35. SS: Living Without You (Parts 26 to 59 )




Part 26
(All pics credited to uploaders.)

Arnav came down to breakfast, feeling and knowing that he was the luckiest man on earth. The faint rays of the sun added a glow to the world around him, Gomti Sadan, the ancient building, seemed to bask in the sunlight, the flowers that he had been tending with his life seemed to be dancing in joy, there was a spring to his step as he went down the stairs...
Buaji smiled at him as he entered the kitchen, the receiver of the old phone held to her ear. He caught snatches of her conversation.

"We are all well, Nandkisore!..."
"Haan, Khushi is alright. She is working hard. Her sweet shop is doing well..."
"Sasi Babua is getting better. The exercises are helping him..."
"Garima is happy to be back home...Yes, yes, I will convey your regards to her.."
"It is your Naniji...", Amma told Arnav with a smile as she placed his tea beside him. "She calls us regularly."
 "Haan, Arnav Babua is very well, Nandkisore!...Would you like to talk to him? Oh, you will call him on his phone. Theek he, Naniji... Yes, yes, he is taking food at the right time. We make sure that he takes his medicines...Truly, it is a blessing to have him with us... We will miss him. After so many days with him, we..."

After talking some more, she placed the receiver in its cradle, and sighed. "It was your Naniji, Babua. She was telling me that you will have to return to Delhi for Diwali, Nandkisore!... I wish...", she sighed.

Arnav hid a smile behind his tea cup.
"What do you wish, Buaji?"
Buaji remained silent for a moment. "Nothing, Bitwaa... They are sending Payaliyaa over for Diwali. That itself is a blessing, Nandkisore!"
"What do you wish, Buaji?"
"Nothing, Babua. I was just thinking that if you go...it is a festival...if all our family members were here together... it would be so much fun, Nandkisore..."
Babuji nodded his head.
"Haan, Jiji!", Garima smiled in excitement. "It has been so long since we met all of them. If they all came here, Damadji will be here with us. He won't have to go.The house will be filled with laughter and people. So many of us for the Ganesh-Laxmi puja, so many hands to make and light lamps all over the house..."

"They will all be here, Buaji, Amma, Babuji, if you don't mind them staying here for a couple of weeks. And I am not going anywhere."

"You are not going, Babua? You will be here, Nandkisore! And they will all come here?", Buaji could not control her joy. She caressed Arnav's face.
Garima had a wide smile on her face. "Damadji, you will be here with us for Diwali! And Naniji, Anjali Bitiyaa, Damadji, Payaliya, her father-in-law and mother-in-law will come here! Jiji, this year's Diwali is going to be wonderful!"
Babuji smiled at Arnav, and nodded.
Arnav walked up to him, kneeled down, and said, "Babuji, I would like to marry Khushi. She... she said that she is willing to marry me." He blushed slightly.
Babuji's eyes filled with tears. He passed his hand over Arnav's head.
"Babuji, Buaji, Amma, can we have the wedding here, in the house, on Diwali night?", he asked.
Amma and Buaji hugged him, their tears of joy telling their own tale.

Khushi, Munna, and Krishna walked into this noisy celebration, wondering what had happened in their home in the last few minutes. She looked at Arnav, and coloured at the look in his eyes.
"So Titliyaa, you finally saw sense, Nandkisore!" Buaji hugged her till she was in danger of fainting due to lack of air.
Amma kissed her and hugged her.
Munna and Krishna stood wonderstruck. "Buaji, Jiji finally saw sense? When did she see sense? We didn't notice any difference in Jiji."



"Hai Re Nandkisore! You fools! Your Jiji has finally agreed to marry your Jiju!"
The boys let out war cry-like sounds of joy, and started teasing Arnav and Khushi, Amma and Buaji egging them on. Their laughter resounded in the old building.


Arnav called Di.
"Di, please pack your bags."
"Kya hua Chotey?"
"Please pack your bags, Di. I will arrange things with Akash. I want all of you to come down here for Diwali."
"Chotey? She said 'Yes'? Khushiji agreed to marry you?" The phone line twitched in excitement.
"Yes, Di."
"Chotey...?", she hesitated.
"I took her to Sheesh Mahal, Di, and told her everything. There are no more secrets, Di. She knows everything now. And she said 'Yes'."
"Chotey..." That single word conveyed a world of love for him, her relief that he would finally have some peace and happiness in his life, the joy that their past did not matter to Khushiji...
"Di, she agreed to marry me on Diwali night. I would like the wedding to be held here. I want all of you to come down."
"I am packing with one hand, Chotey..", Anjali laughed through her tears.
He laughed. "Di, I will call the others, and let them know."
"Chotey, will we be staying...?"
"Don't worry, Di. We will all be staying in Gomti Sadan. You will never have to see Sheesh Mahal if you don't want to."
Anjali smiled. "Do you know how happy you have made me today, Chotey?"
"I know, Di. Finally, I know."

Nani was ecstatic. Daily phone calls by her and Anjali to Khushi, Arnav, and the Guptas had not revealed the true state of affairs between Arnav and Khushi. She had been worried. She now called Manohar, Manorama, Payaliyaa, and Akash to the living room and let Arnav tell all of them the good news. Akash was so overcome with joy that he could say little beyond "Bhai!". Payal congratulated him in a choked voice. Mami ran to pack her make up articles lest she forget any, and Mama blessed him, congratulating him on his choice.
Arnav was smiling when he put the phone down. He felt light at heart, as though he had set down some burden that he had been carrying for a long time, as though exposing his dark secrets and festering wounds to the bright sun of Khushi's love had healed him, as though he were finally free...after years of solitary confinement in some dark dungeon.

He lifted his head, the smile still lingering on his lips. Khushi was standing near his open door, about to knock to get his attention.

"Khushi...", his eyes showered love on her, his voice echoed his need for her.
Khushi blushed, feeling shy. She looked away from him, and mumbled, "I came to ask you..."
"Ask me?"
"...Ask you if you will be able to come home for lunch today."
Arnav smiled. "I am not going to the office today, Khushi. The meetings can be held in the office you set up for me here."
Khushi nodded, and turned to go, still avoiding his eyes.

"Khushi, just come in for a moment please. I need to give you 2 things."
She managed a glance at him, and took two hesitant steps towards him.
He took his mother's jewellery box from his bag, and came to her.

"Khushi, this is for you.", he said as he placed the box in her hands. She stood looking down at the box.
He swooped down and kissed her between her eyebrows. She jerked and looked up at him with wide eyes. "This too is for you.", he smiled.
Khushi blushed.


He led her to his bed, and made her sit down. He opened the box and took out his Mama's kangans. He took one in his hand and slowly slid it on to her right arm, savouring the warm, silky feel of her skin. He helped her wear the second one on her other arm, his fingers dancing across her sensitive skin and making her melt at his touch. His eyes never left hers. She could read his love for her, his need for her, his desire to be alone with her, his regret for all the lost opportunities, his determination to claim her as his... She smiled at him, shy and very happy.
He swallowed hard.
He pointed to the open box on the bed.
"Mama left a letter for you."
Khushi took the single sheet of paper with shaking fingers, and unfolded it.

My dear Bahu,
I will be around to welcome you in to our family when you marry our Chotey. But if by some chance I am not there, I thought I should write this letter to tell you some very important things about our Chotey.
Our Chotey is very short tempered. He gets angry at the smallest of things. But don't let that scare you. His heart is full of love. Bear his temper, and return his love a hundredfold. Then you will understand who our Chotey is.
With lots of love,
Your Saasumaa.

Tears ran down her cheeks as Khushi folded the letter and placed it carefully in the box.
She then stood up and came close to him, cupping his cheeks with her palms and looking straight in to his moist eyes.

"I promise to bear your anger. And to return your love a thousandfold...", she whispered through her tears. She hugged him tight, holding his head against her heart.




Part 27
(All pics credited to uploaders.)



Tears ran down her cheeks as she folded the letter and placed it carefully in the box.
She stood up and came close to him, cupping his cheeks with her palms and looking straight in to his moist eyes.

"I promise to bear your anger. And to return your love a thousandfold.", she whispered through her tears. She hugged him tight, holding his head against her heart.

Arnav stayed still, his ear pressed to her heart. He could hear the steady beat that his own heart echoed. The sound lulled him into a world where pain ceased to exist, where peace, only peace reigned.

They lost count of time.

"Khushi... Khushi... Where are you? Munna has come asking for you. There are too many customers in the shop for the children to manage. Khushi..."

"Shall I come down with you?", he asked in a choked voice.
She shook her head, meaning he shouldn't.
"Why not?"
"I won't be able to keep my mind on the work. You... you distract me..."
He smiled.
"You distract me too."
"I do?" She was thrilled.
"Yes..", he admitted.
"Good!", she said triumphantly, and ran out of his room laughing.

Diwali was 3 weeks away. Her wedding was three weeks away. The thought sent a shiver of excitement down her spine. But she was no longer an untried, raw girl with no common sense. She had to be mature, act her age, she told herself, biting the lower end of her pencil. She was the daughter of a halwai and the wife-to-be of a businessman. She was also a budding businesswoman and a trained halwai in her own right. She firmed her shoulders and straightened her spine as she took her notebook to make a list of all the things she needed to do.
Diwali meant that there would be a huge demand for sweets. The ingredients had to be purchased. She had to make the sweets for her own sagai, sangeet, mehendi, & wedding. There would be Naniji, Di, Jiji & Jiju, and Mama & Mami to stay. They would be coming atleast a week before the wedding. So she had to stock up on the staples. Gifts and clothes had to be purchased. Arrangements for the puja and wedding had to be done. Catering, flowers, mandap, lights... The list was endless. She felt all the helplessness of a father planning the wedding of his daughter. It was like she was marrying herself off. She laughed.

She had to go to the flower mart, the vegetable market, the provision store, the caterers, the decorators... The list grew in length. She called to her boys, "I am going to the market to get the ingredients. Is there anything you want to add to the list?"
"Nahin, Jiji. We have covered everything."
She informed Amma and Buaji of her plans,  and left home.

She crossed the courtyard, and the doorway to find Arnavji leaning against his car, waiting.
"What happened? Are you waiting for Amanji?"
"No, you."
"Me? Arnavji, I am going to the market."
"I know."
"The car won't be able to enter the market. The alleys are narrow and crowded."
"I know."
"Arnavji, it will take a long time."
"I have the time."


(momma1128, thanx)

"I need to buy the ingredients needed to make sweets. I have to bring them back with me."
"I will help you."
"Arnavji...", she hesitated. "I need to give orders to the flowershop, the caterers etc for the wedding. You will feel bored."
He smiled. "It is my wedding too, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada."
She looked at him, unsure.
"How many times should I tell you that you don't have to do everything by yourself?" He looked at her, challenging her.
She slowly settled back in her seat, and smirked. "You are going to regret this."




He was a good boy. She had to admit it. He stood silently by her as she fought with the vegetable vendor, haggled with the caterers, tested each grain of rice, each onion, each potato that she bought to the dismay of the shop owner, teased and argued with the man selling nuts, touched the feet of the elderly man who had been supplying milk and ghee to the Satwik Mistaan Bhandaar for years, joked and bargained with her usual suppliers... It was a revelation for him. The animation on her face, the joy, the sense of achievement... He hadn't seen it in months. He had missed it keenly. He also realised how much Babuji was respected among his peers, how much Khushi was loved, how all her chachas and mamas enjoyed the banter...



He helped her load all her purchases into his car, both of them in good humour.
Then he said, "Khushi, I want to pay for the wedding."
She looked at him with wide, direct eyes. "No."
"Khushi, let me do this. I have hurt you so much. The last 6 months of our marriage..."
"You don't have to compensate for the hurt with money."
"I am not compensating, Khushi. I am just trying to help."
"I will manage. I don't want help."


(PurpleFairy, thanx)

"Khushi..."
"Ever since we met, I have heard your speeches on aukat and money. I don't want to hear anymore. I don't want to spend my life listening to such, such..."
"Khushi..., Khushi..., I didn't mean it. I am sorry. I...I was just trying to push you away from me..."
"Maybe. But they hurt."
"Khushi..."
"I don't want to take anything more from you. I had a tough time paying all my debts to you. I don't want any more debts between us."
He remained silent for a moment. Then he asked, his voice low but sure,

"But what about the debt I owe you, Khushi?"




Part 28
(All pics credited to uploaders!)

"Debt? That you owe me? What do you owe me? I never gave you anything...I never had anything to give you..." Her voice trailed away as she tried to figure out what he was talking about.
"There are other debts than money, Khushi... Money can be repaid, but... but the other debts can never be repaid."
She looked at him, unsure where exactly he was leading with this conversation.
"The laughter and happiness that you brought to my house and family. How should I repay you for that?"
She just looked at him, speechless.
"Nani and I were at loggerheads all the time. I was on the verge of leaving the house." She drew in a sharp breath. "You brought peace to my house, kept us together. How do I repay that gift?"
"You hid the shameful truth about Shyam because you couldn't hurt Di. You put up with his disgusting behaviour while at RM, and made sure that Di never found out. How do I compensate you for that?"
"You would have thrown yourself down the building when you thought that I loved Lavanya and wanted to get rid of you so that I could marry her. How do I repay that kind of love you have for me, Khushi?"
She looked away from him.
"You brought colour and laughter in to my life. What can I give you in return, Khushi?"
"You left me your stars in the will. How do I repay you for that kind of selfless love?"
"You put up with my bad temper and my insults for a year. You never gave up on me...You love my family like your own. You love even Laxmi & HP. And you put your life in danger to rescue me from Shyam. How do I repay you for all these?"
Khushi looked at her fingers held knotted tight in her lap.
"Shall I give you my life in return, Khushi?" She lifted her head, startled, and looked into melting eyes. "It is a worthless one and you own it anyway. Shall I give it to you?"
Khushi looked away, tears in her eyes.
"Khushi, I told you this once before. There is no you and me, only us. We are not two different people. And we are in this together. You don't have to shoulder all the burden alone."
Khushi remained silent.
"It is a wedding, Khushi. Our wedding. I want you to be happy. I want you to have everything I took away from you the last time we got married. I want you to laugh, dance, be carefree, enjoy spending time with your friends and family... I don't want you worrying about money, running around trying to do everything at the same time... If you want we can order sweets from another..."
"No way. I will make the sweets." Her eyes were filled with fire.
"Khushi..."
"I will make the sweets. I want to make special sweets for you so that you too can enjoy the wedding. I don't trust the others to make sure that they are sugarfree.", she fumed.
Arnav sighed, a smile on his face.
"I am worried about you, and you are worried about me... Khushi, let's negotiate. You can make a list of things that need to be done. I will send over 4 men to do the hard jobs like shifting furniture and decorating the house with garlands and lights. I want you to let me help you in the shop...
AND, most importantly, I want to buy the staples for the next month or so."
"What?"
"Khushi, my family is coming to stay here for 2 weeks or more. They should actually be staying in Sheesh Mahal, but... You know why they don't want to stay there. Even Akash won't step in to it unless and until I do, and that too only because he does not want me to be alone when I go there. We are all going to be staying in your house. Can't you let me pay for the provisions?"
She hesitated. "No, Arnavji. It is not right. They are our family. I will manage."
"I don't want you to manage, Khushi." He sighed. "You leave me no choice. I will arrange for them to stay in some hotel."
"No, no. How can you do that? Arnavji, please don't..."
"Then let me pay the bill..."
"Arnavji!"
"Let me pay the bill."
She reluctantly nodded. He sighed in relief.
"Our firm uses caterers regularly, Khushi. Give me the menu. Let me arrange the caterers. They will give us a discount."
"But I will pay for it."
"Yes. Yes. You pay for it. Just let me arrange it.", he said, making a mental note to pay the full amount in advance so that she wouldn't be able to pay them.




They reached Gomti Sadan. Arnav and Khushi hauled the bags out. Munna and Krishna ran to help them. They stocked all the ingredients in airtight containers in the shop's kitchen while Arnav and Khushi went in to the house. Amma and Buaji were ready with tea for them. Babuji, Buaji, Amma, Arnav, and Khushi, they all sat companionably around the dining table, drinking tea and chatting. After a while, Khushi left the room to check on the shop.
"Bitwaa, It is Madhu's wedding tomorrow. Will you be able to attend it with us?", asked Amma.
"No, I am sorry, Amma. I won't be here. I need to leave for Delhi in a few hours."
"Oh! Your work! That's alright, Bitwaa. When will you return?"
"I will need to stay in Delhi for a couple of days, Amma. I will be back by Thursday, the 25^th of October. Akash called a while earlier. The family will be here by 1 November."
Amma and Buaji were all smiles. Babuji nodded his head, and said softly, "Goo..od."
"Buaji, Amma, Babuji, don't worry about  the arrangements for the wedding. I will arrange 4  men to help you  here. If you need to purchase anything, just give them the list. Please give Khushi the menu to be given to the caterers. I will arrange it. Akash, Mamaji, and I will be here from the beginning of next month anyway."

They smiled thankfully at him. "We have asked the Punditji to come over. We will fix the dates and time for the sagai, sangeet, mehendi, and wedding today itself. We will start inviting the guests from tomorrow."

"If there are relatives coming from far, just let me know. I will arrange their stay in a hotel nearby..."

"No, no, Bitwaa. They are from Lucknow and Kanpur. The ones from Kanpur can stay with our relations in Lucknow. Don't worry about that."
Khushi came in at that moment.

"Titliyaa, Damadji is going to Delhi. We will get you the sweets from the shop. Why don't you pack it for him so that he can give it to Naniji, Anjali Bitiyaa, Mamiji, Mamaji, Damadji, and Payaliyaa?"

She stared at him, shocked.





Part 29


He smiled at her before proceeding to his room. She stood shell-shocked at the door of the kitchen watching him walk away. She hadn't expected this. She had thought that they would be together till the wedding. Nearing the stairs leading to the top floor, he turned to look at her. She looked distraught, as though someone had just died. He smiled tenderly.
She came to his room in a while, a big thaili full of packets of sweets for his family in Delhi, all made by her fair hands. He was packing his belongings, talking on the phone in the meantime.


Arnav Singh Raizada! Why do one thing at a time when you could do two?, she grimaced.
She sat on his bed, watching his deft hands as they put the phone down and began to pack in earnest. Soon the room looked naked, his books, clothes, medicines, all tucked into his bag. He took his laptop, zipped it into its cosy bag, and placed it beside his bigger one.
He looked at her, sitting on his bed, looking like a lost kitten in the rain. He walked towards her. She sat unmoving, her eyes on the floor. He touched her hair softly, passing his hand gently over the smooth strands. He put his fingers under her chin and lifted her face to get her to look up at him.
"I will be back on the 25^th."
She counted furiously. Four days!
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"Because I didn't want to upset you."
She swallowed. "I need to attend a few meetings in Delhi. They are very important, Khushi. Akash can't handle them on his own. I will be back before you know it."
She compressed her lips. That's what he thought! She felt cheated, abandoned...
She hadn't noticed his face coming closer till she felt the soft brush of his lips on her forehead, like the warm touch of the wings of a butterfly. She closed her eyes, a slave to the simplest of his touches. He caught her gently by her shoulders, and pulled her up to stand in front of him.
He drew a line from her forehead to her nose and down her lips to her chin.
"I will be back before you know it, Khushi...", he whispered. The finger traced the line of her jaw and the rim of her ear. She shuddered.
"Babua, the driver and Amanji have come. They are waiting for you...", shouted Buaji from the foot of the stairs.
"I need to go...", he said, his husky voice reflecting his reluctance to leave her.
He withdrew his hands from her, and turned away. He halted. He could feel his hand being taken in a strong clasp by her. His heart filled with a thousand bubbles of joy. Praying that he hadn't imagined it, he turned to see her holding his hand, stopping him from leaving.
"Arnavji..."
The need in that one word was enough to unman him. He pulled her into his arms, and hugged her with all his might. She passed her arms around his shoulders and neck, clutching on for dear life. He pulled her as close as possible, and buried his face in her neck.
"Will you phone me?"
She nodded, too occupied with him to go in search of her voice.
"Daily?"
She nodded again.
"Bitwaa..." The call came again.
"Khushi, take care of yourself. Don't work too hard. Don't let anything worry you. If you want anything, anything at all, call me. Khushi...?"
She nodded.
He released her and unwillingly, picked up his bags and the thaili of sweets and went out of the room, looking back at her while crossing the doorway.
She stood alone in his room while he went down and bid farewell to Babuji, Amma, and Buaji. The ladies cried all over him, making him promise that he would return at the earliest. They accompanied him to his car, and saw him off. He looked up to see Khushi standing in the corridor outside his room. He got in, and the car moved forward.
Khushi ran to his room and fell on his bed, her face pressed in to his pillow. His scent lingered on it, and she wept uncontrollably.
Her phone pinged. It was a message from Arnavji. She wiped her tears, and opened it.
"Khushi, I Love You!"





Part 30


Arnav sat back, weary beyond words. He had been working non-stop for two days, driving his team hard. Sketchy meals had not helped, and he was ready to droop. He looked at Akash, who had his specs in one hand, and the fingers of the other hand pressed against his eyes.
"Enough for today. We can start early tomorrow."
The collective sigh of relief was hushed by the sound of rustling papers as the group of employees left the room.
The family was waiting for them. They had wanted to collar Arnav the moment he had crossed the threshold, but Arnav hadn't crossed the threshold till very late. And he had left very early the next day. He had gone directly to his office from Lucknow, and for two days, his family had been trying to pin him down.
Mama, Mami, Nani, Di, and Payal sat around them as Akash and Arnav had their very late dinner.
"Chotey! How is Khushiji?", Anjali asked with a mischievous look in her eyes.
"Fine." He blushed slightly.


Mami tittered. "How will she be? The bridewaa will be the same colour as our Arnav Bitwaa ijj now."
"Mannu, don't tease the boy... Alone. Give all of us a chance.", said Mamaji.
Nani said, "Finally, happy times are here. May Devi Maiyya keep our family happy and safe from evil eyes for ever."
"Haan, Naniji.", said Anjali. "Chotey, tell us about the house."
"It is a nice house."
"Chotey!", Anjali was exasperated. "What is its name?"
"Gomti Sadan."
Mami asked, "What does it looks like? What ijj its figure?" Arnav looked at her, unable to understand. "Its figure? Its lookwaa...", she explained.

 "It is an old house. Big. Airy and windy. It has a  courtyard. Ladies come to visit Buaji & Amma and sit and talk there."
"Khushi Bitiyaa is running her shop there?"
"Haan, in the first 2 rooms. One is the shop. The other is the kitchen. Khushi takes orders in the third room."
"Does she have anyone to help her?", Mamaji asked, concerned.
"Munna and Krishna."
Payal asked concerned, "Are they good boys, Arnavji?"
"Very good. They love her. And work very hard."
"It has been so long since we saw Khushi Bitiyaa...", lamented Naniji. Anjali seconded her. "Our house seems silent without her."
The interrogation continued. Getting information from Arnav was like squeezing blood from a stone. A torturous process. It took a long time, but the final picture emerged to everyone's satisfaction. They understood that the pace of life in Lucknow was a slow one, giving him ample time to relax... That Buaji and Amma loved him to bits and spoiled him silly... That Babuji was getting better and enjoyed spending time with Arnav... That he loved all of them... That Khushi had finally accepted him with an open heart. That he had laid his heart and past open before her and that she had accepted him, the whole him, warts and all, with open arms. And that he was counting the days when he could marry Khushi... His family was thrilled. Anjali's eyes filled with tears of happiness. Chotey had finally found a home.
 Nani and Mami were filled wih nostagia. Sitting in the courtyard under the sun, chatting with the ladies of the neighbourhood, making lamps for Diwali, going to the temple nearby with friends, having the mehendi lady come home to decorate their hands, bargaining with the bangle seller, having tehri and halwa poori... These were pleasures of a past they had been forced to give up. The sweets that Khushi had sent with Arnav reinforced this sense of loss and the desire to go to Lucknow at the earliest.
"Chotey! When are you returning to Lucknow?"
"Hopefully on the 25^th."
"We want to come with you.", said Anjali.
"Haan, Chotey! I can't wait any longer. Let's go to Lucknow."
"Yejj, Saasumaa. Why wait till Navember 1?"
"Yes, Bhai. Let's go together. I can travel between Delhi & Lucknow as and when needed."
"Yes, Bitwaa. Let's all go. We will be of some help to the family, and our Payaliyaa will be happy too...", said Mamaji.
They all looked at Payal's face, flushed with happiness.
"Let me see...", said Arnav.
"Yes, Bhai. We need to wind up the negotiations for this project before we can leave."

Khushi called him daily at night. Not that she didn't want to call him during the day. Her fingers itched to press his number and hear his voice. But his phone was always switched off during the day as he was in one meeting or the other. If he got a moment free, he would phone her. Night was the only time when he was available to talk or text at length.
How are you?
Tired.
You are working too hard, Arnavji.
I need to finish this in 4 days.
How are the others?
Missing you.
There was a silence.
Are you missing me, Khushi?
Silence.
No? Then maybe I should stay away some more time.
Arnavji!, came her cry on cue.
Haan?
Don't you dare. You can't stay away for more than 4 days. Please come back soon.
So you are missing me, came the satisfied drawl.
A little.
Only a little?
Haaan.
Sure?
Haaan.
Khushi, he whispered. I will demand payment for every lie you have told me. Just let me get back to Lucknow.

But Arnav did not return on the 25^th as he had promised to. The days passed, one by one. Khushi worked day and night, Buaji and Amma pitching in.
The boys remained by her side, watching her become paler by the day. Arnav called Buaji and Amma every night, talked to Babuji, chatted with Munna and Krishna on the phone in the house at night, called and texted Khushi. But he did not say when he would be coming back. Khushi gave up trying to sleep, and spent the few hours she was supposed to sleep, lying on his bed, hugging his pillow, wearing his white shirt or hugging it to her chest.
Madhu's wedding passed in a haze for Khushi. All she remembered was making batch after batch of jalebis and other sweets and binning them to be delivered by the boys to Madhu's house and Madhu's tear-stained eyes as she left her home with her husband and in-laws.Without Arnavji by her side, Khushi felt as though she were viewing the world through a filter, through a semi-transparent curtain. Events around her failed to touch or interest her. Her mind was totally focused on a man sitting miles away, slogging  to get to her at the earliest.
The men Arnav had arranged came promptly, and helped them in every way they could. The rooms were ready for the guests, beds were carried to the rooms and set up. Most of the purchases for the wedding were over. The dates for the sagai, sangeet, and mehendi were fixed, and Buaji notified Arnav and Naniji about them.
Khushi spent all the time she was not working or crying over his shirt making notes of the many expenses left. She needed more money. She went to Amma, and asked for a pair of kangans and a necklace belonging to her mother. She needed to sell them.




"Khussi, will you go alone with the gold and find a jeweller, Nandkisore! I wil do it for you. You concentrate on your work."
Buaji phoned Arnav to tell him of Khushi's plans to sell the jewellery. She got him on the fifth try.
"I will send you the money with an employee, Buaji. Don't tell Khushi."
"Shall I give the ornaments to him?"
"No, no. Please keep the gold with you. I will be coming over soon."
Within half an hour, an employee in casual clothes sauntered up to the kitchen and handed over a bag with an obscene amount in it to Buaji.
Buaji gave the money to Khushi.
"Buaji, this is far too much. Where did you sell the gold? Somebody has made a mistake..."
"No, Titliyaa, no one has made a mistake. I closed two fixed deposits that your Bhuphaji had opened in my name a long time back...", Buaji lied.
"Buaji, it is your money. How..?"
"Your money, my money? Have you grown up so much, Titliyaa, that you can argue with me over money? There is no your money and my money. You take this and see to the expenses."


Khushi returned from the market on the 28th to see two familiar cars parked outside her house. Her heart that had been beating sluggishly for the past 7 days, made up for it by thudding loud and fast. She ran in to the house to be embraced by a tearful Nani, a Di delirious with joy, a Jiji who couldn't express her happiness enough, and a pleased Mami. Mamaji smiled widely at her, and her Jiju looked thrilled to see her. Laxmi ran up to her, and Khushi hugged her. Her eyes searched frantically for Arnavji among the crowd, but couldn't find him. Nani was apologising to Babuji, Amma, & Buaji for arriving too early, and her family was expressing their happiness in having them here. She asked faintly, "Arnavji?" during a lull in the conversation.
Many sad faces turned towards her.
"Arnav Bitwaa ijj so bijjy that he couldn't come with us.", said Mami.
Anjali pouted. "We asked him to come with us, but..."
"You know Chotey, Khushi Bitiyaa. Nothing matters to him more than his work...", Nani said, a frown on her face.
"Yes..", said Jiju, looking uncomfortable.
"Looks like you will have to meditate like Parvati Maiyya did to get your Arnavji's attention, Khushi Bitiyaa...", teased Mamaji.
Khushi's lips stretched in a mockery of a smile.
After showing the guests to their rooms and serving them tea, she ran up to his room. She shut the door behind her, tears flowing down her eyes. She fell on to his bed, her face hidden in his pillow, sobbing, his shirt clutched in her hands.
She was so caught up in crying out her disappointment that she did not notice someone coming to sit by her on the bed. She felt a tug at the shirt she was holding. She clutched it tighter. She felt the next tug. She turned around to see Arnavji sitting by her on the bed.


"I am here. You don't need my shirt any longer, Khushi..", he whispered.














Part 31
(All pics credited to uploaders!)


She sat up so fast that even wind was surprised, and threw herself into his arms. Arnav held her close, breathing in her jasmine scent, running his hands up and down her back, crushing holds of her unbound hair in his hands. It had been so long since he had touched her, held her...
"Khushi..."
"Arnavji... Arnavji...", she chanted his name. "Where were you? I... I missed you so much..." She clutched him tight.
"I...I had to finish the work, Khushi..."
"Arnavji..."
"And the family...they wanted to come down with me..."
She shook him, clutching his shoulders. "Promise me..."
"Alright."
She looked at him wonder struck, tears dripping down her cheeks, her hands cupping his cheeks.



"Don't you want to know what you just promised to do?", she asked, a smile peeking out at him through her tears, her hands roaming over his chest.
"Anything is OK."
Khushi stared at him.
"Is this Arnav Singh Raizada speaking?"
He smiled.
"You just promised to take me with you where ever you go in the future..." She touched his neck, as though making sure that it was in place.
"OK."
Khushi sat looking at her Arnavji.
"What happened to you?", she asked earnestly, softly, as though she were asking him to divulge a great secret. Her fingers were lost in the collar of his shirt.
"What happened to me?", he asked surprised.
"Where is your anger? Your ego? Where did you misplace your What the.. What the...? Why aren't you shouting at me anymore?"
He laughed. "I grew up, Khushi. I finally, finally  grew up..."



Dinner was a feast. The family met Munna and Krishna, and they in turn were introduced to all the family, including Laxmi. HP alone was absent, as he had to remain in Delhi to watch over the house. Arnav sat back, watching Mami cracking jokes and the whole table laughing, his Nani's smile, his Di enjoying the care showered on her by Amma and Buaji, Payal glowing, Mamaji teasing Munna and Krishna, Akash silently relishing the food and the conversation around him, Babuji's happiness, Buaji's and Amma's excitement, and his Khushi's twinkling eyes and a smile that wouldn't die...
Sensing his eyes on her, she looked at him. And blushed. He looked as though he wanted to gobble her up. He looked at her lips. She parted her suddenly dry lips, and felt her skin burn at his piercing gaze.
"Bitwaa...", Buaji called lovingly, touching his shoulder. "The sagai is on the 4^th. There are just 6 days remaining...", she reminded him.
All of them started discussing the many arrangements to be made and dividing the responsibilities among themselves. They left Khushi, Arnav, Munna, and Krishna free of tasks because they would have to see to the sweetshop. The ladies made plans to go shopping the next day, and sat chattering till very early in the morning. They went reluctantly to bed, their yawns splitting their faces.


After all had settled for the night, Buaji knocked on Arnav's door.
"Buaji, what happened?", he asked urgently.
She held out a pouch with Khushi's Amma's necklace and bangles.
"Bitwaa, here's the gold."
"Buaji, I don't want it. It belongs to Khushi."
"Yes, it does. But if I return it to her, she will return the money, Nandkisore!. And she will go out and sell them at some jewellery shop. Bitwaa, why did you send so much money with that boy? It was more than five times what these are worth. Khushi correctly noticed it, and wanted to go to the jewellers and return the money, fearing that they had made some mistake. I finally had to lie that I had cashed two fixed deposits, and added that amount to the money from the sale of the gold, Hai Re Nandkisore!".
Arnav closed his eyes. Khushi was sharp. He would have to be more careful.
"Damadji, keep the gold with you. And give it to her after your marriage."
Arnav nodded.
"Remember Bitwaa, AFTER your marriage.", Buaji warned him, wished him a good night's sleep, and moved towards the doorway.
"Buaji!", he called. She stopped. He walked towards her, and asked, "Buaji, do you need anything? Money? Provisions? Servants? Any kind of help?"
Buaji cupped his face between her palms. "Nahin, Bitwaa. I don't need anything. You care enough to ask if we need anything. That alone is more than enough."
She looked down for a moment, and then said softly, "You know, Babua. The greatest blessing in life is one's friends and relations. Not money, Nandkisore! Not a big house. Not a beautiful body or a good job. All these can go one day, but people who love you, care for you...they will stay with you in good times and bad. Sasi Babua always used to say that dil ke rishte are greater than khoon ke. He was, is right. You are blessed to have so many people who love you, Babua. And we are blessed to have you in our family..."
Arnav put his arms around Buaji, and hugged her close.
"Buaji, if you need anything, anything at all, just let me know."
"Jeeyath raho babua!" She blessed him, smiled, and left the room.


Arnav took the pouch, opened it, and let the bangles and the necklace slide into his hand. Two beautiful antique bangles. He touched them gently, running his finger along the curve. Her Amma must have worn them. These bangles must have felt the warmth of Amma's hands. He swallowed. He was glad that they hadn't left the house. The elaborate gold necklace must have adorned her Amma's neck.

How could Khushi think of parting with them? Her pride... Her pride had made her swallow her tears, suppress her feelings... She had good reason not to take money from him. He had insulted her too many times to count. Maybe she would take the ornaments from him after they were married...many years...when she knew him better...knew that he hadn't meant all the cruel nonsense he had spouted...

Breakfast was a riot, the room filled with people and noise, all enjoying a meal of halwa poori and sabji.




Khushi had made sugar-free halwa for him. When she came to place his filled plate on the table in front of him, he caught her gently by her arm and made her sit next to him. He filled a plate for her, pretending as though this were a daily occurrence, as though he were not aware of the many wide eyes on him. There was a moment of silence in the room as both families gaped at this new avatar of Arnav. Khushi flushed tomato red. Akash choked on the poori, and Payal thumped him on the back. Mama & Mami looked at each other and smiled. Anjali & Nani hugged each other. Buaji and Amma smiled. Payal blushed. Everyone laughed. Laxmi said, "Meeeh!"





Part 32


Arnav, Khushi, Munna, and Krishna started work in the sweetshop as soon as breakfast was over. One by one, Arnav's family members peeked into the shop's kitchen and the shop to gape at Arnav working as the cashier, carrying trays of laddoos into the shop for the boys to arrange in the display counter, writing down lists of things to be purchased according to the demands of Khushi and the boys who were checking the store when they had a moment free--- all with his characteristic business-like, ASRish air. The most successful businessman in India, one with global offices under his belt, who dealt in crores, looked very happy to give change for Rs. 50 to a child who had come to buy 2 laddoos. Akash looked at him with his mouth open till Mami shut it for him. Nani and Anjali couldn't believe their eyes.
"Anjali Bitiyaa, is there something wrong with my eyes, or did I just see Arnav Bitwaa selling laddoo?"
Anjali laughed. "Laddoo it was, Nani! Miracles will never cease. Our Chotey is finally happy!"
Mamaji and Mami heaved sighs of relief.
The family soon left for the temple. They were planning to start inviting their friends and relations from that morning.



Arnav Singh Raizada realised something curious...the pleasure of cooking something and having people relish it... Khushi's shop was a hive of customers. As soon as he carried sweets into the shop, the customers would start buying them. Sometimes, the boys did not have to arrange them in the cabinets. The sweets would be sold out while in the tray. The high quality of the ingredients used, the magic of Khushi's hands, the purity of her heart, her goodnatured chatter, her personal bond with the customers who never failed to ask after Babuji, the love and respect that Babuji had earned --- all these had a role to play in the large number of customers. And the love of Lucknowites for sweets. And the Diwali season. And their proximity to a crowded temple. And the hard work and pleasant demeanour of Munna and Krishna...All these factors together had made her shop a success from day 1.



And when Arnav watched people eagerly buy jalebis that he had helped to make, or large quantities of the badam halwa that he had helped to stir, he felt a strange flutter in his heart. It took some thought for him to realise that it was the pleasure of doing something well, of seeing people appreciate one's efforts... He had never felt this in his own business. There it had always been the need to succeed that had driven him, the nightmare of poverty & helplessness keeping him working day and night... And then his responsibility towards his family & the thousands of employees...All these had kept him tied to his chair. He had rarely had the time or the inclination to enjoy a takeover or a successful negotiation or a completed project. Now he realised why she had been so proud to call herself the daughter of a halwai. He smiled.

He looked at her. She was sitting on a small wooden stool, shaping laddoos with both hands from the mixture in a big pan placed on the floor. He looked at her, the hair tied back tightly, the dupatta tied across one shoulder and around her waist, her eyes focused on her work. He watched one drop of sweat trail down her neck. His feet took him directly to her. She looked up to see him walk closer. He kneeled by her, not letting go of her eyes. His finger slowly, carefully captured that drop of sweat. She closed her eyes at the touch of his finger on her throat, her breath leaving her chest in a rush. When she dared to open them again, she saw his head moving closer to hers, his eyes full of playfulness and devilish intent.


"Arnavji...", she quavered.
"Hmmm?"
"Aap...I am covered in sweat..."
"So?"
"You will get dirty if you come close to me. Please sit in the shop. It is cool there...", she spoke fast.
"No."
"Arnavji, don't..." The words died in her throat as Arnav kissed her on her cheek.
"Arnavji...", she protested weakly when she could find her voice from the long pilgrimage it had decided to make.
He kissed her neck.
"Arnavji...", she jumped up. She couldn't even push him away with her hands. They were covered with the sweet mixture.
"Khushi...", he murmured, advancing towards her.


(UltimateBarun, U rock!)

She tried to move away from him, dodging between the pots and pans. He moved steadily forward, chasing her, his eyes fully focused on making her his, hunting her, and finally trapping her against the wall between two flour bins.
"Ab kya karogi?"
She panted, looking at his incendiary eyes.
"Now where will you run?"
Her eyes slipped down to his no-less-incendiary lips, held too close to her. They were sinful enough to make a sanyasin give up her vows. No, not give up. Throw her vows away. With pleasure...


He saw her looking at his lips. He saw her swallow with difficulty. His mouth dried up.
"Khushi...", his husky voice pleaded. "Come out with me this evening for a long drive?"






Part 33


"Khushi...", his husky voice pleaded. "Come out with me this evening for a long drive?"
She looked in to his eyes. No other answer was possible. Or acceptable. His eyes...his need. Her heart...her desire to be with him...
She nodded.
He released his breath in a rush.


Arnav was busy in the afternoon. He had to brief a few of his executives on the work accomplished in Delhi, check on the progress of the ongoing projects in Lucknow, go through reports sent by his HR manager... The list was long and killing. Khushi...He wished he could see her now. He peeked over the railing at her kitchen. Through the window, he could see her frying something. She was busy too, he sighed. But... but he would get to spend some 'alone' time with Khushi in his car. She had agreed to go on a drive with him. A long drive. He attacked his work with gusto, a part of his mind still lingering on her beeauutiful eyes, her lips, her soft hands as she caressed his face, her beeauutiful smile, her beeauutiful hair... A gentle smile played on his lips as he dealt with a whining manager via email.




 Khushi was in the kitchen, frying jalebis, her mind on the man who had successfully fried her bheja. She could hear Munna and Krishna chatting with the customers as they sold sweets. The sounds wafted through the door, past her, not even registering in her mind. The oil was piping hot and the jalebis were done. Absently, she collected them in her slotted spoon and dropped them into the chashni, lost in her thoughts.
Arnavji had been in the shop's kitchen till lunch. He had teased her...chased her...challenged her...invited her out  for a long drive with him... Her cheeks took on a red hue. And then he had left to work on his laptop. She had seen him sitting in his armchair, typing furiously while making her way to her shop after lunch. She twisted her lips in annoyance. That laptop! Where was a good pool when you wanted one? That laptop deserved to be dunked, dunked, and left to drown, like a biscoot in a cup of chai!
She peeped out of the kitchen window. She could see Arnavji sitting in the corridor. Was that a frown on his face? She tried to see his face more clearly, but ... She sighed and returned to her complaining, browning jalebis. A few moments later, she returned to the window. A couple of lingering glances later, she ran to her stove. After saving the last batch of jalebis from a fate worse than death, she ran to the window again. This wouldn't do...
She turned off the stove, ran to the kitchen at home, took a glass, filled it with water, placed it on a tray, and ran up the stairs to Arnavji.
He looked up at the sound of her payal, thinking that he had dreamt it. There she stood before him, a glass of water in hand.
"Arnavji, pani..."
"Pani? Khushi, I didn't..." He bit on his tongue. What if he said that he didn't want water and she left? He took the glass from the tray and sipped it. Slowly.
He looked at her while sipping the water. Her eyes were devouring his face and form. His were equally busy. Soon the water got over. He looked with dismay at the bottom of the empty glass. He shook it gently, hoping for one more drop. But...
He slowly extended the empty glass to her. She took it from him, her fingers caressing his as the glass exchanged hands. They looked at each other for a moment, and Khushi reluctantly turned to leave.
"Khushi...?"
She stopped, gladness filling her heart. She turned and looked at him.
"Tonight...", his voice promised her untold delights.
She blushed and nodded.


The rest of the family was exhausted after their visit to the nearby temples and homes of friends and neighbours of the Guptas. They had an early dinner, and as the meal was about to end, Arnav asked Babuji and Nani, "I would like to take Khushi for a drive. If you don't mind..."
Babuji smiled his 'yes'. He knew his Damadji. No one could take better care of his crazy Bitiyaa than Arnav Bitwaa. Amma smiled. Buaji said, "Why not, Nandkisore?" Nani smiled, but before she could reply, Anjali and Mamiji got into the act.
"A dribes? Anjali Bitiyaa, you want to go on a long dribes?"
"Haan, Mami. Chotey is so kind, wanting to take all of us on a drive. Chotey! You meant all of us, didn't you?", she pouted, looking innocent & guileless as only she could.
Poor Akash tried to stand firm in front of his brother, protecting his budding romance from being trampled all over by the marauding hordes of women.
"We are all tired, Di, Mom. Let's...ummm.. let's go to bed early. We can see Lucknow another day. Let Bhai ...er... emm... go out with Khushiji tonight."
"How can thats be, Akash Bitwaa? He is inbiting us with so much lauv. How can we say no to Arnav Bitwaa?"
Arnav looked harried, and the Guptas were laughing away. Khushi blushed. Finally, Nani put her foot down.
"Let Chotey and Khushi Bitiyaa go out together."
Mami and Anjali looked at Arnav with pseudo concern. "Chotey! You don't mind if we don't come, do you?"
"Haan, Arnav Bitwaa, will you be able to maneijje (manage) alone?"
"I will try.", said Arnav in a choked voice.
The family laughed uproariously. Arnav shot them a look of anger mingled with a touch of humour. A look at Khushi's bashful face melted him completely.
They finally set out in his car, sent off with instructions on what to see and what not to see, what to buy and what not to buy, what to do and what not to do... and much laughter...at their expense. Arnav snorted as he drove off.


She had a small smile on her lips. He looked at her sitting by him, looking gorgeous in a deep red anarkali. Her hair danced freely in the wind. Her fingers lay loosely clasped in her lap. He drove fast and parked with a flourish in the car park of his new office.



The place was well-lit but deserted, save for the security guards who had salaamed him at the entrance. Khushi looked uncertainly at him. He smiled at her, reassuring her.
He opened the door for her and held out his hand. Maybe he had left some file in the office that he needed. She took his hand and alighted from the vehicle.
He led her to the back seat and opened the door. She looked at him, wondering what exactly was going on. He smiled again. With a heart beating louder than a drum, she made her way in to the back seat, moving towards the far end of the seat so that he could sit by her. Arnav followed her into the back seat of the vehicle.




Part 34






He got in to the back seat of his car, and closed the door. Khushi was sitting at the far edge of the seat, her fingers knotted, wondering what she was doing in the back of his car in a deserted parking lot.The only other car she had ever been in was her Babuji's, and that was now gently rusting in Chamanlalji's junk yard. Even there, she had shared the back seat with Jiji. This was a new and strange experience... Her heart pounded...
"Khushi?"
She looked at him, her eyes slightly anxious, the pulse in her throat rapid, her breath shallow.
"Come closer?", he invited, his voice as smooth as honey.
She moved an inch closer.
He hid a smile.
"A bit more.", he suggested.
She moved an inch more.
"A little more.", he persuaded her.
Finally she was sitting flush against him, her slender thigh aligned perfectly with his warm, hard one.

"Shall we play a game?", his husky whisper seduced her.
She tried to speak, gave up the cause for a lost one, and tamely nodded.
"I have a gift for you." She looked at him in surprise.
"It is hidden on me. Why don't you search for it?" His smile beguiled her in to thinking him to be an innocent lamb.
She looked at his body. He could hide it only in the pockets of his trousers or the lone pocket of his casual shirt.
She hesitated.
"Scared?", he challenged.
"Of course not!", she retaliated, lifting her chin.
"Then you will find the gift?"
"Of course! What do you think of me? I am no lily-livered girl. And I was always good in hunting for treasure.", she boasted cheekily.
Sense came rushing at the feet of her response, chiding her for falling for his trick yet once again. But...

"Really?", his tone conveyed his doubt at her prowess. "So start...", he invited. He twisted on the seat to sit facing her.
There was something in his shirt pocket. Not a box or a packet, but something thinner than that. Who had specified that a gift had to be in a box? It could be a piece of paper, a ticket to a movie, or a discount coupon...
She touched the shirt pocket, her fingers slowly making their way into it, her eyes trained on her fingers. She touched paper, and pulled it out triumphantly, smiling into his playful eyes.
She unfolded the paper. It was a list of things that Di wanted purchased before the sagai. She grimaced at it, her determination to win getting too strong for her own good.

She lunged at him, dropping the paper to the unoccupied right side of the seat carelessly. He laughed and leaned back. But she was like a lioness that had smelt blood. She pinned his shoulders to the door, got up on her knees, and tried to reach his left pocket. He turned and twisted, laughing loudly, raising his arms across his body to bar her access to him. She ducked and feinted, sending her arms through small gaps in his armour to reach his pocket. She squeezed her fingers into his pocket, digging for buried treasure. And she found it, not noticing his extreme stillness. She dragged out a pristine handkerchief. She pouted.
But Khushi was a never-say-die girl. She renewed her attack, this time on the last remaining pocket, sure that her treasure was buried there. Arnav did try to block her, but she noticed that his hands seemed to linger on hers, his fingers relishing the silky tone of her skin...loving her touch...
She looked at his face, in to his eyes. Her hands and her fight came to an abrupt stop. The naughty smirk on his face, the fire in his eyes... He was waiting for her to touch him... She panted, her heart seeming to leap out of her chest.
"The gift.", he reminded her, his voice a whisper, the effect heightened by the solitude and the night.
She gulped, her throat dry, her hands trembling, her eyes on his lips...


(Thanx, Illyria!)

"Are you going to let me win?"
She shook her head in negation, slowly as though she were not very sure what she was doing.
He raised his arms, crossing his fingers behind his head, resting against the window.
"Go on."
She slowly pushed her fingers into the pocket close to her. His arms came down suddenly, and began to wrestle gently with hers. He enjoyed watching the look of  concentration on her face as she tried to find new and innovative ways to get to her prize. After a few unsuccessful attempts, she finally managed to get her hand in to his pocket. She found a hard object in it. It was wrapped in gift paper. She pulled it out with a cry of victory. He smiled.
He drew a finger across her cheek flushed with exertion and triumph.
"I enjoyed playing with you. We should do this more often.", he whispered in her ear.





Part 35


The fine hairs near her ear fluttered in the gentle breeze that his naughty whisper produced. Her hands holding the packet trembled.
"Aren't you going to open it?", he asked, looking deep into her eyes.
"Yes...", she quavered.
Her shaking fingers untied the bow, and removed the tasteful wrapping paper.
Inside was revealed a jewellery box. She looked at him. He was smiling, but his eyes held an anxious look. She pushed away the paper, and placing the box on her lap, opened it.

Inside were two rings.

"Our engagement rings.", he said. "I bought them in Delhi...in August...when I came to Buaji's house to propose to you..."
She looked at him, moved beyond words. He must have had so much faith in his love for her...her love for him... He must have believed that she would agree to marry him one day.

She looked at the box, and took out a star-shaped diamond ring. She absently placed the box beside her on the seat, her attention fully caught by the mesmerising beauty of the ring. So beautiful. He must have asked for a star-shaped one, specially for her because he wanted her to have her stars with her always, during day and night all their lives. He was making up for having thrown away the stars she had left him in her will. Tears filled her eyes. A finger touched the star gently. A tear rolled down her cheek.




"Khushi... Khushi, don't cry... Please don't cry..." His arms went around her slender shoulders, trying to comfort her. "If you don't like it, we can buy something else. It doesn't matter. I... I just..."
She buried her face at the base of his neck, exposed by the 'V' of his shirt. She whispered, her tender lips brushing against the highly sensitised skin, "I don't like it. I love it."
"Khushi..."
She could feel the long sigh of relief that raised and lowered his chest.
"Shukriya. For giving me my star..."
He cupped her face, and looked deep in to her tear-filled eyes.
"I promise, Khushi. You will never be alone again. I will be with you every day and every night. I will always protect you, Khushi..."
"I know. And I will always protect you...", she mumbled, tears making her words indistinct. "You will always have a home in me." Her fingers clutched at his shirt, holding him close to her. "I will never let you go.", she promised. She hugged him with all the strength in her puny arms.
"Who will dare to touch me when I have my lioness to protect me?", he whispered, his lips making love to her ear. "My sherni..."


(Shruti_P, Found you!! And thank u!)

She trembled, and curled closer into him.
"Let me put the ring on you, Khushi..."
She moved a few inches away from him, reluctantly, and extended her left hand. He cradled her hand in his big one, and gently slid the ring on to the fourth finger with the nas that links it directly to the heart. It was a perfect fit. He turned her hand in this and that direction to admire the burst of fire on her finger.

Khushi turned to look at the remaining items in the box that she had abandoned on the seat.



An engagement ring for men, with a line of gold running along it, and a single diamond placed in the centre. She took it out of the box, kissed the solitary diamond, and placed it on his finger.
They sat silent for a long time, holding hands. Then he said softly,
"You...you are the only light in my life, Khushi..."
She looked at the ring on his hand. She nodded, comprehending his meaning perfectly.

"Khushi...", he turned around eagerly. "Remove your nosepin."
"Uuhh?"
"Remove it, Khushi."
She slowly unscrewed the ordinary nosepin that she had purchased for a few rupees at a roadside store.
He reached in to the box, and came out with a star-shaped diamond nosepin. He unscrewed it, and gently pushed the stem into the pierced area of her nose. She screwed it tightly.


He admired her nosepin, holding her chin in his hand, and turning her head to the left and right. He loved the way the diamonds glittered on her.

They removed the rings and returned them to the box. They would be able to wear it only after the sagai on the 4^th, the day after tomorrow.

They drove home in the dark. She helped him lock up, and both of them climbed the stairs to their floor, holding hands. He accompanied her to her room, and standing outside her door, wished her a good night's sleep. She smiled in to his eyes. He kissed her nose ring, pressed her hands, and saw her into her room. He then went to his room, placed the box of rings carefully in his bag, and got in to bed, a sweet smile on his sinfully delicious lips.




Part 36



The next day was a revelation for Arnav. Neighbours started pouring in to Gomti Sadan to help out in the preparations for the sagai. They helped Akash and Mamaji ready everything for the havan, decorate the house with baskets and baskets of flowers and long strings of lights etc. Babuji watched men, women, and kids of the neighbourhood pitch in, and sighed in relief. Women pored over the gifts and clothes that Buaji and Amma had purchased for Arnav and the Raizadas, and made final touches to the space set aside for a cook and his two helpers assigned the task of preparing dinner for the guests invited to the sagai.
Sitting at the cash counter of the sweet shop, Arnav watched the men & women of the area walk in and out of the house, carrying huge vessels and ladles, mats, carpets, chairs and tables, cots etc from one place to the other. When the crowd at the shop thinned, he went inside and asked Buaji if she needed help. She kissed his forehead, poured him a glass of cool water, and made him sit down.


"Bitwaa, this is for you."
Amma and Buaji gave him a new set of kurta-dhoti for the sagai.
"You will look like a rajkumar in this, Nandkisore!", Buaji said.
Arnav laughed. The Raizadas looked at each other at the sound of his laughter, astonished to see him so happy, so relaxed, so at home, so loved...



Naniji, Mami, Payal, & Anjali handed over to Amma a white, red, & green lehenga for Khushi.
"The colours will look wonderful on Khushi Bitiyaa!", said Naniji. "I hope she likes it."
"She will love it. Because she loves all of you!", replied Amma. The Raizada ladies smiled, thanking God for their luck in getting Khushi as their bahu.

Khushi sat in her kitchen on a low stool, frantically making sweets. If only she had a hundred arms, He Devi Maiyya!, she sighed. And then laughed. She would look ridiculous with a hundred arms. Arnavji would... Arnavji would laugh. The smile remained on her face as she kneaded and rolled, stirred and fried...
Dinner was a hurried affair, the tired hordes pigging on tehri, roti, and sabzi.




As she helped the other ladies to clear up, Amma gave her a bunch of keys and asked her to go to the safe room and bring her mother's jewellery box down. Khushi took the keys and went up the stairs. She crossed Arnavji's room, then hers, and then went up another small flight of stairs leading to the terrace. Near the door to the terrace was the safe room. Using one key in the bunch, she opened the hefty lock and entered the room.
The room had big, tall cabinets, all locked up. This was the room in which Babuji stored documents related to the house and shop, the certificates & old notebooks and answer scripts of his daughters, photos of their departed ancestors, money, silver utensils and pooja thalis, and jewellery.
Her mother's jewellery was stored in a long box, kept high up in the third wooden cabinet with glass windows. She unlocked the cabinet and set aside the bunch of keys and locks on a central table. She dragged a steady ladder and placed it against the open cabinet. She smiled. Babuji had ordered the ladder to be made after she, aged eleven, had fallen from an unsteady one while peeking into the cabinets.
She got on to it and took down the heavy jewellery box. She placed it down on a lower rack so that she could reach it from the ground. As she was about to descend from the ladder, she felt his presence behind her. He closed in on her, standing with his face pressed against her shoulder blades and his arms on the ladder at her two sides.
"Khushi...", his voice rumbled. "How many times have I asked you not to climb ladders? What if something had happened to you? Tumhe lag jaati to?"
She said, her voice quivering. "The ladder is safe. I won't fall."
He slid his hands to her waist. She drew in a sharp breath. Each time he touched her... it was so difficult to breathe...to stop herself from falling...to keep her legs steady... One day, her heart would break through her rib cage and run away, unable to bear the torture of his touch...
"Arnavji, chodiye...", she cried, frantic.
His fingers played a music she couldn't hear on her waist, thankfully covered by her suit. He helped her down the ladder, her front to his front.
He buried his face in the fall of her hair..., and softly kissed her cheek as she reached ground level.



She moaned. He moved his parted lips to her neck. She jumped, trying to take her melting body far away from the fire.
He looked at Khushi, standing a couple of feet away from him, chest heaving as though she had just finished a marathon.
"What happened to you, Khushi?", he asked innocently. "Why are you breathing so fast?"
"Stay away from me, Arnavji!"
He quirked his eyebrow. "What did I do?"
"Everything. Why did you have to...", she paused, knowing that she was getting in too deep.
He took a step closer. "Why did I have to...?"
She took a step backwards. "...to... to touch me?"
"Did my touch hurt you, Khushi?", he asked, all care and concern.
"Haan...", she was fooled into responding. "It hurts."
"Where does it hurt, Khushi?", he asked softly, moving closer while she was distracted.
She placed her hand on her heart. "Here."
"Oh!" A kind Arnav extended his hand to touch her heart and soothe it, but Khushi took a step back, barely escaping his touch.
"I can't breathe when you touch me. I can't even walk straight. I am like a housefly that had fallen into a vat of bhang..."
His lips quivered.
"Don't laugh!", she warned him of consequences dire.
He straightened his lips. He was about to ask her for a detailed report on the many effects of his touch, when both of them heard Amma calling Khushi, asking her to bring the box down as Naniji wanted to see her jewels.

He helped her lock up, his eyes lingering on her innocent face and luscious form with eyes reflecting his love and need for her.
He warned her, "You still should not have used that ladder Khushi. Had you fallen..."
"I would never have fallen from that ladder. You see, Babuji made it specially for me."
Arnav asked a silent question.
"When we were young, Babuji had forbidden Jiji and me from entering this room. He was scared that we would fall from the ladder. He used to lock the cabinets and the room, but one day, when I was eleven, I took the keys and unlocked the door. Poor Jiji! She came running after me, asking me not to enter the room. I didn't listen to her. I couldn't open the cabinets, but I dragged the ladder to the glass window and climbed it to peek in. I fell & hurt my leg."
"Did Babuji scold you?"
"No. Amma scolded me because she was very worried. And Jiji too, because she hadn't stopped me."
"And Babuji?"
"He went out immediately to order a new, steady ladder that would never topple whatever happened."
Arnav laughed out aloud.





Part 37



The cooks came on time, and the house was redolent with the fragrance of good food being cooked on the premises. As Arnav started gathering the requisites for the havan, Akash stopped him.
"Bhai, please let me do this. It is my right."
Arnav looked at him with quiet affection as he, aided by Payal, helped the pujari with the wood, ghee, and other materials.

"Bhai, shall I help you change in to your kurta?"
Arnav hid a smile. "I think I can manage to do that myself, Akash. After all, I have been wearing clothes by myself for years.", he said mildly.
Payal and Akash looked scandalised.
"Bhai, you are the dulha. You are not to do anything yourself."
He led Arnav to the room with the clothes.
"So when one becomes the dulha, he loses the ability to function at all levels...?", Arnav drawled. Akash laughed.


Khushi ran from the sweetshop in to her house. It was time to dress. Actually it had been time to dress for quite a while, but the kheer in the pan had had other ideas. Buaji and Amma had called her many times, finally threatening her and asking her if she wanted the sagai too to be held in the sweetshop. But the kheer... Anyway, that was done, she sighed. Now all she had to do was reach her room without landing in front of Buaji or Amma.
She ran right in to Buaji, standing like a sentinel near the front door. Khushi sighed.
"O Sanka Devi! Who is going to get ready for your sagai? Shall I dress up in the new lehenga that your sasuralwaale have given, and sit by Arnav Babua for the havan, hein?"
"Buaji! I know you love your Arnav Bitwaa, but I will sit by him. You don't have to." The news about the lehenga registered once she had laid claim to Arnavji. "Lehenga? Naniji gave me a lehenga?"
"Haan. It is in your room. Payaliyaa has been waiting to help you dress for the past two hours. Go up and wake her up. She must have fallen asleep by now, Parmeswari."
Khushi turned to run to her room.
"Suno, Titliyaa!", Buaji called. "Your Amma & I, we have selected two necklaces and some bangles for you from your mother's jewellery. Wear it if you like them. Otherwise, select something else."
Khushi ran back to Buaji, and engulfed her in a long hug. Buaji held her hand on her ample chest, trying to find her lost breath. On the way to her room, she saw Naniji. Khushi threw her arms around her and hugged her within an inch of her life.
Naniji laughed. "I hope you like the lehenga, Khushi Bitiyaa."
"I will love it, Naniji!", she cried as she ran to her room.
A patient Payal helped Khushi to wear the red, green, & white lehenga. She wore the short and long gold necklaces of her mother, studded with green stones, a maangtikka, her mother's payal, and her arms full of bangles. Payal led her to the mirror.
"You look like a princess, Khushi." Payal hugged Khushi, and blinked to hide the moisture in her eyes.
Khushi looked at herself in the mirror. Who would believe that half an hour earlier, she had been neck-deep in kheer? She giggled.
"Khushi? What is so funny?"
"Jiji, I was just thinking that beautiful clothes can make me look beautiful." She smiled, admiring the chudi on her arms.
"No, pagli. Not beautiful clothes. Your love for Arnavji makes you look beautiful.", said Payal, smoothing down Khushi's skirt. Khushi blushed. "Shall we go down?"

Arnav came down to the courtyard from his room, escorted by Akash and Mamaji. He looked gorgeous, the quiet joy on his face accentuating his looks. Buaji gasped at the sight of him.



"Bitwa, you truly look like a rajkumar!", she exclaimed. All the ladies started laughing. Arnav smiled.
Naniji hugged him, and shed tears of joy.
"Chotey! I never thought that.."
"...this day would come...", he completed. "I too never imagined, Nani, that such happiness was possible." He bent down to touch her feet. She blessed him and hugged him. He whispered in her ear, "I am sorry, Nani. For arguing with you, for fighting with you, for not listening to you, for troubling you..."
"Sshh... All that does not matter, Chotey. I am so relieved to see you happy."
He gave her an extra squeeze, and moved on to his Di.
She hugged him as though there were no tomorrow.
"I am so happy, Chotey!"
"I am sorry, Di."
"For what?", she looked in to his contrite eyes.
"For letting you marry that cad. For not looking after you better. For not protecting you better. I should have known, Di. I should have known..."
"Chotey! I am older than you. I should be looking after you rather than you looking after me. And...and you suffered due to my folly. I fell for his flattering words, and you paid the price, Chotey! I will never forgive myself for that."
"Di..", he held her close to him.
"Chotey, shall I tell you something?", she whispered.
"Haan..", he whispered back.
"I lost my husband and had a miscarriage. I found out that my marriage was a joke and my husband a murderous cheat. The whole world knew that I had been taken for a fool. I was shocked, humiliated, and hurt. But I could face it, Chotey! I can face it. I can live through it. I can survive. And I will."
She looked up at him, "But had he hurt you...had something happened to you, Chotey, I would have dropped dead with you. That would have been the end of both of us, Chotey. Khushiji saved you. She saved me, and our family. I know she will take good care of you. She won't let any harm come to you. And she will keep you happy. As long as you are happy and well, Chotey, know that I am happy and well.
So don't feel guilty for being happy. And don't worry about me. Joy has come late in your life, Chotey. Enjoy it to the fullest, and know that your family loves you and will support you whatever happens. Not just me, Nani, Mama, Mami, Akash, and Payal, but also Babuji, Buaji, Amma, and Khushi..."
She looked into his eyes, cupping his cheek.
"Tum theek ho?"
He nodded, smiling at her, his eyes full of love.

Mamiji entered the courtyard, followed by boys carrying bags and bags of shopping. She had been out to renew her acquaintance with the markets of Lucknow.
"Arnav Bitwaa, you are luking goods. Lower the eyes, Saasumaa. Lower the eyes..."
"Manorama?"
"Nazar Utaro, Saasumaa, Nazar Utaro. No Inglis, only Hindi. Poor Sasumaa..."
She, Mamaji, and Akash hugged Arnav, wishing him a very happy engagement. Babuji blessed him. Buaji and Amma kissed his forehead and caressed his cheeks. Laxmi munched on the choicest leaves and a few jalebis that Khushi had sneaked in for her, standing placidly in one corner of the courtyard. Her beady eyes looked at the plates heaped with sweets, kept near the pujari. Yummm...

The courtyard soon filled with ladies, gents, & children from the neighbourhood.

Arnav heard a collective drawing of breath, and turned to see Khushi coming into the courtyard from her room, led by Payal. He looked at her, totally lost for words. The flowing lehenga, the jewellery, the shy flush on her cheeks, her lowered eyes. She lifted her eyes and looked at him. He felt current run through his veins. As though they were alone in a room...
Naniji, and the other ladies led Arnav and Khushi to the havan. The pujari started chanting the mantras. Arnav and Khushi sat side by side, praying for their joint family, thanking God for his kindness in having seen them through the terrible times, for keeping them together...
After the havan and the distribution of prasad, Amma came smiling up to Arnav with a thali, and applied a tikka on his forehead. Nani, Mami, and Anjali gave jewellery, clothes, and make up items as gifts to Khushi.



Arnav and Khushi exchanged rings, and the families exchanged gifts and congratulated each other. The guests hugged Khushi and pulled Arnav's cheeks, to the merriment of both families. Savita's Nani, taking advantage of her advancing age, dropped a kiss on his cheek. Khushi's eyes and mouth opened wide in shock. She caught him by the arm and dragged him away from the crowd. What if the young girls standing in line behind the Nani decided to follow suit?
Arnav smiled, his eyes dancing merrily.



 Part 38


Munna, Krishna, Akash, Mamaji and the boys of the neighbourhood served the delicious food to the guests.



Sweets that Khushi had prepared were presented in big thalis, some taken from the safe room and some borrowed from their neighbours. 





The crowd milled around the Guptas and the Raizadas, congratulating them on getting such a handsome damadji and beautiful bahuriya. Mami was in her element, laughing and chatting with the ladies, loving the attention her nephew, Arnav and her son, Akash were getting. The ladies were full of praise for the good looks and polished manners of Khushi's mangetar and Payal's husband, whom they hadn't seen before.

Khushi stood a little way away from the crowd, clutching Arnav's arm, fearful of letting go. She frowned at the nubile Lucknow girls, all decked up, giggling and nudging each other, passing comments on Arnav's looks, his dhoti-kurta, his hair, his eyes... The girls hastily moved away. Arnav hid his smile, but not very successfully.
"Why are you smiling?"
He said mildly, "It is my sagai. I think I am entitled to smile once or twice."
Khushi muttered to herself, "If I talk to him, he finds it so difficult to open his mouth and give me a civil answer. He parts his lips only to scold me. In the whole year that we have known each other, I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times he has smiled at me. And now he wants to smile at girls and talk to ladies! Uff, this Laad Governor! It was better when he was silent!"
Arnav burst out laughing, the sound bringing a smile to the lips of all his family members who enjoyed the rare sight of him laughing.
Buaji pinched his chin. "You look so handsome when you smile, Babua. May Nandkisore keep you smiling like this all your life!"
Khushi fumed. "Buaji! Don't the girls have anything better to do that ogle Arnavji? Haven't they seen a man before? Even the old ladies! Buaji, I am warning you. I am going to keep a board near the door to the courtyard with 'Keep Away from Arnavji' written on it!"
Buaji & Arnav smothered their laughter.
"How can they not be curious about Arnav Bitwaa, Titliyaa?" She leaned towards Arnav, and said confidentially, "They want to see the brave man who has dared to make this Sanka Devi his wife, and convey their condolences!"
"Buaji!", cried Khushi, while Buaji & Arnav had a good laugh at her expense. She stamped her foot, and walked in to her house. She wandered from room to room, accepting congratulations on winning the heart of such a gorgeous-looking man. Many of the girls asked her if Arnavji had any more brothers in the same mould. She ground her teeth while smiling at them. Her mind rested on Nanheji for a moment, but she decided to spare him right then. He would have to deal with all these girls when he came for the wedding anyway. He had called her that morning to wish her and to inform her that he would be arriving the day before the wedding.
Vimala Maasi had her granddaughter, Antara with her. Khushi eagerly stretched her arms out for the baby, a cute 1-year old with dimpled cheeks and heart-winning smile. 




Antara left her grandma with alacrity, and latched on to Khushi. She inspected Khushi's long necklace with the green stones, her earrings, her maangtikka, her bangles... Antara loved jewellery a little more than she loved biting people.
Khushi talked softly to the baby as she carried her to her own room. She sat on the bed, Antara held snugly in her arms.
"Is this my beautiful, beautiful baby?", she cooed. "You are a good girl, aren't you? My good girl, my shweet girl, my jalebi, my balushahi..."
Antara's ears perked up on hearing the names of sweets. But the green stones were too good to leave... And after the stones, it was the turn of Khushi's cheeks.They were made to be bitten. Chubby, creamy cheeks... Antara opened her mouth, aiming for a good, solid bite. Her milk teeth almost touched Khushi's cheek, when a hard hand appeared from nowhere and blocked her path.
Khushi jumped. Antara jumped with her. They turned around to see Arnav standing behind them.
"You are not to bite her cheek.", ASR instructed Antara, a stern look hardening his eyes.
She looked at the imposing figure, the delicious voice, the expressive eyes, and the big, warm hands. She leaped from Khushi's arms at this new target, who stood shocked for a moment, and then gingerly opened his arms to receive the missile.
Antara sat in his arms, held safe but awkwardly against his broad shoulders. She looked at his face from close quarters. He had a nice nose. She curled her fingers around it. His lips trembled in a smile as he gently freed his one and only nose from her pudgy fingers. She took her fingers to his eyes, wanting to poke them. He ably defended his territory.
What is wrong with girls these days? Age no bar, height no bar! All of them are after my Arnavji!, Khushi thought, furious. She was about to free him from Antara's devoted attention, when Vimala Maasi came in to the room and took the baby away from Arnav. Antara squirmed in her grandma's arms, wanting to go back to the man with the twinkling eyes and crooked smile.
"Khushi Bitiyaa! Antara seems to like our Damaadji a lot. You are very lucky. He will make a wonderful father!", said Vimala Maasi.





Part 39

Vimala Maasi swept out of the room, a struggling Antara in her arms, leaving behind a pregnant silence. Arnav looked intently at Khushi who stood staring at him with her mouth open. He walked to her, covering the distance between them with slow, deliberate steps, enjoying her disconcerted look. He stopped close to her, and shut her tempting mouth with a finger beneath her chin.
"Is she right?", he asked, as innocent as a baby.
"Kya, Kaun...?", she asked, all flustered.
"Vimala Maasi."
Khushi blushed. "How do I know?", she asked, and tried to run away.
He caught her arm, practice having made him perfect. He inspected her cheek for any stray teeth marks, and found it smooth and creamy as usual, just pink in colour. He ran his fingers down the cheek to her chin.
She broke free of him and ran down the steps to the courtyard.

The guests finally left, and the family gathered in the courtyard. The cooks were gathering their utensils and stoves to leave. Munna and Krishna had gone to bed. The ladies and gents lolled in chairs and cots, pleasantly tired.
Arnav said, "Nani, Babuji, Buaji, Mamaji..., many of the guests were sorry that they had to miss Payal's and Akash's wedding."
"Haan, Bitwaa. But what can we do, Nandkisore? It was in Delhi."
"Their wedding...", he cleared his throat. "...Their wedding was spoilt by me. They couldn't even enjoy the games after the wedding. And I am sure Payal missed having her friends there."
The family remained silent, uncomfortable.
Khushi alone smiled at Arnav, guessing what was coming.
"Maybe we can have both weddings together. Payal and Akash can marry once more. With us."
There was perfect silence for a moment.
Then Khushi said, "Please, Naniji, Babuji, Amma, Buaji, Mamaji, Mamiji..., please..."
The courtyard exploded with sound, loud laughter and conversation filling it. It was decided that Payal & Akash would have their Lucknow wedding along with Arnav & Khushi. Mami couldn't believe her ears.
"I can inbite my brothers, sisters, nephews, their wives, my chachas, chachis, mamas, maamis, even my uncle's cousin's wife's sister and family. Happy Beddings! Two for the praij of one!"

Arnav changed into his casual clothes, and got ready for bed. The whole house was silent. There was a knock on the door. He opened it to find Amma and Buaji outside.
"What happened? Is everything alright?", he asked, concerned.
"Haan, Bitwaa. There is nothing to worry about.", Amma set his heart at ease.
"We just wanted to talk to you about something, Nandkisore! Oo kaa he, Babua, we were thinking...", she looked at Garima. "...We were thinking that after the wedding, when all the others go back to Delhi,... if you don't mind, only if you don't mind,... you can leave Anjali Bitiyaa with us..."
Arnav looked at them, pale, uncertain.
Garima rushed to explain. "Oo kaa he, Bitwaa, she seems much happier here. No one knows of her pain, and she can start a new life. The people who meet her don't know of her past. And she loves going to the temple, helping in the kitchen, spending time with the neighbours..." She took hold of his hand.
"Babua, she is young. She has a long life ahead of her. We can't let her waste it just because one rascal cheated her. She deserves to be happy. There should be more to her life than staying at home and praying while you and Akash have families and a life. It is a sin, a shame.", said Buaji.
"Haan, Bitwaa. Jiji is perfectly right."
"Babua..", Buaji placed her hand on his shoulder. "We had an aunt who was widowed at the age of 18, thirteen months after her wedding. She had no children. She died at the age of seventy. She spent everyday between the ages of 70 and 18 looking after her brothers' children and slogging in the kitchen. Her life was limited to the kitchen and the pooja room. What a waste of life, Nandkisore! It shouldn't happen to our Anjali Bitiyaa." Her eyes filled with tears.
"Bitwaa, please leave her here. Khushi's father has a cousin who runs a school and orphanage nearby. If we ask him, he will definitely involve Bitiyaa in the work. She will get to spend some time with the children. It will lighten her mind and give her a purpose in life. He will be coming tomorrow to meet all of you as he couldn't come today for the sagai. He is a widower, and is helped by his son, Anand. Both of them will be here tomorrow."
"Haan, Babua. Talk to them. See if you like them. If you like them, we can send Bitiyaa there to work with the children. If you don't, we will find another place for her. It doesn't matter. But leave her here, Bitwaa. Don't take her back to Delhi."
"Damadji, for us, Anjali Bitiyaa is just like our Payaliyaa or Khushi. We will take good care of her. And at least because she is here, you will all come regularly to see us...", Garima added. Buaji nodded her head.
Arnav lowered his eyes to hide the moisture filling them. He threw his arms around the two ladies, and hugged them close. He had often told Khushi that she didn't have to do everything by herself. He hadn't known that this was applicable to him too.
"You meet them tomorrow, and then talk it over with Anjali Bitiyaa & Nani...", suggested the ladies.
He nodded.

Arnav drifted off to sleep after a long time. His mind had lingered on the terrible events of the past few months, not letting him rest. Finally, towards dawn, he closed his eyes.
Dreams came to him like thieves in the night, unlocking the doors to his memories. He saw himself and Khushi in the hut, on the run from the kidnappers.

It was raining heavily. He sat on the hay, scantily clad in a white vest and ragged trousers, stealing glances at her shadow on the wall as she dressed behind the cloth screen that he had made for her. She tied the dori of her blouse, and adjusted the pallu of her saree. He swallowed. There was just a piece of cloth between him and her. He stood up, summoning the remnants of his overused stores of restraint and self-control. She would be out of there any moment, and would catch him savouring her shadow. He hastened to lower the flame of the lantern.





He saw her slide the screen along the rope through the corner of his eyes. He looked up, and stood fascinated by the picture she made. The white sari, her red, almost-not-there blouse, her unbound hair fluttering in the breeze, the sari revealing the tempting curve of her waist, her fingers trying to tame the fringe of hair that was falling in to her eyes, the knowledge in her eyes that he found her beautiful, captivatingly, astoundingly beautiful, the realisation in her eyes that he wanted her more than he wanted his next breath...
Her eyes slid away from him, to look at the hay on the floor. Her fingers clutched the pallu at her shoulder nervously, trying to make it cover more of her body from his laser-sharp eyes. He took one step after the other towards her, ducking under the clothesline to get to her. With each step that he took towards her, she took one away from him. She hit the wall, and stood, looking flustered and shy. Her chest rose and fell irregularly, her breath came in spurts, her eyes seemed to search for a way out, and her fingers clutched at the folds of her sari at her sides. She tried to duck to her right, but he placed his hand on the wall by her and blocked her move. Her eyes darted towards his, and she tried to turn to her left to make her escape. His hand slammed against the wall to her left, again blocking her.
She looked at him, helpless, nervous, the pulse in her throat fluttering like a bird caught in a net, curiosity warring with fear of the unknown in her eyes...
He raised his fingers to her face, and caressed the strands of hair touching her face. The storm raged without and within him. Months of sleeping with her in the same room without laying a finger on her... Months of having the person he most desired in front of his eyes, but not being able to have her... His self control was shot.
He lowered his face to capture her parted, moist lips with his. She darted away. His arm caught hers, and he pulled her in to his hold. She panted, weak with desire, her limbs trembling with the effort to keep standing. She looked at him, begging for immediate support.
He lifted her into his arms, and carried her to their bed of hay. He lay her down carefully, leaning over her. He lowered his face to hers, determined to taste the lips that had been killing him for the past 1 year and more, fuelling his torrid dreams, making him weak in the knees...



(Illyria, thanx!)

She turned away in the hay, revealing the bounty of her more-than-half-naked back to him. The dori tempted him beyond resistance. His fingers, clutching her shoulder, moved lazily down her back, making their way slowly but surely to the dori. She trembled like a blade of grass in strong wind, her choppy breath moving the muscles of her back, her tender skin trembling at his slow but sure touch. He kissed her nape, and every inch of her back, holding her down on the hay with his hand. She shook, she moaned her pleasure, her fingers grasped the hay like a lifeline...
His fingers played with the knot of the dori, and slowly pulled it free. The two edges fell apart. Arnav held her by her shoulder, and turned her to face him. Her hands clutched the pallu and the poor remains of her blouse to her chest. He focused on her lips. They looked redder than usual, as though she had bit them in an agony of pleasure. He lowered his lips to hers, gently touching their fullness. She gasped and parted her lips. He dived in, tasting her with his tongue. His fingers slid the pallu from her shoulder.


"Arnavji! Arnavji!"
Rudely awakened from his dream, Arnav sat up in his bed, staring at a thrilled Khushi standing near his bed, the phone in her hand.
She was talking nineteen to a dozen. But he couldn't hear her. He was still in the most cosy shack on earth, kissing the most beautiful girl on earth, the rain pounding at the windows...
"Arnavji! Get up! Get up, please! Guess what happened. Nanheji phuned just now. He is coming here on the 9^th for our Sangeet. Isn't that wonderful?"
"Err...Y..yes..."
He pulled the covers closer to his chest.



Part 40


Babuji's cousin, Deenanath Gupta and his son Anand came visiting the next day. Payal and Khushi ran to them and took their blessings. The older man was jovial and easygoing, much loved by the family. Anand was in his late 30s, lean but muscled, his simple kurta hanging loosely around his tall, straight frame. He had strong features, a sharp nose, quiet eyes, a stubborn chin, & long hair. He gently ruffled Payal and Khushi's hair, and bent to touch Babuji, Amma, and Buaji's feet. He said "Namaste" in a soft voice when introduced to the Raizadas. Taciturn by nature, he then sat back, sipped unsweetened tea,  and watched the others talking and laughing.




Arnav watched them closely. It was clear that the older gentleman was good natured. But Anand... He was a mystery. Being silent was not a sin, especially not to Arnav who used words sparingly in his personal life. But life and Shyam had taught him bitter lessons. He was determined to check them out thoroughly before letting his sister associate with them.
This resolution was weakened by Anjali's interest in the orphanage and school. She asked various questions of the older man about the children and their education. Luckily for Arnav, Buaji managed to force the two men to accept a visit from the family to the school the next day. Arnav had to be satisfied with that.


After the guests left, Arnav and Akash had to go to the office. As he drove through the city, Arnav turned to look at the bespectacled man sitting by him.
"Akash, I am sorry."
"Kyun, Bhai?", Akash asked, astonished.
"For spoiling your wedding day."
Akash smiled. "It doesn't matter, Bhai. I just wish... I just wish you had told me about Shyam. When I think of you and Khushiji trying to deal with him alone..."
"I... I was too shocked, Akash. Too many things were going wrong at the same time...", he said with regret lacing his voice.
Akash nodded. "It is over, Bhai. Thank God." He smiled. "And we are happy to be getting married again, and that too with you and Khushiji. We can celebrate all our wedding anniversaries together."
Arnav was grateful to have such a loving and uncomplicated brother. He remembered Buaji's words about how lucky he was to have so many people who loved him.

He returned from the office to find Khushi missing. She was not at home. Nor was she in the shop's kitchen. Munna and Krishna told him that she had gone to the temple. He changed in to casual clothes and the sweater that Amma & Buaji had gifted him, and slowly made his way to the temple.
She had finished praying and was at the steps of the temple, trying to balance on one foot while donning her footwear. He walked towards her, enjoying her beauty in a violet-pink suit with flowing lines. As he watched, a small child ran in to her on his way to the temple, knocking her off balance. As she tottered, he placed his arms around her and held her to his chest.


One moment she had been about to fall. The next moment, she was cradled against his heart, safe and secure. She looked up at his face. How did he always appear when she was in need? She inspected his features. The wide forehead with frown lines, the intent, possessive eyes that saw only her, his lean cheeks, his strong nose that begged to be pulled in fun, his lips that made her shiver when she looked at them, his heart that beat as one with hers... She smiled trustingly at him, and standing in the circle of his arms, slowly smoothed the frown lines with her finger.
"I am alright. Don't worry."
He nodded.
"Shall we sit for sometime? It is very peaceful here...", she suggested.
He led her to a bench near the steps.
"Do you remember...in Delhi...on Teej day... You helped me when I fainted."
"Twice."
"Haan. I am not used to fasting.", she said sheepishly.
He smiled.
"And you broke my fast."
"I didn't know that you were fasting."
She giggled. "Buaji said that I had to fast to get a good husband. She was very sure that nobody would be foolish enough to marry me, and that I wouldn't get a good husband without divine intervention."
He smiled, and caught her hand in his gently. They sat in the evening light, smiling at their many follies, sharing memories of their time together. Time flew.


"Khushi...", he asked. "What does Anand do?"
"Bhaiyya? He draws."
"Draws? He is an artist?" So that explained his overlong hair.
"No...", frowned Khushi as she broke a piece of the prasad and pushed it past his lips. "Not pictures of plants and people. He draws houses, with bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom etc. His company builds those houses for his clients."
"Oh, an architect!"
"Wahi! How else can he fund the orphanage? He studied in America and got a job there. But then his mother, Kamala Chaachi fell ill. He is an only child, you see. And Chachaji could not look after her alone. She was bedridden. So Bhaiyya gave up the job and came home to look after his mother. She was laid up for 7 years, and died last year."
"Is he married?"
"Bhaiyya?" She laughed. "That is a good joke. Chachaji says that he does not have the time to cut his hair, let alone marry."
Arnav smiled slightly.

A while later, he asked softly, "Khushi, you are happy, aren't you?"
She smiled, her teeth shining like pearls in the darkness.
"Very happy. We are getting married. Jiji & Jiju are getting married with us. Nanheji will arrive on the morning of the sangeet. All our family will be under one roof, all of them happy. Laxmiji is here. Our sweetshop is doing very well. What more do I want?"
Arnav swallowed. "You are happy that NK is coming for the wedding?"
"Haan..", she smiled widely. "You know, Arnavji! Life is so ajeeb!"
He smiled at her excitement.
"Jiji and I, we always wanted brothers. We used to feel jealous of other girls during rakhi. The only Anand Bhaiyya we had was never around, and anyway he was too old for us. He will be 38 years old this year, you know. So we used to tell ourselves that we would get married to boys with lots of brothers so that we could tie rakhi on all of them. Now Jiji has you and Nanheji. I have Jiju, Nanheji, and Hari Prakashji. Jiji and I, we are very lucky, aren't we?", she asked.
"Yes...", he said. "I am very lucky."




Part 41
(Dedicated to Gayathri, my daughter!)



Arnav had urgent work in the office, but he deputed Akash to see to it. He had to go to the orphanage with the others to check out Deenanath Gupta and Anand. How could he let Di work with them without knowing more about them?
Khushi, Munna, and Krishna remained at home, having to make bins and bins of jalebis and samosas to meet an order. They had to man the shop too. Babuji remained in his room. Mami & Mamaji went shopping.
Buaji, Amma, Anjali, & Arnav went to the orphanage and school. They were accommodated on a sprawling campus on the outskirts of Lucknow. Deenanath Gupta was waiting for them at the door. He greeted them cheerfully.
Anjali said, "Chachaji, I hope we are not being a nuisance."
Chachaji said laughing, "You are. You most definitely are. The punishment for you is that you have to spend the whole day with us. I will let you go only after dinner."
He took them in to see the school, a huge building with airy classrooms in which 10-15 students sat in comfort and learnt. The school was meant for the children in the orphanage, and provided education free of cost. The orphanage was huge, with a main building and 2 separate buildings to accommodate girls & boys. The dormitories for small children and rooms for the big ones and teachers were all spotlessly clean and spacious. The kitchen, the dining hall for about 500 children, the prayer room, yoga hall... It was a self-sufficient world. They were also introduced to two couples who worked as wardens.

"Anand Bitwaa?" Buaji asked the question that Arnav wanted to ask.
"We have an organic farm behind the school. He is there with some of the kids, working in the soil. He will be in for lunch.", replied Chachaji.
Lunch time came soon. A huge gong sounded and a large number of children poured in to the dining hall like bees going to their hive. Laughter and chatter filled the air. Arnav looked around. The boys and girls of varying ages looked healthy, well-dressed, and cheerful. Chachaji invited them in to the hall. They sat among the children, and were served healthy, nutritious food. The children were very happy as they didn't have to return to school. It was a half-day for them.
Arnav, Anjali, Buaji, Amma, and Chachaji were surrounded by children. One chair at their long table was left unoccupied.
Seeing Arnav glance at it, 4-year old Gayathri sitting close to him lisped, "Ith is for Anand Bhaiyya!"
"Oh!"
"He will come now.", she said, sure of her Bhaiyya's habits.



True to her word, Anand slipped into his chair, murmuring a greeting to his father and the guests.
A smiling man came to serve Anand.
"Thea for Anand Bhaiyya, Gopi Kakka!", reminded Gayathri.
"Without sugar.", added Nikhil sitting across her.
"I know, I know.", smiled Gopi Kakka. "How can I forget when you remind me 4 times daily?"
All of them laughed. The children giggled. Arnav & Anand cracked a slight smile each.
Anjali asked, "Are you diabetic?"
Anand looked surprised to be thus addressed.
"Err, no. I don't like sweet things.", he said softly.
"Chotey is diabetic.", Anjali confided, looking at Arnav.
"Oh!", said Anand.
Saurav spilt some water on his shirt. Without missing a beat, Anand took a napkin and gently wiped his face and shirt.


After lunch, the family accompanied Anand to the garden/ farm. Arnav stood wonderstruck at the variety of plants and trees around him. He asked intelligent questions of Anand, who, glad to find a fellow gardening enthusiast, took him around and showed him the plants, tools, and organic fertilisers, both men silent and happy. Arnav realised to his shock that he was having fun. The children were a jolly lot, looking after the adults in their midst with a sense of responsibility. They held Anjali's arm, helping her to walk over uneven ground, and brought tall glasses of water for them to drink as they meandered through the vast farm with cows, dogs, cats, a couple of horses, donkeys, chicken etc

On their return to the orphanage, Anand took Arnav to his room. It was spartan to say the least. A single bed, extra long to accommodate Anand's long legs. An antique table and swivel chair. A laptop. A CD rack. A washroom. Most of the room was taken up by big racks of books. Arnav looked at the titles. Architecture. Design. Horticulture. Cooking. Education. Vocational training. Child Psychology. Bringing up Babies. Yoga. Music. Exercise for Children. All the books belonged to these categories. Anand lent Arnav 2 books on a certain plant he was very interested in.
Soon it was time for the children to freshen up and go to the prayer hall. The adults joined them for prayer, and Chachaji introduced them to the teachers.
Dinner was a noisy and delicious one. Arnav looked at the kids with grudging respect. Their energy after a full day's work astounded him. And their good manners. And the way in which they took care of each other. And the way in which they included adults in their conversation. And the way in which they accepted that Arnav & Anand did not care to talk much. The children let the adults be themselves in their company. Arnav felt a rising sense of respect for Chachaji and Anand.
Anand's phone rang during dinner. The entire table fell silent, the silence spreading rapidly to the other tables. Arnav realised that it must be some kind of an emergency. All of them listened to Anand murmuring 'yes' and 'theek he' and 'OK'. He switched off the phone, and turned to look at the children in the hall, his eyes liquid with an emotion that Arnav could only call kinship.
"Doctor Aunty is bringing a baby boy for us.", he said simply. Smiles grew on the faces, till the whole hall was smiling.

The children, Anand, Chachaji, Buaji, Amma, Arnav, and Anjali were waiting at the door when a car came to a stop, and an elderly lady got out with a cloth-wrapped bundle in her arms. She came in, and said, looking at Chachaji and Anand, "A young girl delivered in the hospital. She...she left the baby wrapped in a newspaper in... in the dustbin. It cried. And...and the watchman heard..."
Anjali gasped. Buaji said, "Hai Re Nandkisore!". Amma stood with her mouth open. Arnav clenched his jaw. Chachaji sighed. Anand alone nodded, calm.
She held out the baby.
Anand extended his arms, and gathered the baby close to him.
"Don't worry. He is ours now."

The children and the others watched as Anand bottle fed the baby expertly and burped him.
"Whose turn is it to name him?", he asked softly.
"Mine, mine", said Gayathri, jumping up and down.
"What shall we call him?"
She came close to the baby and looked down at his sweet sleeping visage and tufts of soft, brown hair.




She said decisively, "Chotey!"
Anand and all the others smiled. Most of them had tears in their eyes. Anjali held on to Arnav's arm tightly.
Gayathri whispered in the baby's ear, "You are our Chotey now. Grow up fasth. You are on my cricketh theam, noth Nikhil's."




Part 42



It was time for the children to go to bed.
Anjali asked Chachaji, "Shall I stay with the sleeping Chotey?"
Chachaji smiled, "Haan, Bitiyaa. If you like him so much, you must definitely stay with him."


Anjali sat in the cosy bedroom set aside for babies, and watched Chotey sleep in his crib. The tiny fingers, the soft skin, the slight smile on his lips, his dimpled arms... She swallowed her tears. She had wanted a baby so much... Had waited for years and years for one... Prayed from the bottom of her heart... And she had been given a glimpse of heaven, just a glimpse... And then it had been taken away from her. Her lips trembled as tears poured down her cheeks. And there were women who were willing to throw their babies into the dustbin? She looked at the sleeping baby.
"You will be safe here...", she whispered, gently touching his fingers. "Chachaji and Anandji are very good men. They will look after you. You will have lots of brothers and sisters. You will never be alone...like my Chotey was..."
The baby curled his fingers around her digit, holding it tight.


This was the best time. Buaji & Amma looked at Arnav. They said, "Bhaiyya, Anand Bitwaa, can we talk to you for a moment?"
Chachaji led them to his study.
Buaji said, "Bhaiyya, can you use Anjali Bitiyaa's help here, in the orphanage or school?"
Chachaji looked at Anand. "Haan... If she wants to help..."
Buaji clasped Arnav's hand, and held it in her lap. She and Amma told them the terrible tale of Anjali, her miscarriage, her pending divorce..., giving in to tears at times. Amma placed her hand on Arnav's knee to give and take comfort.
Chachaji folded his hands, bowed his forehead to touch his folded hands, and prayed for Anjali. He sighed. "She is such a brave child to bear so much pain at such a young age!"
Silence reigned in the room.
Anand asked in his characteristic soft voice, "What are her educational qualifications?"
All looked at Arnav.
"PG in Maths."
"If she likes teaching, she can teach in our school and tutor weak children in the orphanage. But...will seeing the children here remind her of the baby she lost?"
"She has to get over it, Anand Bitwaa. What is the use of crying over something that she is never going to get back, Nandkisore? She has a long life ahead of her. She has to get over it. She has to live, be happy...", Buaji said.
Arnav wanted everything to be above board. He added, "Di has a slight limp..."
"Polio?", asked Anand.
Arnav nodded.
"We will ensure that she does not have to climb stairs. Children can come to her room on the ground floor to learn."
Buaji & Amma thanked Chachaji & Anand from the bottom of their hearts.
Anand asked, "Have you talked this over with Anjaliji?"
"No...", admitted Arnav.
"We will request her to help us out. Let her think about it, and decide what she wants to do."
Arnav nodded, thankful for Anand's tact and concern for Di's feelings, her self-respect, and dignity.
"Children have a way of healing us, regardless of how big the hurt is...", Anand murmured just for Arnav's ears. At that moment, Arnav felt the full force of Anand's personality, the positive energy radiating from him, the never-ending well of compassion within him, the immense capacity to shoulder burdens, his quiet strength, the sheer goodness of that man...

Anjali joined them when they were ready to leave.
Chachaji said, "Bitiyaa, do you like children?"
"Ji, Chachaji."
"The children too seem to like you a lot. Wo kya he, Bitiyaa, they miss having a mother. Anand & I, we try. But it is not like having a mother. If you don't mind coming here daily, why don't you spend some time with the children?"
Anjali's face had a wide smile on it. She looked at Arnav, excited. Arnav had to swallow hard. That look on her face... He had missed it so much.
Anand added, "If you can help them with their studies..."
"Haan.", smiled Anjali.
The Gupta ladies and Arnav & Anjali left the orphanage after they bid Chachaji & Anand goodnight. Arnav & Anand shook hands.
"Don't worry about your sister. The children will look after her.", Anand said softly.


While driving home to Gomti Sadan, Arnav felt as though life had come a full circle. He looked at Anjali, sitting back in her seat, a smile on her lips. The Lucknow that had torn their lives apart was now healing them. Khushi... His Khushi...His mind chanted. He wished he could just hold her in his arms, bury his face in her neck, & cry his relief. If she had not forced her way into his drab life, fallen into his arms in such a way that even he couldn't ignore, followed him around his office & house carving a place for herself in his heart, put up with all the nonsense he had said and the many nasty things he had done to her, continued to love him inspite of all his foolishness... He didn't know what would have happened to him and Di. He looked at Amma & Buaji in the back seat. They were looking at Anjali with a relieved look on their faces. Di's new life was beginning. She had been given a third chance at life.

The need to see Khushi, to hold her was overpowering. He had missed her every moment of the day, missed her smile, her energy, her zest for life. He had pictured her among the children many times that day, wishing that she were there with him to share the simple pleasures.

He parked the car, saw his family inside, bid goodnight to all, and raced to her room. The door was locked from inside. He knocked on it.
"Jiji, I am coming...", said Khushi, struggling with the zip of the turquoise suit she wore at night.
She opened the door, and stood with her mouth open. The zip too was open, at the back.
Arnav walked in to her room, forcing her to take a couple of steps back. He closed the door behind him, his eyes not leaving hers.
He pulled her into his arms, and buried his face in her neck.



(Shruti_P, Thanx a million!)


"Khushi... I love you."
Khushi closed her eyes in pleasure, and tightened her arms around his shoulders.
"I love you, Khushi...", he whispered into her hair. "I... I don't want to l..live a moment without you, Khushi..."
Tears of joy filled her eyes. His arms moved on & in her hair, enjoying the feel of black silk. Suddenly, they stopped moving. And his body tautened, suddenly tense. His fingers had discovered her open zip. Khushi blushed.
"I was trying to fasten it, but..."
"You should have called me, Khushi...", he whispered in her ear.
Khushi blushed a tomato red.
"Anytime you want to fasten... or unfasten something, call me..."
Khushi buried her face in his neck.
He slowly held her away from him and turned her so that her back was towards him. He swallowed. The creamy expanse of her back against the turquoise blue of the suit, marred only by the lines of her undergarments...
He slowly pulled the zip up, letting his finger trail over the skin he was covering, inch by inch. She shivered, her breath coming in harsh gusts. He finally finished. Khushi pulled herself out of his arms, and turned to face him.
"S..shukriya..."
"The pleasure was mine..." His seductive voice raised the tiny hairs on her skin.




Part 43



Nanheji landed on the morning of the sangeet, waking up a sleeping house.
"Maasi, Nannav, Di, Akash, Buaji, Payal Bhabi, Khushiji! I am here!"
Arnav groaned, dragging himself out of bed. The typhoon had hit Gomti Sadan. A small smile appeared on his lips thinking about the look of anxiety on NK's face as he had got his first glimpse of Arnav tied up by the kidnappers, the way in which he had fought them & taken Arnav home...And Khushi was waiting for Raksha Bandhan! His smile grew.

Mami hugged NK, asking after his parents and other relatives. She was literally jumping with joy. Mamaji yawned, wondering how many days this Namuuna would be staying to entertain him. Buaji was about to bless him saying 'Jeeyath Raho Babua', but before she could say it, NK said anxiously, "Main Jee Raha Hoon, Buaji!" Everyone laughed. Akash and Arnav hugged him.
"Khushiji said that you are both going to get married again on the 13^th, on Diwali?"
"Yes.", said Akash, bashful.
"Great! I will get to see your barbadi."
"Barbadi nahin, Nanheji! Shaadi, shaadi...", said Khushi.
"Koi Baath Nahin, Bitwaa...", said Mamaji. "Dono Ek Hi He!"
In the ensuing laughter, Khushi warned Nanheji. "Be ready, Nanheji. Today evening, at the sangeet, there will be many girls here."
NK's face lit up. "Beautiful girls?"
"Very beautiful girls. Be very careful. Or they will carry you off."
NK grinned, thrilled to bits. Arnav shook his head at his naivety. Had he ever been this young? No, never.


Breakfast was noisy. Munna, Krishna, NK, Khushi, Di, Maamiji, Maamaji, Buaji, Amma...they were all in their element. They were listing songs to be sung & danced to during the sangeet, and NK was wondering if it would be possible to build a stage at one end of the courtyard. While they were discussing the myriad possibilities and Mami was demonstrating her dance moves, Anand walked in. He was greeted with great joy. Khushi and Payal ran to touch his feet, racing to see who would reach him first. Buaji & Amma hugged him and made him sit down with the others at the breakfast table. Arnav smiled at him, nodding his head. Anand smiled in return, and said 'Namaste' to Anjali who had just greeted him with a bright smile on her lips. He was introduced to all the people he hadn't met. He blinked at the bright colour of Mami's sari, the heavy jewellery, and the three roses of different colours adorning her hair. Her Hinglish totally ate up the few words on his tongue. Then came NK.
"Hi! I am Nandkisore. People call me N-K?"
Anand nodded.
"Khushiji said you have hundreds of children. But you are so young. How can...?"
Arnav butted in before NK could put his foot in his mouth. "Anandji runs an orphanage along with his father."
"Oh, that's how. I wondered..."
Anand smiled.


Once Anand had finished answering many questions about small Chotey, he handed over a slip of paper & a packet to Anjali.
"It is the timetable according to which students will be coming to 3C, the room you will be occupying in the school. It is on the ground floor. The packet contains the textbooks you will be teaching. You can go through them and prepare your lessons."
Anjali's face glowed. All the people around the table sat silent, looking at the joy on her face. Anand quietly sipped his sugarless coffee, his eyes on the steaming liquid in his cup, as though unaware of the lifeline he had just dropped to Anjali.
"Shall I serve you breakfast, Bitwaa?", asked Amma.
"Err, no. I had it with my children. I am on my way to the office."
"Bhaiyya, you will come with the children for the sangeet, won't you? This time, you are not to be excused. You missed my sagai. You are not missing Jiji's & my sangeet."
"Sangeet? Oh! Yes, Babuji will bring the children over. I may be late."
Anand got up to leave. Seeing Arnav accompany him out, Amma & Buaji remained in the dining room.
Once away from the crowd and by Anand's bike, Arnav said, "Thank you!"
Anand looked at him surprised.
"For making Di happy."
Anand stood looking at the ground for sometime. Then he said softly, "Anjaliji has a strong maternal streak. The loss of her child must have devastated her."
Arnav nodded.
"Maybe my 236 children will be enough to fill the void in her heart."


NK, Akash, & Mamaji designed a stage at one end of the courtyard, and with the help of the neighbours who had turned up offering help, built it. Arnav, Khushi, Munna, Krishna, & Payal worked in the shop's kitchen, making mountains of Gujia, Gulab jamun, Ghewar, Kheer, Peda, Imarti, Jalebi, Laddoo etc.




No sooner were they placed in the display counter than they were sold out. Khushi quickly made Munna & Krishna carry loads of sweets into the house, to be served to the guests that evening for the sangeet.
Khushi looked at Arnavji. He was filling a tray with jalebis to be taken to the shop, counting them, his lips moving silently. She looked around. Jiji had gone to the store to get almonds. They were alone in the room. She got up from her seat, and ran towards Arnavji. He looked at her, startled. She placed her hands on his shoulders, rose up on her tip toes, and gave his cheek a sound, smacking kiss. Before he could react, she ran back to her post and took up the ladle, her eyes lowered to the jalebis. Her face was a becoming red colour.
She looked at him. He was standing near the tray, a jalebi in hand, looking at her with an astounded expression on his face.
"I am sorry, Arnavji.", she looked suitably penitent.
"Err... Why?"
"I made you forget the count. You will have to start from one again.", she laughed.
They heard Payal approaching the room.
"I will get you for that.", Arnav whispered, a naughty look on his face. His hand touched his cheek where she had kissed him. Khushi looked like a jalebi, all red and sweet.


The cooks were already preparing the special dinner, big pots and pans bubbling away on their stoves. NK was peeping into each & every pot, trying to identify the dish being prepared, and coming up with outlandish names. Buaji, dicing vegetables, was having the time of her life, laughing at him. Amma, Mami, Nani, & Anjali were preparing lunch in their kitchen, talking and laughing.

Later, when Arnav came into the house to place his phone in his room, Buaji gave him nimboo pani with salt in it. Amma made him sit at the dining table to drink it. He listened to the ladies chattering away, telling tall tales, laughing at Mami's jokes and Buaji's memories of her sangeet, and felt at peace.
Buaji came to sit by him.
"Bitwaa, normally there is tension in the girl's house and anxiety in the boy's as their wedding nears. We must be the only family that is enjoying the wedding to the fullest, both families together, under one roof. Sach, Nandkisore! You have a wonderful family, Babua. A wonderful family."
Arnav caught hold of Buaji's hand in his own.
"I do, Buaji. And you, Amma, & Babuji are part of it."


The house was full that evening. Neighbours, relations including Chachaji and all the children who wanted to come, the two families..., they filled the house. Music, laughter, conversation, lights, flowers, the ladies dressed in colourful suits, sarees, and lehengas, the men in kurtas, the smell of delicious food, all combined to make the evening special.



Arnav looked delicious. That was the only word that suited him, decided Khushi. As delicious as the sweets she made. The midnight blue sherwani made him look like a prince. Arnav looked at Khushi.


The flowing lines of her dark blue lehenga, the flimsy dori holding up the back... His fingers itched to pull the dori open.

The sangeet was a riot. NK danced to Bacchna E Haseeno, looking debonair in his light blue sherwani.


Many young hearts in the audience were thrown at his feet, many eyes lingered with appreciation on his handsome face & figure. He felt like a hero, and enjoyed his few minutes in the limelight till Di pulled him off the stage with great difficulty. Buaji and Nani danced to Nain Lad Jayen He, the old Dilip Kumar song, with Nani dressed as a man. The crowd loved it, Mamaji whistling and instructing Anand's children on how to whistle. Anand walked in late to see his children & NK dancing in the courtyard to the Kajra Mohabbatwala danced on stage by Anjaliji and Khushi, and whistling away in glory. His thin lips twisted in a smile. Arnav had a similar smile on his lips as he watched his Di and his wife-to-be have fun on stage, amply encouraged by the catcalls and whistles of the children & the neighbourhood aunties.
Nani & NK danced to Jab Se Mere Dil Ko Uff, and rocked the floor. Mami, Payal in a green lehenga, Akash in a red sherwani, Khushi, & the children kept pace with them on the ground.



Arnav looked at Khushi dancing in abandon, her lehenga flying around her, her hair forming a fluffy cloud around her shoulders. She was in her element with the kids, ably egged on by none other than his own Mami. He shook his head, trying to keep the revealing smile from his lips. Such a naughty, precious, fun-loving bundle she was. He was damn lucky.

Soon the party spread all over the house, the children dancing on & off stage to Chinta Tha Tha, and all adults clapping their hands and joining them. Arnav slowly made his way to the back of the stage. Khushi was standing looking at the children on stage, jumping up and down, clapping her hands in excitement. He gently placed his hand on her shoulder. She turned around to look at him, her eyes wide with surprise.
He was looking so handsome that her heart melted.
"Will you dance with me?", he asked softly in her ear, the look in his eyes causing her to melt into a puddle.
She gulped, and nodded, words beyond her. She turned towards the stage, but he held her back.
"Not here. Not now. After the function is over, on the terrace."
She nodded. His eyes blazed with anticipation.




Part 44



Arnav went to the terrace as soon as the guests left for home. The dismantling of the stage was left for the next day as Akash, NK, & Mamaji were too exhausted after dancing away most of the evening. But Arnav was feeling fresh & energetic. His evening was just starting.
He placed the lantern that he had taken from his room beside him & lit it. He sat on the old bench near the railing of the terrace, looking at the door, waiting for Khushi.
She had to wait till Munna & Krishna went to bed and the rest of the family retired. Once all were safe in their rooms and unlikely to call for her, she slowly crept up to the terrace. Had Arnavji grown tired of waiting and left? The door was open. She heaved a sigh of relief. She closed it after her.
Arnavji was sitting on the old bench that had been abandoned on the terrace years ago. A lantern burned near him, driving away the darkness and shedding a little light. Khushi walked towards him. Arnav sat appreciating her graceful form, the gazelle-like walk towards him, and the slight smile on her face mingled with a slight apprehension of being caught on the terrace with her mangetar late at night. He stood up.



"Khushi...", he called, his arms slightly raised.
Like a homing pigeon, she rushed into his arms, throwing her arms around his shoulders. He smiled into her unbound hair. This was his Khushi. The girl with absolutely no sense of self-preservation. She had left herself open to being touched by him all over.
He caressed her arms, and slowly brought his hands down her torso to her bare waist. She shivered, the touch of his fingers arousing longings in her that she could not completely fathom. Like that night in the shack, when she and Arnavji had been on the run from the kidnappers. The look in his eyes had weakened her knees. Then and now, she found it difficult to draw breath. The fingers on her waist started exploring the curves, slowly sliding towards her navel. She thought she would die without air. She pulled back from him, abruptly.
Arnav let her go. He looked down at her flustered face, her rapid breathing, her trembling lips. Poor Khushi... She was frightened of the fire he had been burning in since the day she fell into his arms. He looked into her eyes and at her lips.
"My kiss.", he reminded her, his voice soft on the night air.
She swallowed hard and took a step back. What on earth had made her run to kiss him while making jalebis? She should have kept her eyes on the jalebis, and not looked at him at all. Maybe if she apologised. No, she wouldn't. She had wanted to kiss him. Very badly.
She had also wanted to kiss him on his neck, taste the saltiness of his skin, push her hand into the V of his shirt and feel his warmth against her palm... Khushi. No. No. Don't think of all the things you want to do. You have the stupid habit of doing things as soon as you think them, and your thoughts always get you into trouble. Think about something else. Imarti, Kheer, Halwa... Arnavji... Arnavji... His lips... He had brought his lips close to hers on the night of the last Diwali and during the night they had spent in the hut, but nothing more had happened. On Diwali night, he had left her wanting. In the hut, she had skittered away. She looked at his lips. Would he taste sweeter than jalebis? Khushi, no, no... The fight went on, the battle revealed to the man watching her.
"Who won?", he asked, a little while later.
"Uuhh?"
"Never mind. Will you dance with me, Khushi?". He put her at ease.
She nodded.
He played O Saiyaan from Agneepath on his mobile, and stretched out his arms to her, inviting her for a formal dance.
She sighed in relief and gave him her hands.
The next thing she knew, she was twirling and twirling, and finally standing facing away from him. He was closing in at her back, coming closer.

Meri  adhuri kahani
Lo dastaan ban gaye.

His finger touched the taut line running from her right ear to her shoulder. She trembled, bending her head to give him free access to her body.

Tune chua aaj aise
Mein kya se kya ban gaye.


Sehme hue sapne mere
Haule haule angdaayiyaan le rahe.

He dropped a series of kisses on the path that his finger had traversed. Khushi, unable to stand on her feet, fell back against his chest.

Tehre hue lamhe mere
Nayi nayi gehraayiyaan le rahe.

He closed his arms around her, hugging her to him, her back pressed to his front. They stood silent, eyes closed, letting the song wash over them, say things they didn't have the words to express.


(Shruti_P, thanx)

Zindagi mein pehli he muskaan
Karne lagi he itna karam kyun na jaane.
Karvat lene lage he armaan phir bhi he aankh nam,
Kyun na jaane, O Saiyya.



Oodhun teri kaaya
Solah singaar main saja loon.

His fingers made their way across her waist, and lingered on her tender navel. She clutched his hand, trying to still it. But his devilish fingers continued their slow, feather soft touches aimed at bringing down her wall of resistance.

Sangam ki ye raina
Is mein tyohar main mana loon.

Unable to bear the torture of his touch, she turned and sought refuge in his ready arms. She hugged him tight, her face buried in his neck, breathing him in.

Khushboo teri choo ke
Kasturi ho jaaon.

He kissed her hair, filling his soul with her jasmine scent.

Kitni pheeki thi mein,
Sindoori ho jaaon.

Arnav kissed her maang, and let his lips drop kisses down her forehead in a straight line, pausing between her eyebrows. She tightened her hold on his arms, her fingers twisting the cloth of his sherwani.

Sur se zara behki hui
Meri duniyaa thi badi besuri.

His lips kissed down her nose, and halted at her star-shaped nosepin for a special kiss.

Sur mein tere dhalne lagi
Bani re piya main wahi bansuri.

He rubbed his nose against hers. She smiled slightly, lost in the world of pleasure he had led her into. His fingers curled under her hair, seeking out the knot of her dori. He pulled the lower one free.

Mere aasmaan se jo hamesha gumshuda the chand taare
Tu ne gardishon ki lay badal di, laut aaye aaj saare.

She opened her eyes, startled, looking into his dreamy ones. His fingers were still exploring the taut skin of her back, loving the warm feel of her.

O Saiyaa...

His fingers moved to the second and last dori at the top. She shivered, not from pleasure, but from the cold wind blowing. His fingers stopped. He pulled her into the warmth of his body, fully covered by the sherwani. He was breathing hard, his chest rising & falling rapidly against hers, his hand holding her close shaking.
"We need to go inside.", he murmured.
She nodded.
"But I need my kiss."
Her lips trembled in a smile.
"Where should I kiss you?", he asked.
She looked at his lips. Her lips parted helplessly.


He shook with laughter. "Later. Only if you marry me. On Diwali night."
She blushed.
He bent down and placed a smacking loud kiss on her rosy cheek.




Part 45




Tomorrow was the Mehendi function. All the ladies and girls of the neighbourhood were going to gather in the huge courtyard of Gomti Sadan, and were going to have a lady apply mehendi on their hands and legs. Men were strictly forbidden from participating in it. In fact, the ladies wanted Arnav, Akash, Mamaji, NK, & the boys to stay away from the house.
Arnav looked at Akash, NK, Munna, Krishna, & Mamaji, all of them justifiably upset.
"Maasi, Buaji, how can you be so cruel? Khushiji, please tell them that you want us there! How can you have mehendi without Nannav...and us?"
Khushi laughed. Arnav looked at her cheerful face and bright twinkling eyes and forgot the mehendi.
"Er...ummm..., maybe you can make an exception for us. Errr... Payalji, maybe you can ask them...", stammered Akash.
"Mannu, we are all family. Why do you want to keep half your family out when a celebration is going on?", wheedled Mamaji.
"Amma, Buaji, Jiji, please let us see the mehendi too.", chanted Munna & Krishna.

The ladies stood firm, laughing at their men.

"Chotey! You are not going to get within a mile of the mehendi and the ladies. You will have to do without seeing your Khushiji for a little while. O ho, don't be so dukhi! Don't you have any urgent office work to do?", teased Anjali.
"Mehendi only phor girls ... and buutiphul Maamis. No men allowed.", declared Mamiji, smiling.
"And don't wear a sari and gatecrash our mehendi like you did for Payal's last mehendi.", Naniji warned NK. "Chotey, did you know what Nanhe & Akash said after they were caught? That you had given them the idea to dress as women!"
Arnav hid his smile behind his tea cup. NK and Akash looked at him with puppydog eyes. Babuji laughed.
"You can try to keep us out, Manno. But we are Raizada men by birth & marriage. We will try our best to get in. This is our Vada." Mamaji declared open war.
NK and Akash applauded. Arnav hid again behind the tea cup. Khushi and Payal giggled. Anjali, Mami, Buaji, Nani, & Amma roasted Mamaji and the other men.


Anand walked into this battle, and was welcomed with loud calls and smiles and queries about small Chotey.
"I need to go to Kanpur now. Can I leave my bike here?", he asked Buaji, Babuji, & Amma.
"Haan, haan, Bitwaa. Why do you need to ask?"
He refused tea and got up to leave. Arnav accompanied him to the main door.
"The children and my father are waiting for Anjaliji. Just drop her at the orphanage. Gopi Kaka will drive her back whenever she wants to return."
Arnav nodded.
"All arrangements have been made for her. Savitriji, who is in charge of the kitchen, will check on her regularly. My father will keep an eye on her. And the children will be with her all the time."
Arnav said, "Thank you."
"Err...I will be back only tomorrow. The petrol tank is full. If you need the bike...", Anand left it at that.
Arnav nodded, a small smile on his lips.
Anand turned his head on his way out, and said with a small smile & dancing eyes, "The last room downstairs, the one near the kitchen, has old, broken down chairs and tables. It is always kept locked. The window facing the next house is open. The glass fell off years ago. The other window in the room faces the courtyard."
Arnav nodded, his smile brighter than before.
"Good luck!", said Anand as he left.



Arnav dropped Anjali at her school. A welcome committee headed by Chachaji, Gayathri, Nikhil, Shreya, small Chotey, Rishi etc waited for her. They carried her away in their midst after Gayathri informed Arnav in all seriousness that she would look after Anjaliji, and that Arnav Bhaiyya did not have to worry about her anymore. Anjali waved at him, a big smile on her lips.
Arnav felt as though a mountain had shifted from his chest. He felt light, free, happy. He drove to his office where he worked steadily, breaking only at noon when Munna came to his cabin with the dabba that Khushi had sent him. He opened it. It held many dishes that he loved, along with a soup that Buaji & Amma had concocted and a sugarfree dessert made by Khushi. He started eating, savouring each bite. It was finger licking good. And then he saw a piece of paper folded and hidden under the rotis. He slowly pulled it out, and unfolded it.

Arnavji,
You work too hard. Please have your lunch. I have made all your favourite dishes, and Buaji & Amma have made the soup.
I hope my rotis can lure you away from that laptop, my sauten. And your boardroom. And Amanji.
Yours
Khushi

Arnav burst out laughing. No man must have gotten a similar love letter hidden in his rotis. Once a halwai's daughter, always a halwai's daughter and a halwai in her own right!
He finished eating, and washed the dabba. While it was drying, he took out his pen, and scrawled in his untidy hand,

Khushi,
You can always lure me away from everything else on earth. I love you, Khushi.
Yours
Arnavji

He folded it, and placed it in the dabba. He sent it home with Munna, asking him to give it into Khushi's hands and only Khushi's hands. Munna obeyed him to the letter, but Khushi, who was on the phone, placed the dabba on the kitchen counter and moved away to finish her conversation with Mungeri Lal about the quality of his besan.
Buaji opened the dabba to find a folded piece of paper in it. She unfolded it, and finding that it was addressed to Khushi, shouted, "Titliyaaa, Bitwaa has sent a prem patr for you in the dabba." Khushi ran to her, red in the face. Buaji, Amma, Nani, & Maami had a good laugh at her expense.
Maami whispered to Nani, "Saasumma, Khushi Bitiyaa has done some jaadu on our Arnav Bitwaa. Love letter! Our Arnav Bitwaa who smiles once in 4 years! That too in a dabba, hein?"

Arnav worked till late in the evening, having a sandwich for dinner. He returned to find that Gopi Kakka had dropped Di home, and that she had left with Mamaji, Mami, Payal, Akash, Nani, & NK for some serious shopping. Munna & Krishna had gone to a cinema nearby, Buaji, Amma, & Babuji were in the living room, and Khushi in her room.
He changed in to casual clothes, and knocked on Khushi's door. She opened it, and seeing him, smiled in to his eyes.
"Khushi, come with me?"
Khushi followed him.
He grabbed the bike keys from the peg, and marched towards it. Khushi looked at him in wonder as he threw his leg over the seat, and took his position. She stood near him, hesitant. She had ridden Babuji's old two-wheeler with two milk cans hung on its sides, but had never had a man give her a ride on a bike.
"Khushi...", his bedroom voice persuaded her. "Sit on the pillion. Put your left foot on the footrest and throw your right leg across the seat."
She obeyed in a rush. She sat gingerly on the passenger seat, leaving a decorous distance between the front of her body and his back.
"Put your hands on my shoulders, Khushi. You don't want to fall, do you?"
"No..." She placed her hands on his shoulders, clutching tight as the vehicle moved forward on a burst of speed. The finely tuned engine purred as the tires ate up miles as if they were of no matter.



(The Steel Horse!)

Her dupatta flew wildly around her. She let go of his shoulders to tuck it around her neck and tame it. He braked suddenly to avoid a dog with a death wish. Khushi fell against Arnav, sliding down the seat towards him, her legs aligned with his, hugging him tight to avoid measuring the road with her body. He stilled, the feel of her all around him thrilling him beyond words. The bike stood unmoving in the middle of the deserted road. Arnav sat with Khushi wrapped all around him. It started raining heavily. They were soaked in a matter of minutes.

Khushi slowly tried to loosen her unwilling arms from around his waist, intending to put some distance between them.
"No, Khushi...", came the soft command.
Her arms happily resumed their old position.
"Hold me tight, Khushi...", he pleaded.
She obliged.
"Tighter, Khushi...", tempted the Devil, turning his head so that his wet cheek rubbed against hers.
She tightened her hold further.

He accelerated, and the duo enjoyed every moment of travel through the narrow, winding roads of the old city. Her fingers rubbed his chest, raking her nails across the expanse. She rested her face against his back, rubbing her cheeks against the wet shirt, dropping kisses across his back and neck. She moved closer still to kiss his ears. She felt very brave, very capable of showing her need because his hands were otherwise occupied and his face was turned away from hers. He was helpless against her assault, and that knowledge freed her from her inhibitions. She pressed closer still, praying that the ride would never end, the rain would never stop...the night would never end...
Arnav shuddered. Not because of the cold. He couldn't feel the cold at all. Because there was a furnace within him. He could feel heat pouring out of him through every pore. His hot breath came in a rapid rush. Who was the hunter here? Who was the hunted? Who was the experienced lover, and who the novice? Her artless show of need had brought him to his knees. He stared grimly at the dark road lit by the headlight of the bike with unseeing eyes. He had to get them home... fast.
He parked outside the door to the courtyard. Khushi stayed stuck to him, seemingly unaware of the falling rain. Her fingers were tracing the lines of his six pack..., thankfully over his shirt.
"Khushi... We have reached home."
"Uuhh?"
"Home. We have reached home."
"So soon?", she whined.
He drew in an unsteady breath & clutched the handle to stop his hands from shaking.




Part 46



The bike ride in the rain had revealed an astounding truth about Arnavji to Khushi, no, not one but two truths about Arnavji that she had always known but never understood.
One, he loved her from the bottom of his heart and loved to touch her and be touched by her. That he trembled in need when she touched him. It wasn't a one-way track, and he was as affected by her touch as she was by his.
Two, regardless of how much he loved her touching him, he didn't intend to do anything about it. He had no intention of losing control before the wedding (which was in a couple of days' time).
She wanted to dance on the roof and shout in excitement. She was free, finally free to show her love to Arnavji. And she could do it without any fear of repercussions, at least till the night of her wedding. She knew that Arnavji would make her pay for all her teasing on their wedding night, but that was 3 days away. She would worry about that later!
The bike journey in the rain had also revealed a few truths about herself. That she had never known what love was. That her version of marriage and happily ever after had discounted a vital part of marriage, the physical part. That she had been blind, deaf, and dumb to the fact that she had a body that could quiver at the sight of Arnavji, melt at the sound of his voice, and burn at his slightest touch... She sighed in exasperation. All of Salman Khan's movies had not opened her eyes to this aspect of marriage. She had wasted a good 6 months of sharing a room with Arnavji, fighting & irritating him. Had she shown her love to him, all misunderstandings would have flown out through the window and that rascal of a Shyam would have found himself in a prison before he could complete his sickening call of 'Rani Sahiba!'
She smiled. She was not going to waste a moment of her life with Arnavji from now on. He was more necessary to her than her next breath. What was the harm in showing it?
The ladies gathered around her smiled seeing her dreamy smile. Oh! to be so young, so beautiful, so fortunate enough to get a dreamboat like Arnavji!  The ladies and girls sighed deeply and the dupatta of Khushi's lehenga fluttered in the wind thus produced.
Soon, the courtyard was full. Ladies chattered and sang. Girls danced to the accompaniment of encouraging claps and whistles from the ladies. Minnu dressed up as a man with a horrendously big mush and danced with Sarita to Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen and Uden Jab Jab Zulfein Teri. Khushi almost died laughing at Minnu's appearance, the laughter dying abruptly. The skin of her neck pricked as though Arnavji were watching her. But he was in his office. How could he see her? She pulled the dupatta to cover her waist.
The women of the neighbourhood had a wonderful time listening to Mami's and Buaji's stories of their glorious youth. Nani sang an old wedding song for her Khushi Bitiyaa, and Anjali danced a few steps for her Chotey's Khushiji. She was soon joined by Payal & Khushi who made her complete the dance by supporting her from both sides and dancing along with her. Thalis of sweets and cold drinks were passed around, and the girls and aunties continued having fun, selecting mehendi designs from books that the mehendi lady had brought with her.




Soon the girls selected the designs they wanted , and the lady started applying mehendi to their hands. Khushi and Payal were to wait for her partner who would be arriving in a few minutes. They spent the time dancing. Khushi got on to the cot, dancing on it while Savita's Nani (who had kissed Arnavji!) danced on the floor along with Naniji and Mamiji. She looked around while circling. Why could she feel Arnavji's eyes on her? Why did her skin feel so sensitive and taut? The back of her neck tingled.

Arnav, Akash, NK, Mamaji, Munna, & Krishna were in the room Anand had mentioned, peeping through one glass window, careful not to attract the attention of the ladies. Not that the ladies would notice even a bomb falling in their midst. They were having too much fun laughing, singing, dancing, cracking jokes about their husbands, teasing Khushi & Payal, eating, getting mehendi applied etc that the hidden men could laugh out loud and no one would even raise an eyebrow. Arnav watched Khushi dancing on the cot, the skirt of her pale green lehenga floating around her as she circled. The back of her blouse. The damned dori! He swallowed.



He watched as Khushi moved towards the kitchen. Apparently Savita's Nani wanted something. Arnav jumped out through the other window, and made his way to the kitchen. He watched her pour water in to a glass. As she was about to pick it up, he called, "Khushi!"
She turned around, astounded. "Arnavji!"
He placed his palm on her lips to silence her. He knew other, more effective ways to silence her, but this was neither the place nor the time for them. Unfortunately!
She pulled his hand off her mouth.
"What are you doing here?"
"Celebrating mehendi."
"But... but you are not supposed to be here..."
"I am elsewhere, not in the courtyard. Don't worry. The family won't know."
Khushi shook her head in agreement.
Arnav could not help it. He touched her soft cheek, clearing it of strands of hair clinging to the glowing skin. He withdrew his hand reluctantly.
To his surprise, no, shock, Khushi caught hold of his hand and took it back to her cheek. She settled her cheek snugly in the curve of his palm, and closed her eyes for a moment.
Seeing him standing and staring at her as though he had seen a ghost, she threw herself into his arms.
"Arnavji!", she whimpered, her face snug in the V of his shirt, her lips on his bare skin. Her arms held him close to her, caressing his back, touching as much of him as she could...
He had never experienced anything more erotic.

"Titliyaa, have you gone to draw water from the well in a village in the next state, Nandkisore?"
"Coming, Buaji!"
Khushi let go of a still and shocked Arnavji. She smiled at him, and turned to take the glass of water. On her way out of the room, she quickly kissed him on his chin, pressing her body against the warmth of his. She left the room and a stunned Arnav. What was happening here? He slowly crawled into his hideout, shaking his head to clear it.




The mehendi lady's partner had arrived. He was a buff, handsome boy with pierced ears and styled hair. The young girls giggled and preened, hoping to catch his attention. They commented softly about all his attributes, his looks, his tawny eyes, his long fingers, his colourful T-shirt... When Arnav got to the room, Payal was already getting her mehendi done by the hunk, and Akash was fretting in the room. Next was Khushi's turn. Arnav could feel beads of sweat on his forehead. He fumbled for his phone in his pocket. Let her have her phone with her, let her have her phone with her... Pick up the phone, he chanted.
Thankfully, Khushi did have her phone with her, and Arnav saw the secretive smile on her lips as she saw his name on the phone. She answered, and he said,
"Khushi..."
"Ji.."
"Khushi, let the lady do it."
"Do what?"
"The mehendi thing... Let the lady do it for you... Not the man."
"What man?"
Khushi looked around her, astonished. Where was Arnavji? How could he see her and the courtyard?
She saw then that there was a boy assisting the mehendi lady. Arnavji must have meant him. She slowly moved towards the lady and sat down near her, her hands extended, her eyes searching for her elusive lover...


Arnav heaved a sigh of relief.




Part 47
(All pics credited to uploaders!)


"Whose name would you like me to write in your mehendi?", asked the lady.
"Arnavji's...", Khushi said, lowering her eyes to her arms covered with mehendi, bashful.
The lady smiled, and wrote 'Arnavji' in a very decorative manner.

Finally, the function was over and the ladies left in small batches and groups. The ladies of the family sat back with sighs of pleasure, happy that everything had gone so well.
"I bonder where the men are...", said Mamiji.
Anjali laughed. "Must be in their offices. They would never waste a day on us."
"You don't know your Mamaji!", said Mami. "If he decides to do something naughty, there is no stapping him!"
All the ladies laughed.
"They will never dare to gatecrash the function.", said Nani, sure of her words. "Not with so many of us here."
"A..haaa...we fooled all of you...", said Mamaji, as he led NK, Akash, Arnav, Munna, & Krishna into the courtyard.
The ladies gaped at them.




"We saw the mehendi! We saw the mehendi!", danced NK.
The ladies looked at each other, surprised.
"Lies! If you tell lies, crow will cut you!", said Mami.
"We are not lying, Maasi!", said NK.
"Khushi Bitiyaa, your dance on the cot was very interesting...", said Mamaji. "Payal Bitiyaa, the dance of the girl with the huge mush was nice, wasn't it?"
"Cheating, cheating! This is cheating!", said Anjali.
"Where were you, Nandkisore? How did you see all this?"
"We were in that room, Buaji!", NK pointed to the room with the closed door.
"Hein? How did you know about that room?", Buaji asked.
"Nannav told us!"


They could hear a pin drop in the ensuing silence.
Nani said, shock in her voice, "Chotey?"
"Chotey?", echoed Anjali.
"Arnav Bitwaa?", Mami screamed.
"Damadji?", Amma asked.
"Arnavji?", asked Payal, looking at her till-then-staid Jetji.
Babuji laughed.
Buaji came close to Arnav and caught his ear lightly.
"So you are the naughty one in this pack, Bitwaa? You look so serious and angry all the time, and this is what is going through your mind, hein? Looks like Titliyaa has got a man as nautanki as herself, Nandkisore!"
All laughed.
Anjali asked Arnav, "Chotey, who told you about the room?"
"Anandji."
Anjali's eyes were as round as saucers and her mouth was open in a wide O.
"Our boy has become a child after living with children all day and night, Nandkisore!", lamented Buaji.


Anand walked in at that moment. He took one look at the ladies with mehendi on their arms & legs, their astonished expressions, and the defiant & victorious looks of the men, and swallowed his laugh.
"How was the mehendi function?", he asked, a slight smile on his lips, looking at Arnav.
"Fantastic!", said Arnav with a straight face.
"You natkat Nandkisore!", exclaimed Buaji. "You told our Arnav Babua about the room, hein?"
"Anandji, aap?", Anjali squeaked.
Anand sighed, "Well yes. The children seem to have taught me many bad habits!" He smiled.
"Don't blame my children!", said Anjali. "Looks like we made a mistake in judging you, Anandji!", she mock-threatened him.
"You are so right, Di!", said NK. "I thought a man with 100s of kids would be staid and sober. And old!"
"No wonder the children love you so!", said Anjali.
"So silent, yet so naaghty!", exclaimed Mami.
"Err...I need to go home now. I came to take the bike."
"Anandji! What was it that you taught your children? If you commit a mistake, you should be brave enough to take the punishment, wasn't it?", asked Anjali, a naughty look in her eyes.
Anand nodded, looking penitent.
"Your punishment is that you should have dinner with us.", she declared, and turned to ask her family, "What do you all say to that?"
"Yes, yes...", they chanted. "You must have dinner with us."
"How can I refuse such a charming invitation?", Anand asked Babuji, shrugging. "Dinner it is."

Anand joined them for dinner, a boisterous and happy meal, enlivened by Mama, Mami, NK, Munna, & Krishna. He enjoyed watching Anjali tease her brothers and uncle, and chuckled as they retaliated. Buaji, Amma, & Nani fed Anjali, Khushi, Payal, & Mami by hand as their hands & feet were covered with mehendi. Anand left late at night, refusing Buaji's offer to make up a bed in a free room. He missed his children.

The next day dawned. It was the day before Diwali, the day before the two weddings. Anjali was taking a day off from the school to help out at home. She, along with Nani, Mami, Buaji, & Amma and the aunties of the area, planned to decorate the house and keep everything for haldi, Ganesh-Laxmi puja, and the wedding ready. She was also going to make diyas with Khushiji and Payal. Buaji poured a cup of coffee for Chotey and handed it over to Anjali. As Anjali was about to climb the stairs to Chotey's room, she saw Khushiji coming down the steps.
"Khushiji! Can you take this up to Chotey?"
Khushi hugged Di, and took the cup from her.
She pushed open Arnavji's bedroom door. She had given up the practice of knocking on his door. After all, she was no longer his employee. She was going to be his wife, TWICE.
She halted by his bed. He looked so innocent, so sweet, so cute, so irresistible sleeping that her fingers itched to run over his face.


(Thanx, Shruti_P!)

She wanted to climb into bed with him and share his body heat. She placed the shaking cup on the side table carefully, and slipped under his blanket, hoping that he would not wake up. She looked her fill of his dear face, inching closer and closer to him to have a better view. She touched his unruly hair. Arnav shifted restlessly. She paused. Slowly, her hand moved over his face, the fingers running over his warm forehead, his nose, the curve of his lips, his chin, his Adam's apple, and the fine hairs on his chest, revealed by the neck of his shirt. She concentrated on making her way back up to the safe zone of his hair, failing to notice two astounded eyes looking at her. When she reached his lips and softly touched their warm fullness, the very same lips moved and said, "Khushi..."
She looked in to his eyes.
And smiled.
She threw herself on him, hugging him to her, kissing his ear.
"Good morning!"
"Uuhh..." , he managed to say.
"You smell so good!" She breathed deep, her nose burrowing into his neck.
Arnav's arms went around her, holding her close.
She looked deep into his eyes, her face raised above his. "Arnavji! Tomorrow is Diwali. And our wedding day!"
Arnav smiled, her infectious joy spreading through his veins.
"Are you happy, Arnavji?", she asked, a cute frown between her eyebrows.
"Very.", said the man of few words. It contained a world of meaning, and conveyed them perfectly to Khushi.
She smiled, and overwhelmed by joy, she proceeded to shower his face with kisses and to rub her body against his. Arnav grit his teeth, clenched his fists, and called upon all his resources of self-control. One day. Just one day more. Hang on there, he told himself.
Suddenly, she jumped out of bed, and prepared to leave the room.
"Khushi, where are you going?", asked a confused Arnav.
"Down for breakfast, Arnavji.", she said in perfect good humour. "I just came to give you your coffee!"




Part 48


Every Diwali that her Babuji had run Satwik Mistaan Bhandaar, he had sent a big load of sweets to Anandji's orphanage. Khushi wanted to do the same. With the help of Jiji, Di, Buaji, Amma, Nani, Munna, Krishna, & Mami and inspite of the interference of Nanheji, Laxmi, & Jiju, she managed to finish making sweets by noon.
Anand came with a few of his children to collect the sweets. Neha, Rahul, Shreya, Rishi, Gayathri, Nikhil, Jhanvi etc ran into the courtyard. Seeing Anjali,  they ran to hug her, their slim arms coiling around her legs, locking her in place. Anjali broke into laughter, enjoying the children's affection for her.
Anand stood watching them, arms crossed, silent.
Arnav, who had been finishing his work sitting in his armchair by the plants that Khushi had gifted him, saw them and swallowed hard. It had been a long time since he had heard Di laugh out loud. He went down to meet Anand.
Anjali introduced the children to the rest of the family, and took them to the kitchen for snacks. A while later, the children were taken away by NK & Akash for ice cream.


Anand looked in to the kitchen. Anjali was sitting alone, pensive.
"I hope the children didn't disturb you."
"No.", she smiled slightly. "I am glad to see them."
Anand nodded. He turned to leave the kitchen.
Anjali called, "Anandji!"
He turned around.
"Thank you!"
Anand just looked at her.
"For letting me spend time with your children. For making Chotey feel better about me, for taking away his worry, for letting him marry Khushiji without worrying about me, for making everybody in the family... Nani, Mami, Mama, Buaji, Amma... feel good about me."
Anand looked at her, his face impassive but his silence comforting.
"For making me feel better about myself..."
She paused, looking at the table top with unseeing eyes.
Anand sat down in a chair a few metres away from her, still silent, his posture encouraging her to unload her bitter memories and real nightmares.




"The past 3 months...were terrible. I...I will be divorced soon. The man I married..., believed in..., is in jail for attempted murder. Shyam Manohar Jha!"
Anand nodded.
"I thought I must be the greatest fool on earth to be taken in by the flattery of a man who married me for money... was willing to kill my brother and me for money...was obsessed with Khushiji and wanted to kill Babuji to get her... Aap ko pata he, he kidnapped Chotey." Her lips trembled. "But for Khushiji, Mami, & NK bhai..." She closed her eyes for a couple of seconds. "He was out to destroy my family. And...and I didn't know. I didn't know... What kind of sister...?" Her shaking fingers pushed her hair away from her face.
Arnav, who had been searching for Di, stood behind the door, shocked.
"He would have killed Chotey, or taken Khushiji away from him. He threatened Chotey that he would leave me. My Chotey! I have been a terrible burden on him, dragging him down, never letting him live in peace..."

Arnav took a step forward, but Buaji held his arm. She motioned him to stay put, and whispered in his ear, "Let her get it all out, Babua. Anand Bitwaa is used to taking on other people's pain and healing them. Don't stop her today."

"...And my child. I...I lost it too..." Anjali's fingers clutched each other in her lap.

Anand & Anjali sat silent for a long time.
"I don't know why I told you all this...", she rubbed her forehead, panicking. "I am sorry. I am so sorry, Anandji. It is just that your kindness, your...your patience with the children made me... I am sorry. And thank you for the job..."
"I didn't give you a job, Anjaliji.", Anand said.
Anjali looked at him astonished.
"I gave you 236 children to love."
Anjali smiled through her tears.
"It is hard to be a mother to 236 children. But I have every faith in you."
There was another long silence between them, strange, but not uncomfortable.
"Anandji!"
He looked at her.
"I have a b...bad leg. I...I may not be able to move around the school fast enough."
"Does it stop you from loving my children?"
"No."
"Then it doesn't matter."
Anjali looked at him. He looked at his clasped fingers, his elbows resting on his knees.
Finally he said, "Your brother is safe. Khushi is safe. They will be married tomorrow, and will live happily ever after. The murderer is behind bars. You will be free of him soon. Your family is with you. They love you, and are willing to do anything for you. Not just your Nani, Mama, Mami, & brothers, but also Khushi & Payal, their Buaji, Babuji, & Amma. Now you have Babuji, me, and my children with you...Anjaliji, you have woken up from a bad dream. There is nothing more to fear now.", he said gently.
Anjali nodded, feeling as comforted as the children who woke up at night crying and found solace in Anand Bhaiyya's arms and soft words.
"You pray to Devi Maiyya, don't you?"
"Yes, Anandji."
"Then it is time you started believing in your Devi Maiyya. Nothing happens without a reason. Nothing happens that she does not will. Trust her. You will find peace."
She nodded.
"It is OK to grieve for your child, Anjaliji. No one expects you to hate it or to feel happy that it is no more. Crying for your baby does not make you disloyal to your brother."
She stared at him, shocked. Arnav swallowed.
"If it was Shyam Manohar Jha's child, it was yours too. It was yours too, Anjaliji. Cry for it. Pray for it. Do the necessary pooja for it. Then let it go. Let it rest in peace."
Anjali sobbed as she hadn't in the past 3 months. She didn't have to pretend to be brave anymore, at least in front of this man who had seen the worst of life in the back alleys of Lucknow, faced the ugliest of the ugliest of realities daily, who did not shy away from taking on the responsibility of orphans and abandoned illegitimate children no one wanted to know, who did not pretend to be what he wasn't, who was good through and through, who did not judge her, who knew what she felt...
Anand placed a glass of water within her reach. He looked at her bowed head, and sighed. He placed a gentle hand on her hair, comforting her as he would Khushi, Payal, or any of his children. Arnav found it difficult to control his tears.
What happened next shocked all of them.
Anjali stood up & threw her arms around Anand. She rested her head on his broad shoulder and wept copious tears. Anand stood unmoving for a few seconds and then slowly put his hand on her head, patting it. The sobs gradually reduced in intensity, and Anjali lay trembling against Anand. Realisation came slow, but it came finally. She loosened her arms around him, and slowly stepped back from him, her eyes lowered, her mind feverishly searching for an excuse, hoping desperately that she hadn't disgusted him...driven him away...appeared too needy...
"I will see you tomorrow at the wedding...", said Anand quietly. "The children too will be very happy to see you." He left the room by the door that he had used to enter it, not noticing Arnav & Buaji standing behind the other door.
Buaji led Arnav away from there. "Anjali Bitiyaa will be feeling bad now. Don't ask her uncomfortable questions. And don't worry about Anand Bitwaa misunderstanding Bitiyaa. He will never do that. He is a good judge of people, and is capable of handling her and her problems without taking away any of her self-respect. Don't worry, Babua."
Arnav nodded, threw his arm around Buaji's shoulders, and smiled at her.
She pinched his chin.



Khushi sat in her shop's kitchen, making peda, besan laddoo, jalebi, imarti, shakkar para, monthal, gujia, badam halwa etc with the help of Munna, Krishna, Nani, Mami, Buaji, Amma, & Jiji.




The ladies were all chatting & laughing, planning the many arrangements they had to make for haldi, Diwali, & the two weddings. Khushi alone remained silent, lost in her thoughts of Arnavji. He must be working. He must be working very hard so that he can take a few days off after the wedding, she thought. They could go to visit relatives, go to the temples around Lucknow, return to Delhi with his family if he wanted to... She would be able to sleep with him every night, and wake him up as she had done that day. She took a deep breath, unable to believe that she could be so happy. She sent a quick prayer of thanks to Devi Maiyya.
She missed him so much when he was not around. She would call him, she decided. She motioned to Munna to take over from her, and unnoticed by the family, left the kitchen. Standing in a secluded spot, she called Arnavji.
"Khushi!"
"Arnavji, are you busy?"
"No."
"Oh...I.. I was making jalebis. And I thought about you."
He smiled.
"Jalebis reminded you of me?"
"No... I mean, yes..."
"No or yes?"
"Y..yes.."
"Why?", he whispered.
"Because, because I like jalebis...and..."
"And?", he was eager to know the rest.
"Arnavji, I... I..."
"You?"
"Arnavji, I...I-llove-you." The words ran into each other as she spoke them in a rush and ended the call.
Arnav stood electrified by sudden happiness, the phone held in his hand.






Part 49



Arnav was about to run down to get hold of Khushi when Aman rang to report a business complication. Gritting his teeth, Arnav forced himself to deal with it, and an hour later, ran down the steps to find Khushi.
Khushi was sieving rangoli powder into the design she, Jiji, & Di had drawn in the courtyard. Nanheji & Jiju were trying to help them, and Laxmi was trying to find something to eat among the packets of colours.
She saw Arnavji come to them from the corner of her eye.  She flushed. Confessing her love for him on the phone was one thing. Looking at his face after confessing it was another thing altogether! 
Arnav tried to catch Khushi's eye, but she deliberately looked down, avoiding his all-seeing eyes, her face redder than the red colour on her hands. He opened his mouth to ask her to give him a moment, but at that very second Laxmi butted Nanheji headfirst into a big thali of yellow colour. The ladies gasped, and aided by Arnav & Akash, pulled him out. NK sat on the ground, his face all yellow, his hair yellow in parts, his maroon kurta full of yellow colour...
"Di! This Laxmi! She made me leela!"
"Leela nahin, Nanheji! Peela, peela!"
"Peela, leela, it doesn't matter, Khushiji! Just look at me!"
The ladies laughed, and Akash tried unsuccessfully to brush him down.
Mamiji, Buaji, Amma, &  Nani stopped short as they saw this colourful Nanheji.
Mami said, "NK Bitwaa, kaa hui gawa? Rangoli is supposed to be drawn on the phloor, not on your phace! We are celebrating Diwali. Di-wa-li! Not HOLI! If you wants to play with colourwaa, you must waits for next yearwaa."
Arnav looked at Khushi, and she looked at him, both remembering last Diwali when Arnav had slipped from his stool and fallen on to Khushi, carrying her down with him as he fell into the rangoli that she had made with Di. He had twisted at the last moment to avoid falling on her, and had managed to land on his back, with her on top of him.



She had tried to get off Arnavji. But her hand had been caught under his back. She had tried to free herself from him, using her hand on the floor for leverage. But she had slipped, and her lips had almost touched his.


Arnav could see the memories follow one after the other on her open face. He smiled at her, enjoying her confusion. Then, for her, it had been an innocent fall. But today, with hindsight, she could see and identify the helpless attraction in his eyes, the hold of his arms around her, the grunt he had given as she had squirmed against him, the look of intense possessiveness as she had taken his arm to get up from the mess of the rangoli...
She had been so stupid! She placed her hand against her forehead. How could she have been so dumb? How he must have laughed at her! She stole a look at him. He was not laughing. Nor was he smiling. The look in his eyes... How could a man convey so much love through his eyes, his soul-stealing, chocolate-brown, melting eyes? She swallowed hard. Anjali smiled at the look on Arnav's face as he looked at Khushi.


(Thanx, Illyria!)

"Hai Re Nandkisore! But it must be said that he looks good in yellow."
The ladies giggled. Khushi and Arnav brought back their minds to the matter at hand, and  smiled weakly.


Khushi ran away to the shop as soon as she could. The steady stream of customers brought a cheer to her heart. The shop would be closed on Diwali day, which was also her wedding day. Over the past one week, she & her family had worked extra long hours to fill the display counters and sweet boxes with delicious sweets.
She tidied the kitchen. Nothing more was to be made there till the day after Diwali, when Munna and Krishna would take over the work.
The familiar weight of his warm hands fell on her shoulders. She stood still, the broom in her hand. His hands slid down her arms, and took the broom from her and threw it aside. He turned her to face him, holding her shoulders. She looked down at the collar of his shirt, the two open buttons revealing the top of his chest, the fine hair growing there...
"Khushi?"
With difficulty, she dragged her eyes from the tempting sight and looked into his eyes.
"What did you say over the phone?"
"Say? Over the phone? What did I say?", she tried to escape, her eyes looking to the left & right for new avenues of escape.
Arnav shook his head, as though disappointed in her. "I thought you were a brave girl. Not a coward."
"I am brave...", her voice quavered. "I am not a coward." She lifted her chin.
"Really?", his tone carried doubt.
"I am brave." Her voice was firmer.
"Then why don't you tell me to my face what you said over the phone?"
"I.. I said..."
"You said?"
"I said, I said... that I... I... l... love you." Her voice was a whisper.
"That was not clear enough. What did you say?"
She got wild. Saying it over the phone had been bad enough. Saying it once to his face was a torture. To repeat it till he heard it was... She fumed.
"I said that I love you. I LOVE YOU! Is that clear enough for you? Are you deaf? How many times do you want me to say it?"
"A million times? Ten million times? Every day of my life..." He cupped her face. She looked at him, disconcerted. He was so manipulative. He had made her shout what she had whispered in her heart a hundred times.

Munna and Krishna came running in to the shop. "What happened, Jiji? Why are you shouting at yourself?"
They skidded to a stop when they saw Arnav standing by her.
"Oh Jiju! Thank God! So Jiji was shouting at you. We thought she had become pagal in her khushi!", Munna teased.
"Jiju, you still have time to escape. The wedding is not until tomorrow.", suggested Krishna.
Khushi glared at them. Arnav smiled.
"Oh, I can manage your Jiji very well. I know how to silence her." Khushi shot daggers at him.
"Teach us too, Jiju. We can use it when Jiji scolds us."
Arnav didn't know how to tell them that only he was permitted to use those techniques on her. Thankfully, customers called the boys and they ran towards the shop, leaving Arnav & Khushi alone.

"So you think you know how to silence me, Arnavji?"
"I know I know how to silence you, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada."
She couldn't deny the truth in it. So she tried another strategy.
"I can silence you too, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada."
"Oh?"
"Yes. Give me a list of your family members, Arnavji."
Arnav quirked his eyebrow. She looked at him, her arms crossed, her face tilted, challenge oozing from her eyes.
She looked just like him, just as he stood and looked when he challenged her. Pleasure and anticipation of more pleasure deepened the molten brown of his eyes.
He said gruffly, "Nani, Di, Babuji, Amma, Buaji, Mamaji, Mami, Akash, Payal, you, NK, Laxmi..."
"Is that all?'
"No. HP, Anand, Chachaji, the children..."
"Once more. Say it once more, Arnavji. I challenge you.", said Jhansi ki Rani.
"Nani, Di..."
Khushi placed her hand against his chest, her fingers caressing the little skin she could touch. His Adam's apple moved as he gulped. She touched his neck, sliding her fingers around it, touching the back of his neck, his hair, down to his shoulders...
The silence was marred only by their heavy breathing.
She looked at the fire in his eyes and withdrew her hands reluctantly. He cupped her cheeks with his big, dark hands, the thumbs savouring the softness of her chubby cheeks.



"I won.", she said.
"You did. You did, Khushi."





Part 50



That evening, on the eve of Diwali, the men began preparing for the big celebration in the house the next day. It was Diwali, the day that would bring many changes in the lives of the two families. It was to be celebrated with great fervour, and with reason.The Guptas and the Raizadas were together. Payal & Akash were getting married again. AND Arnav was getting married to the girl he, the debunker of love and marriage, loved beyond sound logic and good sense. And Khushi, the Titliyaa and Sanka Devi of Lucknow, the Jalebi Rani, had finally chosen her mate.



(Thanx, Shruti_P!)


The festival of lights, signifying the victory of good over evil, was especially meaningful to the two families who had gone through all kinds of hell due to the greed and unscrupulous deeds of Shyam. The ladies made the old, graceful house look beautiful with a colourful rangoli in the courtyard, and the men of the house, joined by Anand, had a wonderful time stringing the lights and trying them to see if they worked.




Arnav's phone rang. He answered it, and stood silent, shocked. NK was busy trying to balance himself on a ladder and Akash was helping him, laughing. Anand alone noticed Arnav's look of blank shock.
Arnav turned at Anand's gentle touch on his shoulder. He looked at that kind face for a moment, and blurted out, "Shyam is dead."
Anand's expression did not change. He held Arnav's eyes in his steady gaze and nodded.
"Di... I have to tell Di..."
"Yes."
Arnav closed his eyes for a moment, not sure if he was awake or dreaming.
"There was a brawl in the jail. Shyam was stabbed to death by some man he owed money to, but had cheated..."
"Oh!"
"He was stabbed 10 times."
"Hhmmm."
They walked away from the others, both moving towards Arnav's room. Khushi, he wanted to talk to Khushi...


"Di won't have to get a divorce...". Reality slowly seeped in.
"No, she won't."
"She is free of him."
"Yes."
The relief of it... after months of worrying over her and Khushi, their safety...
"He will never touch Di or Khushi again. His malice, his wickedness have died with him...", Arnav whispered, partly to himself.
"It is Diwali. The victory of good over evil."
Arnav nodded. Di & Khushi were safe.
Anand said, "If Anjaliji wishes to shift to a new place to forget the past, she will always have a room waiting for her at the orphanage. And my children will consider themselves blessed to have her. She can stay there, and visit Gomti Sadan or Delhi as and when she wishes."
"Thank you." Arnav had to swallow hard before he could get the heartfelt words out.
Anand nodded, and left the room, saying, "I will ask Anjaliji to come up here."


Half an hour later, Arnav and Anjali came down to the courtyard. All their dear relations were there, including Anand who was arranging packets of fireworks in a neat pile. Arnav looked at Khushi, his eyes conveying his heart to her. She stood alert, expecting a till-then-unexpected blow.

"Nani, Mamaji, Mami, Akash, Payal, Babuji, Buaji, Amma, NK Bhai, Khushiji, Anandji...", Anjali said.
All looked at her.
She said, calm & composed. "Shyam Manohar Jha was killed in jail today evening by another criminal whom he had cheated some time back." Her voice did not even shake.
Khushi's eyes filled, the release of tension she had hidden even from Arnavji, making her weak. She had been scared that Shyamji would break out of jail and attack Arnavji and Di again. Arnav smiled at her, his eyes moist. The miasma of fear for Di & Khushi that had covered his soul had been banished.
"Nandkisore Ki Jai Ho!", whispered Buaji.
Nani cried, "Anjali Bitiyaa...", and hugged her.
Mami said, furious, "Hamre Arnav Bitwaa ko kidnapiyaa kiya, he cheated Anjali Bitiyaa, he wanted everything that our bitwaas had worked hard for, he wanted to destroy Khushi Bitiyaa's life...  I will burst crackerswaa today."
Amma, Mamaji, Buaji, Khushi, and Payal held Anjali close and hugged and comforted her, relieved for her,  thankful that she was no more in danger from the evil man, grateful that her name did not have to be bandied about in court during the divorce proceedings...
NK and Akash hugged her tight, lifting her off the ground. "Di, Thank God! Thank God!", said Akash. "I was scared he would hurt you again."
Babuji held her hand and pressed it, comforting her.
NK said, "Khushiji, Di is free. Free! Where are the sweets? Anandji, shall we have fireworks?"
Anand handed over a few packets to him. The next few hours were full of joy. The whole family enjoyed the fireworks and then played cards sitting in the courtyard, leaning against fat pillows, sipping ginger tea and munching on snacks. NK's deliberate and not-so-deliberate follies, Anand's quiet humour, Khushi, Buaji, and Mamiji's loud jokes, & Mamaji's quips made Anjali laugh and smile.

Anand got up to leave. It was very late.
"Bitwaa, do you have to go?", asked Amma
"I will be back tomorrow evening with Babuji for the Laxmi-Ganesh Puja and the weddings. I will bring the children.", he said, smiling.
"It would be nice if you would stay the night, Nandkisore!"
Anand was about to tell them that he never slept without seeing his children unless he couldn't help it, when a soft voice asked, "Anandji, could you stay back for one night? If you don't mind, I... I would like to t..talk to you."
Anand stood helpless in the face of such a request.
The Raizadas, except for Arnav,  looked at each other, astonished. The Guptas, except for Buaji, looked wonder struck. All of them looked at Anand's impassive face and Anjali's pleading one, and then back again as though they were watching a tennis match.
Arnav walked up to Anand.
"If you don't mind staying, Di and we would be..."
"I will stay.", said Anand softly, not wanting Arnav to voice his request in front of both families, knowing and respecting the loving brother behind his tough & quiet exterior.


Arnav searched for Khushi in the courtyard, kitchen, and her room. She was nowhere to be found. He slowly made his way to the terrace. There she stood, fingering a string of fairylights, a dreamy smile on her face.
"Khushi..." His very being ached for her.



(Thanx, Illyria!)

She turned at his call, and a beaming smile bloomed on her face. 




She ran into his arms, hugging him tight, imprinting her curves on his body, running her hands over his back, loving the freedom to touch him...Stars twinkled down at them.
"I was thinking...", she murmured in to his neck.
"Hmmm...?" The feel of her lips moving against his throat was killing his self-control. Just one more night to go. Just this night. This time, tomorrow, they would be married and celebrating their suhaag raat.
"That night, when I got trapped in the fairylights by the pool..."
"Haan...?"
"And you removed them from me..."
"Haan...?", he asked gruffly. That was one of his favourite memories.
"I.. I felt as though my knees would give way and I would fall down. As though I couldn't breath...", she whispered.
He swallowed.
"I wanted you to let go of me..."
"Hmmm..."
"I also wanted you to hold me in your arms, tight, as you are doing now..."
He stood unmoving, mute, incapable of reacting to her guileless, artless confession.



"I didn't know how to ask you then. And...and I didn't know then that you like to touch me as much as I like you touching me. And that you like me touching you as much as I like touching you..."
He stood speechless, looking down at her happy face.



Part 51


Anjali and Anand sat in the courtyard, alone, a comfortable silence between them. Anand sat in a rocking chair and Anjali on the cot.



Anand finally said, "Babuji misses you. The children too. They were pestering me, asking when you would be back."
Anjali smiled at him gratefully. "I want to see them too."
"As soon as the weddings are over tomorrow, I will be taking Babuji and the children back home. If you would like to come with us, I would be grateful."
Anjali looked at him, astonished. Anandji asking her for help? Her? When she had proved to the entire world that she was incapable of helping herself?
"I can be their father, brother, friend, teacher..., but I can't be their mother." He sighed. "My children are growing up. Neha and Shivani are 12. They need their mother."
Anjali nodded.
After a while, she said, "A year ago, I had a husband I worshipped, a marriage I believed in... Now, I  have nothing..."
"You have a family that loves you. Especially a brother who will die for you.", reminded Anand in a calm, unemotional tone.
"Yes, Chotey. My Chotey! Aap ko pata he, ...", Anjali began.


Anand heard all about the Maliks, their terrible past, their parents, the determination of Arnav to succeed, the birth of ASR, the story behind Anjali's marriage, Khushi's role in changing Chotey... Anjali's love for Arnav, and his immense, selfless love for her were plain to Anand.


(Thanx, anitamalik!)

Anand listened to her, asking pertinent questions at appropriate places. Finally he said, "You will be busy with haldi tomorrow, I believe."
"Ji."
"After that, can you go out with me for about 1 hour? I need to meet someone. It would help if you were with me."
"Ji."
"I will talk to your brother and your Nani."
"Ji."



Arnav stood speechless, looking down at her happy face. The fairylights shone and made the terrace look as though it were lit by many fireflies.
"Khushi..."
She looked at him.
"You... you make me so happy, Khushi, by just being by me...by just breathing...by smiling at me. I wish I could give you at least half that happiness, Khushi. I wish I could place the whole world at your feet, make you happy..."

She smiled brightly at him. "You don't need to give me the world, Arnavji, to make me happy. I am happy." She looked down.
"Do you know what really makes me happy, Arnavji?" Her whisper sounded loud in that still night. "The fact that you need me to be happy, that you can't be happy without me. That is the greatest gift you have given me. I don't need anything more."
Arnav looked at her face, incandescent with love for him.
"You have given me a home in your heart for ever. That was all I ever wanted. To be a part of your life that you couldn't do without."
He gave her a rib-crushing hug, his chest heaving, his breath choppy in the effort to control his tears.
"Khushi, I will never hurt you again."
"I know."
"I will never make you cry."
"I know."
She cupped the back of his neck, and rubbed her cheek against his, enjoying the thrilling sensation the touch produced.
"Arnavji, I will never leave you."


(Thanx, Current!)

He stood petrified, scared that he had heard what he had wanted to hear.
She repeated, "Arnavji, I will never leave you and go away. Whatever happens."

The child in him, the abandoned, lonely boy asked, "Promise?"
"I promise. I will never leave you, Arnavji."
He rested his head against hers, weak with relief. 



Part 52



The day of the wedding dawned, finally. Arnav stood outside his room among the plants that Khushi had bought for him, and looked down into the courtyard. Low seats were being placed for Arnav, Akash, Khushi, & Payal so that the women & men of the family could apply haldi on them. Clay vessels with the yellow paste of turmeric, sandalwood, rosewater etc reposed on thalis.
"Arnav Bitwaa!"
He turned around to see Amma & Buaji coming towards him with a package in their hands.
"Bitwaa, this is your yellow kurta."
"You have to wear this for haldi, Nandkisore!"
Arnav smiled, and took the cover from them.
"You will look like a rajkumar in yellow.", said Buaji. "Your Bhubhaji too... Rehne do, Nandkisore. I will tell you the story some other time." She pinched his chin.
Amma said, "Haan, Jiji. Now we will have all the time in the world to talk to Damadji."
Buaji looked at him for a moment, and said uncertainly, a hand raised to her head, "Nandkisore, I forget at times who is a beta and who a damad, who a beti and who a bahu, who a samdhan and who a behen..."
"Haan Jiji. Earlier I had thought Manoramaji was aloof and unhappy about Payal being her bahu. I was worried about how she would adjust to living here, how she would feel about the simple arrangements that we have made for the wedding. But now she is a friend. And she is helping us as though she were our sister..."
Arnav hugged both ladies to him. They stood with their eyes closed for a moment, grateful for the second chances they had received to turn their lives around.
"Buaji, Amma, the ladies have started coming for the haldi!", called Krishna.


The courtyard was full of ladies, with a few men here and there, sadly outnumbered by the women. Akash & Arnav came down in the yellow kurtas given by the Guptas, and were greeted by the women of the area loudly.


(Arnav)

"Look at them! They look like princes!"
"Amma, I too want a bridegroom from Delhi!"
"Madhumatiji, do the boys have any more brothers? Or cousins? Or distant relations at least?"


(Akash)

"Is Nandkisoreji married? No? Will you mention that my Minnu is old enough to get married? And has passed her 10^th standard? And does chikankari well? And cooks?"
Buaji & Amma were in great demand among the ladies, all eager for a glimpse of the boys & an alliance with their family.


Arnav looked around for a glimpse of Khushi, but she was absent. Payal too was not in the courtyard, Akash found out. Anjali's eyes searched for a tall, slim man with kind eyes and a soft voice, who always preferred to stand by the sidelines rather than in the limelight.
"Buaji...", she asked. "Did you see Anandji?"
"Anand Bitwaa left very early in the morning. Oo kaa he Bitiyaa, he has to see to his children and change his clothes. He said that he will be back by the time the haldi function ends."
"Oh!" Her tone was rife with disappointment.
"He said he was taking you out to meet someone after the haldi, Anjali Bitiyaa?"
"J..ji..i."
"He is a good boy. Don't worry. You can go out with him without fear. He will take good care of you. He will look after you as well as Arnav Bitwaa does."
Anjali smiled. "Haan, Buaji. You are so right."



Nani, Mami, & Di led Arnav & Akash to the seats set aside for them. They were marked with a tilak by Mami, and the ladies started applying the haldi to their feet, knees, arms, hands, and face seven times from bottom to top and then top to bottom with brushes made of tufts of grass.



The neighbourhood aunties began beating on a drum and singing old songs, the girls clapping in keeping with the beat.




NK, dressed in a yellow kurta & blue jeans, appeared suddenly among the ladies, and began dancing to the beat. Beautiful girls fluttered their eyelashes at him. Some even followed Buaji's technique of letting their eyes move to the left first, then right, then up, & then down to captivate him. He found himself in the enviable position of being the only eligible bachelor in a crowd of women, and enjoyed himself to the hilt.
"Maasi! Why are they applying this yellow paste on Nannav & Akash?"
"NK Bitwaa, ee yellow paste naahi. It is haldi. It makes boys and girls looks bootiphool."
"I want to look beautiful too, Maasi. Nani, Di, can't you apply haldi on me too?"
All the ladies laughed. Buaji, never able to deny the wishes of those she loved, dragged a small stool to the centre of the courtyard for him, and the happy ladies and girls expended their energy on making NK look bootiphool.
Laxmi looked at NK, and slowly and surely made her way to him. She sidled up to him and nipped his ear.
"Eeek! Laxmi! My ear! Nani, see what Laxmi has done!" He ran around the courtyard, Laxmi chasing him. The ladies ran after Laxmi, trying to chase her away. Finally, Nani managed to corral Laxmi, and the laughter subsided.

Soon, Arnav, Akash, & NK were covered in haldi.
Nk laughed, "Nannav, Akash, just look at you. You look so funny."
Arnav glared at him from behind a ton of haldi. Akash sighed, & said, "NK Bhai, maybe you should try looking in a mirror."
NK was last seen looking at himself in the mirror and standing transfixed at the yellow figure looking back at him.


Khushi and Payal were led in to the courtyard by Anjali, Amma, and Mami. Arnav's heart stopped when he saw Khushi. The bright yellow lehenga with silver threads shot through it made her look like a goddess in the morning light.


Her creamy skin glowed against the yellow colour, taking on the sheen of her dress. Arnav's eyes lingered longingly on the curves of her bare waist, slid up her slender, long arms, and tried to see through the transparent dupatta revealing rather than hiding the beauty of her face & form. Akash looked at Payal in a yellow lehenga with a darker border, her lush figure making the dress look better than good. His eyes behind the glasses glinted.





The haldi from the boy's side was taken over to where Khushi & Payal sat. Arnav & Akash watched as the ladies gathered around the girls to apply tilak & haldi. A lady asked, "Should the boys be sent away when haldi is being applied to the girls?"
Nani, Babuji, Buaji, and Amma said together, "No, let them remain."
All laughed.
Nani said, "We have won this happiness after months of battle. We deserve to celebrate it fully, together."
"Haan Saasumaa, they should not misses out on even a moment of khushi."
Anjali said, "You are both perfectly right. Let them be together."
"And think of the fun we will have, pouring pots of water on all 5, Nandkisore!"
Amma laughed. The others joined her.


Arnav watched as the ladies of their family, one by one, applied haldi to Khushi with the brushes they had used on him, dipping them into the clay pots they had used for him. He watched the grass touch her skin, linger on it, the haldi paste mark it.
He wished he were the one holding the brush, trailing it over her body, marking the virgin skin with the bright yellow concoction. But he wouldn't stop with her face, arms, hands, knees, and feet. He would throw that dupatta away first. How dare it hide her face from him? He would lay her down on the old tiles of the courtyard, her body stretched out for him to do as he pleased. Her eyes would look trustingly into his. He would dip the brush in the clay vessels & start with her forehead, trailing it down over her nose, her cheeks, her ears, her chin, down over her swan-like neck, faithfully following the cut of her blouse. He would then touch the length of her arms, her fingers, the gaps between her fingers with the grass. Her waist would be next on his list. He would travel a straight path to her navel, circle it with the brush, dripping the paste into the valley, making the muscles of her stomach quiver and the fine hairs stand up straight. Would she moan, squeak, call 'Arnavji' as she always did, as though only he existed in her world? Would her frantic fingers try to find purchase in the warm tiles of the courtyard?
Lost in his world of fevered thoughts, the water falling over him came as a cold shock. The ladies were competing with each other to clean the 3 boys up, pouring pot after pot of water over their heads. Arnav closed his eyes, a small smile on his lips as he scrubbed himself as well as he was able to in the circumstances. He looked at Khushi.


 (Thanx, Shruti_P!)

She must have read his intention in the hot burn of his eyes. She lowered her eyes and blushed becomingly, the red of her cheeks visible to him through the yellow colour covering her face.


Anand came a while later, dressed casually in a loose blue T-shirt & trousers. He had already contacted Arnav & Buaji over the phone, and given them all the details of where he was going to take Anjaliji & why. He was a direct man, having little inclination to lie and no time to beat about the bush. He was a man of few words, but the few words he spoke always carried the weight and power of truth in them. Hiding the truth, lying by omision and commission, manipulating people and facts, these were all anathema to him.
Now he met Naniji, Babuji, Amma, Mamaji etc, and informed them of his plans. They were all for it. The Raizadas had come to realise the true worth of this silent miracle-worker and his good influence on Anjali.
Mamaji said, "Anjali Bitiyaa needs help. We are very grateful to you for helping her and us in this terrible time."
Anand said gently, "Anjaliji needs to help others. My family & I are grateful to her for helping us out. I am glad that her family does not mind her spending time with us."


Anjali came to Anand, dressed in a pink sari with lots of pearls and silver work on it. Anand looked at her sari and then at his bike.
"Er, I can't take a car into the places I sometimes have to go. So I normally use a bike."
 She looked down at herself. "I have never travelled by a bike before. The sari...", she said hesitantly. She lifted her chin. "But I will manage. Shall we go?"
Anand nodded, pleased to see her fighting spirit.
He got on and started the bike. She placed her weak right foot on the footrest.
"Hold on to my shoulders. You will find it easier to get on."
Anjali placed her right hand on his right shoulder and her left hand grasped his left shoulder. She got on to the bike, sitting sideways, her right hand holding him tight. Anand rode slowly in to the city.
Wind blew his long hair on to her face. Her silky, ink-black hair played with the breeze.
"It feels good...", she said. "The wind in my hair... Anandji, it is like flying..."
Anand nodded once.
"Next time, I will wear a suit."
Anand's lips twisted in a sudden smile.
Anjali carefully maintained the decorous distance between his back and her front, although the clean, male scent of his lanky body tempted her to rest her head against his back and let the world go to hell in its own merry way.

Anand stopped the bike in the parking lot of Mahatma Gandhi Medical Centre in the heart of the city. Anjali looked around, wondering what exactly they were doing there.
"I need to meet a patient here.", he said. "It would be good if you accompanied me."
"Ji."
He led her silently to the ward accommodating burn victims. The middle aged sister in charge of the unit gave a relieved smile when she saw him.
"Shanti has been asking for you."
"Ji. This is Anjaliji. We would like to meet her now."
The sister smiled at Anjali, and quickly handed over the requisite gear.
"There isn't much time left.", she warned them softly.
Anand nodded, his face austere and grim.
Anjali and Anand walked into a room in which a figure lay under a protective dome, her face disfigured, only her eyes alive to see them.
"Shantiji... This is Anjaliji. She will be helping us look after Asha and Amrit."
Slow tears made their difficult path across her scarred face.
"My children!"
"They are safe in the orphanage. They are going to school. They are eating well. They have made friends there. Their father will never get near them. I promise."
"May God bless you!", the lady spoke with difficulty.
"Shall I bring them to see you?"
"No. No... They will be scared. No...", she gasped.
Anand took out his cellphone and showed her pictures of her children having their food in the dining hall of the orphanage, dressed to go to school in their new uniforms, playing cards with their new friends...
"Thank you...", she croaked. She looked into Anand's eyes. "Now I can die in peace."

They left her to rest, and changed out of the protective gear in a small waiting room. In answer to her silent query, he said quietly, "Her husband came home drunk, and hit her and the children. When she tried to protect the kids, he poured kerosene over her and set her on fire. The children ran out and got help. He is in jail. The children are with me."
"And Shantiji?", she asked, her eyes wide, unable to take in the horror of it.
He clenched his jaw. "Not expected to last this night."
Anjali threw herself into the protection of his arms, clinging on to his broad shoulders, crying her heart out. Anand put his arms around her to support her.
"Why? Why do such t..terrible things h..happen?"
"I don't know.", he said bluntly.
"S..she is so young. H..her children. S..she won't even get to see h..her children grow!"
Anand cupped her face and made her look into his eyes.
"Anjaliji, Shantiji is dying. She can't change her life or her fate. It is too late for her. But it is not too late for you."
She looked at him, tears pouring down her cheeks. He brushed them away with his thumbs.
"You are alive. You are breathing. God has given you a chance to live. Live it to the fullest in the way that makes you happy, gives you peace of mind. Don't waste a day of it. Don't let Jha waste the rest of your life."
She looked at him for a long moment, thinking about the truth of his words. Then she nodded.
They returned home, Anjali resting herself against Anand's broad back, her tears wetting the cotton of his T-shirt, drawing comfort from his silent presence. Her arms circled his waist.
He parked the bike outside Gomti Sadan. Anjali slowly slid to the ground, hanging on to his firm arms.
"Anandji?"
He looked at her, grief lending a stern look to his fine features.
"Can I come with you tonight, after the weddings?"




Part 53



Anand parked the bike outside Gomti Sadan. Anjali slowly slid to the ground, hanging on to his firm arms.
"Anandji?"
He looked at her, grief lending a stern look to his fine features.
"Can I come with you tonight, after the weddings?"
Anand looked at her for a few seconds.
"Are you sure, Anjaliji?", he asked, softly.
"Yes."
"You will have your own room in the orphanage. You can come and go as you please. Gopi Kaka or I will drop you where ever you wish to go, be it Gomti Sadan or Delhi... If at some point you wish to return to Delhi for good, you are free to go. We will never hold you back from what you wish to do."
Anjali nodded.
"I would like you to teach Maths in the school, help those who find the subject difficult, be available to the girls if they need advice or practical help, teach them chikankari, the pooja vidhi, how to run a household..."
She nodded.
"More than all these, I would like you to open your heart to my children. Love them and let them love you."
"You want me to be a mother to your 236 children.", she stated quietly.
"Yes. You have a big heart, great courage, and an immense capacity to give love, Anjaliji... Only you can be their mother." He looked at her, his beautiful eyes looking directly into hers.
"Anandji, if I go to Delhi after a few months, won't the children feel miserable?", she asked, unable to think of hurting the children.
He sighed. "Death, parting from loved ones, not getting what one wants from life, ill health, poverty, betrayal, sorrow... these are all part of life. Especially the lives of my children. I can't protect them from these harsh realities. I can only teach them to face these tragedies with courage and fortitude. If you leave, they will be sad. They will miss you. But they will live on... They will learn to live without you, however difficult it may be..."
Anjali nodded. She turned to leave.
Anand waited for her to enter into the courtyard before leaving.
She turned around, and came back to him.
"Anandji? Can I ask you something?"
"Ji."
"Why aren't you married?"
He looked at her, mild surprise in his eyes.
"I mean, you would have so much help in the orphanage, someone to share the pain you feel, someone to laugh with you at the antics of the children, someone who will be Chachaji's bahu..."
He looked down at the petrol tank, amused.
"She would also have to be my wife. And being my wife would be more difficult than being Babuji's bahu or the mother of so many children."
She looked at him, her beautiful, live eyes round in puzzlement.
"I am an old bachelor, set in my ways. I am afraid I am stubborn to a fault."
"Stubborn? Aap?" Anjali was astonished. She thought about it for a moment, looking at him speculatively.
"Haan, you are stubborn. In a quiet way. But you are stubborn only about things that matter to you. I mean, the children, the orphanage..."



"I am afraid I would be very stubborn about my wife. Because she would matter a lot to me."
"Oh!" Anjali felt envy for the faceless, unknown woman.
"She would also have to share me and her living quarters with my family."
"I am sure no girl would mind that! You have such a wonderful family."
Anand smiled, looking down at his hands on the bike's handles.
"I also don't like being pushed or manipulated.", he said quietly.
"Oh!" She thought for a while, and said seriously, "I still don't think any girl would consider these qualities as serious hindrances to a marriage with you, Anandji."
"Ah!", he said. "But not all girls are as brave as you, Anjaliji." His bright eyes twinkled.


Arnav changed his clothes, and came out of his bathroom, drying his hair. His bedroom door was closed, the room mildly dark. His hand with the towel paused on the way to his head. There was a slight movement in the far corner of his room, near the bed.
"Khushi..."
She came out of the shadows, letting rays of mild light fall on her face & body. She walked towards him, wearing a red sari. He stood looking at her, wondering if it was a dream or a love-fuelled fantasy.
She caught hold of his arm. He looked down at her hand on his arm.
She led him to his bed and made him sit down. She took the towel from his hand, and started drying his hair, standing between his legs.
Khushi was here, with him... His arms went around her waist, pulling her closer to him. He leaned forward and placed his head against her heart, eager to hear her heart beat for him.  Her breath hitched. Her fingers slowed, her hands unconsciously clutching his head closer to her, rubbing the towel gently through his wet locks.
His hands moved on her waist, the fingers of one hand exploring the bare skin peeping out from the folds of her sari, tickling her, teasing the fine hairs and taut skin of her stomach, slowly moving the sari folds to get greater access to her navel.
The towel dropped from her hand, and she pulled herself out from his hold. She stood there like a deer at the sight of a hungry lion, poised for flight. This lion was in no mood to let go of her. He pursued her, taking one step after the other towards her, not taking his eyes off hers. They danced their special dance of one step forward and one step back, Khushi withdrawing as he approached. She hit the wall near the door, and stopped, looking shyly at him through fluttering lashes.
"Khushi..." He cupped her face in his hands.
 She looked at him, a shy smile trembling on her tender, full lips.
"Khushi, do you know what I was thinking when the ladies were covering your body with haldi?"
She blushed, but shook her head to say no.
"Sure?"
She lowered her eyes.
"I was thinking of sending all of them away, and making you lie down in the courtyard on the tiles so that I could spread the haldi on you with the brush."
She looked at him, the intense need for her in his eyes holding her.
"I thought of starting with your forehead..." He touched the spot he mentioned. "...Then your nose..." He trailed his fingers over her nose, his face coming closer and closer to her. "...Your cheeks, your ears, your chin..." She shivered with need. "...Down your neck..." The muscles of her throat contracted at his touch. His fingers moved further down to the fold of her sari. Down. His adventurous fingers found themselves trapped in hers.
"What are you, Khushi?", he whispered. "So shy at times. So bold at others." He couldn't take his eyes off her heaving chest.
"Are you the girl who hugged me on the terrace? The one who got under my blanket and touched and hugged me?", he asked in wonder.
She swallowed. "When you look at me like this, I ...I feel s..shy."
"Like this? How?"
"Like... like you want to eat me up, like you want to t..touch me all over, like you want to s...see through m...my clothes. Your eyes..."
"My eyes...", he whispered.
"Your eyes. Your eyes are..."


(Illyria, thanx!)

"My eyes are?", his seductive voice sent a shiver down her spine.
"Y..your eyes are..." She covered his eyes with her hand. "...Besharam. Natkhat..."
He smiled, naughty, ready to tease her.
She quickly took her chance. She kissed him on his jaw, and opened the door to run out.
"Khushi!"
His call stopped her flight. She stood, breathing hard, scared to turn around and face him.
"Will you be shy or bold tonight, Khushi?"



Part 54


Laxmi-Ganesh puja was done with great piety and fervour, the family having a lot to thank God for.





Offerings of sandal paste, saffron paste, perfume, haldi, kumkum, abeer, gulal, garland of cotton beads, marigold flowers, and leaves of bel were made, and incense & dhoop lit. Sweets, coconuts, and fruits were placed before the idols as tribute. Anand's children joined the family in singing the praises of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Laxmi during aarti, their pure voices spreading joy in the neighbouring houses too. After prasad was distributed by Anjali to the children, they ran to get the diyas ready.
Anjali gave the prasad to Nani, Babuji, Buaji, Chachaji, Amma, Mamaji, Mami, Akash, Payal, Munna, Krishna, Arnav, Khushi, and the guests who had come to celebrate diwali and attend the weddings later in the evening.
Anjali frowned. All the adults had taken the prasad, except one. Anandji was missing. He had been present during the puja, standing behind his children, casually dressed in a blue shirt and dark trousers. She had been aware of his presence all throughout the puja, but as she had turned to give prasad to the children, he had vanished.
"Munna, Krishna, did you see Anandji?"
"He went to the terrace, Jiji. A string of lights came loose from a pillar erected there. He went to fix it. Shall we call him for you?"
"No, no..." Anjali smiled. "I will go up and give him the prasad."
"Jiji, we will give it. You don't have to climb the stairs.", the kind boys offered.
"No, it is alright...", Anjali smiled, determined to give him the prasad herself.





As she climbed the steps, she wondered why she was so determined to be the one to give him the prasad. She could have sent it up with the boys. She looked down at the laddoos on the thali in her hands. No. She wanted to do it herself.
Anand looked down at Anjali, standing near the ladder on which he was balanced, holding the plate of laddoos. His hands were dirty, having dug through various junk in the storeroom to get the ladder & tools to fix the lights.
"Anandji...", she smiled. "Prasad."
He descended from the ladder.
"Err... my hands are dirty. I will have it later..."

She held a laddoo close to his lips. He looked at her and at the laddoo. They were alone on the deserted terrace in the dim light of the dusk.

"Err... Just a piece. I don't care for sweets."
She broke off a piece of the laddoo and brought it to his mouth.





He parted his lips. She came a step closer to him, and fed him, her fingers touching the firm, warm contours of his lips. She withdrew her hand, curling her fingers against her palm to stop the tingling sensation she had never experienced before. His sharp eyes looked directly into her innocent, liquid ones.


"How do I look?", Mami asked Mamaji, preening in her golden Benares silk saree.
"Beautiful!"
"You can't see the wrinkles, can you?", she asked anxiously.
"No, Mannu, I can't see the wrinkles. Hah, I haven't seen your face in 30 years under all that make up. How will I see your wrinkles?"
Nani, Buaji, & Amma tried to hide their smiles. Mami fumed.
"Mannu, you don't look old at all. Especially not old enough to have a son who is marrying for the second time...", Mamaji teased.


The rangoli in the courtyard looked beautiful, the colours seeming to reflect the light raining down on them from the diyas the women of the household were lighting in large numbers. Mamaji, NK, Akash, Arnav, & Anand helped Mamiji, Amma, Anjali, Khushi, & Payal to light the diyas.




Chachaji, Babuji, & Buaji sat watching the young members of their family enjoy themselves and laughed at their shared memories of old times. Anand's children ran up and down the stairs, peeking into rooms, carrying pooja materials for the weddings to the courtyard, laughing and talking to Munna & Krishna who were busy with the lights adorning the 3 buildings comprising Gomti Sadan.
Khushi took an oil-filled diya from the tray held by Arnav and placed it in positon beside the others. She was wearing a pink & green lehenga, the green of her dupatta and the pink of her blouse making her skin look golden in the dim light of the diyas.



Her diamond, star-shaped nose ring shone, drawing his ready attention to the perfection of her features, especially the pure lines of her nose, lips, and chin. She lit the diyas one by one, ensuring that they had enough oil. Finally they were all done, and she clapped her hands in delight at the perfect sight.




"It is so beautiful, isn't it?", she asked her Arnavji, her eyes vying with her nosepin in shining, her teeth gleaming like perfect pearls...
He looked at her, his eyes caressing her from the top of her head to the toes peeking from the skirt of her lehenga, lingering with obvious interest on the curve of her waist and the delights hidden by her short choli and dupatta.
"Beautiful!", he judged.
Khushi blushed and turned her head away from him.
Her dangling earring touched her cheek. His arm lifted of its own volition, and his fingers touched the delicate ornament with pink & green stones, setting it swinging again. She looked at him, surprised. A few hours from now, he would take great pleasure in freeing her of her earrings...  her maangtikka...  her heavy necklace... her many bangles... and all the unwanted jewellery that stopped his hands from tracing her features and his fingers from playing on the golden expanse of her skin. The look in his eyes sent the blood rushing through her veins with feverish haste. She looked at him, helplessly caught in the trap of his hot eyes as they reminded her of the shared pleasures of the night in the hut when he had curled his fingers in the knot of her dori, the moment by the pool when he had advanced to kiss her lips that now trembled and begged him to sink his teeth into the full, lower one.
He smiled at her, the curl of his lips and the heat in his eyes giving her an inkling of what was waiting for her that night when they left the world outside and closed their bedroom door, locking both of them in its cosy confines...




A rocket burst in the dark sky, throwing up multi-coloured lights with a loud bang. Munna, Krishna, and Anand's children began to fill the sky with many hues. Arnav stood lost in the eyes of his Khushi, totally unaware of the noise and the lights, the crowd and their exclamations of delight...
"Nannav, Akash, the pujari said that it is time for you to change for the wedding."
Akash left Payal's side with a special smile for her, and called Arnav, "Bhai!"
Arnav nodded. Akash & NK moved towards the stairs.
Arnav's arm deliberately brushed Khushi's as he walked past her. He bent slightly, whispering his promise in her ear, "Till tonight."



Part 55


NK led Akash into his room, intending to help him wear his elaborately worked sherwani.


(Akash)

Arnav followed them at a slight distance. NK exclaimed, "Nannav, who will help you?"
"I will."
They turned to find Anand with them.
Arnav smiled slightly, & nodded.


 (Arnav)


NK & Anand led Akash & Arnav down to the courtyard where arrangements for the two weddings had been made. Nani, Di, Mamaji, Mamiji, Buaji, Amma, Munna, & Krishna rushed to them to hug them both, proud of these two boys who were responsible and hardworking, and more importantly, ready to die for their families. They were going to step into a new phase of their lives with the perfect mates for them, and the men and women gathered in that courtyard could not be any happier for them.
Arnav & Akash took the blessings of Nani, Babuji, Mama, Buaji, Amma, & Mami.
Anjali hugged Akash and Arnav, whispering in his ear, "Be happy, Chotey! And cherish Khushiji. You will never find anyone who loves or understands you more!"
He looked into her tear-filled eyes with moist eyes, and nodded. She kissed him on his forehead.
"Or anyone you love more!", she laughed through her tears. "Remember what you told Nani & me during Holi. That she is pagal, but cute. That she has beautiful hair, beautiful eyes, beautiful smile, beautiful..."
Arnav paled. God, what else had he said?
Anjali laughed. "Don't worry, Chotey! You didn't say anything else. At least not to me & Nani. Now, I have no idea what you told Khushiji under the influence!", she teased him mercilessly. Anand, standing in the vicinity, smiled.
Arnav blushed. He then walked towards Anand, and hugged him, whispering "Thank you" in his ear. Anand hugged him back, and nodded.


Amma proceeded to Arnav to welcome him into her family with a tilak, but Arnav motioned towards Akash.
"Bhai!", Akash protested. "I am the younger one."
"I spoiled his wedding.", he murmured in Amma's ear. She smiled and moved towards Akash.
After Amma welcomed Akash, she returned to Arnav. With tears of joy and love in her eyes, she applied the tilak and completed the aarti & the rituals. Arnav hugged her, holding her close to him. Buaji kissed him on his forehead, cupping his lean cheeks in her hands.
All the ladies sighed. To get such a handsome damad! That too one who loved his family and his in-laws as though they were his own family! Khushi was very, very, very lucky.


 (Payal)

The slight smile on Arnav & Akash's faces died as Payal, led by Amma, and Khushi led by Di, came down the stairs. Payal was dressed in a deep red & gold lehenga that suited her milky white complexion, and Khushi was in a bright red and gold lehenga that made her look gorgeous.




Arnav could hear his heart go dhak dhak as she lifted her lowered lashes to peek at him. The rich dupatta covering her head, the nath, the maangtikka, her necklaces, armlets, bangles, waist band, payal, toe ring, the flowers hidden under her dupatta, her twinkling bindi, her heavy earrings, the rings on her fingers, her eyes with kajal..., all together took away the little hosh he had. Anand had to place his hand on Arnav's shoulder and lead him to his position for the jai mala. Akash was already ready.



Arnav looked around. Smiling guests, some were related to Amma & Babuji, others were neighbours and friends... Nani with tears in her eyes and a tremulous smile on her lips, wishing desperately that her daughter, Gauri were alive to see this day... Di hugging Nani, her happiness knowing no bounds that her Chotey had finally found his khushi... Babuji, Amma, & Buaji smiling at the two pairs, delighted that their daughters had found men who were more their sons than damads... Mamaji teasing Mami out of her tears, saying that the kajal that was supposed to kar de sab ko khayal was running down her cheeks like a stream... NK, Munna, & Krishna standing ready to lift Akash when Payal tried to garland him.


Payal tried to garland Akash, but NK, Munna, & Krishna lifted him up, out of her reach. Payal was hoisted up by Mamaji & Anand. She managed to throw her garland around Akash's neck amidst lots of laughter and excitement. Akash placed his chain of flowers around her neck, straightening his specs to look more closely at his wife's beauty. Anand's children jumped up and down in excitement.
Then it was Arnav & Khushi's turn.
Khushi raised her arms to place the garland of sweet smelling red roses around Arnav's neck, but NK, Munna, & Krishna lifted him up in the air. Khushi laughed out aloud, revelling in the hold Anand Bhaiyya and Mamaji had on her as they raised her to his height. She placed the garland around his neck. Everyone around them laughed and cracked jokes at their expense.

"Hamre donon bitwaa!", lamented Mamiji in fun. "Both go, went, gone ho gaye! Now wife ko hello, hi aur hamko bye bye!"
"That's is the fate of all mothers, Manorama.", teased Naniji.
"Now get ready to become a grandmother, Manoramaji!", Buaji poured ghee into the fire of Mami's thoughts.
"Grandmother? Me?" The horrendous thought was enough to silence her. She quickly took out her makeuppiya kit to check if any new wrinkle had made its appearance at the use of the word 'grandmother'.



In the middle of the fun & frolic, in the midst of a thousand diyas lit for Diwali, right in the middle of the sound of many crackers burst by the children on the streets and on the terraces of homes all around, Khushi leaned against Arnav, savouring the feel of his hard body against her side.
She whispered, "Hum Aapse Bahut Bahut Bahut Pyaar Karte He, Arnavji!"




Part 56


In the middle of the fun & frolic, in the midst of a thousand diyas lit for Diwali, right in the middle of the sound of many crackers burst by the children on the streets and on the terraces of homes all around, Khushi leaned against Arnav, savouring the feel of his hard body against her side.
She whispered, "Hum Aapse Bahut Bahut Bahut Pyaar Karte He, Arnavji!"
He looked down at the imp leaning trustingly against him, whispering her love for him in the midst of the cacophony, a naughty expression on her face...
Just a few more hours to go... The wedding would be over then... The guests & family would partake of dinner, and leave...They would be alone in their room. Would she dare to repeat her love confession then? Would she be able to take the punishment for teasing him & driving him beyond his self-control? He smirked at her, his eyes issuing the challenge. Khushi swallowed and lowered her eyes, deeming retreat the best part of valour.
The pairs went through the kanyadaan, with Babuji, helped by Anand & Chachaji, handing over his daughters into the able hands of Arnav & Akash. The gathbandhan, aashirwaad, stepping on the stone, laja hom, and mangalphere all happened in their turn.





Arnav looked at Khushi's glowing face. She looked so happy, smiling at her friends and family, laughing at something Mamiji said... He had deprived Khushi of all this. The way in which he had threatened Khushi, blackmailed her into marriage with him the last time, scared that she would leave him and go with Shyam, destroying his sister's marriage in the bargain, the tears that had fallen from her eyes as he had forcibly filled her maang and tied the mangalsutra around her neck... He closed his eyes in utter self-disgust.
Khushi looked at him, seeing the pain and the self-loathing. She placed her hand over his, clasping his clenched fingers in her warm ones, sliding her fingers through his, holding him in her protection, firm and sure. He looked at her, abject apology in his eyes. She whispered, "It doesn't matter, Arnavji. The past is over. Yours, mine, ours. It is gone."
He looked at her, wondering how he had been blessed to have such a pari in his life.
"We still have our family with us. We are together. That is all that matters."
He nodded.

They stood up and to the accompaniment of the chanting of Vedic mantras, walked around the havankund, making the seven vows to each other.




The Pundit explained the meaning of the ritual to both pairs.

He said, The first step is taken to earn and provide a living for your household & family, and avoid those things that might harm you.
The second step is taken to build your physical, mental and spiritual powers and to lead a healthy lifestyle.
The third step is taken to earn and increase your wealth by righteous and proper means.

 The fourth step is taken to acquire knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual love, respect, understanding and faith.
The fifth step is taken to have healthy, righteous and brave children for whom you will be responsible.
The sixth step is taken for self-control and longevity.
The seventh step is taken to be true to each other, loyal friends, and life-long companions by this wedlock.



The priest asked them to sit down, with Khushi sitting to Arnav's left, symbolising that she was now his wife and close to his heart. Khushi smiled at Arnav as she sat by him, her arm resting against his strong, warm one. Payal sat to Akash's left.
It was time for Arnav & Akash to fill the maang of their wives with sindoor so as to signify to the world that they were married and ready to take on the responsibilities associated with the marriage. Akash smiled as he filled Payal's maang 3 times. Arnav took the sindoor to Khushi's maang, his eyes filled with pain at the thought of how he had mocked her beliefs and hurt her during their previous wedding ceremony. She smiled at him as though they were the only persons in that courtyard, as though she could see only him... A little sindoor fell on her nose as his fingers shook. He paused, contrite. But she smiled, "It is alright, Arnavji!."
The pundit held out the mangalsutra to Arnav & Akash. Akash smiled as he tied it around Payal's neck. Arnav looked at the mangalsutra, the chain of black beads and diamonds in his hands.


He had selected a new mangalsutra for her, not wanting her to wear the one she had discarded when she had left him. He did not want anything negative from their past to encroach upon their present life. He placed it around her neck, tying it firmly. She closed her eyes, thanking Devi Maiyya for giving them this second chance to live together. The priest informed them that the mangalsutra stood for the wife's desire and prayers for the long life of her husband, and that sindoor and mangalsutra were symbols of suhag, making them both aware that from then onwards they were married.
They touched each other's hearts, signifying that they were one mind and one body from then on. Their hearts raced at the same pace, their dhadkanein becoming one. Khushi's eyes smiled into his.
He slid a star-shaped wedding ring on to her finger.



Her lips trembled at the love behind his gesture, the care that had made him select star-shaped rings for her engagement & wedding.



She slid a ring with 3 diamonds on to his finger. She said softly, "Arnavji, the middle diamond is you. I am to your left and Di is to your right. You will always love both of us, and we will always love you, whatever happens."
Arnav swallowed, his fingers pressing hers, communicating what he could not...
She fed him a piece of sugar-free jalebi, and he returned the favour. They then took the blessings of the Pundit and the elders. Akash & Payal followed suit.
Arnav Singh Raizada, Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada, Akash Singh Raizada, & Payal Akash Singh Raizada smiled at their families and friends.




Part 57


Arnav was a focused man. That is, when he wished to focus his mind on a job, a project, an objective, he did it without any fuss or noise, and his single-minded devotion ALWAYS got him what he wanted. Now he wanted Khushi. She felt the full force of his attention & squirmed.
Arnav watched Akash argue with a few girls who had hidden his shoes, NK, Munna, & Krishna trying to find the shoes, failing in their task, and Akash finally paying up, all with a distracted air. What was all the fuss about?, he wondered.
The girls moved towards him & Khushi. Arnav looked at the spot where he had left his shoes before stepping up for the havan. They had vanished. Before the girls could demand payment for returning the shoes, Arnav put his hand into his pocket, pulled out a sheaf of notes, & handed it over to them as soon as they dropped his shoes in front of him. NK, Munna, & Krishna protested, annoyed with Nannav for giving in to the girls without fighting. They didn't know that Arnav was fighting another battle, with TIME.

"The deal has been finalised by ASR with little time wasted!", remarked Anjali to Nani, Mamiji, & Anandji, laughing.
"No negotiation!", commented Naniji, stifling her laughter.
"Bhat a businessman my bhanjha ijj!", laughed Mami. "Akash Bitwaa, learn the balue of time from your Bhai!"


Then Arnav found himself sitting near Khushi. Akash was trying to untie the knot of the raksha dhaga on Payal's hand, struggling to do the job with the fingers of one hand. He managed it, huffing & puffing, his specs hanging crookedly from his nose. Payal did the same to Akash in less than half the time. The ladies cheered as Payal won, but Arnav was, for once, least bothered about winning. His eyes remained on Khushi, lingering on the smile on her lips, her childish pleasure in her Jiji's victory, her loud condolences to her Jiju, her free laughter at Mami's comment that her Bahuriyaa was any day better than her Bitwaa and Buaji's comment that she had high hopes of Arnav Babua... All trained their eyes on him, and he realised that he was supposed to remove the thread from Khushi's arm with one hand. Never one to put off unpleasant duties, Arnav, quickly, in a few economical moves, untied the knot, and pulled the thread free of her slender arm. The men gathered around cheered loudly, and Buaji kissed his forehead, proclaiming that he had done her proud. NK, Munna, & Krishna did a jig, and were soon joined by Anand's children. The ladies laughed.
Anjali whispered to Nani, Mamiji, Amma, & Buaji, "I wonder how Chotey could do it so fast!"
"Our Chotey can do anything he sets his mind to doing.", said Nani. She, Anjali, & Mami looked at each other, and said together, "... but he should set his mind to doing it."
"Our Arnav Bitwaa seems to be in a hurry! Come on, tells me! What ijj the matters?"
"Maybe he is sleepy!", said Anjali giggling.
"He wants to rest!", added Naniji, struggling to control her laughter.
"With Khushi Bitiyaa!", laughed Mami.
"What are you ladies laughing about?", Mamaji asked. "Share the joke with us too!" NK nodded.
"Kucho Naahin!", said Mamiji. "We were just...ha...ha...we were just saying ...ha... he...ha... that Arnav Bitwaa looks tired!"
Peals of laughter filled the air, and a mystified Mamaji & NK looked at Arnav, trying to detect signs of fatigue on his face.


Arnav was looking rapt at the beauty of Khushi, who was struggling to unknot the raksha on his hand. She bit the tip of her tongue, trying to concentrate on the knot. Arnav swallowed. He quickly lifted his hand and helped her with the knot. She won...with his help.
Mamaji & NK cried foul. Arnav smirked. Anand smiled. Anjali and the other ladies almost died laughing. Akash stared stupefied at Arnav. Payal giggled. Khushi blushed redder than a ripe tomato, her face matching the rich crimson hue of her wedding dress.


Mamiji said, "Anjali Bitiyaa, Saasumaa, hum kahe deth he! If this ijj the ways things are going, then our Arnav Bitwaa ijj going to phind the ring in the milks, and gives it to Khushi Bitiyaa!"
Anjali had to cover her mouth with her hand to avoid attracting attention by laughing loudly. Nani giggled like a young girl.
Mami's favourite bhanja proved her words right. While Akash & Payal battled it out between them, both elbow-deep in the milk concoction, Arnav found the ring and under the cover of the milk, handed it over to Khushi, smiling into her eyes, only for her to see and know his wicked intentions...
Anand cleared his throat as Khushi pulled her hand out of the milk, holding the ring, blushing.
"Nannav, you are putting us to shame! Yeh roka he! Roka he!"
"Roka nahin, Nanheji, dhoka, dhoka!", Khushi did not forget to correct her dear Nanheji in the midst of her post-wedding rituals.
In the ensuing laughter, Nanheji's protests went unheard.



The children, NK, Mamaji, Anand, Munna, & Krishna began setting off fireworks with zeal. The sky was filled with lights of different colours, and the air was filled with screams of excitement of the children as they enjoyed the sight. Anjali & Mami went to decorate the beds and the bedrooms of the newly-wedded couples, while the couples in question had their dinner and chatted with their guests. Arnav looked at his watch. How long did it take to decorate two bedrooms?

Finally, finally, the guest left. Anand had arranged for the children to be brought to Gomti Sadan in two of the four buses his orphanage owned. Chachaji, Gopi Kakka, and some of the adults left with the children. Anand remained so that he could take Anjaliji and her baggage with him in his jeep.

Mamaji suggested that Arnav & Akash change into comfortable clothes. Wearing kurtas, they tried to enter their bedrooms, only to be stopped by an army of their relations. Anand alone stood at a distance, arms crossed, leaning against a pillar, watching the fun.
"Arnav Bitwaa, Akash Bitwaa! Where are you goings? What ijj the hurry?"
"Haan, Mami. I think we should all play a round of cards. What do you say?", asked Anjali, an innocent look on her face.
"Yes, Di. Let's call Khushiji and Payal Bhabhi too."
"Let's call the neighbours too.", said Mamaji. "We can make a night of it. What do you say, Arnav Bitwaa?", he teased.
What Arnav Bitwaa had to say could not be said in public. And never to his uncle in private either. So he bit on his tongue, his face revealing his determination to get Khushi to himself.
"Khushiji, Payal Bhabhi, shall we play cards?", asked NK.
"Haan, Nanheji! I will make ginger tea and we can all..." Her sound died away under the fiery look from Arnavji's hot, smouldering eyes.
"Rehne do, Nk Bhai!", said Anjali sadly. "Looks like Chotey wants to play alone with Khushiji."
The ladies giggled and the men guffawed. "Hai Re Nandkisore!", Buaji was prompted to exclaim.
"So, Khushiji, Payalji! Looks like it is goodnight!" The ladies sighed.

Anjali, Mami, Nani, Buaji, & Amma led Payal to her room. Khushi trailed along. They made Payal sit under the canopy of flowers, and arranged her skirt around her, the dupatta covering her face so that Akash could lift it and gaze at the loveliness of his twice-wedded wife.
Then they pushed Akash into the room, and led Khushi to Arnav's bedroom.


It was beautifully decorated with red roses and pale jasmine flowers, scented candles, thali piled with fruits... It was magical. Khushi drew a sharp breath.
"Di! Did you...?"
"Haan...", Anjali smiled, ...with Mami's help."
Khushi hugged Nani, Di, Mami, Buaji, & Amma. All of them blessed her, and set her mind at rest.
"Don't be scared, Titliyaa! After all, it is Arnav Babua! Our own Arnav Babua!"
"Haan, Khussi Bitiyaa! He loves you so much! He will always look after you."
"Saasumaa, what about how much she loves him? She was goings pagaliyya with worry when he was missing!"
Anjali kissed Khushi on her forehead, and the ladies helped her on to the bed, arranging the folds of her skirt to flare around her.
Buaji said, "When Bitwaa comes close to you, flutter your eye lashes at him. Your Bhubhaji used to fall each time I did that."
The ladies giggled.
"Haan, Khushi Bitiyaa! Your kajal can make the dil of Arnav Bitwaa khayal. Haven't you heard of the song, Akhiyon Se Goli Mare, Dishkuuum!", Mami lowered the imaginary pistol that she had just fired.
In the ensuing laughter, Anjali said, "Our Chotey's Khushiji does not need any of these to floor him."
"Haan, Anjali Bitiyaa! How can you phloor a man who ijj already on the phloor in the love of Khushi Kumari Gupta...?"
"...Singh Raizada.", added all the ladies, laughing.


Anand caught Arnav alone for a moment. Continuing their earlier conversation over the phone, Anand said, "I will take Anjaliji with me in the jeep after you go to bed. I will bring her back tomorrow afternoon, and take her away in the evening. Let the first few days pass like this. It will help her adjust better."
Arnav nodded, his throat choked. Di had persuaded him that she wanted to go, that she wanted to look after the children... Arnav could understand her need to do something useful, contribute to the world, find meaning in her life, but...
He had checked up on the orphanage, and more importantly on Anand. He was everything Shyam had pretended to be, decent, hard working, a man with scruples, a man respected throughout the length & breadth of his state for the exemplary work he was doing for orphans and helpless women, a man who coupled his generous heart with a good head, who, with 2 partners, headed a leading firm of architects with four offices within the country, a man who funded his own charitable instincts without accepting donations from anyone...
Anand said, "We will all look after her. You are welcome to come and stay with us whenever you can. If she wishes to visit Buaji or Delhi, I will ensure that she reaches her destination safely. If she wishes to leave my children for good at any point, I will personally bring her to you. It will be all as she wishes. She will have the freedom to choose where her life should go."
Arnav nodded, his eyes lowered to hide his vulnerability. Anand placed his hand on his shoulder, and comforted him.

"Chotey! Khushiji is ready to play cards with you."
Arnav and Anand looked at Anjali's smiling, naughty face, and both felt a hand tightening its hold on their hearts.
"Di..."
"I am leaving with Anandji now, Chotey. I will be back tomorrow for a short while." She paused. "Chotey! I never asked you. You are OK with my decision to move to the orphanage, aren't you?" Her worried eyes looked at him, anxious not to hurt him.
Arnav smiled. "Haan, Di..."
She hugged him tight. He buried his face in her neck.
Arnav stood watching his Di leave with Anandji who slowed his pace to let Anjali walk with him. If he had to lose Di, there was no better man to whom he could lose her...


Arnav was pushed into his room by NK, Mamaji, Nani, Mami, Buaji, & Amma. He heard the door close behind him. He quickly turned and locked it, lest his family have second thoughts about playing cards with them all night. He could hear them laughing on the other side of the door at the sound of the bolt being fastened.



(Thanx, Vidya_luv_SaRun!)

He looked at the bed. Within a curtain of fragrant red roses & jasmine flowers sat his princess, her dupatta drawn low over her head, her fingers clasped on her raised knees, her rapid breathing causing the jewels around her neck glisten in the dim light of the scented candles...
He took a step towards her.
The phone rang.
"Unbelievable!", he said.
It was his Di. He said, "Di?", putting the phone on speaker mode.
"Chotey! I forgot to tell you something very important. Two very important things."
"Tell me, Di..."
"One, switch off the phone. Otherwise, Khushiji will kill Amanji some day."
Arnav smiled.
"Two, don't keep her up too late with your games." He could hear Di giggling over the sound of the jeep's engine. "Goodnight!" She cut the phone.
"What the!", Arnav was driven to exclaim.
He turned at the sound of uncontrollable giggling. Khushi was laughing, hidden under her dupatta.





Part 58


Exasperation mingled with amusement tinged his voice as he asked, "So you are laughing at me!"
"Nahin, Arnavji!", came the muffled words from beneath the ghoonghat, interspersed with laughter. "Who Kya He, I...I haven't heard your 'What the...What the...' for so long." She giggled. "I missed it so much."
Arnav moved towards the bed, & making his way through the curtain of flowers impeding his progress, sat on the bed beside her. Her laughter subsided as she felt the bed lurch.
"You love to laugh, don't you, Khushi?", he asked, the words sounding like verbal caresses.
Khushi's ghoonghat-covered head nodded, uncertainly.
"Then laugh while I do this.", he whispered as he slowly raised the dupatta to look upon the face of his wife. His life.
Her beautiful face, its beauty heightened by the mass of silky, dark hair plaited, adorned with sweet-smelling flowers, her maangtikka, her hanging earrings, her nath, her elaborately worked necklace, her armlets, her arms covered with bangles and mehendi, rings on her fingers, her red and gold lehenga, the kamarband lovingly measuring the expanse of her waist, her payal, the mehendi on her feet... All were determined to blow him out of his mind. But even worse were her eyes, shy yet naughty, hidden laughter lurking in their depths, the heavy lashes falling against her creamy cheeks at the look of longing in his eyes...
He looked at her once more from her head to toe, and then at the locked door, unable to believe that she had finally married him... that they were together for seven lives... that he had the right to keep her with him all night... that nobody could take her away from him... that she would sleep with him all night, every night, in the same bed, not he in the recliner looking at her sleeping in his bed with hungry, needy eyes...that he could steal the sleep from her eyes, keep her awake all night with him, touch her all over, enjoy her hands on him... all night. He had the haq. She had given him the haq. He couldn't believe it.
He lifted his hand, and let his fingers touch her toe peeping from under the border of her lehenga. She jerked in surprise, and withdrew her feet, hiding them under her skirt. Her hands moved to arrange her lehenga over her feet. He caught hold of her hands.
She looked at him.
"Let me see your mehendi, Khushi...", said his tempting, honey-filled voice.
She uncurled her fingers, letting him see the dark red design on her palms and wrists. A finger slowly trailed over the mehendi lines, searching for his name. He expected to see an 'A' as he had once found on her hand in the kitchen during Payal's mehendi. But he saw his full name etched on her palm. His finger touched the lines of 'Arnavji', tracing each letter. She shuddered as he bent to place his lips against his name.
He looked up into her eyes.
"Aren't you laughing, Khushi?", he asked, his husky voice giving the ordinary words myriad meanings, all of them dangerous to a virgin's heart.
"Let me look at you, Khushi...", said the devil in a whisper. She looked at him, unsure. He stood up from the bed, and slowly helped her off it. She stood before him in all her wedding regalia.
He said, "The dupatta looks good on you." He slid it off her head. It fell, discarded, to the ground.
"What is this called?", he asked innocently, touching the maangtikka.
"Maangtikka...", she whispered. His deft fingers freed her of the weight of that ornament.
"These must be hurting your ears...", he said, touching her earring.
"J...iii...", she stammered.
He eased the earrings off her ears, touching the piercings with a gentle finger. She shook as though from severe fever.
"Are you feeling cold, Khushi?'
"N...oo..ooo...", mumbled poor Khushi.
"Oh, armlets!", he exclaimed softly as he slid them down her arms. He moved on to the bangles, removing them one by one, his warm hands enclosing her pale, cold ones.
"Your necklace.", he said. "It is beautiful." He touched the stones.
"My mother's...", she managed to tell him.
"Oh!" He turned her around to face the wall, and his warm fingers shifted her plait to reach the clasp. He removed the necklace and kept it with the other ornaments on the side table.
He held her by the arm and slowly led her to the bed. He parted the strings of flowers, and sat down, pulling her gently to stand between his spread legs. He freed her, not touching her any where.
He looked at his favourite piece of jewellery, her kamarband. The muscles of her stomach clenched at the heat in his eyes.
"Shall I remove it?", he asked her permission politely.
"I will manage...", she stammered, and took her hands to her waist, searching for the clasp.
"Let me...", he said, his molten chocolate eyes holding her flustered ones.
His fingers touched the waist band, sliding along its length, touching the warm, golden, sensitive skin of her waist. Her legs trembled. Her arms raised of their own volition and her fingers clutched at his shoulders to avoid falling down in a mushy heap.
"Kya hua, Khushi?", he asked, innocence dripping from his voice and eyes.
Khushi shook her head to mean nothing. Words were beyond her.
"Tum Theek Ho?", he asked, all solicitude.
She took a deep, shaky breath.
The kamarband fell free into his hands. He shifted her to the side, got up, went to the table, and placed the ornament with the others.
He returned to her, standing behind her.
His fingers did what they had dreamt of doing for months, ever since the first time he had seen her, touched her... He freed her hair from its ties. The silken cloud fell over her shoulders, filling his hands. He breathed in its sweet jasmine scent, feeling dizzy with want. He slowly pushed the strands of her hair over her shoulder, exposing her back, the single dori holding the edges of her blouse together... His fingers touched the dori, playing with it, slowly pulling it loose... Khushi stood trembling near the bed, his heavy, hot breath on her neck and his hands on her back making her weak, so weak that she couldn't stand straight without support.



(Thanx, Illyria!)

She fell back against him. His lips grazed her neck and his hands slid from her back to her front, trailing over the taut expanse of her stomach, heading for the sensitive navel. She moaned, and twisted to throw herself into his open arms. She pressed herself against him, trying to find a cure to this curious ache that had beset her body, gripping his shoulders to hold him as close as possible...


(Thanx, Illyria!)

"Khushi...", he whispered.
"Hmmm..."
"Look at me, Khushi..."
She rubbed her face against his strong, muscled shoulder, signifying that she did not want to move from her comfortable place. He could hear the rapid dhak dhak of her heart.
"Khushi...", he was persistent. He lifted her face, holding it between his warm palms. They were shaking.
"Last Diwali, I couldn't... I hurt you, disappointed you...", he whispered his apology. "This Diwali..."
She looked at him as though he were speaking Greek. Neither her body that was clamouring loudly for something it had never known before, nor her mind that was at the rock bottom of an ocean of pleasure could understand what he was talking about.
"Let me...", he murmured.
Let him? Let him do what?, she wondered silently. She soon found out as his face came close to her and she felt the soft brush of his sinfully delicious lips against hers. She jerked, unused to this contact. Her breath came hot and heavy, and her tongue peeked out to touch her dry lips and taste him. He tasted sweet. And she loved sweets. She looked eagerly at his hot lips and then at his eyes, in case he had missed the message.


(Thanx, Illyria!)

He swooped down and took the lips that had been driving him crazy ever since she had fallen in to his arms, and looked at him with doe-like eyes and trembling, pink lips. His fingers eased the choli off her shoulders. Khushi moaned and clutched him harder, their hearts beating in tandem.
The hours of the much-awaited night passed slowly, the moon peeping in through the window to shed his benign light on the pair of lovers bent on discovering everything about each other, learning the first lessons of pleasure, leaving the world outside their bedroom door...




Part 59 (The Last part)


Arnav woke up slowly, relishing the feeling of cosy warmth, wanting to spend the whole day in bed. A second later, he realised that the warmth was Khushi cuddling against him, that yesterday had been their wedding day, that last night had been their suhaagraat, the real one... He looked down at her.

Mujhe hak hai
Tujhko jee bharke main dekhu, mujhe hak hai
Bas yuhi dekhtaa jaau, mujhe hak hai

Her cheek was resting on his bare chest as though she wanted to listen to his heartbeat. Her inky black hair lay all over her naked shoulders and his chest, her arms held him tight as though he were a comfy pillow... A slow, tender smile quirked his lips and his eyes filled with love and tenderness. She must be tired.

Dhal rahi pighal rahi ye raat dhire dhire
Badh rahi hai pyar ki baat dhire dhire
Chudiyaa gungunaake kyaa kahe sajnaa

They had dropped off to sleep only at dawn. And the unusual, hectic activity at night, all night, must have tired her out...

Raat ki raat jagaaun, mujhe hak hai
Chaand poonam kaa churaaun, mujhe hak hai...

Piyaa piyaa piyaa piyaa bole meraa jiyaa...



He looked around. Strings of flowers and their discarded clothes lay all over the floor. The room looked as though a whirlwind had hit it.
His smile deepened.
He should let her sleep, but he wanted to see her, the love in her eyes, maybe a hint of shyness... The temptation was too much to resist. He picked a jasmine flower caught in her hair, and slowly ran it down her cheek.
"Hmmm..."
He trailed the flower over her forehead. She frowned.
"Sone do na, Jiji! Bahut dhak gaye hum...", she muttered.
Arnav chuckled. Khushi opened her eyes at the unfamiliar, intrusive sound. She looked into his wicked eyes, brimming with laughter... his tousled hair... The memory of running her fingers through the strands of his hair flashed through her mind... His lips...his lips had a deeper colour than usual. They should... She blushed. She had hardly spared them all night, making up for the year he had tortured her with those criminally seductive lips... She drew a deep breath and looked down. His bare shoulders... She swallowed hard. She had clung to them, moaning... The recollection of her cries in the throes of a fire she had had no knowledge of,  shamed her. His bare chest... She had torn the kurta off him...and thrown it somewhere...and raked her nails down his back... She bit her lower lip.
What had happened to her? She had turned into a wild woman last night. It was all Arnavji's fault. Had he not touched her, she would have never even dreamt of doing such such strange, exciting, heart-stopping things to him. And he was laughing at her! How dare he! She flushed, her cheeks red.
She placed her hands on his chest and tried to push away from him, realising her mistake too late. The blanket that he had pulled over them was the only piece of cloth covering their nudity. She fell against his chest, holding him close, trying to keep the blanket over them...
Arnav laughed loudly.
"Khushi...?"
She buried her face in his neck.
"Khushi...?"
She pressed her face more firmly in the crook of his neck.
"Are you planning to stay there all day?", he teased.
She nodded.
"Good...", he said, his voice taking on the satisfied purr of a cat that had been fed well recently.
He began dropping kisses where ever he could reach, running his fingers over her sensitive skin, turning all her good intentions into nothing, making her sing, dance, and moan to his tune...
Soon, she was lying back against her pillow, her shyness having evaporated in the heat of the passion he had aroused in her, pulling him closer, her hands on his neck and shoulders tugging at him...
He resisted for a moment to ask her, "Khushi, Tum Theek Ho?"
She smiled her reply into his eyes.
"Khushi, does it hurt anywhere?"
She made a mental inspection of all her body parts. There was a pleasant ache all over.
"Haan...", she pouted.
"Where, Khushi?", he asked, panicking. She was so petite, and they had been insatiable...
"Here.",  Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada took her husband's hand and placed it over her heart.
"Oh!", said the above mentioned husband after a moment. "I will have to look into it in detail."
Khushi nodded seriously, her eyes alone twinkling.



 (Vidya_luv_SaRun, thanx!)



Six months after his wedding, Arnav stood by the big pool of his new house in Delhi, watering the plants in his new garden. The old house had held so many bad memories that he had sold it and purchased a bigger house in a high security locality in Delhi. He had ensured that his new house had enough space to accommodate Babuji, Buaji, Amma, Anandji, Chachaji, NK, and anyone else who cared to visit them. Nani & Laxmi, Mama & Mami, and Akash & Payal had their own suites of rooms in the house. Di had a special set of rooms on the ground floor, which she occupied on her short visits every month. His house was decorated in bright colours. He smiled. Khushi had selected the furnishings, with the able help of Mami. They had banished all the drab curtains and boring hangings to the storeroom.
He turned around, putting the can down. Khushi was coming to him. As if on cue, she walked across the bedroom to the poolside table, two coffee cups on a tray.
"Arnavji!", she smiled, her heart in her eyes. His sun rose, spreading his day with light bright enough to hurt the eyes of ordinary mortals. "Your coffee."
She handed him his cup. He looked at her face, the sindoor, the mangalsutra, her curvy body in a red silk sari, her long, silky hair hanging down her back. Till an hour ago, she had been curled up in his arms. He wished they could return to bed...
As he watched, her eyes lit up further.
"Arnavji! The rose has bloomed." She caught his arm and led him to the pots of red roses that he had planted. The first bud had opened its petals to the sun, spreading its fragrance on the morning air. She kneeled down by the pot and breathed in the heavenly scent. She then hugged him, sharing her immense pleasure in the simple joys of life.


(Illyria, thanx!)


He kissed her forehead, and murmured, "My jugni!" He had taken to calling her that in moments when his heart overflowed with happiness.
He led her into the bedroom, and made her sit on the bed. He opened his safe, and took out a jewellery box.
"Arnavji! Please don't give me more jewels. You have given me more than I can ever wear. Leave some for others to buy.", she laughed.
Arnav kneeled in front of her, placing the box in her lap. She looked into his eyes. They seemed unusually diffident.
She opened the box. Her Amma's kangans, and two necklaces... She had never thought to see them again in her life. She had sold them to fund her sweet shop and her wedding...
"Buaji called you?", she asked quietly.
"Yes. Khushi, I...I didn't want you to lose your mother's jewellery too."
Tears filed her eyes, and dripped over the jewels.
"Khushi, Khushi, don't cry... Please don't cry..."


(Illyria, thanx!)

"I am not crying, Arnavji!", Khushi said, smiling through her tears. "Yeh Khushi ke aansoo he!" She set the box aside and hugged him close to her heart.
"Shukriya...", she whispered.
He held his ear against her heart, listening to the strong beat, sweeter than any music on earth.


Arnav paced the length of his office. Why had Anandji phoned him and asked him for an appointment? He had invited Anandji home, insisted that he visit him at home, but Anandji had requested that they meet at his office. Why? Did Anandji want to do business with him? Some kind of collaboration? Or did he need financial help? Arnav kept his cheque book & pen ready to write away the amount Anandji might need, regardless of how big it might be.
The receptionist phoned him to inform him that Anandji had reached the foyer. Arnav went down to meet him, and escorted him up to his office. He offered him a seat, and ordered sugarless tea for both of them.
"Arnavji, I am sorry to disturb you."
"It is not a disturbance. Is there any way I can help you, Anandji?"
"Well, yes. I would like to marry Anjaliji. I would like your approval before I talk to her. And if both of you are alright with it, Babuji will come to Delhi and speak to your Naniji and Mamaji."
Arnav looked at Anand, lost for words.
"I promise to look after her, keep her happy... And I promise never to hurt her as Jha did."
Arnav stared at Anand, still speechless.
Anand sighed, a rueful smile on his lips. "I am sorry. It looks like I surprised you. Please take your time to think it over. There is no hurry..."
Anand got up to leave.
"Anandji...", Arnav called, his voice choked.
Anand stopped and turned back. Arnav threw his arms around him and hugged him. Anand held him close.


(Vidya_luv_SaRun, thanx!)

"Thank you. For making Di want to live again...for giving her the courage to try again... I never thought... I never dared to dream..."


Four months after Anjali and Anand's wedding, the Raizadas & NK travelled to Lucknow. Anandji had finished the construction of a multi-storey building to house women of all ages who needed help, support, and an income. Adjoining the shelter, he had built a series of sheds to house the pickle-making, garment-stitching, chikankari, & papad-making units that had been housed in various parts of the city till then. Arnav had insisted on contributing to the construction, but Jiju had refused. Arnav had finally forced him to accept new equipment and tools for the existing units, and compelled him to accept his help in starting a school on the grounds to make the women literate.
Buaji, Babuji, Amma, Di, Anandji, & Chachaji were waiting near the gate for them. After a hearty welcome, they walked in, crossing a vast ground to reach the huge building. They participated in the havan, the children from the orphanage and the women who were going to stay in the shelter sitting along with them. Then it was time to light the lamp and remove the yellow cloth placed over the huge name board of the building.
Anandji invited Naniji to do the honours. With a smile of pleasure on her lips, with the support of all her near and dear ones, Naniji lit the lamp and pulled the cord that would drop the curtain covering the name of the building.

GAURI RAIZADA MEMORIAL HOME FOR WOMEN
Director: Smt.Anjali Raizada Gupta

Tears filled her eyes. Her daughter, whose life and death had made her the dream of every gossipmonger in the city, would now have something worthwhile, positive in her name. Many helpless women would now rest their heads in peace at night under this roof, be fed, be trained and employed, be helped to lead lives of dignity, be able to look after their children without having to beg on the streets and sell their bodies...
Arnav looked at the large number of women who had been shifted here from the cramped quarters they had been sharing. He felt as though his mother were standing in front of him, looking at him, smiling at him... He looked at Anandji. How could he thank this man for taking his mother out of the damned Sheesh Mahal and giving her a home in this bright, airy, spacious, happy house? Anand placed his arm around Arnav's shoulders, and hugged him close to his heart. "She will be here always. With her daughter. With other women who need her shelter."
Arnav hugged him, tight, too choked to speak.

A while later, Anand said, "Er... We have one more good news to share...", his face slightly pink in colour. "Anju is pregnant. Hopefully, in seven months..."
NK let out a huge yell of happiness. Khushi & Payal hugged Anandji and Di. Akash, Arnav, Buaji, Babuji, Amma, Naniji, Mamiji, & Mamaji vied with each other to congratulate the pair. Chachaji and the children distributed sweets to celebrate the good news.

On their way back to Delhi, Khushi cuddled against Arnav, her fingers clutching & caressing the collar of his shirt. Mamiji, sitting next to them, was fast asleep. The others were in Akash's car. Rain lashed against the road.


"Now Jiji & Jiju and you and me, we can have babies...", she whispered.
Arnav looked at her, astonished. She had been so particular over the last year that she did not want a baby. He hadn't insisted. He had just wanted her to be happy.
"Jiji and I, we wanted Di to have her baby first... How can we be happy when she is sad?"
Arnav looked at her serious face. Was there no end to the kindness she was capable of? Would she ever cease to surprise and thrill him?, he wondered.



(Mazkachazka, thanks!)

"My jugni...", he whispered, his alluring lips teasing her ear.
She shivered with pleasure, tightening her hold on his collar and his waist.