36. OS 18. Too Tempting to Resist (Part 36)

Part 36

Khushi woke up slowly and stretched, groaning. She had slept well and felt great.

She opened her eyes.

Wilted flowers met her gaze.

Her eyes widened. She sat up with a jerk. Suhaag raat. It had been their sughaag raat last night.

Scared, she turned her head warily to look at the pillow by hers.

All she could see was the press of a head. Arnavji had already left the bed.

She heaved a sigh of relief. Hey Devi Maiyya, shukriya, she prayed under her breath as she clambered out of bed and made her way to the washroom, carefully navigating her way through burnt out candles and floral bouquets.

As she bathed and then dressed in a pale green blouse and saree with tons of silver work done on it, she realised that Arnavji had removed her maang tikka and other ornaments so that she could sleep comfortably.

A slow flame of happiness warmed her scared heart.

She looked at herself in the mirror.

Mangalsutra around her neck, red and green bangles around her wrists. Nothing else was different. The sindoor Arnavji had heaped on her maang had been washed away.

Khushi looked at the silver pot of sindoor on the dressing table. Someone had placed it there for her. With shaking fingers, she lifted the lid and taking a pinch of the red powder, applied it in her maang.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror. Now she looked different. Like a stranger.

She shook her head. ‘Don’t waste your time thinking pointless thoughts, Khussi,’ she told herself. ‘You are already late. What must your in-laws think of you sleeping in till noon. Go down and face them...and Arnavji.’

                                                               ***

“Khushiji!” Anjali called out, a big smile on her face. “Chotey said you were very tired and forbade us from waking you up.” She limped up to Khushi and hugged her.

Khushi’s frantic eyes looked for a glimpse of her nemesis even as Payal hugged her.

“Khussi bitiya, aayiye, come and have breakfast,” nani invited, her face flushed with happiness.

“How bas your phirst nightwaa?” mami asked,a twinkle in her eyes.

Nani and Anjali shushed her, scandalised.

Audacious mami continued, “Saasumma, I bas just asking her, did she sleep bell in her new housewaa.”

All smiled as Khushi blushed.

Anjali caught hold of Khushi’s hand. “Khushiji, I am sorry,” she said softly. “Yeh Chotey bhi na! He went to office, today of all days. Aisa bhi koi karta he kya?”

Khushi heaved a sigh of relief. The sword hanging over her head retreated a little.

Nani shook her head in disappointment.

Mami put it simply. “Khussi bitiya, you are hamre Arnav bitwaajj second bife.”

All gasped.

“The phirst one is his laptopwaa. You push it into the poolwaa iph you want a life,” mami advised.

All laughed.

“You will have to push Amanji too into the pool, Khushiji,” Anjali advised.

“Then hamre Arnav bitwaa bill jump into the poolwaa, Hello hi bye bye!” mami said.

Khushi smiled. The image of a young boy with his world shattered around him filled her mind. She looked down at her crossed fingers and took a deep breath.

                                                            ***

Arnav returned home a couple of hours later. He quietly handed over his coat and bag to HP and asked, “Where is Khushi?”

“Bhabiji is in the kitchen,” HP said, delighted that Arnav was taking an interest in his wife.

Arnav said softly, “Ask Khushi to come to our room.”

HP said, beaming, “Yes, Arnav bhaiyya.”

Arnav walked up the steps and HP ran all the way to the kitchen where the ladies were having fun and announced, “Arnav bhaiyya is back from office and asked me to request Khushi bhabi to join him in their room.”

There was perfect silence for one moment. Khushi could hear her heart thud like crazy.

Mami nudged nani and both of them turned away to hide their amusement.

Anjali could almost jump with happiness. She beamed at Khushi as though she had won gold in a marathon.

Payal quickly stepped in. “Khushi, take a glass of water to jetji. And bring him down for lunch in one hour,” she said easily, handing over a tray with a fine glass filled with chilled water.

Khushi nodded and taking the tray with shaking hands, slowly walked out of the kitchen.

Mami sang after her, “Abhi na jao chodkar...ke dil abhi bhara nahi...”

Khushi almost tripped on her saree.

                                                       ***

Khushi swallowed hard as she steadied herself at the door to his...no, their bedroom and slowly walked in.

Arnav emerged from the washroom. His eyes took in the trembling hands and her wary eyes and the tray. Throwing the white towel in his hands on the recliner, he walked up to her and took the tray from her, taking care not to touch her.

He placed the tray on the low table by the recliner and turned to look at her.

“Slept well?” he asked in his husky voice.

“Ji...” she stammered, her eyes averted.

“Achi lag rahi ho,” he complimented softly, sending a hundred pigeons fluttering their wings in her poor heart.

Her wide eyes met his innocent-seeming ones for a moment before skittering away.

“Sh..shukriya...” she whispered, well-mannered till the end. Never let it be said that her babuji hadn’t raised sanskaari girls.

Arnav turned and walked away.

Khushi sat on the bed, her legs giving way. She breathed in deep in relief. As long as he stayed away from her, she was fine. She could manage, maybe even breathe. Maybe she could be a reasonably fine bahu of the Raizadas. Maybe her family wouldn’t feel ashamed of her...The thoughts scrambled in her head when he walked back to her.

She sat stiffly on the bed as he placed a jewellery box on her lap. “Open it,” he said softly.

With shaking fingers, Khushi undid the clasp.

There was a beautiful emerald and diamond jewellery set in the box.

“It belonged to my mama,” he said softly. “She left it for my bride, her bahu.”

Tears filled her eyes at the thought of his mother who had missed out on most of his life and the pleasures that most mothers took for granted. She touched an emerald with a tender finger, feeling his mother’s unconditional love envelop her. The fact that a lady she had never met had thought of her and left her something moved her to the core.

Arnav swallowed past the boulder in his throat.

“May I?” he asked, taking the necklace in his hands, asking permission to touch her.

She nodded jerkily.

Arnav gently fastened it around her neck, smoothing away strands of hair and trailing his fingers down the sides of her neck to touch her shoulders.

Khushi panted, her lips parted.

“Beautiful,” he whispered, his hot breath against her ear.

Khushi shivered.

“Khushi, tum theek ho?” the devil asked, looking into her panic-filled eyes.

35. OS 18. Too Tempting to Resist (Part 35)

Part 35

“Now hamre Arnav bitwaa and hamre new bahuriya Khussi will do the aphter-bedding rasams,” mami announced. “All aaa jao, sit downs, sit downs,” she invited the guests.

“Chotey, Khussi bitiya, baith jayiye. You have to find the ring in this vessel of milk,” nani said, a happy smile on her face.

“Nani, do we really need to do this?” Arnav asked. “It is late.”

The ladies laughed at what they saw as his impatience to be alone with his bride on his wedding night. But Arnav’s eyes were on a visibly wilting Khushi.

“We hab to do these, Arnav bitwaa,” mami informed him.

“Akash and Payal did it long enough. Count that as ours too, mami. Let us go,” Arnav requested.

Before the Raizadas could remonstrate with him, Khushi whispered, “Let’s finish them, Arnavji.”

He looked at her, lost in her eyes.

“The rasams have to be done. Chaliye,” nani invited.

All sat down around the golden vessel with milk, rose petals and a ring to play games that were designed to make the bride comfortable with her groom and his family.

                                          ***

“Chotey, what are you doing here in your study? Go up to your room. Khushiji is waiting for you,” Anjali chided him.

“Last minute details,” he muttered as he signed cheques for the wedding arrangements.

“Bhai, you can do it tomorrow,” Akash suggested. “You must be tired tonight. Please, aap jaake rest keejiye.”

Capping his pen, Arnav nodded. He picked up his phone and called Aman.

Anjali fumed in anger and Akash sighed.

“Aman, slot the meeting for ten tomorrow,” he instructed. “I will be there.”

Two pairs of eyes glared at him when he cut the call.

“What?” he asked, unperturbed.

“It is your wedding night,” Anjali reminded him.

“I know, di,” he replied. “Good night.” He walked away.

“One day,” Anjali began. “One day, I swear, Akash, I will do him some harm.”

Akash smiled before wishing her a good night and leaving to join his sweet wife.

                                                    ***

Arnav walked up to his room on quiet feet. No one knew better than him that it was his suhaagraat. He had tarried to give Khushi time to rest, to feel comfortable in his room, to get used to the fact that they were married.

The door to his room was shut but not locked.

He pushed it open, slowly, softly, careful not to make a sound.

His breath caught in his chest.

The room was lit by the mellow glow of a hundred plump candles. The fragrance of jasmine and rose filled the room.

His eyes fell on the bed decorated to resemble a bower. And in the middle of a bed covered in red rose petals was Khushi with the pallu drawn over her head. Her knees were raised and her arms lay on them. Her head was lowered to rest on her arms.

He swallowed hard.

After a moment of standing still and gazing at his bride, he walked up to her.

“Khushi,” he called softly.

She did not answer him. She was fast asleep.

Arnav smiled. He turned away to get his nightclothes and went to the washroom to change.

Then he gently gathered her in his arms and laid her on the bed, her head on the pillow. Then he proceeded to remove her maang tikka, her necklace, her earrings and her bangles as carefully as he could to avoid hurting her.

Khushi slept the sleep of the exhausted, sleepless nights catching up with her.

Arnav sat on his recliner and worked on his laptop, stealing glances at his wife, relieved, happy and satisfied that she was finally with him, under one roof and in one room.

                                              ***

Khushi woke up with a start at dawn. Where was she? She stared at the floral chains surrounding the bed and hyperventilated.

“It is fine, Khushi,” came a husky mumble.

She turned her head to see a rumpled Arnav Singh Raizada lying on the bed by her.

She sat up hastily, staring at him with wide eyes. Then her eyes fell. “I fell asleep,” she said apologetic, her voice low.

“You were tired. So was I,” he said. “Go back to sleep, Khushi. We can talk in the morning.”

Khushi slowly eased back into bed and turned her back to him. She lay for a while staring at the candles and flowers in the room and slowly her lashes fell and she slipped back into sleep.

34. OS 18. Too Tempting to Resist (Part 34)

Part 34

Today was her shaadi.

Khushi sagged in her chair.

The past week had flashed past her. All she could remember was being pushed into designer clothes and pulled out of them by her jiji as she attended rasam after rasam at the speed of light.

And Arnavji had kept his distance from her.

She breathed in deep. It had been a great comfort as she hadn’t needed to fight her dhak dhak and acidity caused by his nearness, but...but it had been disquieting as well.

Khushi placed her hand on her chest. Her lashes lifted to see herself in the mirror.

Why was he staying away from her? How would they manage for the rest of their lives? Would she make a good wife? And what kind of husband would Laad Governor be?

She swallowed hard.

She missed her mother like an ache today.

A tear trailed down her cheek.

She wished she could hug her amma and weep, ask for reassurance that she would be by her side if anything went wrong. She felt alone, all alone and lost in this ajeeb world that rarely made sense to her. She was still eight and an orphan who had had the rug pulled from under her feet by the death of her parents.

She crossed her arms to hold herself and wept.

                                                 ***

“Please bring the bride downstairs, Devyaniji,” the priest said. “It is time for the rituals to begin.”

“Yes, panditji,” nani said before turning to Anjali and Payal with a smile. “Bring Khussi bitiya downstairs.”

Anjali made to take a step forward, but Arnav beat her.

“I will get Khushi,” he said, making his way up the steps on quick feet.

He knocked on her door.

“Come in,” she whispered.

It was enough for him. He pushed the door open, stepped in and softly shut the door behind him.

Khushi was sitting on an engraved stool before the dressing table, her divine form in a designer lehenga reflected in the mirror.

She watched him walk to her softly, a large man in a black sherwani and red turban. The sherwani highlighted his broad shoulders and his washboard stomach and the turban gave him a regal look.

He came to stand behind her seated form.

“It is time, Khushi,” he said softly.

Khushi nodded. A tear slipped past the dam she had erected to keep her emotions under control.

“Khushi, please ro mat,” he murmured, wanting badly to touch her to comfort her, but stopping himself from doing so.

Khushi turned on the stool and threw herself at him. Her arms went around his waist and she pressed her face against his tummy.

He folded her close and placed one hand on her head, murmuring, “Khushi, it will be okay.”

“What if... I am... a bad... wife?” she mumbled, sobbing hard.

Arnav almost smiled. “I am more likely to be a hopeless husband than you are to be a bad wife,” he replied honestly.

She lifted her head to look at him.

He nodded. “I have no previous experience as a husband. I am a novice at this job, just as you have never been married before.” He waited for his answer to register in her head. Then he continued, “We will muddle through together.”

She stared at him.

“We will learn together, make mistakes together, correct them together,” he said.

“If I am not a good wife,” she sniffed, “your family and mine...they will be disappointed...”

“Don’t worry, Khushi,” Arnav said softly. He placed his fingers beneath her chin and lifted her face to his. “What happens between us remains between us.”

She looked at him with moist eyes, unable to believe her ears.

“We...we need to learn about each other, learn to adjust,” explained Arnav. “It will take time, but I promise, Khushi, tum aur mein, hamesha.”

She looked into his honest eyes. Tears ran down her wet cheeks.

Arnav dried her face gently. Then he asked, “Ready, Khushi?”

She nodded and reluctantly let go of his waist, feeling bereft at the loss of his warmth. He felt so good, she thought.

“Chalo,” he invited.

Khushi stood up.

Arnav ran deeply appreciative eyes over her slim form in a cream and red lehenga with pearls strewn all over it.

“You look beautiful,” he said, his voice husky and sincere.

Khushi blushed, feeling warmth spread through her insides.

He wanted to touch her flushed cheek, but told himself, ‘Just a few more minutes. Hang on there. Let the wedding rituals be over and done with.’

He held out his arm.

She curled hers around his.

They left the room.

Mami had to blink away her tears as she saw her Arnav bitwaa lead his bride down the steps to the living room where the mandap had been arranged.

Anjali hugged nani.

Nani silently promised her daughter, Ratna, that Arnav’s life would now be filled with joy.

Garima sighed in relief.

Buaji whispered, “A big responsibility is leaving our shoulders, Nandkisore. It is His kripa that we got such a good family and boy for Khussi.”

“Yes, jiji,” Garima replied softly. “I can't tell you how many nights I have spent worrying about Khussi’s future, about how I will face her mother after my death if we are unable to give Khussi a good life. Devi Maiyya heard my prayers and gave her such a good babua who will put up with her childishness.”

Sasi had to blink his tears away. His younger daughter was getting married and losing her would leave a big void in his heart. The only consolation was that he was handing her over to hands that would keep her safe, to a man who was used to shouldering the burden of an extended family without complaint.

“Sasiji, Garimaji, Madhumatiji, aayiye,” nani invited with a smile. “Let the rituals begin.”

33. OS 18. Too Tempting to Resist (Part 33)

Part 33

Hate him? Khushi looked into molten eyes trained on her and felt a shiver of awareness go down her spine. That tingle wasn’t hate, was it?

Her eyes fell to his large hands loosely clasped on his lap and felt them trailing against her skin. She crossed her arms. Goosebumps didn’t signify hate, did they?

“No...” she whispered uncertainly.

The breath left him in a gust. The relief left him lightheaded.

“But you are very troublesome,” she murmured, looking away.

His brows shot up. “What the!” he exclaimed.

“You are too,” she insisted, turning to look at him. “Devi Maiyya knows how you trouble me.”

“What did I do?” he asked, trying his best to look as innocent as possible.

Khushi looked away. He could be brazen about his actions, but how could be shameless enough to voice them?

“What did I do, Khushi?” he asked urgently, racking his brains to find the source of her problem.

Khushi remained silent, her face firmly turned away.

“Khushi!” Arnav grabbed her hand to get her attention.

She pulled her hand away, saying agitated, “This is what I meant. Why do you touch me?”

His eyes widened.

“Do you have any idea what it feels like when you touch me?” Khushi asked, too angry to realise the significance of the words. “Jab dekho haath pakdthe rehte hein,” she muttered her complaint. “If I try to stay away from him, he follows me and takes hold of my hand.”

Arnav stared at her with fascinated eyes.

“Do I need to breath or not?” she asked reasonably. “Then why are you touching me idhar udhar?”

He swallowed hard. Then he asked, “Khushi, what if I promise not to touch you?”

She looked at him in astonishment.

“What if I promise not to touch you till you ask me to touch you?” he qualified.

“Why should I ask you to touch me?” she asked, frowning.

“You never know. You may like me touching you,” he said easily. “Will you marry me if I promise not to touch you till you ask me to?” he insisted.

Khushi tried thinking with a brain with scrambled cells and couldn’t come up with any reason to refuse. And their wedding was fixed anyway. So refusing to marry him after agreeing to marry him didn’t make any sense. So she said weakly, “Yes.”

He leaned back in relief. “I will ask my family to hurry the rasams,” he said.

She frowned. “Why?”

“We need to learn a lot about each other, Khushi. And it is better if it happens after shaadi,” he said mildly.

She asked, confused, “You don’t have time to visit me daily so that we can know each other?”

“You can say that,” he replied after a moment.

She nodded. “Theek he,” she said slowly.

“I promise, Khushi, you will never regret marrying me,” he said quietly.

She looked at him.

He stood up and held his hand out to help her stand up.

Khushi looked at his open palm.

“You will always have the choice, Khushi. You can decide whether to take my hand or not,” he said softly.

Khushi drew in a shuddering breath. Her eyes on his hand, she made to slowly lift her hand.

He quickly withdrew his hand as though he hadn’t seen her compliance.

“It is fine, Khushi,” he said easily. “You can touch me when you feel comfortable. Don’t fret about it.”

Khushi nodded slowly and stood up.

Arnav looked at the dome of the temple and said a silent thanks to Devi Maiyya.

                                                      ***

Arnav walked into his house and handed over his coat to HP. “Ask the whole family to assemble in the living room,” he instructed. “I need to talk to them.”

“Yes, Arnav bhaiyya,” HP murmured as he ran to do his bidding.

Soon his family members took their seats, varying degrees of anxiety on their faces except for mami. There was a heavy layer of caked face pack on her face.

“Kaa hua, Arnav bitwaa?” mami asked. “Bhy did you call ujj?”

Arnav took one horrified look at her white face and looked away to compose himself.

“Chotey?” Anjali asked, all ready to weep at the drop of a hat.

“Err..I want you to finish all the rasams within a week,” he instructed.

The whole family stared at him. Payal looked downright worried. How would her family manage?

“What is the need to waste time?” he asked, trying to keep his face impassive.

“The rasams...?” nani looked at mamaji.

“You know I don’t believe in all that nonsense,” Arnav said brusquely. 

“And if you are insistent, we can have them after the wedding.”

The whole family gasped.

“Have pre-wedding rituals after the wedding?” nani asked, shocked.

“What has gotten into you, Chotey?” Anjali asked in wonder.

“A bhoot,” mami said. “A shaadi ka bhoot got into hamre Arnav bitwaa.”

“Work,” he blurted out. 

Akash and mamaji stared at him.

“I may have to go on an extended official tour soon,” Arnav tried to say convincingly. “I don’t want the wedding to be postponed till I can return. So let’s have the shaadi this week.”

All looked at Payal. She looked helplessly at Akash. “One week? The arrangements...” she murmured. “How will babuji be able to arrange everything in such a short time?”

“Nani, let Khushi’s family know, please. Aman will get event managers and we can have all the rasams you deem unavoidable, here at our house,” Arnav decided.

The Raizadas looked at each other, both perplexed and amused at Arnav’s urgency.

Only Arnav knew how difficult it had been to trap his fidgety kabootari in the web spun with his words. He drew in a deep breath. The shaadi had to happen at the earliest moment possible.