Smita,😊
Here is my interpretation to Part 101.
This update manifests discernment.. acute understanding.. perception.. good judgement.. insight... all of which mean PERSPICACIOUS.
"Bhat ijj that?", asked Mami, pointing a shaking finger at the dung-covered figure on the ground. "Ijj that a ghostwaa?"
"You were searching for Coco, weren't you, Maasi?", NK asked her.
"Haan. Bhy?"
"Coco is under the manure. Where she belongs.", stated NK.
"Oh Lestat, you deserved everything that's ever happened to you. You better not die. You might actually go to hell" ~ Anne Rice, The Vampire Lestat
"Hein? How did she get there, Nandkisore?", asked Buaji, looking confused, her hand on her head.
"I didn't see the beginning of the natak, Buaji, but knowing Coco, she must have tried to seduce Nannav.", NK was matter-of-fact.
"The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, the young know everything"
~ Oscar Wilde
The sound of many people gasping filled the air.
"Hello Hi Bye Bye!", Mami squeaked.
"Hai Re Nandkisore!", whispered Buaji.
Anand & Akash, along with Mamaji, went to stand by Arnav, who still held Khushi in his arms. The ladies, with the exception of Rani & Pinky, went to crowd around Khushi & Arnav.
"This is part of what a family is about, not just love, but letting others know there's someone who is watching out for them. This is what I call your 'spiritual security'... knowing that your family will be there watching out for you. Nothing else will give you that. Not money. Not fame"
~ Mitch Albom, Tuesdays With Morrie
Mami, Buaji, Rani, Amma, & Nani looked at Pinky who was pale as a sheet of paper.
"She knows that hamre Arnav Bitwaa ijj married to Khushi Bitiyaa.", Mami stated. "Even then... on NK & Aarti Bitiyaa's sangeet... in our housewaa..."
"Intensely selfish people are always very decided as to what they wish. They do not waste their energies in considering the good of others"~ Ouida, Wanda
There was perfect silence.
NK continued, "It looks like my Khushi Bhabi, Di, Payal Bhabi, & Aarti saw her pathetic efforts."
All looked at Khushi. Her eyes were shut. She was lying against Arnav's chest like a child, safe in his strong hold.
"Sam looked at me soft. And he hugged me. And I closed my eyes because I wanted to know nothing but his arms"
~ Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
"Nannav refused her offer. Coco must have said something to hurt Khushi Bhabi. Anyway, my Aarti slapped her hard. Hard enough to fell her." He hugged Aarti close to him for a moment, and then turned to look at Pinky. "Pinky Aunty, I am sorry to say this. But she deserved the slap."
"It is said that we do not make the guilty party suffer for the sake of suffering; it is nonetheless true that we find it right that he should suffer"
~ Emile Durkheim
Pinky nodded, swallowing her tears. "I am so sorry..."
"The right thing to do and the hard thing to do are usually the same"
~ Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
"Why?", came the soft query. Aarti was looking at Pinky, her head tilted to the left like an inquisitive bird.
Pinky and the others looked at Aarti in silence.
"Coco is 20 years old. Old enough to take responsibility for her actions. Why should you apologise for her?", asked Aarti in a casual tone.
"Any problems that may occur have ultimately been caused by you, because you are responsible for where you are and what you are doing there"
~ Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain
Payal nodded, & added, "You are not responsible for her stupidity, Aunty."
"We are free to choose our paths, but we can't choose the consequences that come with them"
~ Sean Covey, The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens
Anjali added, "Maybe you should take her back to the hotel."
Pinky nodded, wiping away her tears. "I will take her now."
"We cultivate our feelings the way we cultivate a garden: we can't entirely prevent weeds from coming up, but we can take care to remove them before they do much harm"
~ Phillip Cary, Good News for Anxious Christians: Ten Practical Things You Don't Have to Do
Pinky & Rani tried to help Coco shed the shroud of gobar and stand up. Coco screamed and screeched loud enough to wake the dead. Apparently she had hurt her back badly along with her dignity in the fall.
"A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering"
~Dalai Lama XIV, The Art of Happiness
Finally, HP and some men who had been contracted to help out in the house for the function, tied pieces of cloth around their faces to cover their noses, and lifted her, holding her by her arms & legs. She looked like some dead animal carried by hunters to the camp at the end of the hunting session. Only drums and chants were missing.
"No one can disgrace us but ourselves"
~ Josh Billings
Anjali stared at Coco's feet, her mouth open. One foot had a high heeled sandal strapped on to it. The other foot had a flat sandal, the heel having fallen off. How had she walked on one heel?
".. its not so much about the shoes, but the person wearing them"
~ Adriana Trigiani, Viola in Reel Life
How had she planned to seduce Chotey, standing on one heeled sandal?
"I remembered her once saying that life was like your shoes. You couldn't simply expect or imagine that your shoes would fit perfectly. Shoes that pinched your feet were a fact of life"
~ Henning Mankell, Italian Shoes
The helpers & HP dropped a stinking Coco on to an old mattress (previously used & discarded by Laxmi), lifted the mattress, & placed it in the car. The driver of the rented car took her, Pinky, & Rani to the hospital, breaking all speed limits to rid himself of the stinking baggage.
"In the space between yes and no, there's a lifetime. It's the difference between the path you walk and the one you leave behind; it's the gap between who you thought you could be and who you really are; it is the legroom for the lies you'll tell yourself in the future"
~ Jodi Picoult, Change of Heart
Buaji ran her hand over Khushi's head. "My poor Bitiyaa... my poor Bitiyaa.., Hai Re Nandkisore!", she lamented.
Nani dropped a kiss on Khushi's head, and said, tears in her eyes, "Chotey, she needs rest. Especially in this condition..."
Arnav nodded.
"Take her to your room and let her sleep, Arnav Bitwaa.", Mamaji said, patting his shoulder.
"for there is nothing heavier than compassion. Not even one's own pain weighs so heavy as the pain one feels with someone, for someone, a pain intensified by the imagination and prolonged by a hundred echoes"
~ Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Arnav lifted Khushi in his arms. She coiled her arms around his neck, her eyes opening to look at him.
He lay her on their bed, looking into her eyes.
Akash took hold of his Khushi Bhabi's feet and gently placed them straight on the bed so that she could be comfortable. NK covered his Khushi Bhabi with her black blanket. She looked into Arnav's eyes as he sat by her, his hand on her stomach, comforting her and their child.
Slowly, her lashes fell and she slept.
"Nothing renews my faith in humanity more than the exchange of compassion so profound that mere words cannot embrace it"
~ Tiffany Madison, Black and White
"She was smiling and laughing today evening. And then this...", Mami could not control her tears. "We wanted her to be happy, Arnav Bitwaa, in her condition, and then this bandariyaa..."
"Anguish is the universal language"~ Alice Fulton
"Don't cry, Manorama.", Nani comforted her. "Nothing will happen to our Khushi Bitiyaa. Come with me."
Nani took Mami down with her.
"That's what tears are for, you know, to wash away the fear and cool the hate" ~ Laurie R. King
The workers were clearing the house of the decorations and the extra furniture... Nani went down to the prayer room, lit a lamp at the feet of Devi Maiyya, and sat up the whole night with Mami, praying for the health and well-being of Khushi & her child, for saving Khushi & Arnav's marriage, for the extermination of all their enemies, for the warding off of jealous eyes...
"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen" ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Payal, Anjali, Aarti, Arnav, Akash, Anand, NK, Mamaji, Buaji, & Amma sat around a sleeping Khushi on the bed, the recliners, and a few chairs filched from the hall. Gopi Kakka, who had heard the commotion and learnt of the happenings, came regularly to check on Khushi, placing a flask filled with hot water and a box with some snacks by the bed, in case Khushi woke up at night and wanted a meal.
"For what is love itself, for the one we love best? - an enfolding of immeasurable cares which yet are better than any joys outside our love"
~ George Eliot, Daniel Deronda
Around 2o'clock, Arnav asked the others to go to bed in their rooms. All of them checked on Khushi for the last time. She was still asleep. Reluctantly, after dropping fond kisses on Khushi's forehead and hands, the ladies went away. The men followed them, after making Arnav promise that he would summon them if he needed help or if Khushi woke up.
Aarti, Payal, Anjali, Buaji, & Amma joined Nani & Mami, and all prayed throughout the night.
"Do not be afraid; our fatecannot be taken from us; it is a gift" ~ Dante Alighieri, Inferno
Arnav sat by Khushi, holding her hand in his, caressing her face with the other hand... How hurt she had looked! How devastated! Even though she had known that he would never, ever do something like this... The shock had been too much... And that too when she was carrying their first baby... He kissed her hand and then her cheek, feeling moisture build in his eyes.
"Trust and faith bring joy to life and help relationships grow to their maximum potential."
~ Joyce Meyer, Battlefield of the Mind: Winning the Battle in Your Mind
Khushi opened her eyes to see Arnavji. His eyes were red and he was holding on to her hand. She asked, her voice rough due to sleep, "What time is it, Arnavji?"
"2.15."
"Why aren't you asleep?", she asked.
Arnav couldn't answer her. He just kissed her fingers over and over again.
Khushi tried to sit up. Arnav helped her up, and arranged two pillows behind her.
"You haven't even changed your clothes, Arnavji!"
"He couldn't say the words, had spent too long in Silence, but he'd learned other ways to speak."
~ Nalini Singh, Kiss of Snow
Arnav just hugged her, burying his face in her neck.
"Arnavji, I am perfectly fine. Please don't worry about me.", Khushi consoled him, running her fingers through his hair.
"Everything that happens to you matters to me"
~Cassandra Clare, City of Fallen Angels
Arnav hugged her tighter still.
"I was just shocked at the extent to which the girl was ready to go to get her way, that's all.", Khushi said quietly.
Arnav looked at her, his hands cupping her face, gently smoothing strands of hair away from her creamy cheeks.
"She saw you. She wanted you. She knew that you were married. She knew that it was NK Bhai & Aartiji's sangeet. She knew that she was a guest in this house..."
Arnav nodded.
"And she was willing to destroy our marriage, spoil the sangeet, hurt her hosts & her mother... just to get her way." Tears filled her eyes, trailing down her cheeks.
Arnav sighed. "I didn't know that she was standing behind me..." He wiped away the drops gently.
Khushi nodded. "I know. We saw it happen. We saw her run and hug you when you were trying to hang the lights."
"Faith does not need to push the river because faith is able to trust that there is a river. The river is flowing. We are in it" ~ Richard Rohr
They sat together, silent, for a long time.
Finally, Khushi said, "Arnavji, shall we change into our night clothes and go to sleep?"
Arnav nodded. He went to the wardrobe and returned with her white night suit and a set of casuals for himself.
He unpinned Khushi's sari for her, and after helping her to stand up, gently unwound the fabric from around her.
"I will manage the rest, Arnavji.", Khushi said, giving him a one-arm hug.
Arnav nodded. "Call me if you need me. I won't close the bathroom door.", he said, kissing her cheek.
"Two people can only live as one when each is prepared to give and receive trust and understanding. Above that lies respect. Without respect for how the other feels, no marriage is worthwhile" ~ Helen Hollick, The Kingmaking
Khushi smiled at him, slipped off her clothes, and crawled into her white suit. She took the medicine kit from the cabinet and sat on the bed, waiting.
Arnav returned in the casuals, ready to go to bed.
But Khushi made him sit down by her, and she applied an antiseptic lotion to the slight bruises on his palms. Then he put away the kit, dimmed the lights, and slipped into bed with her.
"The best gifts one can give to someone are not things, the best ones to offer are a little Time, Love, Care and Respect" ~ Venkat Desi Reddy
Khushi crawled into his arms, burying her face in his neck. He hugged her close.
A long time later, Arnav whispered, "I was thinking, Khushi..."
"Hhmm...?"
"Had you reached there a few seconds late and seen the girl hug me..." Arnav swallowed. "What would you, Payal, Aarti, & Di have thought about me?"
"You see, you closed your eyes. That was the difference. Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them, too--even when you're in the dark. Even when you're falling"
~ Mitch Albom, Tuesdays With Morrie
"We would all have been shocked at the sight, Arnavji. But we would have believed you were innocent, even if you hadn't said a word." She tightened her hold on him.
"Trust starts with truth and ends with truth"
~ Santosh Kalwar, Quote Me Everyday
Arnav looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
"Because we know you. You would never stoop to something so... so... sordid. And..."
"And...?"
"And the whole family knows how much you love me." Her voice was soft and sweet.
Arnav looked at her, his mouth open.
"The whole world.knows.how much.you.love.me... and.how.much.I.love.you..." Khushi peppered the words with sweet kisses on his face and eyes and hair.
"Forever and always I Choose your face
Your smile, Your touch.
Forever and always I choose your laugh
Your voice, Your love.
Forever and always I choose you
Forever and always I love you"
Arnav sighed in relief. He closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of Khushi's lips on his face, loving him.
She smiled at him, caressing his cheek.
He could finally breathe.
"Life, he realize, was much like a song. In the beginning there is mystery, in the end there is confirmation, but it's in the middle where all the emotion resides to make the whole thing worthwhile." ~ Nicholas Sparks, The Last Song
We see Mami asking what is it that is wriggling under the cowdung heap? which is answered by NK as Coco whom all had been searching for so long. He further tells his Maasi, that it is the right place for her to be. Buaji is confused by his statement. NK goes on to clarify his statement stating that he was not a witness to complete drama but knowing her ways he said she must have tried to seduce his Nannav. This statement of his was like a bombshell evoking gasps from each and everyone! Soon it had all surrounding Arnav who had Khushi in his arms. Mami who was the first to recover spoke to Pinky, knowing her nephew was a married man and being a guest in their house on the occasion of NK and Aarti's wedding this behavior of Coco was unacceptable! NK continued saying that Khushi Bhabhi, Payal Bhabhi, Di and Aarti seemed to have witnessed the drama as it unfolded, drawing all the attention towards Khushi who was ensconced in the arms of her husband with her eyes closed. He said that Nannav rejected Coco's offer and in retaliation she must have said something bad to Khushi Bhabhi and his Aarti finished Coco's dialogue with a slap sending her careering down in an ungainly heap! Giving Aarti a hug, NK spoke to Pinky that he was sorry to say but her daughter had it coming and richly deserved it.
Pinky who was ashamed of her daughter and her mannerisms and behavior, full of shame apologized. But Aarti asked her why is she apologizing? evoking a stunned silence. Aarti continued to say that since Coco was twenty years old and an adult it was she who had to be ashamed and apologetic and had to bear the brunt of her actions and not Pinky, her mother.
"It is wrong and immoral to seek to escape the consequences of one's acts"
~ Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Both Payal and Anjali agreed with that and asked her to take Coco back to the hotel. Pinky agreed to do so. When Pinky and Rani tried to help Coco they got shouts from her for their efforts. Apparently she not only had damaged her dignity but also her back with the fall. With the help of HP and hired helps, who had cloth masks on to ward off the stench, they lifted Coco holding arms and legs. It ended up in looking like a scene of carrying a hunted animal for skinning after a game of hunting.
The way they carried her made Anjali look at Coco's feet which had a funniest pair of footwear. A high heeled sandal strapped on one and a flat sandal on the other and drew an amazed expression! She wondered how had this chit of a girl managed to walk and was she going to seduce her chotte standing on one heeled sandal?? Placing Coco in an old mattress which was previously owned by Laxmi, Nani's pet goat she was rushed to the hospital in the hired car!
Rest of the family members surrounded Khushi with empathy. They asked Arnav to take her to their room as she needed to rest in her condition.
Arnav carrying her to bed in his arms found her watching him with unwavering gaze. Akash and NK helped him in making her comfortable. For both of them Khushi occupied a pedestal post, way high up in their esteem. Any discomfort of hers were acutely felt and would set them in motion to make her comfortable. Khushi watching her husband, slowly drifted off to sleep. The rest too stayed with them worried about her. Mami looking at the everhappy Khushi in silent mode, was overcome with grief. Nani took her out consoling her and both started to pray sitting in front of their family deity. Later the rest of the womenfolk too joined them to pray for the health and welfare of Khushi and the unborn.
"Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right"
~ Max Lucado, He Still Moves Stones
When Khushi opened her eyes after a nap she found her husband watching over her with a worried look.
"The real lover is the man who can thrill you by kissing your forehead or smiling into your eyes or just staring into space" ~ Marilyn Monroe
She assured him that she was fine. She told him she was just shocked that anybody could stoop to that level to satisfy their whims and fancies and lust! She had felt bad that Coco had not given a thought as to the implications of her actions. She was hell bent on breaking a family and would do so without so much as a prick in her conscience! Khushi was stunned by her attitude,
"I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea"
~ Fyodor Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground
Khushi was also stunned that Coco had no compunction to put her mother through such humiliating scenes. Khushi being an orphan couldn't even imagine that anybody could stoop to that level. For her having parents by the side itself was a boon! When Arnav tried to tell her that he didn't know that Coco had been there, Khushi told him that she was aware of it as she too had witnessed the whole thing. After changing into their night clothes, Khushi dressed Arnav's wounds. Arnav asked her if she had arrived a bit late, would she and the family have believed him?
"Do you know what people really want? Everyone, I mean. Everybody in the world is thinking: I wish there was just one other person I could really talk to, who could really understand me, who'd be kind to me. That's what people really want, if they're telling the truth"
~ Doris Lessing, The Golden Notebook
Khushi with her deep understanding and love to Arnav assured him that the family understood him very well. They all knew what he is made of. They would never have doubted him. They would have stood by him and the family knew how much he loved her and she alone was the Queen of his Heart and there was no space for anybody else even to have a tiny peep! She being the sole investor who holds all the rights to his heart as well as tendresse assured him of her unmitigated trust in him. There was no he or she only them. While verbalizing her assurances she interspersed it with loving pecks transporting him to another world, a world of their own, a world of bliss! Having reassured by Khushi that she was fine Arnav was a relieved man!
"Always Remember to take your Vitamins:
Take your Vitamin A for Action,
Vitamin B for Belief,
Vitamin C for Confidence,
Vitamin D for Discipline,
Vitamin E for Enthusiasm!!"
~ Pablo
Throughout the update we see good judgement and insight into the situation by the various members of the family.
Knowing Arnav Singh Raizada and his love for Khushi, they perceive what the truth is.
NK with his perception of Coco and her antics, Coco's mother Pinky knowing Coco's ways assume correctly what must have happened.
The minute the members of the family realize what is going on they gather around Arnav and Kushi and envelop them in their warmth and love. They expresss their support and solidarity. They perceive the emotional turmoil both are undergoing.
The Matriarch of the family , Nani's perception that Khushi needs to rest was spot on.
Aarti questioning Pinky for apologizing on behalf of her adult daughter and stating that it was not the responsibility of the mother but only of Coco for her actions showed how perceptive she is. She not only assuaged the heart of a shamed mother but helped her to hold her head in front of her hosts.
Spontaneous gestures by Akash and NK showed that they were aware of the trauma experienced by Khushi and were ready to do anything to soothe her.
During the conversation both Arnav and Khushi showed how perceptive they were of each other as well as they had the insight to their thought process. Arnav knew he had to seek Khushi's trust that he always had so far and Khushi knew she had to assure him of her unshakable trust in him.
Khushi had the insight that Arnav needed to be assured both by words and by deeds!
What a PERSPICACIOUS update it is!
That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it!
Edited by rulama - 12 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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