OS - Dupatta, Part XIV, posted on 1/11 - Page 9

Khushi remembered Lavanya's face, the hurt look of being rejected….Lavanya agreed to 'Live together', so she came to stay in his house, Khushi did not agree, so marry her, after Khushi who and does the word marriage have any weight for him or just another arrangement like 'Live In'…..Khushi shook her head…no no something is not right…this cannot go on….

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Khushi stood in front of the mirror, the dress was of perfect fitting, it was sort of a gown with lehenga look with embellishment at its fringes, very aesthetically done in soft lilac colour….

Anjali put on the ornaments on Khushi, sab kuch itna jaldi jaldi huwa, Chhote got this dress ready for you, I guess he always wanted his wife to wear his creation on their 'Suhaag Raat'…Khushi did not raise her eyes but in her heart she wondered, the man who never wanted to get married first, what does the meaning of 'Suhaag Raat' have for him…

Hmmm has fitted me well, I don't giving my measurements to him though, she replied instead, she could not be rude to Anjali and truly the dress was a stunner…

He hehe Chhote has a perfect sense of measurement where girls are concerned specially the ones he likes, when we were thrown out of our house, we went to stay with Nani, Chhote and I did a lot of odd jobs to support ourselves, I helped out at the tailoring shop in front of the house, could not go very far with my handicap you see, Chhote at times used to sit with his books there to save electricity cost, there he observed the master cutter and learnt cutting, one day he became the best cutter in the whole locality……

Then how come he changed so much Khushi wondered….

Come Khushi sit on the bed, I better arrange your skirt properly as Chhote has got an eye for detail…must be getting impatient to enter as it is….

Khushi admired herself on the mirror for a while, inspected the matching jewelry, nothing very heavy but intricate, must be also designed by 'His Highness' she thought as he is also very particular about accessories….eye for detail indeed Khushi thought, chaliye didi , arrange my skirt, Khushi went and sat on the middle of the bed, Anjali smiled to see her enthusiasm, understandably it was her 'Suhaag Raath' too….

Giving a satisfied glance Anjali stepped back, now let me send in Chhote!! Ekdum hilna maath….

Nehi nehi I am holding the pose till the shot is over, Khushi replied enthusiastically….

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Arnav was tensed, he never knew getting married could be so stressful, all this while Akash and his mama teased him mercilessly, well he did not have friends per se, for he was always busy working, yes employees and business associates and they were not invited to the party, which was just small amongst immediate family members, Akash had arranged a box of exotic designer chocolates to be sent to each employees residence , the hassle of getting married, for the 'live-in' you could cut out on these formalities..chalo jo ho giya so ho giya, he watched his sister coming out of the room beaming, indicating to him Khushi was ready to receive him…..

Bhai all the best, chalo shuru ho jayo…

Ha mere bhanja, shuru karo slavery for whole life…..

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Things were going far more smoothly for his tastes thought Arnav as he turned the knob he found the bed empty, his eyes scanned the room, Khushi was nowhere to be seen, so she has fled again, he entered, the windows were closed , the terrace door was locked from inside too, just then the bathroom door clicked, Khushi entered, back in her salwar Kameez, devoid of any jewelry, face clean of makeup, Arnav frowned, inspite of himself he had imagined her in his creation then undressing her slowly…..

Oh aap a gaye, mujhe jor she bathroom lagi thi, I mean the dress is so cumbersome, not used to wearing such dresses and doing…..you know what I mean…..

Arnav clenched his jaws, nobody called his dresses cumbersome, they were of clean cut and simplistic design, the fit and the elegance mattered…Arnav looked into her eyes, she quickly averted her glance, pumping the pillows, placing them correctly, Arnav started to unbutton his jacket, Khushi's eyes went round briefly, she picked up one pillow and placed it on the settee…Arnav froze…abh kya huwa he asked….

Mere navratri chal rahe hai bhai…Khushi replied with big eyes…..

So?

Apne aap ko shudh rakhna chahiye….

Hummph…matlab mere saath…I mean…humlog

Ji haan, Khushi sat down on the settee, putting up her feet….

But then we are husband and wife….

So what….matlab…ashudh kaam toh ashudh kaam hi hai na!! Her cheeks turned red….

If it was so then why did we get married now….

Well the marriage plan was yours not mine, Khushi replied lying down, turning her back towards him and closing her eyes….

Oh shit!! Arnav stomped towards the bathroom!!

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Anjali was an early riser, she preferred to do her exercises in the park nearby before it got crowded, not that she was ashamed of her handicap but then displaying it in front of everybody was not very welcoming, Anjali went towards the hall when she heard sounds from the kitchen, Anjali limped toward it, Khushi was making tea…

Anjali didi you want some tea, she greeted as usual her jolly self….

Anjali nodded her head, it was very difficult to say no to Khushi, as Khushi poured the tea, Anjali went to sit on the dining table when her eyes went towards the studio to see her brother slumped on his settee ….she frowned….Khushi…what is going on my dear she asked….

What is the matter Didi, Khushi came balancing the cups and the biscuit tin….

Anjali pointed out towards the studio, Khushi swallowed, yes she had seen it, yesterday he was upset that she chose to sleep in the sofa….err didi kal raath tak toh theek hi the….abh shyaad needh pura nehi huwa hoga…Khushi sat down blushing…..

Anjali smiled, of course newly married and Khushi was early riser anyway had to do all housework before getting out of the house…

They sat sipping tea, Khushi made Anjali laugh with her various silly jokes, Anjali looked at her watch, Oh damn, my walk, Ok Khushi thanks for the morning cuppa let me go and do some brisk walking, Anjali limped across towards the door, Khushi got up to take away the tea serving, she could feel somebody and standing with a sulky face, Khushi went about her work as nothing had happened!!

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