SS: Keeping Khushi: Thread 6 Part 59 Pg 110 - Page 19

Originally posted by: meeyaa

Hmm..would you be able to give another part...feeling very down Smita...

Originally posted by: rulama

Smita.😊

The entire update revolves around Kushi, who reigns the Heart of Arnav Singh Raizada, His Parivar, the Gupta Parivar and the Sinha Parivar. She is the Lodestar. Hence the word LODESTAR sums up this part.

What is Lodestar? It is also popularly known as Pole Star. Why is Kushi compared to it? A person who is governed by his moral excellence can be termed as a Pole star.

"The Pole star abides in its place while all other stars bow towards it"

It is a star that guides the sailors in their voyage helping them to know their bearing. So is our Kushi.

This part begins with the arrival of the guests for the function. The Raizada brothers and the children, dressed for the occasion are busy helping out with the preparations. Aarti's eyes, whatever it was observing would ultimately end up in watching Her golden yellow kurta clad Sunflower.

"The observer, when he seems to himself to be observing a thing, is really observing the effects of that thing upon himself"

~ Bertrand Russell

Soon she saw him finishing the work and entering the house. The thoughts of his peck on her lips, his proposal for marriage had been making inroads into her sleep and she was not ready for an encounter with him.

"For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul" ~ Judy Garland

In order to escape from his attention she quietly slipped into the kitchen. There she witnessed the bubbly, effervescent Kushi, slumped on a stool as though all the fizz had gone out of her. This was unnatural, not the Kushi she knew. Seeing nobody around she went to Kushi and touched her shoulder. Opening her eyes Kushi told her that she was feeling tired and did not want others to know as it would get them worried. She requested Aarti's help to get to her room. Once inside she asked to lock the room. When Aarti settled her comfortably and was about to leave, Kushi, held her hands and made her sit by her.

"Do you like NK Bhai?", Khushi asked suddenly, shattering the peace.

Aarti stared at her, speechless.

"I hope you do. Because he loves you, Aartiji."

Aarti swallowed.

"He is a good man. Honest. Loving. Loyal. And most important, kind."

Aarti could not get a word out to save her life. She should have known that the Sunflower would tell his Khushi Bhabi everything.

"When he said that he loved you, I was so happy. I was ready to love you without seeing you. But when I met you, I realised why he loved you so much.", Khushi smiled, her eyes still shut.

Aarti looked away, finding it difficult to breathe.

"There is something so honest and good about you. It radiates from you..." Khushi's voice was weak, but she was determined to speak her mind. "I knew that the girl who married NK Bhai would be lucky. Now I know that NK Bhai is also lucky if he gets to marry you." Khushi pressed Aarti's fingers in hers.

"When you dig a well, there's no sign of water until you reach it, only rocks and dirt to move out of the way. You have removed enough; soon the pure water will flow," said Buddha."~ Deepak Chopra

This is what Kushi is trying to do. She is trying to make Aarti understand NK as well as Aarti herself. Kushi is trying to loosen all the folds that are surrounding Aarti's heart where NK's love could penetrate. She's making Aarti comfortable with the idea, thoughts of love. She is guiding Aarti to her shore. Kushi is being Aarti and NK's Personal Lodestar.

"Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead" ~ Oscar Wilde

This is what Kushi means. Open your heart to your sun then the flowers there will bloom enriching not only you both but also all those who are blessed enough to view it.

When Aarti asks Kushi to rest she nods and asks her to get a gift wrapped packet from her cupboard. She hands it over to Aarti and says that is for her. She had bought one each for Payal, Aarti and herself. She hoped that she would like this token of a gift. Aarti is amazed by her thoughts.

"The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves" ~ Victor Hugo

Aarti sees that she is loved just for herself, inspite of being her projected self. They know her as a chauffer who also doubles up as a mechanic but not as the Proprietor of the Mishra Group. She is overwhelmed by her generosity.

When she goes out letting Kushi sleep she meets the pervader of all her thoughts just outside the door!

"Follow love and it will flee, flee love and it will follow thee" ~ John Gay

Seeing her, NK playfully smears her cheeks with haldi and gets a glare from her.

"Love works in miracles every day: such as weakening the strong, and stretching the weak; making fools of the wise, and wise men of fools; favouring the passions, destroying reason, and in a word, turning everything topsy-turvy"

~ Marguerite De Valois

This is what she is finding, her world turned topsy-turvy since the day she met Her Sunflower, from the well ordered daily routine!

"Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop" ~ H. L. Mencken

She is finding her emotions and instances spiraling out of control! She finds herself in his warm hug. Though she sought comfort from it reminding herself of her world, her responsibilities to all those whose bread and butter is dependent on her she moves away from him.

After the ceremony, Aarti citing the excuse of work took permission from Buaji to attend her office for sometime. On her way out she just went to check Kushi. She found Arnav Singh Raizada and Her Sunflower occupied with the wedding preparations. She felt uneasy to leave Kushi alone. Getting hold of Payal, the doctor, she rushed to Kushi's room. On examination Payal whispered to Aarti that she thinks Kushi is carrying and would need the pregnancy kit for confirmation. Aarti volunteers to bring it herself. In the medical shop, she buys three of different brands, thinking in case a kit is faulty. When she hands them to Payal both Kushi and Payal look at her surprised for bringing three. Hearing her reply they are touched.

"The more you love, the more love you have to give. It's the only feeling we have which is infinite..." ~ Christina Westover, Precipice

Aarti seeing all the love that is showered upon her doesn't want to see tears of sorrow in Kushi's eyes.

"Charm is a glow within a woman which casts a most becoming light on others"

~ John Mason Brown

Such is the charm of Kushi, that, it casts its spell on all who come across.

Aarti who was about to take leave, not wanting to witness Kushi's grief, if the test turns out to be negative, is asked to wait by Payal. Later when called inside she finds Kushi in tears. She feels extremely bad thinking that the result to be negative. Kushi holds on to Payal and Aarti's hands on either sides.

"Love is an emotion experienced by the many and enjoyed by the few"

~ George Jean Nathan

Kushi has experienced the Love and the Warmth of her would be Devrani's. She is overwhelmed.

"Love's greatest gift is its ability to make everything it touches sacred"

~ Barbara de Angelis

Kushi knows that she is blessed to have these two women with her, around her.

The door slammed open. Arnav Singh Raizada stood there, looking anxious. "Khushi? Kya hua? I looked for you, but...I asked the others, but no one had seen you. Khushi...?"

Payal and Aarti moved away from the bed.

"A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without his love" ~ Max Muller

For Arnav Singh Raizada, Kushi is His Pole Star, who has been his anchor, his support, his stability and above all his breath. When he couldn't find her any where he rushed to his room and saw her sitting on bed flanked by Payal and Aarti.

He rushed to his wife, sat down by her, cupped her face in his hands, and asked in a terrified whisper. "Kya hua, Khushi?"

"The greater your capacity to love, the greater your capacity to feel the pain"~ Jennifer Aniston

Seeing his wife in tears he is terrified.

PICK OF THE DAY

Khushi & Payal were waiting for her. Aarti handed over the three kits to them. They stared at her.

"If one is wrong or defective...", she shrugged.

Khushi & Payal smiled at her, moist-eyed.

Always we see Kushi doing things for others. In this conversation we see how her abundant love is reciprocated and how she has become the focus of both Payal and Aarti's affection. She has been the guiding light.

"I am constant as the northern star,

Of whose true-fixed and resting quality

There is no fellow in the firmament"

~ William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

This sums up the role of Kushi in the lives of all. Without being prominent she plays her role perfectly. As the saying goes all roads lead to Rome, all fall for the charm of Kushi and take the cue from her. That is why I termed her as LODESTAR.

That's it for today. Hope you have enjoyed it.

Originally posted by: smitar

Rashmi darl, I love your interpretation more than what I wrote. Each time I see your comment, I thank God that we are friends.

Aarti is entering a world she is not familiar with. What we see in her is the fear of the unknown. But her innate goodness shows her the path every time.

Spontaneous acts of kindness are the best acts of kindness, I think.