Arnav holds Khushi close. Very close to him.. one arm wrapped around her waist. As his searching gaze penetrates deep in Khushi's eyes' his other hand holds Khushi's mehendi clad hand with the "A" in it. His eyes don't leave Khushi's face.. deep affection oozes from his eyes as he gingerly holds Khushi's hand into his and slowly brings it to his lips.. Arnav is about to touch Khushi's hand with his lips when Payal's voice interrupts the spell, "Khushi!" Startled, Khushi and Arnav look towards the direction of voice' Arnav still holds her close. It's Aakash and Payal at the door. "Forgive me, "Payal says as she keeps her gaze low. Aakash stares at them with his mouth open. Khushi pulls herself away from Arnav as he lets go of her. Payal taps Aakash on shouder to indicate he should say something. Aakash wakes up as if he was the one lost in Arnav-_Khushi's magical moment' blurts out, "Yes.. er..Sorry, Bhai! 'Nani wants you ' outside..Aranv's gaze still tender' Payal smiles at Khushi mischievously and asks, "Shall we?" Khushi smiles sheepishly and leaves with Payal. Aakash comes to Arnav and they follow Khushi and Payal out of the room. Payal and Aakash, you could have closed the door without making noise, let Arnav and Khushi finish their business and then knock and take them outside.. but NO.. you had to interrupt this magical spell! Sigh'..
Every eye is on them as Khuahi and Arnav step outside with Payal and Aakash. Mami immediately says, "Hello Hi Bye Bye! Here you go! Here come the bride and the broom.." NK corrects Mami, "Broom.. no.. no.. it's Groom.." "Yes, that what it is!" Mami says, "Why did it take you so long?" Shyam's hungry eyes take in Khushi's beauty without anyone's knowledge. NK says teasingly, "Don't worry, Mami ji, these two must be busy together.. busy' " Mami bash fully hits him on the shoulder to shut up. Payal and Aakash also smile as Arnav and Khushi try to keep straight faces. Couple girls walk over and bring Khushi to sit down for the Haldi. Aakash and NK grab Arnav and lead him to his spot for Haldi, right in front of Khushi. As Arnav takes his sit, he runs his hand through his hair flirting with his forehead and he heaves a sigh of relief. His eyes then settle on Khushi's face making her blush.. she looks down.. shy. Khushi looks ravishingly beautiful' Everyone from the family gathers around. Aakash asks Nani, "Dadi, shall we get the veil?" "Yes," Nani gives the permission. Arnav and Khushi look at the dupatta puzzled.. as Aakash and NK hold the sky blue see through dupatta between them. "What the!" reacts Arnav as Khushi's eyes depict the same question. He asks, "What is this?" Aakash, Nani and NK smile without giving away the secret. Anjali smiles.. and answers as Buaji wonders about the veil herself.. , "Normally, the Haldi ceremony is performed separately at their respective places for the bride and the groom. We have already broken the rule. That's this dupatta will do the job of keeping you separated. As Khushi and Arnav's eyes meet through the veil, Anjali adds, "It's not us, Pandit ji has said so!"
Nk adds his wisdom, "Nannav, mere Bhai.. .my bro.., I have heard that the distance helps love grow. If you guys are eight to ten kilometers.. I mean, eight to ten feet'apart.. then your love will grow more'more fond.." This brings a smile to Arnav's face. His eyes settle on Khushi once again.. The longing in his eyes makes Khushi blush.. she lowers her gaze as she smiles sweetly' at him intermittently' Just then Shyam makes his next move. He walks in with a tray of glasses of water.. approaches NK first, "NK, Bhai!" NK looks at him and controls his disgust, turns away from him, somehow manages to say, "Thank You' Ji Ja Ji!" Aware that Anjali is watching them, Shyam makes a dejected face and moves on to Nani ji.. The smile disappears from Nani's face as Shyam offers, "Nani Ji, water?" She gives him a curt look and turns away with a stern face. To Shyam's benefit, Anjali observes this too. Shyam looks up and smiles at her. Then he moves away as Nani makes sure he has left before she could relax! Anjali's eyes follow Shyam. She nods to call him over to her. Shyam gestures that he is alright, smiles back pleasantly, gaining upper hand in Anjali's eyes. Shyam find the camcorder, picks it up and gestures to Anjali that he would take the video with satisfies Anjali. Unfortunately, Shyam now has gained the most valuable tool to continue on his mission of destruction of Arnav and lusting over Khushi.
Arnav's eyes stay glued to Khushi's face.. love affection.. longing ooze through his eyes. Khushi intermittently meets his gaze .. bashful.. her heart filled with a sweet prickly sensation. Shyam's camera goes to spy on Khushi when he spots Shashi being wheeled over by the nurse.. Shashi! The one guy Shyam needs to fear the most! Shaym ke hosh ud jaatein hai! Shyam immediately gets worried. As Shashi's eyes spot Shyam, his expressions change.. recognition.. dislike.. suspicion' questions.. and anger all can be seen on Shashi's face and his eyes.. Danger signs alert Shyam that Shashi is much better and he might spill the beans! Worried, Shyam tries to hide from Shashi in the crowd as Shashi's eyes do not leave his face. Garima happens to ;look at Shashi when she notices the anger on Shashi's face. Her eyes follow his gaze to Shyam. She bends down and tries to calm Shashi down as his anger mounts, "Now the circumstances are different! Shaym ji has reformed. Khushi told me!... that he cares for Anjali a lot now.. " Really? So, Khushi has been advocating for Shyam? I find this too much to believe. Bringing him home for the sake of Anjali is one thing but vouching for his reform.. no, never girl! Khushi dear, you are too precious to me to be falling into this trap again! Wake up, girl, before it's too late! Anyway.. Shashi's face shows that he does not buy what Garima tells him because he can see the fear and the deception in Shyam's eyes as he tries to hide from Shashi. Garima continues, "You also let the bygones be bygones!" Shyam worries, "Oh God! Hope this old man does not mess things up!"
Anjali suggests, "Nani, we should probably wait for Dadi. She must be on her way!" Nani says, "No! Subhadra said to keep the ritual on time! She will be here!" Then Nani instructs, "Pandit ji, start the ritual, please!" Anjali smiles in agreement. Garima's breath that was on hold is released. Pandit ji moves forward, "Om Shri Ganeshaai Namah!" and starts the ritual by placing a tikka with Haldi mix on Arnav's forehead. A pleasant smile appears on every face around as Pandit ji proceeds. Khushi smiles gingerly at Arnav. His eyes again sip in every bit of Khushi as she sits in front of him.. beautiful.. bashful.. looking increasingly radiant as the Haldi goes on.. Buaji instructs Khushi to seek blessings from her father. Khushi gets up and touches Shashi's feet. Shashi put her hand over her head in blessings.. making every eye moist around. Arnav knows how precious these moments are for Khushi as he watches Garima dip Shashi's hand in the bowl of Haldi and then to place it on Khushi's arm as a good omen. Khushi goes back to her spot for Haldi when Shashi's eye once again meets Shyam's apprehensive eyes. The smile from Shashi's face disappears. Lucky for Shyam, the nurse wheel Shashi away, Shyam heaves a sigh of relief.
Now the Haldi application begins. Buaji takes the first turn.. Khushi lifts up her saree slightly exposing her beautiful feet for Buaji to apply the Haldi.. but the lover boy has access to all these heart stealing sights now from a few feet.. his eyes never leaving her.. his longing only increases as he sips all of it in' Anjali starts applying Haldi to Arnav.. she takes a bit from the bowl' hesitantly puts small amounts on Arnav's feet and then his cheeks.. Arnav looks at Khushi who has a lot more Haldi applied on her face.. says to Anjali, "Di, what are you doing?" Every one turns to look at him not knowing what he might say next. Anjali gets worried, "Sorry, Chhotey! Did I put too much on?" Arnav answers, "No! Not That!" Anjali looks at him with surprised eyes as he points to Khushi and says, "Isn't that how it should be applied?" Khushi's jaw drops in surprise as everyone around giggles with happiness. Khushi's heart fills up with joy as she watches a happy Anjali apply a lot of Haldi to Arnav. Mami remarks, "See, Anjali bitiya! They have already started competing against each other!" Arnav's gaze caresses Khushi's face across the barrier as she smiles happily.
Payal apllies Haldi on Khushi next. Buaji remarks, "Why are you being a meager? The more you put on, the more will be the glow! .. and the groom's side also should know how beautiful our daughter is.. as beautiful as the moon! She just shines' !" Bauji says proudly. Arnav and Khushi exchange loving glances as the family members go at each other in a fun way.. Anjali says, "Arey, Buaji! Our Chhotey is no less! He is the sun!" Nani nods, Mami agrees, "Yes!" Arnav makes a gesture, "Wow! What a rebuttal!" Khushi looks at his cute expression with a smile. Buaji goes at it, calls someone, and asks for the goggles.. sunglasses.. and puts those on Khushi, "Here you go, my butterfly!" Arnav and Khushi smile at each other as she gazes at him through her shades now.. as Buaji challenges, "Call your Sun now! Our bride is ready for him! Call him!" Arnav and Khushi exchange a smile as NK interrupts, "Just a minute! " Khushi takes the shades off as Nk continues mischievously, "If these two throw so much light around, then who would shut the lights of at night? Who.." Who..?" makes everyone around laugh. Arnav looks down folding his lips as Khushi blushes.
Mami then applies Haldi to Arnav with full excitement and happiness. Garima applies Haldi on Khushi. As the ritual continues, Arnav's love filled gaze captures Khushi's bashful gaze and locks it into his.. they both get lost into each others' eyes as Arnav's eyes relish on a shy, blushing Khushi and fill up with longing.
Buaji rushes to Garima, "Haye, Garima! Are you not going to arrange for tea and snacks?" Shyam's camcorder is at it during this whole time. Trying to record but to more spy' either on Khushi or others.. His camera does not fail to capture something immensely helpful to his mission and his eyes do not fail to notice everything around that is necessary to utilize what the camera captures.. Buaji says, "Dadi will be here soon!" Nk adds, "Yes, Aunti ji, please! Hurry up.. I am very hungryyy'" Shyam's camera focuses on Garima's face that turns pale at the mention of Dadi and fills with fear, restlessness and worries. He wonders, "Why did Masi ji become so tense as soon as Dadi'd name was mentioned?" Ah great, Shyam! Here you call Garima 'Masi ji' and there you call Shashi the 'old guy'!
Buaji attacks NK with both her hands dripping down Haldi,.. NK tries to resist, "No.. No.. Haldi.. I am in jaldi.. hurry.okay?" he ducks down and runs away as Buaji keeps calling, "Nand Kisore.." Dadi is on her way back to Buaji's from the temple. She asks the driver to hurry up saying that the Haldi ceremony must have started. By now, the bride's side starts applying Haldi to the groom and vice versa. Mami applied Haldi to Khushi and Buaji to Arnav. As Anjali starts applying Haldi to Khushi.. she smiles.. giggles happily.. Shyam pries on her bare feet through the camcorder.. with lustful eyes as and smile.. lucky for him. he catches Anjali looking at him before he could catch him looking at Khushi with lustful eyes.. he gives an affectionate smile to Anjali and she goes back to applying Haldi to Khushi. As Shyam focuses his camera again on Khushi, he feels someone's eyes on him.. he looks up to find NK's intense, penetrating gaze filled with disgust and "I know what you did" feeling! Shyam immediately turns away and focuses the camera on something else! Arey yaar, NK, why did you not snatch the camera away from Shyam?
Just then arrives Dadi. She gets down from the car, her eyes full of hatred and dislike. Inside, Garima now has the table for snacks set up. She picks a tray full of tea cups and brings it to the guests. Buaji takes a cup and hands it to Nani ji. As Nani ji about to sip her tea, she wonders, "How come Subhadra is not here yet?.." Then she asks Manorama, "Call her!" Mami pulls her phone out and calls but the phone comes engaged. .In the meantime Shyam captures Garima's tense and tremulous face at the mention of Dadi. His spying eyes settle on her as his shrewd mind gets to work. NK remarks, "Oh, come on, Nani ji, at least you all enjoy! Dadi ji will come..Have fun!"
As Dadi walks towards the door of Buaji's house, her heart fills with disgust and dislike.. Inside Garima starts slowly moving away.. tense..unaware that Shyam's spying eyes are on her.. Fearful.. Garima thinks, "I won't get a better chance to leave from here.. Before it gets too late I must leave.." Just then Dadi appears in the door, announced by Mami, "Here you are! Dadi ji has arrived!" Garima's breath gets stuck up in her throat. Her feet stop and she looks at the door scared, from behind the crowd between her and Dadi. As soon as her eyes confirm that it indeed is Dadi, she quickly turns around.. Shyam's camera focuses on her carefully.
Arnav and Khushi both apprehensively look at Dadi. Mami, Buaji and Payal welcome Dadi along with Nani, "Welcome, Dadi ji!" "Namaste!" 'Come, Subhadra!" Khushi's face mellows down as Dadi walks in with a stern face. Here Buaji grabs Garima, "Hey, Garima! Where are you going?.. There Dadi has arrived. Come, meet with her. Come! Come!" Garima shields her face with her pallu as Buaji tugs her and insists, "Come!" Shyam captures Garima's action with camcorder as well as his sharp eyes as Garima slowly turns around and notices that Dadi has reached to apply Haldi to Arnav.
Arnav looks at Dadi apprehensively as she takes some Haldi from the bowl.. aware that she opposes this marriage strongly.. Dadi initially gives him a stern stare, then her face softens a bit as she applied Haldi to Arnav. In the meantime Shyam observes a scared and trembling Garima slip away.. he decides to follow her' Arnav looks with questioning eyes as Dadi now goes to apply Haldi on to Khushi. Khushi looks up, Dadi does not smile, Khushi lowers her gaze and brings a half smile to her face as Dadi somehow manages to put dots of Haldi unwillingly on her face. Arnav's eyes show that he does not like what he sees' Feeling dejected as her heart starts sinking, Khushi's gaze finds Arnav.. Arnav looks at her with "let it be.. it's ok.. don't worry about her" feel and he smiles at Khushi to encourage her. Khushi smiles back at him. Buaji wards eveil off around Khushi. Mami says that she wants to go wash her hands.. as she rushes by, she runs into Buaji' who hold both her hands dripping with Haldi in Mami's face. Mami screams scared, "Don't show those to me! What are you up to?" Buaji announces, "Listen everyone! Groom's Mami loves to be waited on.. all the hospitality! So, here it is .,. our hospitality.." rubs Haldi on Mami 's face against her protest and says, "This is our hospitality.. it will never lose it's flavor. Color.. " and laughs loudly, victorious! Mami screams, "She spoiled my make up!" Then she goes, pats Buaji's face with Haldi clad hands as she says, "Okay, here you go! This is 'Thank You' and this is 'Mention Not'!" Then leaves, "Now I need to wash my face!" rushes to bathroom as everyone bursts into laughter.
Khushi's face brightens with the smile.. Arnav's gaze becomes steady on her face as their eyes meet.. Arnav reaches for the dupatta hanging in between, and pulls it slightly down.. looks at Khushi with longing eyes.. Just then NK and Aakash pull back the dupatta high creating the barrier again. NK says teasingly, "Nannav, mere Bhai, this 'aam'.. mango.. is not 'sastaa'.. cheap!" Aakash corrects him, "NK Bhai, 'This is not 'aam rastaa'.. common path!" Nk corrects himself, 'Oh, ya! That's what.. Nannav, mere Bhai.. you know, the two of you cannot be together!" Arnav looks at him with eyes saying, "really? Do I care?" as Khushi looks at him with a gentle smile on her face.. NK adds, "That Pandit ji. Old guy with ponytail, he has given you this punishment. Otherwise.. you Suhag Raat.. will get banned' Banned!" Arnav nods initially. As soon as 'Suhag Raat' is mentioned, Arnav and Khushi look at each other with meaningful eyes.. Khushi blushes as she lowers her gaze.. Arnav sips in those few moments with his eyes before he turns back to NK and says with a straight face, "Buaji is right behind you, NK! Save yourself!" NK gets worried and screams, "No.. No Buaji!" drops the dupatta and runs away. Aakash keeps calling upon him, " Arey Nka Bhai.." Khushi smiles at Arnav with hearty laugh! Aakash picks up the dupatta and raises it high again, says, "Very smart! Not going to happen!" Arnav says softly, "Aakash.. I thought.. every one is busy. Payal is all alone.. Use your mind! Go, spend some time with her! Why are you wasting your time holding this boring dupatta?" He winks at Aakash and gestures him to take off. Khushi keeps looking at Arnav with adorable eyes and a smile.. Aakash gets what Arnav means, he drops the dupatta, says, "Yea!.. Best of Luck!" and walks away. Khushi watches him with her mouth open.. then smiles at Arnav. Her eyes gather the changes in Arnav's gaze as his eyes filled with longing scour the surroundings.. Arnav then quickly bends over, grabs Khushi by hand and gets up pulling her to feet with him and quickly vanish.
Buaji walks in looking for Garima. As she approaches Nani and Dadi, her eyes spot Garima putting away dishes on the snack table. Buaji says, "Come, let me introduce you to your 'samdhan'.. in-law- of your grandson.." and calls out "Garima, look who is here'it's Arnav's Dadi! Come fast!" Dadi looks at Garima from behind' questions in her eyes. Garima continues with her chore at hand.. Buaji says, "Looks like she did not hear me.. busy with her chore'. You come! Come.. let's introduce.." Dadi accompanied by Nani walks towards Garima.. Garima's heart sinks as they approach her.. she keeps holding the plate full of samosas. As they get close to Garima, Buaji announces, "Hey, Garima! Look who is here! Arnav's Dadi!. Now you play a bit of Haldi too!" Garima nods in negative, her back still towards them, Bauji says, 'Arey Nand Kisore.. play!" Garima trembles as she puts her hands together and closes her eyes.. Bauji insists, "Arey Nand Kisore.. leave all that work. First get on with the Haldi.." Garima starts turning around to face them extremely slowly.. as Dadi look at her with anticipation' Garima acts as if she is going to be sacrificed soon.. As Garima is about to face dadi, come in some hands that smother Garima with Haldi.. It's Mami.. chirpily she covers Garima's face completely with Haldi.. accompanied by Payal ' that becomes saving grace for Garima.. and takes away another chance from Dadi to see Garima's true face!
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Veer Hanuman
Kumkum Bhagya
