Epilogue

Satyaprakash Patial stood in the beautifully decorated main hall of the Haveli watching the hustle and bustle of the people running around for last minute preparations for the wedding. Shashi was talking to the caterer making sure the food would be ready in time and Garima was at the madap, in conversation with the panditji.

The mandap stood on intricately carved gold pillars, swathed in curtains of cream and gold, artistically embellished with flowers and other decorative materials. All items needed for the wedding ritual was arranged neatly. Everything seemed to be in order.

"Why the tears Satya?" Naniji said as she stood next to him, "today is a happy day." She smiled.

"I wish Arjun was here today," he rasped his hoarse voice, "how happy he would have been to see this marriage between our two families. When we were younger, we couldn't even stand together in public. I hated that."

Nani's eyes teared up. "Yes, Arjun would have been so happy to see our communities unite like this." She fell silent, choked with emotion.

"You know Arnav is a lot like Arjun," Satyaprakash said, "not only in looks but in personality as well. He is honest, generous, brave " all the qualities that Arjun used to have."

"I know," Naniji wiped her tears. "And Khushi is like you."

"Like me?" Satyaprakash rolled his eyes.

"Not in looks of course!" Nannie teased, "She saved Arnav just the way you saved Arjun all those years ago."

"It was Arnav who saved Khushi," Satyaprakash reminded her.

"I don't mean literally," Naniji paused.

"Devyani, I know you were not very happy when I first sent forth the proposal." Satyaprakash said.

"Only because Arnav was already carrying a lot of responsibility on his shoulders trying to take up where Arjun left off. I didn't know how much more I could impose on him. But I am glad you sent that proposal.

"Because of the trauma in his childhood, Arnav had built a shell around himself which was further strengthened by his sister's broken marriage. I thought he would never settle down. When I saw Khushi's photograph something told me that she was someone who would be able to get through to Arnav and my hunch was right.

"If Khushi hadn't come into his life, Arnav might never have found the happiness he deserves. He is calmer now, at peace with the world."

"So now all our debts are settled, let's get our grandchildren married, shall we?" Satypaprakash smiled.

In one of the rooms above, Arnav sat looking at photos of Khushi on his phone.  After a wedding date had been fixed Khushi's parents had insisted that she come and stay with them in Delhi before the rituals could take place. He had tried his best to get out of the situation but he finally had to give in to the elders' dictate. He had however managed to sneak Khushi away for lunches, dinners and movie dates. They had talked to their heart's content clearing all remnants of doubts. But during all these outing Khushi had insisted that he kept his hands off her and that had driven him crazy with need. He couldn't wait for tonight.

"Someone is very pleased that he is getting married today," Manav's voice brought him out of his thoughts.

Arnav raised his eyebrow. "Come on," he drawled, "I am already married. This whole rigmarole is just to please the oldies."

"I can't believe you are getting married twice when I am not able to convince my parents for even one!" Akash walked in with a sullen face. 

"Cheer up Akash," Arnav consoled his brother, "everything will be alright."

"You know what mom did right?" Akash said looking at Manav. His mom had called Payal's mother and lashed out at her.

"I had a completely different problem." Manav shrugged. "I still can't believe I am married to the love of my life."

"And I hope you don't have to go through the ordeal I had to go through after I got married." Arnav added for good measure. "Let me give you a piece of advice Akash. When your wife is asking about a female friend of yours don't disregard it as her paranoia. Listen to her."

Here everyone was talking about their own problems. The only females he was sandwiched between was his girl friend and his mother.

"Arnav," Manav said, "About the whole Sheetal fiasco. I should have told you that Khushi was enquiring about her. It's just that I though I had allayed her fears " I had told her that Sheetal was into you even though you weren't."

"Was it that obvious?" Arnav said.

"The entire school knew."

"Even I had my doubts bhai." Akash piped in.

Arnav hit his forehead with his palm. "I am such an idiot!" 

"I thought you would never admit it in this lifetime!" Manav said as Akash and Arnav burst into peals of laughter.

"F@#$!" Manav swore. "Anju sent me to get you downstairs. Come on!"

A few rooms away, Khushi sat in front of the mirror while the makeup artist stood attaching jewels to her braid. 

She stared down at the "A" in her mehendi and smiled to herself. The past couple of days had been rife with festivities at the Haveli beginning with haldi, followed by sangeet and mehendi subsequently. The sisters Navneet and Jassi had taken charge of the Sangeet to which Arnav had been forbidden to attend.

She had inaugurated the Sangeet with her performance on the song Hui mein teri joganiya and at one point when she had looked up she found Arnav watching her from behind the curtains. By the end of her dance, he had vanished and she had wondered if he was really there or if he was a manifestation of her subconscious. 

"You look beautiful Khushi!" Payal exclaimed even as she dabbed a little kajal from her eyes behind Khushi's ear. "We don't want to invite any evil eye, do we?" She winked.

Khushi wore a flaming orange tanchoi silk lenhenga embellished with rich zardozi paisleys, textured with classic burgundy velvet ornate design. She wore a matching burgudy short velvet blouse with a broad V neck and a deep back tied up with a single string and short sleeves. The dupatta was green with a velvet border.

"I totally agree with you Payal," Anjali came into the room glowing like a rose in a fuchsia jacquard benaras saree. Khushi observed that Anjali had put on some weight since her marriage three months ago.

After the incident of her kidnapping by Shyam, Anjali hadn't wanted to waste anymore time. She and Manav had tied the knot at the Raizada house in a simple ceremony with just close family members.

"I love your lehenga too Payal." Payal wore a dark pink lehenga with a purple blouse and a turmeric yellow net dupatta that she had draped in a half saree style.

"Thanks Di." Payal smiled.

"You are wearing choora!" Anjali grabbed Khushi's hands suddenly. "They look so beautiful." She said looking at the red and ivory bangles adorning Khushi's wrists. 

"Look at her Mehendi," Payal pointed out.

"The colour has deepened since yesterday!" Anjali said emphatically, "And yours too Payal. You know what this means don't you?"

"What?" Payal said and Khushi said in unison.

"That your beloved loves you a lot." Anjali declared happily.

Khushi's face lit up. 

"I am not so sure "" Payal said with grimace.

Anjali smiled. "I heard you are giving my brother a hard time."

"What else am I supposed to do?" Payal said, as she smoothed the invisible creases on her lehenga."His mother called my mother and told her to tell Akash to stay away from me.

"I will not tolerate it if someone insults my parents like that," Payal said angrily,"It's not like he is the last man on earth for me."

"Come on Payal," Khushi consoled her sister, "you don't mean that."

"He may not be the last man for you," Anjali brushed a hand through her hair, "but you definitely are the last woman for him. She smiled smugly. "Akash has given Mami the ultimatum. He said he would marry only you or he won't marry at all."

"What?" Payal turned around, her eyes wide, "he doesn't tell me any of these things. He only told me he would fix it and left it at that." Payal raised her hands. "I was so angry with him."

Anjali walked up to Payal and placed her hand on her cheek. "Akash is a man of few words," she said, "I think you know that."

"But di ""

"Everything will work out just fine." Anjali assured her.

Payal nodded with a smile.

"So do you know where you are going for your honeymoon?" Anjali turned to Khushi.

"I don't know Di," Khushi said. Arnav would probably be too busy to take time off. "But you haven't come out of yours yet Mrs Shergill." Khushi teased her sister-in-law.

"We have to been traveling for work," Anjali muttered, her face suffused with colour.

"Khushi," Anjali said before Khushi could say anything else, "It's time " I don't think you should keep my brother waiting anymore. He has gone crazy this past few months since you have been staying away from him."

Arnav stood transfixed as Khushi walked up to the stage for the Jaymala. Her fair face glowed like the moon, her almond shaped eyes were lined with thick khol and her lips were painted a rosy pink. Arnav took a deep breath. In her bridal attire and jewellery, she looked like a royal rajasthani princess.

Khushi looked up to meet Arnav's caramel brown ones and her breath caught in her throat. Arnav looked more handsome than ever in a heavily embroidered maroon sherwani. In a jewelled red turban complete with a sword, he looked less than a king himself. 

As Khushi raised the garland she heard a mischievous voice. "Not so fast!" Anjali teased just as Akash lifted Arnav high, out of Khushi's reach. 

"Do what you like," Payal quipped next to Khushi, "our bride is not in such a hurry."

Khushi stood patiently and the next moment she found herself being lifted by a pair of strong arms and realised Manav had come to her rescue, lifting her high enough so she could garland her groom. 

As the time for kanyadaan arrived, her father had walked up to her grandfather and requested him to do the honours. In turn, her grandfather insisted that they do it together. Tears filled up Khushi's eyes at the moment and felt Arnav squeeze her hand in comfort. 

Anjali came up to them to tie one end of her dupatta to Arnav's red stole to perform the ghatbandhan and with that the phere " the exchanging of vows by walking around the sacred fire began with Arnav leading the way for the first four rounds and Khushi changing places with him for the last three. 

Once again seated on the wooden planks next to each other, it was time for the application of sindoor. When Arnav moved her maang teeka to apply the sindoor, Khushi closed her eyes reverently. When she opened her eyes to look up at him, she found Arnav's mesmerising brown eyes on her, his lips twisted in a familiarly adoring way. 

On the panditji's instructions, Arnav picked up the mangalsutra and leaned in to tie it around her neck and Khushi heard a I love you whispered in her ear. Khushi looked up at Arnav, her luminous moist eyes reciprocating the love and Arnav needed no words. 

Soon they were ushered into a room where all the family members had gathered. Arnav and Khushi took the blessings of all the elders.

Mahender Singh Raizada addressed the gathering. "On this happy occasion we would like to announce something important. We have asked the Gutpas for their daughter's hand in marriage for our son Akash. They have accepted. We will have the engagement in the coming days."

Next it was the turn of Akash and Payal to take blessings from all the elders and after all the greetings were meted out, it was time for the wedding reception and the wedding couple hurried back to the take their place on the stage.

There was a huge turnout for the wedding reception with Arnav's business associates, and the relatives and friends on both the groom and the bride making an appearance to shower their wishes on the couple. After hours of continuously receiving guests, Manav and Anjali ushered the couple to a secluded area so that they could grab some dinner in peace.

"Where's Akash?" Arnav asked his sister. "I haven't seen him for a while."

"I think he is busy " making it up with Payal." Anjali winked at Khushi.

"Anju," Manav said looking at his wife, "make sure you eat well. Didn't the doctor say ""

"Di, are you sick?" Arnav asked his face contorted with concern.

Anjali's face was suffused with colour as she looked at her husband. 

"Di?" Arnav persisted.

"Your sister is trying to tell you that you are going to be an uncle." Manav said in a rush.

"Oh my God!" Arnav's eyes went wide. Then he took his sister in his arms. "I am so happy for you Di. Why didn't you tell us?"

"I just found out yesterday."

Next, Khushi hugged her squealing with joy. "Congratulations to both of you!!" No wonder Anjali had been glowing more than ever recently, thought Khushi. 

"Congratulations Manav!" Arnav hugged his friend.

"I want to wait a little while longer before I tell the others " please." Anjali implored.

"Of course Di." Khushi promised.

"Anju let's go and urge the elders to start the Bidaai," Manav said affably, "or else they will give the room to someone else."

"What room?" Khushi asked looking at Arnav who didn't seem to be surprised. 

"We have booked a nice hotel room for you," Anjali informed her, "our wedding gift."

As colour crept up Khushi's face, Arnav took her hand. "Come on, let's get this over with."

The bidaai had turned out to be emotional for the Guptas. As her mother hugged her she said, "I was blessed when you came into my life as my younger daughter Khushi. The joy you have given me is something I will always treasure."

Next her father spoke to her. "Don't forget that you will always be my little girl and I will be there for you when you are in trouble."

Her Buaji had also hugged her asking her to let bygones be bygones and Khushi had nodded her head readily. 

She had hugged her sister joyously knowing she was coming into her family in the near future.

After the bidaai Khushi sat in the car next to Arnav, her head nestled on his chest. She sniffled into the tissue he had given her earlier  and he made sure to leave her alone for the duration of their ride.

Very soon they had checked into a resort called The Cabanna. Just as Arnav unlocked the door to their suite, he remembered something. "Damn it!" Arnav exclaimed, "I forgot my phone in the car. I will get it and join you in a moment." He left her alone in the room.

As she stepped inside the room, Khushi was overwhelmed with how beautiful the room looked.

In the center of the room was a four poster bed with enclosed by sheer curtains. Red rose petals studded the cream bedspread bed. The room was illuminated just in the golden glow of candles strewn all over, on the night stand and the dresser. Her eyes went wide when she suddenly realized that she was able to see the huge bathtub from the bedroom through a huge glass window.

A bottle of champagne on ice was kept on the coffee table. She wasn't sure she wanted more intoxication than she already had, considering she was pretty intoxicated by her husband.

Arnav stepped into the room a few minutes later and for a moment he was taken aback to see Khushi seated on the bed, her dupatta covering her head and face. It was like a scene from a movie and it felt surreal. His heart began to pound wildly as he stepped toward her.

He sat on the bed and lifted her veil. She sat before him, her eyelids lowered, her thick crescent shaped lashes kissing her nearly translucent skin.  Her pink lips looked luscious and delectable. 

"This was a surprise." He whispered.

Khushi raised her eyes to meet his. "Last time I locked you out," Khushi smiled, "This time I want to follow the rituals " in the right way."

Arnav raised his eyebrow."In that case," Arnav slipped his hand into his pocket and brought out an envelope. "There is another ritual we missed last time." He handed it to her.

Khushi looked inside the envelope and her eyes went wide. "These are tickets to Vancouver!" She exclaimed in pleasure. "We are going on a honeymoon?" Her face lit up with joy.

"I wanted to see Victoria " the place you grew up in."  He said simply. "So a trip to Canada was in order.We will fly out after the engagement."

Khushi's eyebrows twisted. "You knew about the engagement when you booked these tickets?"

"Did you think Mami was going to be intimidated with her son's silent act of defiance?" He said, "there's only one language the woman understands."

So it was Arnav who had convinced Mama and Mami for the alliance. She was so proud of her husband. Khushi looked into his brown eyes."You keep giving me gifts "" she said, "I don't have anything for you."

"You are my gift." He brown eyes bore into her hazel ones. "Tonight, you look like a royal princess that you are."

Khushi blushed a crimson red. "Please don't remind me of all that Arnavji." She shook her head, "I am just a simple girl." 

"There is nothing simple about you." His caramel eyes simmered.

Khushi wanted to know something. "Was this whole marriage and rituals too much of an ordeal for you?"

"The only ordeal was waiting for today." Arnav said, "your dad watched over you like a hawk. I can't believe he pretended like we were never married."

Khushi giggled. "He hasn't gotten over the fact that I got married in his absence." Then on a serious note she said, "on the brighter side, we spent some time with each other " just talking."

 "That's true." It was the hardest thing he had to do. Talking was the last thing on his mind when Khushi was in his proximity. "Don't tell me you were fine with "just talking". He quipped. "I know you missed being with me. It showed in the way you danced on your sangeet. So you are my joganiya " are you?"

"I knew you were there!" Khushi's eyes went wide.

"How could I not come?" His brown eyes simmered, "I love to watch you dance."

"You do?" Khushi raised her eyebrow.

"I wouldn't mind if you gave me a "private dance sometime." He smirked.

"I will make a note of that." She said mischievously. 

"It has to be in a saree." He added. 

"I didn't think Indian clothes suited me." She confessed.

"You would look gorgeous in anything "- " His brown eyes bore into hers intensely, "or nothing "" He undid the pins that held her dupatta, one by one until the dupatta lay on the bed behind her. Her heartbeat quickened.

He unclasped her maang teeka from her hair and gently kissed her forehead. He unclasped the nose ring, detaching the other end from her hair. He kissed the tip of her nose and both her cheeks one after the other.

Khushi licked her dry lips craving for his lips on hers. But he didn't give her the satisfaction.

Then he took off her earring. He placed tiny kisses from her chin all the way to her ear and took her lobe between his lips. Khushi gasped audibly and clutched at his arm. He turned his attention to her other ear and repeated the same and her entire body began to suffuse with heat.

As he placed wet kisses down her throat he undid the fastening on her necklace. He removed the jewellery from her neck and began to place wet kisses all over her collar bone. Her heart was pounding wildly.

Next, he took her braid in his hand and began to unravel her hair. His heart almost stopped at how beautiful she looked with her hair let loose down to her waist.

"Your hair is longer." He whispered as he took a handful in his palm.

"I haven't cut it since I came here." She whispered.

"Good," he said, "I like it like this." 

He tugged at it forcing Khushi to fall back on the bed, even as he lay down next to her. She lay there her breast heaving in her short blouse and her lehenga low on her hips, exposing her creamy midriff. She looked like a seductive siren.

He leaned down captured her lips. He took her upper lip and lower lip in turns and then his tongue slipped inside her mouth to meet hers. Khushi eagerly responded even as her hand slipped into the hair at the back of his head. He ran his hands on her flat stomach and kneaded the soft flesh at her waist. 

His fingers moved around to her back to untie the tiny string that held her blouse together. He raised himself and peeled the blouse off her shoulders revealing her round breasts. 

Then he quickly undid the strings on her lehenga and peeled the heavy material off her long and creamy legs, leaving her only in a tiny burgudy lace.

Lying there with her hair spread on the pillow, her eyes half closed, her teeth lightly biting on her lips and her whole body quivering " she looked so beautiful, she took his breath away.

"Khushi, you are so beautiful." he whispered like he had told her several times in the past. 

Khushi raised her shivering hands and began to unbutton his sherwani with quick nimble fingers. As Arnav got off the bed take off sherwani and his t-shirt, Khushi knelt on the bed and slid her hands up his muscled chest, feeling the matt of hair as she moved up to his broad shoulders.

"You are beautiful too." She kissed his chest, brushing her soft fingers across his strong muscled back.

"Khushi "" he breathed unevenly, "if you keep going on, all this will be over very soon."

"I don't care." She captured his lips and slid her tongue deep into his mouth. Her hand slipped down to touch his arousal.

He knelt on the bed and holding her tiny waist with one hand, he leaned down captured her erect nipple and nibbled on it. Khushi threw her head back as shards of fire coursed through her veins. She clutched at his shoulder for support.

He slipped another hand into her lacy garment to feel the molten heat, his touch light as a butterfly's wings. A slow pleasure began to build inside her as his tongue matched the rhythm of his fingers. He turned his attention to her other breast while his fingers continued stroking the delicate flesh, increasing the pace slowly and steadily. Every nerve ending began to pulse with sensation and Khushi couldn't help whimpering with pleasure. 

She rose up to capture his lips with hers and dug her finger nails into the muscles of his shoulders. Without taking his mouth off her, Arnav peeled the lacy garment out of the way so he could get better access. 

He slid his tongue into her mouth even as he slipped his fingers into her core, his thumb stroking her nub faster and faster until she exploded into a million pieces and fell onto the bed in a shuddering heap, taking him along with her. 

He held her in his arms until she slowly returned to consciousness. Then he suddenly felt her hand inside the waistband of his trousers as she enclosed her soft hand around his hardness.

"Khushi!" He breathed with pleasure.

When he could take no more, he discarded all of his clothing, and came back to cover her body with his. As he slid into her moist core, Khushi felt an intense jolt shoot up her body. As he began to move in and out of her, Arnav couldn't help observing how glorious she looked with her hair spread out on the pillow, her face contorted with pleasure. 

She wrapped her legs around his waist to give him better access and he increased his pace, thrusting again and again and Khushi pulled him down to her lips as she was assailed by a shuddering release. Shortly, Arnav joined her as he reached his own climax. 

As he collapsed on the bed next to her, Khushi covered them with the soft comforter. Arnav gathered her in his arms as they spooned together.

Long moments later, Arnav spoke softly. "Khushi?" 

"I know Arnavji," Khushi replied in a drowsy voice, "I love you too." 

"Always." He kissed her hair. 

Always. A promise from her lovable farmer from Faridkot, thought Khushi before slumber claimed her and her beloved in its embrace.