Nani was overjoyed that at last the two of them wanted to get married. She always knew in her heart they will come around one day. Her mannat for which she had gone to the temple was fulfilled. Nani immediately called the pundit and fixed the earliest date for the wedding.
Nani said the very next week they could get married. Both Arnav and Khushi wanted a small and meaningful ceremony with only select few people. And they wanted to get married in Seesh Mahal only. Nani was too happy to hear the decision. She started the preparations with Hari Prakash, Om Prakash, and a few of her friends.
But there was only one sore point in the whole deal for Arnav. Nani had forbidden any late night conversations or spending too much time alone with each other till the wedding. "But, but Nani what's the need for all this?"
"That is how it is Chote."
"One whole week Nani. It is not fair." Arnav was trying his level best to convince Nani and Khushi was enjoying the whole scene, eating channas.
Nani asked Khushi to go in. "Chote no arguments. Else you cannot even meet her in company."
"What?" His face was shocked. He went in with a huff and started to office. Deliberately he stomped his food and banged the door. Khushi finally came out and collapsed in laughter.
"Nani you're too much." Her eyes were full of mirth.
"Serves him right. Let him be for a week. And after that you will be at the receiving end of twice the amount of love." She smiled at a blushing Khushi and went about the preparations.
Arnav was still fuming afer reaching office. He threw himself into work and came back lae at night. Nani had already gone to bed and he noticed his plate was set. There was a small note beneath the plate. Arnie, just microwave the dinner. I waited for you till 11. Am going up now; sorry. Having an early day tomorrow. Love, Khushi.
He sighed and ate the dinner. He too had an early day. Arnav wanted to wind up so many things before he could take sometime off after the wedding. He planned to work till the day before the wedding. Anyways he couldn't spend time with Khushi.
He went into his room to see it was as usual spic and span. No doubt Khushi's doing. He could remember his room in college. Khushi would have disowned him for his mess he thought with a chuckle. He missed seeing her and despite Nani's warnings, went in search of Khushi in her room.
Khushi was fast asleep with her mouth slightly open and her long hair by the pillow. She looked like a fairy, sleeping so peacefully. Arnav's throat almost clogged with tears thinking about Khushi and her love. Sometimes he felt he didn't deserve her, for all the hurt he had caused her. He stroked her hair and planted a soft kiss on her head before leaving the room.
Another three days passed in a jiffy with Arnav busy in his work and Khushi busy with the wedding shopping and other details. She had requested leave for two weeks since she needed to get ready for the wedding at such a short notice. But with Arnav's in house designers, the wedding trousseau was not a problem at all.
Khushi and her two close friends from college did the other shopping and really enjoyed doing it. They had a blast going around the city and had a gala time laughing and choosing stuff. Khushi did miss the girl time after Arnav came back. She realized he took her entire waking thoughts and sometimes her sleeping thoughts too.
The day of mehndi dawned bright and sunny. Khushi's friends had already come and Devyani too had invited some of her acquaintances. The ladies had a good time with the mehndi, songs, and dance. Arnav sat in another room with his friends. They were discussing sports and business like typical men.
Arnav had flatly refused to put on little mehndi and he definitely didn't want to dance. Khushi had been a little disappointed but she wanted to make him before the end of the day. She asked NK to bring the guys down too as they were about to begin dancing. Arnav came down with relucance. He didn't like all this noise and typical bollywood wedding scenes.
But for Khushi's sake he was prepared to go through the torture. His jaws almost touched the ground seeing Khushi. She was looking gorgeous in a cream, green, and maroon lehenga. His designers had outdone themselves this time. Her hair was neatly done with a clasp and she had some gajras on her hair.
Her beautiful bangles and her kundan neck piece only added to her beauty. Arnav was so busy admiring his wife to be that he didn't realise his friends has pulled him to the centre of the living room, amongst the dancing crowd. Now Arnav had no choice but to dance. Khushi gave a grin seeing his forced plight. She went near him and asked him to join the dance. When she turned around, he stepped forward and some mehendi from her arms rubbed on to his palm.
Arnav looked at that and showed his palm to the now laughing Khushi. Khushi laughed in pure joy. "See? I told you, you will dance and you will have mehndi. Khushi Kumari Gupta never fails." She finished with a grin.
Arnav just ignored her and went along to his friends. All of them had a good time but were pleasantly tired by the end of the day. The next day was haldi and again it was happening in Seesh Mahal. Since both Arnav and Khushi lived in the same house, the pundit had asked a screen to be held between them, to screen each from the other.
Arnav and Khushi looked fabulous in their respective attire. Khushi was wearing a white and red sari in true bengali style. Her accessories were picked by khushi herself and her friends. It was gajra based earrings, maang, and a cute neck piece. And it went very well with her chosen sari.
Arnav looked no less than a prince in a white kurta. They sat facing each other and Nani and her friends did the rituals. Khushi's distant relatives had made time to attend the wedding. They too took part in the rituals. Arnav was having a good time seeing Khushi through the screen. Khushi blushed at Arnav's knowing gaze.
The ritual got over with aplomb and the few who were present dispersed from the living room. Khushi too got back to her room to shower and change. She opened the wardrobe and took out another sari, when she felt a strong pair of arms engulf her from behind.
"Arnav? Why did you come in now? Don't you know you're not supposed to see me after haldi?"
Arnav turned her around completely and nuzzled into her. "But don't you know I cannot live without seeing you?" He then captured her hand and saw her beautiful mehendi. It had turned to be almost blackish red.
"See? Even your mehendi is saying that I love you." He smirked.
Khushi rolled her eyes and blushed. She tried to push him off. Arnav held her tighter. "Khushi, I wanted to take you out on a date."
"What? Why?"
"Coz we have done so many things together. Played with each other, gone out as friends, chatted as best friends, fought as enemies but the one thing we haven't done is be a boy friend and a girl friend. From tomorrow you will be my wife. Today is the last chance I get to take you out as your boy friend."
Khushi was touched at his words but she was afraid of Nani. "Arnie, Nani will kill me if I go out with the wedding happening tomorrow."
"And I knew you will give me such excuses. That's why I have organized our dinner date by the poolside. Our place." She smiled and said she will definitely join him tonight. The door rapped and someone stood outside.
Khushi asked Arnav to leave and she too went behind him to see who the interruption was.
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
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