Smitar's OS2:Finding Khushi#3Part15(1-3)Pg122(1/4) - Page 79

Smita,😊

Here is my interpretation to Section 3 of Part 15.

Anjali called her brother Arnav and teased him by asking whether he doesn't have work to do that had been his usual excuse to skip each and every function. Nani too with a twinkling eyes and a naughty smile lurking on her lips joined her. If he was Arnav Singh Raizada, she was Arnav Singh Raizada's Nani She questioned whether he was not bored to be sitting idly and looking at the ladies applying designs of mehendi. Though a bit flustered at being the target of their teasing he said a halting No. Mami started to belt out a song on two bangles adorning her hand and asking her lover to wait until they overcome certain constraints. She leaned close and started to nudge gently with her eyes riveted on the bangles on Khushi's arms. Khushi's face started to vie with the flamingos while Arnav had a flustered smile pasted on his lips showing that he was uncomfortable of being the target of the teasing of The Trio. He knew his Mami was an incorrigible woman. When she sets her heart at something then the target will not hear the end of it soon. Nani and Di giggled.

Anjali catching Khushi's arm in her grasp told her to let her see the design. Peering at it, she pretended to be shocked and uttered A? asking Khushi what was it that she was trying to imply. Nani and Mami too did their bit by giving a superb performance of being shocked! Mami asked her where this A appeared from, making Khushi vie with the beet not knowing where to look. She stuttered that..(woh..) but unable to come up with an explicit excuse just gave up. Arnav smiled at her, seeing her predicament and bashfulness.

Mami who was not the one to let go of this chance started to croon in her raspy voice, crazy kiya re... where in she sang about the daydreams, being engrossed in his thoughts and engulfed with nothing but the feelings for him. Nani and Di had a hearty laugh at their expense. Seeing their merriment, Buaji and Amma joined them. Arnav quickly caught hold of Khushi's arm taking care as not spoil the mehendi helped her up and led her away to the fresh wave of resounding laughter echoing all the way through. Mami continuing with her song sang that wherever she was she was thinking only of him and was loosing her mind in his thoughts.

Arnav led Khushi into the storage room and shut the door behind him. Khushi who was given a dose of teasing of The Trio was panting to get her breathback and the loud beat of her heart in her ears to recede. She saw Arnav looking at her fondly, with love oozing out of his caramel eyes making her feel drenched with the shower of his love.

Taking out a wooden box sporting a huge lock from a cabinet, he placed it on an old cot stored over there. Unlocked the box using the key that he fished out from his pocket, he took out the three albums containing memories of his childhood. He made Khushi sit on the cot and joined her over there, once he made himself comfortable by getting rid of his coat.

In the first album he showed her his old pictures, which made her comment that his mother was beautiful and father handsome making a picture perfect pair. She exclaimed her surprise at Anjali's long hair picture and couldn't control her giggle when she came across a picture of Arnav clicked when he was cross looking rather cute! When she expressed that it was funny to see such a small boy with such a huge amount of negative expression, Arnav smiled that reached his eyes and said that he hadn't met her then to change his ways. She told him looking at his family picture that he had inherited his eyes from his mother. Seeing his Nanaji, she was wonderstruck at his huge moushtache and expressed that it was big and blurted out that it must have tickled Nani a lot! Hearing her comment Arnav let out a whoop of laughter and told her not to ask Nani so, as he knew Khushi was capable of doing it perfectly. Both were enjoying their time together. Arnav placed on her lap all the sarees his mother had collected for her daughter-in-law. Khushi was overwhelmed with the feeling of love that his mother was bestowing on her. Looking at the intricate woven gold work on rich silk fabric her eyes quickly pooled with tears. With the tears swimming in her eyes, she realized that she was the one destined to fulfill all the hopes and dreams of his mother. Arnav comforted her by gently kissing her cheek and whispered that her mother-in-law too loves her as much as her son.

He then took out the pair of stone studded sandals. Khushi was so mesmerized by the beauty of it that she involuntarily gasped that they were beautiful. Lifting her feet on to his lap, he eased it on her feet. It was a perfect fit as though order made just for her! Arnav was stumped! He found it extremely hard to believe what he saw. He uttered to himself in a whisper, how did she know? They looked at each other and Arnav whispered may be it was a long shot that hit the mark. Khushi too was of the same opinion.

There was a knock on the door followed by singing by Mamiji from her never ending potli of songs. It was song asking the doors to be kept open as the loved one would be coming soon. When Arnav opened the door, it was to find The Trio in attendance. He wondered what would he have to resort to to get some alone time with Khushi in his house and asked them what they wanted with a yes? His Di who was naughtiness personified teased him by asking whether he needed her help in any way? We are ready, and at your service was Mami's rejoinder. Nani who belied her age asked him what his opinion was on that matter. Arnav told them he could manage perfectly well. Mami gave him an advice that they knew that he was capable of managing but he needed to speed up things as there were only two ceremonies left, Haldi and Shaadi left to find out which way the wind was blowing! Arnav rolled his eyes and Khushi who was sitting on the cot jumped up leaving the sarees behind, came out saying haltingly that she should go to Amma and Buaji. But Anjali's eyes went down to her feet and with a gasp exclaimed, that the sandals had fitted. Nani and Mami's eyes too were drawn to Khushi's feet adorning the sandals that were snug fit for her. Mami in a stage whisper told her mother-in-law, that since her feet were also bound it was time to arrange their wedding before the girl runs away! It was a sort of Cinderella story!

That day lunch was a merry affair. The older ladies had washed off their mehendi fed the youngsters. Amma fed Payal and Nani took charge of Khushi. Seeing the girls being fed, NK too wanted someone to feed him and asked out loudly. Buaji volunteered and asked in the name of Nandkisore to come and sit beside her and that she would do the honors. But NK who was always scared of her ways told her in the name of her Nandkisore he will have his lunch by himself and hid behind Akash. Arnav being a man of few words but mostly action, quietly slipped in to a seat beside Khushi and had his food fed by Nani alternating morsels between him and Khushi. Amma and Buaji were amused at his silent tactic but getting his wishes done without much ado.

When it was time for Gupta's to leave, the other guests too were leaving. It was a flurry of goodbyes. Anjali and Nani hugged Khushi and Payal. Akash with a shy smile at Payal told her that they would be meeting next at haldi and Payal with her eyes glued on floor nodded her head. Nani, Mami, Anjali, Buaji, Amma and Khushi smiled at the sight. Mami lamented in whisper in her mother-in-law's ears, what a slow poke she has for a son!

Meanwhile Arnav strode upto Khushi, pulling her into a tight hug kissed her cheek and whispered that he would see her the next day!

This update is about meeting the required standards of acceptability. Hence it can be termed as PASS MUSTER

It throws into light all the standards that needed to be met by Khushi Kumari Gupta if Mrs. Malik, mother of Arnav Singh Raizada was alive.

First it was the Kangan or bangles. They were perfect fit for Khushi's arm.

Then of the various items of trousseau that Arnav's mother had collected for her Chotey's bride, sarees with gold work and jewels. They were loved by Khushi.

The stone studded sandal that was presented to her was a perfect fit as though it was order made for her.

Then as per his mother's hopes and dreams of her daughter-in-law she was a perfect fit being an epitome of care, love, giving, forgiving and happiness.

"She's kind of a walking poem, she's this perfect beauty...but at the same time very deep, very smart"

~ Johnny Depp

Though ribbed by his family, Arnav stuck to his position of being beside Khushi.

"Sometimes, reaching out and taking someone's hand is the beginning of a journey.

At other times, it is allowing another to take yours"

~ Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

Seeing that the sandals fit, all the ladies were awestruck and even if there was an iota of doubt whether she was the one destined to be Chotey's bride it was nipped off, making them happy. She was the chosen one for Arnav Singh Raizada, and Khushi Kumari Gupta met the required standards of acceptability set forth by her mother-in-law.

Even if she had not met it still she would have been the bride welcomed with open arms. But by meeting the requirements she has given the family, Arnav and herself the added bonus of happiness.

"The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the best out of everything that comes their way"

Arnav who had never shown any inclination to participate in the family functions was enthusiastic to attend even the all female function, Mehendi Ceremony. Arnav met the required standards that his family had wanted him to follow since long.

"Humility means accepting reality with no attempt to outsmart it"

~ David Richo, The Five Things We Cannot Change: And the Happiness We Find by Embracing Them

Arnav who always was taking his food alone in his room had come out to have his lunch with Khushi, eating from the hands of his Nani.

Once again, Arnav met the required standards that his family had wanted him to follow since long.

"Nothing brings down walls as surely as acceptance"

~ Deepak Chopra

While Akash told Payal that he would meet her on Haldi Day with just a shy smile, making his mother sigh that he was such a slow poke, Arnav strode along and right in of all, hugged Khushi tight and kissed her smack on her cheek and whispered that he would meet her the very next day.

Arnav passed the muster with an excellent grade from his Mami.

"My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations"

~ Michael J. Fox

That's why I call it PASS THE MUSTER.

That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it.

Loved all three parts they all were so cute and sweet, specially liked the bangle scene it was so heartwarming:)