the door & opened it.
Mami, Di, & Nani stood waiting at the door.
"Yes?", he asked. What did he have to do to get some time alone with Khushi in this house?
"Do you need any help, Chotey?", Di teased him.
"Hum he ready, taiyaar!", Mami offered her services.
"Kaa khayal he aapka?", asked Nani, smiling.
"I will manage.", Arnav said.
"Tum maineeijj kar lio, Arnav Bitwwa, but fasht (fast). Only haldi & shaadi are lepht (left) to patao the girlwaa!", Mami warned him.
Arnav rolled his eyes.
Khushi jumped up from the cot, leaving the sarees behind.
"I ..I should go... Amma... Buaji.."
Anjali gasped. "The sandals fit!"
Nani & Mami stared at Khushi's feet.
Mami whispered, "Saasumma, her feet are also tied now. Call the priest and arrange their shaadinow, before she runs away!"
The Guptas and the Raizadas shared lunch with the guests. The older ladies who had washed off their mehendi, fed the younger ones. Amma fed Payal, & Nani fed Khushi.
"Koi mujhe bhi feed kar do?", NK demanded.
Buaji said, "Come and sit by me, Nandkisore! I will give you food!"
NK said, "No, no, Nandkisore! I will have it by myself, Buaji!" He ran to hide behind Akash.
Arnav pulled a chair and sat by Khushi. Nani fed him too in turns.
Amma & Buaji smiled to see this.
It was time for the Guptas to leave. The other guests too were leaving in a flurry of goodbyes.
Anjali & Nani hugged Khushi & Payal.
Akash smiled shyly at Payal, saying, "We will meet at haldi, Payalji."
Payal nodded, her eyes on the floor.
Nani, Mami, Anjali, Buaji, Amma, & Khushi smiled at the sight.
"Kitna slow he mera babua!", Mami complained in Nani's ear.
Arnav walked up to Khushi, pulled her into his arms, gave her a bone-crushing hug, and kissed her cheek.
"I will see you tomorrow.", he whispered in her ear.
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