SS: Keeping Khushi Thread 2: Part 22 in Th 3 - Page 75

WHERE IS PART 21

howcan u write this awesome just loved it!!

Update???????????????? We are waiting!!!! DESPERATELY!

aw! love the last part.. they are too cute.

updating anytime soon ??????????

hah...Smita just when I was wondering no ILu so far I get something ...when does our lioness confess???? tell tell

Part 21

The sangeet ended very late, and the Raizadas made their way home reluctantly. The leave taking had taken about an hour as the Raizadas bid goodnight to all the inmates of Omkar and hugged and kissed Khushi repeatedly.

Finally, Baba said, "Why don't you stay here tonight?"

NK and Mami were all for it. Akash, Arnav, & Anjali were certainly willing, but Nani refused the kind offer, not wanting to make more work for Khushi and the children as they would have to find space & beds for them.

Then Baba said, "Why don't we have Arnav's haldi here? We can have the bride & the bridegroom in 2 rooms."

"Haan, Saasumma. Let's have it here.", Mami's voice was screechy with excitement.

"Please, Nani.", pleaded NK.

"It will be great fun, Nani!", said Anjali, squeezing Arnav's hand.

"Let's have it here, Dadi.", said Akash.

So Nani agreed, and the Raizadas left, promising to be back early the next morning. Arnav turned back to smile at Khushi as he left.

On the way home, Nani caught Arnav's hand in hers, and said, "Chotey, marrying Khushi Bitiyaa is the best decision you have made so far in your life."

Mami pinched Arnav's chin, and said, "Saasumaa, did you daaut (doubt) hamre Arnav Bitwaa's chaais (choice)? His ijj like his Mami. Only goldwaa, no imitasion (imitation)."

All laughed.

Anjali said, "Chotey, rearrange your wardrobe. Khushiji will be bringing her clothes with her tomorrow night. She will need space."

Arnav nodded, smiling.

The next morning, the Raizadas were all ready and at Omkar before time for haldi. Chotu welcomed them in with a smile, and led them into a room set aside for them to have the haldi function. The children gathered around Arnav, making him sit on a low stool.

Arnav looked around for Khushi. She was no where to be seen.

"Khushiji can't attend your haldi, Chotey", Anjali whispered. Nani & Mami giggled at his disappointment.

"It ijj all a matter of taim (time), Arnav Bitwaa. Before marrijj, men are eager to get the wife, after marrijj, they are eager to forget the wife.", Mami teased.

(Mahamluvsght, thanx!)

The ladies gathered around him, and as Baba watched, they applied haldi to him one after the other. Once their turn was over, Baba applied haldi to Arnav. Then NK, Akash, & the children took over. They covered him in haldi. He did not remain passive. Khushi watched through a gap in the door, laughing, as Arnav chased his brothers and kids around the room, catching them and rubbing the turmeric mixture all over their faces. It was great fun. Arnav couldn't remember laughing so much. Nani, Anjali, & Mami watched his laughing face as he tried to catch the boys, thrilled at his joy. It had been so long since they had seen him so carefree and happy! Years. Eleven years to be precise.

Then it was Khushi's turn. The senior girls made her sit on a low stool in another room, and set the clay pots with the haldi mixture and the grass brushes at her feet. Baba and the Raizada ladies joined them.

Khushi touched Baba's feet and took his blessings.

"My taarva!", he murmured as he kissed her forehead.

Baba took a little haldi and marked her cheeks. She smiled at him, her eyes full of love.

He made way for Nani, who was followed by Mami, and Anjali. Khushi's children too applied haldi on her, teasing her for looking all yellow.

"Don't tease Khushi Bitiyaa!", smiled Nani. "She is trying to be beautiful for our Chotey!"

"Haan, soon your turn will come.", said Anjali laughing.

"Khushi Bitiyaa", said Mami, "rolls the sleeves of your kurta up. And pulls your pyjamas to your knees. We needs to apply haldi."

Khushi paled. She looked at Baba, helpless. The children looked at each other.

Finally, Simi, who had been standing and listening to the conversation and silence, said softly, "Di Amma does not like to apply haldi on her arms and legs."

"Haan..", Akansha added desperately, "Let's just apply it to her face and feet."

Arnav, who had been standing outside the room and listening to this conversation, took charge.

"Is it alright if I apply haldi to Khushi's arms & legs?", he asked Baba.

Baba looked into his eyes, and nodded.

"Let's leave them alone.", he suggested. He walked out, and was followed by the children and the Raizada ladies.

Khushi looked at Arnav with wide eyes as he walked into the room and closed the door.

"Khushi..", he smiled at her tenderly, "Shall I roll the sleeves back?"

Khushi looked at him for a couple of moments, silent. Then she nodded. She helped him roll the sleeves of her loose kurta up to her armpits.

Her arms had scars. Arnav saw them, but did not pay any attention to them. He sat by her, scooped up some of the yellow mixture in the fingers of his right hand, and spread it on the expanse of her right arm, right from her shoulder down to her fingers.

Khushi shivered at his touch.

(Mariam_Sultan, thanx!)

"Feeling cold?", asked his concerned, husky voice. His eyes twinkled at her.

She shook her head to mean 'no'.

He finished covering her right arm with the paste, and moved to her left side to concentrate on her left arm. His eyes burned into hers as his fingers trailed their way down her arm. Khushi found it difficult to breathe, impossible to look at his eyes that seemed to want to devour her.

Then he got ready to apply haldi to her legs. He touched her right foot with a haldi covered hand, his eyes on her face. She withdrew her foot.

Arnav swallowed. Yesterday, at the mehendi function, even though Khushi had permitted the lady to apply mehendi on her arms, she hadn't shown her legs. She had permitted the lady to draw patterns on her feet but not legs. The scars must be worse there, he felt.

He reached for Khushi's foot, keeping his hand on her foot even when she tried to escape him.

"Why?", Khushi asked in a whisper.

(Mariam_Sultan, thanx!)

"I don't want you to miss out on any of the pleasures of our marriage.", he replied in an equally soft voice.

Khushi's lips trembled, and her eyelashes fluttered.

"It is my haq.", he said, raising an eyebrow as though to ask her who would dare to challenge him.

A small smile appeared on Khushi's lips. She stretched her foot out for him, and helped him raise the hem of the pyjama up to her knee. Again there were scars. Arnav lovingly applied haldi on both her legs, from the knees to the feet, touching her as much as he could, savouring the chance he had been given to love her. Khushi sat like a statue, her hands clenched in her clothes, trying to contain the dhak dhak and panic created by his touch.

When he was done, he asked in a voice huskier than usual, "Shall we go out?"

Khushi nodded.

As he was about to rise, he felt a pull at the collar of his kurta.

He looked down. She had the fingers of her left hand curled around the collar.

He looked at her, surprised.

(Mariam_Sultan, thanx!)

She leaned forward, and kissed him on his yellow cheek.

"Thank you.", she murmured.

Thread 3:

Part 22: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3259956/ss-keeping-khushi-3-part-31-on-thread-4

Great update yara loved it:)

Loving this Arnav n Khushi