Chapter 27
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[MEMBERSONLY]
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rulama 2013-12-13 23:56:49
[NOCOPY]
MARRYING KHUSHI
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Part 28
Gomti Sadan was filled with guests and neighbours, all excited at the prospect of attending the wedding of Sasi Gupta's two daughters the next day.
Garima & Buaji were running around serving snacks and cool drinks to the teeming crowds, laughing uproariously at their jokes and having a jolly time. The father of the brides was trying to smile at the good wishes pouring in, his heart heavy at the thought of losing both daughters in one fell swoop.
Payal smiled and blushed at the jokes cracked at the expense of the brides and the many tips to keep their husbands tied to their pallu floating about.
"Wear kajal in your beautiful eyes, ladkiyon! There is nothing better to keep your husbands at your feet!" Preetho's grandmother declared.
"And sway your hips as you walk!" Vimla Chachi laughed.
Payal became beet red.
Khushi popped a couple of channa in to her mouth and chewed on them. Mittu perched on her shoulder.
"Suno, Khussi! Listen to and follow all these tips!" the old lady reminded Khushi.
"Dadi, I can't walk in a straight line without tripping as it is! And you want me to do thumka while I walk?" Khushi scowled.
Buaji pinched her cheek fondly. "Clumsy Sanka Devi!"
Khushi yelped in pain.
"Our Payaliyaa and Titliyaa don't need help from kajal and thumka to attract their husbands! Our damaads are such good boys! Manon aasman se tapke ho, just for our girls! They are very lucky, Nandkisore!"
Khushi rubbed her cheek. What was it with her cheek and everyone? Her Buaji was forever pulling it and her Laad Governaar was forever kissing it! She blushed thinking of her performance in her room in the morning, partially undressed. What must he have thought of her?
Chumma Chumma de de! Chumma Chumma!Mittu sang.
Khushi glared at her.
Finally, all the ladies left and the brides changed in to nightwear and got in to bed.
"Khushi!" Payal whispered.
Khushi turned her head to look at Payal.
"Khushi, tomorrow at this time..." Payal said softly.
Khushi swallowed.
"We will be getting married." Payal continued.
Khushi nodded and turned her head away.
"Khushi! Aren't you... scared?" Payal asked.
"Scared?" Khushi asked. "Of what?" She was genuinely perplexed.
"Khushi, tum bhi na!" Payal was scandalised.
"Jiji, we are not going to write any exam! We are just getting married. That's all!" Khushi frowned.
"Khushi! Are you not worried about... about suhaag raat?" Payal whispered.
"Worried? No, I am waiting for it!" Khushi spoke the truth.
Payal fell back on her pillow in shock.
"He has promised to tell me the truth then." Khushi muttered.
"What?" Payal asked, bewildered.
"Nothing. Go to sleep, Jiji. We will be busy all day tomorrow." Khushi turned away and pretended to yawn.
Payal had to satisfied with that.
Three hours later, Payal was in deep sleep but Khushi was wide awake.
Tomorrow she would leave Gomti Sadan. And ever body and every thing she knew in Lucknow.
She left the bed and moved to the window to look out at the courtyard gilded by moonlight.
She had come here as a child, lugging her few belongings with her in a small bag. She had lost everything she had... once. Now she was going to lose everything a second time. Her Babuji, her Amma, her Buaji... Tears of pain filled her eyes.
She looked at a sleeping Payal. Atleast her Jiji would be with her, she thought.
Mittu shook her feathers, sitting on her beam.
"And you too." She said softly, smiling at her friend. "And I will have Devi Maiyya with me. And channa. And I can always make jalebi! Why should I worry?"
She made her way to her bed. As she was about to lay her head on the pillow, her phone rang.
Her heart beat picked up. Who would call her at this hour except...
She snatched the phone from the bedside table. Yes, it was Arnavji!
"Hello!"
"Khushi?"
"No, Mittu!" Khushi said. "Who else will take your call at midnight?" she asked crossly.
ASR smiled. "Khushi, tum abhi tak soyi nahi?"
"If I had fallen asleep, would I have attended your call?" she asked reasonably. "Aap ko ittalla kar doon, I am a heavy sleeper. After I fall asleep, even if a bomb bursts at my feet, I won't know."
ASR's lips twisted. "Thanks for the warning."
"Haan!" Khushi said righteously. "Don't say later that I didn't warn you!"
"I won't." ASR smiled.
"Why did you call?" she asked.
"To tell you not to worry." ASR said softly.
"Why should I be worried? What is wrong with every body? Why does every one think that I should be worried or scared?" Khushi asked, puzzled.
ASR swallowed his laugh. She had no idea. He had always known that she was a child at heart. Her childishness and her innocence stole in to his cold heart and warmed it every single time.
"Maybe because they think you will find it difficult to leave Lucknow?" He challenged her to drive away her unhappy thoughts.
Khushi's chin went up in air, predictably.
"Why should I be scared? Do I look chicken-livered to you?" she asked.
"I don't know. Guess I will find out tomorrow." He smirked.
"Hhmmppfff!" Khushi cut the call and glowered at the phone.
She then spent the whole night imagining innovative ways of punishing the Rakshas, too busy to pity herself!
Akash took NK's help in getting in to a cream sherwani and let his father place a turban on his head. He looked at himself in the mirror.
And frowned.
He looked like someone else. He quickly removed his glasses, cleaned them, and put them back on to stare at himself.
"Yes, Akash, it is you!" NK teased, chomping on chips. "Payalji's Akashji!"
All laughed.
They turned to look at Arnav who had entered the room. He was fastening the buttons of a black sherwani.
"Nannav! Black today too? Are you in mourning?" NK asked, fed up of his cousin's colour sense... or the lack of it!
ASR raised an arrogant brow in question.
"Chotey, I laid out the cream and the golden sherwani for you to choose! Why did you pick this?" Anjali whined.
"I like black." he said casually. "Shall we leave?" He was impatient to be gone.
"Chotey!" Nani called softly.
He turned to look at her, a question in his eyes.
"Take your parents' blessings." She said in a low voice that held the pain of years.
ASR swallowed.
All of them walked to the two portraits hung on the wall and folded their hands in prayer. His mother looked down at them with kind, benign eyes.
Arnav looked at his father's handsome face. "I will never be like you, Mr. Arvind Malik." he promised silently.
He turned to look at his family.
"Nani, Mama, Mami, Di, Akash, I don't want to spend this night in Sheesh Mahal."
All looked at him, silent. Then they nodded.
"It is better that you both begin your marriage in RM." Nani said, blinking back tears.
Anjali nodded in understanding.
Mami chirped to make the mood light, "Arnav Bitwaa, Akaas Bitwaa, how will you wait for another 24 hours for your suhaag raat, Hello Hi Bye Bye?"
All smiled, looking away.
"I have asked Aman to make the arrangements. We will leave Lucknow tonight by car." ASR said.
All nodded.
"Akash?" he asked.
"As you wish, Bhai!" Laxman said.
It was time for the baraat to come to Gomti Sadan. The girls helping Khushi and Payal dress were giggling and trying to peek out of the window at the fleet of cars stopping before Gomti Sadan.
"Band, baaja, baarat!" Mittu screeched.
"They have come! They have come!" they shouted in glee.
Khushi looked at herself in the mirror. Her heart in the red and blue silk choli galloped like a wild horse. Payal dropped the jewellery box in her hand, nervous.
"One is in cream. And the other is in black." the girls informed them.
"The black one is mine." Khushi said, knowing her Shaitaan's choice.
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