Chapter 156

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

Smita,😊

Here is the interpretation to Section 1 of Part 43.

Nani, Mami, Di and Payal were watching expectantly with a smile, for Arnav to choose a sari from the heap of yellow sarees to be gifted to Khushi. He was taking his own sweet time. He fingered each and every one of them. He felt one was too rough in texture, another was too heavy for Khushi's willowy frame to bear its weight, yet another he felt the colour was rather dull with yellow looking somewhat like that of a wilted flower. His family was watching him feel each one of the saris and discard and each time they gave each other meaningful glances. Nani with a gentle smile playing on her lips asked Arnav, whether he did not like any of them. His embarrassed, err' Nani', made Mami tease him, that haldi was set for the next day and if he stood like that without being able to choose a sari, he could very well get married in a year's time. All laughed and Arnav felt hounded by the womenfolk of his family. It was Payal's suggestion, that there were saris displayed at the far end of the hall where may be he could find one to his liking that rescued him from further teasing. Throwing a smile of gratitude at her, he made his way to the mannequins dressed in silks.

NK and Akash who were selecting kurtas, pitched in saying, Bhai, do you need help? and Nannav, mere bhai, shall we select Khushiji's sari? But Arnav declared, that he would do it himself. He wondered in his mind, what could he do if the best boutique in all of Delhi could not stock a sari worthy of Khushi? He looked at the sari's on display on mannequins. Green, cream, some ugly shade that was a cross between yellow onion and blooming onion, a sharp violet that hurt the eyes.. each colour he felt had its flaw. As his eyes took in all the colours and textures it stopped short in front of a yellow! It was as bright and sparkling as sunshine reminding him of Khushi. It had tiny lines in green and his favorite colour, red. He touched it and felt the soft texture between his fingers. It gave him the feeling of warm, soft and silky just like Khushi's skin. The soft touch had him gulp down the feeling it generated. He told the sales assistant, that was the the piece he wanted. Anjali teased him, whether he was sure? At his, yes, Mami laughed and told, that the sales girl will be able to pack and hand it over only if he let go of it. It had NK, Akash, Anjali, Payal and Nani chuckle, while Arnav flushed and quickly withdrew his fingers from the sari. Nani informed Arnav, that they had chosen a sari for Anamika Bitiyaa and would be sending hers and Khushi Bitiyaa's clothes as soon as they reach home. Arnav nodded still blushing.

Haldi was to be held at Laxmi Nagar. Anamika, Gaurav and Scooby reached Buaji's house on time, and Amma whisked away Anamika to her room to change into her haldi sari. Khushi was dressed in the yellow sari selected by Arnav with Preetho helping her to deck with lei as jewellery and in the hair. Anamika opened the box that Naniji had sent to her house. It held a yellow saree with with silver work and embellishments of with silver beads and crystals and a matching sleeved blouse.It looked so soft and delicate that Anamika touched it with gentle fingers and explained to Amma, who was smiling, that Nani had sent it for her. Cupping her face and giving it a playful pinch Amma said, that both she and Khushi would look extremely pretty. Anamika added a wry, yellow, with a small smile hovering around her lips. Amma with a laugh agreed, very yellow. Anamika dressed with the help of Amma and then she was decked with the maangtikka, earrings, necklace and bracelets that were placed on a tray. All those were hand made fragrant ornaments out of jasmine, roses, rajnigandha.. It was a novel experience for Anamika to see it and it had her eyes wide open. Garima fastened these sweet smelling, artistically strung lei's. She had even strung one around her hair coiffed into a bun. Garima taking pleasure at the outcome of her handiwork exclaimed, that she looked beautiful. Hearing the compliment from Garima, Anamika had a peek at the mirror and a slow smile made its way on to her lips. She thought, if a few months earlier, somebody had suggested that she would be getting dressed at Laxminagar and was readying herself to be anointed with turmeric paste as a part of the marriage rituals and she would be marrying Ganesh, she would have got into fits of laughter at the improbability of it. Then her thoughts moved on to, if she had not met Khushi that night at the party, if she had not liked her so much, if she had not furthered their acquaintance, Anamika shuddered to think of what her life would have entailed. She would never have had the courage to think of a future with Ganesh. And he being a gentleman, would never have forced her to think of marriage. Mere acquaintance with Khushi had triggered off a lot of happy things for them. They were fortunate, indeed very fortunate, especially Gaurav. Khushi with her uncanny ways had brought in so much of happiness, love and warmth into their lives. She had made them come out of the comfortable rut that they had stuck into and seek happiness that had been right under their nose but under wraps. Khushi was a person, Anamika knew, whom she would never forget and she touched her earring with a gentle hand.

As Raizada's and NK alighted from their vehicle at Laxmi Nagar, they saw Ganesh parking his car at Happyji's garage. They entered Buaji's house together and were greeted with loud yet warm welcome which had the ladies of the neighbourhood quickly join them! Soon the house was filled with loud chatter and laughter. Arnav and Ganesh sat quietly taking in all the sounds surrounding them NK was busy trying out his Hindi vocabulary on the girls who were watching him. Akash and Payal were engrossed in helping Buaji with last minute arrangements. Suddenly all the noises fizzled out, and in the ensuing silence, they registered a beautiful Anamika being brought out by Amma. The yellow of her sari made her look divine. All eyes took in her splendid statuesque form and then shifted to Ganesh's wondrous expression. Ladies tittered, while Scooby barked, making Gaurav laugh out. Arnav craned his neck to check, whether his lady love was visible around. He wondered where was she when he could not see her. He looked at his phone and thought if he could call her.., once again the laughter died down and as he looked up Khushi stood resplendent in the sari that he had chosen and her hair plaited along with the jasmine strings, jasmine lei's adorned her neck, wrists and ears. The lei was strung with the red thread, standing out in contrast with the white flower and the light green stalk. The sight had him mesmerized and his mind took him to another place, to a Diwali in Sheesh Mahal, long time back. As a young boy he had watched his Mama and Di light, rows and rows of diyas, while he used to help by supplying oil and wicks to the spot where they were. When they had lighted all the diyas, he had asked Mama if he could go back to his room as he abhorred firecrackers and the resulting noise. Though she assented, she had asked him, Chotey, we have been lighting lamps for so long and you have been helping us. Don't you want to see what we have been doing all this while?

Arnav had frowned at her, not understanding the implication of her words. She had placed her arm around his shoulders and turned him to look at the diya they had been lighting till then. What he saw he felt was magical, the huge dark hall had been lit by the tiny flames of numerous diyas arranged beautifully. He felt the same magical quality when he saw Khushi. She looked like a flame, incandescent, and the bright, rich colour of her yellow saree had lent a golden sheen to her fair satiny skin. As he watched her, in stunned silence, she looked up and smiled at him. The smile that originated in her eyes, spread on to her lips at the sight of him and she beamed like a full moon. Her joy at seeing him just made him reciprocate with an answering bloom. Her eyes skimming over his white kurta clad body made her appreciate, how handsome he looked and made her gesture so with her raised right hand. Her silent open appreciation made Arnav skitter away his eyes to hide his smile. He was one pleased man by this gesture of his lady love.

Then, the ladies taking charge, hugged the brides and led them to low seats placed in the hall. Khushi and Anamika smiled at each other as they sat side by side on the foot stools. Buaji leading Ganesh and Arnav to sit across the ladies declared, that they better look at their brides to their heart fill as they were going to put a curtain in between, shocking Ganesh and Arnav! All laughed at the expense of the brides and the grooms making Anamika and Khushi blush.

This update is about brilliant, radiant beauty, the qualities that give pleasure to the senses, RESPLENDENCE.

Arnav who along with his family was on a shopping spree to buy saris for Khushi and Anamika for their haldi, was engrossed in searching a piece that would enhance the beauty of Khushi, the one that would appeal to his senses, the one that would pleasure his senses to see her in. He was particular and was searching for a piece that would make him feel that it was meant for Khushi to wear. All the stuff he was shown did not appeal to his senses. He was ribbed by his family for taking such a long time to choose one for Khushi and at Payal's suggestion he saw the stuff that were on display on mannequins and one caught his eye and appealed to him instantly. It was a simple sari in bright yellow silk, predominantly plain that had red and green stripes in bunches at intervals. It was a sari that was attractive and impressive being richly colorful, the colour that was meant for haldi.

"Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives - choice, not chance, determines your destiny"

~ Aristotle

What is the significance Mehendi and Haldi ceremony?

We all know that Haldi is the time when the bride and the groom are anointed with turmeric mixed with rose water and sandalpaste. We know that they have anti inflammatory and antiseptic properties along with being a beauty enhancer. In fact it is a part of traditional beauty treatment.

We know that Mehendi is applied on hands and feet where there are sensory nerve tips. Mehendi, along with its curative property, cools the body. That is why it is usually applied first. It is meant to relax along with the colour it gives out on to the skin.

Both Mehendi and Haldi are Vedic customs, intended to be a symbolic representation of the outer and the inner sun. Vedic customs are centered around the idea of "awakening the inner light". Traditional Indian designs of mehendi are of representations of the sun on the palm, which, in this context, is intended to represent the hands and feet. Haldi is meant as bringing in the radiance to the bride and the groom.

Both functions are meant to bring out the resplendence in the bride and the groom.

"One's inner light alone is the means, naught else. When this inner light is kept alive, it is not affected by the darkness of inertia"

~ Sage Vasishtha

With haldi being held at Laxmi Nagar it was a time where the entire community participated. Khushi, in the yellow sari of Arnav's choice, was being dressed up by Preetho with lei, earrings and strings of Jasmine as adornments.

What does Jasmine stand for?

Jasmine symbolizes love, modesty, sensuality, and attachment. It is a constant symbol of divinity and hope.

Anamika wore the sari given to her by Nani with the help of Garima and she was adorned with lei and earrings made from Jasmine, Rajnigandha and Roses.

What do Rajnigandha and Roses stand for?

Rajni Gandha meaning night fragrant symbolizes dangerous pleasure and voluptuousness.

Roses signify love and beauty.

These adornments were an ideal foil to the beauties who were luminious with the love and happiness shining brightly in their eyes.

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen"

~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

When Anamika finished dressing up, she saw her reflection in the mirror, and was one happy woman. Her thoughts went to how this happiness came about. It was all due to a happy soul, who always thought of others, who had the perfect name that reflected her soul, who was Happiness personified, Khushi. Without getting acquainted with her, she would never have been able to grab this chance at happiness eventhough it was there all along for her to take. Neither she nor Ganesh would have taken initiative and their relationship would have remained stautsquo if not for the intervention of Khushi. Even Gaurav would have been deprived of the happiness that he had always sought but never voiced out. The three were fortunate enough to come across a whirlwind called Khushi, who showed them, how like the colours of the rainbow, their life could be resplendent with colours and happiness that they had never thought to be possible in this life-time.

"Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in looks.

Not in what they say. Just in what they are."

~ Markus Zusak, I am the Messenger

The entry of Anamika and Khushi, one at a time had all in silence admiring their beauty. Two pairs of eyes were just adoring their respective brides as they were exposed to a different facet of beauty. Arnav was transported to his life at Sheesh Mahal, to a Diwali, where he was helping his mother and Di while they were lighting lamps. He was treated to the magical quality of the lit lamps giving the large dark hall a golden glow. Arnav, once again felt, was being treated to the same magical aura when he saw Khushi surrounded by the golden aura that exuded when Khushi wore the sari of his choice, her fair skin taking in the reflected golden hues and looking ethereal. Like a cherry on top her smile on seeing him, that began its journey from her eyes grew wider and wider and spread itself like ripples and hit him like waves making his heart glow and grow warm in it. Added to it, was her appreciation of him in white kurta. The happiness of Khushi on seeing Arnav, was resplendent in full glory on her face. So was his.

"Finding happiness is like the pebble entering the pond's watery habitat. Happiness is absorbed into the pond and made to become part of it. The pebble descends to the bottom of the pond and sets up residency.

When you find your own happiness it sets up residence within you. That happiness becomes part of who you are. Happiness becomes an integral part of your life"

~ Dr. Robert Henry Schwenk

The happiness of the family for these two couples was also brialliantly luminous in the joviality that surrounded them.

"When you share your happiness, the ripple effect is sure. From the joy and bliss you generate from your happiness-within, you impact the world in ways that you will know and in ways you may never know"

~ Dr. Robert Henry Schwenk

That is why this update is titled RESPLENDENCE.

That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it.

rulama2013-06-18 02:33:30