Part 27 - Trial by fire
Payal entered the room suitably warned by Arnav about what was expected of her. She proceeded to help Khushi with the rest of her make-up. "Jaldi kar Khushi, the priest is here already. And what a beautiful outfit Arnavji has chosen for you, you look so beautiful today."
"Tum bhi jiji, yeh rang tum pe bahut acchaa lagta hai", eyeing Payal's purple and blue saree.
The two sisters made their way to the puja area to their waiting husbands. A beautiful mandap had been decorated there, with lots of red, sweet smelling roses and the Guptas, Karan and Suraj waited there along with NK, Lavanya and the Raizadas. Anjali was looking resplendent in an orange saree with simple crystal work on the borders. She moved forward to bring Khushi over to where Arnav was standing, placing Khushi's hands in Arnav's and said "Surprise Khushi ji!"
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Anjali spent a few minutes with her Chotey every night under the moonlight, in the days after Khushi's return from the hospital diagnosed with PTSD. It was a role reversal of sorts with Anjali being the strong one consoling her Chotey, convincing him that Khushi would soon get better, giving him tips on how to woo Khushi back and just generally letting him talk, ramble and rail against fate. During one of those intense discussions, when Chotey had revealed haltingly how shamefully he had dragged Khushi to the temple and gotten married to her forcibly, Anjali had closed her eyes in pain imagining how Khushi must have felt to see all her dreams of a beautiful wedding crumble to dust. Both siblings realized that this wrong had to be righted...Khushi deserved a proper wedding in front of her Devi Maiyya, in front of the holy Fire, with the blessings of family and friends. And this wedding ceremony neednt involve the world as the Raizadas knew it but could involve just close family. But it would bring some kind of closure to Khushi.
Anjali had consulted with Naniji and the Guptas who had agreed that a private wedding ceremony was acceptable even though Khushii was already pregnant. Anjali had then broached the topic to Arnav who agreed but said that the timing was not right. He promised Di that he would let her know when the time was right and when Khushi was back to normalcy.
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"Khushi ji aaj aapki shaadi hai. I hope you are willing to take this zyada kadoos, thoda sa paagal but aap par bilkul fida brother of mine for a lawfully wedded husband?", Anjali asked. Khushi just blushed and appeared speechless. The family surrounded the shocked Khushi and started to tease Arnav that there was still time to escape. NK for his part offered to get Khushi an Australian visa.
"Khushi ji...Hum sab aapki shaadi par nahi they..we just wanted to have you both renew your vows and reaffirm your love for each other in front of us. You both have gone through a lot for me and I will not be able to sleep in peace unless I see you both happy together forever.", Anjali said drawing Khushi to a side. "Are you okay to go through this?!", Anjali asked.
"Di...aapne kaise ...aapko kaise...kaise pata...", Khushi asked with tears in her eyes.
"Mujhe sab pata hai Khushi ji..aapke andar ka dard, beetar hi beetar aapko yeh bahut tez pahuncha hoga ki aap apne parivar ke saamne vivah na kar saki..yeh ek aur mauka hai, bacchon ke aane se pehle. 10 saal baad, aapke bacche puchenge ki mummy paapa ka wedding album kahaan hai, tho aap iss din ke tasveere dikha sakhengi..", Anjali concluded on a lighter note. (I am aware of everything Khushi, you must have felt so bad deep within that you could not get married in front of your family. This is another chance before the children arrive. 10 years later when your kids ask you for your wedding album, then you can show them today's pictures)
Anjali then handed over the garland of roses to Khushi. Payal, Lavanya and Khushi's parents accompanied Khushi to where Arnav stood with Mami, Akash, Mama, NK, Anjali and Nani by his side. Arnav stood tall, looking as though he was not going to bend down to accept his garland ...But as he saw the tremulous and vulnerable expression in Khushi's eyes, he bent down and guided the hands holding the garland to drape it over him.
NK protested saying "cheater, I was thinking you were not going to bend down in front of Khushi". Arnav cooly looked at him and said something uncharacteristic.." Ek mard ka sir sirf teen auraton ke saamne jhukta hai. Ek apni ma ke saamne, ek durga ma ke saamne aur.." and cooly raised his eyebrows. Everyone there was flabbergasted...who would have thought Arnav even watched soppy, romantic Karan Johar flicks. But evidently after falling in love with Khushi, he had loaded up on some cheesy lines.
Lavanya then handed Arnav the garland to drape around Khushi and as Arnav accepted the garland from her, he looked at her gratefully. Here was a girl any man would be proud of ..He was glad that the lucky man was his brother NK. NK and Lavanya were planning to announce their relationship and plans to the family later today after the ceremonies were done. Arnav then carefully placed the rose garland around Khushi hoping that they were not too much of a weight around her slender, swan-like neck.
Naniji then led the duo to sit by the havan as the priest recited the vedic hymns binding them in holy matrimony. The priest then advised Arnav that he could tie the mangalsutra around Khushi. Khushi looked at Arnav - She was reminded of another night..But the eyes that had held a glittering anger that night only held overwhelming love today. she was reassured and comforted and looked at the mangalsutra. He had read her mind correctly - she had hoped that he get her the same mangalsutra back and he had. She was seeing this after all these weeks of ignoring it near her personal idol of Devi Maiyya. The last time it had adorned her neck was when she had traipsed into Arnav's office happily, thinking he would welcome the news of her pregnancy and had left devastated, broken. Today this marriage was blessed by Devi Maiyya and all their well-wishers. SHE would protect this marriage from all harm, Khushi thought as Arnav briefly touched her to tie the clasp of the mangalsutra around her neck...binding her to him once again. Not that the linkage hadn't existed all these days -- But this was a physical proof of that linkage.
Arnav then grabbed a pinch of sindoor between his fingers, parted Khushi's maang tikka and applied the red vermillion on the parting in Khushi's head even as Khushi closed her eyes and let a couple of tears escape. Arnav's eyes were moist as well. It was an emotional moment for the two, given the roller-coaster-like ride that their lives had taken, far removed from what they had imagined it would be when Arnav had fixed the sindoor on the mirror's reflection of Khushi, the night of Payal-Akash's wedding before everything had gone for a toss with the scene in the terrace with Shyam.
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Hoping to update soon. Please read and comment. I could not resist continuing to write after I saw Akorshi's and Bakula_gandhi's comment about bride/sindoor.
All silent readers, please comment / hit Like - Hope you realize that your comments and likes are encouragement and motivation for me to continue.
Edited by vishkhush - 13 years ago
Kumkum Bhagya
Tu Dhadkan Main Dil
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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