OS: A Very Special Rasam

Before you guys start reading, you should know, this OS is a culmination of my dreams, not only mine but lots of people of this forum. Few days back, I was in the LU thread, where the girls were discussing Dhruv , Bihaan and Thapki's unique relationship. Rabi,Sakshi, Sanya, Mouli, Namu, Porshi, Archu (few more I think) were all there, discussing how much they wanted to see a brother-sister relationship in the serial. So thanks to them. Bas I started to have sparks in my brain. This OS is actually a continuation to my other two OSs. OS : Night of the Masquerade and OS: A Devar-Bhabi Romance. But you guys can read this standalone as well. Just know that Bihaan knows about Dhruv's truth and playing along pretending he doesn't know anything.

A Very Special Rasam

Suman and Preity couldn't stop giggling as they helped Thapki get ready for her Haldi Rasam.

"Bihaan devarji will surely go mad seeing you today." Suman teased as she placed the bindi on Thapki's forehead.

"He is already gone mad---" Preity said suppressing a giggle " --- in love. "

At that precise moment, an impatient knock sounded at the door.

"Bhabi, ho gaya kya? Aur kitna time lagega?" Bihaan enquired from outside exasperatingly.

Preity and Suman bhabi burst into laughter while Thapki turned beetroot. Bihaan was outside the door since last 30 mins knocking every 5 mins.

"Devarji, please have patience, we are making your dulhaan beautiful for you." Suman said between giggles.

"My dulhaan is already very beautiful. Thank you. No need to make her more so..."Thapki was astounded hearing Bihaan's cheekiness.

"Achcha aisa hai kya? Bihaan devarji are you saying your wife is more beautiful than us?" Preity bhabi finally opened the door and asked trying to be firm.

Bihaan's gaze shifted behind Preity's shoulder to the dressing table mirror in front of which his wife was sitting looking like a fairy, Suman bhabi still fussing over her. His heart constricted.

"Nehi, Nehi Bhabi, maine aisa kab kaha? You and Suman bhabi are the world's two most beautiful woman. No one can compare to your beauty." Bihaan said not removing his eyes from his wife. His Thapki was looking so beautiful. He sighed.

"Achcha, then what about Badi Sasuma?? You don't think she is beautiful?"

"Yes, yes, Ma is very beautiful, most beautiful of all." Bihaan said trying to get past her into the room, eyes still on his Thapki. But Preity bhabi kept standing blocking his way.

"Wait till I tell Dadima, you implied she is old and not beautiful anymore."

"Arey Bhabi maine aisa kab kaha? Let me pass please...Dadima is still Miss Universe. Let me see her properly please."

Preity bhabi turned around still blocking Bihaan's entry and said in a loud voice.

"See Thapki, are you sure you want to marry such a man? Who thinks everyone is prettier than his own wife? You still have chance Thapki...deny him."

Suman and Preity laughed out loud.

"I didn't say that..." Bihaan murmured and ran his fingers through his hair looking sheepish at his bhabis' teasing.

"No?" Priety bhabi still kept on teasing Bihaan.

"Bhabi please, let me come in and look at my wife." He requested again.

"WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?"

Bihaan and Preity bhabi jumped at Dadima's roar. Dadima came closer to Bihaan and slapped his head.

"Besharam, can't you wait a little longer? Thapki is not running away anywhere...she is your wife."

"That's what I am saying Dadima, she is already my wife, why can't I meet her?" Bihaan said grumpily.

"Ek thappad padega na tab akkal thikane ayegi. You can see her your heart's content after your wedding vows. Now go away. Shoo shoo"

Vasu came running at that time.

"Preity Bahu , is Thapki ready yet? Everyone is waiting downstairs." Vasu looked at Bihaan who was standing sulkily not granted permission to meet his wife.

"Hayye, my son is looking so handsome. Kisi ki buri nazar na lag jaye mere puttar ko" Vasu gasped and put a kala teeka from her kajal behind Bihaan's ear.

"Haan Badi Sasuma,we are almost finished, we will bring Thapki down in two minutes."

"Vasu bahu take your Motibuddhi with you. He is disturbing Thapki, not letting her get ready."

Vasu looked at Bihaan who made a puppy face at her. Vasu looked undecided for a second then she turned to her mother-in law.

"Sasuma, I need to tell you something, there are some changes in plan."

"Huh? What changes?"

"I will tell you come down with me...Bihaan come with us too...Preity and Suman bahu will bring Thapki now. Don't worry... she will be in front of your eyes in minutes."

ps. Thapki's look

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There were days that suck. Then there were days that seemed like the whole universe was conspiring against you. Today was such a day for Dhruv Pandey. Nothing was going as he planned. Dhruv gritted his teeth. He had so many plans for today, but nothing came to fruition.

First he planned an accident on the raised platform where Bihaan was supposed to sit for his haldi, across the room from Thapki so that he got injured a bit. Just injured enough to stop the function. But when Dhruv came down, he saw the plan had changed and the bride and groom were to be seated together and everyone would be applying haldi on them together.

He tried to protest, saying custom didn't allow bride and groom to see each other in the haldi rasam. But mother shushed him and said it was for everyone's betterment. Thus he cancelled his plan, he couldn't hurt his Thapki after all.

In his next plan, he poisoned the Bride and Groom's haldi with a chemical his friend provided which was supposed to create rashes on skin...The haldi rasam started and he waited and waited for reaction to begin. But Bihaan and Thapki seemed to be in great mood laughing merrily showing no sign of distress so far. What the hell was happening? Maybe the chemical was expired, he would surely kill his friend for giving him such a third grade poison. He punched the wall feeling helpless.

"Dhruv devarji, why are you lurking in the corridor like that?" Suman bhabi came and before Dhruv could protest applied a dollop of haldi on his face. "Have you applied haldi on dulha dulhan yet? Go Go..everyone applied already...go now only you left I think. " Suman bhabi pushed Dhruv into the living room where the function was going on. Dhruv turned to wash the haldi off his face, disgusted with himself.

"Ah Bhai" Bihaan came jauntingly towards him. "Where have you been?? Why haven't you applied haldi on us yet? Everyone did except you...your blessing is very important to us..." Bihaan said.

"Yes Bihaan, I am sorry, I got delayed...by some work. What are you doing walking around? Aren't you supposed to sit?"

"Yes everyone finished applying so I thought of stretching my legs."

"Okay do that, I will come to you guys in a second, I need to use the washroom." Dhruv turned to leave. Blessings my foot!

When Dhruv returned he saw Bihaan was talking to his gang of friends who seemed to be irritatingly all over the house since morning. If he didn't know better he would have thought they were spying on him, everywhere he turned he saw one of them loitering near. Anyways, Thapki was sitting alone looking like a doll and everyone around her was busy doing something. Dhruv saw his golden opportunity and seized it.

"Thapki you take my breath away. You are so beautiful"

Thapki's face turned to stone listening to Dhruv's compliment.

"I forgave you for what you did to me last night. You have become very naughty recently. I like that."

"You m-make me wanna puke." Thapki said waspishly.

"Your spunk turns me on" Dhruv said insolently and bend to take a good measure of haldi from the bowl.

"Don't even t-think about touching me. I will s-scream." Thapki looked around to see where Bihaan was.

"Do it. Scream. I dare you to make a scene. Have you forgotten your precious Bihaan's reputation lies on my hand?"

Dhruv moved his hand to apply the haldi on Thapki's cheek smiling salaciously. But before his hand could touch Thapki's face someone gripped his hand hard.

"Kya Bhai, you are not being fair..." Still holding Dhruv's hand, Bihaan smiled though his eyes looked cold. Bihaan sat on his place and tugged Dhruv towards him. His friends just informed what Dhruv had done. Bihaan had asked his friends to discreetly keep an eye on Dhruv. They just informed Bihaan that Dhruv had poisoned the haldi, which thankfully his friends exchanged before it could reach them. Bihaan was still reeling from that information, when he saw Dhruv trying to put his grubby hands on his Thapki. He felt like ripping Dhruv's head off.

Instead he smiled.

"I am your brother, I have right on you first... not this girl. You should apply haldi on me first." Saying that, Bihaan made Dhruv apply haldi on his cheek instead.

"Thanks Bhai, your blessing means a lot to me." Bihaan turned to Thapki and said dramatically, "Have you ever wondered, what if Dhruv was not here? You and me would have never met if not for him and fallen in love. So be prepared to do today's evening rasam very sincerely Thapki."

"What's happening this evening?" Dhruv asked looking irked.

"Another rasam bhai. You will love it. Ashwin and Sanjay Bhaiya are already making plans." Bihaan said and put his hand around Thapki's bare waist.

"Bihaan you shouldn't meet Thapki like this. After Haldi rasam Dulha Dulhan should not meet at any instance."

"Oh tush , Bhai...we are already married, these rasams are just for show and to make the elders happy, for their peace of mind." Bihaan brought Thapki closer, "Waise ek baat bolu? " Bihaan said conspiratorially to Dhruv, "I have made such a foolproof plan, Thapki will not be out of my sight more than two minutes and Ma will make sure of that."

"Ma will help you?? She and the elders want you to stay away from Thapki until wedding." Dhruv said not believing for a second.

"Naah...not anymore." Bihaan said smugly. "Look, Ma made us sit together in haldi too."

"What did you do?" Dhruv asked skeptically.

"You know about Ma's recent nightmares right?? And to top that, the little accidents which seemed to follow me around?? I told Ma, I saw a dream where I was dying but Thapki came at the last moment and saved me like my protector. Then I told her how much I am scared of dying and always feel like something bad is going to happen to me any moment. Bas!! Ma bought my story. She ordered me not to leave Thapki's side even for a minute. Thapki is now my official raksha kawach from devils. Ma thinks only Thapki can save me from harm. Am I or am I not smart?" Bihaan winked at Dhruv.

"Huh..." Dhruv looked poleaxed, "Smart... right..." Dhruv turned to leave.

"Dhruv---" Dhruv turned back, " You forgot to apply haldi to Thapki... Never mind you already wiped your hand" Saying that Bihaan brought his cheek to Thapki's cheek and rubbed gently transferring the haldi. It was such an intimate gesture, Dhruv felt like someone was piercing a stake through his heart.

Bihaan rubbed his nose to Thapki's nose and said gently, while Dhruv looked on, "Now you have Dhruv's blessings on you too Thapki...he may forget to apply haldi on you directly but I put his haldi on you. Bas this evening take his blessings properly."

"What is going to happen this evening?" Dhruv croaked like a frog.

"Thapki needs some raksha kawach for herself as well. So, Ma is arranging a kind of bhai dooj rasam for her and her brothers, who will act as her raksha kawach protecting her from harm."

"Bhai dooj?" Dhruv felt faint.

"Yes, Thapki will perform aarti and apply teeka on her brothers, namely, Sanjay Bhaiya, Ashwin Bhaiya and YOU. They are so excited. You are excited too, I can tell."

Dhruv kept looking like he had just taken the ice bucket challenge.

"So bhai, be ready with cash and gifts to bless your sister this evening. She can't wait." Bihaan smiled innocently.

"Can't wait, D-d-hruv Bhaiya." Thapki nodded happily.

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