FF: We are together#1- (Chap 1-22) - Page 56

Originally posted by: asha...

Awesome update 👏...looking forward to next part 😛

Originally posted by: FebruaryFlower

Fab update Batool.

The story is getting very interesting now.

Can't wait to read the next part.

Thanks for the PM.

⭐️

Anj: (shaking Arnav) Choote! Get up!

Ar: (with half open eyes) What is it di? Why are you creating a havoc early in the morning?

Anj: Early in the morning? Chotte, its 11:00 right now! And no way can this be considered as EARLY! Get up!

Arnav straightened himself in a giffy as he was notified of the time. How had he managed to sleep so long?

Ar: Di! No joking please. It can't be 11:00. I never get up at 11:00!

Anj: There's always a first time to everything. (Arnav glared at her) *pause* Now get up and get ready quick, you have been sleeping too long, imagine that too on your most special day.

Ar: Finnnee Di. Enough. I remember quite well that I am getting married today. No need to remind me.

Anj: (smirking) I knew you would remember. How wouldn't you? Your Jaan is coming to you today.

Arnav passed a fiery look at Anjali who at once burst out laughing.

Anj: Acha na Bhai, I'll leave you alone now. Get ready, I am waiting for you downstairs.

Arnav nodded, and as Anjali departed from his room, he fetched his clothes and went into the washroom.

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At the Gupta's house, everybody was busy clearing up the house, and doing last minute touches.

Kh: (whispering to Payal) Jiji? What is the need for us to clear up when nobodies coming to our house?

Pa: Khushi tumbhi na, chup karkey kaam karun. Pagli kahin ki.

Kh: Ab ais mein pagli hone ki kya baat hain? Itna patein ka sawal phncha hain humne. *pause* Theek hain mat dun jawab, hum amma sein phnch kar atein hain.

Pa: Aisa waisa kuch mat krna, bus chup karkey safai karun.

Khushi made a face, and started dusting twitching her nose now and then as dust entered her nose.

Garima walked in and seeing Payal and Khushi busy at work smiled at them.

Ga: (to herself) Last day. Phir tou chalein jayein gey hamri betya.

Payal and Khushi looked up as Garima kept on staring at them. The very thought of leaving a house that they had seen since the time they had first opened their eyes, moistened their eyes, and both of them ran towards Garima and hugged her tightly.

Ga: Arey, tum run kyun rahi hun? Hum tum donun ko hastein hastein bida karna chatein hain.

Payal and Khushi lifted their heads up from Garima's shoulder and looked at her with pearly eyes. Garima gave them a smile and simultaneously wiped their tears away.

Ga: Now, the two of you go to your room. No more work for you. We have to reach the hall by 5:00 and right now its 12:00, while I get last minute work done, have your bridal dresses ironed, I'll check on the beautician, as to when she is to arrive.

Both the girls smiled and went off to their room to iron their respective sharara's, order out their jewellery and they themselves have a bath and get ready.

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Aak: Di! Where is my sherwani?

Anjali came hurrying out in the hall of the Raizada mansion, busily giving instructions to someone on the phone.

Anj: (to the person on the phone) Nahin. Nahin. Yeah tou nahin hosakta. App extra paise lein lejiya ga, par chayein tou humein malai boti hein hain. *pause* Nahin. Tandoori chicken kisi ko pasand nahin hain, Chauhan saheb app akhri pal mein yea kya kar rahein hain. *pause* (Aakash waves his hand in front of Anjali to get her attention) Haan haan, Aakash app rokein, *pause* Jee chauhan saheb, yahin theek hain malai boti chayein, 5:00 bajein tak baraat ajayein gey, app 4:30 tak apnein caterers lein kar phnch jayein ga.

With that she clicked her phone, her mind all muddled up with the things going around.

Anj: (her attention now towards Aakash) App ko kya chahein Aakash?

Aak: Di! I have been calling you from a long time now! It's already 3:00, I need to get ready. Where is my sherwani?

Anj: I have already told Jay Prakash to keep it in your room. Go check it must be there. And tell Chotte to start getting ready too. *pause* Btw where is he?

Aak: (puzzled) I havent seen Bhai since morning.

Anj: Ohk, ohk you go, I'll check on him.

Saying that Aakash went off to his room to get ready, while Anjali trotted off to Arnav's room. Upon entering his room, the sight that awaited her had her wanting to bang her head to the wall along with Arnav's. How can he work on a time like this?

Anj: Chottey! You are working?

Ar: (without lifting his eyes from his laptop) Can't you see Di I am working on a very important assignment right now.

Anjali walked over to his bed, and rashly shut the screen of the laptop hard.

Ar: (eyes blazing with fury) Di.! What the..

Anj: (angrily) No What the's today! Today you are getting MARRIED, I said MARRIED, no work today. You can do work all your life, marriage is going to come just once.

Ar: Di, look I am marrying on your insistence, you know that I have no interest in all this melodramatic activity. Let me do my work.

Anj: (angrily) Chottey. You are hopeless. (Arnav gave no response) Fine. Do your work. Do whatever you want to. Don't you even come to the marriage, stay here doing your work. When your bride waits there for you, I'll tell her that he's too busy, and doesn't have the time to marry you. Goodbye. Go find someone else for yourself because Arnav is a retard.

Saying that she began to march out from Arnav's room, but Arnav held her hand before she had completely disappeared from the room. He slowly turned around until she was facing him, her eyes watery due to anger.

Ar: Okay na di, tell me what do I do?

Anj: (calming down a bit) Don't do anything, just get ready.

Ar: (irritated) How many times am I supposed to get ready? I am already dressed up.

Anjali arched her eyebrows in surprise at the confident, matter-of-fact tone of Arnav. She looked at him from top to bottom, in his tip top Armani suit, blue in colour. He calls this being dressed up, for his MARRIAGE?

Anj: For God sake Chotey grow up! You are not going to a business conference, you are going to the mandap to get married!

Ar: So? What difference do my clothes make? I am going there to marry right? The clothes have got nothing to do with that.

Anj: (taunting) Ofcourse, you are going there to marry. Why don't you wear your casual Calvin Klein t-shirts and baggies while attending a business conference? After all you are going for a business conference right? The clothes have got nothing to do with that.

Arnav gave Anjali an irritated look, however a few minutes later let Anjali's taunt influence his decision.

Ar: Then what am I supposed to where?

Anj: The kurta that is there in your cupboard.

Ar: I have no kurta's in my cupboard.

Anj: I kept one, in the morning.

Ar: What so ever, in any case I am not wearing any kurta's.

Anj: Chottey..please..for me. Please.

Ar: Di! I said I am not wearing. (making a face) You know what happened last time I wore a kurta. I '.I'lost everything of mine.

Anj: (not flinching at all) And this time, when you wear one, you are going to get back everything of yours. You'll get Khushi, your most loved possession. What more do you want?

Ar: (making a baby face) But Di..

Anj: No more arguments Chotte, just wear that kurta.

Ar: Di I don't want to and that's final.

Anj: (almost shouting now) Chootey I said wear that kurta! Just because Maa and Papa left that day, do you think every time you wear a kurta you are going to lose something? (tears threatening to come out) Why can't you get out of your past Chootey? Why cant you understand that what happened that day was neither your fault, neither of the way you dressed up. It was just what God wanted; we can't do anything about it.

She turned away from him, so that he could not see the tears that streamed down her cheeks. Arnav turned her around, and slowly hung his head low in acceptance.

Ar: Di ohk, please stop crying. *pause* Fine I'll wear that kurta.

Anjali gave him a weak smile, and was about to go off when he called her back.

Ar: Di! When are you getting ready? It's high time you start.

Anj: (annoyed) What do you mean high time? It hardly takes me time to get ready.

Ar: Ask us the one waiting for you how much time you take.

Anjali fired an irritated look at him. Arnav gave her a cheeky smile, which eventually made him remember of his Jeeja ji. The one person who had got his mind whirling. Where in the world was he?

Ar: Where is Jeejaji?

Anj: (worried, her brow getting creased) I have been looking for him, for almost an eternity now. I don't know since morning he has vanished.

Ar: (confused) Vanished? What do you mean vanished? Where is he? Is he not attending the wedding?

Anj: He is. How can he not attend his two Sala's wedding? When I got up in the morning he wasn't there, I have tried his phone several times by now, and he just won't pick up.

Ar: I'll go look for him.

Anj: No ways Chottey! You are not going anywhere, stay here and get ready, I'll look for him, and if he doesn't come we'll go without him. If he doesn't care there is no need for us to stay behind either waiting for him. It's after all you and Aakash who are getting married; it wouldn't matter if he's there or not.

That said, Anjali walked out of the room, deeply worried for the whereabouts of her husband. But she had made a promise to herself, if this time he doesn't attend the wedding, I am totally going to stop talking to him. No forgiveness for him this time.

Arnav just stared at the retreating form of Anjali, surprised. Why was Di being so hoarse towards Jeeja ji? Was everything ok between them? Was Di upset? If so, where was Jeeja ji right now? Why wasn't he here? Is he trying to..a lump formed in his throat..is he trying to escape the Gupta's? So they would not see him? Danmed! What is this mystery that connects Jeeja ji and the Gupta's? Who is he to them?

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Kh: (worried) Amma! The beautician is still not here! Where is she? It's already 3:30 right now?

Ga: That is what I am getting worried about. Where is she? I told her to come at 3:00, and right now its 3:30, but she is no where to be found.

Just as Garima had finished her sentence the beautician entered all geared up with her make-up box, however puffing and sweaty.

Beautician: I am sorry Mam, but there is this huge traffic jam on the roads, on account of the minister surveying the streets of Delhi.

Ga: Omg! Now how will we go! We need to be there by 5:00! Quick go and get done with Payalia's make up while Khushi dresses up. (To Khushi) Khushi, don't waste time, and go get ready!

Khushi goes to her room, to change into her bridal sharara while the beautician speeds of to Payal's room where she is eagerly waiting sitting in front of the dressing table.

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Nani: Anjali betya! Damaadji! Manorama! Chottey! Aakash betwa! Where are you all! It's 4:15 already we need to reach the hall too!

On Nani's call, Manorama came down in her shimmering blue and gray sari, topped with excessively heavy bluish-metallic jewellery, laden with makeup, her usual flowers plucked into the bun in her hair, only that this time the flowers were silver and a grayish-blue colour.

Nani batted an eye, at her not so elegant sense of fashion, however did pass a smile at her when she smiled back.

Manorama: Hum kaise looking sasuma?

Nani: Jab appko pata hain k app kaise dekh rahi hain, tou humsein kono phnchat hain? *pause* Aakash betwa kahan hain?

Manorama: Woh aa raha hain. (she looked up the staircase) Lun ahein gaye, hamrein Aaksh betwa, preencee charmeeng (prince charming).

Aakash walked down the stairs smiling in his reddish-peach sherwani, a reddish-orange dyed chunatti duppatta roughly tied around his neck. He stood just inches away from Manorama, and bowed down to take the blessings of his mother and grand mother.

Nani: Sada sukhi rahun! Bohat hein achein lag rahein hain hamrein betwa! Bus app ais hein tarah muskuratein rahein, humein aur kuch nahin chahein.

Manorama: Khush rahun, aur humko bhi khush rakhun. Aaj tumki marriage sein jitni happeeness (happiness) humko hain utnii kisii ko naaahin hogey.

As the blessings were given, Mama walked down as well, and gave his share of blessings to Aakash, while Anjali, Arnav and Shyam still remained missing.

Nani: Eee Anjali betya, Dammadji and Chottey kahan hain?

She had hardly uttered the words, when Anjali came down smiling in her sari that was a beautiful combination of pink, blue and peach. If they said she looked pretty, it would be an underestimation of her beauty as the 32-year old lady looked heavenly. She came and stood next to her smiling grand mother.

Nani: (putting a black dot behind Anjali's ear) App ko kisi ki nazar na lag jayein. Bohat pyaari lag rahin hun betya.

Anjali blushed at the comment and smiled.

Nani: Betya, Chottey aur Daamaadji kahan hain?

Anj: (surprised) Chottey abhi tak neeche nahin ayein? Humne aunhein kahan tou thawn k ajaye, hum dekh kar atein hain.

She walked up to the stairs and towards Arnav's room, where he stood making a face in front of his dresser, busy fidgeting with the collar of his kurta.

Anj: Chottey app abhi tak neeche nahin ayein?

Ar: Di! What the hell have you given me to wear! This thing is so s**t suffocating! I can hardly even breathe.

Anjali walked up to Arnav where he stood grumbling. She turned him around, and tightened his collar, straightened his kurta and gave her sign of approval then.

Anj: Ab lag rahein ho na humarein Chottey. Masla kya hain? Itne ache tou lag rahein hain app.

Ar: What is so good about it? I cant even walk freely with this thing on.

Anj: It's just a matter of few hours, then you wont have to wear anything like this, or grumble with me about it all. *pause* Now come down, everybody is waiting for us.

Anjali was about to walk outside when her eye caught sight of Arnav's side table. Slight wrinkles appeared on her toned forehead as she tired to figure out why the side table looked some what incomplete. And then it occurred to her, something was missing, that photo frame was missing.

Anj: (turning around to face Arnav who was still unsatisfied with the kurta) Chottey? Where did that photo frame of you and Khushi ji go? *pause* I so love that picture of you two of you together.

Arnav turned around as the question being addressed registered into his mind. He frowned at the mention of the photoframe. The very thing that had, had his mind moving in circles all around, complicating his not so simple life even more. To think of finding the ripped off halve, in Di's room, under Jeeja ji's pillow, the way he'd sent Jeeja ji and Di's picture to Khushi and instead welcomed more complications by doing that. Nor Khushi had seen the picture, nor his muddled mind could be sorted out, instead Payal's uncertain fishy behaviour had started irking him. And to top it all off, from all day's Di had to notice that photoframe too. What the hell?

Anj: (noticing the dead silence) Chootey?

Ar: (coming out from his world of thoughts) huh? ..ah..I don't know.

Anj: What do you mean you don't know? You so loved that picture.

Ar: (frowning) I don't know Di, it got this big crack on the frame so I sent it for repairing.

Anj: Oh, er, ohk. Now let's go down, everyone's waiting.

The siblings walked out of Arnav's room, locked the door, and went down the stairs, Arnav frowning, highly uncomfortable in his rust green sherwani, complemented by the reddish-green chunatti dupaata that was loosely tied around his neck in two loops.

As he stood in the main hall, joined by the others, everybody stared at him in surprise, as they were very well aware of how much he disliked such Indian outfits, and would never wear them.

Aak: (in surprise) Bhai you are wearing this?

Ar: (grumbling) There is no need to over react people. I wore this purely on Di's insistence. *pause* (looking at Anjali) Di! I told you I am looking like a clown in this.

Anj: Who said so? You are looking great! *pause* (to Nani) Nani, let's go.

Nani: (bewildered) But Damaadji? He's still not here.

Anj: (angrily) So what am I supposed to do? How long are we going to wait for him? I have made countless calls to him since morning, asked each of his friends if they know of his whereabouts, but he is no where to be found. If he just doesn't care, why should we wait? If he still has the heart to come, he'll come directly to the hall.

Saying that, Anjali walked out of the door, followed by a group of thunder struck people after her shocking answer. Everyone unanimously had one question in their mind 'Where is Shyam?'

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Pa: Khushi? Is it done yet?

Kh: (getting up from the foot stool) Yup Jiji, it's done. I am coming.

Both the sisterly brides stepped out of the room dressed in their heavenly bridal wear.

Payal was wearing a celestial sharara with an enthralling combination of peach, and berry red mixed and matched with each other. The peach lehenga was decorated with silver and golden work, done in circular patterns, after which every two circles the shape of two ovals merged together followed. The berry red blouse that she wore, correctly fitted her, hugging every part of her body as if it was constructed to fit the blouse it self which itself was adorned with a similar pattern of work as done on the lehenga, making the overall effect of the maiden carrying the outfit mesmerizing. To go with it, she wore matching delicate peach colored jewellery, a pretty peach colored jhumka, resting ever so lovingly on her forehead. Her hands that were already embellished with creative patterns of henna, were also covered with red and peach bangles, in a mix and match combination with each other right up to the humerus.

Followed by her sister, was the eighteen year old Khushi who like her elder sister, looked no less then an angel up in the heavens. Her rust green and red sharara looked a sight to watch as it draped down her delicate creamy white legs, forming a longitudinal wave. The pattern of her lehenga was such that the lower part of it consisted of a triangular cut pattern of rust green, while what remained was red in color. This filigree on the sharara was of a combination of silver and white, delicate work, which formed triangular pattern, that time to time were adorned with a bundle of circles together, giving it an utmost glamorous look. The jewellery that she wore, was lighter than that of her elder sister, however more elegant and appealing. On her forehead resting peacefully was a triangular shaped golden jhumka with red rubies here and there that complemented well with the earrings of the same design as well as the necklace that decorated her neck. Her hands along with the stylish composition of mehendi, were covered with maroon-red and rust-green bangles all the way up to the ulna. Last of all her simple, yet gorgeous duppata covered the backside of her head, while half of the hair remained covered piled up in a neat looking bun, however the other remaining half could be seen, without any veil covering it.

As both of them walked out of their room and into the main hall everyone present in the hall gaped at their beauty, and rushed over to them to put on the 'nazar ka tikka' to keep them away from all evil that might harm their beauty.

Baaba ki raani huun aankhon ka paani huun...

(I'm my father's princess; I'm tears in their eyes)

Bah jaana hai jise do pal kahaani huun

(I'm that which must flow away; I'm a story that's over in two moments.)

Shashi came towards his two daughters and cupped their faces in each of his hands, tears cascading down their cheeks landing right into his palms. He retreated his hands and kissed the tears on his palms, with love of what he could not get after today. The two angels of his life would no more be there to pick him up, to shoulder him, to be there for him, they were to go in a new house, enter a new phase of life, without him.

Amma ki bitiya huun aangan ki mitiya huun...

(I'm my mother's daughter; I'm the earth in our courtyard)

Tuk-tuk nihaare jo pardesi chitthiya huun

(I'm the one who watches expectantly; I'm a stranger on loan)

Ga: (with tears in her eyes) Haye! My daughters, they look more gorgeous then the angels above, and more charismatic then any female on Earth. May God gave you two all the happiness that you desire for.

She went up to them and hugged the two of the with motherly affection. At the moment Khushi didn't know if she ever regretted being an orphan. If it wouldn't have been for her real parent's demise, she never would have gotten this vast family full of love devoid of any expectations. Buaji too pulled the two of them in an embrace of her own.

Buaji: Haire Nandkishore! Hamri dono betya zindagi bhar sukhi rahein. (May our two daughters always be at peace)

Ga: (wiping off her tears) We must leave, it's already 4:15.

Khushi and Payal carefully wiped their tears away as to not to spoil their makeup and followed their elders outside.

Tuk-tuk nihaare jo pardesi chitthiya huun

(I'm the one who watches expectantly; I'm a stranger on loan)

Before stepping into the car that awaited them outside, both of them gave a longing look, to their beloved house, which was no more to be theirs, as they were leaving, leaving it to climb another step of life, the life they were to have after marriage, with their in laws, with a new family, new people, a whole new way of life, walking side by side with their companion for life.

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It was a great update!!!!!

dude hats off to you...thanx for the pm

Originally posted by: smithasrk

loved it. thanks for the pm. so where is the snake?

pls update soon

love

smitha