ArHi FF:Then you look at me...Thd3 Epilogue up! - Page 18

Thank you all for your undying support. You don't know how happy and loved I feel when I read your loving comments and likes. 😃 [ROZI and Kruts!! You haven't commented on my previous update, and I'm heavily miffed at you both!!! 😡]

I've to inform you that I'll be ending this FF within 3 or 4 parts. And then I'll concentrate on my other work, "Covetous Love"

I hope to see the same amount of love for my future works too. . . . . . 😳

Part 34:

It was the day of Mehndi and the same evening would be the Sangeet function. And when Khushi woke up, her leg stung a little, making her frown. It was her marriage and she couldn't afford to allow the pain to spoil it! All the continuous sitting with Aditya had taken its toll, she thought. Though Arnav had told her not to sit continuously, she hadn't been able to help it.

She was about to stretch out when Payal and Anjali came in, teasing her about how Arnav was so impatient to get married. Aditya, who entered next, heard the ribbing and made a disgusted face. "Eww!!! You women are worse than us guys!!" He said in a huff as he almost ran out, leaving the three amused women behind.

Khushi dressed herself in a simple lehenga and choli. It was all good, but the back of the choli was held together by a dori just below her shoulders and a patch of cloth which had to be hooked at her waist.

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As Khushi had taken a shower, she let her hair loose and pulled it over her shoulder, leaving her back to an unobstructed view.

The mehndi function started when Nani did the honors of starting a design. Soon all the important women in both Raizada family and the Gupta family did the same and the beauticians took over, and started adorning her palms and fore arms with beautiful designs.

"We'll put ASR in the middle of your palm. That's your husband's name, right?" asked one of the girl who was swiftly drawing amazing designs over her palm.
"No!!" Khushi almost screeched as the beautician looked at Khushi with wide eyes.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you! Just put Arnav. . . . . Only Arnav will do." Khushi said sheepishly, and blushed. Anjali who had been looking on felt very happy for her brother. May be Khushi was the only person here, other than herself, who could see through the ASR facade Arnav had so perfectly put up, and look at the genuine, warm "Arnav" that he actually was.

All the male members of both the families had been shooed away, as Mehndi was fully a women's affair. By the afternoon though, they all started to arrive, and Arnav who had been to work even after a lot of complaining from Anjali entered to find the almost bare back of Khushi being flaunted in front of him. He smirked as he tilted his head and took in every small details of her, and Khushi didn't turn around even after she felt his heated gaze on her, wishing he couldn't see the blush which was spreading all over!

The stringy thing that were dangling down the choli were irritating him by interrupting his view. And he'd have probably ripped it off if it weren't for the hordes of women who sat there. Well not actually hordes. As many of them had left after having lunch. But all the women who mattered were there. 'And since when do you actually care for the other women??!!' A voice sneered in his head, and he replied back, 'I don't! But Khushi does!!' and he scrunched his nose a little at the thought of marrying a Ms.Goody goody!

"Chotay!!" Anjali beamed at him, as he gave a small smile to his sister, and looked at Khushi who had turned to look at him too. She kept her arms away in an awkward angle as they had delicate designs of mehndi adorned throughout her forearms. He gave his laptop and jacket to HP, and went to sit next to her, as he put his arm around her shoulder, ignoring the audience. Even Khushi didn't seem to mind, as she leaned on him, holding her arms in front of him so that he could see the mehndi.

"It looks beautiful on you, child." Arnav said, meant only for her hearing, as he ran his free hand across the almost dry mehndi now, and looked into her smiling eyes, and the all the family members cleared their throats, suddenly aware of the electricity that ran in between them. Arnav gritted his teeth, clearly irritated by the disturbance, and Khushi gave him a mock glare, telling him no to say anything.

Arnav sighed, looking exasperated, as he got up to go and change. Khushi went to remove the dry mehndi too, and tried to sneak into Arnav's room, but was stopped by Aditya!
"Adi!!! I've given you so many chances to be alone with Mya, and this is how you help me??!!" Khushi asked, feigning a distraught face. She could already see the shadow of doubt as he considered allowing her to go and talk to his brother. By that time though, Arnav had come out to see who it was, and he said in a grim voice, "What's going on?"

"Look Arnav! Your brother isn't allowing me to come in!!!" Khushi complained like a small kid, making Arnav almost laugh out loud! But he stifled it and gave the signature ASR glare, making Aditya flinch back as if he was being physically hurt!

After he was out of the way, Khushi went into the awaiting arms of Arnav, as she said, "You know, sometimes, I feel really proud that I fell in love with a Raakshas!!"
Arnav pulled her inside, and shut the door behind her, as he said with an evil glint in his eyes, "So you think I'm a Rakshas, eh??" Khushi simply nodded and said, "MY Raakshas!"

Arnav smiled as he kissed her once on her lips, "Hmm... I like the sound of it..."
"You BETTER!!" Khushi ordered as she stood on her tiptoes and started a proper kiss, only to be interrupted when the door opened, and in strode an angry Anjali, not even bothering to show her embarrassment as she spotted the two of them shoving their tongues down each other's throat.

"You're coming with me Khushi, like NOW!!" she said as she pulled Khushi away.
"But Di!!!" Arnav started to object, when she held her hand up to stop him. "I agreed to arrange the whole marriage thing for your sake within such a short notice!! Can't you just NOT put your hands on Khushi for two more nights???!!!" Anjali asked, as Arnav bent his head like a guilty kid, who was getting a telling from his mother. Khushi looked on helplessly as she freed her wrist from Anjali's grip, as she said, "Di. Just a minute. Not more than that. Please!"

Anjali nodded grudgingly, as she went out, and they both could hear Aditya yelling, "Just like that??!! You left them?! Bhai almost gave me a death threat!!" to which Anjali muttered a "Shut up, Aditya"
"Yeah right! Nobody cares about me!! I'll go back to Bangalore!!" Aditya yelled as he went down the passage.

Arnav and Khushi rolled their eyes, as they chuckled and went into each other's arms. Khushi's arms around his neck, and his around her waist, stroking the bare skin there. "Go and get ready, child." Arnav said after a while. Khushi nodded as she let go of him, and he kissed her hair once before he let her go too.

---ooo---

Arnav and Khushi sat on the settee and watched as the Sangeet ceremony was enjoyed by all of the family as they sang and danced, along with the other guests, and had loads of fun. Khushi looked stunning in an off white lehega choli, whereas Arnav wore a simple sherwani of almost the same color.

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Khushi enjoyed a lot too, but her leg had started hurting badly, as all she had done since the morning was sit! And each time, pain shot up her leg, she would stiffen. It was more difficult with Arnav right beside her, as she knew he could read her like an open book! And when he caught her clutching at her leg, she had persuade him a LOT to stop him from stopping the Sangeet ceremony then and there!

As the ceremony was over, all the guests left one by one, until the only people left were the family members. Aakash had been grim and silent all the while and this bothered Khushi. Aditya had consoled Khushi that it'd be soon alright.

Arnav had gone to change. Khushi and Aditya sat at the dining table, chatting and teasing each other. Aakash came to fill the jug of water and Aditya jerked his head, pointing at Aakash and told Khushi to go and talk to him.

"Jiju. . . ." Khushi approached him, and saw Aakash's shoulders stiffen. "You've still not forgiven me, have you??" Khushi asked.

"You tell me, Khushi. If the person you loved, suddenly stopped trusting you, because of somebody else's fault, would you forgive that somebody?" Aakash turned to her and said in a low voice. And as Khushi went ahead and put her hand on his arm, Aakash rudely jerked away, causing Khushi to almost topple over, as pain shot up her leg at the exact moment.

"Di!!" Aditya rushed to her, and held her as she clutched at her leg, waiting for the pain to recede.
"What immature behavior is this, Bhai? Bade Bhaiyya loves Khushi Di!! Isn't that a reason enough for you to accept her?! Yes. We were all miffed at her because of what happened to Arnav Bhai. But if they both are ready to move on, what's your problem??!!" Aditya yelled at his brother.

"Aditya!" Khushi stopped him, and Aditya bent his head and stopped his ranting.
"Look, jiju. I know you have every right to be angry at me. Hell!! I myself can't seem to forgive myself for doing that to Arnav. So I'm not expecting you to do anything like that. You could at least be civil, you know? It would bother Arnav, otherwise. I'm going to bed now. Good night both of you." Khushi said, and was about to leave, when Aakash called her.

"You are like my own sister, Khushi! Are you telling me that a brother can't even be mad at his sister for doing the craziest thing like leave him? I missed you, you know??" Aakash said as he went to stand in front of her, his eyes moist, and they both hugged each other as Khushi broke down. "I missed you too..." Khushi managed to say in between her sobs. Aditya rushed to them and hugged both of them as he grinned widely and said, "My crazy family!!!"

Arnav who had witnessed the whole scene, smiled to himself, thinking how Khushi had so easily been woven to their family, and was loved by all of them! But he came to the kitchen with a stern face, and asked, "What's going on??"

Aditya managed to move both Aakash and Khushi to where Arnav was standing, forcing him to join in too! Arnav rolled his eyes, and smiled before he hugged his siblings and his life. . . . . . . . .

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Hope you liked it! And y'all know what to do if you did!!! 😉 😆