IPKKND-ARHI-FF - Gypsy- Chapter 42 - Page 67

Arnav's torture is just beginning...and he has no clue of the extent of it yet. I can only give him 1 advice to get into Khushi's good books, find her mother and shemaroo and bring them to her😊.

Another emotional update...wonder how you do it ! i hope Arnav and Khushi are able to sort out their feelings regarding each other and at least start with sorting out the mis-understanding Khushi seems to be having about why Arnav actually wants to marry her.

sorry I have not been able to read or comment few chapter.

Very nice update.. Loved it

i just love the way this ff is going... plz dont make khushi forgive him easily...

amazing update..arnav didnt think straight before but now he cud think properly abt kushi's feelings..very late thinker..he n his royalness that made him come down..but still he didnt comeup with what he was feeling for her..pity or love?kushi..well poor gal..she wud be alryt..waiting for the next..

Hi everyone. Generally speaking, I rarely reply to comments individually. That does not mean I don't read them; I do. It's just that with a demanding job, in-laws and taking care of the house, I don't have much spare time. I just write, post it and sometime later, read the comments. However, I would like to tell all of you I take pleasure in reading them and appreciate each and every comment. That said I felt that there are some concerns of my readers that I need to address:

Some of you feel that Arnav is not repentant enough. He still considers things from his point of view - that is not the case. It's just that I don't believe in cramming every repentant thought of his in just one chapter. I am spacing them out. As yet he only sees Khushi fleetingly. It is only once they are married and sharing the same quarters that the whole truth will hit home. I have always felt that a person cannot just repent all at once. It is a slow process; each thing comes home one at a time and the person can feel anguish for each and every thing. Sort of like the saying that finishes as repent at leisure'. Please have patience with me. As each chapter unfolds, so will each and every thing. I don't like to leave any threads loose. Rest assured, everything will be capped off properly.

Secondly Khushi's Maayi and Shemaroo - they cannot meet now. I am trying to develop the story along the lines of where when her mother meets her next, and her tribe as well, she should be married and secure in her position as a Maharani.

Thirdly Khushi and Arnav should meet before the wedding and talk - I wish to torture Arnav more. He should live with her in close quarters and realize the extent of his damage and then try to make up. Much more difficult than if they meet and sort their differences now. Also if everything is sorted now, then it becomes too perfect and life does not work that way.

Fourthly someone queried that why Khushi is only scared of Arnav - I mentioned a few chapters earlier that since he was the reason she was beaten and whipped; his cruelty that destroyed her life. So in her mind, there is no difference between those people of her tribe and Arnav. Their cruelty is on par with each other's. Please keep in mind that they really don't know each other completely. They met, there was lust and cruelty in between and they separated.

Please have patience everyone and please keep supporting me. I will cover each and everything properly. I apologize if I offended anyone but please bear with me. I love all of you very much. So please keep the comments coming in... After this chapter comes the pooja ceremony.

Chapter 35

For the next six days, Garima was like a drill sergeant; making Khushi practice the things she had been taught. These skills would help her fit in, at least for the first few days until she adjusted. There was no doubt in her mind that in the completely new life Khushi was stepping into and that too in such circumstances, she needed each and every advantage she could lay her hands on. But she had another reason as well; to keep Khushi so busy that the girl had no time to brood.

Khushi did all the things Garima told her to and was reasonably satisfied with herself. She was fairly adept at them but the one thing that defeated her completely was the sari. Try as she might, she never managed to wrap her sari the way it was meant to. She started off well but somewhere along the way she messed up. On the day before the pooja she threw her hands up in frustration. The blue sari Garima had given her was just not turning out right!

"Maa, I can't do it! I don't know what goes wrong but ..."

She stood in the middle of her room in her underskirt and choli with one end of the sari tucked in. She clutched the rest of the fabric in her hand where she had been trying to make pleats but to no avail. Downstairs Shashi was waiting for her on the lawn for tea.

She looked agitated and was quite red-faced. Her frustration was evident and Garima took pity on her.

"It's all right Anu, leave it. You just wear a salwar kameez, come on."

"But the sari? I have to learn as well ..."

"It doesn't matter. Until your wedding, there will be many people to help you put it on and even afterwards, in your new home."

"But Maa ..."

"Hurry up dear; your Baba is waiting for you!"

Double minded, Khushi dithered for a few moments and then took the easy way out. Quickly changing her clothes, she took the salwar kameez Garima handed her. Now these things were easier to manage, she thought; even inspite of the pants, something she was not used to but much better than the sari overall. Within minutes she was changed and running a brush through her shoulder length hair, pinned the dupatta on her shoulder. She didn't know it but she looked remarkably like a movie actress in that moment for the new fashion of shorter hair with body waves was sweeping across the nation as modern girls tried to emulate their movie screen idols. Khushi had managed that feat unknowingly.

She went out to the lawn where a table and chairs were set up. Shashi saw her coming and smiling, he got to his feet, holding a hand out to her. She placed her hands in his and drawing her closer, he kissed her forehead.

"Khushi, you look very beautiful my child."

"Sach Baba."

"Haan! Of course. Do you think I'm lying?" And indeed she looked very beautiful in her pale yellow salwar kameez.

"Oh no Baba!" She hastened to reassure him while he laughed at her. He motioned her to her chair, waiting for her to sit before resuming his seat. Bhiku Kaka carried the tea tray out, placing it on the table. After eyeing the tray uneasily for a few moments, Khushi slowly lifted the heavy teapot and calling on her new skills, poured tea into two cups. She poured in milk from a small jug and added sugar the way she knew he took his tea. Stirring the sugar, she placed the cup on a saucer and handed it to him.

Her father took the cup, remarking,

"Arre wah, mere bachche, that was very well done."

Elated, she spoiled the effect of a sedate young lady, exclaiming,

"Really!"

"Yes, really."

He laughed at her and vastly relieved, she made her own tea rather more easily. After taking a few sips, Shashi put his cup down to broach a subject that had been in his mind for a few days.

"Khushi, there is something I wanted to ask you."

"Yes, Baba, what is it?"

"Are you crying yourself to sleep each night?"

Khushi's eyes flew to her father's face guiltily. She thought no one knew; she never made a single sound! He reached a hand and touched her cheek, brushing his fingers under her eyes where delicate mauve shadows had formed. Khushi lowered her eyes.

"My child, I don't want to rake up your reasons for crying and distress you anymore. However, I want to tell you something. Advise you really. I can understand that you are worried about your future but I have always believed in one thing; do not worry about the future at all. Concentrate on each day. Make it count. At the end, if you feel your day was successful, then your future is good. I know it is difficult for you to forget or get over the things that happened to you but you are about to become a bride. A new world is opening up for you. If you are scared, then how will you face the new challenges? In being scared, you cheat yourself of your share of happiness. This time of being a bride comes once in a girl's life. This is the time for you to smile, be shy, blush and enjoy yourself. I know it is not easy for you but do not forget one thing; before you and your Maayi were alone. Now this time around, there are many people rooting for you; me, your Garima Maa, your new Dadi, your Maharani Maa, your nanad and many others as well. This time you can rely on us, come to us and we will fight for you against any adversity. All you have to do is trust us, and more importantly trust yourself. You are a brave girl; you have pulled yourself back from death's door and recovered. There is no need for you to be scared. Just be yourself. The new things you have learnt will help you to adjust faster. They do not change who you are in the first place. You are a free spirit, a gypsy. I have heard that a gypsy's courage is second to none. Call upon that courage to face each day. We are here for you."

For a long moment after he finished speaking, Khushi sat stiff, eyes lowered, fingers so tight around her cup handle her knuckles were white. Shashi studied her worriedly; her very stillness was alarming him. Had he said too much? She was already so fragile, her emotions so near the edges.

"Khushi???"

"Hmmm?"

"Say something child. You are scaring me now. Are you all right?"

Very slowly Khushi raised tear-filled eyes and chokingly said,

"Baba, even before, Maayi and I were not completely alone you know. There was a guardian angel on our side. For you see, it was that same angel who made sure that you came in my life; you and Maa and all the other people. Even then there was someone else fighting from my side and now he has seen to it that there are so many of you fighting for me. That said how could I let so many people down now? I promise you Baba, I will try my best to follow your advice. I really will. Honestly, Baba, it will not be easy. There are times when I want to run away from it all but I will try."

Her tears spilled over and she raised her hands to wipe them away but hesitated. Through her tears she smiled at Shashi and mumbled,

"Baba, I don't have a handkerchief. May I borrow yours? Maa says I should not use my hands to wipe my face like a little boy!"

Shashi laughed as he handed his handkerchief over...

That evening they had a visitor; Thakur Alok Singh. He came over after dinner while they were sitting in the living room and Garima was going over the list of things Khushi was supposed to take with her to the mandir. The pundit had advised her only to take a handful of things, mostly sarees. The purpose of the weeks stay in the mandir was for a bride to be close to God and nature. Apart from the wedding festivities like the mehendi, haldi and wedding ceremony itself for which the outfits were coming from Devgarh, for the first few days she would have to be very simple indeed. Therefore, she was taking only one small bag of necessities.

But apart from those, there were quite a few other trunks filled with new sarees, salwar kameezes, shoes and jewelry. Khushi watched wide-eyed as Garima instructed the servants to keep the trunks safely until her wedding day when had to send it to Devgarh Palace.

"Baba, Maa, so many things! But why? There is no need surely!"

"No need! Khushi, I am a Lucknowi! We do not send our daughters empty-handed! Anyway these are your clothes; your necessities."

"Baba, necessities mean a few things. These are enough for three girls, let alone one!"

"Khushi, no matter what you say, these things are going with you so no arguments please."

"But Baba ..."

"Khushi!!!!!!"

Khushi subsided in her seat. In the middle of this, Thakur Alok came. The servant showed him inside where they were gathered.

The gentleman came in holding some parcels in his hand, nodding politely to Garima and clapping Shashi on the shoulders before he bowed theatrically to Khushi who watched him wide-eyed.

"So little girl, how do you do?" He asked her jovially.

Khushi looked at him solemnly although she liked his twinkling eyes and kind smile very much. "I am fine thank you Thakur Saheb. How are you?"

"Oh I am fine, very good in fact! I am here to tell your father that until your wedding, I am completely at his service. He can even tell me to sweep the driveway and I will do it! It's all in the name of friendship, you know."

"Oh no Alok," Shashi drawled, you just stick to looking good at my side my friend. After all I do want the driveway swept and you do not know one end of a broom from the other!"

Khushi watched the easy byplay between the old friends and smiled. Maybe someday she would have a close friend just like this; one with whom she could also joke outrageously.

The friend's jokes over, Thakur Alok walked to Garima and handed the parcels over to her with great ceremony.

"Gifts for my friend's daughter, Madam."

Garima accepted them and at the Thakur and Shashi's urging opened the wrapping to reveal some velvet boxes. She opened the topmost one gently and found a lovely set of kundan jewelry. Khushi's eyes popped wide at this but Gairma took it in her stride, opening the second box which contained bangles while a third yielded payals. The jewelry brought by Thakur Alok, as Shashi Gupta had told her earlier, matched the saree Khushi was supposed to wear for the pooja the following day. Thakur Alok had specifically asked his friend not to select jewelry for the pooja ceremony but just to give him some idea of what Khushi was wearing.

Khushi herself was unaware of this but at Garima's beckoning she got up and thanked Thakur Alok. He waved her thanks away but her next action wiped away his bonhomie. She touched his feet for blessings and the jovial, laughing man was at a loss. He blessed her wordlessly, bowing in her direction once again. Garima and Khushi excused themselves, leaving the man to talk. Once the women were gone, Shashi asked his unsually silent friend if he was all right.

"She really is a very special child, isn't she?" His friend just said those words while Shashi nodded in response...

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R!
This is your story and take it forward as you had thought it. I enjoy reading it and this is the reason we are here isn't it? To read what what you write.
I understand what you explained about repentance. Its not just a one time process. Spacing it as you put it is more natural and realistic so kudos to you for taking it forward so sensibly. I had said this before also that it would be more impactful when things hit home to Arnav after marriage. The way has already been laden and the first thing was the engagement.

Very endearing chapter this one! It kind of belonged to Shashi. He is such a nice man, protective and affectionate. Garima ji has to get charmed now! Please Chinky ;>
I really respect and adore him.

Khushi aka Anu - throughly adorable.. You know , I was just thinking how it would be great to have someone as her friend.. I hope!

Loved to read the last scene.