SS: His Smiling Girl Part 10 updated on Pg 108

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Cetronia

@Cetronia

Dazzler

Posted: 13 years ago

#621

Smita , I just read all the chapters, it was a treat...awesome...

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smitar

@smitar

Rocker

+ 8

Posted: 13 years ago

#622

Part 10

Nani frowned at the photos and details of boys that Mishraji had brought for Payal, and passed them onto Mami & Anjali, commenting that not one of them seemed to be a match for Payaliyaa.

"Haan, Sasumaa.", agreed Mami. "How can we marry off a swan to a snake or a chimpanzee?"

"She is so beautiful, well brought up, mature, and responsible. The man who finally marries her will be one lucky person.", added Anjali with a smile.

"What is happening here?", asked Akash with a smile as he entered the living room. "The Raizada ladies seem to be having a round table conference!"

"Round table naahi, Akash Bitwaa, square table conpherence!", said Mami, pointing to the square table in their midst.

"We were looking at photos of boys for Payaliyaa.", said Nani.

Akash paled.

"What happened, Akash? Are you alright?", asked Anjali, concerned.

"Haan, Di. I...I have some work to do." He left the room.

Nani, Mami, & Anjali looked at each other, suspecting that something was wrong.

NK walked in, rattling a packet of chips. "Hey, wassup?"

"NK Bhai!", Anjali ventured a try. "We were thinking..."

"Haan, Di?"

"Payal has to get married. Our Akash is a bachelor. Do you think he will like it if we suggest...?"

"Di! That would be wonderful! He couldn't take his eyes off her when we met the Guptas in Laxmi Nagar. And he drives to his office through Laxmi Nagar every morning just to catch a glimpse of Payal."

Nani, Mami, & Anjali had big smiles on their faces.

The next morning saw the Raizadas once more at the Guptas, asking for a shy Payal's hand for a blushing Akash. Arnav smiled at a Khushi dressed in a turquoise suit, his eyes lingering on her lips. Khushi flushed, biting her tingling lips.

The Guptas didn't know what to say or do. They had never even dreamt that both their daughters would marry into the same family, or that they would be fortunate enough to have such nice in-laws. The Guptas gave their assent readily.

In the ensuing exchange of congratulations, Arnav threw his arms around Akash and hugged him tight. "I am so happy for you, Akash.", he whispered.

Nk threw his arms around both Akash & Arnav and hugged them.

"Barbadi ho, barbadi ho!", he sang.

"Barbadi nahin, Nanheji! Badhai, badhai!"

All laughed, and proceeded with the Shagun. Arnav and Khushi smiled at each other, remembering their own Shagun. Payal & Akash didn't need to wait for an entire year for their wedding. Arnav watched Khushi counting the months to their marriage in her mind. Eleven more months. Her lips drooped. Arnav had to bite back a smile.

Nani and Babuji fixed their Roka for the next week. Mami, Nani, and Anjali wanted to take Payal and Khushi shopping for dresses for Roka. They sought permission from the Guptas.

Babuji and Amma smiled their consent.

"Titliyaa and Payaliyaa are now yours, Naniji.", said Buaji. "You don't need our permission to take them where ever you want to."

The next evening, the Raizadas got dressed to go shopping. They were planning to go to Laxmi Nagar and collect Payal & Khushi before hitting the shops. As they gathered in the living room, they saw Arnav, Akash, & NK come down the stairs, all dressed and ready to go out. Mamaji alone was at the office.

"Hello Hi Bye Bye! Are you goings somewhere?"

Arnav cocked his eyebrow. "We are all going shopping, aren't we?"

The ladies looked at each other, and almost collapsed in laughter.

With tears of laughter in her eyes, Mami said, "Arnav Bitwaa, did you forget that you hates shapping!" She turned to Anjali & Nani, "Now our Bitwaa remembers only his lub for Khussi, not his hatred for shapping."

"Akash, NK, what are you going to do in a garment store for ladies?" Anjali teased them.

"We will help you choose, Di.", NK swore. Akash blushed.

Still giggling, the ladies led the way out of the house, followed by 3 men with red faces.

In the shop, Anjali placed an orange-coloured sari against Khushi, and asked her to look in the mirror and decide if she wanted to wear this for Akash & Payal's Roka.

Khushi looked at herself in the mirror. Behind her, she could see Arnavji looking at her. He grimaced slightly, looking at the sari. Khushi rejected the orange sari.

Nani selected a pale green sari with a lot of beads & pearls worked into its borders for Khushi. Khushi placed it against herself, and looked at Arnavji's image in the mirror. He frowned. She added the green sari to the pile of discards.

NK came dragging an yellow sari with bold blue and green lines drawn across it by some Kindergarten student learning to paint. Khushi blanched at the very sight of it. It look a lot of diplomacy to refuse Nanheji's selection.

Akash and Payal were sitting together, looking at the saris being displayed by the salesgirls.

Khushi looked with dismay at the big pile of saris she had refused. What would she do now? Maybe she could wear one of the saris at home or maybe a lehenga in her wardrobe? She felt Arnavji walk closer to her, and stand behind her, just an inch of space between her back and his chest. Her heart beat quickened, drawing breath became difficult, and the hand that she placed on the display counter was unsteady.

Arnav held out a sari for her. She looked down and felt her heart stop. It was red. A glorious red. With a golden border.

She looked at his face in the mirror. He stood like a large, dark, strong protector behind her, hovering over her, enclosing her in his blanket of warmth and safety. With trembling hands, she took the sari from him, and whispered, "Shukriya!"

They had come in 3 cars. The ladies pushed Akash & Payal into one, Arnav and Khushi into another, and got into the car driven by NK.

"Goodnights, Arnav Bitwaa, Akash Bitwaa!", Mami called out. "We will be asleep by the time you both gets home!" Anjali & Nani laughed.

NK shouted, "I will be awake, Nannav, Akash, if you need my help!" He winked.

Akash drove to Laxmi Nagar, his left hand holding Payal's right. As he stopped the vehicle in front of Buaji's house, he said, "You will look beautiful in the red and green sari that we selected, Payal."

Payal blushed and smiled.

"Nani said that we can have the wedding next month." He looked at the most beautiful girl on earth in his eyes, and said, "I am waiting for the day, Payal."

"Me too.", she whispered.

Arnav drove away from Laxmi Nagar, not towards it.

Khushi, being Khushi, asked directly, "Kya hua, Arnavji? Aren't we going home?"

He looked at her open face, and said equally directly, "No, I want to give you a surprise."

"Accha? That is nice!", she smiled, and settled back in her seat, ready to be surprised.

He parked the car outside a shop selling designer bangles, and led her in. She looked around in awe. She was surrounded by thousands and thousands of boxes of bangles.

He took the red sari out of its wrapping and showed it to the sales assistant.

"We want bangles to match the sari."

The lady produced boxes and boxes of red and gold bangles. Arnav and Khushi looked through them and selected one set.

Arnav took the bangles out of the box and eased them one by one on her arms. She winced as a bangle brushed roughly against a knuckle. He stopped pushing the bangle immediately.

"Lagi tumhein?"

She shook her head to mean 'no'. The look of concern on his face almost moved her to tears.

He cupped her left cheek and part of her neck with his large, hard hand. She closed her eyes, unable to bear the torment of his touch.

"Sure?", he confirmed.

She nodded. He withdrew his hand reluctantly, brushing against the soft, creamy skin of her cheek one last time. She shuddered. His intent eyes watched her reaction closely, his heart leaping to match hers.

He took her home. She was still wearing the new bangles. He smiled thinking about how she had refused to remove them from her arms. The sales assistant had offered to box them if she removed them, but she had refused. She had said that she wanted to wear them. He looked at the red & gold glass circles on her arm, tinkling as she moved her arms.

It was late when he parked his car in the street in front of Buaji's house. The road was deserted, a chill wind blowing dry leaves and rattling cans along the road.

He wanted to take her home to RM. He didn't want to leave her here. He didn't want to spend one more night alone in his bedroom, on his wide bed. One day, he promised himself, one day, after visiting the Guptas along with Khushi, he would be able to drive away to RM with Khushi sitting by his side. And if he asked her to come to their room and close the door behind her, she would. He wouldn't have to share her with anyone else. He would...

That thought vanished from his mind at the feel of soft, warm lips on his cheek. He turned to look at her with shocked eyes, but she had already slid out of the car, and was standing on the road, a smile on her face.

"That was a 'thank you' kiss. You can expect more of them in the future."

She winked at him, and laughing, ran towards Buaji's house to lean on the bell.

Thread 2 (Part 11- ):

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3185727/ss-his-smiling-girl-thread-2-part-21-updt-pg-115

Edited by smitar - 13 years ago