ArHi FF: Sweet Escape UPD 2/17/12 P31 - Page 13

Chapter 3: Illuminated

He was immediately welcomed by the young Mr. Nigam, who was seemingly high on enjoyment as he pumped Arnav's hand up and down telling him how much fun this party would be. Arnav went through the motions agreeing that yes, it his looked like it would be fun indeed.

"I haven't told Akash that you were coming yet," Karan said apologetically, "no time with all this planning, 3K had me running all over town looking for fireworks with the least chemicals, it was ridiculous really, but can't really say no when she does that puppy dog thing, plus I guess it was my fault seeing as to she didn't even want them." He gave Arnav a lopsided grin, shrugging his shoulder good-naturedly, Arnav nodded, as if agreeing.

"Anyway," Karan continued, "so this will be a Diwali gift to him I suppose, he's always had an interest in your company actually, so he'll be excited when he hears about the proposal, now where is he..." Arnav buried his hands deep into his pockets, the mask of indifference not leaving his face as he observed the party-goers, each of which seemed to be having a gala time, and waited for Karan to locate his precious Akash.

"Oh! There he is!" exclaimed Karan, pointing towards a section where people were playing Dandiya, "Mr. Raizada, what say, shall we go play some Dandiya?"

Arnav almost smiled at the thought of him playing Dandiya, "no Mr. Nigam," he said, "you go ahead, I'm fine."

"Come now, Mr. Raizada, it's Diwali, comes only once a year you know, it's the perfect time to make a fool out of oneself, especially if you're like me and have two left feet!"

Arnav shook his head, refusing again as well as resisting the urge to roll his eyes at the young man's overly cheery exterior; how many boxes of sweets did he gobble down, Arnav wondered, or did he maybe visit his friend Johnny a while before?

Karan shrugged, turning to introduce Arnav to some board members. Arnav surreptitiously observed his hopefully future business partner; the young man had an annoyingly bright personality. He made jokes at the drop of a hat, leaving most everyone in splits; he was amiable, seemingly holding all his employees to the same standard as he would a friend. They fearlessly came to wish him a happy and prosperous Diwali, and all of them seemed genuine about it.

Maybe that's where he'd gone wrong, Arnav mused, Karan was everything Arnav could never be. Arnav watched at Karan's eyes turned to scan the crowd, lighting up as he caught sight of someone. Excusing himself, Karan rushed towards a young woman who was playing Dandiya with a group of other young women. He bent to whisper into her ear, she nodded excitedly, whispering to her friends before tugging Karan away.

Arnav turned to watch them fully as Karan was deposited in the middle of the dance floor, joined by another young man whose face Arnav couldn't see. A spotlight descended on them as the music began; the two gave each other a hug, beginning to move with the music. Arnav's breath caught as they turned towards him, Akash.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCv4y0oz76M[/YOUTUBE]

natkhat natkhat jamuna ke tatt par, kuch to churaye haye maiyya dil churaye neend churaye chain churaye haye maiyya kaise main jaaun ghar apne sab laaj sharam main chhodi re
kaise kahun kis natkhat ne kiya maakhan chori re..

His hand clenched at his drink to the point where he realized he might break it, catching himself he set it down, hands clutching instead at the pillar beside him. His legs seemed to give out, causing him to lean completely onto the pillar as a beautiful vision appeared beside them.

"Khushi.." he whispered softly, almost reverently.

maiyya yashoda

mori gagri se jamuna ke pul par maakhan haan koi,

re maakhan chura le gaya
ho maiyya yashoda kaise jaaun ghar jamuna ke pul par maakhan haan koi,

re maakhan chura le gaya

She turned back to the two guys, pulling on Akash's arm and making as if explaining to him the atrocities done to her, pointing accusingly at Karan who winked and escaped Akash who in fake anger had begun rolling up his sleeves.

mori baanh modi, natkhat re, kare dil ko jodi, natkhat re, mori gagri phooti, natkhat re, main bojh se chhooti, natkhat re, mori thaame kalai us kinare le gaya

Karan disappeared for a second, and then appeared tugging a woman behind him as he sung. Payal, Arnav realized. They were all here.

maiya yashoda sach kehta hoon main jamuna ke pul par maakhan ki gagri se maakhan bachane gaya

Khushi swung near them, shoving Karan away as she hugged her sister, pouting.

haan maiya yashoda mori gagri se jamuna ke pul par maakhan haan koi,

re maakhan chura le gaya

Khushi stuck out her tongue at Karan, running away as he lunged at her. Arnav watched in angst as Karan chased Khushi around a laughing Payal, who was joined by Akash who swung his arm around her casually.

Karan stopped running, swinging his arm around Payal too, singing again.

ho suna tha ik din maine jamuna tat par chalte chalte
kisi gopi ko baith akele rote raina dhalte

Leaving them Karan shoved past a dramatically gaping Khushi to explain to a party goer what exactly had happened.

maine socha ke meri maiyya se main kya bolunga kahe na roka us roti goriya ke dil ko jalte haan maakhan to churaya par usko bhi sikhaya ke tu bhi to thoda sa chakh le bhai..

Rushed back to Payal with a jalebi he had grabbed from nearby, he shoved it in her mouth, refusing Khushi any.

ho maayi hum dono phir jahan baithe us jamuna ke pul par maakhan hum mil ke re maakhan chata ho gaya

Khushi and what Arnav assumed were her friends took up dancing in formation, joined soon by Karan, Akash, and Payal.

ooo.. maiyya yashoda mori gagri se jamuna ke pul par maakhan haan koi, re maakhan chura leyy gaya

Arnav seethed as Khushi danced with Karan, singing along as they swung together with the steps.

The world stilled as for a moment she danced in his direction, his heart seemed to begin beating again as the fabric of her dupatta brushed his face. And yet, she herself didn't notice him as she continued acting to the song with her group of girls.

mahi mohe laaj aave kaahe main ro-ro karti thi koi maakhan chori main baith ke bas aahen bharti thi, phir tere natkhat ne ek din mohe ye raaz bataya ho phir tere natkhat ne ek din mohe ye raaz bataya jo maakhan jam ke khaye to kya koi churaye to chakh le aur chakha le thoda maayi
o maayi tore matkhat ko maine hi jamuna ke pul par maakhan khilaya, re maakhan mera ho gaya

Karan pulled Akash and Payal towards Khushi, forming a small dance circle as he sang and danced.

maiyya yashoda sach kehta hoon main

jamna ke pul par maakhan haan gori ko maakhan khilane gaya..

Arnav lost sight of them as the circle around them increased in size; more and more people getting into the song joining the joyous celebration, dancing fervently along with them.

natkhat natkhat jamuna ke tatt par, kuchh to churaye haye maiyya dil churaye neend churaye chain churaye haye maiyya kaise main jaaun ghar apne sab laaj sharam main chhodi re kaise kahun kis natkhat ne kiya maakhan chori re..

Irritation had slowly replaced the overwhelming relief that had floored him earlier. Suddenly, knowing that he had found them and could protect them was not enough to quell the pure hurt that infused itself in his veins.

"Akash!" his voice came out sharper than he intended it to, carrying over the crowd till it reached his smiling brother, who turned towards the oddly familiar voice. The smile seemed to drop off when he saw Arnav approaching him slowly, like a predator approaching the frightened prey.

\-hi!-/

SO HOW WAS IT?!

It shudda been a New Years gift... but erm. Sidetracked :P

I wanna thank hershi cuz again, she read it and told me it was fine 😆 days ago though, and before i added the final touches.

guysss please PLEASE comment of atleast hit like, i know you've been hit with a lot of these gyans, but it's honestly because it's disheartening when you spend all this time writing posting and sending pms only to get no replies and i know im horrible about replying to each of them, but i read every single one! pakka promise, and i love all of it. i thrive on it, live off it, etc etc, so.

if you want pms add -GreenEnvy-

Brilliant Update.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️