‘Khushi…What are you doing? The door is this way.’ Arnav whispered, one would think she knew the entrance to her own house.
‘I know, that is why I am going this way.’ Khushi replied ahead of him, as she headed down an alley next to her house.
‘What? Why?’ Arnav followed baffled.
‘Well I can’t exactly waltz in through the front door now can I? The most important part of my guise is back in your hotel room.’ She referred to the turban and fake beard and mustache. ‘Besides even if I had them on I wouldn’t go in through the front door at this hour and draw unnecessary attention to an unknown Seekh man suddenly interested in going to the brides’ room.’ She related in the dark alley.
Arnav nodded, she did make sense. But then, ‘how are you going to get inside?’
‘Up the pipe and through the terrace.’ She replied simply.
‘Ok.’ He nodded, before he realized what she said, ‘Wait, WHAT?!!’
‘Sshhh.’ Khushi put her hand on his mouth, pinning him to the wall of their house, causing him to grab onto her waist for support, as he stumbled back. ‘Now give me a boost.’ She ordered in a hushed voice after allowing herself a moment of indulging in the incredible feeling of being wound in his arms yet again. She could never get enough of the electric charge that fired through her whenever nestled in his arms.
‘Khushi are you sure about this? I mean there has to be another way.’ Arnav cautioned as Khushi got into position. He did not like this idea at all. She could barely manage to stay balanced on the ground and here she was climbing a rusty old pipe.
‘Just help me up.’ She instructed as she placed her hand on his shoulder and a foot on his hands that formed as solid a foundation as two hands could to plummet her up. As she placed her other foot on one of the nooks of the pipe, she slipped over the folds of the trousers and landed in Arnav arms yet again.
‘Arnav ji!’ She exhaled.
‘I’ve got you.’ he replied to her quivering form. ‘Shall we try plan B.’
‘There is no plan B. So just help me.’ she stated getting down from his cradle and motioning him to give her a boost again.
‘Khushi…come on. How about we call Payal? I really do not like the idea of you climbing the wall.’
‘No. Jiji is with Amma and Bauji, if I call her then they will find out. This is the only way. So come, just give me a push. I will be fine. Look I have folded back the trousers again.’ Arnav looked unconvincingly at the trousers, but seeing as they had no choice, helped her.
This time she managed to get a firm footing and began climbing. Arnav felt like he was going to be sick. He didn’t move an inch in case Khushi slipped up again. She was half way up when a window towards the end of the alley opened.
‘Oh good. I came in time. Come on in.’ Aakash whispered from inside. Arnav stared from the open window to Khushi on the pipe she was nearly there, if he asked her to come down now it could be catastrophic, but if he didn’t, it may be worse for in a few minutes she would realize what he had just learnt: she needed someone to actually haul her over the balcony as the pipe led off to the other way and if she tried to reach the rail of the balcony she would end up falling. If he called out he risked scaring her and causing her to fall, if he did not call she would still fall? What should he do? Only one thing occurred to him thus not wanting to leave her alone in the alley in case she fell and at the same time not wanting her to attempt a rushed jump towards the railing, Arnav took Aakash’s invitation.
‘Where’s Khushi?’ Aakash asked after helping Arnav through the window, which was a few feet above ground but would have been a much safer way to enter the house than his finacée’s chosen method. But as always she had not thought things through and took the first way she found. Although to give her some benefit, she hadn’t known Aakash would be on the other side of the window.
‘On the pipe.’ Arnav replied hastily. ‘Which way is it to the terrace?’
‘What?’ Aakash asked perplexed.
‘Terrace?’ Arnav asked again, making his way out of the dark store room Aakash had helped him into.
‘Oh um… this way. There is a back staircase that leads up to it. So you don’t have to go through the main house.’ Aakash motioned to their right and Arnav ran to them.
‘But why is Khushi climbing the pipe? Did she not get Payal’s text to knock on the store window?’ Aakash ran behind Arnav.
‘Apparently not.’ Arnav answered. Of course she hadn’t checked her phone. Why would she? She was Khushi… Arnav shook his head.
Khushi reached the top of the pipe and her face dropped. Oh no. How was she going to reach the terrace now? She really should have thought this through. The pipe was a good five feet below the terrace, she couldn’t reach the rails. She tried to extend her fingers as much as possible but they couldn’t reach. Ugh what was she going to do? She should have listened to Arnav and called Payal to come to the terrace to help her up.
She looked down to ask Arnav to do that now and felt her heart sink into her stomach. She was so high up that she couldn’t even see him down in the alley anymore. Or was it because he was no longer in the alley? No he wouldn’t do that. Would he? No he would never leave her alone. That meant, that she must be really high….oh she was going to be sick.
‘Khushi.’ Arnav reached the balcony rails and found her gazing down. ‘DON’T look down.’ He strained.
‘Oh my god, Arnav ji.’ She shouted in surprise and nearly let go of the pipe.
‘Khushi! Keep your hands on the pipe!’ he shouted back, seeing her let go of them in shock. She held on just in time.
What was he doing on her terrace? She looked down to the alley once more and then up at him. How had he gotten there before her? It made no sense.
‘Stop looking down. It will unnerve you. Just give me your hand.’ He reached out, over the rails.
‘Arnav ji, what are you doing on the terrace? How did you get up there before me?’ She voiced aloud her thoughts.
‘What? Really Khushi? You can interrogate me later, right now please give me your hand, before…’ his voice trailed off as he glanced away from her down at the alley. A lump rose in his throat, they were at that dangerous height where she would survive a fall but would most likely end up with some serious long term damage to herself if she fell.
‘Arnav ji, I…’ she felt a lump rise in her throat too. She was terrified and couldn’t stop looking down now that she had seen how far up she was. ‘I don’t want to have a fractured leg on my wedding day.’ She squeaked out to Arnav, after yet another glance down.
‘What?!’ she was worried about a cast in her lehenga. Did she not realize she may be in a much worse condition if she fell from her height? A fracture would be lucky, paralysis or worse was the more likely case. Arnav shuddered and pushed those thoughts out of his head. None of that would happen as long as he was around.
‘Sshh. Khushi. Look at me. Look straight into my eyes. No where else. You trust me?’ he beckoned.
She nodded. ‘Ok. Now carefully place your hand in mine.’ He reached further so she wouldn’t have to reach too far. ‘NO. Don’t look down. Keep your eyes on me. Only me. Can you do that? Come on. Nice and easy.’ Gulping back her fear she reached out and found his hands. Steady. Solid. Safe. As always.
Once her right palm was secured in his, he grasped it firmly and with a nod he said, ‘On three… One. Two. Three.’ He tugged and she let go and just like that he had pulled her onto the other side of the rails to him. Without waiting for her to take a moment, he wrapped his other arm around her waist and hoisted her over the rails and on to the balcony. She gripped the folds of his shirt tightly and did not open her eyes until he whispered, ‘you’re home Khushi.’
She opened her eyes and curved her head upwards to peer into his brown ones. ‘Yes. I am home.’ She whispered back as she hugged him. ‘I’m home.’ She repeated in his chest, allowing the rhythm of his heart to infuse calm within her as she snuggled in the walls of her newfound home: his arms. He caressed her hair relishing in her safety: she was his haven.
‘Khushi. What were you thinking?’ Payal’s voice brought her out of Arnav’s hug. ‘Didn’t you read my message? I sent Aakash over to open the store room window to help you in, why did you climb the pipe?! You could have been hurt so badly.’
‘Ssh. Jiji I’m ok.’
‘Oh come here. You fool. Always in hurry.’ Payal scolded her as she hugged her. ‘You ok? You didn’t get hurt anywhere did you?’ Payal checked her over.
‘No. How could I? With Arnav ji around.’ She gloated proudly, whilst Arnav’s heart swelled seeing her million dollar smile. Payal beamed at Arnav too in gratitude
‘Ok. Shall we head in? Before we get caught.’ Aakash suggested as he walked over to Khushi patting her head lovingly, then suddenly stopped as he took in what Khushi was wearing. ‘Wait. Is that my suit?’ Aakash asked in a low whisper the shock of its state having a severe affect on his tone.
‘Uh…Aakash we should really get inside. Amma and Bauji are on their way to Khushi’s room. You should get Arnav ji safely out of the house before anyone notices him.’ Payal quickly changed the subject.
‘Payal-‘ Aakash didn’t let it drop as he looked over the suit and saw how Khushi had folded back parts of it and then climbed the rusty old pipe in it leaving the flakes on the coat as evidence of the climb. He felt his throat constrict. This was one of his most expensive suits. Arnav felt his pain. He was just glad Aakash couldn’t spot all the crimes that had been committed against his prestigious suit tonight, for example, the spicy chickpeas that left their odor and stain inside the pocket or the tear along the back seam of the coat courtesy of a loose nail in the rickshaw seat on their ride back home.
‘I love you.’ Payal whispered sheepishly to Aakash.
‘Me too.’ Khushi whispered from behind her.
‘Hmmm. Be glad that I do too.’ He finally smiled, as he shook his head at the two sisters, then giving them both a hug and his wife an extra kiss in her hair sent them in the direction of Khushi’s room, whilst he turned with Arnav towards the back staircase, to head back out through the way they had come in.
Khushi had reached the archway into the house, when she suddenly turned. ‘Arnav ji!’ Arnav who was at the top of the stairs turned too. ‘Jiji, just a minute.’
‘Quickly Khushi.’ Payal said as she let go of her.
‘Khushi what is it?’ Arnav asked as she pulled him away from the staircase back towards to the terrace rails. ‘You want me to climb down?’ Arnav asked confused.
‘What? No.’ Khushi said a little too abruptly and then as a precaution in case he suddenly decided to do that she pulled him away from the rails towards the pillar she had stood next to when he had arrived earlier that day and kept a firm grip over his shirt.
‘Then….’ He waited.
‘I just…I wanted to say, at the office that day….and earlier today again at the park….’ Khushi let her voice trail.
‘What?’ Arnav asked puzzled.
‘That…that you were right.’ She related shyly.
‘About?’ he prodded.
‘Me.’ She whispered looking into his eyes.
‘I generally am. But you will have to be a bit more specific about what.’ Arnav stated amused, but still not following her train of thought.
She blushed, adding to Arnav’s confusion. ‘About my feelings, towards you. I…I do love you.’ her eyes sparkled as she said it causing his heart to suddenly stop and his breath to catch in his throat. Out of all the things for her to say, he had never expected this from her lips. That too, when she was wearing an oversized man-suit, standing in a balcony with both her sister and brother-in-law watching them, as she clutched onto the folds of his shirt the way she did when steadying herself. May be she was, for it had taken her an immense amount of strength to not only admit her feelings but say it out aloud. He knew.
‘Arnav ji. Did you hear me?’ she asked after receiving no response from him.
‘Erhmmh.’ He only managed an unintelligible gurgle, as he tried to soak in the magical words she had uttered.
She let out a soft chuckle, seeing him stunned for a change. She went on her tip-toes brushed his cheeks with hers and whispered one more time in his ear, ‘I love you Arnav ji.’ She bounced back onto the balls of her feet, looked straight into his eyes and said it again, ‘I love you too….damn it.’ She added the last bit with a wink, referring back to his first proclamation of love. With that she let go of his shirt, laughing softly at his reaction, and skipped away into the house, stopping only at the archway one more time to turn and give him her dazzling smile, which restarted his heart. Then she was gone.
‘Shall we?’ A smiling Aakash tapped Arnav on his shoulder moments later recalling him to his situation.
‘Umm…mhmm. Yeah. Yes, let’s go.’ Arnav straightened up, but didn’t let go of the impish grin Khushi had left him with.
Aakash followed behind him, grinning too. His sister was finally accepting her fate whole-heartedly. She had fought her demons and come out of the dark pit with her glowing light intact; because of this man descending the stairs in front of him. His heart swelled with happiness as his eyes overflowed with it. Khushi was finally happy. She was finally that chirpy, sweet little butterfly he had first met when he had come for Payal’s hand.
‘I know, that is why I am going this way.’ Khushi replied ahead of him, as she headed down an alley next to her house.
‘What? Why?’ Arnav followed baffled.
‘Well I can’t exactly waltz in through the front door now can I? The most important part of my guise is back in your hotel room.’ She referred to the turban and fake beard and mustache. ‘Besides even if I had them on I wouldn’t go in through the front door at this hour and draw unnecessary attention to an unknown Seekh man suddenly interested in going to the brides’ room.’ She related in the dark alley.
Arnav nodded, she did make sense. But then, ‘how are you going to get inside?’
‘Up the pipe and through the terrace.’ She replied simply.
‘Ok.’ He nodded, before he realized what she said, ‘Wait, WHAT?!!’
‘Sshhh.’ Khushi put her hand on his mouth, pinning him to the wall of their house, causing him to grab onto her waist for support, as he stumbled back. ‘Now give me a boost.’ She ordered in a hushed voice after allowing herself a moment of indulging in the incredible feeling of being wound in his arms yet again. She could never get enough of the electric charge that fired through her whenever nestled in his arms.
‘Khushi are you sure about this? I mean there has to be another way.’ Arnav cautioned as Khushi got into position. He did not like this idea at all. She could barely manage to stay balanced on the ground and here she was climbing a rusty old pipe.
‘Just help me up.’ She instructed as she placed her hand on his shoulder and a foot on his hands that formed as solid a foundation as two hands could to plummet her up. As she placed her other foot on one of the nooks of the pipe, she slipped over the folds of the trousers and landed in Arnav arms yet again.
‘Arnav ji!’ She exhaled.
‘I’ve got you.’ he replied to her quivering form. ‘Shall we try plan B.’
‘There is no plan B. So just help me.’ she stated getting down from his cradle and motioning him to give her a boost again.
‘Khushi…come on. How about we call Payal? I really do not like the idea of you climbing the wall.’
‘No. Jiji is with Amma and Bauji, if I call her then they will find out. This is the only way. So come, just give me a push. I will be fine. Look I have folded back the trousers again.’ Arnav looked unconvincingly at the trousers, but seeing as they had no choice, helped her.
This time she managed to get a firm footing and began climbing. Arnav felt like he was going to be sick. He didn’t move an inch in case Khushi slipped up again. She was half way up when a window towards the end of the alley opened.
‘Oh good. I came in time. Come on in.’ Aakash whispered from inside. Arnav stared from the open window to Khushi on the pipe she was nearly there, if he asked her to come down now it could be catastrophic, but if he didn’t, it may be worse for in a few minutes she would realize what he had just learnt: she needed someone to actually haul her over the balcony as the pipe led off to the other way and if she tried to reach the rail of the balcony she would end up falling. If he called out he risked scaring her and causing her to fall, if he did not call she would still fall? What should he do? Only one thing occurred to him thus not wanting to leave her alone in the alley in case she fell and at the same time not wanting her to attempt a rushed jump towards the railing, Arnav took Aakash’s invitation.
‘Where’s Khushi?’ Aakash asked after helping Arnav through the window, which was a few feet above ground but would have been a much safer way to enter the house than his finacée’s chosen method. But as always she had not thought things through and took the first way she found. Although to give her some benefit, she hadn’t known Aakash would be on the other side of the window.
‘On the pipe.’ Arnav replied hastily. ‘Which way is it to the terrace?’
‘What?’ Aakash asked perplexed.
‘Terrace?’ Arnav asked again, making his way out of the dark store room Aakash had helped him into.
‘Oh um… this way. There is a back staircase that leads up to it. So you don’t have to go through the main house.’ Aakash motioned to their right and Arnav ran to them.
‘But why is Khushi climbing the pipe? Did she not get Payal’s text to knock on the store window?’ Aakash ran behind Arnav.
‘Apparently not.’ Arnav answered. Of course she hadn’t checked her phone. Why would she? She was Khushi… Arnav shook his head.
Khushi reached the top of the pipe and her face dropped. Oh no. How was she going to reach the terrace now? She really should have thought this through. The pipe was a good five feet below the terrace, she couldn’t reach the rails. She tried to extend her fingers as much as possible but they couldn’t reach. Ugh what was she going to do? She should have listened to Arnav and called Payal to come to the terrace to help her up.
She looked down to ask Arnav to do that now and felt her heart sink into her stomach. She was so high up that she couldn’t even see him down in the alley anymore. Or was it because he was no longer in the alley? No he wouldn’t do that. Would he? No he would never leave her alone. That meant, that she must be really high….oh she was going to be sick.
‘Khushi.’ Arnav reached the balcony rails and found her gazing down. ‘DON’T look down.’ He strained.
‘Oh my god, Arnav ji.’ She shouted in surprise and nearly let go of the pipe.
‘Khushi! Keep your hands on the pipe!’ he shouted back, seeing her let go of them in shock. She held on just in time.
What was he doing on her terrace? She looked down to the alley once more and then up at him. How had he gotten there before her? It made no sense.
‘Stop looking down. It will unnerve you. Just give me your hand.’ He reached out, over the rails.
‘Arnav ji, what are you doing on the terrace? How did you get up there before me?’ She voiced aloud her thoughts.
‘What? Really Khushi? You can interrogate me later, right now please give me your hand, before…’ his voice trailed off as he glanced away from her down at the alley. A lump rose in his throat, they were at that dangerous height where she would survive a fall but would most likely end up with some serious long term damage to herself if she fell.
‘Arnav ji, I…’ she felt a lump rise in her throat too. She was terrified and couldn’t stop looking down now that she had seen how far up she was. ‘I don’t want to have a fractured leg on my wedding day.’ She squeaked out to Arnav, after yet another glance down.
‘What?!’ she was worried about a cast in her lehenga. Did she not realize she may be in a much worse condition if she fell from her height? A fracture would be lucky, paralysis or worse was the more likely case. Arnav shuddered and pushed those thoughts out of his head. None of that would happen as long as he was around.
‘Sshh. Khushi. Look at me. Look straight into my eyes. No where else. You trust me?’ he beckoned.
She nodded. ‘Ok. Now carefully place your hand in mine.’ He reached further so she wouldn’t have to reach too far. ‘NO. Don’t look down. Keep your eyes on me. Only me. Can you do that? Come on. Nice and easy.’ Gulping back her fear she reached out and found his hands. Steady. Solid. Safe. As always.
Once her right palm was secured in his, he grasped it firmly and with a nod he said, ‘On three… One. Two. Three.’ He tugged and she let go and just like that he had pulled her onto the other side of the rails to him. Without waiting for her to take a moment, he wrapped his other arm around her waist and hoisted her over the rails and on to the balcony. She gripped the folds of his shirt tightly and did not open her eyes until he whispered, ‘you’re home Khushi.’
She opened her eyes and curved her head upwards to peer into his brown ones. ‘Yes. I am home.’ She whispered back as she hugged him. ‘I’m home.’ She repeated in his chest, allowing the rhythm of his heart to infuse calm within her as she snuggled in the walls of her newfound home: his arms. He caressed her hair relishing in her safety: she was his haven.
‘Khushi. What were you thinking?’ Payal’s voice brought her out of Arnav’s hug. ‘Didn’t you read my message? I sent Aakash over to open the store room window to help you in, why did you climb the pipe?! You could have been hurt so badly.’
‘Ssh. Jiji I’m ok.’
‘Oh come here. You fool. Always in hurry.’ Payal scolded her as she hugged her. ‘You ok? You didn’t get hurt anywhere did you?’ Payal checked her over.
‘No. How could I? With Arnav ji around.’ She gloated proudly, whilst Arnav’s heart swelled seeing her million dollar smile. Payal beamed at Arnav too in gratitude
‘Ok. Shall we head in? Before we get caught.’ Aakash suggested as he walked over to Khushi patting her head lovingly, then suddenly stopped as he took in what Khushi was wearing. ‘Wait. Is that my suit?’ Aakash asked in a low whisper the shock of its state having a severe affect on his tone.
‘Uh…Aakash we should really get inside. Amma and Bauji are on their way to Khushi’s room. You should get Arnav ji safely out of the house before anyone notices him.’ Payal quickly changed the subject.
‘Payal-‘ Aakash didn’t let it drop as he looked over the suit and saw how Khushi had folded back parts of it and then climbed the rusty old pipe in it leaving the flakes on the coat as evidence of the climb. He felt his throat constrict. This was one of his most expensive suits. Arnav felt his pain. He was just glad Aakash couldn’t spot all the crimes that had been committed against his prestigious suit tonight, for example, the spicy chickpeas that left their odor and stain inside the pocket or the tear along the back seam of the coat courtesy of a loose nail in the rickshaw seat on their ride back home.
‘I love you.’ Payal whispered sheepishly to Aakash.
‘Me too.’ Khushi whispered from behind her.
‘Hmmm. Be glad that I do too.’ He finally smiled, as he shook his head at the two sisters, then giving them both a hug and his wife an extra kiss in her hair sent them in the direction of Khushi’s room, whilst he turned with Arnav towards the back staircase, to head back out through the way they had come in.
Khushi had reached the archway into the house, when she suddenly turned. ‘Arnav ji!’ Arnav who was at the top of the stairs turned too. ‘Jiji, just a minute.’
‘Quickly Khushi.’ Payal said as she let go of her.
‘Khushi what is it?’ Arnav asked as she pulled him away from the staircase back towards to the terrace rails. ‘You want me to climb down?’ Arnav asked confused.
‘What? No.’ Khushi said a little too abruptly and then as a precaution in case he suddenly decided to do that she pulled him away from the rails towards the pillar she had stood next to when he had arrived earlier that day and kept a firm grip over his shirt.
‘Then….’ He waited.
‘I just…I wanted to say, at the office that day….and earlier today again at the park….’ Khushi let her voice trail.
‘What?’ Arnav asked puzzled.
‘That…that you were right.’ She related shyly.
‘About?’ he prodded.
‘Me.’ She whispered looking into his eyes.
‘I generally am. But you will have to be a bit more specific about what.’ Arnav stated amused, but still not following her train of thought.
She blushed, adding to Arnav’s confusion. ‘About my feelings, towards you. I…I do love you.’ her eyes sparkled as she said it causing his heart to suddenly stop and his breath to catch in his throat. Out of all the things for her to say, he had never expected this from her lips. That too, when she was wearing an oversized man-suit, standing in a balcony with both her sister and brother-in-law watching them, as she clutched onto the folds of his shirt the way she did when steadying herself. May be she was, for it had taken her an immense amount of strength to not only admit her feelings but say it out aloud. He knew.
‘Arnav ji. Did you hear me?’ she asked after receiving no response from him.
‘Erhmmh.’ He only managed an unintelligible gurgle, as he tried to soak in the magical words she had uttered.
She let out a soft chuckle, seeing him stunned for a change. She went on her tip-toes brushed his cheeks with hers and whispered one more time in his ear, ‘I love you Arnav ji.’ She bounced back onto the balls of her feet, looked straight into his eyes and said it again, ‘I love you too….damn it.’ She added the last bit with a wink, referring back to his first proclamation of love. With that she let go of his shirt, laughing softly at his reaction, and skipped away into the house, stopping only at the archway one more time to turn and give him her dazzling smile, which restarted his heart. Then she was gone.
‘Shall we?’ A smiling Aakash tapped Arnav on his shoulder moments later recalling him to his situation.
‘Umm…mhmm. Yeah. Yes, let’s go.’ Arnav straightened up, but didn’t let go of the impish grin Khushi had left him with.
Aakash followed behind him, grinning too. His sister was finally accepting her fate whole-heartedly. She had fought her demons and come out of the dark pit with her glowing light intact; because of this man descending the stairs in front of him. His heart swelled with happiness as his eyes overflowed with it. Khushi was finally happy. She was finally that chirpy, sweet little butterfly he had first met when he had come for Payal’s hand.
‘You ok Jiji? May be you should rest a little.’ Khushi suggested, concerned as Payal stepped out of the bathroom, wiping her face with a towel. This was the second time this morning Khushi had caught Payal exiting the en-suite. Her morning sickness had started a few days ago, but today it was at its’ worst yet.
‘No. I need to take you down for the Haldi rasam. Come on let’s go.’ Payal said, as she threw the face-towel on the bed and grabbed Khushi’s arm.
‘Jiji…you’re unwell. You should rest. All this stress you are taking is not good for you and my to-be niece or nephew. Come lie down.’ Khushi unwrapped Payal’s hand around her and turned her in the direction of the bed.
‘Oho, Khushi I’m fine. This is normal. Vomitting and all. Don’t fret over it. It’s your Haldi and no one, not even you will stop me from smearing haldi all over your face. So come.’ Payal turned away from the bed and started guiding her sister to the door.
‘Jiji…’ Khushi didn’t move.
‘Uff….ok. If I feel like it’s taking a toll I will come and lie down…besides it’s only today...right now your Haldi and then you Shaadi in the evening…once that it is done all I will be doing is resting….which isn’t the same I can say for you, so I hoped you rested up well last night Khushi.’ Payal nudged Khushi teasingly, while Khushi face turned the colour of her red blouse yet again. May be it was her blouse. She mused. May be if she didn’t wear red blouses so often then her cheeks wouldn’t mirror the colour. Oh who was she kidding, she could wear a parrot green suit and her cheeks would still be blood red thanks to her dear fiancé who had a way of always being around her even when he wasn’t there physically he was there in her mind, always.
‘Wohoo…Khushi? Where did you disappear off too? The night is still a few hours away dear…’ Payal carried on with her joke.
‘Jiji….’ Khushi replied through gritted teeth, as an embarrassed smile played across her lips and glowed in her cheeks. ‘Well you certainly are better now, I guess we should get going…’ She said turning to the door, not wanting to think about what would take place in the suite tonight with Arnav. That thought had been giving her jitters all morning.
Laughing, Payal escorted her sister into the hall, where two stages were set in the centre today, as Arnav’s haldi was to take place there with Khushi’s. He had already taken his place on the small stool placed for him, directly opposite Khushi’s stool. He was searing the assembled ladies hearts’ in a simple white cotton kurta and shalwar today, while his hair was not gelled crisp but left soft and untouched shadowing his forehead, the way she loved it. He caught her eyes and instantly a smile lit up across his face, sending a group of butterflies to gather in the pit of her stomach. She smiled back, having the same effect on him.
Payal walked Khushi over to her stool and sat her down. They had just begun a conversation in their eyes, admiring one another when:
‘Waow…hey…what are you doing Di?’ Arnav called out, as Anjali and Payal set up a partition between the two with a sequined, blue-net dupatta.
‘Sorry Chotay…but bride and groom aren’t meant to see each other on the wedding day and especially not during or after the Haldi…but as both your haldi rasams are being carried out together we have to use the aid of this dupatta to separate you.’ Anjali explained, sweetly.
‘Are you for real Di? Come on, what does it matter. I mean you said so yourself we’re having the events together so is it really necessary for you to put up a partition?’ He grumbled, annoyed that it now obscured Khushi from his view. He had been so pleased when he had seen the two stool set opposite each other…it had been his one good thing to have Khushi in front of him throughout the dreaded rasam. He was not at all looking forward to having haldi layered across his face.
‘Yes very, to keep you from gawking at my lovely sister-in-law.’ She teased.
‘I don’t gawk.’ He stated, bitterly, annoyed at having to see Khushi’s face in a blue hue now.
‘Really, then enlighten us on what exactly you were doing moments before Payal ji and Di put up the partition, Nannav? Samjhe. Samjhe. Come on, explain.’ NK asked, from behind his camera, joining in the mirth.
‘Firstly, its’ samjhao not samjhe. You asked me to understand rather than explain. And secondly, I was merely appraising Khushi, lovingly with my eyes, telling her how beautiful she is.’ He replied, to which Khushi let out a soft chuckle. Well at least he could still hear her adorable laugh without it being tampered with.
‘Anjali…the flower-jewelry is here.’ Annouced Rubina carrying a tray adorning jewelry made out of jasmine flowers.
‘Ooo. Perfect. Come Rubina ji, help me adorn my beautiful bhabi.’ Anjali chimed happily. They placed the platter in front of Khushi and knelt down next to her as they adorned her fingers, wrists, neck, ears and forehead with Jasmine chains freshly made for her.
That done, the haldi rasam commenced, as Payal brought out a bowl of freshly brewed haldi and placed it in front of Arnav and then Khushi. Devyani was given the honour to apply the turmeric paste on both the bride and groom first, being the eldest, after her everyone took turns to spread the paste on both the bride and groom. While Khushi loved the pampering and layering on of the turmeric Arnav fought hard to sit still as each of his family members took turns to cover his face, arms and legs with it. Each time someone came close to him to apply it, he would ball his fist, scrunch his nose and shut his eyes, just the way a child did when about to be vaccinated. This visage of his brought tears to Khushi’s eyes for she laughed so hard at his discomfort, to which Arnav just grunted not at all enjoying the custom but going through it because that was the only way he got to sit in front of Khushi, correction an obscured Khushi.
Arnav had just wiped off a large amount of the haldi from his face, courtesy of NK who unlike the rest had not felt threatened by Arnav’s stare and took advantage of his shut eyes as he had neared his face with a dollop of the paste only to smear it with half the contents of the bowl just to annoy him, when a trembling pair of hands cast their shadow on his face. He looked up to find the anxious face of his PA. Arnav wondered whether the contractions of his face muscles was permanent for he never saw any other look on Aman’s face except for pure petrifaction. Or maybe it was because he worked for Arnav, he had to be honest he didn’t exactly pamper him. Coddling someone had never been Arnav’s thing, he was more about the tough-love.
‘Sir…I…uh…I…um…I will just go.’ He stammered and then lowered his hands and turned to go.
‘Aman, if I didn’t want my best man to be a part of my wedding, I wouldn’t have invited you.’ Arnav called him back.
‘Sir?’ he stared back in shock. What do you know, the muscles in his face did work? Arnav thought to himself, for they had gone from echoing terror to displaying utter shock.
‘Well you do happen to be my right hand man, Aman. No need to look so shocked.’ Arnav gave a soft smile.
‘Dear God Nannav, I think you have finally managed to kill the man, from pure shock.’ NK joked as he came over to Aman. ‘Hallooo?’ he waved his hands in front of Aman. ‘Earth to Aman. Woohooo.’ NK’s weird dance in front of him snapped Aman out of his shock. ‘There, attaboy.’ NK smacked him on his back.
‘Sir. I…’ Aman hesitated, yet again in front of Arnav with haldi in his hands.
‘Well don’t just stand there. Apply it already. He already gave you as good a permission Nannav can give to allow anyone to touch his face.’ NK chirped happily. But Aman still stared as emotion choked him, here he thought Arnav would fire him yet again but as always he had surprised him. ‘Oho….here let me help you…’ NK getting impatient placed Aman’s hand in the bowl of haldi making him take a big scoop and rubbed it all over Arnav’s face yet again.
‘Hahaha…got you again, Nannav.’ NK roared with laughter while Aman stared horrified at seeing what his hands had committed. Instantly he took out his handkerchief and began dabbing it at Arnav’s face uttering hurried apologies, when Arnav pulled his hand away and took the handkerchief.
‘Relax Aman. I’m not angry at you.’ he said wiping away rest of the gunk, as he glared at NK, making NK’s grin broaden even more.
‘Di.’ Arnav said through gritted teeth, making her turn away from Khushi, who she had been applying haldi on and face him. ‘Isn’t there like some rule that allows the groom to smear this gunk over his family?’
‘What? Ahaha…oh NK, you got him good. And no Chotay, there isn’t but you can get him back when it’s his turn at the alter.’ Anjali laughed as she turned back.
‘Oh lighten up Nannav. Besides I had to get you back.’
‘For what, exactly?’ Arnav asked.
‘Well here, for all this time I thought I was your best man, and now it turns out that its Aman. So I mean…badal tho bantha hai.’ He said solemnly, making Aman nervous. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that Arnav considered him his best man and now he was coming in between NK and Arnav’s friendship. Was he doomed to have a boss that hated him? All this time he had thought Arnav the adversary (an amazingly tolerant and educational adversary, but adversary nonetheless) and NK the ally, but now it seemed like things may be the other way round.
‘It’s badla NK. You haven’t exacted a cloud on top of me, unless you are referring to the cloud of confusion that often follows your hindi metaphors.’ Arnav replied slyly.
‘NK….no please…’ Aman on the other hand began stuttering out words, hoping to manage to string together as many as possible to somehow appease NK.
‘Ahahaha….oh chillax Aman. I was only joking. Jisko bakwas banana tha woh tho bana nahi, instead you were fooled.’ NK laughed heartily.
‘Bakwas?’ Aman looked at him worriedly, oh god, what had he done? He had ended NK and Arnav’ long term friendship without even intending to, there was so much anger in NK that he wanted to turn Arnav into rubbish. What was he to do?
‘You want to ruin sir? No NK please don’t do this. Sir I cannot be this best man of yours if it means breaking your friendship with NK.’ He said teary eyed.
‘Wahao…Aman relax. Who said anything about me ruining Nannav?’ NK now rested his hand on Aman’s shoulder to soothe him.
‘You did?’ Arnav replied smirking, as he understood Aman’s misunderstanding, in his fear he seemed to have forgotten NK’s inability to ever iterate what he meant to say in hindi.
‘Hunh? When?’ NK looked at Arnav, confusion in his face.
‘When you were trying to fool me but instead fooled Aman with your melodrama of how you’re not my best man. But what my ever anxious PA doesn’t realize is that NK could never be my best man, for that is a position for friends.’ Arnav stated. NK and Aman stared at Arnav, not understanding and the cheer slipped from NK’s face for the first time in years.
‘What? That makes no sense, sir. Are you trying to say NK is not your friend?’ Aman asked bluntly, his bafflement confounding his fear of ever questioning Arnav. Aman’s shocked voice echoed across the courtyard, as everyone tuned into the sudden tension on Arnav’s side of the partition.
‘That is exactly what I am saying. NK-‘
‘Chotay, what are you saying?’ Anjali got up in shock and limped around.
‘Di.’ Arnav silenced her with a cool look, making the very hair on the back of Khushi’s neck stand. What had just happened? What was Arnav on about? How could he be even saying that NK was not his friend? She knew NK’s antics often annoyed him, but she had always seen their relationship as a love-hate friendship where they both baited the other, however, at the same time they would not last without the other, especially not after Lavanya’s death? But now, Arnav was going on about how NK wasn’t his friend... it made no sense and from the pale look on NK’s face Khushi could tell that he was just as shocked to hear this confession from Arnav as she was.
‘If you would let me finish, you would know that after everything that has happened in my life I realize you were right Di, NK is not my friend –‘
‘Chotay, when did I ever-‘
‘He is my brother.’ Arnav finished, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.
‘Oh god Chotay, do you realize how terrified I was moments ago?!’ Anjali broke the silence by slapping her brother’s arm, then leaning in to give him a peck on his forehead, as a tear dropped in his hair. She wasn’t the only one crying, Khushi was too, but that wasn’t something new, for Anjali Khushi often shared tears when Arnav was involved, what was shocking was the tear that escaped NK’s eye at hearing what he meant to Arnav, which sadly was eclipsed by Aman’s very loud sniffle seeing that he had not broken any ties between NK and Arnav.
‘Arnav…’ NK choked out finally after Aman apologetically moved out of the way for spoiling the emotional atmosphere Arnav had created.
‘Waow…that just sounds wrong from you. Stick to Nannav, NK. I prefer that, from only you that is.’ Arnav added, clarifying it for anyone else before they got any ideas.
‘Heh. Nannav then.’ NK laughed, tears still in his eyes. ‘I always considered you family, because you were Lavanya’s family, but I never….its’ nice to know you feel the same way.’
‘How could you even doubt that NK, I mean only a select few have the right to call me by an irritating name which I have no control over and they all are part of my family, you should have known by that. Besides only a brother would get away with smearing haldi all over my face, twice.’ Arnav gave his crooked grin.
‘Twice? I could swear I did it three times.’ NK feigned confusion.
‘No I think I would know. It was twice.’ Arnav replied finally getting it all off.
‘Oh. Well in that case…’ in a flash NK scooped up the remaining haldi from Arnav’ bowl and coated it all over his face, laughing as Arnav sputtered and mumbled curses at NK for getting him a third time.
‘No. I need to take you down for the Haldi rasam. Come on let’s go.’ Payal said, as she threw the face-towel on the bed and grabbed Khushi’s arm.
‘Jiji…you’re unwell. You should rest. All this stress you are taking is not good for you and my to-be niece or nephew. Come lie down.’ Khushi unwrapped Payal’s hand around her and turned her in the direction of the bed.
‘Oho, Khushi I’m fine. This is normal. Vomitting and all. Don’t fret over it. It’s your Haldi and no one, not even you will stop me from smearing haldi all over your face. So come.’ Payal turned away from the bed and started guiding her sister to the door.
‘Jiji…’ Khushi didn’t move.
‘Uff….ok. If I feel like it’s taking a toll I will come and lie down…besides it’s only today...right now your Haldi and then you Shaadi in the evening…once that it is done all I will be doing is resting….which isn’t the same I can say for you, so I hoped you rested up well last night Khushi.’ Payal nudged Khushi teasingly, while Khushi face turned the colour of her red blouse yet again. May be it was her blouse. She mused. May be if she didn’t wear red blouses so often then her cheeks wouldn’t mirror the colour. Oh who was she kidding, she could wear a parrot green suit and her cheeks would still be blood red thanks to her dear fiancé who had a way of always being around her even when he wasn’t there physically he was there in her mind, always.
‘Wohoo…Khushi? Where did you disappear off too? The night is still a few hours away dear…’ Payal carried on with her joke.
‘Jiji….’ Khushi replied through gritted teeth, as an embarrassed smile played across her lips and glowed in her cheeks. ‘Well you certainly are better now, I guess we should get going…’ She said turning to the door, not wanting to think about what would take place in the suite tonight with Arnav. That thought had been giving her jitters all morning.
Laughing, Payal escorted her sister into the hall, where two stages were set in the centre today, as Arnav’s haldi was to take place there with Khushi’s. He had already taken his place on the small stool placed for him, directly opposite Khushi’s stool. He was searing the assembled ladies hearts’ in a simple white cotton kurta and shalwar today, while his hair was not gelled crisp but left soft and untouched shadowing his forehead, the way she loved it. He caught her eyes and instantly a smile lit up across his face, sending a group of butterflies to gather in the pit of her stomach. She smiled back, having the same effect on him.
Payal walked Khushi over to her stool and sat her down. They had just begun a conversation in their eyes, admiring one another when:
‘Waow…hey…what are you doing Di?’ Arnav called out, as Anjali and Payal set up a partition between the two with a sequined, blue-net dupatta.
‘Sorry Chotay…but bride and groom aren’t meant to see each other on the wedding day and especially not during or after the Haldi…but as both your haldi rasams are being carried out together we have to use the aid of this dupatta to separate you.’ Anjali explained, sweetly.
‘Are you for real Di? Come on, what does it matter. I mean you said so yourself we’re having the events together so is it really necessary for you to put up a partition?’ He grumbled, annoyed that it now obscured Khushi from his view. He had been so pleased when he had seen the two stool set opposite each other…it had been his one good thing to have Khushi in front of him throughout the dreaded rasam. He was not at all looking forward to having haldi layered across his face.
‘Yes very, to keep you from gawking at my lovely sister-in-law.’ She teased.
‘I don’t gawk.’ He stated, bitterly, annoyed at having to see Khushi’s face in a blue hue now.
‘Really, then enlighten us on what exactly you were doing moments before Payal ji and Di put up the partition, Nannav? Samjhe. Samjhe. Come on, explain.’ NK asked, from behind his camera, joining in the mirth.
‘Firstly, its’ samjhao not samjhe. You asked me to understand rather than explain. And secondly, I was merely appraising Khushi, lovingly with my eyes, telling her how beautiful she is.’ He replied, to which Khushi let out a soft chuckle. Well at least he could still hear her adorable laugh without it being tampered with.
‘Anjali…the flower-jewelry is here.’ Annouced Rubina carrying a tray adorning jewelry made out of jasmine flowers.
‘Ooo. Perfect. Come Rubina ji, help me adorn my beautiful bhabi.’ Anjali chimed happily. They placed the platter in front of Khushi and knelt down next to her as they adorned her fingers, wrists, neck, ears and forehead with Jasmine chains freshly made for her.
That done, the haldi rasam commenced, as Payal brought out a bowl of freshly brewed haldi and placed it in front of Arnav and then Khushi. Devyani was given the honour to apply the turmeric paste on both the bride and groom first, being the eldest, after her everyone took turns to spread the paste on both the bride and groom. While Khushi loved the pampering and layering on of the turmeric Arnav fought hard to sit still as each of his family members took turns to cover his face, arms and legs with it. Each time someone came close to him to apply it, he would ball his fist, scrunch his nose and shut his eyes, just the way a child did when about to be vaccinated. This visage of his brought tears to Khushi’s eyes for she laughed so hard at his discomfort, to which Arnav just grunted not at all enjoying the custom but going through it because that was the only way he got to sit in front of Khushi, correction an obscured Khushi.
Arnav had just wiped off a large amount of the haldi from his face, courtesy of NK who unlike the rest had not felt threatened by Arnav’s stare and took advantage of his shut eyes as he had neared his face with a dollop of the paste only to smear it with half the contents of the bowl just to annoy him, when a trembling pair of hands cast their shadow on his face. He looked up to find the anxious face of his PA. Arnav wondered whether the contractions of his face muscles was permanent for he never saw any other look on Aman’s face except for pure petrifaction. Or maybe it was because he worked for Arnav, he had to be honest he didn’t exactly pamper him. Coddling someone had never been Arnav’s thing, he was more about the tough-love.
‘Sir…I…uh…I…um…I will just go.’ He stammered and then lowered his hands and turned to go.
‘Aman, if I didn’t want my best man to be a part of my wedding, I wouldn’t have invited you.’ Arnav called him back.
‘Sir?’ he stared back in shock. What do you know, the muscles in his face did work? Arnav thought to himself, for they had gone from echoing terror to displaying utter shock.
‘Well you do happen to be my right hand man, Aman. No need to look so shocked.’ Arnav gave a soft smile.
‘Dear God Nannav, I think you have finally managed to kill the man, from pure shock.’ NK joked as he came over to Aman. ‘Hallooo?’ he waved his hands in front of Aman. ‘Earth to Aman. Woohooo.’ NK’s weird dance in front of him snapped Aman out of his shock. ‘There, attaboy.’ NK smacked him on his back.
‘Sir. I…’ Aman hesitated, yet again in front of Arnav with haldi in his hands.
‘Well don’t just stand there. Apply it already. He already gave you as good a permission Nannav can give to allow anyone to touch his face.’ NK chirped happily. But Aman still stared as emotion choked him, here he thought Arnav would fire him yet again but as always he had surprised him. ‘Oho….here let me help you…’ NK getting impatient placed Aman’s hand in the bowl of haldi making him take a big scoop and rubbed it all over Arnav’s face yet again.
‘Hahaha…got you again, Nannav.’ NK roared with laughter while Aman stared horrified at seeing what his hands had committed. Instantly he took out his handkerchief and began dabbing it at Arnav’s face uttering hurried apologies, when Arnav pulled his hand away and took the handkerchief.
‘Relax Aman. I’m not angry at you.’ he said wiping away rest of the gunk, as he glared at NK, making NK’s grin broaden even more.
‘Di.’ Arnav said through gritted teeth, making her turn away from Khushi, who she had been applying haldi on and face him. ‘Isn’t there like some rule that allows the groom to smear this gunk over his family?’
‘What? Ahaha…oh NK, you got him good. And no Chotay, there isn’t but you can get him back when it’s his turn at the alter.’ Anjali laughed as she turned back.
‘Oh lighten up Nannav. Besides I had to get you back.’
‘For what, exactly?’ Arnav asked.
‘Well here, for all this time I thought I was your best man, and now it turns out that its Aman. So I mean…badal tho bantha hai.’ He said solemnly, making Aman nervous. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that Arnav considered him his best man and now he was coming in between NK and Arnav’s friendship. Was he doomed to have a boss that hated him? All this time he had thought Arnav the adversary (an amazingly tolerant and educational adversary, but adversary nonetheless) and NK the ally, but now it seemed like things may be the other way round.
‘It’s badla NK. You haven’t exacted a cloud on top of me, unless you are referring to the cloud of confusion that often follows your hindi metaphors.’ Arnav replied slyly.
‘NK….no please…’ Aman on the other hand began stuttering out words, hoping to manage to string together as many as possible to somehow appease NK.
‘Ahahaha….oh chillax Aman. I was only joking. Jisko bakwas banana tha woh tho bana nahi, instead you were fooled.’ NK laughed heartily.
‘Bakwas?’ Aman looked at him worriedly, oh god, what had he done? He had ended NK and Arnav’ long term friendship without even intending to, there was so much anger in NK that he wanted to turn Arnav into rubbish. What was he to do?
‘You want to ruin sir? No NK please don’t do this. Sir I cannot be this best man of yours if it means breaking your friendship with NK.’ He said teary eyed.
‘Wahao…Aman relax. Who said anything about me ruining Nannav?’ NK now rested his hand on Aman’s shoulder to soothe him.
‘You did?’ Arnav replied smirking, as he understood Aman’s misunderstanding, in his fear he seemed to have forgotten NK’s inability to ever iterate what he meant to say in hindi.
‘Hunh? When?’ NK looked at Arnav, confusion in his face.
‘When you were trying to fool me but instead fooled Aman with your melodrama of how you’re not my best man. But what my ever anxious PA doesn’t realize is that NK could never be my best man, for that is a position for friends.’ Arnav stated. NK and Aman stared at Arnav, not understanding and the cheer slipped from NK’s face for the first time in years.
‘What? That makes no sense, sir. Are you trying to say NK is not your friend?’ Aman asked bluntly, his bafflement confounding his fear of ever questioning Arnav. Aman’s shocked voice echoed across the courtyard, as everyone tuned into the sudden tension on Arnav’s side of the partition.
‘That is exactly what I am saying. NK-‘
‘Chotay, what are you saying?’ Anjali got up in shock and limped around.
‘Di.’ Arnav silenced her with a cool look, making the very hair on the back of Khushi’s neck stand. What had just happened? What was Arnav on about? How could he be even saying that NK was not his friend? She knew NK’s antics often annoyed him, but she had always seen their relationship as a love-hate friendship where they both baited the other, however, at the same time they would not last without the other, especially not after Lavanya’s death? But now, Arnav was going on about how NK wasn’t his friend... it made no sense and from the pale look on NK’s face Khushi could tell that he was just as shocked to hear this confession from Arnav as she was.
‘If you would let me finish, you would know that after everything that has happened in my life I realize you were right Di, NK is not my friend –‘
‘Chotay, when did I ever-‘
‘He is my brother.’ Arnav finished, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.
‘Oh god Chotay, do you realize how terrified I was moments ago?!’ Anjali broke the silence by slapping her brother’s arm, then leaning in to give him a peck on his forehead, as a tear dropped in his hair. She wasn’t the only one crying, Khushi was too, but that wasn’t something new, for Anjali Khushi often shared tears when Arnav was involved, what was shocking was the tear that escaped NK’s eye at hearing what he meant to Arnav, which sadly was eclipsed by Aman’s very loud sniffle seeing that he had not broken any ties between NK and Arnav.
‘Arnav…’ NK choked out finally after Aman apologetically moved out of the way for spoiling the emotional atmosphere Arnav had created.
‘Waow…that just sounds wrong from you. Stick to Nannav, NK. I prefer that, from only you that is.’ Arnav added, clarifying it for anyone else before they got any ideas.
‘Heh. Nannav then.’ NK laughed, tears still in his eyes. ‘I always considered you family, because you were Lavanya’s family, but I never….its’ nice to know you feel the same way.’
‘How could you even doubt that NK, I mean only a select few have the right to call me by an irritating name which I have no control over and they all are part of my family, you should have known by that. Besides only a brother would get away with smearing haldi all over my face, twice.’ Arnav gave his crooked grin.
‘Twice? I could swear I did it three times.’ NK feigned confusion.
‘No I think I would know. It was twice.’ Arnav replied finally getting it all off.
‘Oh. Well in that case…’ in a flash NK scooped up the remaining haldi from Arnav’ bowl and coated it all over his face, laughing as Arnav sputtered and mumbled curses at NK for getting him a third time.
*****
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