182. OS 8: One Rainy Night (Part 11)

Part 11

He looked into her startled, huge eyes. Then slowly he brought his face closer to hers, aiming for her lips, as if to demonstrate how she had kissed him in his..no, their dream.

Khushi leaned back, as far as she could go till she was almost horizontal on the recliner, her arms held up to stop his descent.

“Kya..kya kar rahe ho aap?” she stammered.

Arnav paused for a second. What was he doing? He was going about it the wrong way!

A timid knock sounded on the door.

“Bhai,” Akash called reluctantly.

“Yes, Akash?” Arnav lifted his head to ask, his eyes still on Khushi’s disconcerted ones.

“Woh..Bhai..Buaji is waiting to go home. It has been ten minutes,” he reminded the pair.

Khushi jerked.

Arnav lifted himself from her but retained his kneeling position, thereby blocking her from standing up.

“I need a few more moments, Akash,” Arnav said in his husky voice.

“I will try to stall them from coming up, Bhai,” Akash promised rashly before leaving.

“I have to go,” Khushi mumbled, trying not to look at his face, disappointment corroding her heart like acid. Her place was in Laxmi Nagar, not in this enchanted room with the magical pool and the man of her dreams. Some moonchwala was waiting for her in her future. Her raajkumar belonged in her dreams.

“Wait a moment, Khushi,” he whispered, his lips and tongue relishing her name.

She hesitated and then gave in. When would she see her raajkumar again? More to the point, would she ever get to see him again? Would she be fortunate to appear in his dreams again? Even if she did visit him in the dark hours in his mind, would she ever know of her nightly flirtations?

 She heaved a heavy sigh.

“Khushi, will you marry me?” he asked softly, his low voice melding with the light breeze and the moonlight and the gentle ripples on the surface of the pool.

How could she tell some moonchwala circuswala that she wanted only her raajkumar with the sinfully delicious voice and chocolate eyes, a lap that felt like it was made for her, arms that held her safe like a cradle?

“Khushi?” he asked again, amusement lightening his voice, his eyes twinkling at the lost look on her face. She was too lost in her ruminations to have heard his question, the question that his family and the whole civilized world had ben waiting for years for ASR to pop.

“Ji?’ she asked, her serious eyes on his dancing ones. Why was he so happy to be pushing her out of his life? ‘Khushi Kumari Gupta, this can happen only to you! You finally find a man you are pagal about and he is amused by you! What are you, a clown at the circus?’ 

At the thought of the circus, her mouth drooped again.

“Kya hua, Khushi?’ Arnav asked.

“Poochiye kya nahi hua,” Khushi began.

“Kya nahi hua?” he asked, struggling to kep his lips in a straight line.

“Buaji wants me to marry a ringmaster or a lion tamer,” Khushi sighed.

“What the!” he exclaimed.

“He will most likely be bald, have a big moonch, chew paan and sport a big tummy,” she lamented.

“But..but why?’ Arnav asked, unable to comprehend Buaji’s fondness for such a character as her son-in-law.

Khushi sighed again. “She thinks only they can tame me into being a good wife.”

Arnav burst out laughing. His hunched shoulders shook in mirth.

Khushi stared at him, aggrieved.

“You are happy that I am marrying a circuswala?” Tears filled her big eyes.

Arnav had to wipe tears of laughter from his eyes before he could answer her. “Will a businessman do instead of a circusman?”

“Ji?” she asked. Was her own raajkumar suggesting candidates for her swayamvar?

“Will Buaji permit me to marry you?” he asked softly.

Khushi’s mouth fell open in an Aww. A long moment later, she asked, “You? You want to marry me?”

“Hhmm,” he replied.

A long moment later, she asked timidly, “This is not another dream, is it? Woh..I dream too much..Buaji says I am sanki.”

“No, it is not another dream. And if it is, we are dreaming together,” he said, his voice soft as silk. His face was lifted to hers. Golden light highlighted the beauty of his facial structure, the strong nose and the jut of his chin, the fulness of his lips and the depth of his eyes.

“I never thought...” Khushi began and paused. Then she said, “You have to ask Buaji.”

He smiled. “I will. But what does Buaji’s niece think about the proposal?”

Her eyes filled with tears. “It feels like my dream is coming true.”

“Sshh,” he cradled her head against his shoulders. “Our dream.”

Khushi put her arms around him and sighed in relief, unable to believe that her raajkumar was her own.

“What did I do in the car?’ he asked softly.

She whispered the answer in his ear.

“And in your room?” His voice was silky soft.

She told him, the reply fit only for his ears.

Then it was her turn. “I really kissed you?”

“You did,” he swore.

“Really?” She could scarcely believe it of herself.

“Really,” he murmured. “Like this.” He captured her lips with his, gently applying pressure to part her curves and then to delve inside. She, not to be outdone, lowered herself to sit on his lap and coiled her arms around him, her fingers leaving his hair in disarray. Her tongue duelled with his in the safe cocoon of their mouths.

“Khussi?” came the call from outside the room.

“Khushi,” Payal called.

“Chotey,” Anjali called.

“Coming,” Arnav replied.

He then nipped at Khushi’s lower lip. “Shall I open the door?” he asked, his lips lingering on hers.

“Do we have to?” she asked, pouting.

He chuckled, his cheek against hers. “Soon we will be together. And then nobody will dare to disturb us.”

She nodded.

“What if Buaji does not permit us to get married?” Arnav asked, the smile still in his eyes.

“Bhagke shaadi karte hein,” she suggested, her eyes filled with excitement.

He chuckled. “You are my naughty pari, aren’t you?” he asked, his lips touching hers.

“Yes,” she breathed, rubbing her moist lips against his.

He stood up, dragging her up along with him. They moved to the door, hand in hand.

Suddenly it started raining. Arnav and Khushi looked out through the door leading to the poolside. Big droplets rained down hard on the plants and battered the water in the pool.

Khushi looked at Arnav with wonder in her eyes. He too was moved by the sight.

“Rain brought us together,” Khushi murmured.

“Yes,” he agreed.

Lightning slashed the dark sky with its brilliant light and thunder followed with its drumbeat.

Khushi jumped into his arms, her face pressed in the crook of his neck, her heart thudding against his.

“And you came like lightning into my life, Khushi Kumari Gupta,” he murmured into her hair.

She chuckled weakly.

“Chotey,” Anjali called. “Please open the door.”

Khushi moved reluctantly away from her raajkumar. He put his arm around her shoulder and led her to the door.

He opened the door.

The two families looked at them, the Guptas in confusion and the Raizadas in anticipation.

“Buaji, can I marry Khushi, please?’ Arnav asked with a smile.

Buaji whispered, “Hai Re Nandkisore!”, her hand on her head.

The Raizadas held their breath. Akash looked from Arnav to Buaji and back again as though he were watching a tennis match.

“I am no lion tamer or ringmaster, but I promise to look after Khushi,” he smiled slightly.

Buaji had to smile at him. ”Titliyya, what do you say? Do you want to make this babua’s life a misery?”

“Buaji!” Khushi protested.

“Le lo, bitwaa, if you think you can manage her. But your family,” Buaji turned to look at the Raizada ladies.

Nani hugged her. “I can’t tell you how happy I am, Madhumatiji.”

Anjali wept all over Arnav and Khushi.

Mami hugged Arnav and Khushi, kissing them on their cheeks loudly. “Hamre Arnav bitwaa will get on a horsewaa phinally!”

Payal hugged Khushi. “So finally you got your raajkumar?’ she teased Khushi.

Khushi blushed.

“Congratulations, bhai, Khushiji,” Akash mumbled, hugging his brother.

“Thank you, Buaji,” Arnav told her. “You saved us from an elopement,” he laughed.

“Running marrijj?” Mami squealed. “Hamre Arnav bitwaa was ready for running marrijj?”

“Hein?” Buaji hit her head.

“Chotey!” Nani and Anjali gasped.

“Devyaniji, it is not your babua’s fault. It is my Parmeswari’s idea. I can vouch for it, Nandkisore. Only she can come up with such ideas,” Buaji claimed.

“I was ready to run with her, Buaji,” Arnav laughed.

Mami clutched her heart. “No horsewaa, no sehra, no baarat, no baand, baaja, no sherwani, only running race?”

Buaji hit her head. “Hai Re Nandkisore! Sanka Devi, you have finally found the perfect mate. Sanka Dev for Sanka Devi!”

All laughed.

It rained merrily all night on their wedding.

The End