Chapter 18
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MARRYING KHUSHI
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Part 19
Gomti Sadan looked beautiful, almost regal.
The house was decorated with strands and chains of yellow and orange marigold flowers, and lit by a hundred fairy lights.
Sasi Gupta stood at the main entrance to welcome all the guests, smiling, folding his hands, showing his neighbours to the room in which his daughters were getting ready and the main hall where the sagai was to take place.
Anjali, Mami, Mama, NK, & Nani led Arnav & Akash in to Gomti Sadan. Manju and Aman followed.
Buaji & Garima emerged from the recesses of the house to greet their soon-to-be relations, and the happy families converged in the humongous living room of the ancient building.
A purohit was making the last minute arrangements for the havan.
The Guptas introduced the Raizadas to their neighbours, and there was a lot of teasing and laughter in the room. Akash was one big blush while ASR tried very hard not to flush. NK flitted like a happy butterfly from one fond aunty to the next, eyeing the beautiful girls there.
"Nandkisore! Are you planning to follow in the footsteps of your brothers?" Buaji pulled his ear.
"Buaji!" NK protested.
"Why are your eyes running from one girl to the next, hein?" she teased.
"Dekhne mein kya burjji he?" NK asked.
Buaji gasped.
"Sorry, dekhne mein harjai kya he?" NK asked, trying to free his ear.
"Harz, NK Bhai!" Akash hissed.
All laughed.
"Maaf keejiye! Hamra bhateeja Kidney se aaya he! Uska Hindi thoda... thoda weak he!" Mamiji told the crowd.
All nodded goodnaturedly.
Someone opened the door to Payal & Khushi's bedroom, and Mittu flew out in to the living room and perched on ASR's shoulder.
He looked at the bird with wary eyes. There was no saying what she would sing.
"Raaja ki aayegi baraat
Rangeeli hogi raat,
Magan mein nachoongi!" Mittu trilled. She flapped her wings in excitement.
ASR blushed.
All the guests laughed.
"Khussi has picked the right groom, Madhumatiji!" Preetho's mother said. "Mittu too likes him!"
All nodded.
"Hamra Arnav Bitwaa he hi aisen!" Buaji claimed. "Whoever meets him falls for his good manners and sanskar, Nandkisore!"
Raizadas stared at ASR and at Buaji. Was she speaking of the same man?
Aman pressed his fist against his lips to prevent himself from laughing. Manju gave up the fight and guffawed. Anjali choked.
Mittu flew away to sit on a beam, from where she could watch all the proceedings without disturbance.
The crowd suddenly became silent.
Ladies led the two brides-to-be in to the crowd. Arnav and Akash stood staring at the beauty of their partners.
Payal was in a yellow and blue lehenga, the colour highlighting the golden colour of her skin.
Khushi was in an orange and violet lehenga, the skirt falling gracefully around her slim legs. Her hair was unbound, just tied back at the nape with some decorative trinket. Her choli was short, but the dupatta hid her bounty from the keen eyes of ASR.
"Payaliyaa, this is your groom, isn't he? Look carefully before you give your answer." the ladies teased Payal.
Payal glanced at an Akash in a yellow kurta and blushed, nodding. All laughed.
"Khussi! Tum bhi zara dekh lio!"
Khushi lifted her eyes to look at her Shaitan. He was in a white kurta, looking very dashing. The kurta had a low neck, and she could see much. Khushi swallowed through a dry throat and lifted her eyes to his.
He was smiling at her.
Why couldn't he smile? He didn't have to dream of her! Nor did he have to suffer breathlessness and dhak dhak when she came close to him!
Khushi averted her eyes rapidly & nodded.
"Khussi! You are feeling shy!" the ladies laughed.
"Today is a special day, Madhumatiji! Your tomboy niece knows how to blush, hein?"
"Only on Holi and Diwali!" laughed Buaji loudly.
"Your Titliyaa will now have to settle on her flower, Madhumatiji! She won't be able to run around Lucknow eating ber and chewing channa and fighting with all the boys!" Preetho's mother laughed.
"Acha he, acha he, Nandkisore!" Buaji laughed.
Khushi glowered at all her chachis and maasis who were having a riotous time at her expense. What did they know of the truth? Of the great tyaag she was doing to see her Jiji happy? Of the real nature of the Laad Governaar who was smirking and smirking and smirking away?
The Guptas led the Raizadas and the couples to the havan. It was time for the pooja.
"Sit down, Nandkisore!" Buaji invited the pairs. "The havan is for you, for your happiness and long married life. Payaliyaa, sit with Akass Bitwaa. And Titliyaa, sit with Arnav Bitwaa."
Payal and Akash sat down, leaving a decorous distance between them. As the ladies teased them, Khushi sat down by her Jiji.
ASR sat down, very close to her.
His left thigh rubbed against hers. Khushi jumped, looking at him with startled eyes.
He smiled at her astonishment.
The purohit started the pooja. The pairs prayed and did everything they were asked to do. Mittu watched them, sitting on the beam.
Khushi stole glances at the Laad Governaar. Feeling her eyes on him, he met her eyes every time, enjoying her discomfort at his nearness.
Khushi pulled the dupatta to cover more of her, turning her flushed face away to look at the fire.
After the pooja ended and the prasad was distributed, Garima marked Arnav & Akash with tilak while Anjali did the same for Khushi and Mamiji followed suit for Payal.
Buaji tied raksha dhaga on Akash & Arnav's wrists, and Garima held out a tray with jewellery boxes placed on a bed of red rose petals.
Payal took a diamond ring and shyly placed it on Akash's finger. Akash reciprocated, and the pair looked flushed and happy at their achievement.
Arnav looked at Khushi's face as she looked at Payal's beaming face. She was smiling, very happy for her sister, lost in dreams for her sister.
"Oh Titliyaa! Now it is your turn!" Buaji hissed.
Khushi came back with a start.
"What will I do with this Bhooleshwari Devi, Nandkisore?" Buaji exclaimed under her breath as she held out the tray for Khushi.
Khushi looked at ASR's face. He was smiling at her.
"Shall we?" he asked softly.
Khushi swallowed.
She stretched her hand out and took a narrow, plain white gold band. She extended it towards him. He held his hand out.
Khushi caught his hand with her left one, and gently pushed the band on to his finger.
Arnav took the ring he had selected for her. A single ruby, surrounded by diamonds, embedded on a thin band of white gold. He slipped it on to her finger.
All looked at each other, happy, thrilled. Nani, Mami, & Anjali wiped away tears of joy. Garima hugged Buaji.
Khushi looked at the smiling faces of Akashji & Jiji; She then looked curiously at the brand on her finger. The red ruby winked at her. The Shaitan had marked her for his. Khushi drew in a deep, tremulous breath. Her fate was sealed.
ASR looked at her pensive face.
He leaned forward and pressed a sound kiss on her cheek.
The crowd gasped, thrilled at this public display of affection. Manju fell in to a chair, collapsing like a pricked balloon. Aman stood slackjawed at the temerity of his boss to kiss his fiancee in the presence of all his & her relations.
Khushi too gasped, blown out of her mind at his audacity.
"Khushiji! Payalji! Now you two are my bhabhis and I am your deewar!" NK claimed, thrilled.
"Dewar! Dewar, NK Bhai!" Akash rushed to correct him.
All laughed, even ASR.
Khushi looked at the Shaitaan's laughing visage.
When he laughs, who bilkul Laad Governaar nahin lagte! she thought, feeling her heart clench.
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