‘Payal will you sit down please. You are over-exerting yourself for absolutely no reason.’ Aakash called after her as she took her tenth round on the upper platform of the mandir. She was pacing outside the storage room of the mandir which they had converted into a make-shift dressing room for Khushi.
‘No reason? No reason?!! How can you even say that Aakash? They are not here!! The Raizada’s aren’t here!! They’re not coming. Oooo…. Khushi was right! We should have listened to her, but we all got carried away. They’re not coming and my baby sister is left alone all over again and this time at the altar. Oh this horrible, she is in there all decked up and waiting excitedly for a baraat that is not going to show up….ooo how could I let this happen?!! I should have listened to her instead of ignoring her worries…’ Payal ranted heartbroken at the thought of Khushi’s face when her fears about Arnav were realized.
‘Payal, they are only ten minutes late, it’s hardly a cause for concern!’ Aakash reproached. ‘They have to drive through the city to get here. I mean, this location is out of the city, hence a prime favourite for young lovers to elope. You cannot seriously write Arnav and the Raizada’s off because they are ten minutes late.’ Aakash reasoned but Payal did not listen.
‘It’s not ten minutes. It’s eleven minutes now. And if they were running late Di would call. She always calls, but she didn’t today. You know why because he is not coming, they are not coming. They have abandoned Khushi.’ Payal went off again on her paranoid tangent, while Aakash stared exasperatedly. The doctor, his mother, Garima and Madhumathi all had warned him that pregnant women often got stuck on whimsical ideas, but this was completely ridiculous.
‘Payal, calm down. May be Anjali di did not get a chance to call. May be she will call now. Or how about this, why don’t you call to ask and have your worries quenched. And please, just please get away from the edge.’ He cried desperately seeing her near it with every round.
‘No. I’m not going to call. How will that look? Like we are desperate or something to get Khushi married. No way. My sister is not desperate she can get any man, I’m just worried how she will react. Her heart will be broken all over again and this time it will be worse because Arnav ji promised he won’t break it. Only he has. I mean thirteen minutes gone past the agreed time. Seriously, I think Khushi was right from day one, he is a monster, not a prince. He is a monster who has trampled my sister’s heart all over again.’ she related angrily as Aakash in vain tried to guide her away from the edge of the platform, giving up on trying to rationalize with her that tardiness did not equal to standing-up.
‘Of course I was right Jiji.’ Khushi affirmed, surprising both Aakash and Payal, for neither had realized when she had joined them. Payal’s heart staggered. Oh god, how much had she heard? This was not how Payal had intended to break the heart-shattering truth to her sister that Arnav indeed had left her at the altar.
Aakash too stared at Khushi, his heart in his throat. He did not believe his wife’s suspicions to be true. He could not believe that his judgment of the man had been incorrect. However, he knew it had taken Khushi a good part of the last two months to come to terms with Arnav’s feelings, accept them and then finally begin to reciprocate them; but he feared that hearing Payal’s anxiety over the cause of the delay may lead to Khushi having a relapse of sorts, where she would withdraw from the marriage even if Arnav now showed up.
Her expression was a strange one. It was not impassive or cold suggesting that she believed Payal, there was a sly smile playing across her face, like she knew something they did not. He didn’t know what to think of it, her expression suggested she was still hopeful, yet her words conveyed she was of the same thought as Payal.
‘Khushi.’ They both breathed out after processing her appearance.
‘Khushi, I –‘ Payal began, not knowing what to say.
Khushi lifted up her gorgeous gold lehenge, with an intricate pink, green border and walked over to Payal with an adoring smile, unnerving Aakash even more. If there was anything he had learnt in the months following his marriage it was that the broader Khushi’s smile the bigger the pain she hid. ‘Jiji, come sit down please.’ She took Payal’s hands in her beautifully decorated hands and guided her over to a bench just outside the room. Payal went with her, more out of shock then suggestion.
This maneuver further unsettled Aakash, not only was she smiling but she was patronizing Payal. It was another alarm bell for warning any person that Khushi was breaking inside; when hurting her first action was to bring a bright smile on her face and second to take extra care of those around her, so they didn’t even think that there was something wrong within.
‘Khushi, about what you heard…’ Payal tried again, as she too read the sign Aakash saw.
‘About Arnav ji being a monster. Yes, he most definitely is.’ She affirmed yet again with that broad grin. Enough was enough. Aakash had to do something before his sister turned into the lifeless shell she had been months ago, for soon the reality of it would hit and her bravado would falter leaving her looking like an air-raid site.
‘Khushi, Arnav will be here. They are just running late. Don’t let your Jiji’s worries fool you. Payal is just-‘
‘Oh I know. I know that Arnav ji will be here. I have no doubt about that.’ She gave another bright smile.
‘But you just said that you agreed with Payal.’ Aakash reminded.
‘Yes. About him being a monster. For he always has been a monster. My monster. My rakshas. Tailor made just for me.’ she blushed happily. This was making no sense. Was she serious? Or was she in denial? He couldn’t tell. He hoped to god it was the first, but feared it may be the second.
‘Khushi, I don’t understand…’ he stated plainly.
‘Oh right. Of course you don’t, because I didn’t have this conversation with you, I had it with Di. A long time ago, or what certainly feels like a long time. At that point neither of us even knew that a monster would come into my life let alone that monster would turn out to be Arnav ji.’ She smiled gleefully again. Payal and Aakash just stared. Both were starting to get really worried now.
‘Khushi?’ It was Payal who instigated the question this time.
‘Oh, sorry. Well you see after the whole hospital incident, Di and I were chatting one of the days and she said how maybe I shouldn’t wait for the prince instead a monster, for monsters truly did love the princess, if they didn’t why would the covet them? I laughed it off then, but now that I think about it, she was right Jiji. Prince’s are overrated and monsters so wrongly advertised. Because my prince turned out to be an ogre and my monster a prince at heart. So I say yes, my Arnav ji is a monster. My special monster.’ She ended smugly.
Aakash finally relaxed, seeing that Khushi had not gone into denial but was in fact very much certain that Arnav was on his way, as was he. Payal, however, was still unsettled.
‘Khushi, I want to believe you, I do. But I’m scared, I have this really nauseating feeling in the pit of my stomach, that-‘
‘Jiji, that feeling is of my neice or nephew dancing in your womb to welcome their maasi’s baraat. And as for Arnav ji, I have no doubt what so ever that he will be here. I may have only recently started to reciprocate his feelings, but that does not mean that I do not know him. In fact, one of the very first things I learnt about him, on your wedding night, in fact, was that he is a man of his words. He will be here. As for the delay, yes that is very uncharacteristic of him, but I am sure that when he arrives he will have a reasonable explanation.’ Khushi consoled Payal.
‘Khush-‘ Payal began again but was silenced by a sudden burst of music. All three of them got up to see where it was blaring from, but saw nothing. Then a dazzling smile spread across Khushi’s face as she turned Payal to face the left side of the mandir where from around the corner came her baraat.
‘See. What did I say? He will be here and what do you know, playing my favourite Salman Khan song too,’ Khushi pointed it out, as the words to Tenu leke main jawanaga blared out from a speaker she could not detect, but figured it was probably in the car he was sitting in, only there was no car. ‘Oh my god!!’ Khushi exhaled sharply as she laid her eyes on Arnav. ‘Oh my god!! Is that? Is he? I can’t believe it.’ She clapped her hands on to her mouth as a pearl white horse rounded the corner behind the dancing groomsmen and women, towards the mandir. Arnav had mounted a horse and was riding it to the mandir just for her. Just so that her wedding fantasy could be played out just the way she had imagined it and somehow even better, for she had never imagined that he would sit on a horse, that too in a royal blue shirvani. Would he ever stop surprising her? Probably not. She smiled proudly.
Payal chuckled loudly seeing the Raizada’s advance and gave Khushi a loving hug. She returned it with the same adoration. When they broke out Khushi let out a wild exclamation.
‘HUNH!! WHAT’S THIS JIJI?!’ Khushi pointed to Payal’s eyes.
‘What? What?’ Payal asked worriedly, as Aakash too looked around eying his wife.
‘Your eyes, Jiji…’ Khushi related.
‘What? What about them?’ Payal placed her hands frantically.
‘Jeej, do you see what I am seeing?’ Khushi clapped her hands onto her mouth out of shock.
‘Khushi, I…uh…no-‘ Aakash scrutinized Payal’s face once more but saw nothing worrying there, what was Khushi talking about?
‘Jeej, they’re dry.’ Khushi whispered in mock surprise and then winked at her brother-in-law.
‘Oh my god, you are right Khushi. This is a matter of grave concern, Payal, your eyes, they’re not tearing…you’re not crying.’ Aakash now relieved at understanding Khushi’s joke, joined in it too.
‘Wha-? Oh, haha…’ Payal removed her hands from her face and scowled at the pair as she realized the duo were pulling her leg.
‘No seriously Jiji. Are you ok? I’m genuinely worried to see no tears. I mean any grief or happiness, be it any occasion your tears are an ever present relation.’ Khushi said with mock-seriousness, while Aakash chuckled.
‘Yes, yes laugh away, but this is all your neice/nephew’s doing. S/he is having fun messing around with my hormones so that when I want to cry I end up laughing like a lunatic instead.’ Payal informed crossly, whilst Aakash and Khushi merely laughed enjoying her irritation.
‘Good job little one, at least this way we will all be spared from your mum’s ever-present tears.’ Aakash spoke through fits of laughter to his son/daughter, whilst Khushi chortled in mirth and Payal just huffed at them angrily.
‘Uh-oh, Khushi I think we have angered her.’ Aakash hid a grin.
‘Awww Jiji, we’re only joking. You know we love you.’ Khushi engulfed Payal in a bear hug, but Payal didn’t hug back. ‘Aww Jiji, will you be angry with your baby sister on her wedding day?’ Khushi emotionally black-mailed her.
‘Yeah, Payal?’ Aakash re-iterated the question. That did it, not only did she hug her back but the waterworks came too, causing all three to burst into laughter seeing their appearance.
‘Oh my god, Aakash!! Arnav ji is here and you are delaying us!! Come on I told you he would be here and we wouldn’t be ready!! Oh what will he say about our tardiness?!! Oho, you two, always waste time over nonsensical things, come on!!!’ she ended her short tirade and headed for the steps whilst Aakash and Khushi stared after her, lost in her one-eighty degrees turn-around from moments before where she had been certain Arnav had cold-feet and left her sister at the altar.
‘Oh god, Jeeju go after her before she hurts herself on the stairs considering the way she is sprinting down the steps.’ Khushi urged Aakash. He didn’t need telling twice and ran after his temporarily-eccentric wife, until he caught up with her and made her slow down on the steps while she berated him about something Khushi could not hear. She smiled at the two and then her groom, who had assembled with her barat at the base of the mandir. Arnav hopped down from his horse and lifted his sehra as he came to the front of the Raizada assembly and bowed down to take Shashi, Garima and Madhumathi’s blessings.
‘Sorry we’re late.’ He added, ‘NK here, brought the wrong animal. So we needed to change it.’ He explained.
‘How was I supposed to know the guy wouldn’t realise I meant ghora, not ghada…it’s a simple mistake….can happen to anyone.’NK said sheepishly.
‘Yes, but somehow it only happens to you.’ Arnav retorted. ‘Well no, actually not just you, but my darling wife-to-be too. You both seem to have that kind of luck.’ Arnav smiled and then chanced Khushi a wink, without anyone noticing, making her heart skip a beat. How did he always know where she was?
‘But I still maintain you could have still ridden the donkey Nannav, you would have been a unique groom.’ NK retaliated.
‘Like I said NK, I will leave that honour to you for your wedding.’ Arnav remarked, to which Khushi let out a muffled laugh, for she had covered her mouth not wanting to draw attention, but she still got his, whilst everyone around them laughed and then sobered for the welcoming aarthi.
Once the aarthi was completed, both the families ascended the steps and Payal brought Khushi out of the room (where she had gone back into after the aarthi). Arnav and Khushi exchanged the garlands then took their seats around the sacred fire. Khushi’s heart began beating wildly. This was it. Her life-long dream of a ‘happily ever after’ was beginning in this very moment. She was getting married to the man of her dreams, quite literally, for he had been the star of many, only at the time she had called them nightmares.
Arnav reached out and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, letting her know he too felt the same exhilaration she did. Keeping their hands locked they got up and took the sacred vows around the fire. He let go of her hand momentarily to bind her to him with the vermilion and the blessed gold necklace. Then his hands were in hers again and he had pulled her into an embrace to begin their new life as one.
What felt like decades later, he let go of her with an impression of his love on her forehead, as she turned and lead him to the Goddess in the temple. Then the Priest, Devyani, Shashi, Garima and Madhumathi, taking the blessings of each. Next Anjali, Payal, Aakash and NK took them into bear hugs. The two sisters each leaving crystals of their tears in their hair.
The ceremony completed they descended the steps of the mandir, to find limos at the bottom to take the party gathered back to Sheesh-Mahal where the reception was being held (and the mystery of the music from earlier was revealed). Arnav lead Khushi to their own private limo when she turned around and conveyed, wistfully, ‘I want to ride on the horse Arnav ji.’
‘Of course you do.’ he laughed knowingly. ‘Thank you Hemant, but we won’t be needing your services.’ Arnav said to the driver as he led his new bride to the white horse that he had ridden on. He helped her up and then mounted it after her. Making certain that she was safely seated, he gripped the reigns and encouraged the horse into motion.
‘I didn’t know you could ride a horse Arnav ji.’ Khushi mused after a moment.
‘There is a lot you do not know about me, Mrs Raizada,’ He smiled into her ear as he called her by her new name, ‘but you have the rest of our lives to find out.’ He related cheerfully, as they galloped away in pure joy to the destination where their story began six months ago.
‘No reason? No reason?!! How can you even say that Aakash? They are not here!! The Raizada’s aren’t here!! They’re not coming. Oooo…. Khushi was right! We should have listened to her, but we all got carried away. They’re not coming and my baby sister is left alone all over again and this time at the altar. Oh this horrible, she is in there all decked up and waiting excitedly for a baraat that is not going to show up….ooo how could I let this happen?!! I should have listened to her instead of ignoring her worries…’ Payal ranted heartbroken at the thought of Khushi’s face when her fears about Arnav were realized.
‘Payal, they are only ten minutes late, it’s hardly a cause for concern!’ Aakash reproached. ‘They have to drive through the city to get here. I mean, this location is out of the city, hence a prime favourite for young lovers to elope. You cannot seriously write Arnav and the Raizada’s off because they are ten minutes late.’ Aakash reasoned but Payal did not listen.
‘It’s not ten minutes. It’s eleven minutes now. And if they were running late Di would call. She always calls, but she didn’t today. You know why because he is not coming, they are not coming. They have abandoned Khushi.’ Payal went off again on her paranoid tangent, while Aakash stared exasperatedly. The doctor, his mother, Garima and Madhumathi all had warned him that pregnant women often got stuck on whimsical ideas, but this was completely ridiculous.
‘Payal, calm down. May be Anjali di did not get a chance to call. May be she will call now. Or how about this, why don’t you call to ask and have your worries quenched. And please, just please get away from the edge.’ He cried desperately seeing her near it with every round.
‘No. I’m not going to call. How will that look? Like we are desperate or something to get Khushi married. No way. My sister is not desperate she can get any man, I’m just worried how she will react. Her heart will be broken all over again and this time it will be worse because Arnav ji promised he won’t break it. Only he has. I mean thirteen minutes gone past the agreed time. Seriously, I think Khushi was right from day one, he is a monster, not a prince. He is a monster who has trampled my sister’s heart all over again.’ she related angrily as Aakash in vain tried to guide her away from the edge of the platform, giving up on trying to rationalize with her that tardiness did not equal to standing-up.
‘Of course I was right Jiji.’ Khushi affirmed, surprising both Aakash and Payal, for neither had realized when she had joined them. Payal’s heart staggered. Oh god, how much had she heard? This was not how Payal had intended to break the heart-shattering truth to her sister that Arnav indeed had left her at the altar.
Aakash too stared at Khushi, his heart in his throat. He did not believe his wife’s suspicions to be true. He could not believe that his judgment of the man had been incorrect. However, he knew it had taken Khushi a good part of the last two months to come to terms with Arnav’s feelings, accept them and then finally begin to reciprocate them; but he feared that hearing Payal’s anxiety over the cause of the delay may lead to Khushi having a relapse of sorts, where she would withdraw from the marriage even if Arnav now showed up.
Her expression was a strange one. It was not impassive or cold suggesting that she believed Payal, there was a sly smile playing across her face, like she knew something they did not. He didn’t know what to think of it, her expression suggested she was still hopeful, yet her words conveyed she was of the same thought as Payal.
‘Khushi.’ They both breathed out after processing her appearance.
‘Khushi, I –‘ Payal began, not knowing what to say.
Khushi lifted up her gorgeous gold lehenge, with an intricate pink, green border and walked over to Payal with an adoring smile, unnerving Aakash even more. If there was anything he had learnt in the months following his marriage it was that the broader Khushi’s smile the bigger the pain she hid. ‘Jiji, come sit down please.’ She took Payal’s hands in her beautifully decorated hands and guided her over to a bench just outside the room. Payal went with her, more out of shock then suggestion.
This maneuver further unsettled Aakash, not only was she smiling but she was patronizing Payal. It was another alarm bell for warning any person that Khushi was breaking inside; when hurting her first action was to bring a bright smile on her face and second to take extra care of those around her, so they didn’t even think that there was something wrong within.
‘Khushi, about what you heard…’ Payal tried again, as she too read the sign Aakash saw.
‘About Arnav ji being a monster. Yes, he most definitely is.’ She affirmed yet again with that broad grin. Enough was enough. Aakash had to do something before his sister turned into the lifeless shell she had been months ago, for soon the reality of it would hit and her bravado would falter leaving her looking like an air-raid site.
‘Khushi, Arnav will be here. They are just running late. Don’t let your Jiji’s worries fool you. Payal is just-‘
‘Oh I know. I know that Arnav ji will be here. I have no doubt about that.’ She gave another bright smile.
‘But you just said that you agreed with Payal.’ Aakash reminded.
‘Yes. About him being a monster. For he always has been a monster. My monster. My rakshas. Tailor made just for me.’ she blushed happily. This was making no sense. Was she serious? Or was she in denial? He couldn’t tell. He hoped to god it was the first, but feared it may be the second.
‘Khushi, I don’t understand…’ he stated plainly.
‘Oh right. Of course you don’t, because I didn’t have this conversation with you, I had it with Di. A long time ago, or what certainly feels like a long time. At that point neither of us even knew that a monster would come into my life let alone that monster would turn out to be Arnav ji.’ She smiled gleefully again. Payal and Aakash just stared. Both were starting to get really worried now.
‘Khushi?’ It was Payal who instigated the question this time.
‘Oh, sorry. Well you see after the whole hospital incident, Di and I were chatting one of the days and she said how maybe I shouldn’t wait for the prince instead a monster, for monsters truly did love the princess, if they didn’t why would the covet them? I laughed it off then, but now that I think about it, she was right Jiji. Prince’s are overrated and monsters so wrongly advertised. Because my prince turned out to be an ogre and my monster a prince at heart. So I say yes, my Arnav ji is a monster. My special monster.’ She ended smugly.
Aakash finally relaxed, seeing that Khushi had not gone into denial but was in fact very much certain that Arnav was on his way, as was he. Payal, however, was still unsettled.
‘Khushi, I want to believe you, I do. But I’m scared, I have this really nauseating feeling in the pit of my stomach, that-‘
‘Jiji, that feeling is of my neice or nephew dancing in your womb to welcome their maasi’s baraat. And as for Arnav ji, I have no doubt what so ever that he will be here. I may have only recently started to reciprocate his feelings, but that does not mean that I do not know him. In fact, one of the very first things I learnt about him, on your wedding night, in fact, was that he is a man of his words. He will be here. As for the delay, yes that is very uncharacteristic of him, but I am sure that when he arrives he will have a reasonable explanation.’ Khushi consoled Payal.
‘Khush-‘ Payal began again but was silenced by a sudden burst of music. All three of them got up to see where it was blaring from, but saw nothing. Then a dazzling smile spread across Khushi’s face as she turned Payal to face the left side of the mandir where from around the corner came her baraat.
‘See. What did I say? He will be here and what do you know, playing my favourite Salman Khan song too,’ Khushi pointed it out, as the words to Tenu leke main jawanaga blared out from a speaker she could not detect, but figured it was probably in the car he was sitting in, only there was no car. ‘Oh my god!!’ Khushi exhaled sharply as she laid her eyes on Arnav. ‘Oh my god!! Is that? Is he? I can’t believe it.’ She clapped her hands on to her mouth as a pearl white horse rounded the corner behind the dancing groomsmen and women, towards the mandir. Arnav had mounted a horse and was riding it to the mandir just for her. Just so that her wedding fantasy could be played out just the way she had imagined it and somehow even better, for she had never imagined that he would sit on a horse, that too in a royal blue shirvani. Would he ever stop surprising her? Probably not. She smiled proudly.
Payal chuckled loudly seeing the Raizada’s advance and gave Khushi a loving hug. She returned it with the same adoration. When they broke out Khushi let out a wild exclamation.
‘HUNH!! WHAT’S THIS JIJI?!’ Khushi pointed to Payal’s eyes.
‘What? What?’ Payal asked worriedly, as Aakash too looked around eying his wife.
‘Your eyes, Jiji…’ Khushi related.
‘What? What about them?’ Payal placed her hands frantically.
‘Jeej, do you see what I am seeing?’ Khushi clapped her hands onto her mouth out of shock.
‘Khushi, I…uh…no-‘ Aakash scrutinized Payal’s face once more but saw nothing worrying there, what was Khushi talking about?
‘Jeej, they’re dry.’ Khushi whispered in mock surprise and then winked at her brother-in-law.
‘Oh my god, you are right Khushi. This is a matter of grave concern, Payal, your eyes, they’re not tearing…you’re not crying.’ Aakash now relieved at understanding Khushi’s joke, joined in it too.
‘Wha-? Oh, haha…’ Payal removed her hands from her face and scowled at the pair as she realized the duo were pulling her leg.
‘No seriously Jiji. Are you ok? I’m genuinely worried to see no tears. I mean any grief or happiness, be it any occasion your tears are an ever present relation.’ Khushi said with mock-seriousness, while Aakash chuckled.
‘Yes, yes laugh away, but this is all your neice/nephew’s doing. S/he is having fun messing around with my hormones so that when I want to cry I end up laughing like a lunatic instead.’ Payal informed crossly, whilst Aakash and Khushi merely laughed enjoying her irritation.
‘Good job little one, at least this way we will all be spared from your mum’s ever-present tears.’ Aakash spoke through fits of laughter to his son/daughter, whilst Khushi chortled in mirth and Payal just huffed at them angrily.
‘Uh-oh, Khushi I think we have angered her.’ Aakash hid a grin.
‘Awww Jiji, we’re only joking. You know we love you.’ Khushi engulfed Payal in a bear hug, but Payal didn’t hug back. ‘Aww Jiji, will you be angry with your baby sister on her wedding day?’ Khushi emotionally black-mailed her.
‘Yeah, Payal?’ Aakash re-iterated the question. That did it, not only did she hug her back but the waterworks came too, causing all three to burst into laughter seeing their appearance.
‘Oh my god, Aakash!! Arnav ji is here and you are delaying us!! Come on I told you he would be here and we wouldn’t be ready!! Oh what will he say about our tardiness?!! Oho, you two, always waste time over nonsensical things, come on!!!’ she ended her short tirade and headed for the steps whilst Aakash and Khushi stared after her, lost in her one-eighty degrees turn-around from moments before where she had been certain Arnav had cold-feet and left her sister at the altar.
‘Oh god, Jeeju go after her before she hurts herself on the stairs considering the way she is sprinting down the steps.’ Khushi urged Aakash. He didn’t need telling twice and ran after his temporarily-eccentric wife, until he caught up with her and made her slow down on the steps while she berated him about something Khushi could not hear. She smiled at the two and then her groom, who had assembled with her barat at the base of the mandir. Arnav hopped down from his horse and lifted his sehra as he came to the front of the Raizada assembly and bowed down to take Shashi, Garima and Madhumathi’s blessings.
‘Sorry we’re late.’ He added, ‘NK here, brought the wrong animal. So we needed to change it.’ He explained.
‘How was I supposed to know the guy wouldn’t realise I meant ghora, not ghada…it’s a simple mistake….can happen to anyone.’NK said sheepishly.
‘Yes, but somehow it only happens to you.’ Arnav retorted. ‘Well no, actually not just you, but my darling wife-to-be too. You both seem to have that kind of luck.’ Arnav smiled and then chanced Khushi a wink, without anyone noticing, making her heart skip a beat. How did he always know where she was?
‘But I still maintain you could have still ridden the donkey Nannav, you would have been a unique groom.’ NK retaliated.
‘Like I said NK, I will leave that honour to you for your wedding.’ Arnav remarked, to which Khushi let out a muffled laugh, for she had covered her mouth not wanting to draw attention, but she still got his, whilst everyone around them laughed and then sobered for the welcoming aarthi.
Once the aarthi was completed, both the families ascended the steps and Payal brought Khushi out of the room (where she had gone back into after the aarthi). Arnav and Khushi exchanged the garlands then took their seats around the sacred fire. Khushi’s heart began beating wildly. This was it. Her life-long dream of a ‘happily ever after’ was beginning in this very moment. She was getting married to the man of her dreams, quite literally, for he had been the star of many, only at the time she had called them nightmares.
Arnav reached out and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, letting her know he too felt the same exhilaration she did. Keeping their hands locked they got up and took the sacred vows around the fire. He let go of her hand momentarily to bind her to him with the vermilion and the blessed gold necklace. Then his hands were in hers again and he had pulled her into an embrace to begin their new life as one.
What felt like decades later, he let go of her with an impression of his love on her forehead, as she turned and lead him to the Goddess in the temple. Then the Priest, Devyani, Shashi, Garima and Madhumathi, taking the blessings of each. Next Anjali, Payal, Aakash and NK took them into bear hugs. The two sisters each leaving crystals of their tears in their hair.
The ceremony completed they descended the steps of the mandir, to find limos at the bottom to take the party gathered back to Sheesh-Mahal where the reception was being held (and the mystery of the music from earlier was revealed). Arnav lead Khushi to their own private limo when she turned around and conveyed, wistfully, ‘I want to ride on the horse Arnav ji.’
‘Of course you do.’ he laughed knowingly. ‘Thank you Hemant, but we won’t be needing your services.’ Arnav said to the driver as he led his new bride to the white horse that he had ridden on. He helped her up and then mounted it after her. Making certain that she was safely seated, he gripped the reigns and encouraged the horse into motion.
‘I didn’t know you could ride a horse Arnav ji.’ Khushi mused after a moment.
‘There is a lot you do not know about me, Mrs Raizada,’ He smiled into her ear as he called her by her new name, ‘but you have the rest of our lives to find out.’ He related cheerfully, as they galloped away in pure joy to the destination where their story began six months ago.
*****
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