Chapter 46
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[MEMBERSONLY]
[NOCOPY]
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Section 2 B
It was evening, time for the wedding of Arnav Singh Raizada & Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada.
RM was decorated to within an inch of its life, every available space showing off fairy lights and sweet-smelling flowers. No one would believe that it had all been arranged in a few hours by the family.
The wedding was a very happy occasion. The Guptas and the Raizadas knew that Arnav had behaved terribly. But they knew Shyam too. They now had a fair idea of how dangerous and crooked the man was, how helpless Arnav must have felt that day... And they knew that Arnav loved Khushi more than his own life and that Khushi couldnt bear to be parted from her Arnavji for a moment. So they decided to let go of their anger and disappointment and celebrate the wedding to the fullest.
Because it was just the Guptas and the Raizadas, all were relaxed. They didnt have to see to any guests, and could enjoy the ceremony. Every face held a smile.
Arnav came down wearing a gold & maroon kurta that his Di had gifted him many months back, which he had pushed to one corner of his cupboard and hoped to forget. NK & Akash, dressed in pink & green kurtas accompanied him.
Anjali & Payal led Khushi down to the hall for the wedding. She was wearing the red sari that Arnav had given her. The red sari & the simple diamond jewellery made her look beyond beautiful. Images of the photo shoot in which she had been wearing similar clothes flashed through Arnav's head as she walked down to join him.
Khushi stole a glance at him. Arnavji looked very handsome, more handsome than he looked while wearing his usual black/blue/brown coat & suit. He was looking at her as though he had seen a wondrous sight, his eyes conveying their heart-felt appreciation of her looks. Khushi could feel blood rushing to her cheeks.
All laughed.
"Married for 6 months, and the girl is still blushing!" Nani chuckled.
"Hum bhi bahute sharmilee thi, Nandkisore!" Buaji laughed. "Titliyas Phoophaji had to peek under my ghoonghat to see my face..."
"Nannav is blushing too!" NK discovered.
Arnav raised an eyebrow at him, challenging his discovery silently. If there was a flush of happiness on his cheeks, he couldnt be faulted for it.
"Blushing?" Mami asked, laughing. "Pehle shaadi ho to blushing samajh aawat he, Arnav Bitwaa. But yeh to Seconds he, Hello Hi Bye Bye!"
In the midst of a cloud of laughter, Arnav & Khushi took the blessings of their elders, receiving many hugs in return.
It was time for Jaimala and Khushi lifted her arms to garland Arnav. NK & Akash made to lift Arnav to prevent Khushi from garlanding him. Arnav lifted his hand, stopping the boys from teasing Khushi. He bent his head and let Khushi place the fragrant garland around his neck. Arnav quickly garlanded Khushi before someone snatched her away from him.
"That is ramanchi! Nannav, you are siding with Khushiji against us, your own brothers!" NK complained.
All laughed.
"NK bitwaa!" Mami explained. "You are only Arnav Bitwaaa brothers. She ijj his baife! (wife)"
In the ensuing laughter, Anjali & Payal led the groom & the bride to sit by the Purohit in front of the havan arranged in the mandap. They sat in chairs by them, guarding the mangalsutra they had removed from Khushis neck 10 minutes back.
Khushi looked around in astonishment. Chains of stars dangled from the frame of the mandap. She turned wide eyes towards Arnav.
"Your stars." he said, smiling.
Khushi looked at him, lost for words.
He pointed at the fairy lights. "Lights for you."
Khushi looked at the lights and then at him.
"If you are planning to get entangled in them, let me know. I am ever ready to take them off you." he smiled fondly, his mind lost in the past.
Khushi shook her head to mean 'No.'
"Sure?" he asked.
Khushi nodded, smiling slightly.
"A pity." he murmured.
"Arnav Bitwaa!" Mami shouted. "Dont talk so much. Oo kaa he, you have your full laiphe (life) in front of you. if you phinish (finish) talking eberything (everything) now, bhat will you do phor (for) the next 80 ijears (years)?"
All laughed. Arnav & Khushi flushed.
Arnav nodded towards the smiling faces of their relations, their laughter at their expense. "Joy." Her face softened seeing their happiness. NK winked at her from his seat.
"Flowers." He pointed to the masses of blossoms decorating the house. Khushi gulped.
"I have arranged jalebi for dinner." he whispered as the priest started chanting. "From your favourite halwai in Chandni Chowk."
Khushi had to smile.
Arnav whispered to Khushi, "You look beautiful, Khushi." His tongue put in words what she could read in his eyes. She looked away, unable to meet his gaze.
The marriage took place, ritual after ritual done by the bride and the groom under the watchful eyes of the Purohit. They took the saath phere, and both families sighed with happiness at the small smiles on the faces of the bride and groom.
Arnav tied her mangalsutra around her neck once more. But this time he did it with reverence. Khushi felt her eyes prick at the feeling in his eyes.
Arnav took a pinch of sindoor in his fingers. He lifted her maangtikka, kissed her maang, and placed the sindoor there.
All smiled.
Khushi trembled, feeling her mind letting go of the nightmare of her forced marriage, feeling the bitter memories being replaced by sweet ones, so sweet that she would never forget in a lifetime...
Arnav & Khushi took the blessings of the Purohit and their family.
Arnav walked in to their bedroom to see khushi sitting on the recliner in all her wedding finery. He smiled.
They had endured hours of post-wedding games, giving in good naturedly to the fun their families were having at their expense. The only thing that Arnav had put his foot down was decorating their bedroom for the suhaag raat. He had strongly vetoed the idea and held firm against the pleas of his brothers and Di.
And now, finally, they were alone in their room.
He walked up to Khushi, kneeled down before her, and hugged her tight.
"Thank you, Khushi." he said.
She looked at him, not knowing what to say in response.
"Did you enjoy the wedding?" he asked.
Khushi had to smile. She had loved it. It had been a dream come true. Arnavjis smiling face, his happiness at getting married, the laughter of their family, the jalebi, the lights, flowers, the stars... She nodded.
"I wanted you to have everything you missed last time." Arnav said.
"I understand, Arnavji." Khushi said.
"It is late. Are you tired, Khushi?" he asked.
Khushi nodded.
"Me too." Arnav said. He hadn't slept for days. "Lets go to bed. Shall I help you out of the jewellery?"
"Ji." Khushi said.
Arnav took the earrings off her lobes, his fingers sending a trail of fire down her body. He helped her remove the dupatta, pushed her hair gently away from her nape, and unfastened the necklace. He removed her maangtikka, taking care not to smudge her sindoor. He removed her bangles, one by one, his touch sensitising her skin till pleasure felt like pain.
He placed her jewels in their box, and went to his wardrobe to get his casual clothes out. Khushi took her white suit. They took turns in the bathroom, and got in to bed.
Arnav hugged her close to his heart. He kissed her forehead, and whispered, "Khushi, now we are husband and wife. In real and to others. We belong together, till the end of our lives, Khushi. No one can part us. No one can keep you away from me or me away from you."
Khushi looked in to his happy eyes.
"I hope you will stay with me even after the contract period is over, Khushi. But I wont force you. If you want to go to Buajis house on the 15th, I will drop you there. I will tell all of them why we arent staying together. I dont care how much time it takes, Khushi. But one day, you will realise you love me as much as I love you. And you will come back to me."
Khushi swallowed hard.
"I know you love me, Khushi. I have seen it in your deeds, in the care you lavish on me, in every look, felt it in every touch... One day you will tell me how much you love me. That day you will realise that you cant live without me, just as I cant live without you. That day, we can begin our life together."
"How do you know that day will ever come?" Khushi asked, her voice low.
"I know it will. Because I trust you and your love for me. Because I have faith in my love for you." he murmured.
Khushis eyes filled up.
"Dont cry, Khushi." Arnav admonished her. "It is nothing to cry about. And I have to confess that I will be trying very hard to make that day come fast."
Khushi looked at him, startled.
Arnav proceeded to kiss her senseless, till she was a pile of mush, clinging to his broad shoulders, panting, her heart thundering away...
Khushi looked in to the molten chocolate eyes, burning with love and desire for her.
Without her knowledge, her hands crept to the neck of his T-shirt, trying to make their way in, trying to pull the cloth down, trying to touch more of his skin.
"Sshh..." Arnav warned, smiling his wicked smile. "Don't tempt me too much. My self-control has its limits. Living in the same room with you for 6 months without kissing you and making love to you has taken almost all of it, Khushi. I am hanging here by a thread, Khushi."
Khushi squirmed closer to him.
"One more kiss, that's all." Arnav declared. "After that we are going to sleep like good children."
Khushi glared at him.
Arnav burst out laughing.
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