55. Keeping Khushi (Parts 21-30)

Part 21

The sangeet ended very late, and the Raizadas made their way home reluctantly. The leave taking had taken about an hour as the Raizadas bid goodnight to all the inmates of Omkar and hugged and kissed Khushi repeatedly.
Finally, Baba said, "Why don't you stay here tonight?"
NK and Mami were all for it. Akash, Arnav, & Anjali were certainly willing, but Nani refused the kind offer, not wanting to make more work for Khushi and the children as they would have to find space & beds for them.
Then Baba said, "Why don't we have Arnav's haldi here? We can have the bride & the bridegroom in 2 rooms."
"Haan, Saasumma. Let's have it here.", Mami's voice was screechy with excitement.
"Please, Nani.", pleaded NK.
"It will be great fun, Nani!", said Anjali, squeezing Arnav's hand.
"Let's have it here, Dadi.", said Akash.
So Nani agreed, and the Raizadas left, promising to be back early the next morning. Arnav turned back to smile at Khushi as he left.


On the way home, Nani caught Arnav's hand in hers, and said, "Chotey, marrying Khushi Bitiyaa is the best decision you have made so far in your life."
Mami pinched Arnav's chin, and said, "Saasumaa, did you daaut (doubt) hamre Arnav Bitwaa's chaais (choice)? His ijj like his Mami. Only goldwaa, no imitasion (imitation)."
All laughed.
Anjali said, "Chotey, rearrange your wardrobe. Khushiji will be bringing her clothes with her tomorrow night. She will need space."
Arnav nodded, smiling.


The next morning, the Raizadas were all ready and at Omkar before time for haldi. Chotu welcomed them in with a smile, and led them into a room set aside for them to have the haldi function. The children gathered around Arnav, making him sit on a low stool.
Arnav looked around for Khushi. She was no where to be seen.
"Khushiji can't attend your haldi, Chotey", Anjali whispered. Nani & Mami giggled at his disappointment.
"It ijj all a matter of taim (time), Arnav Bitwaa. Before marrijj, men are eager to get the wife, after marrijj, they are eager to forget the wife.", Mami teased.

The ladies gathered around him, and as Baba watched, they applied haldi to him one after the other. Once their turn was over, Baba applied haldi to Arnav. Then NK, Akash, & the children took over. They covered him in haldi. He did not remain passive. Khushi watched through a gap in the door, laughing, as Arnav chased his brothers and kids around the room, catching them and rubbing the turmeric mixture all over their faces. It was great fun. Arnav couldn't remember laughing so much. Nani, Anjali, & Mami watched his laughing face as he tried to catch the boys, thrilled at his joy. It had been so long since they had seen him so carefree and happy! Years. Eleven years to be precise.
Then it was Khushi's turn. The senior girls made her sit on a low stool in another room, and set the clay pots with the haldi mixture and the grass brushes at her feet. Baba and the Raizada ladies joined them.
Khushi touched Baba's feet and took his blessings.
"My taarva!", he murmured as he kissed her forehead.
Baba took a little haldi and marked her cheeks. She smiled at him, her eyes full of love.
He made way for Nani, who was followed by Mami, and Anjali. Khushi's children too applied haldi on her, teasing her for looking all yellow.
"Don't tease Khushi Bitiyaa!", smiled Nani. "She is trying to be beautiful for our Chotey!"
"Haan, soon your turn will come.", said Anjali laughing.
"Khushi Bitiyaa", said Mami, "rolls the sleeves of your kurta up. And pulls your pyjamas to your knees. We needs to apply haldi."
Khushi paled. She looked at Baba, helpless. The children looked at each other.
Finally, Simi, who had been standing and listening to the conversation and silence, said softly, "Di Amma does not like to apply haldi on her arms and legs."
"Haan..", Akansha added desperately, "Let's just apply it to her face and feet."
Arnav, who had been standing outside the room and listening to this conversation, took charge.
"Is it alright if I apply haldi to Khushi's arms & legs?", he asked Baba.
Baba looked into his eyes, and nodded.
"Let's leave them alone.", he suggested. He walked out, and was followed by the children and the Raizada ladies.


Khushi looked at Arnav with wide eyes as he walked into the room and closed the door.
"Khushi..", he smiled at her tenderly, "Shall I roll the sleeves back?"
Khushi looked at him for a couple of moments, silent. Then she nodded. She helped him roll the sleeves of her loose kurta up to her armpits.
Her arms had scars. Arnav saw them, but did not pay any attention to them. He sat by her, scooped up some of the yellow mixture in the fingers of his right hand, and spread it on the expanse of her right arm, right from her shoulder down to her fingers.
Khushi shivered at his touch.

"Feeling cold?", asked his concerned, husky voice. His eyes twinkled at her.
She shook her head to mean 'no'.
He finished covering her right arm with the paste, and moved to her left side to concentrate on her left arm. His eyes burned into hers as his fingers trailed their way down her arm. Khushi found it difficult to breathe, impossible to look at his eyes that seemed to want to devour her.
Then he got ready to apply haldi to her legs. He touched her right foot with a haldi covered hand, his eyes on her face. She withdrew her foot.
Arnav swallowed. Yesterday, at the mehendi function, even though Khushi had permitted the lady to apply mehendi on her arms, she hadn't shown her legs. She had permitted the lady to draw patterns on her feet but not legs. The scars must be worse there, he felt.
He reached for Khushi's foot, keeping his hand on her foot even when she tried to escape him.
"Why?", Khushi asked in a whisper.

"I don't want you to miss out on any of the pleasures of our marriage.", he replied in an equally soft voice.
Khushi's lips trembled, and her eyelashes fluttered.
"It is my haq.", he said, raising an eyebrow as though to ask her who would dare to challenge him.
A small smile appeared on Khushi's lips. She stretched her foot out for him, and helped him raise the hem of the pyjama up to her knee. Again there were scars. Arnav lovingly applied haldi on both her legs, from the knees to the feet, touching her as much as he could, savouring the chance he had been given to love her. Khushi sat like a statue, her hands clenched in her clothes, trying to contain the dhak dhak and panic created by his touch.
When he was done, he asked in a voice huskier than usual, "Shall we go out?"
Khushi nodded.
As he was about to rise, he felt a pull at the collar of his kurta.
He looked down. She had the fingers of her left hand curled around the collar.
He looked at her, surprised.

She leaned forward, and kissed him on his yellow cheek.
"Thank you.", she murmured.



Part 22



Arnav pulled Khushi into his arms, hugging her tight, burying his face against her neck.
She trembled at this unexpected proximity and the rush of his hot breath against her neck, and tightened her arms around him, resting against him.
Haldi on her arms stained his kurta. Haldi on his face stained the side of her neck. But they remained oblivious, caught in the heady delight of being in loving arms.
Finally Arnav whispered, "Khushi, I hurried you and all the others through the rituals." He sighed. "We never even talked about your future plans."
Khushi looked into his eyes.
"What do you really want to do?"
"I would like to spend some part of the day with my Baba and children.", she said quietly.
He nodded.
"Sing."
He nodded, smiling.
"Teach music."
He nodded again.
"Spend my life with you...", she whispered, the molten depths of his gaze stealing the strength in her legs.
"I wouldn't have it any other way.", he said. "Khushi, Baba, the children, your music, and me... You will have all these all your life. I promise."
She nodded, smiling tenderly at him, believing him.
Arnav struggled to find words to express his thoughts. "Khushi, your Baba... He is no ordinary man." He cupped Khushi's cheeks. "He loves you as much as you love him. He won't be able to manage without you, and you will never be happy without him."
Khushi nodded.
"The children... Khushi, you are Di and Amma to them. Everything to them. You are their security... Khushi, I don't want them to spend a single day as we did in the past, lost, helpless, alone... I don't want them to go a single day without seeing you."
Khushi smiled at him, marvelling at the depth of his understanding.
"Visit Omkar daily. But get two permanent staff, 2 ladies for the kitchen. They can help in the cooking."
 Khushi could not help but agree with him.
"Khushi, about your music... I have made a lot of money from music, Khushi. But I never realised the power of it till the day I listened to you."
Khushi frowned lightly.
"That day, when you sang to the students at the University College... It was like someone had opened a door to another world... Khushi, Khushi, I can't explain this... I am bad at this... But... it is just that you are not leaving music and music is not leaving you. Not as long as I am alive."
Khushi hugged him tight. She had never dreamt, never, that she would meet a man who would understand her so well.
They stood, silent, lost in each other's arms, till a knock sounded on the door.
"Chotey, Khushi Bitiyaa, is haldi over?", Nani teased through the closed door.
Khushi jumped in shock, and tried to leave Arnav's arms, but he caught hold of her, and pressed her against him for one moment, savouring that stolen moment. Then he flicked a finger against her red cheek, led her to the door, and opened it.



It was a strange wedding.
The Raizadas had no other relations. And the inmates of Omkar had no one with them, except Devi Maiyya. Nani, Mami, Anjali, Arnav, Akash, NK, Baba, Khushi, and the children ran around doing all the work and making all the arrangements for the wedding till an hour before the actual function. Then they went to change.
Baba, dressed in his usual attire of a white kurta and dhoti, came down to Khushi's room. Her red and gold apparel was spread over her bed. Flowers, bangles, boxes and boxes of jewellery that the Raizadas had showered on her, all filled the room.
Baba knocked.
Khushi opened the door.
He came in, and held out a big antique  jewellery box.
Khushi frowned at him, and slowly took it. She opened it to find the jewels of Baba's wife. Her maang tikka, her bangles studded with precious gems, glinting at having light fall on them, many short and long necklaces, her waist band, her payal that made a jingling sound as she touched them...
She looked at Baba with shocked eyes. "Baba?"
"It is yours."
Tears filled Khushi's eyes as she refused his gift. "No, Baba. It is yours. Please keep it with you."
"There is no yours and mine, Taarva. Wear them. Keep them safe for your children. They have remained in this box for too long, for fifteen years... It is time."
"Baba?"
He nodded.
Khushi laid the box on her bed, and touched his feet and kissed his fingers.


Anjali came to help Khushi dress. The choli, for once,  had sleeves only up to her elbows.
 Khushi removed her clothes reluctantly, feeling ashamed to expose the scars that she had shown only Arnavji, feeling terrible to show Anjali the damage her father had caused, anxious about her reaction...Her heart beat fast and furious.
Anjali helped her undress, closing her eyes in pain and regret at the sight of the marks of pain on Khushi's skin. If only her father were alive today! She would have killed him with her bare hands. To hurt a small child like this... The pain she must have endured... Tears fell from her eyes, despite all her attempts to control them.
Khushi saw her tears in the mirror. She remained silent, helpless. Maybe Anjali had hoped that her brother would marry a perfect, beautiful girl without scars, someone with a large family... Maybe she was crying for her poor brother who would have to live with these scars all day, every day, all his life... She lowered her eyes, not knowing what to do or say to relieve Anjali's heart.
"Khushiji!", Anjali called softly.
She lifted her head to look at Anjali in the mirror.
"Do you know how proud I am of Chotey today?"
Khushi frowned at her.
Anjali put her arms around Khushi.
"He was a boy, trapped in the terrible incidents of the past till recently. He is a man now. It is all because of you."
Khushi looked at the image in the mirror of Anjali standing behind her, hugging her, smiling in the midst of tears.
"You brought back laughter in his life. You taught him to love."
A tear trailed down Khushi's cheek. Anjali wiped it off.
"You love him a lot, don't you?"
Khushi nodded, unable to make a sound.
"He is a very fortunate man to win your love." Anjali kissed her cheek. "And we are blessed to have you, Baba, and the children in our family."

The wedding passed in a haze. All Khushi could remember was the look in Arnavji's eyes as he first laid eyes on her, the happy tears in Baba's eyes as he performed the kanyadaan, the pride and love in Arnavji's eyes as he tied the mangalsutra around her neck and filled her maang with sindoor, the smile on his face as they completed their saath phere, NK Bhai recording the sweet moments, the smiles on the faces of Nani, Anjali, Akash Bhai, & Mami, the children in their best clothes, Chotu smiling, Nidhi eating laddoo, Akansha teasing her, Vivek and Arnavji helping her stand up for the rituals, the feast, Akshaya and Varun laughing, Simi smiling as Chotu described the rituals happening in front of her blind eyes...


It was time to leave Omkar and go to Arnavji's house. The actual distance between Omkar and RM was neglible. Any moment of the night or the day, she could catch a rickshaw and reach Omkar under 30 minutes, but... But one phase of her life was coming to an end, and another was starting.
Till a few minutes back, she had been Baba's daughter and the mother of 20 children only. Now she was both Baba's daughter and Arnavji's wife... and the mother of 20 children... and the bahuriyaa of Nani and Mami...and the Bhabhi of Anjali, NK, and Akash...
Arnav and Khushi touched Baba's feet and sought his blessings. He hugged both of them, unable to hide the tears in his eyes. They then hugged and bid farewell to all 20 of their children.
Nani caught hold of Baba's hand, and promised him, "Sasiji, we will look after her very well. I promise. She will never be alone. She will never be unhappy. I promise."
Baba nodded.
"We will be there with her all her life, Baba.", Anjali promised him. "She will never be helpless again."
"Hamre Arnav Bitwaa is a good boy.", Mami promised him. "He does not speak much, laugh much... So people misunderstanding karat he. They call him Akhdoo Singh Raijjada... Khadoos..." She told Baba earnestly, "Oo running race ma, people in short chaddis jaamp (jump) over frames. Bhat is it called? Anjali Bitiyaa, bhat is it called?"
"Hurdles, Mami.", said Anjali, a small smile on her face.
"Haan, haan, Hurdlewaa. When you jaamp over his ghusa hurdlewaa and his silence hurdlewaa and know him better, you will have to aagree (agree) with me that he is a paarfect (perfect) damad."
Baba nodded, smiling.
"Oo log kaa kahat he, barking kutta seldom baite (bite). That is our Arnav Bitwaa. A barking kutta who never kaats.", she comforted Baba.
Baba smiled at her.


It was time for Khushi's bidai.
There was not a dry eye as Khushi bid farewell to her family and got into Arnavji's car to leave for her new home. She twisted in her seat to wave at her Baba and children as the car moved away from her home.


Part 23


Arnav held Khushi's hand all the way to RM as she tried hard to fight the tears that were clogging her throat and hurting her chest.
Anjali sitting next to her, held her hand on her lap, patting it at intervals.
NK, sitting next to the driver, turned around frequently, telling her, "Khushi Bhabi, don't worry. They will be fine. You can meet them tomorrow."
Khushi nodded, trying to smile at NK.
NK set out to entertain his Bhabi and make her laugh.
"Khushi Bhabi, Khushi Bhabi, do you know Bruce Lee's favourite vegetable?"
Khushi stared at him.
Arnav and Anjali looked at each other.
"You don't know the answer? Koi baat nahin. No problem. I will tell you. Moo-LEE!"
Arnav, Anjali, and Khushi had to smile.
"Bhabi, what is his favourite festival?"
Khushi, used to playing with her naughty children, pretended to give the question a lot of thought, and said, "Diwa-LEE?"
"Wow! Nannav, mere bhai! You wife is soo intelligent. Her dimaag is so mez (tez)."
Arnav rolled his eyes. Anjali & Khushi laughed.


Akash, Mami, & Nani had reached RM before them, and had done all the preparations for griha pravesh.

Mami did the aarti for Arnav and Khushi, and invited her to tilt the small pot of rice kept in the doorway with her right foot. She did so, and entered the house with Arnav.
"Chotey!", Nani asked, smiling. "Are you going to make Khushi Bitiyaa walk all the way to your room?"
Arnav cocked an eyebrow.
NK helped him out, using his hands to show a lifting motion and singing 'Mujhko Bhi To Lift Karade! Thodi Si To Lift Karade!'

Anjali & Akash hid their smiles. Mami laughed out aloud, and Nani smiled.
Arnav smiled, and lifted a blushing Khushi in his arms and made his way to his room. No, their room. He looked down at her. So beautiful. So warm. So soft. She filled his arms.

Her eyes... Her nose with the nose pin... Her lips... Her full, pink lips... She blushed and averted her eyes from his.
He could feel others around him. He frowned and looked back. They were being followed by the whole family. His eyes widened in astonishment. What the!
His family trooped behind him as he walked into their room.
He turned to look at them, an eyebrow slightly raised at their presence.
"OK.", he drawled. "Good night."
"Not so phast (fast), Arnav Bitwaa.", laughed Mami. "We have to settle Khushi Bitiyaa in the bed."
"I will do it.", stated Arnav.
All giggled.
"Nannav, mere bhai, why are you in a hurry? Khushi bhabi is not going anywhere."
Arnav glared at NK. Khushi hid a smile, blushing all shades of red.
The ladies shooed the men out, and helped Khushi on to the bed. They hugged and kissed her, and arranged the strings of flowers around her, forming a fragrant curtain enclosing the big bed. Laughing, they wished her a good night's sleep before leaving.
"Saasumaa, she will have a good night, but I don't think hamre Arnav Bitwaa will let her sleep.", laughed Mami.
Anjali & Nani giggled.
They went out of the room, and along with Akash & NK, pushed Arnav into his room and closed the door.


Part 24



Arnav looked at Khushi. She was sitting on the bed, knees raised, fingers clasped over them, a rich red and gold dupatta partially covering her face.


The room was dimly lit with scented candles. The fragrance of red roses and white rajnigandha flowers permeated the air. His room, that till this morning had been familiar, now looked mysterious. And nothing was more mysterious or enticing than his girl waiting for him. Arnav swallowed hard. Finally...finally, she was here. How many days had he dreamt of her, paced the length & breadth of this room, racked by his longing for her? How he had hungered for a moment with her, a look from her, a smile? 

He locked the door and walked softly towards the bed.
He parted the curtain of flowers surrounding the bed and slid in to sit beside her.
"Khushi!", he called
He saw her fingers clasp each other tighter on her knees.
"Shall I lift the ghoonghat?", he asked softly.
She nodded, bashful and scared. It was all new, all strange. A new house, a new life, a new family... Only Arnavji was familiar to her.
He gently removed the thickly embellished  red and gold dupatta from her face, and felt his heart stop. Had someone asked him to describe what he felt at that moment, he would have been unable to find words to convey that strange mixture of love, tenderness, possessiveness, protectiveness, and what not...
She looked beautiful, her eyes lowered, her cheeks pink, her tender, plump lips trembling... The gem-studded maang tikka, her necklaces, and other jewels added to her beauty. The mehendi, her bangles, the rich, colourful clothes...
It was a fatal combination, fatal to his already wounded heart.
He gently raised her face with his finger under her chin.
"Khushi, look at me.", his husky voice pleaded.
Shy eyes met his intent ones with great difficulty.
He looked at her for some time, silent, watchful.



"Can you believe it? We are married.", he said, deliberately trying to put her at ease.
She relaxed. She started breathing. A small smile appeared on her lips. A smile that was reflected in her eyes.
"It all happened so fast, didn't it Arnavji?", her soft voice did strange things to his heart strings.
"Haan. You know, Khushi? I was thinking... I know Omkar very well. I think I have been to every room there. But... but you have never been to RM before."
She nodded, smiling. "We never thought of such things."
"And my room too is new to you. Would you like to see it?"
She nodded eagerly.
He led her out of the canopy of flowers, holding her hand gently. Her bangles tinkled as she got off the bed and followed him out.
He switched on the lights and they looked around at the big spacious room. He tried to see it through her eyes. The dull grey curtains and green recliner...Damn!
"Khushi!"
"Ji?"
"If there is anything you want changed here, just tell me."
She looked at him, surprised.
"It is just that, we got an interior decorator some time back. This was the in thing then. That's why my room looks like this. And... and, to me, it has always been just a place to work and sleep. And escape from the noise downstairs. So I am afraid... Khushi, in Anand Sadan and Omkar, the rooms look..." He searched for the right word. He got it. "Warm. Warm, loved. Bright. Can you...?"
Khushi looked at him, wonder struck.
"Can you make this room warm too?"
She nodded, her eyes wide.


He showed her the wardrobe.
"I have made space for you, Khushi."
His black, brown, & blue coats had been banished to one end.
"Ji, Shukriya. I will unpack in the morning.", she said softly.
"The bathroom." He pointed to the door leading from the bedroom. She nodded.
He then slid open the glass door to the poolside.
"You can sit here when you want to."
"Ji."
"I...err...I like gardening." He stretched a hand out towards his plants. "My garden."
She nodded.
He felt terrible. This was all he had to show her. Some plants, a dull room with dull curtains and dull recliner, a wardrobe with dull clothes. What a dull life! He turned towards her, hoping desperately that she wouldn't find him as boring as he found himself at that moment.
But Khushi was not looking at him. She was smiling at the pots of jasmine in his garden. The buds had bloomed, looking like pearls in the dim light.
"Arnavji! Jasmine flowers! I love jasmine flowers!"
Her face! The joy on it! He stood transfixed.
"Arnavji, there is a small courtyard near my room in Omkar. I have hundreds of pots of jasmine there." She caught hold of his hand and pressed it between both of hers. "Do you have roses?"
He nodded slowly.
"Will you show me where they are?", her eyes were eager.
He nodded.
His hand still caught in both of hers, he led her to the corner of his garden that housed his roses. The bushes were heavy with sweet scented flowers.
"They are so beautiful, Arnavji!", she whispered.
"No, you are.", he said softly, his longing for her making his voice huskier than normal.
She looked at him. He lowered his head and slowly brushed his warm, hard lips against her soft, plump, full ones. She trembled. Her fingers holding his hand tightened around it. He lifted his head and looked at her.
She looked shocked but not unwilling to know more.
He freed his hand from hers, cupped her face, and kissed her lips.



Part 25




He slowly lifted his lips from hers and looked into her dazed eyes. His hands went to her dupatta, and slowly eased it off her head. It fell, forgotten, at their feet.
Her hair was coiled in her customary bun. He did something that he had desperately wanted to do the first time he had seen her at the music studio. He freed her hair.
It fell in a thick silky mass to touch the back of her knees. He buried his fingers in that sweet-smelling temptation, rubbing her scalp, running his fingers through its length... Khushi shuddered. No one had ever touched her like this. She had never known that a man's touch could be so pleasurable, so addictive... She fisted her fingers in his sherwani, holding on to him to stand up.
Arnav scooped her up in his arms and carried her inside. Her eyes looked at the strong lines of his face, lingering on his lips that had touched hers, kissed her... Her lips tingled, trembled, wanting to feel the pressure of his lips once again. He turned his head and looked at her. She blushed and lowered her eyes.

He set her down in front of the floor-length mirror in the room.
"Shall we get rid of all these?", he asked in a whisper, pointing to her jewels.
She nodded.
Arnav and Khushi, together, removed the maang tikka. He scooped her hair over one shoulder, and unfastened her necklaces. She put them into their boxes.
He untied her waist band, and moved on to her bangles, removing them one by one, ensuring that he did not hurt her. He freed her feet of her payal. Finally, she was left with just his mangalsutra.
"Shall we?", he asked, indicating her sari.
Khushi nodded. She lifted her hands to her left shoulder, and unpinned the pallu. She then unpinned the pleats. Arnav slowly unwound the sari from her body, leaving her standing in her red and gold blouse that covered her waist and a red underskirt.

He lifted her left arm, and began to cover its length with soft, warm kisses. Khushi could only tremble and shiver under the onslaught, unfamiliar feelings of desire biting into her. Breathing was difficult. Keeping her eyes open was even more difficult. Remaining silent as he kissed every inch of her face, neck, and arms was impossible.
He wanted her out of her clothes. But he did not want to make her uncomfortable. He led her to the wardrobe, slid the door open, and took a gift-wrapped package out of it. He gave it to her. She looked at him, astonished.
"Open it.", he invited.
She opened it to see a red nightgown, all silk and lace. She looked at him, lost for words. She had never worn anything of this kind before. Her scars... Cotton kurtas with long sleeves had been her nightwear for as long as she could remember.
"Err...do you like it?", he asked.
Khushi looked at him. There was something in his eyes that she had never seen before. A diffidence.
"Ji.", she said quickly. "It is very beautiful."
Arnav smiled, relieved.
"I have never purchased anything like this before...", he confessed sheepishly. "Couldn't ask Di. So I bought it online, and had it delivered in my office."
Khushi bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.
"Will you wear it?", he asked, eager to see her in his choice of nightwear.
His eagerness forced her to push away thoughts of her scars. She nodded, and moved to the bathroom on unsteady feet to change.


Arnav dimmed the lights in the bedroom. Now it was lit only by the candles that gave the room an exotic look. He pulled out a set of casual clothes, and removing his sherwani, slipped into them with a sigh of relief. He looked at the shut bathroom door. He could hear slight movement behind it. Maybe Khushi was ready to come out.
He quickly slipped into his garden, and returned with a pocket full of newly-bloomed jasmine buds. He sat on his recliner, waiting.




The door opened a crack. He waited, his heart pounding. The crack widened, and Khushi came out, her feet stumbling to a halt at the look in his eyes. Thank you, Devi Maiyya, for the dim light, she prayed fervently. The thin straps, the low neck, the clingy gown, the silk robe! Thank God it was dark!

The red silk clung to her full figure, the low neck edged by lace unmanning him. The wrap fluttered in the gentle breeze from the open door, billowing behind her, leaving him in no doubt about the bounty hidden by the silk.
He held out his hand. She walked towards him slowly, and put her hand in his. He brought her to stand facing him, trapped between his long legs. His hands rose, and slipped the outer garment away from her body. It slid soundlessly into a heap on the floor.
Khushi struggled to draw breath, her limbs trembling, her heart beating as though she had just run a marathon. She had no thought to spare for her scars. Arnav dragged gentle fingers along the length of her arms. She collapsed onto him, falling over him, into his open arms.




He helped her into their bed. Leaning over her, he put his hand into his pocket, and showered her with fragrant jasmine buds that were unfurling their petals. They fell over her face and chest. She smiled into his burning eyes. He then proceeded to kiss her whole body, paying special attention to all the scars. Not an inch escaped his gentle touch and his focused attentions. She moaned in passion, protested and whimpered when she couldn't bear the torture of his touch, and squealed in shock, but he did not stop.
As he touched and kissed her all over, he murmured, "Does this hurt, Khushi?"
She shook her head to mean 'no'.
"Yes or no?", he teased, his seductive voice sending shivers down her spine.
"N..o."
"Sure?", he teased, his lips kissing the corner of her lips.
"Ha...an.", she gasped.
He spent the whole night worshiping her body, driving her out of her mind with pleasure, seeking his ease only after ensuring that it wouldn't hurt her hips or the damaged muscles of her body.
The red nightdress and his clothes lay discarded on the floor. The candles burnt themselves out. Arnav and Khushi lay curled up in each others' arms, unwilling to let go of each other even in sleep.


Part 26



Arnav woke up first. The gentle rays of the sun were peeping into the bedroom, banishing the shadows of the night.
He was lying with his head buried in the crook of Khushi's neck, his arm tight around her warm, lush body, their legs tangled. He smiled. His Khushi...
He lifted his head out of the comfortable hollow, and looked at her face. She was in deep sleep, the events of the last day and night taking their toll on her. Her silky dark hair lay like a cloud across her white pillow, framing her sweet face. He looked at the perfectly curved dark eyebrows, the long, thick eyelashes, the straight nose, the glinting nose pin, full, pink lips, soft and warm, slightly curved in a smile... He smiled again, tenderness filling his heart.
He tried to free himself without disturbing her. He slowly, softly withdrew his arm from beneath her. She frowned slightly, and then slipped back into sleep. He tried to lift her leg to release his leg that she had pinned under hers. As he ran his hand along the length of her leg, loving the feel of her, almost forgetting his purpose in touching her, she became restless and agitated.
"Ssshhh...", he whispered, patting her on the head.
She slipped back into sleep. He waited a while to be sure, and then slowly left the bed for the bathroom.


Khushi opened her eyes a few minutes later. The first thing she saw was the canopy of flowers, wilted after the night. She looked around, slightly disoriented. She had got married last evening. Last night, she and Arnavji... The red nightgown, the jasmine flowers... She blushed a vivid shade of red.
She looked at the bed, at the other pillow set very close to hers. Where was Arnavji? Then she heard the shower run in the bathroom.
Her whole body ached. She tried to sit up, and managed it with great difficulty.  The cover slipped to her waist, revealing her bare body. She looked down horrified, grabbed at the cover with both hands, and brought it close to her neck. If she could leave the bed before Arnavji got out of the bedroom... If only she could...
She looked around. The red nightgown was lying on the floor by the bed. Clutching the cover to her chest, she tried to lower her feet to the floor. All she had to do was stand up and walk three steps. She would be able to reach the nightdress. It was no modest apparel by any standards, but anything was better than nothing!
She placed her feet on the floor, and holding on to the edges of the bed with one hand, tried to stand up. She was able to lift herself slightly, but only slightly. She had to sit on the bed again. Her legs needed more time. A while later, she tried to stand up. Her legs wobbled. As she was about to fall back on the bed, she felt masculine hands on her arms, supporting her. She stood up, the covers wrapped around her, the ends clutched against her neck, standing right in the circle of Arnavji's arms.
Flustered, she looked up into his eyes. And blushed. And averted her eyes.
Her rosy cheeks and her bashful gaze brought a tender smile to his face.
Her fingers tightened around the covers.
He looked around, and saw the nightgown. After making sure that she could stand on her own, he took the nightgown off the floor, and dropped it over her head, helping her slip one hand after the other through the designated space. The shoestring straps fell over her shoulders, and Arnav eased the rest of the nightdress down her body, slowly taking the covers away. Finally, she stood before him in the nightgown, her dark, long hair falling down her back like a waterfall, her face lowered, her eyes shy...
Arnav needed to know if he had hurt her last night with his love making.
"Khushi, are you stiff?", he asked softly.
She nodded, still not meeting his eyes.
"Back and legs?"
She nodded.
"Khushi, does it hurt?" The four words contained a world of pain.
Her eyes shot up to his.
"No, no... Not more than usual. Every morning...it is difficult to get up from bed...", her voice trailed away. Her eyes slid away from his.

Arnav slid his arm around her shoulders, and led her to the nearest wall. He made her face the wall. He pressed her palms flat against the wall, and made her stand with her forehead touching the wall.
She felt his fingers on her neck and shoulders, kneading the muscles gently. She sagged against the wall in relief. It felt so good. So so good...
His hands moved down from her shoulders to her arms, and then went to her back. He massaged the knotted muscles of her back and sides, loosening them. He moved on to her hips. His warm hands heated the silk between their skins as they rubbed away, taking away the pain. He moved down her legs, kneeling at her feet as he worked her muscles.

The pain was soon forgotten. A new heat was rising between them. The hands that had been pressing and massaging her muscles were now caressing her, lingering on her body in the most seductive, wicked manner. She trembled.
Her heart thudded loud enough to wake the house and the neighbourhood.
A knock sounded on the door.
"Chotey! Khushiji! Tea for you!"
"Coming , Di!", said Arnav in a choked voice.
He stood up, pressed a deep kiss on her red cheek, quickly disposed off his clothes that had been flung on the floor in the throes of passion last night, and went to the door to open it. Khushi, in the meantime, took the first set of clothes in her bag, and sought refuge in the bathroom.





Khushi went down a short while later, dressed in a beautiful red sari with a mango design in gold, the sleeves of her blouse down to her wrists. Her hair was still wet, and she had just loosely bound it with a clip at her nape. The sindoor, the mangalsutra, the mehendi, the payal, the blush on her beautiful face..., all marked her as a new bride. The others were already in the mandir, ready for arti. She joined them for prayer, and then slipped into the kitchen.

It was her first day as their bahu. Khushi asked, "Naniji, what shall I make?"
Nani hugged her, and said, "Whatever your heart wishes."
"Di?"
"Something as sweet as you!", Anjali hugged her.
 "Mamiji, what would you like me to make?"
Mami whispered in her ear, "Do you know how to make kheer?"
"Ji."
Mami smiled from ear to ear. "It has been a long time since we had kheer."
"Shall we help you, Khushiji?", asked Anjali. "No one needs to know.", she smiled slyly.
Nani agreed, smiling.
"No, Di.", smiled Khushi. "I will manage."


Khushi set out to prepare breakfast. She was a dab hand at cooking. Cooking for 22 inmates at the orphanage had made her adept at fast and tasty dishes and sweets. How her Baba loved the kheer she made! Today, Akansha and Varun must have prepared breakfast at Omkar, she thought. Arnavji was right. They needed to hire two women to cook for the children. At the earliest.
As she kneaded flour and fried pooris, stirred halwa and kheer, the fragrance of delicious food wafted to the living room.
Khushi and HP carried in the dishes.
"Uummm...", said Mami. "Kya mehek he! Kya khusboo!" Lifting her nose in the air to catch the scent better, she let her nose lead her to the breakfast table. The whole family followed her.


The family fell on the food.
Arnav watched her with proud eyes as Khushi went around serving everyone. She was smiling, her cheeks as rosy as her red sari.


(Sidhu285, thanx!)

She came to him, and placed two dishes with sugar-free halwa and kheer near him. Arnav pulled her gently to sit by him, and placed a plate in front of her. All looked at Arnav and Khushi, smiling. Khushi blushed.




"Halwa Poori!", squealed Mami.
"Wow!", said NK.
"It has been so long since we have had halwa poori!", said Nani.
Anjali nodded, smiling.
Akash said, "Bhabi, it is so tasty!"
Khushi smiled her thanks.
"Truly, Khushi Bhabi, your halwa poori is lawaaris!", praised NK.
Khushi looked at him with eyes as round as saucers.
Arnav smiled.
Akash muttered, "Lajawaab, lajawaab!"
Mami was beyond words. The halwaa poori! The kheer! Only "wah, wah!" could be heard from her.


A while later, Nani asked, "Khushi Bitiyaa, this house is new to you. I hope you had no trouble sleeping last night?"
Mami choked on a spoonful of kheer.
"Sleeping? Kaun sleeping karat he suhaag rat ma, Saasumaa?"
Akash blushed. Anjali giggled. Nani hid her smile behind her hand.
NK looked at a blushing Khushi and an embarrassed Arnav.
"Naughty Nannav! Tell us, tell us, what did you do all night? Eh?"
"Haan, Chotey, tell us. How did you spend the night?"
"Err...", Arnav cleared his throat. He glared at NK and said, "We... we... played scrabble."
"Scrabblewaa?", asked Mami. "Is it called scrabblewaa now? Generation gapwaa, generation gapwaa", she sighed.



Part 27



Arnav took Khushi to Omkar after breakfast.
The children were deliriously happy to see her. Amidst loud cries of Di, Di Amma, & Bhaiyya, they hugged her till her ribs were in danger of cracking. Arnav too received his share of hugs.
Arnav & Khushi then went to meet Baba.
Baba took one look at Khushi's face, and felt relief he had never felt before. She was happy. Very happy. Smiling, she touched his feet, kissed his hand, and hugged him tight.
Baba glanced at Arnav's face. The look in Arnav's eyes as he watched Khushi hugging her Baba! It screamed of love and pride.
Leaving Arnav with Baba, Khushi went to the kitchen to help make lunch.


Three hours later, he took her back home with him. They sat silent in the car, enjoying each other's company.
As he stopped at a traffic light, Arnav caught hold of Khushi's hand in his gentle one.
"Khushi, it seems Vivek will be coming this weekend. I need his help to figure out where and how to fix the railings for you. And the heights at which I need to do them."
Khushi smiled, pressing his fingers between hers, loving the feel of him.
"I will find 2 ladies to man the kitchen in Omkar.", she promised.
"Khushi, I talked to Baba about recording a CD." Her eyes widened in shock.
"That way, music lovers will get to hear him, he won't have to meet many people, and he will never have to worry about money again.", Arnav reasoned it out.
"Baba agreed?", she asked, unable to believe this news.
"He has promised to think about it."
"The last person who came to him with a recording offer found himself kicked out of Anand Sadan. It will be a miracle if he agrees.", she said softly, looking at his face with wide eyes.
Arnav smiled. "But I am not just anyone, Khushi.", he reminded her. "I am Baba's son-in-law."
Khushi smiled.
"And Khushi, I was thinking, why should Vivek go all the way to Mumbai for his studies and a part-time job? If he prefers it, I can find something for him in Delhi."
Khushi stared at him.
"Then he can see all of you daily. Why should he stay alone far away when his family is here?"
The lights changed, and he took his hand from hers to drive on.


"Please pinch me.", Khushi said in a low voice.
"What?"
"I can't believe that this is Mr. ASR talking. Please pinch me...", she smiled, a naughty glint in her eyes.
He slammed on the brakes.
"I won't pinch you, Khushi, but I will most definitely kiss you.", he said, and followed his threat to the letter, kissing her cheek thoroughly.
Her cheeks were as red as roses as they walked into RM.


That afternoon, Arnav took Khushi to his office. He needed to get a file from his cabin, and he didn't want to spend a moment away from her.



She wore a pink, cream, and green Benaras silk sari, and plaited her hair tidily to fall to the back of her knees. She looked beautiful, like a pari, like some dear dream of his that he had forgotten...
"Khushi?"
She looked at him.
He cupped her cheek.
"Thank you."
"For what?", she was genuinely surprised.
"For being with me." Sincerity shone from his eyes.
Khushi swallowed, and nodded.

He parked in front of a huge building in the centre of the city. He opened her door, and held out his hand. She placed her hand in his, and alighted with his help. Curving her hand around his forearm, he led her into the office.
Aman's face broke into a wide smile as he watched Arnav Singh Raizada walk in with his wife, Khushi. He came rushing to them, greeting them.
"Sir, you didn't have to come here. I would have brought the papers Mr. Roy sent  to your home in the evening.", Aman protested.
"Are they ready, Aman?"
"Sir."
Aman frowned.  It was bad enough that ASR was working the day after his marriage, but to come to the office with poor Khushiji... How he wished Arnav and Khushi would enjoy a care-free honeymoon in some haven far away from the madding crowd!
Arnav led Khushi into his office, and made her sit across from him. He and Aman placed many documents in front of her, asking her to sign them. She didn't know what they were, and didn't want to ask Arnavji what they were. She trusted him. She signed all of them.
Arnav took the file he wanted, and left the office with her, smiling, noticing the numerous curious, envious eyes on him and Khushi.


He sat working in their room after dinner, typing on his laptop furiously. Khushi walked in,  a glass of water and his medicine in her hand.
"Arnavji, your medicine.", she said softly.
"Just a moment, Khushi.", he murmured, preoccupied. "Let me just finish this..."
She sat there, looking at him. The frown on his face as he looked at the accounts, the strands of hair flopping on to his forehead, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows, revealing his strong, muscled arms, his long, muscular legs folded under the low table...
He finished his work, and looked up to see her sitting on the bed, staring at him.
He swallowed.
He got up and walked to her, kneeling beside her, their eyes locked.
Khushi brought the pill to his lips. He parted them and took the pill, his eyes still holding hers. She lifted the glass of water to his lips. He drank, and swallowed the pill. She set the glass aside.
A drop of water clung to his lower lip. Khushi lifted a finger to wipe it away, but Arnav shook his head, dissuading her. He looked at her lips. They trembled.
Looking into his burning, golden brown, honey eyes, Khushi slowly parted her plump lips. She brought her head closer to his, cupping his rough cheeks in her soft palms. She angled his head, and slowly placed her lips on his, licking away that lucky droplet.

Within a week, she had a new bank account in the name of Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada, a handful of credit cards, and three prime properties in Delhi, including Anand Sadan in her name. She stood shocked, the documents held loosely in her nerveless hands, staring at him.



Part 28


"Arnavji! What...?", she looked at him and at the documents in her hands. "What have you done...Why...?"
"Given you a bank account in your new name. A few credit cards. Anand Sadan. And two other houses in Delhi. That's all."
"Why?", her voice was just a thread.
"For security. Your security."
Khushi stared at him.
"When my business started doing well, I did the same for Nani, Di, Mami, and Akash. I have set aside money for NK. I will give it to him when he gets married."
"Arnavji! But...", she tried to protest.
"Khushi...", he sighed. "My mother was totally dependent on my father. He...he was a bad businessman and a spendthrift. He ran through all the money that her father had given her in just 2 years of marriage. Then he began selling everything she owned. By the time he killed her, she had nothing left...Nothing..."
Khushi flinched at the pain in his eyes, the devastation...
"After the accident, when I had to take over the business... I...  I... It was such a shock, Khushi. There was nothing left, Khushi... Nothing at all. Even the house we lived in, our ancestral home had been pledged by him. We owed money to many..." He shook his head. "I will never forget those days..."
Khushi swallowed.
"Nani sold the house that had been in her family for centuries, many plots of land that she owned in and around Lucknow, and the house that Nana had built for her. That is how we managed to pay the debt." He looked at her.
"When it was time for me to start my business, Mami gave me her jewellery. She owned a large plot in Lucknow. She sold it for me." He shook his head, his eyes moist. "Khushi, but for my family, I...I would have been nothing, reached no where..."
"Khushi...", he cupped her face in his loving hands. "Khushi, whatever happens in the future, I don't want you to worry about money or a roof over your head."
Khushi could understand his pain. She could not refuse him in the face of such agony. She blinked away her tears and nodded.
"I transfer money every month to the accounts of Nani, Di, Mami, & Akash. I wanted to do the same for you. That's why I got you a bank account."
"I already have one.", she protested mildly.
"But not in your new name...", he murmured. "Khushi. Arnav. Singh. Raizada." He punctuated her name with kisses, stopping only when they were both panting, eager for the other. Khushi's fingers were clutching the hair at his nape, pulling him closer. He dropped a gentle but eager kiss on her forehead, and lifted her in his arms to carry her to their bed. The documents and cards lay forgotten on the floor.


Khushi sang in Raag Mand,

Bedardi Saiyya...
More Saiyya...

All the Raizadas were in the front row, listening to her. The hall was crowded, thousand of music lovers having braved the chill wind and cold rain to enjoy her music. Men and women shook their heads in appreciation, tapped their fingers and feet, murmured 'wah wah!', but all she could see was a pair of warm, honey eyes looking at her as though he wanted to swallow her whole...

Bedardi More Saiyya...
Bedardi Ban Gaye...More Saiyya...

He smiled at the goddess in a pink silk sari with a heavy border, her sweet voice complaining about her lover's cruelty towards her, her pain in his absence, her desire for him...




The sindoor in her maang, her mangalsutra... His possessive eyes lingered on the blush on her cheeks.

Koi Jaao, Manaao Re...
More Saiyya...
Ban Gaye Bedardi, More Saiyya...

His eyes promised her that he would deal with all her complaints, whether real or imaginary, once they reached home and got to their room.

Mami looked around, smiling at the huge crowd that had come to hear her bahuriyya sing. How she would boast about this to Mrs. Mehra and Mrs. Patel. They were already jealous of her ability to speak English like Englishmen! And her beautiphool looks. Now they could burn in jealousy over the popularity of the Raizada bahuriyya as a singer! She grinned in glee.
The lady sitting near her said, "Wah! What a voice! What a talent!"
"Of course, she is talented. She is hamre Arnav Bitwaa's wife. Our bahuriyya. How can she not be talented?"
"Really?", the lady was astonished.
"Aur nahin to kaa?", exclaimed Mamiji. "She cooks well too. Her kheer! Her halwa poori!"
The lady stared at her.
"And the way she sings Munni Badnam and Second-hand Jawani! You should hear her, hello hi bye bye! Even Malaika Arora and Deepika Padukone will bow down before her!"



Part 29


Vivek came home to fix railings for his Di. As he walked into RM with Arnav, his Di's warm arms enveloped him and hugged him. Arnav and the Raizadas watched, smiling, as he touched her feet, and got a kiss on his forehead as a reward.
Behind her stood Nani, Anjali, and Mami to welcome him. He blushed, unused to such attention.
He and Arnav discussed Khushi's daily schedule and drew a list of the places she frequented daily. They drafted a plan for the railings and the heights at which they had to be placed so that Khushi could stand up and walk without help.
Khushi paled. RM was a beautiful house with expensive flooring and fittings. Now it would look ugly with the railings.
Nani took one look at her, and told Arnav and Vivek, "This is a wonderful idea! We should have done this before. My knees give me too much trouble on some days, Chotey!"
Anjali and Mami looked at Nani in wonder.
Arnav stared at her. Her knees? Nani loved to dance. She had been dancing with the children at the sangeet, continuing to rock the floor even after the youngsters had fallen by the wayside. Her knees giving her trouble? Which knee would dare to give her trouble?
Anjali caught on. "Haan, Chotey! Why didn't you do this before? Now I will have no difficulty getting up after pooja.", she smiled happily.
Mami said, "Arnav Bitwaa, your Mami ijj getting oldwaa. Her bones are making sounds. This ijj good. This ijj good." She poured her tea into the saucer, and sipped from it.
Arnav looked at Khushi's face, and smiled at his family.


Arnav had to go to the office. Vivek would take Khushi to Omkar with him later, after the Raizada women had enquired after all 20 children and Baba's well-being.
He slipped the coat on and grabbed his bag. He walked down the steps, telling his family that he was leaving for his office. They nodded, smiling.
Khushi came with him to the door. She opened the door for him, and stood waiting for her kiss. He kissed her cheek, breathing in her scent.
"Bye!", he said in his husky voice that made her want to do naughty things to him.
"Bye!", she murmured.
He hesitated.
This was strange for them. Normally, both of them would leave RM in the morning. He would drop Khushi off at Omkar, and then go to his office. He and Akash would either return to Omkar for lunch or she would send dabbas for them if they were too busy to come home. He would return to Omkar in the evening, and stay there, working, till her music lessons ended. Then they would return to RM together.
"Call me once you reach Omkar.", he said.
"Ji."
"OK. I... I need to go.", he said.
She nodded.
He crossed the doorway, and then looked back.


(Sidhu285, thanx!)

She was standing there, looking at him.
"Khushi!", he called.
She walked the few steps to him, rushing into his waiting arms.
"I will come to Omkar for lunch.", he murmured into her hair.


Nani decided to hold a satsang at home on Sunday. Akash and NK helped HP decorate the house with flowers. Arnav returned from a meeting to find Mami and Nani decorating the mandir. Di and Khushi were not to be seen. He looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of his wife.
"Arnav Bitwaa, your beautiphool patni is in the kitchen making jalebi. Don't disturb her.", said eagle-eyed Mami.
Arnav blushed.

"It is just question of a jalebi
Ek jalebi ka sawaal hai
Duniya badal de saari
Achi jalebi ka yahi kamaal hai
Karle karle tu ek sawaal
Jalebi ka sawaal he!", Mami sang.

Arnav stared at her.
"Oo kaa he Bitwaa, when our bahuriyaa is such a good singer, how can her Mami be phar (far) behind?"
Nani smiled. "Chotey, she is preparing sweets for the pooja. Anjali Bitiyya is with her."
Arnav went to the kitchen.


Khushi was swirling a cloth bag over the heated oil, making jalebis. A mountain of jalebis sat on a big platter. As he watched, Anjali took a vessel of rice and went out of the kitchen through another door, too busy to see him.
Arnav came to stand behind Khushi. She was in a green anarkali, the shawl tied across her chest and around her waist, her hair in a bun.



As he watched, a drop of sweat made its way down her neck. His hand rose by itself, and he gently rubbed away that drop. She jerked, and turned around, her eyes wide.
"Arnavji, aap!", she gasped.
Arnav smiled. He bent his head to kiss her neck.
She pulled back. "Arnavji, I am all sweaty and hot. You... Your clothes will get dirty... Arnavji!"
He pulled her into his arms and hugged her close, his face buried against her neck. He kissed her neck and gently licked the salty trail. She trembled.
Over his shoulder, she saw Di walking towards the kitchen.
"Di!", she warned him in a whisper.

When Anjali came into the kitchen, Khushi was taking slightly burnt jalebis out of the angry oil and Arnav was standing at the other end of the kitchen, near the pot of water.
She hid a smile, and said, "Chotey, why don't you go to your room? I will send HP with water for you."
"Err... No, no, Di. I will take it by myself."
"Chotey!"
"No, Di. HP is busy. I will take it by myself."
"Oh! HP is busy. So why don't I send it through Khushiji?", asked Anjali with a smirk.
"Err... I will wait in my room."


Part 30


It was Holi.
The Raizadas prayed to Devi Maiyya, Arnav and Khushi doing her aarti together. Then Nk and Akash went to get their secret stashes of colours and pichkari to douse others. Baba and the children would be coming to RM, and NK and Akash were planning surprise attacks on the children. In the midst of this noise and gaiety, Arnav walked up the stairs to his room. Khushi looked after him, wondering why he was leaving them.
Anjali touched her arm, and said, "Khushiji, Chotey does not like to play with colours. He normally never comes down on Holi, just stays in his room working."
"Haan, Khushi Bitiyaa. You don't worry. Chotey is like that. You get your colours and come down.", comforted Nani.
Khushi nodded, her smile not reaching her eyes. She looked up at the closed door of their room.
"Don't worry!", said Mami, putting an arm around Khushi's shoulder. "Hamre Arnav Bitwaa likes only 3 colours. Black, brown, and white. Tells me, hab you seen him wearing any other colour?"
Khushi shook her head.
"Hamre Arnav Bitwaa is a black and white television. Old phasion (fashion). Not cool like his Mami!", she fanned herself to be cool.
Khushi smiled.
Mami pinched her chin. "Aisan smiliyaa karo. This is your phirst Holi as a Raijjada bahuriyaa. No rona dhona permitted."
"Haan, Khushi Bitiyaa.", Nani kissed her cheek and hugged her.
Anjali put her arms around Khushi, and hugged her. "Don't mind Chotey's silence and his absence, Khushiji.", she whispered in her ear.
NK said, "Khushi Bhabi, Nannav has always been like this. Aap ko pata he, when we were small, I tried to put colour on his face. He caught my arm, and twisted it behind my back. It is lucky that I didn't become langda!"
Khushi stared at him.
"Langda means lame, NK Bhai.", said Akash, sighing.
"Haan, you can become lame in the arm, can't you?", asked NK.
"Not just in the arm, NK Bhai. You can be totally lame at times." Akash got his own back.


Khushi went up to their bedroom to get her colours.
Arnavji was sitting on his recliner, working on his laptop. She hesitated near the door, wondering if she could ask him to join the fun. If he hated playing with colours, was it fair on her part to force him?, she wondered. Maybe he hated getting wet. Maybe the noise gave him a headache. Maybe he disliked getting dirty. The bhang, the drums, the colour, the noise, the children...maybe he couldn't stand all these.
She slowly walked across the room on silent feet, took a white kurta pyjama from the wardrobe, and went to the bathroom to change. She stole a look at her husband. Arnavji's eyes were still focused on the screen of the laptop, a frown creasing his forehead.
She came out in the white kurta pyjama, and standing in front of the mirror, began plaiting her hair. She then coiled her hair into a bun, stealing looks at Arnavji through the mirror. He was still working, checking some details in a file before typing them into his spreadsheet.
She took the thali of colours that she had kept ready, and walked towards the door. She turned around twice to look at him, but...
As she reached the door, he called, "Khushi!"
She turned around eagerly., "Ji?"
"Where are you going?"
"Down... To play holi... Baba and the children will be coming. Err... Will you...?"
"I don't like to play with colours." His face was stern and his voice expressionless.
"Ji.", she said after a pause, swallowing her disappointment.
He looked down at his laptop. She turned to leave.
"Khushi!"
She turned around. He had left his laptop and was walking towards her. He reached her, and slammed the door shut behind her.
He looked down at her astonished face turned up to his.

He dipped his fingers in the heap of red colour on her plate, and slowly ran his fingers down her right cheek. Her lashes fluttered under the impact, her breath quickened, her heart began to beat faster. The feel of his rough, male fingers on her soft, plump cheek...
"Happy Holi, Khushi!", he said softly, his chocolate brown eyes looking honey-coloured in love.
She stared at him. "I thought...all said...", she whispered in a tear-filled voice.
He smiled. "Won't you...?", he looked pointedly at the colour on her plate.
She nodded rapidly, and took a pinch of red colour in her fingers and smeared it on his lean cheek. The muscles under the stubble tightened as he clenched his jaw.
"Happy Holi, Arnavji!", she wished him.




(Illyria, thanx for all the pics!)

He took some more red colour in his hand, and gently spread it over her left cheek and forehead. His fingers trailed down her ear and slowly slipped down to the taut tendons of her arched neck. She fell back against the closed door.

A few minutes later, Khushi opened her eyes and looked at Arnavji. His face was covered in red colour. His white shirt was covered with red, green, and yellow finger and hand marks, where ever she had clutched him. She giggled.

"Acha, bahut hansi aa rahi he tumhe?", he asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Just look at your shirt, Arnavji!", she laughed.

He caught her arm and drew her to the mirror. Her face was red, except for her nose. Her neck was covered in red. Three of the buttons of her kurta were undone, and there was red colour all over her chest. The white kurta had his fingerprints all over it. Her chest, her waist, her back, even her legs. There was colour in her bun too, when he had cupped the back of her head to kiss her better. She blushed.

He laughed loudly, seeing her blush through the Holi colour.


Nani, Mami, Anjali, NK, and Akash looked towards the stairs and Arnav's room at the strange sound of Arnav's laughter. The door opened. Khushi and Arnav came down, covered in varied colours.
Nani & Anjali stared at them. Mami stood with her mouth open. Akash dropped the packet of colour he had been holding. NK gulped.
"Laagat he, Saasumma, some people have started playing Holi early.", Mami giggled.
"Nannav, mere bhai! You! You played Holi! Yeh gazab ho gaya, Maasi. Ye Chitrakaar ho gaya!"
"Chitrakaar naahi, NK. Chamatkaar!", said Nani.
"Saasumma, get ready for your first great grandchild. At this ratewaa, there will be many children running around this house soon.", said Mami in a loud whisper.
Akash bit down on a wide smile. NK laughed. Nani and Anjali giggled.
Arnav and Khushi blushed.


There was loud music from the drums, lots of dancing, vats and vats of bhang, trays and trays of sweets, many guests covered in many colours...
Tired from dancing, Arnav and Khushi walked towards their room hand in hand. She stumbled, the effect of the one glass of bhang Nani had forced on her making her relaxed and happy. Arnav had refused to drink, and was sober. He helped her on to his recliner, and wiped the colour off her face and hands with a wet cloth. She lay back, watching him clean her up with gentle hands.




He started undoing the buttons of her kurta to help her change.
"Arnavji!", she drawled.
"Hhmmm?" His focus was on the buttons.
"Arnavji!", she pouted. "Do you know how much...", she hiccuped. "...how much I love you?
He looked at her, his hands motionless.
She spread her arms wide open. "I love you...", she hiccuped "....this much."



Arnav swallowed.
"I told Devi Maiyya...", she hiccuped, "that... that I want you as my husband always... For seven lives..."
Arnav looked at her, his eyes becoming moist and red.
"Don't cry. Don't cry, Arnavji..." She caught hold of his shoulders and pulled him towards her. She held his face against her bosom as though he were a child, and whispered. "Don't cry... All my joys are yours. And all your sorrows are mine..."
She hiccuped.