SS - Bura Na Mano Holi Hai!

nasha yeh pyaar ka nasha hai, yeh meree bat yaaron maano

nashe me yaar dub jao, raho na hosh me deewaano

nasha yeh pyaar ka nasha hai, yeh meree bat yaaron maano

nashe me yaar dub jao, raho na hosh me deewaano

(This is the intoxication brought on by love, trust me my friends

Drown yourself in this drug, let all consciousness and sanity slip by)

kee jabse maine tumko dil yeh de diya, mitha mitha sa, dard le liye

suno, o priya, maine tumko dil diya

(For, the moment I offered you my heart, I had accepted a sweet and tender pain

Listen ' my love, I have given you my heart!)

~Lyrics from the song - Nasha Yeh Pyaar Ka Nasha Hai from the movie Mann

It was a perfect spring day, tailor made for the colorful festivities of Holi. "Bye Bye maamiji. Please pass on my Holi wishes to everyone Naaniji" Khushi shouted out from the doorway as Naaniji, Maamaji, Maamiji and Anjali Di and NK headed out to join the Holi Celebrations at their Satang(Prayer group). Even Lakshmiji had gone along with them. Her dear Jiji and Akash Jijaji were spending the week at the Gupta residence at the fond invitation from amma and buaji, who wanted to have their very pregnant Payaliya at home so they could pamper her to their heart's content.

Khushi closed the door and did a quick spin barely containing her excitement. "Now that I have given Om Prakashji, Hari Prakash ji and Jai Prakashji the day off, I can finally get down to business" she squealed in delight squeezing her palms together and wiggling her eyebrows.

It was Holi today, and Khushi was happy that the entire family was away? Can this even be happening? Let us quickly turn the clock back a few hours.

Khushi had risen at the crack of dawn intent on waking up her beloved Laad Governor with a smear of colors. She had instead opened her eyes to discover, her arms wrapped around his pillow and where her Arnavji's sculpted body should have been, lay a lovely half unfurled rose bud with a note informing her he had to settle an urgent situation and would be back by noon. "This Laad Governor has no concept of day or night when it comes to his work. He would not have even stopped to recollect what is special about today before heading off to wherever it is he has headed off to", Khushi pouted as she absently stroked her cheek with the rose. "How can I have fun and participate in Holi without him"

She showered disinterestedly and dragged her feet downstairs to join the family, only to find all of them ready and almost at the door ready to leave. "Wow! Where are you all off to'.?" Khushi ran to the family. "Relax my dear. We are just off to the Satsang to participate in the Holi celebrations being organized over there" replied mamaji soothingly. "Don't tell me that your mind has gone off playing with colors already. Don't you remember Anjali and I discussing this last evening? Hello, Hai, Bye Bye!" sang Manorama rolling her eyes. Khushi knit her eyebrows trying to recall. Anjali who had sized the situation quickly hurried them on, "Let's make haste, or we will be late". "See you later Khushiji," shouted out NK. It was at that exact moment a flash illuminated Khushi's mind ' "This means that the house will be empty for most of the day and when Arnavji returns home, we will have it all to ourselves''. Thank you! Devi Mayya(Mother Goddess) for presenting me with this opportunity. I'll never get a better one to surprise my Laad Governor" thought Khushi and cheering up considerably, she responded aloud "Yep, Di is right. I would have gone with you, but Arnavji might return home any minute now, so I'll stay back. You have fun at the Satsang", and Khushi waved to the family.

*******************************

Khushi moved like a whirlwind over the next couple of hours. After a good 2 hours, she surveyed the stage she had set, her hands on her hips and a satisfied smile playing on her lips. Several pails of colored water cleverly concealed behind potted plants. The edge of the pool side lightly greased with oil and lovely colorful flowers floating in the pool. A paper lantern filled with 'Gulaal'(colored powder) seemingly innocently hung from the ceiling that partly covered the patio right outside the French windows. On the table adjoining the lounge chairs, sat a pot of Bhaang(Locally brewed alcoholic drink, especially during Holi), brewed with Khushi's special touch; circled with a liberal dusting of flowers and holi colors along with a tall glass set invitingly next to it. Copious amounts of bright Holi colors heaped on brass plates were set about at various strategic spots. "The first step would be to entice Arnav to the poolside, then I'll pull the string and douse him with the colored powder in the lantern. After that will be step 2- drench him with the pails of colored water, followed by step 3- Intoxicate him with Bhaang and finally , step 4- the film of oil on the poolside tiles will ensure he lands neatly in the pool" Khushi recapped her plan in her mind.

Her gaze slowly travelled from the setting to herself, and she wrinkled her nose as she looked at her drab outfit. With a mischievous gleam in her eyes, Khushi rushed in, to change into a simple white saree and smiling in anticipation she lounged on the recliner impatiently awaiting Arnav's return.

After her twelfth attempt to reach Arnav, Khushi impatiently tossed her cell on the bed and glared at the clock that indicated it was almost noon. "Devi Mayya, Why is my Laad Governor not answering? Especially when I am desparate for his return home and long to talk to him" Barely had her monologue ended, than the phone rang "Where are you? Do you even remember what day is today?" she barraged Arnav with her questions. "Clearly you miss me terribly. Especially since you called me about twenty times since morning?" She sensed the smirk on the other side and promptly corrected "Not Twenty, I had only called you about a dozen''" and then biting her tongue, she caught herself. "That's beside the point. First tell me where you are?" "Ah! About that, I am sorry Khushi, It took me longer than I expected to get things wrapped up. And then I thought that perhaps you have joined Akash and Payal at Buaji's house for Holi, so I headed over to Lakshminagar. Why don't you come over and join me here?" and before she could say anything, she heard a harsh static noise and the line went dead" "What the!" spluttered Khushi and muttering under her breath, she rushed out of the house to hail a taxi bound for Lakshminagar.

******************

The street and cul-de-sac in front of Buaji's house was cordoned off. Colorful streamers hung from ropes suspended between houses. Huge pots of Bhaang stood on several tables. All the uncles from the 'akada' were drenched in color and were laughing their heads off. Khushi stepped out of the taxi, a lone figure in pristine white, surrounded by human forms of various shapes and sizes who looked like they had just survived a collision with a rainbow. Her eyes scanned the sea of humanity in search of her Arnavji.

"Oh Look! Our own little butterfly, Khushi is here too" exclaimed a voice slurred with the effects of Bhaang. Khushi spun around and found her Buaji and Maamiji, with their arms looped together giggling like teenagers and competing with each other as they downed a tall glass of Bhaang. Khushi's mouth fell open and her eyes flitted to a very drunk NK and Anjali di targetting the boys and girls of the "mohalla" with color filled water balloons. Mamaji was dancing around with Medhaji and Latha ji, Buaji's neighbors. Her Babuji was sitting in his wheel chair, face suffused with Bhaang induced color and an abundance of 'Gulal', randomly nodding his head and smiling at Naaniji who was feeding Lakshmiji with whatever she could lay her hands on. Clearly she had not been spared of the Bhaang effect either. Akash jijaji was in a curious state oscillating between elated outpouring of joy at the prospect of his soon-to-arrive baby, repeatedly kissing Jiji's swollen belly of 5 months, and shedding tears of sorrow at the prospect of his pyaari Payal enduring pain during labor. Payal the only sane individual in that madcap colony was trying her best to reassure him.

Suddenly, a booming"Khushi'" drew everyone's attention. Khushi spun on the spot and found herself promptly drenched from head to toe by a jet stream of colored water. She automatically raised her arms to shield her face and turned her body to escape the head on onslaught. She slowly tilted her head and her mouth fell open when she spied her tormentor ' none other than her dear husband who had been missing in action since daybreak, and was at the moment deftly maneuvering the water pipe; a brilliant grin lighting up his handsome features. "Haan! Yooou? Heeereee?" stammered Khushi hands on her hips and at at a loss for words. Arnav handed the hose to Happy ji and slowly walking towards her drew her in a hug. He slowly stroked her arms from wrist to shoulders smearing them with his favorite color ' 'Red', as he drawled in his husky voice "Khushi, Don't mind'. It's Holi" The inhabitants of Lakshminagar were thrilled with their dashing son-in-law, and cheered loudly while Khushi blushed like a newlywed bride. "Won't you color me Khushi? I have been waiting for this moment since day break. You and only you have the right to apply the first color on me today." "Well said! Sanka devi what are you waiting for?, dunk him in color starting with the one on the first plate closest to you. Nand Kisore!" cheered a drunk Buaji as Khushi emptied a plate load of color on her Arnavji.

"Khushi, just so you know, Arnavji has been here at Buaji's place since dawn, helping out with all these arrangements, intent on surprising you. Indeed he is deeply in love with you" revealed Payal as she applied color to Khushi's cheeks. Khushi's eyes grew wistful at her jiji's words and she said"Here he was busy preparing to surprise me, and over there at Shantivan was I, setting the stage for him'''." Khushi's voice trailed off. "What? Why are you still here then. Grab him girl, and leave for Shantivan right away. I'll take care of everything over here, don't you worry" urged Payal cupping her sisters's cheek and smiling at her radiantly.

Khushi pecked Payal's cheek and hurried to find her husband. Arnav was seated in the middle of the 'akada' (Traditional out door Arena normally used for body building work out as well as local wrestling tournaments) surrounded by the men whose undying respect he had earned the day he had twirled the "mugdar"(Wooden club) during his last stay at Gupta house. Arnav rose as he caught sight of the familiar determined set of his wife's chin and her purposeful stance as she advanced towards him. He raised a single eyebrow when she ignored the curious glances from the men, and grabbing hold of Arnavji's hand led him from there, with an urgently whispered, 'Arnavji we are leaving now for Shantivan".

***********************

Arnav stepped into their bedroom and looked around puzzled, Khushi had headed straight out the french doors and stood a few paces away smiling sweetly at him. He suddenly noticed how alluringly sexy she looked in her barely dry saree still clinging to her body lovingly. He slowly took in the pool behind her with its floating flowers and the table laden with Bhaang. Comprehension began dawning on him slowly and he moved to step out as if in a trance his eyes warming with love. The moment he set foot on the patio, Khushi moved in a flash ripping the paper lantern and showered him with the colored powder it held. 'Don't mind' It's Holi' she screeched as she danced out of his grasp with a giggle. Arnav laughed out aloud and reached out again. Khushi stepped back, forgetting in her mirth that she had greased the pool side and the next instant her feet slipped neatly on the tiles, and taking her Arnavji who had barely managed to grab her hand, hit the water together in a tangle of arms and legs; laughter bubbling in their throats. "So this is your surprise, Khushi. We are two of a kind aren't we? There I was setting the stage at Lakshminagar for surprising you in a public setting, surrounded by your family and friends, just the way you like it; and here you were setting up a private Holi surprise for me, in my style"

"Yep! And it's all due to the fact that you and I Arnavji, are deeply and irrevocably in love with each other" and Khushi leaned into her husband kissing his lips slowly and gently kindling a slow burning fire in Arnav's gut. Just as suddenly she pulled apart and clamping a palm to her forehead, Khushi attempted to get out of the water muttering, "But nothing has gone according to plan Arnavji" "Whaat" blurted a disoriented Arnav, pulling her back against his chest where she belonged. "Yes. The first step was to douse you with color, and then to make sure you drank enough Bhaang to be in' in' intoxicated'.." Khushi's voice faltered as Arnav's expression intensified; his eyes lighting up with love briefly before darkening to whiskey colored pools of passion. He drew her so close to him, that she could see the flecks of gold glinting in the brown of his eyes. "Khushi, No Bhaang induced intoxication can compare with the one I experience when I hold you in my arms like this, or the high I reach in my love for you, as I make love with you. You drug my senses!"

"I'd taste this drug on your lips, on your skin, Shall I show you how potent this intoxication is'?" Khushi's knees jellied in the water as her skin heated at his mere words and she forgot to breathe. She stood transfixed in his arms her gaze locked in his, waiting. "Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, Do you know how intense a high you feel when I touch you like this''.?" and he laid his palm on her pounding heart right at her cleavage his fingers splayed wide and captured her mouth. When her breath hitched in response to his passionate kiss, his palm slid over her peaks in a deliberately slow move ending in a caress at her waist.

A moan of unmistakable pleasure escaped her throat as she felt herself sinking in their bed. So lost was she in the sensations that her Arnavji had been creating in her, that she had no idea when he had carried her over from the pool. Arnav's lips tormented her, his teeth hinting at the slightest of pains to be quickly followed by waves of pleasure. A bolt of heat hit her core and in a split second she had pushed the envelope with her response. Arnav's kisses went from warm seduction to sharp hunger and she bent backwards giving herself up to him, mind and body trembling with passion and love untold, immeasurable. Arnavji's touch seemed to penetrate her very soul, he knew exactly what she craved, her every secret desire better than she did herself. Her body quivered and quaked in pleasurable response to his ruthlessly insistent kisses and touches. She had never felt this shy ever nor this bold ever in her life as she did with him. She urged him on from urgent to savage demands as she took in equal measure even as she gave unconditionally. Khushi revelled and marvelled at the perfection of his hard muscles bunching under her touch, his washboard abs and muscular shoulders. Surely, he must be God's finest creation of the male specimen, she thought.

She was glory thought Arnav, honeyed sweetness in her silken surrender; he looked deep into her eyes as he took her over the edge her body bending like a drawn bow and her sharp waves of pleasure reflected in her eyes as shocks of delight arrowed through her slender body. As her head dropped on his shoulders, her nails digging into his flesh, Arnav took her over the edge once again, this time with him as his eyes glazed over and he became blind with the pleasure rocking through their united bodies. His golden eyes were all she saw as she lost herself yet again in the arms of her husband, her lover for now and eternity.

"Holi wishes to you my dear Arnavji," Khushi said in a quiet, gentle voice against Arnav's hair. "Happy Holi to you too, Khushi," Arnav smirked smugly lifting his head from her bosom and kissing her on her nose. "It sure was a colorful one!" And they collapsed laughing like children and looked out at the last of the sun rays flashing over the pool surface, securely wrapped in each other's arms.

********************************************************************