Next day at the mandap everyone were busy running around with the preparations of both the weddings. It was decided that Arnav and Khushi should finish the rituals first followed by Akash and Payal as Arnav was the eldest. Anjali was in a wheelchair near the stage with Shyam standing behind her helpless. He was out of words and out of plan to do anything and after great dilema and thinking thought it would be best to leave things as they go at least for now. So, he went about the usual acts of a caring husband etc., pushing the wheelchair. Arnav was sitting at the stage in front of the first wearing a white colored Kurta with maroon colored intricate thread work in them. Akash had made a last min purchase for both his Bhai and Bhabhi. On Anjali's constant stare and instructions from beside Arnav was following the directions of the pandit performing the rituals and waiting to just get over it. When the pandit asked them to bring in the bride, Arnav's heart went a flip-flop, he never knew that he was bored all this time with the rituals only since he did not have Khushi beside him. She was brought in accompanied by some of her cousins and her mother. She was dressed in a maroon colored saree which complimented his dress though Arnav could not see her face he was able to imagine how the color would look like on her. How her eyes would shine in contrast to her dress color. Khushi came and sat beside him with her head bent. Arnav was brought out of trance when the pandit asked both of them to extend their hands together and sacrifice the dry rice to the fire. When they both extended their hands, Khushi was asked to place her palms on top of Arnav's palms. The touch sent a jolt sensation to both. After few mins, the pandit gave the mangalsutra to Arnav and asked him to tie it on Khushi's neck. Arnav's hand shivered when he got the chain from the pandit. Never in his wakeful dream or otherwise had he ever thought that he will get married, let alone to Khushi and that too following all the customary rituals. To his surprise, he felt good about everything, especially food about the face tha tKhushi would be his better half. He brought the chain near her neck, but suddenly felt a great urge that he needed reassurance that this is what she also wanted. When he was about to tie it he softly called "Khushi", so softly that only she could hear. Khushi felt a jolt hearing that voice and looked up staring straight into his eyes. Arnav tied the mangalsutra looking into those big brown eyes into which he had deeply fallen out of his own will and never wanted to come out. His hand slightly brushed her neck when he tied it, when he was having difficulty tying it at the back, Khushi's mother Garima who was standing right back came for help, but with a reflex Arnav said "No...let me do it..." Garima stood back and Arnav wanted to finish wat he started fully without help and utterly taking it into his mind that Khushi will be his responsibility after this. As per the pandit's instructions he filled her maang again with the sindhoor. When he was filling it the fact that her forehead still bore the color of the sindhoor that he had filled sday at the hospital did not go unnoticed by him. They took the pheres then (the seven rounds) promising all those things mentioned. When they finished the seven rounds. Arnav finally accepted to himself "YES I'VE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH MY WIFE."
The couple got down the stage to get their blessings from Nani, and other Raizada family memebrs, then Khushi's and went to Anjali whose eyes had the special light and tears of happiness. "Im so happy chotey! the happiness that you've brought me today by bringing my bhabhi, I couldnt ask anything more other than your happiness" with that she gave her mother's kangan to Arnav and asked him to put it on Khushi's hands. He took it. When Khushi extended her hand and Arnav took hold of her hand only then did he notice that she was wearing the same bangles that he had got for her on the night of the accident. He looked at her in surprise. The surprise was first, because she had worn wat he got for her and secondly why she was wearing it as the color did not match very well with the saree that she was wearing today. Khushi as though understanding his question without words looked at him and said, "this was the first gift that u got me and they are so special for me. i wanted to wear something that you personally chose for me on this special day, so i did so though (she smiled shyly) i had complaints from my mom that the color is not suiting the saree." Arnav was so overwhelmed with love that he just wanted to hug and kiss her right there. He would have done so, but keeping in mind the circumstances he thought that would be the first thing i do when i get her alone. His eyes were moist with the touching concern that she had shown and with a warm loving smile he slipped the kangans in Khushi's hands and was not surprised to find that they were a perfect fit.
THANK U TONS AGAIN FOR YOUR LOVING RESPONSES...PLS KEEP DOING SO...
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