ARHI FF: A Ray Of Hope pt 13 pg 123 updated 19/12 - Page 47

Chapter 9

A very famous dancing group had been called for the sangeet of Akash and Payal.

The song being danced to was Mahi ve from film Kal ho naa ho.

Maahi ve maahi ve, that's the way maahi ve (Oh friend, oh friend)

Tere maathe jhumar damke( The jewellery on your forehead shines)

Tere kaanon baali chamke hai re (Your earrings sparkle, oh my)

Maahi ve (Oh friend)

Tere haathon kangna khanke (The bangles on your wrists jingle)

Tere pairon paayal chhanke hai re (The anklets on your feet jangle, oh my)

Maahi ve (Oh friend)

Nainon se bole rabba rabba (You speak with your eyes, my god )

Mann mein dole rabba rabba (You dance into my mind, my god )

Amrit ghole rabba rabba tu soniye (It's like you mix up some nectar, golden one)

(Jind maahi ve soni soni aaja maahi ve Oh my lifelong friend, golden one, come my friend Everybody say soni soni aaja maahi ve) - 2 Everybody say, golden one, come my friend

That's the way maahi ve

O teri aankhen kaali kaali (Oh your eyes are black, black)

Tera gora gora mukhda hai re (Your face is fair fair, oh my)

Maahi ve Oh friend

Teri rangat jaise sona( Your complexion is like gold)

Tu chaand ka jaise tukda hai re( You are like a piece of the moon)

Maahi ve Oh friend

Tere gaal gulaabi rabba rabba (Your pink cheeks, my god)

Chaal sharaabi rabba rabba (Your drunk-like walk, my god)

Dil ki kharaabi rabba rabba tu soniye (Your heart is slick, golden one)

(Jind maahi ve soni soni aaja maahi ve Oh my lifelong friend, golden one, come my friend Everybody say soni soni aaja maahi ve) - 2 Everybody say, golden one, come my friend

Some of the female dancers came and grabbed Payal while some of the males dancers grabbed Akash and made them dance with them. As they danced they became closer to each other gazing into each other's eyes and forgetting the world around them.

Barse rangini kaliyaan hai maheki bheeni bheeni (Decorative flowers rain down, fragrant and moist) Baje mann mein halke halke shehnaai re( In my heart, a shehnaai softly plays)

Jitne hain taarein aanchal mein aa gaye saare( As many stars as there are, all of them have come into my aanchal) Dil ne jaise hi li angdaayi re (As though my heart stretched out its arms (to gather them))

Hey, tu jo aayi sajke mehndi rachke (Hey, since you've come adorned, wearing mehndi )

Chal bachke o soniye (Walk with caution, oh beautiful one )

Dil kitno ka khaaye dhajke o soniye (How many men's hearts will you eat up proudly?)

(Jind maahi ve soni soni aaja maahi ve Oh my lifelong friend, golden one, come my friend Everybody say soni soni aaja maahi ve) - 2 Everybody say, golden one, come my friend

Anjali had her phone and was recording all this. She went over to Garima and asked her to come on stage. At first she was refusing but after Shashi convinced her she went up. Garima went up to her daughter to give her her blessings. Both Khushi and Shashi had tears in their eyes watching the scene in front of Garima and Payal hugging each other while crying.

Arnav at that moment looked towards Khushi and saw her crying. For some reason he didn't like this but he didn't know why.

Chanda meri chanda tujhe kaise main yeh samjhaaoon( Moon, oh my moon, how can I make you understand )

Mujhe lagti hai tu kitni pyaari re (How lovely you seem to me)

Mujhe lagti hai tu kitni pyaari re (How lovely you seem to me)

O khushiyaan jitni hain, sab dhoond dhoondke laaoon (As much happiness as there is, I will search and bring)

Teri doli ke sang kar doon saari re (I will attach it all to your doli (wedding carriage))

Teri doli ke sang kar doon saari re (I will attach it all to your doli (wedding carriage))

Hey, tu jo aayi sajke mehndi rachke (Hey, since you've come adorned, wearing mehndi )

Chal bachke o soniye (Walk with caution, oh beautiful one)

Dil kitno ka khaaye dhajke o soniye (How many men's hearts will you eat up proudly? )

(Jind maahi ve soni soni aaja maahi ve Oh my lifelong friend, golden one, come my friend Everybody say soni soni aaja maahi ve) - 2 Everybody say, golden one, come my friend

Tere maathe jhumar damke (The jewelry on your forehead shines)

Tere kaanon baali chamke hai re (Your earrings sparkle, oh my)

Maahi ve Oh friend

Hey, tere haathon kangna khanke (The bangles on your wrists jingle )

Tere pairon paayal chhanke hai re (The anklets on your feet jangle, oh my)

Maahi ve Oh friend

Nainon se bole rabba rabba (You speak with your eyes, my god)

Mann mein dole rabba rabba (You dance into my mind, my god)

Amrit ghole rabba rabba tu soniye (It's like you mix up some nectar, golden one)

Jind maahi ve, jind maahi ve (Jind maahi ve soni soni aaja maahi ve Oh my lifelong friend, golden one, come my friend Everybody say soni soni aaja maahi ve) - 3 Everybody say, golden one, come my friend

Once they had finished the crowd clapped but before the couple could move the dance troupe had them surrounded and they made them dance with them during the whole show.

Both families and guests enjoyed the whole sangeet night except one person who by then was really cheesed off.

During the sangeet Rohan who was trying to play with Aryan gave up after a while to watch his mama dancing on stage while Aryan who had his little teddy in his hand was very tired. After a while he lay his head down on Arnav's chest and fell asleep. Anjali had been taking photos on her all evening and she had also caught that on tape.

Arnav who at first had felt very uncomfortable with Aryan on his lap once Aryan had fallen asleep Arnav didn't know why he felt very protective over this little boy in his lap. As he could feel Aryan shuffle to get comfortable Arnav didn't know why but he himself moved Aryan slightly more towards himself and placed his arm around him so he was not only comfortable but also secure. Arnav then went back to watching the show.

The whole of that scene was recorded by Anjali who just couldn't believe her eyes but mentally she was thanking god, Khushi and Aryan for showing that her brother still hadn't lost his humanity even after everything that had happened to him.

Once the sangeet was over and done with the guests started leaving. Arnav was still stuck with Aryan on his lap. So he got up to first find Khushi to hand him back. He saw Khushi talking to her Payal. As he was approaching Khushi, Anjali walked up to him.

"Oh Chote, look at this" with that she showed him the photos she had taken of him and Aryan together. Arnav watched as he saw what he was doing. "Awww! How cute you look" Anjali teased smiling. This really didn't please Arnav one bit as he felt a chit of a girl had managed to get his family especially his sister to tease him. He looked up to see Khushi still talking to Payal. He walked up to her with Aryan still in his arms. As he walked over to her she turned to look at him knowing full well he may be mad but Arnav just handed Aryan over to her and walked away. What Khushi hadn't realised is that Aryan had dropped his teddy on the floor near the front of the stage.

Arnav got busy in making sure his clients had had a good time as he greeted them bye.

At the end only the Jha's, Raizada's and Gupta's were left.

As they were all near the front door the driver was given instructions to take the gupta's home. Only Arnav was not there because he had to deal with the workers to make sure the hall was cleaned out that night itself however long it took.

As Khushi was still holding Aryan, her mum holding Aryan's bag, Khushi suddenly realised Aryan wasn't holding his teddy. She looked around here and there. Everyone noticed this and Anjali asked "Khushiji what's wrong? What are you looking for?" "Anjaliji, Aryan's teddy is missing. He was holding it when we came but he hasn't got it" Khushi answered. "Khushi bitiya, it is probably in your bag" Garima said as she started rummaging in the bag. "No amma I know Aryan had it in his hand when we left the house but he hasn't got it now" Khushi replied looking at her amma. "Maybe it's back in the hall" Payal interrupted. Khushi realised that is where it could be. So she handed Aryan over to Payal as he was still fast asleep and headed over to the hall.

Once in the hall she went over to where she had been sitting but it wasn't there. Even when Aryan was with Arnav she looked around there but the teddy was not there. All of a sudden the teddy appeared in front of her. She could tell someone was holding it. She slowly got up as she was bent down looking for the teddy under some chairs and turned to find a very angry looking Arnav. She went to get the teddy out of hand but he moved his hand back still looking straight at Khushi showing he was not letting go without having some words.

Khushi looked back at him wide eyed but then gulped looking at the temper in his eyes. He stood there looking at her his temper flaring. "Can I have my son's teddy back?" Khushi asked as she aging made the attempt to grab it out of his hand but to no avail. She looked back up and Arnav as he started advancing towards her making Khushi back up.

As Arnav moved closer Khushi backed up until she was up against the back wall. She looked towards Arnav terrified of what he may do. "Listen'" Khushi began but was interrupted.

"WHO THE HELLL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE AND WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM? YOU'RE SERVANT? I AM NOT ACCUSSTOMED TO SUCH BEHAVIOR FROM ANYONE. NEXT TIME MAYBE YOU SHOULD HIRE A BABYSISTER TO LOOK AFTER YOUR KID. Oh wait a second I DON'T THINK YOU COULD AFFORD ONE. My guess is that you thought I could become a permanent babysitter and you could all the riches in one go if you use your child as bait so I could get trapped in your web. Well get this into your head I AM NOT FOR SALE. Girls like you are just gold-diggers nothing else" he shouted at Khushi. Khushi was so scared of him but after hearing his words she was very hurt, very hurt. She had begun to cry just by his bitter words. Seeing her cry at first Arnav was very mad but he seemed to mellow down and backed up allowing enough room for Khushi to move away. As she walked away she managed to grab the teddy and went to back to her waiting family.

Arnav saw her walk away. He didn't realise why he said all that to her but he was very angry and in his anger he just didn't think.

Khushi went back to her family but made sure no one saw her tears as they would all ask but she just didn't want to answer their questions. Once she got there she put the teddy into the bag and took Aryan from Payal before the whole family went back home.

Once Khushi got home she went straight to her room after taking the bag from her mum, placed Aryan on the bed, lay beside him but all she could think of was Arnav's hurtful as tears prickled her eyes again. She fell asleep but very late.

Over at the Raizada house Arnav had been pacing his room thinking about his harsh words he had said to Khushi. He sat on his recliner and couldn't sleep well that night.

The next few days were very busy at both houses.

It was mehndi night at the gupta's where even Anjali, mami and nani had come over to get their mehndi done but as per tradition Khushi was not allowed as they had to keep up with pretences.

The only person who hated Khushi's presence was buaji but all of Khushi's family and the Raizada women were sad for Khushi as she couldn't enjoy the festivities to the fullest.

Even though Khushi was trying to be happy but her smile didn't reach her eyes as she had heard women comment on her being a widow and how she could bring bad luck to this wedding. Nani had overheard and reprimanded them and asked them to leave as she would not tolerate this kind of behaviour. Neither here nor at her grandson's wedding. The women left in a huff but being only neighbours they didn't realise whose wedding they had just been thrown out of. Buaji of course was not please at the turn of events but couldn't say anything as the Raizada's happened to be her nieces would be in laws and even buaji knew how influential they were.

As the evening turned into night people started leaving. Khushi helped take Payal to her room and fed her alongside her amma. As Aryan had been tired out so Khushi had made him sleep in her room earlier during the day. As everyone was very tired from the day's events they eventually went to sleep. Khushi only went to sleep once she made sure Payal was comfortable.

The next morning while trying to help get Payal ready Khushi had managed to get some of her mehndi on her while trying to help clean the mehndi away. Payal had a quick shower and got ready wearing a yellow sari as it was the morning of the haldi while Khushi tried to settle Aryan down who was overwhelmed with the amount of people in the house and kept clinging to Khushi as he just hated being in crowds.

Garima had been noticing for a while especially lately how Aryan had very little traits of Khushi let alone he certainly didn't look much like her daughter. She really was sure that Aryan was not Khushi's at all but she could never prove it.

As people started arriving so did the Raizada women. Anjali, nani and mami went and also did haldi on Payal as well as a greeting towards the gupta women except of Khushi. As nani approached Khushi to ask how she was she noticed the mehndi on Khushi's hand. "Are Khushi bitiya yeh kya? (Oh Khushi what's this) asked nani while looking at her hand. "Kuch nahi nani bus jij ki mendi haatho mein aagaye (nothing nani just jij's mehndi has gotten on my hand) answered Khushi looking at her hand as well. This made nani smile and she walked up to Garima to talk to her in private.

Nani walked up to Garima and pulled her aside to talk to her. "Garima bitiya I noticed that Khushi bibtya has a liitle bit of mehndi on her hands" nani said while smiling. "Yes naniji. While helping clean Payal's hands of the mehndi she managed to get some on herself but she is trying to take it off" Garima replied with a hint of sadness in her voice. "No no no I don't mean that she should take it off. I was just wondering how she managed to get mehndi on her but the way you described it is very good news. There is an old saying that if a bride's mehndi gets onto a single girl she gets married very quickly" nani explained while smiling. This made Garima listen intently. She turned to look at Khushi who was playing with Aryan at that time making him laugh while laughing along with him. Garima smiled wishing hard that what naniji had just told her would in fact come true.

Who knew whether or not this would come true.

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