Part 5
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Sidelining the thoughts , he relaxed himself on the lounger under the black floor bridge lamp tapering a clear light, indulging himself in his laptop to keep abreast of the developments that were taking place in his absence in AR.
Breaking the lane of continuous silence, the cell phone kept on the nearby glass table vibrated giving an irritation to his senses engrossed in work.
Without delaying for another second , he picked the phone to check the caller and was surprised to see Jasen Rodriguez, one of his batchmate from HBS calling in such late hours of the night.
After speaking with Jasen for some good 5 minutes, Arnav called Aman Mehta, his administrative assistant to get his private jet ready by tomorrow early morning, nevertheless, disappointment meets his path as acquainted about the jet been sent at an aircraft hangar for its airframe maintenance, leaving him with no room other than to book a ticket in public airlines on the next early morning to fly to Michigan.
Arnav, in the past was not much interested in the deal put under the hammer by Jasen, but, getting to know this is the only chance he has to get it, the businessman inside him without thinking for a moment decided the best he could think at the moment .
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Hearing the footsteps of his hard heel Schmoove dandy looking shoes stamping on the natural white Italian marble, Anuradha, Arnav's mother turned after finishing her prayers with a salver in hand to see her son early in the morning dressed in formal three piece suit with a laptop and travel bag occupying both his hands completely, clearly showing his departure, somewhere.
"Mom, I am leaving for States, will be back in two days.", announced Arnav, stepping down the stairs answering to the question his mother's shocked eyes were portraying after seeing him all dressed in formals.
"Chotte, but how can you leave all of a sudden, it's your engagement in two days, what we will explain to the Guptas??", inquired Anuradha with an extreme displeasure and growing up crinkles on her forehead constantly out of worry.
"Mom, don't worry and believe me , I will be back in two days, its urgent otherwise, I would have delayed it."
Not appreciating his action Anuradha continued, "Still Chotte, can't you delay it till the engagement ?"
"Mom, I could have, if it was in my hands, but, the dealer wants to close the deal in these two days, so, it's either now or never."
Still impotently Anuradha requested "Chotte, can't you leave a deal, it's a big day for you and Khushi. She expects you to be here on this special day of yours."
Feeling sorry about not obeying his mother's requests, he still tried to coax her," Mom, I am not denying to any of the things you are saying, I knew how important this day is for all, including me and Khushi, but, same time this deal is as important as other things at present, especially for me."
"But, Chotte .." Before Anuradha's contemplated thoughts with tears in her eyes could verbalize Arnav interrupted, "Mom, don't worry, I will be back on time, pakka."
Giving no more ear to his mother's pleas, he stepped out not before kissing his mother's furrowed forehead , giving assurance to his words of early arrival with a gentle gesture, soon after the kiss her head was free from all the crisps, still leaving a delineation on her heart with his departure soon before the betrothment.
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The nebulous sky was constantly cut by the nose cone of the plane with a full tilt airspeed of 1080km/h, separating the somber clouds to make its way, sitting inside, he was disembarking in the cloud-cuckoo-land of the princess, with leisure and anxiety which took him for the first time after years. As far as he was going, more closer he was feeling to her, imagining a life of his which was soon going to be theirs, belonging not only to him but to them.
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The family at home was too disappointed about Arnav's sudden departure, leaving them in a midstream of situation where it was becoming unfathomable for them to let the Guptas know about Arnav's unexpected trip very sudden.
The bombilating sound of the call at the other end was increasing the heart beat of Arvind, bringing it hard for him to speak about Arnav's hasty going away.
"Hello, Shashiji Namaste, mein bol raha hoon, Arvind. Kaise hain aap?" , started Arvind with a warm greeting still dipped in nervousness, visible in his voice, as soon as the receiver was put on life by Shashi. ("Hello, Shashiji, it's me Arvind. How are you?")
"Hum ache hain iswar ki kripa se,aap batayea kaise hain aap aur bake sub log?", responded Shashi with the same affection in return to the question put on the floor by Arvind still unaware of the brewing tensions on the other side. ("I am good with god's grace, How about you and all others?")
"Hum bhe sub log ache hain, wo maine aapko ye batane ke liye phone kiya tha.." , hesitated Arvind to speak about the matter constantly jittering his words along with his body.("We all are doing well, I called you to inform that...")
"Kya baat hain Arvindji. Aap bahut pareshan aur chintit sunaye de rahe hain.", inquired Shashi dubiously unaware of the cloud of stress formed on Arvind.(whats the matter Arvindji. You sound distraughted and worried.)
"Wo, baat ye hain, Arnav ko achanak kise kaam se desh se bahar jana pada, par wo sagai ke din tak wapas aa jaega, tho hume laga ki apko hume bata dena chahea", waffled Arvind holding back the fears building in him speedily.(Actually, the matter is that Arnav has to fly out of the country , all of sudden, but, he will be back till the day of engagement, so, I thought , you must be informed")
A famous smile played on the corner of Shashi's mouth as he said "Hume maloom hain."("I know.")
"Kya, par kaise", echoed in all ears sitting next to Arvind, who was taken by surprise , listening to his soon to be brother in law.("What? But, how?")
Everyone was absorbing the lapsed edginess from Arvind, who was still discoursing on the phone, appearing much relieved after fussing for a long while over the weighty matter, unaware of the eagerness flowing around him, for knowing the reason of his surprise.
As soon as the receiver meets the cradle of the handset, ending the sound waves, everyone jumped from their seats in excitement to be acquainted about the reason of Arvind's sudden surprising look.
Every face visible in hall was painted with same expression of surprise cum shock , getting hard to digest the fact,-Arnav Singh Raizada called his father in law informing about his trip to Michigan'.
If the family members are questioned to answer about the last time when Arnav informed them about his trip in advance or about any delays in coming back, the answer will be muted silence of all, engrossed in thoughts to memorize the lucky day.
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The two days passed away quickly in preparations and a new day came with the same coruscating sun ,still the morning was a new with more of blinding vision.
Khushi, in spite of her mother's constant spurring to stay at home till the D-day , resisted it and continued going college, requesting only a day leave for her engagement.
The past two days look to be soon passed for all , but the franticness , deliriousness and weariness that overpowered Khushi can explain better the situation of each passing second , from going college in the morning, commencing to market with Payal in the evening, to shop for gifts and dresses for all her in law family also not forgetting her own attire , she needs to wear for the rooka.
Payal was always good in dealing relationships, considering them more persnickety, and always attentive to even the trivial things . She visited Gupta's every day after giving her full attention to all works in Sheesh Mahal as a Raizada daughter in law, to help Khushi and her Mami to select the things for Raizada's, taking into care of every member's choice, she was familiar with.
Nervousness and stress were understandable, thinking of what was to imminent in the next days, but something was worrying her fretingly, since the time she was confabulated by Payal about Arnav fled to Michigan , the very next morning, he visited her with his family for the alliance.
When she beseeched Payal earnestly after taking all teases on side, about the reason for his like a shot spontaneous fly to Michigan , the answer was not something which can slack her fleeting heart to placidness. Rather reducing the creases of line formed on her head and scrunching of her heart , it inflated it more with thoughts, thinking why did he fled away abruptly.
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The Magal Pandey road of Sadar Bazaar was today again occupied with luxurious car models rarely seen in the city, notably in front of the Gomti Sadan.
The jollifying noises from the windows of the house were a clear indication of the continuing celebration that was going on in the house.
Anjali, who was always clamorously sonorous and perky had taken the house on sky with happiness, seeing the bride of her brother, doubtlessly very beautiful.
Dressed in a simple moreover elegant pastel peach anarkali suit, embroidered with bonny needlework perfectly cleaved to her skinny , yet modeled appearance was giving an enthralling look together with the silver glitter peep toe high heel slip on wedges which were looking like the icing on the cake.Unlike daily, today she left her tresses loose putting curls at the ends, giving her a wonderful change, very of much different from her usual straightened or braided hairs. Even though she resisted for putting on the wedges, but, lost the battle soon as the opposition was none other than her elder cousin Payal.
The floor was quivering gradually like an awful earthquake was about to come, while the things were still, unaffected of the joggles. The state of Khushi was worth a look, as she was stepping in the living area step by step unsteadily along with Payal. The uneasiness she was feeling with the wedges was easily guessable, giving her a feeling of an earthquake ceaselessly.
As soon as Anjali saw Khushi moving towards them, looking epitomically beautiful, she took fast strides towards her, to hold her adjacently from the other end with great happiness. Anjali always dreamt of her brother's wedding , since the time she found that it was the time for her brother to get married. She was always the one , closest to their Chote and now seeing his bride brought a great pellucid joy and happiness to her of worth watch. She, along with Payal brought Khushi to the center of the living area in between the guests and family , who were in wait of Khushi to commence the meritorious ceremony of rooka.
Taking the blessing of all elders present in the front room, Khushi, who was still shivering with fear and shyness was escorted to sit on the wooden sitting plank taking off her wedges, comfortably. Covering her head with the chunar (mantilla) and rotating some money over her, Anuradha firstly casted the evil eyes off Khushi. Some drops of tears wet the floor fallen from her glistering eyes with extreme happiness while performing the rituals for her son's soon to be wife.
Like every mother, Anuradha too dreamt of his son's wedding and now living up the same dream in reality, let the tears make their way down her eyes in extreme happiness glistering in them.
Later , Anuradha performed all the rituals, from tilak pujan to giving Khushi 21 dresses and a coconut along with the patrimonial jewelries and largesse, officially making her their soon to be daughter in law.
As soon as Anuradha finished ,the family starting from elders approached Khushi to give their blessings along with largesse, gifts and presents.
The rooka is more of a girl's function , where she is rewarded with blessings along with largesse, gifts and presents from her would be in-laws, not mandating the presence of the groom. Arnav, who was still away from India had acquired a benefit of not getting questioned about his presence in rooka , later in the evening during the ring ceremony.
Albeit, the presence of Arnav was not mandatory during the rooka, still her heart was wishing for him to be here. She despite of knowing about him to be out of the country, was hoping of his arrival, every passing moment of the ceremony.
Seeing the eagerness and wait for him in her eyes, which was obviously visible,Anjali whispered stepping closer to her," Chote had called me to inform that he will get late,but, will reach before evening,also, he apologized for his hasty departure."
The glistering eyes always filled with innocence showed her heart into it were filled with tears the moment she heard Anjali. She was not aware, but her heart could feel the pain since then to now in his absence. For her it was something unanswerable, but her heart was not duteous to all the hopes that were built around her by others, reason unknown to her.
The heart is a of a fist size but, it has a space to store the world. He was not the world for her, she was not in love with him, she was not angry at him, nor was she waiting for him, all these imaginative thoughts were good enough to cajole her heart, but, the fact she was still unaware was, he was now occupying the largest space in her heart and mind and now his absence was filling the same space with enormous pain which was impossible to be medicated by someone other than him.
The Raizada's were later escorted to the garden for a small lunch under the shade organized by Gupta's soon after the rooka ceremony. After sharing some pleasant moments with each other during the lunch, the groom's family took a leave with a promise to see them soon in Sheesh Mahal in the evening for the ring ceremony.
Drifted into thoughts about nothing specific after seeing off the guests , Khushi took baby steps towards her room with weariness completing taking over her, still she has to prepare herself for the evening when she will face the patrician thief of the decade, who had stolen her heart without her concern in a refined style.
Part 6
Note: Sorry friends for not posting the update since long. Still,I wish to clear that I was earlier busy with personal and professional life and still now I am juggling between them because of heavy work pressure so, it took me long to post this update. But I assure you that I will try to post the future updates in a short period of time.
Thank you all for bearing my late posts, so here is a small surprise for all the readers of TBBG who are still reading my story.
Arshi SS: Forever Yours
My second Short Fiction on Arshi. I would love to see you all there.
Love,
Vini
Edited by arnavini - 10 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
CID
181