Smitar's: Saving Khushi#1 Part 7 Pg 122 Link to # 2 on Pg 1 - Page 86

Originally posted by: rulama

Smita,😊

Here is the interpretation for Part 7.

This update is about entering or moving headlong through something. It is also to throw oneself earnestly or wholeheartedly into an activity or situation, in a word PLUNGE.

When Arnav and Khushi walked in to the temple, and waited inside to be summoned by the priest, a boy from the sweet shop brought them a big basket of jalebi, and a couple of temple staff ran around immersed in making the final arrangements for the wedding. Khushi gazing at the content face of Arnav said softly, that it was so strange, Arnavji, making him look at her. She told him that he had hated her vehemently with an unsurpassed passion and she had hated the very shadow of his. They had hurled accusations and hurt one another innumerable times, they had tried to move away from each other, Shyamji had tried to destroy them, had tried to rip open the very fabric of their being, yet they were together and their bond was much stronger. She voiced out aloud her thoughts. Arnav was all ears to what she had to say. With genuine wonder making her eyes luminescent with an inner light, she said, inspite of all the hatred and hurt, inspite of Shyamji's lies and their misunderstanding, they were there, ready to marry and be bound to each other because they are unable to live without each other... They were like two magnets when like poles were brought near would repel but jump around only to be attracted by the opposite pole. Though they had submerged themselves in misery propelled by Shyam's actions and deeds, their love had survived and made them take the plunge.

Arnav seeing her happiness at being bound to him whispered in his husky voice, that their love was stronger than their hatred ever was and was more potent than Shyam's lies. It has the capacity to vanquish his wrong notions and prejudice and it was more powerful than their tears and pain. They were two of a kind, for the each of them the other was their centre of focus and that was why they could emerge out of the abyss they had fallen into. Khushi pressed his fingers with hers and moved closer to his warmth sitting pressed against him. Moved by her words and gestures, Arnav who after realizing the extent of goodness in her heart and deeds, had thought how blessed he was to be still loved by her even after the way he had treated her, made a heart-felt promise, that he would never give her a cause to shed tears again. It was uttered with utmost sincerity, in all seriousness and earnestness. Seeing that he was getting melancholic, rehashing the past in his mind, Khushi set out to change his mood by teasing using his very own epithet, what the! Was this Arnav Singh Raizada speaking or the spirit of Salman Khan that has possessed his body? Arnav smiled at her attempt to cheer him up and was about to come out with a repartee when he felt his phone vibrate. Picking up the call he spoke, yes, NK, only to hear NK say, that Shyam had entered his room and had tried to open his locker with a key he had with him. That brought out a frown in him wondering how Shyam had a spare key to his locker. When NK told that the key had got stuck and he had swiped Arnav's books down, wrecked his room and tore many of his files Arnav was riled and out came the exclamation what the! But what NK said next, that Shyam took one particular file and he does not know what it held but from the look on Shyam's face it looked like he had struck a gold mine had Arnav shut his eyes realizing that Shyam had come across his contract marriage papers. He felt like sop bread in the sauce. It was a come down from the euphoria, but it was brief, for he knew he could swim through the tide with Khushi beside him and having turned their contract marriage into a real one. NK reassured him that he had each and every move of Shyam recorded. Thanking NK, Arnav asked him not to worry about the file and once again instructed him not to follow Shyam outside the house at any cost. Arnav was very specific and definite on that matter and the urgency underlying his words was conveyed to NK who promised him that he won't and Akash had told him too. Though what NK told Arnav was a dampener to his mood, a regress of a sort, it was something within his reach to rectify and he had the capacity to nullify Shyam's attempts to throw a spanner in the works.

As soon as NK's call got over, Arnav called Aman and informed him that he was getting married to Khushi in a temple with the complete set of marriage ritual and rasam. He wanted to know how to get the marriage registered and the set of documents that were needed and what all included as the essential proof. He asked Aman could he contact Mr. Roy, their lawyer and find out. He asked him to message once he found out and it was of top priority. Aman agreed and said within five minutes he would get back with the details. Finding out the details, Aman texted, photo of saathphere, sindoor, managalsutra ceremony etc, wedding invitation if any, witnesses, preferably four, age proof, address proof, identity proof and the list went on. All these were needed to be handed over to Mr. Roy after the wedding and he would complete the formalities to register the wedding. Arnav read the message with care. It was a power-dive on the part of Arnav who was well versed in taking quick decisions to Shyam's attempts to make him nose-dive to fall flat on his face.

Seeing him suddenly engrossed in his cellphone, conversing and reading the text, and listening to bits and pieces of his conversation, Khushi darted anxious glances and asked what the matter was. Arnav, seeing her anxiety, he set about to put her mind at rest telling that it was nothing. When they return the next day, they need to register their wedding. As he needed all the paper work done immediately he had commenced to take care of the nitty-gritty details of how to go about. But Khushi knew that there was more to it than what he said. Her anxious look and her eyes carefully studying his face brought out in him a teasing smile and prompt that he wanted to make sure that she was his and only his, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada! A relieved Khushi smiled and said that she was his and his only, with or without real or contract marriage, with or without rasams, for she was doused in his love. Khushi, who had craved for someone of her own to love and be loved unconditionally that was an ample reward. Arnav gliding his eyes over her face, adoring the smile, loving and treasuring the trust she reposed on him, softly asked Khushi to remove her mangalsutra. He needed it to tie it around her neck again. Khushi complied and gave it to him taking care not to drop the thin single strand chain of black and gold beads and diamonds. For him marriage to Khushi was a refreshing plunge to be swooped by her love and he was determined to give it all.

Soon the priest called them saying that it was time for aarti. Arnav and Khushi stood up with alacrity, their readiness was in sharp contrast to their earlier one where he had dragged her in anger and had made sure there were no witnesses except, Devi Maiyya and Agni, the primary witness as per the Hindu scriptures. He had then hurtled her towards pain, tears, abuses while he himself was a reluctant partner. But now both were readily rushing forwards to make their bond official so that no finger would ever point towards them or their relationship. They joined the crowd and stood with their hands folded. As the aarti started, the bells chimed, the crowd chanted in worship of Devi Maiyya lit with lamps. Arnav looked at Devi Maiyya's smiling visage and then looked at Khushi's peaceful countenance as she prayed with her eyes shut. He felt that he was seeing the same countenance as that of Devi Maiyya, for it could only be Khushi, the beloved daughter of Devi Maiyya, who could bear the stabs of pains he inflicted with fortitude, then forgive him easily and go in for the marriage, thinking him as essential in her life as the air to breathe. He felt truly blessed to have got such an understanding life partner. The priest asked Arnav, was he all set to get married. Arnav replied that he was ready to commit himself and they needed photos of their wedding as proof and held out the camera. The priest with a smile agreed and asked a member of the temple staff to take pictures of all the rituals. He then handed Arnav and Khushi two garlands of rajnigandha and red roses. As they exchanged the garlands her eyes twinkled and her face incandescent with the joy that had found its abode in her heart after a long time and Arnav seeing the mirror image of his feelings reflected in her, soaked it up, felt like the luckiest man on earth to get a partner who truly was his ardhangini in every sense. His life had been drab and gray, set in a monotonous rut amidst the day to day humdrum, before she had fallen in to his arms like a gift from heaven... He looked at Devi Maiyya with utmost gratitude in his heart. He was engulfed in a rare bout of gratitude towards the Divine Power.

Many devotees who had attended the night Pooja, had stayed back to attend the wedding. As Arnav and Khushi sat in front of the havan that housed the primary witness, Agni, the Sacred Fire, Purohit started to chant the mantras, officially commencing the wedding rituals. (The wedding rituals include Kanyadaan, Panigrahana and the Saptapadi only. The rest come under the pre-wedding rituals and post-wedding rituals. The three mentioned above, if done without the other rituals, is still considered as lawful wedding under the traditional laws. But under the Civil laws human witnesses too is necessary. The previous contract marriage was done without the three even though the primary witness, Agni was there. Hence it would be invalid. But it is still valid in the eyes of the law as a contract was drawn, signed and sealed. Whether it was done on a stamp paper or not is one of curiosity!)

Arnav looked at his bride who had her head covered with her pallu as the red ghoonghat. The red sari with the gold border, draped over her head with the golden glow of the fire emitted from the havan falling on her face, the happiness in her radiating from the face made a dazzling picture. Drinking in her beauty and immersed in admiring her he thought it made her more beautiful than he had ever seen her, making his heart swell with love and pride. When it was time for Kanyadaan, a time where the father gifts his daughter to the groom, the Purohit looked around for someone who would oblige to do the ritual of handing over Khushi in to the safekeeping of Arnav. But Khushi was of different thought. She told him that she would give herself to him. Thinking about her parents who had departed and residing in the sky as stars for her, she placed her hand in her Arnavji's warm, large, loving hand as his tender eyes showered love on her. The rituals followed one after the other, the saatphere, the managalsutra, the sindoor... The temple employee clicked photo after photo of all the rituals. Finally they were united in the bond of marriage with all the rituals done as per the tradition. Arnav and Khushi filled in all the details and signed the temple register and Arnav made the boy with the camera take a picture and a photocopy of the page. The crowd that had gathered to participate in the wedding approached the newly-wedded pair to offer them their good wishes and the temple staff distributed the jalebi among the young and the old gathered there. After the crowd dispersed, Arnav and Khushi thanked the Purohit from the bottom of their heart. They stood with their hands folded in front of Devi Maiyya, sought her blessings and slowly walked to the dhaba, hand in hand. Their wedding was simple, filled with well wishers, though strangers, they swung themselves into the spirit of the ceremony.

Shyam stashed away the document relating to the contract marriage in his office bag. That was the only place he knew, where Anjali would not touch anything kept inside, of that he was sure of. It was the only place in the whole house where she would not poke her nose into as it did not hold anytime, anything of interest to her. He smiled at the thought that the tide was turning in his favour for he held all the aces. He would make sure that Arnav be brought out to streets and that his family that looked up to him would hate the very sight of him. With his trump card he would plunge the knife in and watch him squirm. With a swelled up heart and a bloated ego he thought, when he throws in the dice, Arnav would lose everything that he held dear and he could enjoy all the fruits of Arnav's sweat including Khushi! Shyam smirked, feeling over the moon and with stars in his eyes that Khushi was now his without any doubt he was walking on air when his phone rang.

Shyam was hurtled down to earth by the call. His descent was not really pleasant for the call was from Lallan, demanding the payment. Shyam, irritated beyond reason growled what should he pay for? His men had let the girl runaway and now they are absconding too! He told the honcho to first find them and only then they could talk of money. Lallan was not a hire man for nothing. When pleasant he was too. But when pushed he was not the one to take things lying down. He warned Shyam that a word is a word. A word of mouth is a word to be honored. He wanted his money or did he want him to present himself at his office or house, asking for his due? Lallan's threat made Shyam quiver. He looked around like a cornered rat for he had no place to scoot to. The words of the bank manager asking him to credit cash in his joint account resounded in his ears. He told Lallan that he would meet at the hideout where Khushi was held and that way maybe they could find what really has happened over there. It was his way to find a way to duck out of the situation. Shyam who had broken into a cold sweat wiped it from his forehead with lines of worries etched on it. Lallan agreed.

As Shyam walked out of his room, he was met by a perplexed Akash standing in the corridor looking all lost. Nearing him, putting his arms across, he asked Akash, what happened? He told Shyam with a worried frown, that Bhai had just called and the money was almost ready but the kidnappers had not called yet! It had Shyam quaking in his boots. For Shyam felt, everything was descending on his head simultaneously and he was plunging into the bottom of the well. He became restless like a like a cat on hot bricks and thought, how could the kidnappers call when the kidnappers and the kidnapped were missing? Akash as though oblivious to Shyam's trilemma, told him that the kidnappers were supposed to call that day, but... and left things unsaid and continued explaining that Bhai would be returning only the next day as he does not want to travel alone at night carrying so much cash. This made Shyam heave a sigh of relief inwardly and he thought he had time on his side until the next day to fix things up. He felt it was like a tumble being stopped midway.

A few minutes later, Shyam left the house, citing an urgent meeting with a client as an excuse. He drove towards the kidnappers' hideout to meet Lallan with his mind immersed in worry over money and the missing Khushi, Rocky, and the others. He was at his wits end thinking also of how to distract Lallan from the topic of payment. What his sharp brain and keen eyesight failed to note, was the two cars shadowing him at a distance and he was crash-diving into the centre of being caught guilty with Lallan at the toe. When caught, he would neither be able to give an explanation as to how he landed at the hideout, the place where Khushi was held captive nor would he be able to substantiate, how he knew Lallan. If he said, he did not know Lallan, he would be disproved by Lallan himself. If he said, he knew Lallan, he would be incriminating himself. It was a classic Catch-22 situation, caught between the devil and the deep sea. Heading to the hide-out, he has nose-dived into the thick of things.

In this update we see Arnav and Khushi take the plunge gladly and Shyam Manohar Jha, throwing caution to the wind, has jumped in at the deep end.

That is why it is titled PLUNGE.

"Anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course"

~John C. Maxwell

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

Originally posted by: -Mrinalini-

Oh achha! 😆 And what about me not being able to give long comments? I was myself feeling guilty but can't help it!

Originally posted by: rulama

Mrina,

No hard feelings there dear!

We all know how asli duniya is and there is no forcing.

Whenever you want you are welcome to comment and read too.😊

So don't feel guilty of any such things. O.K.?

We do know you will comment whenever you can.

Whether you comment or not you will get the update notification!😉