Chapter 10
I stood against the closed door, with a heavy heart.
I could feel a burning sensation emerging in my eyes.
What was it? was I crying?
NO…ASR does not cry! ASR cannot cry!
I locked the door and threw the duppatta that was hanging around my neck on the bed.
I walked towards the pool side and started watering my plants.
Caressing each and every leaf I watered all the plants one by one.
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"I love you man!"
"I know" he spoke into my hair while hugging me.
I felt someone's presence behind us.
But when we looked there was no one there.
We shared a knowing look and he went to chat with Anjali and I left the kitchen to look for him.
___________
*knock knock*
I rolled my eyes at the intruder
"who is it!"
"Open the door!"
Why is she here now? Can't she just leave me alone and continue with her love saga with my backstabber of an employee.
"Go away! Leave me alone!"
"open the door RIGHT NOW!"
She sounded admamant.
Oh really? She is acting if I did something wrong. Earlier I was worried that maybe I got carried away and misbehaved, thereby I went to her to talk about it.
But now she is the one at fault!
"Arnav open the door!"
I could feel the fume creeping through the sides of the door.
Oh my name! oh my name! from those delicious lips of hers!
ASR! You are mad! Do not fall for this!
"Fine don't open the door! Mujhe bhi shauk nahi hai baat karne ka!"
she said and left.
The clock read 7 pm, and now I only have less than 24 hours to my persecution in a festive manner.
Where I would be decorated and taken care of like that goat right before its sacrifice on the day of Eid.
Except my tormentation would last forever.
The entire evening was a burden to pass, dinner was done everyone slept and I sat there staring at the moon as if the lifeless creature would come to my savior.
What have I come to.
From the ever independent and confident man to an emotionally unstable man looking at lifeless objects with hope.
_____________
The sun rays pierced through the French doors and surprisingly there was no other intruder.
Well the stranegest things are happening why not some sanity of the family members.
My head felt heavy and I was too tired, like always didn't get any sleep last night either.
Tossing and turning was a repetitive pattern.
I went to the washroom to freshen up in the hopes of some relief.
It was 7 am, and the shower did not do its wonder. I sighed and opened my laptop to finish some pending work. At least something should be on track.
After a few emails here and there, I decided to prepare the report for the next week's meeting.
Wait.
My hands froze when the cursor landed on the calendar.
Today is the 2nd????? TODAYYY?
I'M GETTING MARRIED TODAY! OH MY GOD.
Normally a person would react this way in a state of happiness, irocnically I hadn't known what it meant.
I immediately closed the laptop. My life is at stake and I was worried about the stupid report.
Oh my god.
'choteeeyyy choteeeyyy"
Okay not everything has changed good.
"I am SOOO happy today!" she exclaimed like a three year old who just received her most desired toy on her birth day.
"what happened now?" I rolled my eyes
"what happened???? Hey bhagwaaan!"
Not again.
"chotey you are getting married today! I will finally bring my bhabhi home! And you are asking what happened?" she slapped her forehead.
Why the self torture?
"Tumse to baat karma hi bekaar hai, bas itna karo apni shaadi mein time pe pohanch jaana, I hope aaj aapki koi meetings nahi hain"
She said and left the room.
Pshh meetings?? After all your favorite Aman is running the company isn't he.
Obviously how can my highly paid employee also known as Di's lost brother work on MY wedding.
Aman…Khushi…Khushi KHUSHI!
Where is she? Where is she? Abhi tak aayi kyun nahi
You think she would wana see your face after tomorrow?
Said the reflection again.
I really didn't need any extra nonsense at this point.
You know you need me, so stop acting like a VIP cus you are not.
"Why have you appeared?...uninvited…yet again"
to give you a piece of my mind, which you so very need.
"cut the crap and get to point" I said pointing a finger at him.
Haha times like these bring the best out of Ay Ass Are.
Before I could give him another lecture he began
I don't know why I even bothere showing up
But dude you are a nut case!
"continue"
haha you know you are!
Well anyway…
You are getting married today, just incase if you have realized.
In a few hours that Ms Sundar and Susheel will be your lawfully wedded wife and she could sue you for even looking at the wedding planner!
"Pshh she can't sue me"
yes she can, just because she doesn't act all powerful *ahem ahem* doesn't mean she doesn't have any power, her father is a very powerful man, im sure you know that
"can we not talk about everyone else and get to the solution?"
I offered.
Right. Solution
And he broke into fits of laughter
I glared at him.
What? I mean seeing your expressions, seeing you in this mess is just too funny man!
"hilarious!"
relaxxx man take a chill pill
Ew.
Ok so you still got a few hours lef…t in simple words GO AND TELL HER.
If you don't know what I mean SAY YOU LOVE HER!
Damn. He's right.
Now you are on your own! Good luck!
He said and disappeared again.
The clock now read 3 pm. Mami told me all the ladies are holding some special pooja at the mandir before the wedding so everyone has gone to the mandir. Means Khushi is there too.
Great. Now forget everything for 5 hours. Jeez these women forget about the rest of the world when attending pooja.
Unable to wait, since patience is not my thing I called her around seventy times.
Yes I don't care if she thinks I'm desperate! Cuz I really am right now.
What seemed like ages, those painful hours had finally come to an end and all the women returned home.
I ran down the stairs to see if she came but there were no signs of her.
Did she not come because of me?
Oh man. Is she even coming to the wedding?
She has to!
As far as I know she is very professional and cannot let anything go wrong if that's her job.
Yes she has to be here.
"chotey…"
Di spotted me and started walking towards me
"please go get ready its already 7 and the ladki waale will be arriving at the mandap at 9 and we have to be there before them"
Screw ladki waale god dammit.
I walked back to my room is sheer frustration.
What the hell. She didn't come, didn't reply to my calls. What am I supposed to do now?
My black sherwani lay there on the bed, I am guessing Di had sent Hari Prakash earlier to place it there.
I don't even want to touch it, gives me the worst nightmares.
It's now 7:30 and that careless woman is still not here! Unbelievable!
"choteyyy"
She called stepping in my room, almost ready to go in her attire for the wedding.
"yeh kya?? Tum abhi tayar bhi nahi huye? Aur yeh aise hi padi hai" she said pointing at the sherwani.
" acha main NK akash aur nani jaa rahe hain, mami has gone to the salon she will meet us there directly and Khushi is coming here. So you guys just come in an hour or so okay"
Perfect.
"okay di"
I grabbed my sherwani and went to change, just wanting to play along until the most awaited woman arrives.
As soon as I came out I heard Hari Prakash talking to her asking her for tea and such.
So she has arrived. I couldn't help but smile.
I went to the poolside to get some fresh air and cool my mind.
I heard the door open and she stepped inside.
Even though the light in the room was dull, her figure glowed in the moonlight.
She looked ethereal.
She was wearing a black and grey lehenga. It was mostly grey with heavy work of black beads. She had covered her front with one end of a duppatta and the other end was tugged in the skirt of her lehenega. She had left her hair open, with silver gray jewellery adorning her ears, partition of her hair and her neck.
She wore a few kundan bangles in her wrist and her smokey eyes were breathtaking.
She looked at me and took a few steps in my direction.
She didn't seem nervous or anything but still held that firm expression from yesterday.
Is she still mad? Oh no.
By the end of tonight I will make sure she is not.
"Anjali said you would be coming with me? So are you ready? Shall we leave now?" she asked in monotone.
"yah…" I said not wanting to give her a heartattack at once.
She turned around to leave
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He looked more handsome than ever.
The black shewani hugging those perfect shoulders, that glow in the eyes, the fresh haircut and the droplets of a cold shower created a havoc in my senses.
Damn this cannot be good.
Control yourself Khushi you are mad at him.
"Anjali said you would be coming with me? So are you ready? Shall we leave now?" I asked in monotone.
"yah…"
Doesn't wana apologize? Fine.
I turned to walk but he caught my wrist…again!
What the hell.
This is not some stupid bollywood movie. Just say what you want to.
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"I don't want to go" I said genuinely looking in her eyes.
"this is no joke Arnav. You are getting married, everything has been fixed, Lavanya is waiting for you you have to go" she tried to convince me.
Oddly enough it was as though as if she was convincing herself.
I walked closer to her and released her wrist.
"please…" I said hoping for her to just know what I was trying to say.
My nose almost touched hers.
Her eyes seemed to melt down a bit.
Not being able to hold it anymore I moved even closer if that was possible.
"listen I know you are nervous but try to understand everyone's waiting for you, Lavanya is waiting for you" she said slightly backing away
What the hell? I am SO not nervous. And just erase Lavnya out of the picture for now.
On the bright side she seemed to be melting a bit. Yes yes yes!
I instantly hugged her, before I started crying and ruined my image.
"I don't want to go, please…I don't want to go"
I could tell she was surprised but soon she hugged me back.
"don't be childish Arnav, it will be fine"
Oh for heaven's sake!
"im not being childish I don't want to get married!"
I said looking at her, somewhat annoyed.
She gasped and her eyes popped out.
I hope she didn't make something out of it that doesn't exist.
"what do you mean you don't want to get married?" she said in an equally perplexed tone, or maybe even worse.
Oh god she thinks im –
Never mind.
" I mean…I don't want to marry Lavanya" I said in a low voice looking here and there observing the tiles of the floor.
"hey bhagwaan! Itni jaldi doosri ladki kahan se aayegi" she said slapping her forehead with one hand while the other rested on her waist.
"uski zaroorat nahi padegi" I said walking towards her.
I could see it, her heart was beating faster and she was getting horrified.
"k..kyun?" she managed to ask.
"cuz I want to marry you"
I finally said it. YES!
Her eyes popped even wider if that was possible.
Before she fainted I held her from shoulders and moments later held her hands in mine.
"I love you khushi only you"
I said genuinely, I could see in her eyes that she had identified it in my eyes.
I could see the same twinkle appear in her eyes.
"but…Lav-"
"ssshh…I don't think she cares" I winked at her and she broke into a shy smile as she lowered her eyes and a faint blush crept her cheeks.
She looked at me and I decided it was about time.
"im sorry for the past few days"
I apologized, already being overjoyed at the last few moments.
"its ok" she whispered and hugged me once more.
I took it as a yes from her but a formal proposal was yet to be made.
"Khushi…will you marry me?"
I said, a part of me still unsure of her answer.
She kept staring at me for a while. My own smile started to fade.
Would she say yes? Or was that a friendly hug? Does she actually love Aman? Is she worried that she would lose her job?
"Arnav…I…"
"Arnav Bhaiyaa…Di ka phone aya hai she has called to tell both of you to reach there at the earliest"
Darn Hari Prakash, couldn't come a second later?
As soon as Hari Prakash left she grabbed my hand and led me to her car.
I was now starting to feel a bit tensed and a feeling of sadness started to envelop me.
Is she going to say no?
I knew I shouldn't have listened to that stupid reflection in the mirror.
She drove in silence, not even making eye contact. It was too awkward for me to talk too.
Fifteen minutes later we were infront of the venue.
I never felt more stupid than this.
She took a deep breath and looked at me.
"lets go Arnav" she said seriously.
"khushi-"
"come on" she got out of her seat and pulled me out of mine.
We walked to the altar where everything was already set up.
Di told us that Lavanya was almost ready in her room, and a few minutes later she was brought down by a few friends of her.
She kept looking in a certain direction, I wondered where she was looking, couldn't see where exactly in the crowd. I was just happy she wasn't looking at me.
You know how it makes a person guilty and it feels like jelly in the knees.
So she was brought down and stood near me.
She didn't look too happy. Great so im not the only one.
The pandit told us to sit on the stools and as we were about to sit, NK came and held Lavanya from sitting on her stool.
They looked at each other and probably talked a lot in their minds which none of us could understand. He then looked at Khushi and smiled.
Now Lavanya's face seemed a bit relaxed too.
What the hell did just happen here? What am I missing?
"Pandit ji plan mein thoda change hai"
NK told the pandit.
Off oh , ab kya hai.
He took the garland from my hand and put it on Lavanya.
My eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
What is happening here.
As soon as Lavanya placed the other garland around NK's neck there was a loud gasp from the crowd.
Then Khushi stepped in, she tried to hide a smile as she picked another garland that Aman had brought and put it on me.
I could faint or worse get a heartattack.
"mujhe nahi pehnao ge haar" she said in a whisper with a mischevious look.
Even though I could not comprehend any of the events unfolding before my eyes I went with the flow and placed the garland on her.
All the guests cheered and broke into a random bhangda.
Freaking Weirdos
NK and Lavnya were dancing amongst them too.
I turned to Khushi and asked "What is all this?"
I raised an eyebrow and moved closer.
"we got you ASR" she said with a naughty hue in her eyes.
Did they just make a fool?
I gestured her to explain further.
By that time NK, Lavnya, Di and Aman had arrived in the secluded corner where Khushi had taken me right after I asked her.
All five of them shared knowing looks and if I thought I was feeling stupid in the car then I don't know what this is.
"yes chotey we all knew" Di spoke.
"knew what?"
I was afraid to hear the answer
"that you are head over heels in love" NK spoke
"not with me but someone else" Lavanya moved forward.
"and that someone was right here"
Aman said as he came towards Khushi and placed his arm on her shoulder.
"you….." I said with a dreadful voice as I narrowed my eyes and gave each of them a solid glare.
"Humein thank you baad bol dena" NK said as he walked out patting on my shoulder
"take your time" Lavanya said leaving with NK.
"Di, I think we are done here" said Aman in a teasing tone and left with Di.
She stood there looking at me with the same twinkle.
As I moved towards her she kept moving backwards, not a trace of nervousness on her face, not a hint of shyness.
I like. I like.
Soon she was against the wall and couldn't move any further.
I moved my face closer to hers and right before my breath touched her face she whispered in a mischevious tone "not now" and left smiling with a wink.
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After all the rasams and crap we were sent to our respective rooms.
Phew Thankfully.
There sat Khushi on the recliner, her hand on her cheek, one leg resting on the other.
Wow, what a shy bride.
"shouldn't you be sitting on the bed with the ghoonghat and all"
"shouldn't you be saying all this to Lavanya?" she said with a smirk.
"excuse me?"
"we all should and shouldn't be doing a lot of things but they don't always happen now do they?" she was now standing an inch away from me, arms crossed.
"for example you should have told me about the plans in that tiny head of yours" I cocked an eyebrow.
"come on don't be a spoil sport" she said keeping the smirk on.
"you should have told me! The last few weeks were hell for me!" I said seriously.
"now it wouldn't have been fun wouldn't it if we just let you marry her off…besides I saved a life of an innocent"
"good excuse….dont pretend like you weren't getting the butterflies in your stomach"
I know she felt the same! Pretty little liar!
" puhleez. You think I can fall for someone whose pet name is chotey?"
Not again.
"too bad but you HAVE fallen, and you have allen bad"
Take that.
I kept moving closer and she kept moving backwards.
The atmosphere of the room was breezy and romantic unlike of what it was used to.
" nah…i like to call it charity" she said resisting her million dollar smile, regardless the eyes said it all.
"really.." I said staring at her lips.
"really.." she replied as she gave a peck on my lips.
___________
We both changed into comfortable clothes and were now sitting on the bed.
"you know I haven't forgotten about you guys' scam"
"you think dealing with you was any easier for me?" she asked with a cocked eyebrow.
"oh yeah definitely, being all mushy with Aman seemed so painful"
"mushy" she said as she broke into a fit of laughter.
'what??? You know what I went through when you said you loved him" I said recalling the moment of torture.
"are yo out of your mind? We are just good friends"
"yah yah" I rolled my eyes.
"unbelievable! Is that how someone confesses their love? "I love you man" ?" she asked me surprised.
"I don't know…" I said in a low voice. Clearly tonight was my time to get fooled…every single minute.
"I knew you were dumnb but not this dumb"
"hey don't you call me that!" I said crunching my eyebrows.
She smiled and looked at me lovingly.
"whatever happened, it was my most favorite wedding and despite all those frustrating moments you gave me, finally chotey ki agayi baraat"
saying so she kissed the corner of my lip giving me those butterflies again and the two of us ducked under the duvet.
______________
With that Arnav Singh Raizada and Khushi Singh Choudry correction Khushi Singh Raizada had the most unecpected wedding of a lifetime.
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