Eight months of distance did wonders and so did the additional month. Distance did make hearts grow fond. In this case, there were not just two, but three. Love, companionship and confidence had finally found its way into their lives, so that they can withstand every struggle. Yet, there was something left unsaid and unspoken. But fate did give a long rope to them, after all it had bestowed them with grievances after grievances.
They had come a full circle. The missing link was still there and both wished to rectify it. There was still this pinch of doubt that lingered beneath those heaps of trust.
"Hello Arnav?"
"Yes sweetheart."
"Madhavan Uncle has invited me for his daughter's marriage which will happen at Chennai."
"I know. He invited us too."
"So?"
"So what?"
"Are you coming?"
"Yes, after all he has been instrumental in uniting us. Gratitude you see. Now the question is are you coming?"
"I..." she stuttered.
"Yes or no? Use your impulse."
"Yes", she breathed out. He heard her hoarse whisper and realized that she had yet again managed to stun him. She had agreed to come to Chennai, was itself a step towards betterment.
"I cannot wait to meet you and formally thank him for giving me Asha."
"What? You are going to thank him?"
"Oh I have been taught to be grateful."
"So, you are going to thank him only for giving Asha?"
"Okay, tho the problem is I was not planning to thank him for helping me meet you?" How he loved riling her up! Her anger always brought lot of hidden truth out.
"I um. Yes." Her soft yes' gave him the satisfaction he was looking for. Nowadays she had become highly vocal and the Journalist had stopped shying away. Was he complaining? Of course not.
*
Khushi grabbed Asha's hand as they made their way towards their train, pushing their way amongst the 100 people thronging at the station. With a light thud, Asha settled near the window. After all her favorite was the window seat and she would never settle for something less. The cold air washed their faces with chillness. Asha snuggled closer to Khushi and the train moved forward with Asha mimicking the sound of the moving train.
They were going to the city which has fulfilled the dreams, ambitions and passions of many. It had once scared her with its sadness, now it was again inviting her back and she had drawn courage from every drop of her blood. She will not breakdown and she will face her demons. She vowed. She trusted Arnav more than herself to help her in this. He would surely act as her sunshine even if it was midnight. She had him. Khushi Kumari Gupta started her journey to the city of dreams to face herself!
*
At Chennai:
Destiny had a strange fascination and why!
Khushi looked at her phone that had beeped announcing the arrival of an incoming message. Three simple words. Yet they managed to extract a smile from her. "We are here."
Without wasting another moment, Khushi took long swift strides to the entrance with Asha leading her. Arnav gathered Asha in his arms and flung her above. Her laughter rang in his ears and his heart settled into a peaceful rhythm, after being deprived of his favorite music. He raised his eyes to meet hers. She stood there looking at him and Asha. The red saree or pattu poda-vaa-i as she addressed took his breath away. She looked highly traditional with those big jhimkis (jhumkas) dangling from her ears. A tinge of red and gold clashed and mixed on her hands creating a wonderful hue of happiness. Her glowing face never felt this alluring. Was it the saree or she herself? He wondered. But he could spot a trace of nervousness, something he hadn't witnessed for a long time. Why was it? Maybe because she was coming to Chennai and that created a strong emotion in her. Whatever he was determined to wipe it off, as usual.
Arnav sat silently looking at the figure sitting a few seats ahead of him, chatting away with Anji and Payal. While Karishma and Asha played around, her eyes kept darting around nervously. She was shifting her weight from on foot to the other, something she did when she was nervous. He was still under the impression that the city had made her nervous, but it clearly did not seem so. He needed to talk to her and now. He walked towards her in purposeful strides. He had enough of giving her time and space to open up.
"Khushi, I need to speak to you." His straightforward declaration resulted in an abrupt silence. All three ladies looked at each other before Anjali and Payal broke out into fits of laughter and commented something about 'new lovers'. Arnav's face gave nothing away and Khushi's confusion deepened and so did her blush with all the teasing smirks thrown their way.
"What is it Arnav?"
"You should only tell me what you are trying to hide." His no nonsense tone made her gasp.
"Why are you reading me so well?" Her frustration was clearly visible, but it ended up making Arnav more determined to find out the reason.
"Spill it out."
She nodded in a No. "God Khushi, are we still going back to our initial days of hesitation? Why am I even having a conversation with you now?" Just as he walked away, her soft whisper stopped him. "Can you wait till the midnight? Please trust me." Something about her tone forced him to not push her. He nodded.
"Only till the midnight." She gave him a smile as a promise. She watched him go to Asha when he stopped and turned to face her.
"You look gorgeous. Like a midnight sunshine." With that he was gone leaving her to deal with all the dhak dhak. She couldn't stop that red tinge from spreading and deepening. His smirk showed that he was satisfied.
After the reception, as people prepared to leave, Arnav's eyes searched for a figure clad in red and gold. He had so far controlled his urge to know and understand, but now he could not wait more. 'Why had she fixed it as midnight?" He was clueless. He sighed and tried spotting his little Angel. Yes, just like she was Khushi's, Asha had become his now and will remain so. Asha had refused to leave his side, from the moment he had reached the hall. She had missed him and so had he. Soon, he felt two tiny fingers wrapping around his large ones. He need not see to recognize that touch of innocence. As she was lifted up by him, she settled in the crook of his neck and sighed contentedly. She was tired and sleepy. "Polam. (We shall leave.)"
Getting no response from him, she lifted her tired eyes to glance at him. "You understood?" Her English had improved too. He chuckled. Her maasi had finally did it. At her pointed glare, he nodded. She smiled, proud at her own accomplishment. She had taken up the job of being his Tamil tutor and executed it to the T. "Khushi", he mouthed as if it answered her earlier statement of wanting to leave.
She pouted at that and settled herself back to her original position. He could clearly picture a young Khushi doing everything Asha was doing now. He smiled at that and waited impatiently for the woman of his thoughts. Asha's steady breathing indicated that she had dozed off and if he knew any better, she would get up only in the morning. Too much of playing had tired her out. Karishma's state was no less.
He saw Anjali, Payal and Aakash approaching him with Karishma cocooned in Payal's arms. "As soon as Khushi comes, we shall leave." They all nodded. Just then, Khushi rushed towards them, mouthing words of apologies.
Arnav refused to hand her a sleeping Asha and cooed her back to sleep. Khushi murmured something about two 'gone cases'. Arnav chuckled at that, making everyone in the taxi to look at him, quite curiously. He just shrugged nonchalantly. The driver asked for directions and Khushi gave him the directions to the hotel, "Aama. Anga Vani Mahal Kita than. Anga vitutu, vera edathukum ponum. Na Aprm solren. (Yes. Near Vani Mahal only. After going there, you need to take us somewhere else too. I will tell that later.)"
At the driver's nod, the seven seater roared into life. Anjali chatted away with Khushi and Payal, while Arnav and Aakash remained us mute spectators. Their eyes just darted between the three women.
The car came to a halt in front of Residency Towers. As everyone scrambled out, Khushi held Arnav's hand. Anjali, who had gone forward, turned towards the two, who were now engaged in a real conversation which did not really require any words. She sighed and thanked all her stars for giving Arnav his happiness. She was really an epitome of beauty and happiness. She spread a stranger aura of joy wherever she went. This perfectly complimented Arnav. Aakash put an arm around Anjali, silently supporting her thoughts. He knew what she was thinking and he himself was happy that he acted as the reason behind their accidental meet. Life did have a weird of hooking up people. Payal smacked his arm, only then did he realize he had voiced his thoughts, aloud. The disturbance made Karishma to protest lightly. This action effectively shut up both the adults and made them quietly stare at the scene unfolding in front of them.
"Khushi?"
"I need to show you something."
"Now? Can't we go there tomorrow?"
She shook her head in an adamant NO.
"Asha is sleeping."
"I am showing this to you, not to her. Please. I need to do this for my own sanity."
"Why don't I take Asha with me?" Anjali quipped. "I will anyway sleep alone. She can be my company. That is of course, if you guys are okay with it."
Sometimes, all you need is few minutes to know and judge a person. Khushi had required just that to know about Anjali and she knew Asha would be safe and sound. She nodded, gratefully. "I am sure she would not trouble you. But she might ask for me, the first thing in the morning. Don't worry, we will be back soon and save you from that trouble." Anjali winked back at them and after many assurances, these two finally set off... to the location Khushi had in mind.
They passed through few quite streets, before entering into the traffic ridden streets which were clogged due to the heavy spell of rains. The car moved in a snail pace, making an already nervous Khushi, shift relentlessly in her seat... in anticipation and anxiousness. Arnav looked amused glancing at a flustered Khushi. He squeezed her hands and smiled at her, in an attempt to ease the tension out. "Don't smile like that." Arnav was completely taken aback at that. "Um, something wrong with my smile?" A very innocent and genuine question, yet it flustered her totally. "Please, don't fluster me further." He simply remained stoic, unable to comprehend what was happening. He whispered just these words, "I am with YOU, always, remember that". That seemed to calm her up a little as she relaxed back.
A house came into view, as the car turned into the street. The dead end indicated that his stop was nearing. "But where are we?" he mused silently. As they paid the driver, he spotted the rusted golden name plate which still gleamed under the moonlight. "Abhinayam." He read the name aloud, not understanding her feelings attached to every letter of that word. Her shivering fingers unlocked the iron lock that hung on the gate and pushed open the gate, as memories flooded back.
"Appa, naanum varen wait panunga. (Appa, I am also coming, wait for me.)
She rushed to her dad and together the four of them entered their new house to embrace new life and joy. She kissed the name plate and kept the kunkumam (vermillion) on it and smiled gleefully at her work.
She felt Arnav shake her and she pushed those thoughts away. Today was not the time delve into the threads of the past, but into the beautiful future that lay ahead for them. She grabbed his hand and crossed the threshold again, after almost a year.
He felt the need to comfort her, cooperate with her and most of all support her and he did just that. Nothing more, silently offering whatever he could and he can. He could see the sweat beads forming on her forehead. Her dainty fingers opened the wooden door and he coughed as an air of dust hit his nostrils. Her hands searched for the switch and very stealthily she found it out. Oddly, it did seem she knew the place and well. Only then did it hit him, it was her HOME. She had brought him to the place, she dreaded to go or ever dream of going after that day. It spread a warmth in his heart and pride filled his whole being. He was ecstatic to have finally found a place in her happiness and sorrows. Wasn't this he wanted? He was a contented man!
The light flooded through the hallway and he squinted his eyes trying to adjust his vision, before calling out to her softly. He could imagine a very happy Gupta family chatting away merrily. But alas, what stood there was few furniture and the walls. "This is my home Arnav." She whispered, her voice caressing the winds.
"This is where I was sitting and watching the TV with Asha, when I heard that dreadful news." She said pointing at the brown leather sofa. "After that text, I still held on to the last shreds of hope, before ultimately succumbing to depression and sorrow. For three days, I lead a robotic life. I was too numb to realize that everything was gone in a minute. I forgot Asha. In fact she supported me, urging me to eat. I was standing near that window, looking outside, when I made the decision. An impulsive decision was taken and we left for Connoor in the hope of finding something to hold on for the rest of our lives." She shivered involuntarily as she spoke of those days.
"Khushi you need not do this."
"I need to leave this behind me to start something new. I was scared that time. I thought someone will snatch my Asha from me. I was selfish, which is why I zeroed on Connoor, leaving behind all the other top cities. First few months in Connoor was pure hell for both of us. We both lived in a shell and the wall around Asha cracked up. But I still remained mechanical and that day we met. You remember? I was rushing to meet Asha as I had left her alone for a long time. I did not want to act as your guide, yet I was forced to. You very slowly seeped into both our hearts and when you for the first time swung Asha up in the air, I started respecting you. I was hearing Asha's real laughter after a long time. Your contrasting views on life, always triggered something in me. I was under the impression, you had a perfect life, unlike me, just because you were an optimist. My confused feelings for you, made me run away from you, until that day. I broke down in front of you and the rest you know. Today, if I am here again, then it is because of you and your undying support, care and love. Many a times I was not sure of this, of us. But every time you made me trust this. I owe you my life and something more for whatever you have done. For restoring me back to myself, for giving Asha's innocence to her. In short for everything you have done and..." She glanced at the clock. It was just few seconds before the clock would strike 12.
"Tomorrow is Diwali. It indicates that a whole year has passed since that day. I want to create new and better reflections on this day, for me and for us to cherish it always. I want to let go off my past. I want to fill it with better moments, with you."
Taking a deep breath, she uttered those words to him. He, who had acted as her midnight sunshine. "Arnav, I love you so much. Will you do the honor of being my husband?"
Arnav stood stunned. Her very heartfelt confession had overwhelmed him and her final words had thrown him off guard. He saw her waiting with bated breath. "Wasn't a man supposed to do this?" He mumbled. She appeared astonished. "Have I messed up everything?" She closed her eyes in dismay.
"I will do the honor of loving and cherishing both you and Asha. I will do the honor of being your husband, if you promise to be my wife."And with that, he went on his knees.
"Will you?"
Tears of happiness streamed down her cheeks as she whispered a barely audible yes. She flew into his waiting arms, as he embraced her tightly, never to let her go. She had not planned on telling him like this, nor had he. But it felt right and the best thing to do. There were no regrets. He cupped her face and wiped those smudgy spots and kissed those tears away. "Asha?" His single word made her love this man more, her man more. Her mind flew back to her morning's conversation.
"Asha, unkita onnu kekata? (Asha, shall I ask you something?)"
Asha nodded unsure of how to react. "Epdi irukkum, na, nee, Arnav uncle sendhu ore veetla iruntha, onna? (How will it be if you, me and Arnav uncle stay in one house together?)"
She looked up at Khushi, as those words sank in. She had then sauntered happily into Khushi's waiting arms with a gleeful nod.
Khushi pulled him towards her, her love for her man overflowing. His arms around her waist tightened, just as hers did around his neck. He placed his lips on hers and their lips moved in perfect sync, each fighting for dominance and possession. What started as a gentle kiss had turned into something ruled by passion and love. The fireworks started in the background marking the beginning of Diwali. Their love story had started at the right time. The nature had itself provided the perfect opening. The two of them stood their lost in each other's arms as love overflowed bridging the gap.
*
Her trembling fingers lifted her family's traditional necklace to wear. A thin film of tears pricked her eyes on her D- Day. She never expected things to happen this way. She looked no less than a princess. Just like her Appa would have loved. Her Amma would have been ecstatic seeing the big maroon bindhi adorning her forehead. Her Paati would have been happy seeing that her hair was decorated with Jasmine flowers. Her akka's wish of seeing a complete Madisaar (traditional Brahmin style of tying saree) type Khushi would have been fulfilled. Her reflection screamed of a girl head over heels in love with her man, but she represented a girl full of yearning. She needed him and her little girl.
Just then a knock sounded on the door, distracting her from her wayward thoughts. She opened the door only to find Arnav looking handsome in the traditional pancha kaccham (Traditional dhoti for boys). A small gasp left her mouth, clearly indicating her astonishment. He really wore that! Asha stood their twirling in her pattu pavadai (traditional Lehenga Choli without any Dupatta).
"Shall we?" Arnav's outstretched hand pulled her out of her reverie. "Arnav But?"
"Khushi, I promised to leave no stone un-turned to give you the' wedding, you deserve. We cannot bring them back, but we can change the tradition to suit our marriage. Come on."
She knew whom he was referring to as 'them'. She placed her hands atop his, allowing him to lead her to the altar. Her left hand was tightly held by Asha. Confidence and an ocean of hope had resurfaced back. The Pandit ask them to recite the mantras and made Arnav hold Khushi's hand. The Kanyadaanam started and Asha came forward. Khushi was surprised, yet elated. She could not help but hug her little niece. Asha gave her hand to Arnav and both of them promised something with each other's eyes, which none in the hall could understand, including Khushi. It was their special language. It was understood only by them and that was more than enough.
Arnav returned his assurance to Khushi's father, imagining that he was there giving away his daughter. He promised that he shall remain for ever her companion in joy and sorrow, in this life and life after. Khushi was given the new saree called Koorai, the maroon color saree serving as a personification of the goddess.
A shy Khushi made her way, yet agin to the altar at the auspicious time, when Arnav tied the sacred Mangalyam (Mangalsutra) around her neck. Anjali came forward to tie the last two knots. These three knots secured their bond for seven lives. The Nadaswaram (Musical instrument) played loudly in the background to muffle any inauspicious sounds. Arnav wiped off those tears that had leaked from Khushi's eyes. The blessings of everyone present was showered on the couple.
He held her hand as they took seven steps around the holy fire. With every step, they took a vow to reaffirm the bond they had newly formed.
The first step for a happy and wealthy life.
The second step to develop physical, mental and spiritual powers.
The third to increase our wealth by diligence and righteousness.
The fourth to acquire knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual love and trust.
The fifth as a prayer for strong, virtuous and loving children.
The sixth to promise to care for each other for a long life together.
Finally, the seventh step to be true companions and remain partners by this marriage.
Placing Khushi's left feet on his thigh, Arnav slipped the metti (Toe ring) into her toes, which marked the end of the ceremony.
Anjali, Payal and Aakash came forward to hug the newly weds, shouting words of congratulations, as a cake was brought for them to cut. Together, they cut the cake to step into their new phase. Many memories were made to wipe off old bittersweet moments.
Asha giggled at her blushing Chithi, who was all red. "Ipo na Arnav 'uncle' nu koopda maaten. (Now, I won't call Arnav as Uncle.)" Every face turned silent, waiting curiously to know why the girl had declared so.
"Chithappa (Mausa) nu koopduven. (I will call him as Mausa)" A round of laughter broke out at that. Even those who failed to understand the language, could clearly grasp what Asha had told.
"Yes, clever girl." Anjali ruffled her hair as Asha beamed at the sudden praise thrown at her.
Arnav lifted his hope and pulled his happiness into his circle of joy, as the photographer asked them to smile and there a perfect picture of hope, happiness and ocean merging was created.
**
Epilogue
Click of the Day:
Phew my longest ever. 4000+. So, we are done with the last chapter of Midnight Sunshine. We officially close down with an Epilogue, which for your kind information is short. I am not writing more as I do not want to drag the story and give a meaningless closure. Please refer the next post for information regarding my next story. Thanks a ton for every single comment. I read them and i really loved them! You guys are the best. Sorry to break your hearts, NO suhaag raat. That proves my inefficiency as a writer. LOL. I know I am pathetic. Do guess what we will have in the Epilogue! This click was not taken in Connoor, but in Chennai. We did move around in Chennai na? So, hope it makes sense.
Did any of you notice that I have highlighted something in red? If you haven't, please do.
Hues of Happiness is a wonderful piece of work by mints23. If you guys have liked my pathetic work, you will adore that. She has spun a wonderful tale of an Artist Arnav and his Muse, Khushi. You will revel in the magic of the story. Trust me, I have never recommended any fiction. This is a first and usage of these three words in my update is my way of showing my love for her story.
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