Sheesh Mahal
“Hi,” Khushi smiled as Arnav greeted her even before she entered their room. A couple of years ago she had decided to test their connection, determined to disprove NK’s ‘he surely cannot sense you everytime!’ She first removed her payals, then her sandals, she kept away her favourite jasmine perfume - anything that could have indicated Khushi’s presence. Once she even walked right behind NK to keep her shadow at bay.
And every single time Arnav wished a ‘Hi’ five feet before she stepped in the room.
NK obviously left with the upper hand by stating that Arnav could sense Khushi before she could step in, but not state ‘I love you’ till it was late until their elopement. Of course NK was met with a flying rolled magazine from Arnav’s end and Khushi realised apart from Arnav instinctively knowing where Khushi was, he also was great at throwing stuff from a distance without looking.
“So, that’s good?” Khushi snapped from her thoughts and looked at Arnav.
“Huh, haan, yes it’s good.” She smiled. Arnav raised an eyebrow and shut his laptop.
“You didn’t hear a word of what I said, right?” Khushi flustered - did nothing ever escape his eagle eyes! - but of course she wasn’t Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada for nothing.
“Of course I heard everything you said.” Arnav savoured Khushi’s attempt at lying.
“Acha, toh repeat what I had just said.” Arnav leaned back on the lounge, a challenge bright in his eyes.
“Why? Did you forget what you said? Maybe that’s why you’re asking me to repeat it.” Khushi said. Arnav only gave her a pointed look in response. Jutting her chin high she sat delicately next to him and stared right into his eyes.
“You were talking of Sheesh Mahal.” Arnav’s eyes widened. He was so sure she was busy in her thoughts. Khushi often had the habit of beginning a conversation and stopping it midway for whatever trail of thought she had. Khushi grinned at him.
However, as much as Khushi loved Arnav seeing her in wonder, she found no glory in cheating. So she handed the file on the table to him. A file that had the words ‘Sheesh Mahal’ boldly written on it.
“Unfortunately I’m not that talented.” Arnav laughed at her confession.
“You’re plenty talented.” Arnav grinned, letting his eyes rest on her delectable body. Khushi slapped his chest, he gripped her hand and pulled her in for a hot kiss that ended too soon for her liking.
“So, as I was saying,” Arnav opened the file, “I’ve finally gotten the permission to raze down Sheesh Mahal.” Khushi sighed. It was a hot debate between him and Anjali when the government forbid him to tear down the building owing to the heritage status Sheesh Mahal achieved that year.
Anjali was convinced it was divine intervention. Arnav saw it as the last thorn pinning him to his traumatizing past.
After multiple paperworks, money in the right hands and an election with a new MLA who wasn’t politically interested in old buildings for once - Arnav Singh Raizada finally had the permission. Perhaps that’s why Anjali left Shantivan a week earlier than she had promised - the siblings barely exchanging a word.
“Do you really want it, Arnav-ji?” Khushi asked, sighing as he went tense under her touch.
“Ye-”
“Hear me out, if this was the place where all the things didn’t happen - would you still want to break the house-” Khushi held his hands but he took it away.
“Property, it’s not a house Khushi.” Arnav replied, sitting up, “And let’s not delve into what ifs. A lot could’ve happened then. A lot could have been saved.” Arnav stopped, realising his tone had a sharper edge than intended. Khushi was extremely quiet, clenching her fists with uncertainty.
He hated whenever he made her uncomfortable. His experience told him he often brought up the past to blame her. A decade later, it pinched that she still expected to be judged the worst for nothing.
Arnav took her hands in his and kissed her knuckles, Khushi softened under his touch and cupped his face.
“I understand. If it’s what you want then I’m with you. Hamesha.” Khushi smiled weakly, soothed by his soft kisses. Perhaps a few years ago she would’ve fought with him to save his ancestral property - one of the signs of his past regardless of the trauma - for Khushi would’ve done anything to save a memory of her parents.
But she realised that he’s not her. She cannot recommend things to him based on what she would’ve done.
“It’s also where we first met…” Khushi whispered, relieved at the soft smile on his face.
“We would’ve met regardless,” Arnav mused.
“Acha? You’ve finally started believing in fate.” Khushi teased him and loosened his tie.
“Nope, I believe in you.” He confessed, pulling her closer.
– – –
Khushi watched the grounds through the helicopter. Only Arnav Singh Raizada could be in a helicopter and check the news instead of the amazing sights of Lucknow from thousands of feet above in the sky.
“Laad Governor,” Khushi mumbled, happy that the noise was enough to drown her quip. Except he looked up from his phone and rolled his eyes. Knowing her, it was better to keep the phone away and ‘enjoy little moments’.
He had Khushi next to him. That, was enjoyment enough.
But Khushi’s excitement was infectious. To be honest, he was a little jealous of how Khushi seemed to enjoy the littlest pieces of life regardless of the number of experiences she had with her. It’s almost like she was flying for the first time.
Khushi looped her arms with his and pointed to the little streets she could recognize from the sky. When she nearly clapped at their arrival to Sheesh Mahal, he had half the mind to keep the building for the glowing smile on her face.
If there was a second thing he was jealous of Khushi, it was how anyone and everyone was truly drawn to her. Be it his office staff, his family - or now all the workers at Sheesh Mahal.
Due to the ongoing case no one was permitted to the grounds so it had been years since Khushi saw the structure in detail.
After an hour’s of touring guided by the local house-help, Khushi sat in the balcony with a cup of tea.
“Arnav-ji you didn’t tell me this was built mirroring the Sheesh Mahals in Agra and Lahore. And you didn’t tell me this was three hundred years old!” Khushi sighed wistfully, imagining what a childhood it must’ve been to grow up here. After a moment she composed herself, knowing what this place meant for Arnav. Beyond the mirrors, beyond the beauty.
“It’s ok Khushi, it is a pretty place.” Arnav comforted her and took her hand in his. He had always admired the vast curtains and n number of stairs. Fond memories of his mother’s evening prayers echoing all the walls washed through his mind.
“You can’t make a hotel or a museum out of it?” Khushi asked, looking around.
“Well the Maliks didn’t actually take care of this place did they? And my uncle sold almost all the chandeliers and decorations . It’ll take a lot of work to restore this place. In fact I’m surprised it’s still standing solid!” Arnav tapped a column and broke into a small laugh.
“What happened?” Khushi asked.
“I just realised this is the exact same place where I bought Sheesh Mahal back,” Arnav said.
Arnav relished the revenge as his penniless uncle’s stained smile fell. The huge Sheesh Mahal was back to who it belonged. A look at the building and he realised it had been stripped off almost everything he called him - not even the flowers were spared. Yet, it felt nice to steal the skeleton of history from the man who doomed the house in the first place.
“Arnav ji!” Khushi broke his thoughts, “where did the fashion show happen?”
“You want to see it?” Arnav asked. Khushi rolled his eyes at the rhetorical question. He extended his hand and she slipped her hand into it, skipping as he took her to the west wing of Sheesh Mahal.
Khushi shivered when she reached the stage. Her exposed skin prickled at the warm June air. The heels wobbled under her feet. Thousands of eyes looked at her - and there was him, eyes piercing through the crowd, fixing her with a stare.
Arnav closed his eyes, barely interested in the hub hub of the crowd until someone mentioned something was wrong on stage. Wrong? In ASR's show? He opened his eyes and before he was able to direct his full rage a glitter of green and gold fell in his arms. Her eyes were wide, lips parted and the clutch on his neck was too familiar for a stranger.
The fireworks burst in the background as Sheesh Mahal, decorated like a bride, witnessed the union of the two most unlikely people.
Khushi touched the walls, the memories eleven years ago as fresh as yesterday. She ran into the vast ground, and lay flat on the grass.
“Khushi! What are you doing!” Arnav ran up to her.
“Lying on the grass.” Khushi pointed out the obvious.
“Your suit will get soiled.” Arnav placed his hands on his hips, wondering if he could ever understand her eccentricities completely.
“I have a husband who makes clothes for a living.” She quipped. She extended her hand, tugging him beside her.
“I’m not going to lay on the grass. No one has mowed it. I-” Khushi flashed her puppy eyes at him and pouted. Arnav muttered a few curses under his breath and lay flat on the grass, uncomfortable at the prickly sensation.
“Sometimes I feel you and Kairaav are the same,” Arnav referred to their youngest child, folding his arms under his head.
“Well, it’s a good thing he’s not going to be like his khadoos papa,” Khushi chuckled, cuddling closer to him.
“Khushi what are you doing? Someone will come.” Arnav warned.
“That’s supposed to be my line.” Khushi laughed as he wrapped an arm around her, “and… you’re forgetting something.”
“What?” Arnav looked at her.
“Today we met for the first time.” Khushi sighed and rested her head on his chest. Arnav was quiet. Birds flew across the evening sky. Sheesh Mahal stood proud despite its age, and true to its name, reflected some of the setting sun’s light with its few mirrors on the couple laying on the grass.
“Eleven years…” Arnav remarked, stroking a lazy hand through her hair. Khushi hummed in response. It seemed strange how the eleven years passed by. She had never known the wrong turn would lead her to the right direction.
So much happened, yet all she remembered were the moments that etched him in her mind forever.
The way he held her, face as handsome as a prince. The way he checked her out in the red saree, lighted their desires at once that never diffused. When he had saved her in the rain, his body warm despite the cold. When he had laughed - carefree - showing her the Arnav she had helplessly fallen in love with. When he caressed her ankle like it was made with gold and went down on his knees - for once they were equal in more ways than one. He stole her earring and heart, returned it all with an unforgettable dance, kiss and bangles she treasured till date. When he showed her stars and took her to the universe with pleasure and promise. A promise he lived upto by arriving at the wedding despite all, for he had given his word.
Arnav ran his fingers through the length of her hair, wondering how quickly the eleven years passed and how little he had expected when the first time he met Khushi. If he had known she was the one, he wouldn’t have broken the kiss, would’ve given more than a dance, and let the barriers be down even before life had changed things for him.
There was no regret. Arnav Singh Raizada never regretted.
But he did wonder how things would’ve been if it had been sooner. If he had more moments to love Khushi - right from the beginning. When Khushi nuzzled closer, he shook his head. Even though he long gave up on the notion that the ends justifies the means, he wouldn’t question how or why they met.
She was with him and he wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“You know this was a rose garden,” Arnav commented after a long time, “and of course, like everything else the roses are gone. Every essence of this being a house has gone with it.” Arnav broke the cuddle and got up, dusting his pants. He extended his hand to Khushi and pulled her up, enjoying the familiarity of her brushing too close when she fell against him.
Khushi looked at his eyes, then flickered her gaze to his lips. Arnav curled his hand around her nape and kissed her. She looped her arms around his neck, opening her mouth and running her fingers through his hair.
Arnav moved his hands up and down her back, when she suddenly broke away.
“What?” He asked. Khushi pointed afar.
Arnav cleared his voice and turned around to give an explanation to whoever was peeking in with him and his wife but was left speechless at what he saw.
A rose.
“It wasn’t all taken away Arnav-ji,” Khushi smiled, giving him a comforting squeeze as his eyes misted at the lone rose. It was the same kind his mother had planted years ago. Arnav crouched by the flower, touching the petals gingerly.
“Arnav-ji,” Khushi said, after a moment, “it’s time to go…”
Arnav stood up and looked at the house and grounds. Perhaps everything was not gone.
“I think I can restore it. No one knows Lucknow better than me and I come from a line of generational artisans. Buajimight know some people whose families might’ve worked in building Sheesh Mahal. And we can make it something that can be of use to other people. That I need to think about.” Khushi smiled, knowing that if Arnav hadn’t interrupted her till now - he was thinking of the same thing too.
“Let’s see if the ground is still good for roses.” He mused, sniffling a stray tear with the back of his sleeve.
He tugged her hand to leave,
“Arnav-ji, that’s not the exit.” Khushi pointed out as he took her inside the Sheesh Mahal.
“I know.” Arnav said, navigating through the multiple corridors and stairs with ease.
“Then where are you taking me?” Khushi asked, smiling widely.
“You haven’t seen my room, haina?” Arnav asked.
“B-but Arnav it must be musty! We can’t-” Khushi shut up as Arnav stopped on his feet and stared at her in surprise.
“I was thinking of showing you my childhood room. That’s it..” Arnav grinned. Khushi blushed.
“Arnav!” Khushi exclaimed when Arnav scooped her in his arms.
“Now that you’re suggesting, let me inform you that my room is the only one I keep upto date.” Arnav said, carrying her through the corridor. Khushi looped her arms around his neck and smiled.
If eleven years ago someone told Arnav that the walls of Sheesh Mahal would hear laughter, he would imagine it’s a dream he hadn’t woken up from.
If eleven years ago someone told Khushi that a Rajkumar would carry her into Sheesh Mahal, she wouldn’t have believed it.
And where Khushi had been questioned for taking things into her hand and then Arnav was questioned for having a show in Lucknow, they were grateful that on one fateful night a certain Khushi Kumari Gupta slipped and fell straight into the heart of an Arnav Singh Raizada.
Edited by dramebaaz.af - 1 years ago
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