FF-'Trust me, I am with you'- Promo pg 149 - Page 91

Part 30

She called arjun after they left. She had to tell him, she was not backing off now. An elated arjun hurried his folks to do the necessary. Daadi wanted to take Arohi to buy the wedding clothes and jewelry. Kumud wanted to give a shagun first. Everyone got hyper and excited including Rudra. Raashi called up jignesh and asked him to there as early as possible. Arjun called up jay and his friends asking them to come support him.

Arohi sat with guddi and tried to explain what arjun meant to her. She explained with gestures that arjun is a best friend to her like how guddi has friends at school. Still when guddi wasnt convinced, she joined hands with guddi and said she is her best friend, and then showed and imaginary arjun and also said he is our best friend. 'you, me and arjun ok?' she asked her. Then she started to make arrangements for arjun's family that were going to come in the evening. Guddi understood they were having guests and got excited. even before it was time she put on her best dress and waited in her usual spot on the sofa, spic and trim. Her outburst from the morning had suddenly calmed down with all the dressing up.

Arohi was dressed by bua, like a would be bride, Arjun who accompanied daadi, his parents and raashi arrived early evening. It had only been 2 days they were engaged and already the shagun had come. Bua and daadi did all the necessary talking about the arrangements. Guddi was staring at them. Arjun got up and came to sit next to guddi. She moved aside a little. He said hello to her. He called arohi and told her, 'me and guddi are one team ok?' 'what about me?' she asked, he looked at guddi and asked if she can be included. Guddi was not yet ready to warm up so she did not shake hands with him to confirm the team mate thing. Kumud called arohi and raashi came to arjun, she sat in between guddi and arjun and gave a hug to her. She kissed guddi's cheek and said 'love you'. Guddi beamed from ear to ear. Arjun was yet to break the ice and make friendship with her.

Kumud and Rudra blessed both the would be bride and groom and praised their son's choice, which made arjun raise his collar looking at arohi. Daadi gave arohi a saree and some jewelry, guddi a dress and matching jewelry and to bua and family too they had brought clothes and sweets. It was their only sons wedding they were going to celebrate. Guddi was still not over the sudden acquirement of her new dress, when raashi said they would now go shopping to buy more stuff. Rudra , kumud, daadi and bua went in one car. Raashi, arjun arohi and guddi in one. When they reached the vehicle, raashi sat in the back and arohi was going to sit in the front opening back door for guddi, Arjun signalled guddi to come and sit in the front seat next to him. He showed her the music system and patted on the seat next to him. It was a tempting attraction for the girl. She immediately moved from the back seat door and went in while arohi came to the back. Arjun then held his hand to guddi, who this time shook it. He then stuck his tongue out at raashi and arohi who glared at the front riders. Guddi giggled at them. Raashi twisted her mouth at arjun and shook hands with arohi, forming a new team. Guddi was not upset, she got to sit in the front was all that mattered to her right now.

Arjun showed extra care to guddi rest of the day, which thrilled her. He bought the dress she put her hand on. Arjun's attention to her was making guddi to again warm up to him like before. Arohi was smiling all the while. He caught her looking at him and his eyes turned naughty, causing arohi to turn her glance. He asked raashi to be with guddi and reached arohi who was standing near a mirrored pillar. "waiting for me" he asked she just had to look at him and an urge to hug her immediately left him restless. Seeing his reactions arohi found it safe to go away from there. But Arjun was too quick for her. Within a flash he had pulled her behind the pillar and gave a quick peck on her lips. She gasped loudly , red with embarassment, she looked here and there and looked angrily at Arjun, who was beaming. Before he could bend down to get more intimate she fled from there and reached Raashi. Seeing her red face and Arjun coming from behind almost immediately made Raashi to raise an eyebrow at Arohi and wink. "Is my brother troubling you?' she asked. Arohi stammered 'no, he , err I , we were just looking at some clothes', she had never in her dreams expected that she will be kissed in a public place, while she wanted to feel angry at arjun she was feeling otherwise. 'mmhmmm , I can see, was the color red? coz you look all red' rasshi teased her. Arjun coughed 'yes it was red, you want to see it, it is on the other side of that pillar, u can take guddi with you , me and arohi will go upstairs to take a look at the jewelry' this direct asking to leave them both alone, made raashi to laugh out loud, 'arohi I hope you know my brother is the most besharam of the men' she then told him 'handle her with care' 'I know how to and what to handle' he replied to her, Arohi was only grateful no one was there to hear it, the sales girl was busy in a corner taking out some stuff, the rest were busy looking at something else. 'thank god' she thought. She had no idea as much naughty Arjun is, Raashi could match up to the same in teasing.

She wanted to be with guddi, but guddi seemed to be very much comfortable with Raashi and she did not wait for Arohi. 'want to come upstairs with me?' he asked 'me , no here is fine' 'dont worry I wont do anything' he said cheekily, she turned away. He came close to her 'angry?' 'u know this is public place and still' 'when I see u I forget where we are' he defended his move 'even raashi saw what u did' 'what did I do?' 'Arjunnn' 'arey it was a little incentive I took for being so understanding (raised his collar), forget raashi, she did some guesswork thats all' 'what if someone saw us' 'but noone did, if they did they will know we are new in love'. She was not satisfied with his answer 'only while new in love?' she was about to argue, but the elderly gang reached them. 'so did you select anything' he changed the subject.

'Arohi beta, we want to buy you the wedding dress and jewelry for wedding day' Arohi wanted to be clear on one thing 'Daadi I want to wear my mother's jewels' there was no one to oppose that and it was decided they will buy her to wear for the reception. Together they started looking for her lehenga and Arjun selected a gorgeous maroon with gold thread work on it for her, His eyes sparkled imagining Arohi in it. The look on his face told her he liked it. Without a second thought she said yes to it. She was going to guard it will all her heart. She found the choli not to be of her liking, in the back it had 4 doris and a small strip with just two hooks, with bit of low neck in the front. But the lehenga was his choice, how was she supposed to tell in front of all that she found the choli design bit too revealing. Then she convinced herself she would be having the pallu to go around it. She knew it was not so uncommon but she had never worn such. Arjun who did not observe any of it, exclaimed at the colour and the work on the lehanga, and got giggles from others 'you didnot show even 1% interest to select your sherwani' raashi teased again, 'that she will select for me, this I select for her' he said without blinking an eye. Guddi who was next to her was smitten by the color. Arohi realised even she wanted one such thing. Before she could ask, Arjun already got the sales girl to show some beautiful one in the same color to guddi. Arohi was taken by surprise that he understood just by her small gesture, and she did not even had to spell it out. Guddi was very much pleased that arohi was with her most of the time, she got lot of gifts, arjun treated her with privilege, raashi adored her. She showed both lehengas and said hers was more beautiful. Arjun immediately agreed. Arohi was relieved that guddi's was more appropriate suitable for a little girl. She was feeling shy already thinking she will be in the form of a bride and she held the bridal wear in her hand as her most prized possession.

They went upstairs to buy jewelry for all ladies. A sherwani was bought for Arjun, he made sure Arohi selected it. An ivory with gold and maroon that matched with the maroon of her dress. He knew that was the one the moment Arohi asked them to show it.

While they were getting down 'I should get another incentive for being understanding again, this time a better one' he whispered to her trying to put a hand on her waist, she dodged him before he did, 'no incentives, not until..' she bit her tongue 'not until? oohhh I am so excited to know, tell me arohi, not until when..' he said in an overly excited tone and chuckled as Arohi took the steps faster.

Next stop was the vineyard. She heard arjun and his dad discuss about how another bidder was very close to buying it and that Arjun outbid him eventually. Rudra was proud of Arjun's new property. They went in to see how and where things should be done. Here too Arohi made sure she was with guddi and showed her around. They then came to the vineyard and took a stroll. Arjun wanted to grab the first opportunity available, but the little incident at the shop and the bridal fever had arohi escape his every attempt. One last attempt and he succeded, when everyone went upstairs to survey the rooms, he pulled into a big kitchen. 'escaping from me? for how long?' 'arjun everyone is here' she said in a shaky tone. She didnot want him to leave her at the same time worried if anyone came there. 'did you like the one I chose for you' 'mmhmm' she said nodding, 'u know how beautiful you will look, will wear it all day, I mean even for...' arohi knew what he wanted to say, she could hardly reply to him 'arohi will you', without waiting for her reply he kissed her, this time it was not a quick peck. she clung to his shirt and made little attempt to free herself. encouraged he pulled her closer and kissed further. when she felt a sting on her lowerlip her grip on his shirt tightened and she felt her whole form become weak. When he left her lips, they were still close and without her knowledge arohi touched them with hers, first time giving a light kiss by herself, her eyes half closed. that was all he needed to devour them once again. his hands were playing with her arm and waist, she was aware she had to stop him but had no strength to do it. instead her hands rested on his chest firmly seeking support. He bent to kiss her neck. they heard steps down the stairs and had to leave each other. she was still holding on to him even after he left her, still with her eyes closed. he kissed her lips taking in all the sweetness, disappointed to leave her so soon. 'few more days arohi and nobody will disturb us' he said. Seeing them again together coming out with flushed faces Raashi winked and this time laughed loudly.

After they dropped off arohi bua and guddi, since it was late they had to head back and arjun was most disappointed that he did not get to say proper bye to Arohi. He thought he will make it up the next day. Arohi could not help but smile thinking of his sorry face. only few more days she thought.

After they reached their place and relaxed for a while. Raashi suggested they change Arjun's room to accomodate arohi and guddi can be in the room next to Daadi's or even share a room with daadi so that she wont be lonely. Arjun realised he had yet to disclose the most important decision, that he will be moving to Arohi's. 'all that is not necessary' he said grabbing everyone's attention. 'I mean we should make room for them, but considering guddi's attachment to their house, I have decided to move there so they dont have to leave' 'pardon' Rudra was the first one to react. 'you will stay there?' kumud repeated. Even Raashi and Daadi were surprised. 'yes I will move there, but that will not change anything. I will be still coming here'. It took a while for them all to take it in. 'But this is your house, usually a girl gets married and comes to sasural' kumud said. 'I know mom, but we can make another exception, plus it is not any rule. I have decided it myself and want to go there. Guddi will fell out of the place if she leaves and comes here all of a sudden. she needs time to adjust to me as well'. Their reaction was not as happpy as he thought it would be. 'plus we will be here all the time, even guddi will get used to our house and then they can come here' 'I thought i was getting a bahu in this house' daadi too remarked. 'daadi jignesh jiju also stays with us, that doesnot mean raashi is not their bahu' he hit bulls eye and nobody could negate it. Raashi felt the pinch but since it was the truth she too could not argue. 'It will still be the same only I will be spending equal time there also' 'but you did not tell any of this to us before neither did arohi' 'I was supposed to tell, arohi herself was not sure' 'what about work' rudra said 'what about it, like I said everything will be the same like before. Arjun had to convince them somemore. 'but she will do gruhapravesh in this house first' she agreed putting it up like a condition. He knew they were not completely allright with it, but soon they will get used to it he thought.

With guddi warming up a little to arjun arohi was also relieved. Next day by the time she reached the school, all her collegues and kids were ready with a congrats sign. They had a small party later in the day and she felt choked with emotion with all the special kids congratulated her in their own way, without the slightest idea for what they were celebrating.

The coming days went so quick that they had time to breathe leave alone courting. Everything was still achieved . Mehendi and Sangeet were a blast. Arjun was the liveliest of all who put a new ronak to each event, he even did his part of sneaking up at the mehendi just to irritate the women. Soon the D day arrived.

When arohi was informed that the baraat had arrived her dhak dhak increased. Arjun saw her first approaching the mandap. He wished she raised her eyes to look at him. She was wearing the gorgeous maroon bridal wear he had selected. It swayed along with her as she walked. He was oblivious to all the happenings around me and only arohi filled his sight. He had not idea they will unite so soon. Arohi was walking slowly. Guddi and Raashi were walking next to her. Arohi's leg shook as she neared the mandap. There on it he was standing waiting for her. It was an amazing moment for her. She raised her eyes to meet his and got locked in them. Raashi's cough brought her back and she walked again hiding her smile. . She stopped in front of Arjun. She was given the Varmaala, when she was about to put, Arjun just raised his head a little above so she wouldnot reach him. Everyone cheered their respective sides. Arohi tried again by standing on her toes, he too stood on his toes rising much above her. Before she knew arohi was lifted off her feet by sanchit and Jai, by then arjun had lowered his head for her and on his neck fell the garland from her hands. 'you gave up so easily' raashi teased him. He put a garland around arohi.

Guddi was given the task of hiding his joota. and she took a bit too seriously and hid it with such guard that she was not going to tell even the ladki wale where his shoes were.

He did not get a chance to talk to arohi but his looks were telling how gorgeous she looked. With minimum dressing up she looked ravishing, and now all decked up and with the bridal makeup, the heavy dress, the jewelry , he found her to be the apsara like he had imagined the other day. He would be just as happy with this exchange a garland and be weded to her now. And the smile she gave then made him change his mind, no he will let it happen like the way it has to, with all rituals so he can see her longer and longer blushing as a bride and performing all these rituals with him. She thought he looked magnificient like a king.

While everyone watched Arjuhi got married. Each ritual took place with almost everyone admiring the couple every other minute. They took the saat phere. Each vow was uttered with their heart, never to be broken. He put the mangalsutra around her neck, it looked more beautiful to her eyes than any of the jewelry she wore. His hand shook a little while putting the sindoor on her forehead. This is it, she is completely mine he thought when he did. A tear dropped on his fingers from her eyes and he caught the second one much before it fell. He greeted his new wife with his eyes. She did the same after overcoming the tears. There infront of her stood her husband, in whom she could trust blindly. Just like he always said she too wanted to say aloud 'trust me I am with you, always and forever', all she could do was hold the hand he extended.