SS: Keeping Khushi: Th5: Part 51 Pg 130 - Page 73

Awesome loving NK and Aarti 's love tune keep on writing 

Aarti and NK are real sweet

What an awesome family! Loved everyone's interaction with each other. Can't wait to see how NK changes Aarti's mind.

oops.. I unliked it... i loved NK's way.. he is so gentle yet stubborn..

awww...NK wooing lady .. interesting to read 😊

I pressed the like button before the section 2 was added. Now, how to "like" it another time?

NK and Aarti... LOved them... Really sweettt...

loooved it!

very well and nicely written!

Part 50

Aarti stood in her chauffeur's uniform, with mehendi on her hands, looking at the ladies, men, & children dancing at the Sangeet of Akash & Payal.

Buaji and Mami were on the stage, dancing to Halkat Jawani. The children were whistling and dancing at the foot of the stage, encouraging the dancers with comments shouted at them. Men and women were swaying, dancing, and putting their hands together in time to the music. Aarti had to smile at their excitement.

She looked around. The entire place looked magical. Omkar was an old haveli with 4 buildings, all constructed many years back. The elegant lines of the old buildings, the lights strung across every surface, the music, the masti, the gleeful children in colourful clothes, the ladies in rich sarees and jewels, the laughter, the flowers strung across the entire area, the fragrance of food being cooked for the feast, the men in sherwani, looking like princes...all made her feel as though she had entered a world of dreams where good things happen, only good things happen...

The sound of applause brought her back to her senses. She quickly called Gopi Kakka to check on her mother in the gap between two performances. As she slipped the phone back into her pocket, she caught sight of Khushiji's Baba stealthily making his way to his room, maybe unable to bear the noise and the crowd any longer. An amused smile appeared on her lips as her eyes rested on the tall, thin man with overlong hair, dressed in a white dhoti kurta, making his way to his room through the crowd. Khushiji had introduced her to Baba during lunch time. Aarti had touched his feet, and he had blessed her with a gentle smile, before leaving with the box of fairylights he had come to collect from the store room.

Her eyes travelled over the children. Khushiji had introduced most of them to her in the afternoon as & when they had come to have their lunch. Chotu was describing the performance by Payalji's mother and her female relations to Simi who could not see. The adults were dancing to Mere Piya Gaya Rangoon, an old Hindi film song, with one lady acting as the male lead, aided by a gargantuan mush. What was the name of the child with a big gap where her front teeth should be? Nidhi. Yes. She had a laddoo in her hand as she jumped up and down in excitement. Akansha & Akshaya were laughing at some joke. Akshaya had tiny Ritu on her lap. Ritu was playing with Akshaya's bangles. Vivek was in a cream kurta & dhoti, smiling as he chatted with Akash. The Sunflower...

The Sunflower was in a golden yellow kurta and dhoti. As she watched, he said something to Arnav Singh Raizada, fingering the ties of his dhoti, as though in doubt that it would fall off him at any moment. There was a worried frown creasing his forehead. As Aarti watched, Arnav straightened his dhoti & kurta for him, an amused look on his face. Aarti stole a look at the mehendi on her hands, the flawed lines and shapeless flowers on the palm that Surajmukhi had commandeered. Her fingers closed in on her palm, almost unconsciously.

 

Her eyes fell on Payalji.

Dressed in  a gorgeous anarkali of red & white, she was sitting with Akash, right in the centre of a crowd of relations who were dancing & cheering a group of children dancing on stage. As she watched, she saw Akash try to peep at the mehendi design on his bride-to-be's hands. Payal, blushing, looked around, and seeing all the others otherwise occupied, extended her hands to Akash so that he could see his name written on her palm. Aarti smiled. Romance in the midst of cacophony...

 

Where was Khushiji? Aarti looked around, her eagle eyes scanning the crowd. She had been running around serving food and drinks to the guests, helping others with the hundred and one things they needed her to do to get this act on the road, dressed in the same pink & green Uppada silk sari she had been wearing all day. She had tried her best to make Aarti wear feminine clothes, displaying the contents of her wardrobe in Omkar for her to choose. But Aarti had been adamant.

But that was some time back. Where was Khushiji now?

 As her eyes searched for her, she saw Khushi come out of her room.

She was dressed in an orange & gold anarkali with full sleeves, the gold embroidery around her neck making it look as though she were wearing a heavy necklace of gold. Her long hair was unbound, falling down her back to the back of her knees in a lush fall of silk. She looked beautiful, glamorous, a perfect match for the debonair Arnav Singh Raizada, who at that very moment, was tickling Ritu who was shrieking with laughter.

As she watched, Arnav Singh Raizada turned away from the children to walk towards the house, and stopped short at the sight of his wife.

(Mariam_Sultan, thanx!)

He stood still, looking at her, the noise and the dancing around him not registering in his brain. He walked slowly towards her, his eyes talking to her. Aarti could not see his eyes, but could see the blush on Khushiji's cheeks. She had to look away. The moment seemed too private to be intruded upon.

"Now, let's see who is coming on stage to surprise us!", announced Anjaliji, Arnav Singh Raizada's sister. Aarti looked at the stage. The lights dimmed.

 

Baalika Tumhare Sapno Ka Raajkumar, Aa Raha Hai...
Varmala Doli Baarat Sajake Dulha, Cha Raha Hai...
Shubhmangal Savadhan...

The children clapped their hands loudly. Apparently, they knew who the surprise package was. Aarti turned away, smiling, planning to take refuge in her car.

Hey Ya... Hey Ya...
Hey Ya, Heeriye, Sehra Baandh Ke Main Toh Aaya Re...
Hey Ya, Doli Baarat Bhi Saath Mein Main Toh Laaya Re...

Aarti turned her head to look at the stage one last time, and froze in position. The Sunflower in his yellow kurta dhoti was on stage, dancing, looking straight at her. Children carrying a palanquin were dancing behind him.

Ab Toh Na Hota Hai Ek Roz Intezaar, Soni,

Aaj Nahi Toh Kal Hai, Tujhko Toh Bas Meri Honi Re...

He pointed to his bridegroom-like turban, and then directly at her.

Tenu Leke Main Javanga, Dil Deke Main Javanga...  He winked at her. The crowd cheered at his antics.

Hey Ya... Hey Ya...

Payal & Akash smiled at each other. Arnav joined Khushi, and pulling her close with his arm around her shoulders, stood watching his brother prancing on stage and his excited wife with an indulgent smile. Khushi clapped her hands vigorously, encouraging him, stealing glances at Aarti, who was standing with her mouth wide open.

Aa Keh De Zamane Se, Tu Mere Ishq Ki Hai Daastaan...
Hey Ya...Hey Ya...

Aarti gulped. She raised her arm to run her hand through her short hair, and stopped at the sight of the mehendi. She quickly pushed her hands into her pockets.

O Jaaniya, Keh De Bahaane Se...
Main Tera Jism Hoon, Tu Meri Jaan...
Kuch Na Chupa...

Aarti glared at Surajmukhi, hoping to keep his pretensions down, but he was not NK for nothing. In the true tradition of his illustrious, intrepid brothers, he continued to dance his love out on stage.

Mushkilon Se Milta Hai Aisa Sona Pyar, Soni...
Cheez Tere Jaisi Na Mujhko, Na Mujhko Khoni Re
Tenu Leke Main Javanga, Dil Deke Main Javanga... He clutched his heart, looking delicious in the traditional dress and his turban.

Akash, Arnav, Nani, Mami, Di, Khushi, & Payal cheered him on. Buaji whistled an ear-piercing whistle. The crowd went mad with excitement.

Jaan Aise Na Tadpa Ke, Dekh Le Madhbhare Andaaz Se...
Hey Ya...  Hey Ya...

Aarti dragged her eyes away from his, looking away from the stage, feeling her heart thudding louder than the drums in the song.

O Jaan Tu Awaaz Ko Apni, Aa Mila Ab Meri Awaaz Se...
Arre, Haan Keh De Haan... Aarti could not help but look at the stage.

The curtains of the palanquin parted, and Nidhi, the gap-toothed, laddoo lover, jumped out. Dressed in bridal dress, with a var mala in her hands, she looked more than cute.

Kar Diya Hai Tune Mujhko Yun Bekaraar Maahi,
Keh Diya Duniya Se Main Teri Main Teri Ho Gayi Re...

She ran to NK, who bent down so that she could place the garland around his neck.

Tere Naal Mein Aavaangi, Sasooral Mein Jaavaangi...

NK lifted little Nidhi up in his arms, and danced, circling around and around, laughing. The children danced in a circle around them.

Hey, Tenu Leke Main Javanga, Dil Deke Main Javanga...
Hey Ya...Hey Ya...

The crowd went mad, shouting and cheering them on. Aarti watched as Arnav Singh Raizada and Akash Singh Raizada laughed out aloud, their love for and pride in their brother evident to the world. Mami had tears of pride in her eyes as she swayed in time to the music, her bangles and hip chain keeping time with the music. Nani was laughing, and Anjali was clapping her hands, a loud, proud smile on her face. Khushiji had tears of joy in her eyes, and Payal was thrilled to bits.

Aarti turned, and walked away.

Part 51: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/3297671?pn=130

Edited by smitar - 11 years ago