Chapter 133
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[MEMBERSONLY]
[NOCOPY]
(Thanx a million, Naughtymallu!)
FINDING KHUSHI
Part 33
RM looked beautiful, decorated like a bride with long chains of fairy lights, bright diyas, marigold chains, and colourful silk drapings. A big bower of fragrant flowers awaited the couples getting engaged that evening.
Gaurav, in his wheelchair, looked around, a happy smile on his face. NK stood by him, pointing out the arrangements made for the sagai.
"First, Buaji will tikka your mother. Then, Di will tikka Ganeshji. Once the tikkafying is over, Di will tie a raksha bandhan on your Papa's arm. Then your mother will place a ring on Ganeshji's finger, and Ganeshji will make your mother wear his ring." He repeated all the information that he had pestered Buaji for.
Gaurav smiled happily. It was not every son who got a chance to witness his mother's marriage. And that too to Papa. It was a dream come true. He looked at Scooby wagging his tail, standing at his feet.
"Don't run around and knock anything down." He whispered to the mongrel.
"And don't go into Nannav's room. His ghoosa, I tell you! It will burn all your hair!" NK advised the puppy.
Scooby wagged his tail.
Gaurav watched Nani, Mami, Buaji, and HP run around trying to make sure that all the arrangements were perfect. Amma alone stood by Babuji, unable to leave him alone.
Payal was with Khushi and Anjali was with Anamika, ostensibly to help them dress for the function. Akash was helping Ganesh and Arnav wear their festive gear.
"Haven't the boys come down yet, Nandkisore?" Buaji exclaimed.
Gaurav smiled to hear of Ganesh & Arnav being referred to as boys by her.
"The baijj (boys) bant to do lipshtick, roojj (rouge), and other makeuppiya like their Mami." Mami laughed.
Even HP laughed at the image of Ganesh and Arnav in full makeup.
The laughter died as Ganesh and Arnav came down the steps, followed by Akash. All three were in sherwani, Arnav in pearl white, Ganesh in inky black, and Akash in pale green.
Mami clutched her heart. "Saasumma! Hold me up! How handsome they look!"
Arnav and Ganesh flushed as they were bombarded with fulsome compliments by the ladies.
Buaji sidled up to Ganesh and whispered in his ear, "See, Nandkisore! You don't have to be scared of the razor. Once in a while you can shave and cut your hair, Bitwaa! You look like Nandkisore!"
Ganesh chuckled, and Arnav, listening to this conversation, smiled.
But all smiles and laughter came to an abrupt stop when Anjali led Anamika down. She had put her hair up, and only a few tendrils had been left to tease her cheek. She was wearing a silver sari, with a pink and black border, embellished with tassels hanging from the pallu.
The sari shone as she walked, clinging to her full figure lovingly. It looked as though someone had scattered stars on her body with a lavish hand. Her jewellery was understated, and her make up minimal.
Buaji nudged Ganesh who had been staring at her with wide eyes. "Anamika bitiyya looks beautiful, doesn't she, Nandkisore?"
Ganesh could only nod in whole-hearted agreement.
Buaji sighed. "Then why she wears shirt-pant like men, I don't know, Nandkisore! Girls these days! All trying to look like men! No hair! No front or back! No earrings! No kajal! And so thin that if a strong wind blows, it will carry them away!"
Ganesh and Arnav smiled.
Arnav looked at the stairs eagerly, hoping for a glimpse of Khushi.
Anjali smiled and nudged him. "Looking for Khushiji?" she asked, smirking.
Arnav flushed. "Isn't it time for the sagai, Di?" he asked.
"Sabar karo, Chotey!" she laughed.
"It has been 28 years." Arnav muttered. Anjali burst out laughing.
Anamika smiled at Ganesh & Gaurav as she joined them.
"You look beautiful." Ganesh said simply.
"It feels strange to dress up." Anamika smiled.
Nani, Amma, Buaji, Mami, Gaurav, & Anjali hugged her. Scooby danced around her feet. All laughed.
"Khushiji!" NK exclaimed.
All turned their eyes to the stairs. Payal, in a red sari, was helping Khushi down the steps. She was in a coral and purple lehenga, the coral dupatta neatly pinned to her shoulder. Her hair was unbound, and held back lightly by a jewelled clip. Her arms were laden with coral & purple bangles, her necklace had purple stones, and her maang tikka and matching earrings were gem-studded.
Arnav smiled at her, his molten chocolate eyes melting with love for her. Khushi looked up, and catching the clear appreciation in his eyes, blushed becomingly.
He held out his hand. Khushi placed her hand in his, smiling into his eyes.
"It is time, Chotey, Ganeshji, for the sagai." Nani said, smiling.
"Ji." they nodded.
Nani, Mami, Buaji, & Anjali led the two couples to the huge bower, and made them stand in their place.
Khushi leaned closer to Arnav, her arm touching his.
"Two down. Four more to go." he whispered.
Khushi giggled.
"You look beautiful." Arnav whispered.
Khushi smiled, her eyes glowing with love. "Anamikaji sent me this lehenga yesterday. She wrote, 'A colourful lehenga for a rangeeli Khushi Kumari Gupta!' on the card inside the box."
Arnav lowered his head to hide his smile.
Ganesh whispered in Anamika's ear. "Happy?"
She smiled into his eyes. "Very."
Both of them looked at Gaurav, sitting in his wheelchair, smiling widely at them, giving them a thumbs up sign.
Anamika slipped her fingers into Ganesh's warm, large hand. He returned the pressure gently.
"Shall we begin, Nandkisore?" Buaji asked, looking at the family members.
"Why are you asking me, Buaji?" NK asked.
Anjali hit NK on his arm, and said, "Yes, Buaji. Let's. Woh kya he, our Chotey is getting so impatient that if we don't conduct the sagai now, he will fume and walk off in anger."
"He will balk off, Anjali Bitiyaa, but he won't go alone! He will drag Khushi behind him, Hello Hi Bye Bye!" Mami chuckled.
All laughed. Arnav pretended to frown.
"Dekho, dekho, Nannav ko ghoosa aa raha he!" NK warned. "Let's do the sagai fast."
Buaji applied tikka on Anamika & Arnav's foreheads, and Anjali applied tikka on Ganesh's & Khushi's foreheads. Buaji tied a raksha dhaga on Arnav's arm and Anjali tied the same on Ganesh's arm.
Then it was time for the couples to exhange rings. Arnav placed the ring with 2 heart-shaped rubies on Khushi's finger, and Ganesh slid the platinum band with 9 diamonds on Anamika's finger. Khushi took a plain white gold band and placed it on Arnav's finger. Anamika slid a plain platinum band on to Ganesh's finger.
All the ladies wiped tears from their eyes, and NK looked at them, worried.
"Maasi, Naniji, Buaji, Di'Why are you crying? Isn't it good that Khushiji is brave enough to marry Nannav? Then why are you crying?" NK was genuinely confused.
Gaurav was smiling from ear to ear.
Khushi looked at the ring on Arnav's finger, and said, smiling mischievously, "Now you are all mine, Arnavji! Where will you run when I tease you?"
Arnav smiled into her eyes, and then whispered in her ear. "Who said I will want to run, Khushi soon-to-be Arnav Singh Raizada?"
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