ArHi FF: Highway to hell-3, last Ch. pg 89 - Page 36

Originally posted by: madmaxine

Sorry to have confused you. Maybe I will put up a message before 44-2 so that people don't waste time looking for 44-1. I am so glad you liked it. Believe me, I read all your long and involved comments, though I am unable to respond to them all.

Cheers!
Vidhya

Chapter 44: Part 1- Minnie gets Married

Khushi's wedding day dawned on a bright sunny morning with freshly laundered blue skies and nary a cloud in sight. Mrs.Murthy had requested a nice day for the wedding. And not even the weather Gods defied Mrs.Murthy. Mrs.Murthy had outdone herself for this wedding, really.

Sunbeams shimmered like diamonds on the surface of the lake. Green meadows and rolling hills surrounded the lake that lay in a shallow valley. A small bower stood almost at the edge of the lake, on one corner. It was hung with Marigold. The flower of any auspicious Indian occasion. Bright yellow and orange Marigold dotted the white bower that had four thin white pillars and was shaded by a gold tissue silk cloth that functioned as a cover. It was built one step above ground level, so everyone could have a good view of the proceedings. About 50 chairs had been laid out surrounding the bower for the attendees. A small aisle like space had been created in the centre, leading up to the covered bower.

Sheila, Nita Arjun and Khushi played happily by the lakeside. Malli and Payal's efforts to have them look like little angels for the wedding had been quite futile. Arjun's kurta had a button ripped off (he claimed that Sheila pulled it off when they were playing tag!), little Khushi's dupatta had come off long ago and lay on the grass unattended as she played busily with her cousins. Nita had food smeread all over her face as usual. She did look extremely cute in the fuschia pink paavaadai her Mom had picked out for her. She wore silver anklets on her feet that she absolutely loved. The tinkling noise when she moved seemed to excite her beyond anything, and she spent quite a long time holding her foot up to her face, shaking the anklet to make it tinkle. Sheila alone had managed to keep her clothes pristine. She too was wearing a paavaadai, a long deep blue skirt with gold embroidery and a red blouse on top. She wore her hair in 2 braids and had a little clutch of jasmine tucked into her hair. It peeked out over one ear, making her look like a little cherub. Her first pair of delicate gold jhumkis hung from her ears, a gift from Paayal Maasi. She looked very sweet, and since she was at the age where princesses thrilled her soul, she thought of herself as a princess, and enjoyed all the dressing up, and was careful not to mess it up.

Malli watched them play with a fond smile on her face. She was wearing a Manish Malhotra lehenga and she looked like a dream. It was a pale pink lehenga studded with swarovski crystals. It hugged her from hip to knee and flared out beyond it. The top was a choli with tiny sleeves that left a good chunk of her midriff bare. She had a sheer chiffon duppata pinned to one shoulder and draped around the other. She wore her hair up in a French knot. Her only jewelry was a pair of diamond earrings. Drops that fell almost to her shouler and shone like they were on fire in the bright sunlight. They were a gift from Arnav and Khushi for the wedding. Freddy stared at her and wondered what it would take to get her to agree to walk for him. She was stunning. And it wasn't just the way she looked. It was the way she carried herself. With poise. Freddy looked very spiffy himself in a black Sherwani with a cream churidar. He carried it off with his characteristic flair. He could have been from Lucknow, down to the black Mojris on his feet.

Guests had begun to arrive. More than half the seats were taken. Arnav shifted his weight from one foot to another nervously. He wiped a bead of sweat discreetly off his forehead. He was wearing a dark blue sherwani with gold embroidery and a dark grey stole. He looked slightly pale and honestly, nervous as hell.

"What's up Bhai? Nervous?" asked Akash easily.

"Umm. Not really," said Arnav, through clenched teeth.

"That's why I ran off with Anju. None of this dreadful anticipation of whether she'd show up for the ceremony or not," said Aadit.

"I'm not worried about whether she's going to show up. I know she'll show up, you fool!" said Arnav in a low tone.

"Then what ARE you worried about?" asked Nigel, also very smart in a light brown kurta with a cream churidar.

"I don't know. I guess I'm just concerned that everything should happen without a hitch," said Arnav.

"My mother has put this shindig together Man! She doesn't screw up." Said Aadit confidently.

"Yes. But I am marrying Khushi Gupta. She's changed a lot over the years, and she's quite the in-control career woman now, but I'm still concerned she'll do something Khushi-like during the wedding." Said Arnav worriedly.

"What do you mean Khushi-like?" asked Nigel interestedly.

"I dunno. Trip over something and twist her ankle. Wear her dress inside-out. Wear socks that don't match. Something along those lines," said Arnav.

"She won't have the chance to trip. She's wearing a sari, and she'd have to be blind as a bat to wear that inside out and no socks with a saree. Not at a wedding. Especially not when you're the bride. Only 60 year olds wear socks with sarees," said Freddy lazily. "You have pre-wedding jitters. In less than an hour, you're going to be a married man. Deal with it," he finished.

Arnav turned away, annoyed at having being so easily pre-empted.

"Arnav, Arjun kicked me!" said Sheila, running up to him.

"Oi! Arjun! You don't kick girls," said Akash to his Son.

"She kicked me first Dad!" said Arjun, displaying a bruised shin.

"Did you do that Sheila?" asked Arnav. She nodded a Yes. He patted her head and kissed her cheek. "That's my girl," he said. He took the handkerchief that Mall had carefully pinned to Sheila's blouse and wiped some dirt off her chin. Sheila pranced away happily. Arjun slunk away disgustedly when he realized that even his Father wasn't going to support him today. In about 30 seconds the Men heard them start another noisy game together.

"Shouldn't she be here by now?"asked Arnav.

"Don't be such a Nervous Nellie. She'll be here," said Akash kindly.

"Did you just call me a Nervous Nellie?" asked Arnv furiously.

"Well, you were being rather girlishly frazzled," said Aadit.

"Shut up!" replied Arnav. Nigel merely smiled at the male one upmanship game they were playing. Freddy had disappeared.

Almost all the seats were taken now. Garima, Naniji and Payal had made their way to the front row and sat down there. They all looked resplendent in heavy silk sarees. Mrs.Murthy sat next to Naniji and whispered in her ear about the arrangements continuously. Anjali walked up to the men, looking lovely in her Mango colored saree with a red border. "She'll be out in 5 minutes. Aadit, come with me!" she bore him away inexorably to sit with her in the front row, next to Payal. Nigel had walked off as well. He was sitting in the second row, next to Lavanya, and chatting quietly with her. Only Akash stood with Arnav in the bower.

"It'll be OK, Bhai. Deep breaths, OK," said Akash soothingly. Arnav just glared at him.

"And Bhai. I've been married for 7 years now. One piece of advice. When in doubt, agree with them. It's the only way!" said Akash wisely.

"Shut up Akash!" said Arnav. He was nervous enough without Akash's 'how-to-make-your-marriage-work' tips being thrown in his face.

"There she is!" said Akash. Arnav looked up so quickly he almost gave himself whiplash. Guests who'd been talking quietly fell silent as they turned their heads to look at her. The Bride had arrived.

Khushi "Minnie" Gupta got out of the limo that had been hired to drive her to her wedding. She took Freddy's outstretched arm, and arranged her saree correctly, before walking down to where everyone waited for her. Sheila and little Khushi walked down the aisle first, strewing rose petals in their wake. They smiled brilliantly as they did their job, enjoying their moment in the Sun on that day. Arjun followed, holding Nita's hand tightly, helping her walk on her waddly little legs. They did a less professional job of strewing flower petals, owing mostly to Nita's orneriness and Arjun's disdain of 'girly' items like flowers.

Freddy Meek followed them down the aisle, and on his arm, looking like a vision, was Khushi. She wore a cream colored Kanjeevaram silk saree with a red border that was threaded with gold. Her blouse was red with gold edges too. She wore her hair in a braid down her back. She also wore strings of fragrant jasmine in her hair. A single maangtika was placed in the parting of her hair. Its diamond pendant fell onto her forehead, where it lay just above her red bindi. She wore heavy gold Jhumkis with diamonds studded in them in her ears. A matching gold necklace completed her outfit. She wore several bangles in each hand, and at the end of the string of bangles there was a heavy gold kangan. Her mother had given them to her for her wedding. It was the simplest of outfits. And she was the simplest of brides. Except for the glow in her smile and the love in her eyes. They made her the most beautiful of brides. She left him speechless. Arnav couldn't take his eyes off Khushi as she walked toward him. In that moment all his niggling nervousness disappeared. She was his.

Khushi slipped her arm out of Freddy's, kissed his cheek gently and turned to Arnav. Akash handed them both Peony garlands. Khushi placed a garland around Arnav's neck gently, and before he could do the same to her, she'd been lifted off the ground. Freddy and Aadit held her high above Arnav's head. He had to jump once or twice to be able to reach her and place the garland around her neck. Akash then handed Arnav a slim chain of black beads with a diamond pendant. The guests stood and those of them who knew it chanted the ancient Vedic hymns that had accompanied this beautiful ceremony since through the ages.

mAngalyam tantunAnena mama jIvanA hethunA |

kaNThe: badhnami subhage! sanjIva Sarada: Satam ||

(For sweet wedding video with chant see this)

Arnav tied the mangalsutra around Khushi's neck as the guests showered rose petals on them. She fingered it lightly once it sat around her neck. She was married. Just like that. She didn't feel any different, she thought. She smiled up at him. He smiled back and took the little box Akash handed him. He dipped his finger in the sindoor and streaked it lightly across her parting. Then he bent on his knee and took her foot in his hand. He placed a silver toe ring on the second toe of each foot. She was his from head to foot, he mused as he stood up. The vermilion in her parting indicated she was his. The mangalsutra round her neck made her his. The mehendi in her hands, the garland round her neck, the toe rings she wore now. Everything screamed that she belonged to him.

He would never dare voice that thought to her, of course. She'd have his hide if she knew he thought she belonged to him. Like he'd marked her in some way as his. But really, he had. The symbols of marriage were superficial. The mehendi would fade, the garland would be tossed away in an hour. He knew she would never wear the toe rings because they would clink as she walked. She might keep the mangalsutra on, but he doubted it. She dressed formally to work, and corporate dressing didn't quite match with mangalsutras. But he had her heart. Her heart was his. As his was hers. They'd been married to each other in their heads for some months now. The ceremony today formalized that relationship. Arnav and Khushi reveled in the high for a few minutes, while the world bustled around them. People shook their hands. They were hugged and kissed multitudes of times. Anjali was weeping tears down her Chotey's sherwani. Freddy was hugging Khushi so tight she complained. And really, they had no idea what was happening. For in their heads, only one thing had registered. They were married. To each other.

Arnav and Khushi. Husband and Wife. It had happened, finally. They just let the feeling sink in a little while the very air around them seemed to reverberate with joy. The joy flowed over their heads a little. They knew they were happy, rather than felt they were happy. It was too soon to feel. For now, they were in that blurry, wonderful adrenaline rush of a moment. Married. Together. Forever.

"Mommy!" Nita jumped into her Mother's arms. She didn't really understand what had happened. But everyone seemed to be having a good time, and Nita wanted her share. Khushi kissed her daughter and sat her on her waist. Sheila tugged on Arnav's sherwani quietly.

"Daddy?" she asked tentatively.

"Yes my love!" he said, swinging her up in his arms. He was Daddy. Just like that, he mused. He'd felt like Daddy for months. And now he WAS Daddy. It was a magical feeling. He wondered if there was any such thing as too much happiness. For really, he'd never been this happy in his life. Too Happy, he laughed to himself.

"Should we go to lunch, wife?" he asked, holding out one hand to Khushi. They walked out, hand-in-hand, holding a kid in the other arm.

Lunch was an informal buffet. There was really no formal way to serve South Indian food. It made for messy eating anyway. Might as well not bother. But the food was delicious. Aadit raised a toast to Arnav and Khushi's health and happiness. Since Mrs.Murthy didn't approve of Alcohol, they toasted with Rasam. Arnav and Khushi didn't get a moment alone all day. The children were too excited to leave them. Her Mother wanted to discuss the wedding. His brother wanted to give him advice about honeymoon etiquette. Freddy wanted to warn him for the 10^th time about treating Minnie right. Payal wanted to know if Sheila ate Fruit Loops or was finicky about Chocos for Breakfast.

"It's a good thing we left for our honeymoon tonight. I couldn't take that for another day or two. The noise!" said Arnav.

"I need a break myself. This has been stressful," said Khushi, smiling up at him. "So, where are we going?" she asked. They were in the cab on their way to the airport.

"Patience, wife, Patience," said Arnav. "Good things come to those who wait!" he said.

"And who should know better than you?" she asked. "You waited 8 years for me, husband!" laughed Khushi.

"And it was worth the wait Khushi. It was worth every miserable year I spent without you, to have you with me now, like this," said Arnav.

"So, you would change nothing, then?" she asked curiously.

"No. I really wouldn't. If we had gotten married then, 8 years ago, we wouldn't have found each other. Not like this. What we have now is perfect. It's perfect because it has weathered every storm. I like you this way Khushi. I loved you 8 years ago and I love you now. But I like you the way you are now," he said seriously.

"And I like you Mr.Raizada!" she leaned up to kiss him and snuggled close. "You think the kids will be OK without us for a week?" she asked, worriedly.

"They'll be fine. They have lots of company. Besides, we can Skype with them every day if you like!" said Arnav.

"Where are we going?" she asked again.

"Somewhere where Skype is available!" he said annoyingly.

"Tell me or you'll spend our Honeymoon on the couch," she threatened.

"It's our Honeymoon! You're not going to relegate me to the couch!" said Arnav confidently.

"Well, that's true. I'm not. Just tell me, dammit!" she tugged at his sweater.

"You'll know in about 30 minutes Khushi. We're almost at the airport!" said Arnav. They squabbled mildly for the rest of the ride to the airport.

At home:

Malli dialed his number. Heard it ring once. Twice. No one answered. She put the phone down. Maybe it wasn't meant to be, she thought.

So, where did Arnav take Khushi for their honeymoon, you ask? Inisheer. Why? Err...because I've wanted to go there ever since I was 10 years old and read about it in The National Geographic. That's why. So, I want you all to imagine The Aran Islands. Inisheer. Small. Green. Craggy cliffs. Moors. Lighthouses. Beautiful sunsets. Tiny cottages. Not too many modern amenities. (except Skype! Skype is everywhere!) And Arnav and Khushi. Picture them having the time of their lives. For as long as you like. Because this FF is on a hiatus. I have a thesis to write and defend in about 10 weeks. I may update if I feel like it. But not with any regularity.

Let me thank you all for your love and patience for sticking with H2H. I promise I will finish the story. Bear with me while I sort out insignificant details like silly careers! 😊

Lots of love,

Vidhya