Chapter 177
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[MEMBERSONLY]
[NOCOPY]
(Thanx a million, Naughtymallu!)
FINDING KHUSHI
Part 44
Section 3
Khushi came to stand by Arnav who couldn't take his eyes off her.
Anjali asked, "Nani, Babuji, Ganeshji, shall we start? Otherwise Chotey will stand here all evening, looking at Khushiji!"
All chuckled as the grooms & the brides blushed.
Amma & Buaji applied tilak on Arnav & Ganesh, welcoming the grooms to the function.
Amidst smiling faces, the grooms readied themselves for the jai mala ritual. The brides were led to stand across from them.
Anamika & Khushi were given garlands of red roses and rajnigandha to place around the necks of their grooms. As Khushi tried to garland Arnav, Akash & NK lifted him out of her reach.
Khushi pouted. All laughed.
She tried to reach her Arnavji, but his brothers lifted him up again. She scowled playfully at NK & her Jiju, jumped up, and threw her garland around Arnav's neck.
All laughed and clapped loudly at her smartness.
When it was Anamika's turn, she lifted her fragrant garland and moved towards Ganesh. NK & Akash, with loud & glad encouragement from Gaurav, tried to lift Ganesh away from Anamika's reach.
Anamika stretched out her arms, missing Ganesh by quite a few inches. As the families watched, Ganesh quickly bent his head, letting his bride garland him comfortably.
"That is cheating!" Akash protested.
"Ramanchi, ramanchi!" NK borrowed Khushi's words.
"What is the use of complaining, Bitwaa?" Mamaji asked. "Jab mia biwi raazi, kya karega NK?"
All laughed uproariously.
Arnav & Khushi moved to the mandap. Ganesh & Anamika took their seats with the family, watching the rituals closely for it would be their turn next.
The mandap was beautifully decorated with white & red flowers & golden drapes. Arnav & Khushi sat down as instructed by the purohit. The rituals and the chanting of mantras began.
Khushi looked around. The hall was filled with all the people she loved. Munshiji smiled at her from the crowd. Khushi smiled widely and waved at him. Arnav hid his smile.
Khushi spied Koelji & the other ladies working in Anamikaji's studio, sitting in the crowd. She smiled at them, thrilled to see them there.
Arnav looked at Khushi's face. It was flushed with happiness. Arnav swallowed hard, wishing she would be so happy all their lives together. Khushi lifted her eyes from the fire burning bright to look at her Arnavji's face. She beamed.
Arnav & Khushi looked out at the crowd of well-wishers and family that had gathered there to see them marry. Anjaliji was wiping away her tears, Nani was drying her eyes, Buaji, Amma, & Babuji could not contain their happiness that their Sanka Devi was finally getting married, and that too to Arnav Bitwaa who relished her madness, NK, Gaurav, & Akash were smiling at the pair, Payal was trying to control her tears of joy, Anamika & Ganesh were smiling fondly at them, Mami was crying till Mamaji cracked a joke about her makeuppiya running, when she abruptly stopped crying and tried to smile...
Anjali did the gatbandhan, Babuji & Amma did the kanyadaan.
Arnav pressed Khushi's fingers between his, promising her wordlessly to cherish her throughout their lives. She smiled at him, pressing his fingers in return.
The vows of the saath phere surprised Arnav. It was as though someone had written those words for them, as though the promises he had made silently in his mind were being recited by the priest... How could he not look after her and the family they might have? Consider her as his friend & sole soul mate? Live righteously and do his duty by her?
So this was marriage, Arnav Singh Raizada thought. Had he not met Khushi & fallen helplessly in love with her, he might have never known that such a world existed, that such a possibility of happiness existed, that he did not have to be alone & lonely all his life, that work did not have to take the place of his wife, that he did not have to shoulder all burdens alone...
He looked at Khushi's smiling face. He was blessed. His parents must have seen how lonely he had been, how insecure, how... how miserable he had been... and had sent her to brighten his life. He swallowed hard.
He took the mangalsutra and reverently tied it around Khushi's slender neck.
He lifted her maang tikka, and filled her maang with sindoor thrice.
Khushi shut her eyes, praying to Devi Maiyya that they would be together all their lives, standing side by side to face all the inevitable trials & tribulations they would have to face like all couples did.
If only her parents were alive today to see this moment! she could not help wishing. Her beautiful eyes became moist. If only Arnavji's parents were alive to see this day! How happy all four of them would have been! She silently promised Arnavji's Mama that she would look after him always, take care of his health, put up with his anger, and savour his love for her.
Arnav & Khushi took the blessings of the purohit and their elders. They were hugged and kissed within an inch of their lives by their family that had been waiting to see this day for a very long time.
Anamika hugged Khushi close and whispered in her ear, "Thank you."
Khushi looked into Anamikaji's eyes, perplexed. "For getting married?" she asked.
Anamika had to smile. "No. For bringing about Ganesh & my marriage. For giving Gaurav his father. For giving me so much."
Khushi threw her arms around Anamika, and whispered tearfully in her ear. "If you hadn't helped me... If I hadn't met you... Anamikaji... I... I would have been so unhappy, so scared... You have given me more than I can ever give you."
It was time for Ganesh & Anamika's wedding.
Arnav & Khushi sat down in Ganesh & Anamika's seats, ready to witness their shaadi. Anjali, Payal, Buaji, & Amma led the pair & Gaurav to the mandap.
Anjali tied the gatbandhan for Ganesh & Anamika, & Babuji & Amma did the kanyadaan.
Anamika paid close attention to the seven vows, and whispered to Ganesh. "You have been doing all these for the past 20 years."
Ganesh smiled. "Gaurav & you... you are my family." he said simply. "I have nothing except you both. I want nothing except you both."
Anamika swallowed with difficulty through a throat thick with tears. For 20 years everything she had ever wanted from life had been in front of her. If only she had been able to muster the courage to reach out and claim it! Gauarv would have got the Papa of his heart, and she would have been married to the best man on earth. If only! she sighed silently. She had been criminally slow, but it was no use wasting her breath in useless sighs, she thought. At least she had seen sense before losing her teeth & battling dementia & old age, she comforted herself. To lighten the air, she whispered, "And that mongrel."
"And Scooby." Ganesh laughed. He looked at Gaurav's face. He was incandescent with joy, hugging Scooby close to his chest as he watched his Mama marry his Papa.
Khushi clutched Arnav's arm in excitement as Anamikaji & Ganeshji got married. Arnav looked at the exhilaration on her face. She was as happy at Anamika's wedding as she had been at her own!
Ganesh tied the mangalsutra around Anamika's neck, & applied sindoor to her maang three times. At the end of the ceremony, they took the blessings of the purohit & their large family.
Arnav, Khushi, Anamika, & Ganesh stood together to receive the congratulations & good wishes heaped on them by the guests. Then it was time for the feast. They sat together with their family to have their dinner, smiling as their family cracked jokes & laughed at their expense. Khushi looked at Arnav's contented face and hugged his arm in joy. Arnav turned his head to look at her. Her heart melted at the world of love she could see in his eyes.
As soon as the party was over, Ganesh & Anamika bid everyone goodnight. They were going away for their honeymoon.
The family tried to keep both couples engaged by tempting them with the promise of post-wedding games, but they did not fall for it. Their minds were elsewhere.
It took one hour for Ganesh & Anamika to extricate themselves and to say goodbye, the family giving them a hundred & one tips and instructions on how they were to manage, to call regularly and pass on news, to take care of themselves, to call them if they needed any help...
Gaurav & Scooby were to stay on at RM.
After one hour of saying 'yes' & nodding, the newly-married couple heaved a sigh of relief as they moved to Ganesh's car to leave for a cottage he owned by a small lake.
As soon as they left, Arnav threw two bags into his car, helped Khushi in, and slammed the door shut. He announced, "We are leaving now. You can tease us after we return."
Before the ladies could repeat their instructions, Arnav drove off.
The ladies stood with their mouths open. Mamaji burst out laughing.
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