Part 12
Arnav parked the car and ran up the temple steps. There she was. Standing in front of Devi Maiyya with her hands folded, her eyes closed. A picture of beauty and piety in her orange anarkali.
He walked up to her, his eyes on her face, and stood by her, hands folded in prayer. He too closed his eyes and prayed frantically, "Let our wedding happen soon. I can't do without her in my life. Each day without her seems like a year!"
She opened her eyes and looked directly at him, smiling in delight.
"Arnavji, shall we sit here for a while?", she asked him, pointing to a bench. Pigeons picked channa and crumbs thrown by the devotees, and flew around them in the clear morning light.
He led her to the seat, and quickly made a call to Aman, postponing his morning meeting with his managers to the evening.
"Arnavji, will you have to stay back in the evening if you are late in the morning?"
"Haan, Khushi. Scheduled meetings have to happen, reports have to be presented & reviewed, work has to go on, whatever happens. This meeting has to take place today. If I can't do it this morning, I have to do it this evening. I have other appointments throughout the day."
She said, upset, "I didn't know, Arnavji. I am sorry. I won't delay you again."
Arnav placed his hand on hers, locked together in her lap. "It is OK, Khushi."
She caught his hand in both of hers.
"I thought you could come and go as you pleased because it is your firm. I didn't know that your responsibility is greater because it is yours. I won't trouble you anymore. I promise."
"Khushi", Arnav swallowed. "Call me whenever you want to see me." He looked deep into her eyes, not letting her look away, trying to make her understand without words that she was the most important thing in his life. That nothing else mattered. As long as she was with him.
Khushi laughed shakily. "Then I will be calling you everyday, all day and night..."
He wanted to drop a kiss on those smiling lips and pull her close to his heart. And never let her go. But... He looked around. This was not the time or place.
That evening, the Raizadas went to the Guptas for dinner. The whole table was laden with Lucknowi delicacies, and the two families had a lot of fun sharing the meal and laughing uproariously at jokes cracked at the expense of the two pairs of love birds and NK's unintentional jokes. Khushi made sugar-free sweets for Arnav, and served it to him herself.
(Thanx, ASRHOTNEZ!)
Nani said, "Shall we have Akash & Payaliyaa's sangeet & mehendi next week?"
All were thrilled. "Haan, Nani, let's.", Anjali said. Arnav smiled.
Babuji agreed.
Then Akash said, "Can we have Bhai & Khushiji's mehendi & sangeet along with ours?"
There was perfect silence in the room. All looked at each other and at Akash.
Akash blushed, but continued, his conviction in his view giving him the courage to voice it.
"Payal and I were thinking that it is not fair that we should be having our wedding while Bhai & Khushiji are marrying eleven months later. So, if it is alright with all of you, we can get married along with them. Have all the functions and ceremonies together."
Arnav sighed, "Akash, you don't have to wait for us."
"Bhai!"
Arnav placed his hand on Akash's shoulder, and said, "Akash, have your wedding now. Enjoy it. Khushi & I will get married soon. It is just a matter of eleven months."
"Haan, Jiju.", Khushi added.
"Bhai, You are older than me. Your marriage should happen first. I will marry only when you do, on the same day. "
"Akash is right, Nannav, mere bhai! Akash bilkul dahi he!", NK added his 2 cents worth. Arnav frowned at him.
"Dahi nahin, Nanheji. Sahi!", said Payal softly.
"Now, bhat shall we do with this Ram-Laxman jodi?", wailed Mami.
Nani looked at Babuji, all worried and upset.
"Akash, let your wedding happen.", Anjali tried to persuade him. "Payal, make him understand that you don't have to wait for Chotey and Khushiji."
"Akashji is right, Di. Arnavji is his older brother. His wedding should take place first.", Payal said softly.
Mami started sobbing & wailing. Mamaji tried to comfort her. Anjali and Arnav tried to make Akash and Payal see sense, NK stood firmly with Akash & Payal on this issue, Nani, Amma, & Buaji looked on, worried that all their plans for Akash & Payaliyaa's wedding would come to nothing. Only Babuji remained unperturbed.
He said softly, "Arnav Bitwaa, you are lucky to have a brother who loves you so much."
"But...", Arnav shook his head exasperated, "Not at the expense of his happiness. Never at the expense of his happiness."
Babuji smiled. "Akash Bitwaa is right. Let's have both weddings together."
All, except for Akash, Payal, & NK, looked at Babuji with disappointment and sorrow at the postponing of the Akash-Payal wedding.
Babuji continued, "Let's have both weddings next week."
Part 13: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3185727/ss-his-smiling-girl-thread-2-part-21-updt-pg-115?pn=23
Edited by smitar - 13 years ago
Bollywood
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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