Keeping Khushi Thread 11 Part 111 Page 135 - Page 41

Great update Smita, especially the last smacking kisswa 😉

very nice part:)... infact its beautiful :)

awww...that was an awesome update

Chapter 106 just made me cry!! I am so happy Aarti is finally marrying NK.

Smita,😊

Here is my interpretation to part 106.

In this update it is the honor, respect, reverence, regard, veneration, praise is what is being manifested! In a word HOMAGE!

Arnav parked in the parking lot of Aarti's corporate office.
Nitin, a bald Jayesh Bhai, and many others came to welcome them and the bride to the wedding venue. All the employees and their families were there, dressed in bright clothes, waiting eagerly to witness the wedding they had never thought to witness.

"Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are"

~ Niccol Machiavelli, The Prince
Aarti alighted. Nitin & Jayesh Bhai stood looking at her, speechless with wonder. Aarti Bitiyaa looked so beautiful, so gorgeous, so feminine... And there was no black or brown in her dress, two colours that her employees were sick of seeing on her.

"What a beautiful bride, you make today

so perfect and lovely in every way"

~ Henry N Brown

"Kya hua, Nitin, Jayesh Bhai?", Aarti asked, laughing. "It is just me underneath all this finery."

"True beauty springs from the heart and dwells in the eyes" ~ Judith McNaught
Both the men smiled, their fists clenching as though closing around the neck of Mohan Mishra for having prevented his daughter from knowing & exploring her own feminine beauty.
"To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow - this is a human offering that can border on miraculous" ~ Elizabeth Gilbert
Aarti looked around. Now it was her turn to be speechless.
The entire building and the campus was decorated with sunflowers. Bright balls of sunflowers hung from all available beams. Clumps of yellow, laughing sunflowers were arranged on the steps leading to the hall. Big arches of sunflowers welcomed guests to the venue. The whole place was a riot of yellow.
"Yellow is the color you get when you're real and brutally honest" ~ Rosie O'Donnell
"Nitin! Jayesh Bhai! This is... this is beautiful!", Aarti gasped. Arnav, Di, Khushi, & Payal could only agree.
"Well, it has to match the glamour of the bride and the groom!", Jayesh Bhai smiled. Nitin nodded. "Only the best for you."
"Being able to do what you wish is the best thing in the world!" ~ Shiro Amano, Kingdom Hearts
Aarti looked at both of them for a moment, silent. The men who had stood between her and her father, diverting punishments, lying for her, trying to cover for her... Standing shoulder to shoulder with her once she took over, protecting her, looking out for her...
She hugged them both, whispering her gratitude in their ears. There was not a single dry eye in the crowd of employees who had waited to watch the bride's arrival.

"Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance"

~ Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

The cars holding the groom and the remaining family members came to a halt just behind Arnav's car. Gopi Kakka, Raj Kisore, Mamaji, & Baba came out of the hall.
NK was in a yellow sherwani, looking all golden and glowing, his smile so bright that it could light up the night. He greeted Nitin & Jayesh Bhai, hugging Baba & Gopi Kakka.
"A hug delights and warms and charms,

that must be why God gave us arms"
He turned around to look at Aarti, and stopped short. His smile died. He looked amazed, as though he were seeing the eight wonder in the world in front of him. The ladies giggled and the men smiled, seeing his wonderstruck expression.

"How gorgeous is my bride

I stand in awesome pride

Her beauty fills the room

She stands before her groom

I cannot hide my tears

My bride I've longed for years

Her radiant presence glows

Her loving beauty shows

How gorgeous is my bride

This fact I cannot hide

I want no other bride"

~ Bradley Lester

Aarti smiled, blushing.
"Aarti, you.. you look..." Words failed him. "I mean.. I..."
"You can tell her what you mean later, Hello Hi Bye Bye! You have the whole night ahead of you!" said incorrigible Mami.
All laughed. NK & Aarti blushed.
"So sweet the blush of bashfulness, E'en pity scarce can wish it less!" ~ Lord Byron
The wedding party moved towards the building slowly, with Nitin & Jayesh Bhai greeting Naniji, Amma, Mami, Rani, & Buaji, and welcoming them in
The interior of the venue was equally glorious, with golden yellow sunflowers taking over the entire area. Every sunflower that had bloomed in the north of India on that day had been pressed into service at this venue.
"The flower that follows the sun does so even in cloudy days" ~ Robert Leighton

Employees and their family members came forward to greet & congratulate Aarti and Amma, and meet Aarti's new family. Ladies clasped Aarti's hands, cupped her face, and placing their hands over her head, blessed her whole-heartedly. Some hugged her. Some kissed her cheeks. All wished her a wonderful, prosperous, and happy life ahead.

"May the sun

bring you new energy by day.

May the moon

softly restore you by night.

May the rain

wash away your worries.

May the breeze

blow new strength into your being.

May you walk

gently through the world and know

its beauty all the days of your life"

~ Apache Blessing

Soon, more guests began pouring in. Anand's mother and Buaji, his sisters and their families, his partners and their families, the Sinhas & their neighbours from Laxmi Nagar, Pinky (minus Coco) and other friends of Rani from Sydney, Arnav's business associates, Mami's kitty party friends, the doctors and nurses from Payal's clinic, the children from Omkar etc were ushered into their seats by the sons and daughters of Aarti's employees who had volunteered for this duty.
"Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer"
The mandap was decorated, the pujari was ready, the guests were in their seats, laughing and catching up... It was time.
Arnav asked Aarti and NK, "Shall we begin?"
Aarti nodded, smiling.
NK said, "Nannav, I am ready."

"As long as we're together, I'm ready for anything" ~ Cassandra Clare, City of Fallen Angels
Mami and the others laughed. "He has been ready for months, Hello Hi Bye Bye!"
Arnav asked Amma, "Amma, shall we begin?"
Amma nodded, smiling.
He asked Rani & Raj Kisore. Both of them agreed, smiling.
He took Nani's, Baba's & Mamaji's permission.
"Begin soon, Arnav Bitwaa!", said Mamaji. "NK will elope with Aarti Bitiyaa if we make him wait any longer!"

"I'm sorry if this all seems a little rushed and desperate. It is"

~ Chuck Palahniuk, Stranger Than Fiction

All laughed, agreeing with Mamaji.
As Arnav was about to return to the pujari, he paused, and asked Aarti softly, "Aarti, whom would you like to do your kanyadaan?"
There was perfect silence. Amma paled. Nani put her arm around Amma, comforting her.
"You have a lot of people to choose from.", Arnav said, smiling comfortingly at Aarti. "Baba has offered to do it. I am ready to do it..."
"I am next in line.", Akash said.
"Count me in.", Raj Kisore added, smiling.
"What about me?", asked Mamaji.
"I have lots of experience in kanyadaan, having done it for 3 sisters. So you better choose me.", claimed Anand, smiling.

"... it's a blessed thing to love and feel loved in return."

~ E.A. Bucchianeri, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly

"Can I do Aarti's kanyadaan?", NK asked in all seriousness.

All gasped.

"The size of a man's understanding can be justly measured by his mirth" ~ Samuel Johnson
Buaji hit her head with her hand. "Hai Re Nandkisore! No, you can't do Aarti Bitiyaa's kanyadaan. But you can do her daughters'. You will have to wait for a few years, Nandkisore!"
All burst out laughing. Aarti smiled.
"There is something so attractive about a man who is able to make others laugh shamelessly"

~ Shannon Dittemore, Angel Eyes
When the laughter died down, Aarti asked softly, "Can I have Gopi Kakka to do my kanyadaan? He has been more of a father to me than..."
"Gratitude is the memory of the heart"

~ Jean Baptiste Massieu
All nodded, smiling, approving of Aarti's choice. Amma smiled, happy at her daughter's judgement.
"Where is Gopi Kakka?", Arnav asked, looking around.
"He will be going over the arrangements with Nitin & Jayesh Bhai.", Aarti smiled, knowing her Gopi Kakka well. "They are thick friends."

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one" ~ C.S. Lewis

As Aarti had predicted, Arnav & Khushi found Gopi Kakka with Nitin & Jayesh Bhai. He was poring over documents related to the hire of drummers and the purchase of flowers.
"Gopi Kakka, can you come to the mandap for a moment?", Arnav asked.
Gopi Kakka frowned.
"Aarti wants you.", said Khushi. The magic words sent Gopi Kakka, Nitin, & Jayesh Bhai rushing towards the stage. Arnav & Khushi followed, smiling, holding hands.
"Action expresses priorities" ~ Mahatma Gandhi
"Gopi Bhaiyya, Aarti wants you to do her kanyadaan.", Amma said, smiling. "Will you...?"
Gopi Kakka paled. The elderly man swallowed hard. He then looked at the lovely face of Aarti Bitiyaa & nodded slowly.
"A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with - a man is what he makes of himself"

~ Alexander Graham Bell
Aarti came close to him and hugged him. All smiled.

"A simple hug always warms the heart"
"I will have you for my father in my next birth, Gopi Kakka. Only you.", Aarti said softly. Her eyes closed, she lay against his heart, her arms crushing the frail body dressed in the simple white kurta she had bought for him. The expensive clothes he had been given by the Kisores and the Raizadas lay untouched in his suitcase.
Gopi Kakka swallowed his tears, and said in his usual, irascible manner, "So I am not to have any peace in my next life too."
"No tear, is a wasted tear, if it spills out for love, whether in good times or bad" ~ Anthony Liccione

"No. I am going to hound you in your next birth too.", Aarti was very sure.
"In that case, I better do your kanyadaan.", he said, running his fingers over her pallu-covered head, blessing her.

"May your troubles be less

Your blessings be more.

And nothing but happiness

Come through your door"

~ Dorien Kelly, The Last Bride in Ballymuir
Amma dried her eyes. All the others smiled.

This update starts with Arnav reaching the Mishras' office parking lot. Nitin, Jayesh and a few others rushed to welcome the bride and her entourage to the wedding venue. All the employees and their families were decked up and eager to witness the wedding that they had never imagined to be invited to. When Aarti alighted Nitin and Jayesh Bhai were stunned beyond words. They were stumped to see a beautiful, gorgeous, feminine, Aarti bitiya in her wedding finery which was beyond the scope of their imagination. She was a visual treat for them. They couldn't really take in that the beautiful nymph who was standing before them, was the same girl whom they had seen since her childhood, in black and brown.

"Beauty appears when something is completely and absolutely and openly itself" ~ Deena Metzger

Looking at their state, Aarti with a laugh asked them what the matter was. She told them, eventhough she is decked up she has not changed underneath. Her talk made them smile, but had them clench their fist cursing Mohan Mishra in mind and wanting to crush him to smithereens. They were devastated to realize how much he had deprived their bitiya of! She who had not been allowed to lead a normal life of a girl was introduced to it by the Raizada ladies due to her encounter with NK whom she was going to marry. Though her appearance made them speechless, their efforts to make her wedding a memorable one made her speechless.

"Flowers are those little colorful beacons of the sun from which we get sunshine when dark, somber skies blanket our thoughts" ~ Dodinsky

The entire premises was festooned with sunflowers. It was a decoration with the theme, sunflower, with the flower used in myriad ways and shapes. It looked like an ocean of beaming sunflowers, welcoming the bride and the groom who were to enter the holy matrimony! Aarti's gasp to Nitin and Jayesh Bhai that they were beautiful, were concurred by Arnav, Khushi, Anjali and Payal.
"Well, it has to match the glamour of the bride and the groom!", Jayesh Bhai smiled. Nitin nodded. "Only the best for you."
It made Aarti look at them silently for a moment. It made her recall how they had always defended her from her father's mean ways, how they had diverted her punishments, how they had lied for her to save her skin, protected her and always unobtrusively looked out for her. Overcome by her feelings she hugged them and expressed her gratitude to them.

"You can't substitute material things for love or for gentleness or for tenderness or for a sense of comradeship. Money is not a substitute for tenderness, and power is not a substitute for tenderness"~ Mitch Albom, Tuesdays With Morrie

Seeing her reaction, all those who were working under her, had tears brimming their eyes. She was paying homage to her most dedicated of employees whom she considered as a part of her family only.

Meanwhile, the other car with the groom and the rest of the family members arrived. NK in yellow sherwani, beaming like the sunflower in the sky greeted Nitin and Jayesh Bhai and hugged Baba and Gopi Kakka. Turning around to look at Aarti he stood with a stunned expression! He, not even in his dreams had visualized, such a beauty and now in reality he was going to marry her! Oh boy! Was he lucky!! His wonderstruck expression made the ladies giggle, the men smile and Aarti blush! Trying to compliment her and express his feelings, NK found it was beyond his capacity at the moment!

"What a beautiful bride, you make today

so perfect and lovely in every way.

You light up my life, I want you to know-

I really do care, it's hard to let go.

How beautiful you are to me

Your eyes shine brighter than the sun"

~ Henry N Brown

"You can tell her what you mean later, Hello Hi Bye Bye! You have the whole night ahead of you!" said incorrigible Mami

When all laughed Aarti went into a much deeper shade of red!

"The rising blushes, which her cheek o'er-spread, Are opening roses in the lily's bed." ~ John Gay

At the entrance to the hall, Nani, Amma, Rani and Buaji were welcomed warmly by Nitin and Jayesh Bhai. The interior too was adorned with golden yellow sunflowers in every shape, size and decorative motif!
Employees came forward to meet the Mishras and Aarti's new family. They all blessed her, some hugging, some cupping and kissing her cheeks and at times placing their hands over her head.
"When you wish someone joy, you wish them peace, love, prosperity, happiness... all the good things"

~ Maya Angelou

Soon the hall started to fill with the invitees- the members of the extended family of the Raizada's, business associates of Arnav and Anand, staff from Payal's clinic, guests from Sydney with the exception of Coco, neighbours from Laxminagar, Mami's friends and children from Omkar. Children of Mishra employees had volunteered as usherers. Near the decorated Mandap, Purohit was all set to start.

Arnav Singh Raizada, who as the custodian of the Raizada clan and who had taken Aarti under his wings as his sister, asked NK and Aarti whether they are ready to begin. As per the custom, the permission was sought from all the elders individually. This is usually done by either the father or any other member of the bride's family. Arnav as Aarti's brother fulfilled the obligation.

Usually the wedding saree is given by the parents. Aarti by accepting the Banares red saree as her wedding saree had given him the right and status of an elder brother. She had shown, how high she holds him in her esteem and given him due respect.

Mamaji who was observing NK's impatience said,

"Begin soon, Arnav Bitwaa, NK will elope with Aarti Bitiyaa if we make him wait any longer!"
The ensued laughter and all concurring with Mamaji made Arnav go towards the Purohit. On his way, he turned towards Aarti and asked,

"Aarti, whom would you like to do your kanyadaan?"
This question led to perfect silence. Slightly agitated Kamala was comforted by Nani. Arnav smiling at Aarti comfortingly, told her she had lots of choice on this matter. There was Baba who had offered to do, he too was ready to do it. Akash too piped in his willingness and the list started growing with Raj Kishore, Mamji, Anand all claiming the right be given to them. Seeing all of them volunteering to do it, NK piped in earnest whether he too could join in the fray? eliciting gasps from all.
Buaji hit her head with her hand. "Hai Re Nandkisore! No, you can't do Aarti Bitiyaa's kanyadaan. But you can do her daughters'. You will have to wait for a few years, Nandkisore!"
Her outburst triggered off a bout of laughter from all and smile from Aarti. With the subsiding of laughter, Aarti opted for Gopi Kakka as he was more of a father figure to her and he was with her, supporting her silently all through the ups and downs in her life. When her own father was inflicting her with pain beyond endurance, it was he who was there to console her. In her esteem, he holds a very high position. She respects him, honors his loyalty, and holds him in reverence.

"Affection is like the noonday sun; it does not need the presence of another to be manifest"

~ Isabel Allende, Kingdom of the Golden Dragon

For Aarti, who was starved of affection, he was a silver lining in the dark clouds. He was a ray of hope that she clung to during the dark days. He was the one who made, her life as comfortable as he could at home, under the circumstances. He had withstood silently, all the insults thrown at him by Mohan Mishra, just for the sake of her and her mother.

"It's not a question of who will allow me to do it, it's a question of who will stop me" ~ Ayn Rand

He had the conviction, not to let them plunge further into abyss, in his absence. She who is about to enter the marital bliss, found it appropriate to ask him, to be the one to do the honor. It was her way of paying homage, to the warm hearted gruffy mannered Gopi Kakka, for his selfless love, affection and dedication.

Conviction affects all substances in the vicinity"

~ Toba Beta, Master of Stupidity
Aarti's choice found approval from all quarters and it made her mother extremely happy. When Arnav asked Aarti where Gopi Kakka was as he was not visible, she told him that he would be with his bosom friends, Nitin and Jayesh Bhai, going over the arrangements. Arnav and Khushi, who went in search of Gopi Kakka, found him in discussion with Nitin and Jayesh Bhai, as predicted by Aarti. When Arnav asked Gopi Kakka to come to the mantap and it was met with a frown, Khushi quickly added that Aarti wanted him. This triggered quick reaction from the trio and resulted in all the three rushing towards Aarti. Arnav and Khushi with a smile hovering on their lips, holding hands with glee, leisurely followed them.
"Gopi Bhaiyya, Aarti wants you to do her kanyadaan.", Amma said, smiling. "Will you'?"
Hearing the words of Kamala, Gopi Kakka was moved beyond words.

"Tears are the noble language of eyes, and when true love of words is destitute. The eye by tears speak, while the tongue is mute" ~ Robert Herrick

He looked at Aarti's face and nodded slowly. Aarti came to him and hugged and said that she will have him and only him as her father in her next birth. He, who was gifted expensive clothes by both Raizadas and Kisores, had chosen to wear the simple white kurta that was presented by his bitiya, was moved to tears.

Swallowing his tears, he asked gruffly whether there was no respite for him from her even in his next birth. Aarti's answer that he better not think about it as she would be there too to hound him, made him reply that he would do the kanyadaan and blessed her. His acceptance made all smile and Kamala dry her tears.
"There are two ways of spreading light - to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it"

~Edith Wharton, Vesalius in Zante

In this update, we see Aarti Mishra holding Nitin and Jayesh Bhai in high regards, Her employees holding her in high esteem and giving their blessings thereby showing their regards, Arnav Singh Raizada fulfilling all the obligations of an Elder Brother, giving due respect to the elders by seeking their permission, Aarti Mishra showing that the position of Gopi Kakka in her life is that of 'Pithashri' by requesting him to do the Kanyadaan.

Nothing but HOMAGE suffices this update

That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it!

1st here 4 d 1st tym. Nice update.

A beautiful heart touching update I was 😭 😭 So sentimental