New FF: Fool's Gold Part 3 Page 24 BLOG LINK PG 1 - Page 12

a new FF? yes! 👏


arnav is the cool perfect son, agreeing to a match making marriage?
oh wow...

while akash lacks something... always the 2nd best!




tks for the PM..cant wait to read more..

wow...interesting first chapter.really impressed with your ability to keep two stories going so well and updates coming in regularly.now we lucky ones will be getting another one from you.simply marvellous!!!keep going!!!

Yay! Just loved the starting! Cant wait for the next update!

oh wow..

awesome concept munchy..

arnav going for an arranged marriage..sounds interesting..

continue real soon..

thanks for the pm..:)

Chapter Two: Dream Girl

Devotion of body, speech and mind to her lord's (husband's) feet is the only duty, sacred vow and penance of a woman

- Tulasi Ramayana - Aranya kanda -4

Khushi Kumari Gupta removed the golden bindi from her smooth clear forehead and placed an emerald green one in its place. She observed her thin face in the mirror; eyebrows' resembling a bird's wing in flight perched over expressive hazel eyes which were scrunched up in scrutiny over her appearance, her thin straight nose didn't dominate her face but provided a small respite from her sensual lips which were neither thin nor too plump, kissable when pouting. Her skin was pale, a little jaundiced but she was pretty in a fragile way.

She fixed the green dupatta, bringing it low on her bosom as she walked towards the kitchen where Jai Prakash was frying the samosas and pakoras. Khushi picked up a pakora in her nervousness and began munching on it while old Jai Prakash glanced her way and smiled, shaking his head at the silly girl. Khushi picked another pakora but Jai Prakash snatched it out of her hand and placed it back in the white ceramic plate with blue swirly designs.

"What will we feed the guests if you eat everything?" Jai asked raising his eyebrows at the girl who pouted, her fingers itching for food to stuff in her mouth.

"Do I have to go?" she whined.

"You know you have to bacha," Jai said smiling, placing a comforting hand on top of Khushi's head. "Every girl has to if she wants to get married. Payal had to, your mother had to, your mother's mother, your mother's mother's…"

"I get it Kaka!" Khushi said exasperated but smiling none the less. Jai Prakash had been part of the Gupta family since he was a boy, his father before him had been Khushi's great grandfathers man servant. Jai Prakash handled the kitchen and had chaperoned Khushi and Payal to school when they were younger. Then when Khushi's father had died when she was twelve Jai Prakash had been like a father figure.

"Khushi," Garima hurried in to the kitchen her white pallu pinned to her head. "Hurry up, they are waiting. And Dada ji is getting upset."

Khushi's eyes rounded in mock horror and Garima slapped her arm playfully, trying hard to hide her own smile. Khushi helped Jai Prakash load the two tiered trolley with tea and fried goods that were expected and provided in every respectable Indian household. Khushi then wheeled the trolley through the living room, her heart sinking in to her knees with every step.

She kept her eyes down, not wanting to look the prospective in laws in the eye, hoping the man would be handsome, hoping they would like her yet at the same time wanting to run away because she didn't like being observed like some 'thing' in a store display, didn't like the condescending questions, and then the insult when they never contacted again, making Khushi feel that there was something lacking with her.

"This is our girl," Dada ji said with evident pride. Major Rajendra Gupta was a retired Army Officer, his reputation as the fiercest soldier the Pakistan Army had ever seen kept intact because his granddaughters refused to disclose his marshmallow heart as far as they were concerned. Khushi bowed her head in Namaste, walking forward to touch bloated dark feet which had never seen a pedicure. Khushi didn't dare look up; if the feet were horror inducing she didn't want to know what the face looked like.

Khushi ignored the two sets of male feet altogether, not sure which one was the father and which one the son. She made a beeline for the trolley where Garima had already begun to unload the goodies. Khushi poured the tea and then presented it to the woman, noting her orange and red Kanjivaram saree that barely concealed the rolls of fat underneath.

The entire family reminded Khushi of the blue whales she'd seen on the National Geographic channel. If the mother and father were obese, the son had broken all records. Khushi looked on appalled as the family demolished the food, the son looking her up and down with barely concealed lust while the parents turned their beady eyes on her, and Khushi knew the Q&A Round was beginning.

"What do you do?" the mother asked.

"I just finished my B.A. and I'm applying for," Khushi began.

"A course in household management," Garima interrupted. No one would find out about Khushi's ridiculous plans of studying Criminal Law, not on her watch.

"I see," the mother sniffed. "And how are you in the kitchen?" she asked, her voice heavy with disdain.

Khushi didn't like the woman's tone, she didn't like the piggy eyes of their son on her, she didn't like the fact that they had eaten every last pakora with a grimace, and now were treating the entire situation as if they were doing the Gupta's a big favor by acting interested in their daughter.

"Usually on the counter while Jai Kaka cooks," Khushi replied sweetly and before Garima could say anything she added, "you must be in the kitchen all day Aunty, what with an army to feed," infusing as much sympathy as she could in her voice.

"What?" the woman asked frowning not really sure what Khushi had meant.

"Nothing!" Garima said hastily, shooting a death glare at Khushi.

"Erm... right," the woman said looking slightly confused. Her son nudged her and she nodded being brought back on track. "Look, Major Sahab, we are very traditional people and firm believers in dahej. We don't agree with these new-fangled ideas of not asking for dowry. What the girl brings from her maika is all for her, to make life for her easy by her family. The fridge and furniture she will bring will go to furnish her room. We just thought we'd let you know."

Major Gupta didn't say anything because he did not trust himself to be civil and since the woman was doing the talking he gave Garima a significant look to respond in the negative, frowning with disappointment when spineless Garima only stuttered.

"It's not like your girl will get a better offer than my son," the woman said disparagingly, her mouth twisted in distaste as she looked skinny Khushi up and down. "She has next to nothing to make her appealing; she practically looks like a boy!"

Khushi felt her temper going beyond boiling point and when Garima still didn't intervene she stepped in. Flashing the old cow a sweet smile Khushi began. "We do have a dowry planned actually." The woman smiled revealing small sharp teeth. "But there is only one thing I'm confused about," Khushi said frowning slightly.

"What is that bitya?" the woman said pleasantly for the first time.

"Which circus we should get your clothes from," Khushi said her best poker face on display, "because only a circus tent can cover you up. You must be hiring an elephant for the barat, right? Because your son would squash a horse; maybe we could both contact the same circus and get a discount!" Khushi said with glee clapping her hands at her brilliant idea.

"Is this a joke?!" the woman thundered. "Major Sahab, are these the kind of manners you have taught your granddaughter!? I have never been more insulted in my life!"

"Well there's a first time for everything," Khushi said sweetly, "and if you wish it to be the last, please leave before I really get started."

"We're leaving!" the woman announced, managing to get up off the sofa after three unsuccessful tries and Khushi's help. "Good luck marrying this girl off!" she huffed as she left with her husband and son in tow. Khushi stood with her hands on her hips watching them leave; turning with a triumphant smile, only to meet a scowling Garima and a stone faced Rajendra. "What?!"

"What will I do with you," Garima scolded. "Is this any way to treat guests?"

"Ma they would have eaten me alive!" Rajendra started laughing and Khushi continued. "I bet I could hide in their fat folds and get lost, never seeing the light of day!" Rajendra laughed louder. "I bet,"

"Enough!" Garima said holding a hand up, finally finding her misplaced spine. "You have given her too much leeway, which is why she acts so disrespectfully."

"Now bahou," Rajendra said leaning heavily on his staff as he got up, his left leg dragging where shrapnel had severed the nerves, "don't lose heart. I'm sure we'll manage to find a boy who resembles a clown next time. Weren't those your favorite at the circus?" Rajendra asked Khushi, a teasing smile at his lips and both grandfather and granddaughter burst in to peals of laughter while Garima was stuck between mirth and worry for her daughters' marital prospects.

Khushi bowed her head in Namaste, walking forward to touch bloated dark feet which had never seen a pedicure. Khushi didn't dare look up; if the feet were horror inducing she didn't want to know what the face looked like.

Hmmm interesting! Im thinking Vivaahish but then that isnt really your style innit :P *wears seatbelt for the bumpy ride* thxxx 4 the pm

hahahah khushi is hilarious!! acha karri woh log se saath. Those kinda people need khushi kinda people to set them straight.
Youre so right, poor women have to be stared at like an object!
my fingers are itching to type more but gtg to work!
update soon! :D

hey just read your title. Marriages made in heaven but destined to end in hell? Ahhh so is this going to start off nice and pretty and then get worse? you havent really gotten deep into arnav's character yet or khushi's for that matter. is there more to it? nevermind i'll just wait.

RES !!
EDITED

Yayy !! I got to comment on the first page first page of your update !!

Ok that was really crazy !! But the update was hilarious man !! I guess for a change we have JP working out at the Guptas and not at the Raizadas and that is a relief !!
Khushi is cool in her own way, shy but I guess she has the guts to speak her mind out, no wonder the prefect match for Arnav !!

And in the beginning when you described the lady I was wondering if that could be Manorama, but then the way you described the fat boy I went laughing that instant and laughed till the very end !!
That was a good speech session Khushi gave them !! And I love her Dadu, Rajendra !! He sure must be fun for Khushi !!

Loved the update
Shobhana