Ding-Dong. Diing-Doong. Diiing-Dooong.
‘Finally! What took you so long Hari-Prakash ji?’ A flustered Khushi pushed past him, as she dragged a frazzled person behind her into Shantivan.
‘Khushi ji-‘ Hari-Prakash hurried after, trying to understand what had caused her to come by this early in the morning and that too in this manner, with an eerie looking man carrying very interesting props.
‘Arnav ji?!!’ She called out. ‘Where is Arnav ji?’ She rounded on Hari-Prakash, whilst still holding the man she had brought with her by the arm.
‘His study. But Khushi ji wha-‘ She didn’t wait to hear his question, instead turned and stormed in the direction of Arnav’s study barging in as she always did without pausing to knock.
‘How many women? 5. That’s good. One of them his own secretary? Brilliant. This case is becoming more solid by the day and his chance’s of winning even less. Then- What the? Khushi?!!’ Arnav stared dumbstruck at Khushi’s sudden appearance in his study, at six-thirty in the morning. She had been a sight for sore eyes in Shantivan, this past month, but that didn’t mean he had wanted her to appear at this hour, in his study, in this manner and that too when he was having a conversation he wanted to make sure Khushi never ever heard him have. God she hadn’t heard had she? What was she doing here anyway?
‘Khushi, is everything ok? You here at this time? Your dad, is he ok?’ He cut the phone-line without even stopping to end it with the usual formalities, as he advanced towards her.
‘Me, yes, yes. I’m fine. Bau ji’s fine. Everyone is fine.’ Khushi batted his concerned hand away, only to mentally reprimand herself for it and seize it again with great care, causing him to stare at her in confusion. ‘Are you ok Arnav ji? How are you feeling this morning?’ She peered closely into his face, causing him to back away for a change, then checked his temperature with the back of her palm, further bewildering him, just as she realized that just because he was mentally disturbed didn’t mean he would have a temperature but may have an elevated heartbeat and so turned her attention back onto his hand, that she was still holding. She tried to locate his pulse, as he continued to inspect her with grave perplexity. She couldn’t find it.
Had he lost his heartbeat with his mind? Oho Khushi, if that was so then he wouldn’t be standing alive in front of you! But then where was his stupid pulse, may be mentally ill patients pulses went really low instead of fast and that’s why she couldn’t locate it. Yes, that must be, in that case she must go straight to the source…
‘Khush- Wha-ouch!’ Arnav had been about to ask her for the reason behind her sudden decision to play doctor on him at six-thirty in the morning, when she completely ignored the little amount of personal space she had been allowing him and charged head first into his chest. ‘Khushi?!!’ He exclaimed, as she hugged his body side-ways, one hand on his back, while the other next to her face resting on his chest.
‘Uffo… sshh, Arnav ji, let me listen… oho… where is your heart… oh there… HUNH!!! OH MY GOD!!!’ She suddenly gripped the folds of his grey shirt harder as she leaned in more, a feat he didn’t think possible as she was already stuck to his chest.
‘What?!!’ What on earth was she doing? And why was she screaming from the depths of his chest?
‘My suspicions were right!!’ she stated, as she straightened up.
‘What suspicions? Khushi, what the hell is going on?’ Arnav asked again, in a measured voice, confusion was now bordering on impatience.
‘Your heart-beat Arnav ji… it is completely elevated.’
‘What? Well of course it is, on finding you in my study like this.’ He reacted angrily, but she wasn’t listening, instead was continuing on in her own tangent.
‘I had feared this, that is why I brought re-inforcements. Don’t worry Arnav ji, I will make it all ok.’ She was back in his face now, cupping it and speaking to him like he was a child whom she was preparing for an injection, telling him all would be ok when the worst was to come. ‘You will get better. I promise you.’ She said earnestly into his face.
‘Khush-‘ but she turned away from him as quickly as she had come near him.
‘Tantric Baba (witch-doctor) come in. Your expertise is required.’ She called out towards the door of the study.
‘Tantric- who?’ Arnav asked, but was answered when a long-bearded man, in florescent green and blue robes, adorned in multiple chains, pendants, rings and earings, wearing a black bandena that had some impressive symbols painted on it, entered into hia study bringing in with him a portable couldron in one hand that was emitting a cloud of black smoke which discharged the most pungent smell and a broom made from an assortment of different bird tails in the other, peacock and ostrich feathers where the ones he was able to distinguish from the lot.
‘Wha- ehu ehu… Khush- ehu ehu… Khu- ehu. AARGH—EHU... WHA-EHU. STO- EHU. STOP! EHU EHU. KHUSHI. STOP IT! EHU. EHU.’ Before Arnav could decipher what this man was here for, the man had advanced into the room towards him and was covering him with smoke, whilst muttering some unintelligible mantras and then out of nowhere began brandishing him with the broom he had been holding.
‘Its’ ok Arnav ji. Don’t fight it. This is for your own good.’ Khushi consoled from somewhere, he couldn’t see her as the bird-tail broom was in his face, although even if that had not been there he doubted he would have been able to spy her past the opaque cloud of black smoke.
Khushi clapped her hands in prayer and began praying to DM too, to help heal Arnav’s brain, as well as thank her for the idea she had delievered to her in her dreams the previous night. She had dreamt of a girl that had lived in their neighbourhood, back in Lucknow and how one fine day she had started acting up. No one had known what had happened or what should be done. No doctors could understand her condition, no medicine or therapy worked, until one day an old homeless lady had stated the girl had become the victim of the evil-eye and so they should consult a witch-doctor. One was located and the girl taken to him, once he had performed his many counter-spells the girl had been cured and returned completely normal. Thus when Khushi awoke in the morning she knew it had been a sign from her goddess friend and had set out as soon as dawn to look for a witch-doctor and bring him to Arnav in order to cure his malady.
‘I SAID STOP!!’ Arnav finally managed to overcome the beatings and put a stop to it, by grabbing the broom and throwing it onto the floor.
The witch-doctor shook his head mournfully, ‘This is a stubborn one bitya. It will take more than a house-visit to cure him.’
‘What?!!’ Arnav blared aloud, incredulously, trying to locate the two in the snakes of smoke that had converted his office into the inside of a chiminey.
‘Oh dear. What shall we do Tantric baba?’ Khushi asked, appalled, ignoring Arnav’s growing anger completely.
‘Bitya-‘
‘GET OUT!! GET OUT!! HARI-PRAKASH!! SECURITY!!’ He charged over to his table and pressed the intercom on his desk to get Vikram here.
‘Chotay, what happen- ehu, ehu. Khushi? Ehu. What is going on? Ehu.’ Anjali now joined the chaos as Hari-Prakash and Vikram charged into the room.
‘GET THIS MAN – EHU - OUT OF MY SIGHT!’ Arnav hollered at them, both Hari-Prakash and Vikram leapt at the witch-doctor and began dragging him out, as he desparately shouted out cautions to Khushi to take heed of for Arnav.
‘Hari- ehu - Prakash ji, Vikram ji – ehu - don’t…’ Khushi tried to stop them, but Arnav’s anger weighed over anyone else and they followed his order to kick him out. ‘Urgh Arnav ji, what – ehu - did you do that for?!’ Khushi now turned to face him, only she couldn’t locate him as the room was still covered in thick black fog that was making her eyes sting for having been exposed to it for so long. ‘Ehu - where are you? Ouch!’ She walked into the corner of his desk.
‘Sleeaaahhh….’ a hand suddenly gripped her elbow fiercely and jerked her away from the table and began guiding her out of the dense black fog and into fresh air outside, in the living room. ‘Arnav ji what are you doing?’ She didn’t need to be able to see his face to know it was him, she was much too familiar with his grip by now.
‘What am I doing?!! What am I doing?!! Khushi what the hell were you thinking?! What new drama is this?!! A witch-doctor? Seriously?!! Have you lost even the little bit of mind you had?!!’ Arnav berated her once in the living room.
‘ME? It’s you who has lost his mind, I was only trying to help!’ Khushi shouted back, forgetting all the decorum she had resolved on keeping when with him, to protect his feeble mind.
‘What?! Khushi Kumari Gupta, what on earth led you to think that my sanity was in question?!!’ Arnav shouted, now losing control over his anger.
‘Well no reasonable man would behave the way you have been behaving this past month!’ Khushi shouted back.
‘Excuse me?! What about my behavior has lead you to believe I am not normal?!!’ Arnav hollered incredulously.
‘Your sudden declaration of love and your absurd belief that I share the same sentiment. Not to mention your readiness to marriage after a whole month of cold behaviour!’ Khushi scorned.
‘Yo- Wh- I- Khu- Wh-rrr‘ Arnav found it difficult to form words, let alone a sentence in response to what she had just related. She thought his feelings were the projection of his deluded mind?!!!
‘See you are so disturbed you can’t even formulate words properly, Arnav ji. No wonder you are believing such ridiculous things and acting according to the beliefs your tired mind has formed.’ Khushi lowered her tone now and tried to calmly make him see the truth.
Arnav was seething now. ‘KHUSHI. KUMARI. GUPTA.’ He said each name with each stride he took to close the small gap between them. He took her shoulders into his iron grip and spoke deathly into her face, ‘I Am Only Going To Say This Once. So Listen Very Carefully. I AM NOT CRAZY! MY LOVE FOR YOU IS REAL. IT’S NOT A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION. AND THIS MARRIAGE IS GOING TO HAPPEN, NOT JUST BECAUSE I WANT IT, BUT BECAUSE YOU WANT IT TOO, EVEN IF YOU ARE TOO SCARED TO ADMIT IT. UNDERSTAND?’ He paused to let it all sink in.
‘Now don’t you ever dare do something like this again! Get it!’ With that he let go of her and she stumbled back a little, making him keep his grip on her, once he was sure she was steady on her feet, he turned to head into his room. ‘HARI-PRAKASH! Decontaminate my study!!’
‘Cho-‘ Anjali tried to stop him and console him, but he cut her off before she could even complete his name.
‘Don’t Di. Not right now. Get ready for that shaadi-permission-puja thing we all need to go for.’ He uttered as he brushed past her. ‘And see if you can knock some sense into her.’ He said after a slight pause, registering on some level that his anger may have caused him to act harshly towards her, but he didn’t have a control over his emotions at that moment to trust himself with her and so considered Anjali would do better to soothe her disturbed mind than him.
‘Khushi…’ Anjali shook her head, sympathetically, once Arnav was safely in his room. She limped over to where she still stood, shell-shocked in the middle of the lounge. ‘Khushi.’ She whispered softly, once next to her, jerking her out of Arnav’s anger-bubble she was still in.
‘Hunh? Oh Di. Di I-‘
‘Sshh…it’s ok. Come.’ She smiled softly, infusing a warmth inside Khushi, the way she always managed to, as she guided her towards her room. ‘Here Khushi. You can wear these, they are your’s. Were in the laundry and so didn’t get packed with the rest of your things.’ Anjali offered her a deep purple-pink shalwar-suit.
‘But Di I’m already dressed.’
‘Yes but your clothes are all covered in that black smoke, as is your face. See.’ She pointed out, as she turned Khushi towards the wall-length mirror in her room.
‘Hunh!! Oh my God. What a mess? Oh Di. I’m a terrible mess. Arnav ji is so mad with me. But it’s not my fault, I really thought that he was unwell that’s why?’
‘It’s ok. He will get over it. He loves you and so knows you meant well.’ Anjali pacified her.
‘Yes that’s what he says.’ Khushi muttered.
‘Hmm? Did you say something?’ Anjali asked, for she had not caught her words.
‘No. Nothing.’ She didn’t know how to tell Anjali her suspicions about Arnav and why he suddenly claimed to love her, for he was her brother. She knew while Anjali loved her very much she would not appreciate Khushi suggesting her brother to be a characterless person, who only claimed to love her because he wanted to bed her and therefore had played out such an elaborate scheme. His anger had proven to her this much that it wasn’t a case of him losing his senses as she had thought the night before, giving him the benefit of the doubt. But now, now she was sure it was plain and simple lust nothing else. And she hated him for it. He was right she did hold a fire in his heart for him, only it’s source wasn’t what he claimed it to be.
‘Finally! What took you so long Hari-Prakash ji?’ A flustered Khushi pushed past him, as she dragged a frazzled person behind her into Shantivan.
‘Khushi ji-‘ Hari-Prakash hurried after, trying to understand what had caused her to come by this early in the morning and that too in this manner, with an eerie looking man carrying very interesting props.
‘Arnav ji?!!’ She called out. ‘Where is Arnav ji?’ She rounded on Hari-Prakash, whilst still holding the man she had brought with her by the arm.
‘His study. But Khushi ji wha-‘ She didn’t wait to hear his question, instead turned and stormed in the direction of Arnav’s study barging in as she always did without pausing to knock.
‘How many women? 5. That’s good. One of them his own secretary? Brilliant. This case is becoming more solid by the day and his chance’s of winning even less. Then- What the? Khushi?!!’ Arnav stared dumbstruck at Khushi’s sudden appearance in his study, at six-thirty in the morning. She had been a sight for sore eyes in Shantivan, this past month, but that didn’t mean he had wanted her to appear at this hour, in his study, in this manner and that too when he was having a conversation he wanted to make sure Khushi never ever heard him have. God she hadn’t heard had she? What was she doing here anyway?
‘Khushi, is everything ok? You here at this time? Your dad, is he ok?’ He cut the phone-line without even stopping to end it with the usual formalities, as he advanced towards her.
‘Me, yes, yes. I’m fine. Bau ji’s fine. Everyone is fine.’ Khushi batted his concerned hand away, only to mentally reprimand herself for it and seize it again with great care, causing him to stare at her in confusion. ‘Are you ok Arnav ji? How are you feeling this morning?’ She peered closely into his face, causing him to back away for a change, then checked his temperature with the back of her palm, further bewildering him, just as she realized that just because he was mentally disturbed didn’t mean he would have a temperature but may have an elevated heartbeat and so turned her attention back onto his hand, that she was still holding. She tried to locate his pulse, as he continued to inspect her with grave perplexity. She couldn’t find it.
Had he lost his heartbeat with his mind? Oho Khushi, if that was so then he wouldn’t be standing alive in front of you! But then where was his stupid pulse, may be mentally ill patients pulses went really low instead of fast and that’s why she couldn’t locate it. Yes, that must be, in that case she must go straight to the source…
‘Khush- Wha-ouch!’ Arnav had been about to ask her for the reason behind her sudden decision to play doctor on him at six-thirty in the morning, when she completely ignored the little amount of personal space she had been allowing him and charged head first into his chest. ‘Khushi?!!’ He exclaimed, as she hugged his body side-ways, one hand on his back, while the other next to her face resting on his chest.
‘Uffo… sshh, Arnav ji, let me listen… oho… where is your heart… oh there… HUNH!!! OH MY GOD!!!’ She suddenly gripped the folds of his grey shirt harder as she leaned in more, a feat he didn’t think possible as she was already stuck to his chest.
‘What?!!’ What on earth was she doing? And why was she screaming from the depths of his chest?
‘My suspicions were right!!’ she stated, as she straightened up.
‘What suspicions? Khushi, what the hell is going on?’ Arnav asked again, in a measured voice, confusion was now bordering on impatience.
‘Your heart-beat Arnav ji… it is completely elevated.’
‘What? Well of course it is, on finding you in my study like this.’ He reacted angrily, but she wasn’t listening, instead was continuing on in her own tangent.
‘I had feared this, that is why I brought re-inforcements. Don’t worry Arnav ji, I will make it all ok.’ She was back in his face now, cupping it and speaking to him like he was a child whom she was preparing for an injection, telling him all would be ok when the worst was to come. ‘You will get better. I promise you.’ She said earnestly into his face.
‘Khush-‘ but she turned away from him as quickly as she had come near him.
‘Tantric Baba (witch-doctor) come in. Your expertise is required.’ She called out towards the door of the study.
‘Tantric- who?’ Arnav asked, but was answered when a long-bearded man, in florescent green and blue robes, adorned in multiple chains, pendants, rings and earings, wearing a black bandena that had some impressive symbols painted on it, entered into hia study bringing in with him a portable couldron in one hand that was emitting a cloud of black smoke which discharged the most pungent smell and a broom made from an assortment of different bird tails in the other, peacock and ostrich feathers where the ones he was able to distinguish from the lot.
‘Wha- ehu ehu… Khush- ehu ehu… Khu- ehu. AARGH—EHU... WHA-EHU. STO- EHU. STOP! EHU EHU. KHUSHI. STOP IT! EHU. EHU.’ Before Arnav could decipher what this man was here for, the man had advanced into the room towards him and was covering him with smoke, whilst muttering some unintelligible mantras and then out of nowhere began brandishing him with the broom he had been holding.
‘Its’ ok Arnav ji. Don’t fight it. This is for your own good.’ Khushi consoled from somewhere, he couldn’t see her as the bird-tail broom was in his face, although even if that had not been there he doubted he would have been able to spy her past the opaque cloud of black smoke.
Khushi clapped her hands in prayer and began praying to DM too, to help heal Arnav’s brain, as well as thank her for the idea she had delievered to her in her dreams the previous night. She had dreamt of a girl that had lived in their neighbourhood, back in Lucknow and how one fine day she had started acting up. No one had known what had happened or what should be done. No doctors could understand her condition, no medicine or therapy worked, until one day an old homeless lady had stated the girl had become the victim of the evil-eye and so they should consult a witch-doctor. One was located and the girl taken to him, once he had performed his many counter-spells the girl had been cured and returned completely normal. Thus when Khushi awoke in the morning she knew it had been a sign from her goddess friend and had set out as soon as dawn to look for a witch-doctor and bring him to Arnav in order to cure his malady.
‘I SAID STOP!!’ Arnav finally managed to overcome the beatings and put a stop to it, by grabbing the broom and throwing it onto the floor.
The witch-doctor shook his head mournfully, ‘This is a stubborn one bitya. It will take more than a house-visit to cure him.’
‘What?!!’ Arnav blared aloud, incredulously, trying to locate the two in the snakes of smoke that had converted his office into the inside of a chiminey.
‘Oh dear. What shall we do Tantric baba?’ Khushi asked, appalled, ignoring Arnav’s growing anger completely.
‘Bitya-‘
‘GET OUT!! GET OUT!! HARI-PRAKASH!! SECURITY!!’ He charged over to his table and pressed the intercom on his desk to get Vikram here.
‘Chotay, what happen- ehu, ehu. Khushi? Ehu. What is going on? Ehu.’ Anjali now joined the chaos as Hari-Prakash and Vikram charged into the room.
‘GET THIS MAN – EHU - OUT OF MY SIGHT!’ Arnav hollered at them, both Hari-Prakash and Vikram leapt at the witch-doctor and began dragging him out, as he desparately shouted out cautions to Khushi to take heed of for Arnav.
‘Hari- ehu - Prakash ji, Vikram ji – ehu - don’t…’ Khushi tried to stop them, but Arnav’s anger weighed over anyone else and they followed his order to kick him out. ‘Urgh Arnav ji, what – ehu - did you do that for?!’ Khushi now turned to face him, only she couldn’t locate him as the room was still covered in thick black fog that was making her eyes sting for having been exposed to it for so long. ‘Ehu - where are you? Ouch!’ She walked into the corner of his desk.
‘Sleeaaahhh….’ a hand suddenly gripped her elbow fiercely and jerked her away from the table and began guiding her out of the dense black fog and into fresh air outside, in the living room. ‘Arnav ji what are you doing?’ She didn’t need to be able to see his face to know it was him, she was much too familiar with his grip by now.
‘What am I doing?!! What am I doing?!! Khushi what the hell were you thinking?! What new drama is this?!! A witch-doctor? Seriously?!! Have you lost even the little bit of mind you had?!!’ Arnav berated her once in the living room.
‘ME? It’s you who has lost his mind, I was only trying to help!’ Khushi shouted back, forgetting all the decorum she had resolved on keeping when with him, to protect his feeble mind.
‘What?! Khushi Kumari Gupta, what on earth led you to think that my sanity was in question?!!’ Arnav shouted, now losing control over his anger.
‘Well no reasonable man would behave the way you have been behaving this past month!’ Khushi shouted back.
‘Excuse me?! What about my behavior has lead you to believe I am not normal?!!’ Arnav hollered incredulously.
‘Your sudden declaration of love and your absurd belief that I share the same sentiment. Not to mention your readiness to marriage after a whole month of cold behaviour!’ Khushi scorned.
‘Yo- Wh- I- Khu- Wh-rrr‘ Arnav found it difficult to form words, let alone a sentence in response to what she had just related. She thought his feelings were the projection of his deluded mind?!!!
‘See you are so disturbed you can’t even formulate words properly, Arnav ji. No wonder you are believing such ridiculous things and acting according to the beliefs your tired mind has formed.’ Khushi lowered her tone now and tried to calmly make him see the truth.
Arnav was seething now. ‘KHUSHI. KUMARI. GUPTA.’ He said each name with each stride he took to close the small gap between them. He took her shoulders into his iron grip and spoke deathly into her face, ‘I Am Only Going To Say This Once. So Listen Very Carefully. I AM NOT CRAZY! MY LOVE FOR YOU IS REAL. IT’S NOT A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION. AND THIS MARRIAGE IS GOING TO HAPPEN, NOT JUST BECAUSE I WANT IT, BUT BECAUSE YOU WANT IT TOO, EVEN IF YOU ARE TOO SCARED TO ADMIT IT. UNDERSTAND?’ He paused to let it all sink in.
‘Now don’t you ever dare do something like this again! Get it!’ With that he let go of her and she stumbled back a little, making him keep his grip on her, once he was sure she was steady on her feet, he turned to head into his room. ‘HARI-PRAKASH! Decontaminate my study!!’
‘Cho-‘ Anjali tried to stop him and console him, but he cut her off before she could even complete his name.
‘Don’t Di. Not right now. Get ready for that shaadi-permission-puja thing we all need to go for.’ He uttered as he brushed past her. ‘And see if you can knock some sense into her.’ He said after a slight pause, registering on some level that his anger may have caused him to act harshly towards her, but he didn’t have a control over his emotions at that moment to trust himself with her and so considered Anjali would do better to soothe her disturbed mind than him.
‘Khushi…’ Anjali shook her head, sympathetically, once Arnav was safely in his room. She limped over to where she still stood, shell-shocked in the middle of the lounge. ‘Khushi.’ She whispered softly, once next to her, jerking her out of Arnav’s anger-bubble she was still in.
‘Hunh? Oh Di. Di I-‘
‘Sshh…it’s ok. Come.’ She smiled softly, infusing a warmth inside Khushi, the way she always managed to, as she guided her towards her room. ‘Here Khushi. You can wear these, they are your’s. Were in the laundry and so didn’t get packed with the rest of your things.’ Anjali offered her a deep purple-pink shalwar-suit.
‘But Di I’m already dressed.’
‘Yes but your clothes are all covered in that black smoke, as is your face. See.’ She pointed out, as she turned Khushi towards the wall-length mirror in her room.
‘Hunh!! Oh my God. What a mess? Oh Di. I’m a terrible mess. Arnav ji is so mad with me. But it’s not my fault, I really thought that he was unwell that’s why?’
‘It’s ok. He will get over it. He loves you and so knows you meant well.’ Anjali pacified her.
‘Yes that’s what he says.’ Khushi muttered.
‘Hmm? Did you say something?’ Anjali asked, for she had not caught her words.
‘No. Nothing.’ She didn’t know how to tell Anjali her suspicions about Arnav and why he suddenly claimed to love her, for he was her brother. She knew while Anjali loved her very much she would not appreciate Khushi suggesting her brother to be a characterless person, who only claimed to love her because he wanted to bed her and therefore had played out such an elaborate scheme. His anger had proven to her this much that it wasn’t a case of him losing his senses as she had thought the night before, giving him the benefit of the doubt. But now, now she was sure it was plain and simple lust nothing else. And she hated him for it. He was right she did hold a fire in his heart for him, only it’s source wasn’t what he claimed it to be.
‘Jiji?’ Khushi stared, puzzled at finding Payal at the mandir she had come to with the Raizada’s. Her confusion grew further when she saw Garima, Madhumathi, Shashi and Aakash all behind Payal coming there way, smiles on there faces as if they had been expecting to find them all here. Which was weird considering, one, she and her family generally went to the mandir closer to Payal’s house then this one which the Raizada’s came too; two, Khushi hadn’t known she would be coming here, she had sat quietly in the car with the rest of them, not wanting to poke the beast – Arnav – again with her questions even though she found it odd that Nani and Anjali were tagging along to LaANK with Arnav and Khushi. It wasn’t until the car had breaked outside the mandir did Khushi understand he was dropping the two off here. But now that she stood outside the car, in order to help Nani up the steps as Arnav came to Anjali’s help, she was confused to find her own family walking towards her.
‘Oh good we all made it here together.’ Devyani greeted the Gupta’s happily at the bottom of the steps.
‘Jiji, what are you all doing here?’ Khushi asked Payal in an undertone, as the rest greeted each other.
‘What do you mean Khushi? Didn’t you expect us all to gather here and thank DM for bringing Arnav ji into your life so that we could get rid of you?!’ Payal joked.
‘Jiji?!’ Khushi asked, horrified, making Payal sober up instantly.
‘Relax, Khushi I was only joking. I only meant we’re here to take blessings from DM, as well as match your horoscopes to find an auspicious date for your marriage.’ She beamed, clearly over-the-moon with the thought of her younger sister becoming a bride.
Khushi felt like someone had just slapped her with an ice-cold hand. Today was their Kul-Devi puja, how could she have forgotten. Of course because she had been so set on finding the Tantric baba to cure Arnav the puja had completely slipped her mind. She couldn’t believe Arnav, to what lengths would this man go in order to hurt her and fulfil his desires. He disgusted her. Ugh, no she wouldn’t let him win. She wouldn’t attend the puja thereby failing his plan and letting everybody know that this marriage won’t happen.
‘Oh Arnav bitwa, what happened to your face?’ Garima’s voice floated through Khushi’s thoughts bringing her back to everybody. ‘It’s got scratches all over it.’ She noted, as Arnav coloured a little.
‘Umm. It’s nothing, just an accident.’ Arnav replied curtly, as he eyed Khushi. She stared back, determined not to be intimidated by him.
‘Accident?!’ both Garima and Madhumathi cried out in unison.
‘No. No. Not a big one…just umm…’ Arnav chastised himself for using the word “accident”.
‘A wild-cat Madhumathi ji, attacked Chotay, on his morning jog. But they’re only a couple of scratches, will clear up soon. Don’t worry you will have a very handsome Groom to flaunt in the neighbourhood, when we come with the barat.’ Devyani came to Arnav’s rescue and changed the subject from his “accident”, which they had all decided was best to keep to themselves rather than let the Gupta’s know what Khushi’s visit to Shantivan this morning had been about, to save her from being scolded. ‘Well shall we proceed.’
‘Yes. Yes. Let us.’ Garima agreed and they all began making there way up the steps and into the temple.
‘Khushi…what are you waiting for, come on.’ Payal asked, as she saw Khushi continuing to stand there.
‘Uh. Yes. Coming just need to get something….for the puja.’ She added seeing Payal’s face darken with suspicion, ‘You go ahead, help Amma, I’ll be right behind you.’ She smiled, hoping that Payal wouldn’t see through her lie.
‘Khu-‘
‘Payaliya…’ Madhumathi’s call, saved Khushi from any further interrogation from Payal as she turned to head up, leaving Khushi at the bottom of the mandir, just like she had wanted. As they all made their way up, Khushi turned in the other direction and began walking towards the taxi stand that was by the side of the mandir, there was no way she would let this game go on any longer. She would leave and Arnav would have to loose, thereby explain to everyone why she had done so, in that he didn’t really intend to marry her and that’s why she left.
Pleased with herself for bringing an end to his dispecable game, but at the same time sad for her family and Anjali and Nani she made to get into one of the taxis, when a hand grabbed her and twisted her around, away from the taxi. ‘Ow!’
‘Where do you think you’re going?’ Arnav pierced her with his question. Where did he come from? She was sure he was one of the first one’s up the steps, as he had been helping Anjali.
‘Let go of me.’ She struggled.
‘I asked you a question. Where are you going? The puja is that way.’ He jerked his head in the other direction to point out the location, not letting go of his grip on her.
‘Yes, well I am not attending it!’ She snapped.
‘Why not? It’s for our wedding.’
‘Which will not happen! So I don’t see the point in attending it!’
‘Khushi for the last time this marriage is happening.’
‘Not if I can help it. You can fool everyone else but not me Mr. Raizada! What are you going to get out of all this anyway? Why are you involving our families, playing with their hearts with this evil hoax you have planned. Do you have no heart?!!’ She demanded angrily.
‘No heart?! Khushi! Who do you think I am doing all this for? Not for me! You know I don’t believe in all this puja stuff, I have never really seen the point of it yet I am doing it all, why?! Ever think of that?’ He posed, hotly. ‘For you, you fool. These puja’s, these rasams they all mean something to you, you value them. This is the kind of wedding you always wanted, the one done in grand-style with each and every tradition, right? So that’s why I am going through it, because my heart desires your wishes to be fulfilled, the way they deserve to be. If it were up to me I would get it done in a court, no hassle, but no, I will do the whole “great-indian-wedding” because you want it. No heart!’ he muttered the last ferociously, as he let go of her, in order to control the temper that had begun rising again.
She stared at him. Could this all be true? Was what he was saying, really the truth that he was doing this for her? But then…. of course not how could it be? Because if he was doing this for her, then he would know not to do this at all. It was all a farce, a lie to win her over. To get her to do his bidding.
‘Lies. All lies. I can’t believe how low you will stoop to try and get me, Arnav ji. I really didn’t expect this from you.’ She said. Shaking her head in dismay.
‘What? Khushi.’ He advanced and then stopped, recalling Anjali, Aakash and Payal’s words at how he would have to be patient with Khushi. She distrusted love gravely, it wasn’t him but rather her past that was making him doubt her and so he needed to stay calm. ‘Khushi I don’t want to argue with you anymore. It’s time for the puja, everyone is waiting, let’s just go. We can discuss your thoughts about my motives regarding this wedding later ok? Come.’ He said evenly, taking her hand, but she didn’t move.
‘I said I am not going in.’ she yanked her hand back and folded it across her chest.
‘Khushi.’ He tried again.
‘No. I’m not going in and there is nothing you can do about it!’ she asserted defiantly.
‘Heh.’ Arnav let out a laugh, unsettling her.
‘What’s the laugh for?’ she asked, unnerved by it, but still standing her ground. She looked adorable trying to keep a stone face, when clearly disconcerted by him.
‘Nothing, just that you really should not have said that.’ He smiled, eying her.
‘As in…’ she stared back, trying to understand which way the wheels in his clever brain were turning. He gave his devious smile, just before he closed the gap between them and in one single movement heaved her in to his arms. ‘A-Arnav ji, what are you doing?!! Put me down!!’ She screamed out in alarm.
‘Showing you just how wrong you are about me: about my sincerety regarding this marriage, as well as about my ability to take you in for the puja. You really shouldn’t have challenged me Khushi.’ He chuckled.
‘Ugh Arnav ji you animal, put me down! Put me down!’ she struggled uncontrollably, desperately trying to get out of his arms and back on to her feet, but all that did was tighten his grip on her, strengthening her prison.
‘Khushi your shouts will only hurt your throat, nothing els-’
‘Waow. Hey excuse me. Is there a problem? Is this man forcing you ma’am.’ Arnav hadn’t even finished his gloating when a passerby stopped them, due to Khushi’s screams.
‘Yes. Yes. Oh thank god. Yes please help me, this man is-‘ Khushi began happily, glad of her rescuer.
‘Her fiancé. I am her finacé. She has hurt her leg and so I am helping her up the mandir steps. Do you have a problem with that?’ Arnav silenced the man with his statement and gaze, so that even if he had any problems with them he kept them to himself and walked away.
‘Hey…no…wait….ugh. Laad Governor kahin-ke!’ Khushi grumbled in contempt, while Arnav carried on smiling seeing her finally give in to him.
‘Khushi?’
‘Chotay?’ They were instantly hit with their families inquiries as to what took them so long and why Khushi was in Arnav’s arms.
‘Khushi twisted her ankle, so I helped her up.’ Arnav explained. They all nodded in understanding, making Khushi’s blood boil.
‘Yes of course, because a twisted ankle calls for you carrying me in your arms rather than just giving me your shoulder for support!’ Khushi muttered bitterly, making Arnav snort with amusement at her annoyance to no one finding it odd that he had carried her because of a sprained ankle. ‘What do you require the pandit ji to give you a mahurat to put me down or will you do it willingly, now that I am inside!’ she asked crossly.
He released her from his prison, but didn’t let go of her arm. ‘Don’t even think about running, because you know I will catch you and then not only will I carry you back in my arms but will keep you in my lap throughout the puja. So the choice is yours either sit like a good bride next to me during it or in my lap.’ He conditioned, making her seethe, but she abided and stomped towards the front of the mandir and took her seat, making everyone follow in her wake. Smirking Arnav took his seat next to her, but she made an obvious effort to ignore him throughout the puja, amusing him further.
Once the puja was complete and the pandit ji had calculated a date for the wedding they all made their way back down to the cars and Arnav took this opportunity to have a private word with Khushi.
‘Argh… Can you not ever use your voice like a normal human being and call me, instead of yanking me whenever you decide to speak to me?!’ Khushi complained as she massaged her arm, once he had let go of her arm after disengaging her from the crowd.
‘Sorry, did I hurt you?’ he asked, concerned.
‘Yes. But I’m used to it!’ she snapped at him, hurting him with her words, but she ignored the pain that was etched across his face seeing her anger towards him. ‘What do you want now? I sat in the puja like you asked.’ She questioned, staring him in the eyes.
‘Khushi I didn’t enjoy that.’ He gestured towards the mandir.
‘Your smug smile suggested otherwise.’ She retorted.
‘I thought you weren’t noticing.’ He leaned in.
‘I wasn’t but it was hard to concentrate with your chest puffing with glee next to me.’ She stayed put, keeping eye-contact.
‘Hmmh. Khushiii… anyway I didn’t mean that. Yes I found you resistance very amusing but not the fact that I had to force you to sit in our own wedding-permission puja.’ He straightened up again.
‘Well then, you shouldn’t have forced me.’ She continued defiantly.
‘Khushi… your missing the point. So let me say it clearly.’ He crossed his arms.
‘Yes please.’ She folded her arms too, in anticipation.
‘Khushi coming Saturday is our engagement ceremony, the Saturday after our sangeet and then the following weekend our mehndi, haldi and then the wedding. Please don’t make me have to force you to come to them, because you know I can and I will, but I would much rather you came without resistance. Will you?’ he earnestly asked.
‘If that’s all? May I leave?’ She dropped her hands and began to walk away.
‘Khushi.’ He grabbed her hand as she walked past him.
‘Stop it. I heard you, ok? Now let go of me.’ She jerked her wrist out of his hand.
‘Khushi.’
‘What? What is it?’ she turned testily. ‘I shall oblige to His Highness’s demands. What else do you want me to do to show I will not force you to force me to come to the rest of these pseudo ceremonies? Should I bow down to you to show my submission to your lordship, Laad Governor?!!’ she asked sarcastically.
‘Khushi I just….’ He shook his head, in amusement, ‘your earring. It got stuck on my shirt when you were struggling to get down.’ He held out the golden loop, with the mulit-colourerd beads dancing init, towards her. Her hand instantly shot up to her empty ear, as if to make certain it was her earring he held in his hand and she felt her face heat up. Gawd, why did she always end up looking like a spectical in front of him? No wonder he had been sniggering throughout the puja and was smiling now, she was non-stop entertainment for him. Sheepishly, she took it from him and plugged it back into her ear then made her way down, behind him.
‘Oh good we all made it here together.’ Devyani greeted the Gupta’s happily at the bottom of the steps.
‘Jiji, what are you all doing here?’ Khushi asked Payal in an undertone, as the rest greeted each other.
‘What do you mean Khushi? Didn’t you expect us all to gather here and thank DM for bringing Arnav ji into your life so that we could get rid of you?!’ Payal joked.
‘Jiji?!’ Khushi asked, horrified, making Payal sober up instantly.
‘Relax, Khushi I was only joking. I only meant we’re here to take blessings from DM, as well as match your horoscopes to find an auspicious date for your marriage.’ She beamed, clearly over-the-moon with the thought of her younger sister becoming a bride.
Khushi felt like someone had just slapped her with an ice-cold hand. Today was their Kul-Devi puja, how could she have forgotten. Of course because she had been so set on finding the Tantric baba to cure Arnav the puja had completely slipped her mind. She couldn’t believe Arnav, to what lengths would this man go in order to hurt her and fulfil his desires. He disgusted her. Ugh, no she wouldn’t let him win. She wouldn’t attend the puja thereby failing his plan and letting everybody know that this marriage won’t happen.
‘Oh Arnav bitwa, what happened to your face?’ Garima’s voice floated through Khushi’s thoughts bringing her back to everybody. ‘It’s got scratches all over it.’ She noted, as Arnav coloured a little.
‘Umm. It’s nothing, just an accident.’ Arnav replied curtly, as he eyed Khushi. She stared back, determined not to be intimidated by him.
‘Accident?!’ both Garima and Madhumathi cried out in unison.
‘No. No. Not a big one…just umm…’ Arnav chastised himself for using the word “accident”.
‘A wild-cat Madhumathi ji, attacked Chotay, on his morning jog. But they’re only a couple of scratches, will clear up soon. Don’t worry you will have a very handsome Groom to flaunt in the neighbourhood, when we come with the barat.’ Devyani came to Arnav’s rescue and changed the subject from his “accident”, which they had all decided was best to keep to themselves rather than let the Gupta’s know what Khushi’s visit to Shantivan this morning had been about, to save her from being scolded. ‘Well shall we proceed.’
‘Yes. Yes. Let us.’ Garima agreed and they all began making there way up the steps and into the temple.
‘Khushi…what are you waiting for, come on.’ Payal asked, as she saw Khushi continuing to stand there.
‘Uh. Yes. Coming just need to get something….for the puja.’ She added seeing Payal’s face darken with suspicion, ‘You go ahead, help Amma, I’ll be right behind you.’ She smiled, hoping that Payal wouldn’t see through her lie.
‘Khu-‘
‘Payaliya…’ Madhumathi’s call, saved Khushi from any further interrogation from Payal as she turned to head up, leaving Khushi at the bottom of the mandir, just like she had wanted. As they all made their way up, Khushi turned in the other direction and began walking towards the taxi stand that was by the side of the mandir, there was no way she would let this game go on any longer. She would leave and Arnav would have to loose, thereby explain to everyone why she had done so, in that he didn’t really intend to marry her and that’s why she left.
Pleased with herself for bringing an end to his dispecable game, but at the same time sad for her family and Anjali and Nani she made to get into one of the taxis, when a hand grabbed her and twisted her around, away from the taxi. ‘Ow!’
‘Where do you think you’re going?’ Arnav pierced her with his question. Where did he come from? She was sure he was one of the first one’s up the steps, as he had been helping Anjali.
‘Let go of me.’ She struggled.
‘I asked you a question. Where are you going? The puja is that way.’ He jerked his head in the other direction to point out the location, not letting go of his grip on her.
‘Yes, well I am not attending it!’ She snapped.
‘Why not? It’s for our wedding.’
‘Which will not happen! So I don’t see the point in attending it!’
‘Khushi for the last time this marriage is happening.’
‘Not if I can help it. You can fool everyone else but not me Mr. Raizada! What are you going to get out of all this anyway? Why are you involving our families, playing with their hearts with this evil hoax you have planned. Do you have no heart?!!’ She demanded angrily.
‘No heart?! Khushi! Who do you think I am doing all this for? Not for me! You know I don’t believe in all this puja stuff, I have never really seen the point of it yet I am doing it all, why?! Ever think of that?’ He posed, hotly. ‘For you, you fool. These puja’s, these rasams they all mean something to you, you value them. This is the kind of wedding you always wanted, the one done in grand-style with each and every tradition, right? So that’s why I am going through it, because my heart desires your wishes to be fulfilled, the way they deserve to be. If it were up to me I would get it done in a court, no hassle, but no, I will do the whole “great-indian-wedding” because you want it. No heart!’ he muttered the last ferociously, as he let go of her, in order to control the temper that had begun rising again.
She stared at him. Could this all be true? Was what he was saying, really the truth that he was doing this for her? But then…. of course not how could it be? Because if he was doing this for her, then he would know not to do this at all. It was all a farce, a lie to win her over. To get her to do his bidding.
‘Lies. All lies. I can’t believe how low you will stoop to try and get me, Arnav ji. I really didn’t expect this from you.’ She said. Shaking her head in dismay.
‘What? Khushi.’ He advanced and then stopped, recalling Anjali, Aakash and Payal’s words at how he would have to be patient with Khushi. She distrusted love gravely, it wasn’t him but rather her past that was making him doubt her and so he needed to stay calm. ‘Khushi I don’t want to argue with you anymore. It’s time for the puja, everyone is waiting, let’s just go. We can discuss your thoughts about my motives regarding this wedding later ok? Come.’ He said evenly, taking her hand, but she didn’t move.
‘I said I am not going in.’ she yanked her hand back and folded it across her chest.
‘Khushi.’ He tried again.
‘No. I’m not going in and there is nothing you can do about it!’ she asserted defiantly.
‘Heh.’ Arnav let out a laugh, unsettling her.
‘What’s the laugh for?’ she asked, unnerved by it, but still standing her ground. She looked adorable trying to keep a stone face, when clearly disconcerted by him.
‘Nothing, just that you really should not have said that.’ He smiled, eying her.
‘As in…’ she stared back, trying to understand which way the wheels in his clever brain were turning. He gave his devious smile, just before he closed the gap between them and in one single movement heaved her in to his arms. ‘A-Arnav ji, what are you doing?!! Put me down!!’ She screamed out in alarm.
‘Showing you just how wrong you are about me: about my sincerety regarding this marriage, as well as about my ability to take you in for the puja. You really shouldn’t have challenged me Khushi.’ He chuckled.
‘Ugh Arnav ji you animal, put me down! Put me down!’ she struggled uncontrollably, desperately trying to get out of his arms and back on to her feet, but all that did was tighten his grip on her, strengthening her prison.
‘Khushi your shouts will only hurt your throat, nothing els-’
‘Waow. Hey excuse me. Is there a problem? Is this man forcing you ma’am.’ Arnav hadn’t even finished his gloating when a passerby stopped them, due to Khushi’s screams.
‘Yes. Yes. Oh thank god. Yes please help me, this man is-‘ Khushi began happily, glad of her rescuer.
‘Her fiancé. I am her finacé. She has hurt her leg and so I am helping her up the mandir steps. Do you have a problem with that?’ Arnav silenced the man with his statement and gaze, so that even if he had any problems with them he kept them to himself and walked away.
‘Hey…no…wait….ugh. Laad Governor kahin-ke!’ Khushi grumbled in contempt, while Arnav carried on smiling seeing her finally give in to him.
‘Khushi?’
‘Chotay?’ They were instantly hit with their families inquiries as to what took them so long and why Khushi was in Arnav’s arms.
‘Khushi twisted her ankle, so I helped her up.’ Arnav explained. They all nodded in understanding, making Khushi’s blood boil.
‘Yes of course, because a twisted ankle calls for you carrying me in your arms rather than just giving me your shoulder for support!’ Khushi muttered bitterly, making Arnav snort with amusement at her annoyance to no one finding it odd that he had carried her because of a sprained ankle. ‘What do you require the pandit ji to give you a mahurat to put me down or will you do it willingly, now that I am inside!’ she asked crossly.
He released her from his prison, but didn’t let go of her arm. ‘Don’t even think about running, because you know I will catch you and then not only will I carry you back in my arms but will keep you in my lap throughout the puja. So the choice is yours either sit like a good bride next to me during it or in my lap.’ He conditioned, making her seethe, but she abided and stomped towards the front of the mandir and took her seat, making everyone follow in her wake. Smirking Arnav took his seat next to her, but she made an obvious effort to ignore him throughout the puja, amusing him further.
Once the puja was complete and the pandit ji had calculated a date for the wedding they all made their way back down to the cars and Arnav took this opportunity to have a private word with Khushi.
‘Argh… Can you not ever use your voice like a normal human being and call me, instead of yanking me whenever you decide to speak to me?!’ Khushi complained as she massaged her arm, once he had let go of her arm after disengaging her from the crowd.
‘Sorry, did I hurt you?’ he asked, concerned.
‘Yes. But I’m used to it!’ she snapped at him, hurting him with her words, but she ignored the pain that was etched across his face seeing her anger towards him. ‘What do you want now? I sat in the puja like you asked.’ She questioned, staring him in the eyes.
‘Khushi I didn’t enjoy that.’ He gestured towards the mandir.
‘Your smug smile suggested otherwise.’ She retorted.
‘I thought you weren’t noticing.’ He leaned in.
‘I wasn’t but it was hard to concentrate with your chest puffing with glee next to me.’ She stayed put, keeping eye-contact.
‘Hmmh. Khushiii… anyway I didn’t mean that. Yes I found you resistance very amusing but not the fact that I had to force you to sit in our own wedding-permission puja.’ He straightened up again.
‘Well then, you shouldn’t have forced me.’ She continued defiantly.
‘Khushi… your missing the point. So let me say it clearly.’ He crossed his arms.
‘Yes please.’ She folded her arms too, in anticipation.
‘Khushi coming Saturday is our engagement ceremony, the Saturday after our sangeet and then the following weekend our mehndi, haldi and then the wedding. Please don’t make me have to force you to come to them, because you know I can and I will, but I would much rather you came without resistance. Will you?’ he earnestly asked.
‘If that’s all? May I leave?’ She dropped her hands and began to walk away.
‘Khushi.’ He grabbed her hand as she walked past him.
‘Stop it. I heard you, ok? Now let go of me.’ She jerked her wrist out of his hand.
‘Khushi.’
‘What? What is it?’ she turned testily. ‘I shall oblige to His Highness’s demands. What else do you want me to do to show I will not force you to force me to come to the rest of these pseudo ceremonies? Should I bow down to you to show my submission to your lordship, Laad Governor?!!’ she asked sarcastically.
‘Khushi I just….’ He shook his head, in amusement, ‘your earring. It got stuck on my shirt when you were struggling to get down.’ He held out the golden loop, with the mulit-colourerd beads dancing init, towards her. Her hand instantly shot up to her empty ear, as if to make certain it was her earring he held in his hand and she felt her face heat up. Gawd, why did she always end up looking like a spectical in front of him? No wonder he had been sniggering throughout the puja and was smiling now, she was non-stop entertainment for him. Sheepishly, she took it from him and plugged it back into her ear then made her way down, behind him.
*****
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