CHAPTER 1
The Maharaja suit of Sheesh Mahal was lit up with hundreds of pleasant scented candles, lightening the room with a golden glow. The poolside illuminating with fairy lights was giving an enthralling look of a newly wedded couple's room, all ready for the wedding night, the suhaag raat. The ambience and the moment were perfect combinations.
Red roses and tuberoses formed a beautiful mesh around the huge bed covered with satin black sheets. In the middle of the adorned bed there sat the lady of the night, the bride, dressed in designer green and pink lahenga breathing in sheer nervousness since the moment she becomes Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada. Her rapid breathing with every passing moment was increasing her anxiety. She couldn't dishearten her parents again by denying another accha rishta so she had to trust on her parents' choice and had to marry Laad governor, her worst enemy or so she thought.
Arnav Singh Raizada had again manipulated her brilliantly, convinced her to say yes for their marriage.
"Why are you saying no for our marriage Khushi? I cannot accept this answer. I don't accept answers without hearing the process with which the answer was arrived at. I would request you to present an argument for rejecting the proposal."
"Oye, Please leave your business attitude and I am in no mood to present an argument. What part of two letters N-O you doesn't understand Mr. Raizada? I don't want to marry you even if you are the last man on earth. No means No. And if you don't understand plain English let me tell you in other languages. Non, Nada, Nope, Nahin , Illa, Kaadu, Nakka, Naa , Naheen, Hai-Na."
"Impressive Khushi, but still it's not convincing. I am Arnav Singh Raizada, CEO of the year. You know me well because we have studied college together then why you are saying no to get marry to me..."
"Hold on your highness Arnav Singh Raizada. Stop giving yourself too much importance. And the years which you are talking about were the most miserable years of my life. At that time you love to trouble me. Yes I know you well and that's one of the reasons of my rejection. I am not interested so back off from the proposal."
"No Khushi, I won't. I really want to marry you and so do our families wish too. They are already charmed by me and your father knows my family too, after all we already relate each other since Akash married Payal. Its better you give your consent."
"This Laad Governor will someday be death of me" Khushi murmured.
"Why do you want to marry ME among all the beauties of the world?"
"Khushi I could give you thousands of reason to marry you but let's not waste time, our families are looking forward to our final decision."
"Reasons my foot! Marriage for a Casanova like you is nothing but another gameplay. I read the tabloids and I am well aware of your reputation. What happened to Shanayah and what was that girl name... Ah! her name is similar to an actress." Khushi scratched her head thinking deeply.
"Julia or Emma?" Arnav himself offered names to remove Khushi's confusions.
"Haan! Julia and your other girlfriends. What happened to them? Are they not up to your preference to be your wife?" Khushi asked annoyingly.
"Khushi mujhe nahin pata tha ke tum mujhe itna observe karti ho."
"Oh please, you have always occupied half of the space of Page three with your latest affairs from the day you have come back from U.S. I would be blind if I don't come across them. You were flirtatious back in college and so are you now."
"Khushi they are just rumors. You see I am the eligible bachelor and I can't stop media publishing baseless gossips about me. They love tagging me even with a woman with whom I meet gaze for a jiffy. The truth is I am a one woman man and I could swear on di for this. You know what's her importance in my life is. Back in college I never took any step to make girlfriends. It was always girls who were eager to make me friend and then boyfriend. And I was just being sweet back then."
"You don't have a sweet tooth, Mr. Raizada. Sugar is injurious to your health. You were always looking for chances to start flirting with any girl."
Khushi huffed in anger, praying her devimayah secretly to make her strong enough to win this argument. She just doesn't like him, period.
"Yes that's a good enough reason to calm your frantic heartbeats whenever you see him." Her conscious spoke.
Arnav is her sister's brother in law and that is the sole reason she is trying her very best to stop herself killing him with adding extra sugar in his coffee.
New flash: Abhi abhi khabar mili hai k eek dard nak hadsey mein ek majboor naari ne sugar ki bimaari se girhasth Laad governor ko cheeni wali chaye pila kar oss ke paraan ley lye.
Khushi could only wish something like this to happen to ASR. But Arnav Singh Raizada never gives up and he also doesn't know Khushi kumara Gupta, queen of craziness and stubbornness.
"That's all wrong. I never took advantage of anyone. Have you ever listen from my family or read in news about my serious relationships?" Arnav asked.
"No. But that doesn't mean..."
"I am not cheap Khushi if that's what you think about me and the image of a characterless man you have formed about me is wrong and irrational. That's being judgmental Khushi. You don't know my previous four years and neither want to." Arnav spoke angrily but cursed himself for speaking so rudely with Khushi.
"Damn this is even tough than cracking a complex multi-millionaire business deal."
He took a long breath to calm his temper and sorting his thoughts. Now is the time to finally settle this deal on his terms.
The words "Cheap" and "Characterless" made Khushi speechless. She didn't mean like that. She was numb and just listening to him without making an argument. She knows he was a respectable man and has always heard well and praises from his family. It's just that she doesn't trust him enough to speak out loud to non-serious and never-to-care Raizada that she just doesn't want to marry right now, not to him nor to anyone else. She has got priorities and dreams to fulfill and for that marriage, right now, is not an option and here his stubbornness is making her insane. First her heart was no more in control and now her tongue and mind too is out of handling too.
"Look Khushi nobody is perfect, neither I am and nor you are. But I am a change man." Arnav seriously replied to Khushi looking into her eyes directly.
"I will always make you happy because I have no intention to be killed by your over possessive father's collection of guns." He joked to lighten their moods and his eyes shone triumph when a smile appeared on to-be- his lady face.
"I know to shoot too and before him I will kill you because he is planning to give some of his armory in my jahez. And you are not change."
Tough studies, practices and experience in business administration made Arnav competent to read his opponents minds and he knew very well what kind of questions were bursting in Khushi's mind. He decided to use those queries for his defense.
"Khushi are you sure that only my troublesome past experiences are the sole reason to reject me? Or is there anything else too that you don't want to tell me? If latter is not the problem then can you guarantee that I am not change and better? Haan Khushi! Two years of college and fake news in newspapers are not enough to tag me flirtatious and Casanova. Tell me from the day we met again, did I annoy you? Irritate you? No, right? Forget everything ok; only answer this question. If you find a "perfect" guy can you bet that he won't hide anything from you, his colorful past or his stupid mistakes?" Arnav quoted "perfect" in air. He was equally looking dead serious and calm.
"Nobody can bet on that. Relations are made on instincts, trust and positive vibes. They need time to flourish."
"Exactly Khushi. You can trust me. You know me so well, my weak and strong points so it's a win win situation for you to marry me. "
"I need sometime Arnav."
Khushi was amazed that how could he read her mind. But before confiding expectations and future plan of her life she needs time to think, to give him chance and trust him. So Khushi took an easy way out to get rid of him for now. She felt to consider his proposal and pondered on it but not before consuming at least a kilo of sweet crispy golden jalebis. She had lost her appetite the moment she was asked for the proposal of him in marriage.
"No, you have to decide now."
Final strike: The ultimatum
"Is that a threat? Are you threatening me in my room, in my house?" Khushi anger rose up again. She stood up and glared Arnav so intensely, if looks could kill anyone Arnav would have been shredded by now.
Red alert: Don't mess with famished Khushi Kumari Gupta.
"Khushi this is not your house. Your house will be the one in which you will live with me after we get marry." Arnav tongue tied Khushi. She couldn't do anything but glaring him.
"So it's a yes then?" Arnav asked.
"No" Khushi retorted.
"Yes" Arnav said, his eyes started shining.
"No" Khushi responded.
"Yes" Arnav stressed for an affirmative answer from khushi.
"No" Khushi retorted again thoughtlessly.
"Yes"
"Yes"
"Yes, YAY Arnav and Khushi. I can't believe it at last it is finally a Yes. Amma, Babuji, Buaji, Anjali Di, Naniji it's a YES." Payal announced in excitement and dragged almost equally shocked and astonished Khushi cursing her insane mind and smirking Arnav to the elated faces of the family members in the drawing room.
"Jiji suno tu meri baat. Abhi final ..."Khushi tried to stop her sister but Payal looked thrilled on the idea of seeing her baby sister getting married and was dragging her quickly to the family.
"Sanka devi! chalo tum nay ab tu akal mandi se kaam lia, Mubarak ho Parmeshwari."(Sanka devi at last now you used your mind sensibly. Congratulations Parmeshwari.)
Buaji gathered Khushi in a strong hug which made her breathless. "Jeetay Raho tum dono"(God bless both of you) And cracked her knuckles on both of them.
"Par buaji muumpf..." Before Khushi could complete sentence Anjali stuffed her and Arnav's mouth with a big Ladoo.
"Di, what is this?" Arnav complained irritatingly, gulping down the big chunk of ladoo.
"Chup karo Arnav. Yeh toh Prasad ka ladoo hai or hamein yakeen tha aj yeh Prasad grahan hi hoga. Hamain tu Yakeen hi nahi a raha hai ke hamare chotte ki shaddi honey wali hai. Thank you Khushiji. Hum tu ajj 501 rupee Devimayah ke mandir mein charhay gey or maha arti bhi karein gey. Maa Papa ajj saath hotey toh kitna khush hotey. Yeh din dekhna tu hum sab ka armaan tha."
(Keep quite Arnav. This is Prasad Ladoo and I was sure that today this Prasad will do its magic and today will be fruitful. It's still unbelievable for me that my little brother is getting married. Today I will go to devimayyah temple and will perform maha arti too. Maa and Papa would have been so happy if they would be with us here, today. It was our dream to witness this day.)
Anjali sadly sniffed on her last sentence but was overjoyed for her only little brother.
"Calm down Anjali. Congratulations Saleesahib and honay wali salisahiba" Shyam included his congratulations too and hugged Arnav warmly.
"Kusi tum ne bilkul theek faislah kiya. Arnav bitwa lakhoon mein ek hain. O tum ko bohat kush rakhein gey. Hum abhi pandatji ko phone kartey hain or shadi ka shubh muhurat nikal watey hain."
(Khushi you have made a correct decision. Arnav is one in million. He will always make you happy. I shall call pandatji right now to suggest us the latest date for the marriage.)
Garima chirped and kissed Khushi's forehead lovingly. Her eyes filled with tears and she applied a kala tikka behind her dearest daughter hand.
"Amma..." Khushi's eyes filled with tears seeing her mother extremely happy.
"Arnav bitwa?" Shashi authoritatively called him.
"Bitwa humri bitya ko khush rakho gey?" Shashi asked one simple question to Arnav and Khushi directed her gaze to him.
"Ji sir, bohat zyada. Mein ussey bohat khush rakhoon ga that's a promise." Arnav spoke truthfully and with determination looking in the eyes of Khushi. Khushi's eyes got wide seeing the glimpse of utter honesty in his chocolate orbs which bewildered her. "And a gentleman never breaks his promise."
"So what's with the Sir? Call me Babuji like Khushi. Welcome to the family" and Shashi Gupta proceeded to bless her daughter and the new member of the family.
"Then its decided Shashiji that at the earliest mahurat our kids will get marry" Nani announced in excitement.
"Yes sounds perfect, we are already prepared for everything." Shashi gave his consent.
After bidding farewell to honay walay voh and susraly(in laws), Khushi sat down with her family who were excitedly busy in the animated conversation of her impending wedding and its preparations.
Khushi heard the cars leaving the driveway of her house. She was in daze that how quickly the events turned. Her heart beats were abnormal. She gulped and took a deep breath, putting a hand on her heart to calm it. Crispy hot jalebis along with other snacks like samosas, gulab jamuns, kachooris, bhaloshahi, channa and dahi chaat were long forgotten.
Khushi Kumari Gupta was not INTERESTED in food!!! That's the news of the day.
Her mind was occupied by Laad governor, her soon-to-be husband. The mere thought was enough to make her breathless again.
Automatically her hands reached to the plate full of crispy jalebis. She popped one in her mouth.
Hey devimayah I am getting married.
Hick!!!
And that too with Laad governor.
Hick!!!
Khushi wanted to say No and she tried a lot but some unknown feeling froze her tongue. Her family was rejoicing. More than that she was amazed to see Arnav eyes glistened with honesty while answering her father question, the eyes which were always used to fill with mischievous glint. Her mind was signaling her that the decision for her future is right but khushi was unable to comprehend the reason behind her abnormal heartbeats.
The fateful day was followed by super busy and exhausted wedding month. During the wedding observances and celebrations Arnav comparatively ignored her which was giving her cold feet. Arnav never left her side be it during get-togethers, shopping sprees or pre marriage rituals but he never talked to her and neither attempted to flirt with her which he had rejoiced a lot since the moment they met again. Arnav seemed too busy in his business so that he could participate in every pre-marriage ritual heartily but Khushi always sensed him too near to her. Khushi wanted to talk to him but he was never alone and if she caught him, someone would noticed them and start teasing them for being so impatient. She was in dilemma at the most important life changing turn of her life.
Her melodramatic and over joyous family was giving her live performance of "hum hum saath saath hay" movie which was getting on her nerves. Buaji and Amma made her attend various poojahs for her better future. Payal dragged her to every shop in the city for her wedding shopping. Gomti Sadan, named after peaceful and divine Gomti River, was looking like a mad house. Her babuji was the perfect host, making full use of his exceptional culinary skills. Food, the only thing was keeping her losing her mind and running away.
Being so frustrated Khushi too avoided him in return when Arnav approached her, sighting excuses to be busy with their big fat wedding.
"Tit for tat, Mr. Raizada."
Khushi often felt someone strong gaze on her but couldn't find anyone. Often Arnav was founded gazing her with a new emotion, an unknown spark in his eyes which send shivers down to her spine.
"Hum nay tu suna tha shadi ke baad mard badal jatey hain par yeh Arnav Singh Raizada tu pehley hi badal gaya. Pata nahin apney app ku kia samajtey kya hain."
(I had listened that men change after their marriage but this Arnav Singh Raizada, he got change early. What does he think of himself?)
"Agar yeh Arnav Singh Raizada hain tu hum bhi Khushi Kumari Gupta hain. Iss Laad Governor kay lye tu hum hi kafi hain. In sey sari akar aisay nikalay gey jeisey giley kaproon sey pani."
"Chal Khushi Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada banney ke lye tyaar ho ja. Jay Devi mayyah ki."
(If he is Arnav Singh Raizada then I am Khushi Kumari Gupta too. Only I am enough to tackle him. I will take out stubbornness from him so conveniently just like water from wet clothes.)
Khushi raised her damp spirits as the baraat arrived with band, bajaa and full glory in Gumti Sadan for the wedding ritual. She smiled seeing Laad governor riding the white horse. In his wedding attire Arnav exactly looked like the prince of which Khushi used to dream of. Her gaze met him and he winked at her which made her blush furiously. And then she felt time fly, she didn't remember how hastily she was brought to mandap and became legally wedded wife of Arnav Singh Raizada.
After almost ten hours, tired of the wedding rituals and exhausted wedding week, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada was sulking and waiting for the groom.
"What have you done Khushi?" Khushi mentally slapped her forehead.
"Buaji is right to call you pagalliya." Khushi scolded herself.
She knows -no- she was sure that the moment Arnav will enter in this very room he will definitely make sure to make her peaceful life into hell again just like the two years of college. Her eyes again filled with tears on recalling her sweet little family.
A sudden creek sound of door alerted her, from there entered her husband for ten hours. Her heart race wildly.
DHAK DHAK!!!
DHAK DHAK!!!
DHAK DHAK!!!
In extreme nervousness she gripped her lahenga tightly in a fist.
"Hey Devimayah" Khushi was continuously chanting her favorite deity name in her heart. With each call her husband steps proceeds to her. She could feel him eying her.
Khushi watched Arnav through the veil, she couldn't see Arnav facial expressions that clearly but she was sure as usual he will be smirking as he finally got what he wanted.
*---------------------------------*
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
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