SS: Vivaah ~ Thread 6 (29/12) - Sneak Peak of Part 23 - Pg 140 - Page 51

Preeto: Khushi, thank you so much for coming here. Even after being in solitude from past few days , you still managed to attend my wedding.

Khushi smiled.

Khushi: I am not doing any favour on you to say Thanks. How could I miss my best friends wedding?

Preeto: How sweet. So will you do one more favour on me?

Khushi: What ? Tell me.

Preeto: Actually my husband's side have a tradition where they want one person from the Bride's side and one from the Groom's side to decorate the Suhaagraat bed. Will you be the one to do it from my end?

Khushi was startled.

Khushi: This is a tradition? isnt it a bit odd?

She was little unsure about it.

Preeto: It is. But what to do? We will have to do this as its their order.

Khushi: Dont worry. I will manage. You guys are staying in some Hotel tonight?

Preeto: Yes. This is the address. After the wedding is completed in the evening, you will get some time to go here and do the decoration .From the Groom's side someone will already be present there to help you.

Khushi: Okay.

She took the address from Preeto and then continued helping her. It was really very upseting for Khushi to attend this wedding like this because amidst all she remembered her own wedding day. Everything that time was so much messed up. She knew Arnavji loved Lavanya, she knew that marriage was only valid for 6 months, and even then she had to marry for getting some money from the Raizada's to save her father's life. Her eyes became moist but she didnt let Preeto realise it. She kept assisting her.

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At the marriage hall, she helped Preeto sit beside the groom before the Havan. The rituals had started. Suddenly she felt a gust of wind blowing her hair. That was such a known feeling. It always happened to her whenever Arnavji was around. Why was it happening now? Was he here? She immediately turned to the Groom side people's group and there she saw him.

Arnavji was standing next to the Groom's brother and looking at her. Yes, he had seen her too. And just like khushi, he too was surprised by the fact that Khushi was present in this wedding in Nainital. It felt like he hadnt seen her from ages. She had become thin, but she was still beautiful like always. He didnt take long to understand why his Nani and Di forced him so much to attend this wedding. So they knew Khushi was coming here. Was this an opportuinity for him for convince Khushi to come back in his life and continue their marriage? Does she know he had ended his relationship with Lavanya completely? Does she realise how much he had missed her all these weeks? Can she feel his heart beating rapidly just like he felt hers at this instant?

The marriage rituals started and Arnav - Khushi didnt leave a chance to steal glances of each other. The only difference was that he did it openly while she glanced at him hiding her feelings. She did not wanted him to think she was equally desperate to talk to him. With every ritual between Preeto and her husband that took place, Arnav and Khushi both got flashes of their own wedding. None of them could come of it so easily.

Finally the marriage was done and people were in the queue at the Reception hall to gift the couple. Khushi also joined the queue . There were some few college going kids who were notorious and they purposely stood behind her. Khushi felt insecured and uncomfortable. She was in her usual Chudidaar and she thanked Devi Maiyaa for not giving her the idea to wear some Saree. She could feel the boys commenting on her to each other in whispers.

Within next few seconds, she felt someone holding her hand and moving her little ahead, making his own place behind her. It was Arnavji who did that. He stood in between her and the notorious boys now to make her feel secured. She felt safe finally. Though even after standing so close to her they both didnt speak anything. It felt again ages that they were so close to each other. Finally their turn came and they both went on the stage to gift the couple. Preeto was excited to see them together. Arnav wished them luck and then both Arnav and Khushi stood there for a picture with Preeto and her husband. Once this was done, Khushi could not wait there. She knew Arnavji might want to talk to her especially because he already had seen her wearing the Mangalsutra which she had hidden it in her dress's neck but failed miserably when it got displayed to his eyes. This should not be a hint for him to think that she still cares for this marriage.

She immediately took a ride and left to the Hotel whose address Preeto had texted her. Arnav had seen her leaving and now it was high time he calls up Nani and asks her what was going on here.

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At the hotel when Khushi reached, she was been told the room number which was booked for the newly wed couple .The room service told her that the groom side's man had already reached the room and had started decorating the bed. She didnt wait much there and quickly made her way to the room. She was still not in a very good mood as since the moment she had seen Arnavji, all her hidden emotions and love had rise up again.

She got another shock seeing Arnavji inside that room. He saw her but he didnt speak a word .From Nani he already had come to know the entire plan and he was happy that atleast in the pretext of this plan, he could see his wife again.

Khushi was very uncomfortable with his presence. She was unable to understand what conversation should happen between her and Arnavji, now that they are again face to face.

Khushi: You shouldnt have come here.

She was hardly audible. Arnav passed the rose petals to her casually and kept sprinkling few of the petals he had in his hand on the bed.

Arnav: Nani forced me to attend this wedding. Lets not get into how and why. We have been assigned a task to decorate the Suhaagraat bed for the newly wed couple, lets concentrate on it

She unwillingly took the basket of rose petals kept aside on the table by him and obeyed him. It was quite disturbing for both of them to do this together but they had no choice. Arnav started lighting the candles now which were on the table. There were so many scenes of their own marriage which flashed in their minds and weakened their hearts. Arnav was so much lost in those thoughts that he didnt realise he was close to a candle which might burn his shirt. Khushi saw that and quickly became alert. She had no time to warn him so before his shirt could catch the flame, she pulled him towards her and the consequence was that they both fell on the Suhaagraat bed with Arnav on top of her, still holding the lighted match stick in between his fingers and starring intensely in his wife's eyes.

That was a Rabba Ve moment between them after such a long time. All feelings coming out of them abruptly. Their eye lock would have remained intact for long only if the match stick flame wouldnt have burnt Arnav's finger and made him hiss in pain. He threw the match stick down on the floor. Khushi was worried. She immediately got up and sat on the bed just like Arnav did.

Khushi: Arnavji? Did it hurt? Wait. show me your finger.

She pulled his finger and popped it in her mouth, making it wet from her saliva.. He was stunned. She then removed it out and started blowing air over it. The finger was soothing but not the love which bloomed out from their hearts for each other.

Khushi: Is it okay now?

She helplessly asked him still not realising what she just did. He kept looking at her with a smirk and thats when things started getting clear to her. She pulled the Dupatta properly over her neck and looked down.

Arnav: If you care for me so much, why not accepting it openly Khushi?

Khushi : I never said I dont care for you. And I have no shame in accepting that openly either.

Arnav: Right. You can accept everything but not our marriage. You can soothe my pain, my worries but not the pain which your love keeps giving my heart every fraction of second.

Khushi: Lets finish what we are here for Arnavji.

Arnav sighed in frustration.

Arnav: Always in a hurry to finish things, arent you?

She felt hurt but she kept continuing her work.

Arnav: I think only heartless women are in my fate. First Lavanya who ditched me for her career and now you who is not ready to accept my love only because you still think Lavanya is the right one for me. I am just tired of this.

He pushed away the bowl of red petals. She jerked.

Arnav: You know what I wish? I wish you shouldnt have saved me in that accident. If this is why you gave me a new life, death was better. At least my soul would have got some peace.

Khushi's eyes became moist. She was only controlling her tears.

Arnav kept taking out his frustration on her. She had never seen him so angry and equally weak like today.

Arnav: You might have prepared yourself to stay away from me right from the time we did that contract marriage, but I cannot make my mind and heart ready to stay without you even for a fraction of second Khushi. Forget a lifetime.

Tears started rolling down her cheeks.

Arnav: No . Dont cry Khushi.

He sarcastically replied.

Arnav: Dont waste your tears for this unwanted conversation of ours. They are too precious. Use it for right people, not for contracted husbands like me who want to give you everything but still doesnt have that right on you.

He came to her and wiped off her tears gently. She didnt stop him. Her heart was so much full of sorrow and she needed that compassion from Arnavji unknowingly.

Arnav: I just have to say one thing.If you are so much prepared not to accept our wedding, at least dont fake it by wearing this Mangalsutra anymore.

He clutched the Mangalsutra in his fingers.

Arnav: Take it off.

His tone was demanding. She was afraid the way he had held the chain might break it off which she can never let happen. She clutched his arm trying to make him let it go.

Arnav: Kya hua? Nahi kar sakti? I know you are too innocent to do such sins. But I am not .I am used to all this. I have always done wrong with you. So today let me make it right and free you from this marriage.

Khushi: Dont.

She pleaded weeping more.

Arnav: Why Dont?

He was just coaxing her to say what she had in her heart.

Arnav: Why dont Khushi? This is what you want right?

Khushi: No..

She weeped again.

Arnav: No? DOnt lie. This is what you have want . You dont want this marriage. So let it go. Come on.

Khushi: No. PLease.

Arnav: Sssh. Its okay. I am just helping you Khushi.

Khushi: Dont do this. Please.

Arnav: WHy?

Now it was time he knew for her to finally blurt it out.

Arnav: Why Khushi?

Khushi screamed in anger and love both.

Khushi: Because I want it. I want this marriage. I want this Mangalsutra. I want you. I want you Arnavji. I want you.

The moment she said this and cried her heart out, he pulled her in arms for a tight hug. Yes. He knew that. He knew she wanted him. And he wanted her too. He passionately hugged her, kissing her hair, and soothing her back gently.

Precap

He pulled open the strings of her Kurti making khushi drop the spatula on the floor which created enough noise for Anjali to rush in the Kitchen.

Note