27. OS 18. Too Tempting to Resist (Part 27)

Part 27



Buaji banged on Sasi's bedroom door.

"Sasi babua, wake up," she called.

Sasi opened the door.

"Jiji, kaa hua? Shor kyon macha rahi ho? Did a thief enter our house?" he asked, confused. "Where is Khussi bitiya?"

"I am here, babuji," Khushi replied from her place behind buaji's stout form.

"Jiji? Kaa hua?" Garima asked, yawning. She joined her husband at the door, dragging her pallu to cover her head.

"Garima, Sasi babua, Arnav bitwaa aaye rahe," buaji began. "Hai Re Nandkisore, he almost gave me a heart attack."

"Arnav bitwaa? At this time?" Sasi asked, looking at the clock on the wall. "Why?"

"Is anything wrong, jiji? Payaliya? Akass bitwaa?" Garima asked fearfully.

"They are fine, Nandkisore. Arnav bitwaa marched into Khussi's bedroom, woke her up and told her that he wants to marry her," buaji blurted out.

Garima and Sasi stared at her in utter shock.

Sasi sat down. "Kya?" he asked.

"Arnav bitwaa wants to marry Khussi?" Garima asked, sure her ears weren't working.

"Maybe you heard him wrong, jiji," Sasi tried to find a logical explanation for the phenomenon.

"Naahi, Nandkisore!" buaji insisted. "There is nothing wrong with my ears. Ask Khussi. She heard him too."

Khushi nodded reluctantly.

Garima too sat down.

"He also asked me to fix the dates for the rituals and the shaadi when his family visits us today, Nandkisore," buaji informed her family.

"So he is serious," Sasi said thoughtfully.

"Arnav babua really wants to marry Khussi?" Garima murmured, sure she was still asleep and dreaming.

"Wahi to, Garima. I still can't believe it," buaji sighed.

There was a long moment of silence.

Then Garima said softly, "Payaliya's father, we have to make arrangements for their wedding."

Buaji nodded. "Use the list of guests we made for Payaliya's shaadi, Nandkisore."

Khushi bristled. "Before you invite everyone and serve them rabri, at least ask me if I want to marry your Arnav bitwaa. Amma, buaji, this is too much. Babuji, this is ghor anyaay!"

Sasi, buaji and Garima blinked.

Then Sasi said, with an indulgent smile, "You are right, Khussi. We should have asked you. We were too shocked to do the proper thing. Batao, what do you want to say?"

Khushi opened her mouth, but buaji beat her to it. "Do you want to wear my wedding joda, Khussi? You will look beautiful in it, Nandkisore."

"Yes, jiji," Garima said with a smile.

Khushi stared at her family, indignant. "I am not marrying your Arnav babua." she stated as bluntly as she could make it.

"Hai Re Nandkisore!" buaji exclaimed. "How can you not marry him? Think of Payaliya and her future. How can you refuse her jetji?"

Garima nodded.

Khushi glared at them, too furious to find words.

"Hum maanat he, it is foolish of Arnav bitwaa to want to marry you," buaji admitted.

Garima nodded in full agreement.

Khushi grit her teeth.

"But now that he has decided to throw in his lot with you and destroy his life, how can we refuse him? It will be an insult to the Raizadas. You jiji has to live with them," Garima added.

Buaji nodded. "So it is settled. Dress neatly and be ready to serve tea to the Raizadas when they come here today, Nandkisore."

"And make laddoos today," Garima instructed. "Jiji, we need to take the good tea set from the cabinet and wash it."

"I don't want to marry him!" Khushi screeched. "Babuji, help me, please."

Buaji and Garima opened their mouths to chide her, but Sasi stopped them with a glance.

"Khussi," he called gently. "Beta, why don't you want to marry him?"

"Babuji," Khushi informed him. "He is pagal. Bilkul pagal. Sanki. Fit for Agra Mental Hospital."

Buaji and Garima gasped.

"Yeh tum keh rahi ho, Nandkisore? You, Sanka devi!" buaji asked in wonder.

"He is mad? Then what are you, Khussi?" Garima asked, truly curious.

"Pagal?" Sasi asked curiously. "Why do you think so?"

"Why does your daughter think so?" buaji asked, incensed. "Because she is totally mad, Nandkisore. She is so sanki that everyone seems mad to her."

"Khussi?" Sasi asked.

"I can't explain, babuji, lekin there is so much about him that is strange, totally weird." Khushi sagged in a chair.

Sasi said slowly, "I never felt that he is mentally unbalanced."

"Of course he isn't," Garima butted in. "Can a mad man be such a successful businessman and win awards?"

"Babuji, he is khadoos, akhdoo," Khushi tried again. "If he smiles at milk, it will curdle."

"Hein?" Buaji asked. "Why should he smile at milk? Is he a milkman?"

"And what if he is not as friendly and hansmukh as you? Is he a young boy to play pranks with you?" Garima asked.

"Wahi to! He is too old, babuji," Khushi tried again, unable to put into words what scared her about that Laad Governor. He was too worldly-wise for her. She couldn't read many of the emotions that flashed through his molten chocolate eyes. They were beyond her experience. And his touch! It sent waves of heat through her that fried her brains and short-circuited her senses. No, no, it was better to stay away from him. He was a live wire and she didn't want to die of shock.

"He is 28. You are 21. Seven years is a big margin," Sasi said thoughtfully.

"Your daughter is 21 in body, but 15 in her head," buaji said bluntly. "You better get an older groom for her. A young one won't be so understanding, Nandkisore."

"And he is responsible, hard-working and devoted to his family. Where will you find such a sanskaari boy like that?" Garima asked.

"And Khussi and Payaliya will be in the same house. When she makes stupid mistakes, Payaliya can help her, Nandkisore," buaji added.

Being with jiji was a big temptation, but putting up with the Rakshas and his hot hands just to be with jiji was too big a price to pay. The sangeet dance...She shuddered at the very thought.

"No," Khushi proclaimed. She wanted to sleep in peace, not worry about where and how he was going to touch her! She breathed in deep to calm her crazy heart.

No, she wouldn't marry him, whatever happened. He was hazardous to her health and peace of mind. She nodded, her mind made up. If only she could run away to Lucknow and her Gomti Sadan.

26. OS 18. Too Tempting to Resist (Part 26)

Part 26

Arnav tossed and turned in his bed, caught in the grip of a nightmare.

The boy at the sangeet, the boy at the shaadi...they were all out to take Khushi away from him. Extreme disquiet filled his heart. The sense of loss was acute, drilling holes in his heart. Into this mix came his mama's cry, the gunshots, his di's tears... Khushi walked away from him, turning back to look at him once with reproachful hazel eyes with a hint of tears.

"Khushi!" he called out loud.

He sat up in bed, drenched in sweat.

In the long hours of the night he came to a decision. He had lost too many people in his life, too many opportunities for happiness, too many moments of companionship. A child, he had been helpless to stop the mad whirling of the wheel of destiny or fate or whatever it was that fools called it. He was no longer a child, no longer weak, no longer a passive victim. He could grab his chance of happiness, his Khushi.

He nodded, feeling a weight lift from his chest.

Yes, it was time to marry. And Khushi was perfect. Payal's sister. His family loved the Guptas. Right.

 And companionship was essential. Why should he lose out on companionship? He was Arnav Singh Raizada, a bachelor, rich as Croesus. He could definitely have some companionship in his life

Once the decision was made, Arnav Singh Raizada had no time to waste. He had to put it in action. He looked at the clock. Five in the morning.

Perfect. It was morning. He looked out of the window. Smog made visibility difficult. But 5am was morning. It was.

He freshened up, got into his jogging gear, grabbed his bottle of water and left his house, eager to set his plan in action.

                                                               ***


Arnav ran along deserted streets, his heart thudding more than a jog warranted. Street dogs lifted their heads to see who was disturbing their peaceful slumber, took one look at the mad man, and went right back to sleep. A cow waiting near a temple, ready to be fed, mooed at him.

The blood rushed through his veins. He was taking a very important step in his life today and he was eager to settle things at the earliest, before more nephews came to queer his pitch.

He reached Laxmi Nagar.

The doors of the houses were shut. The street lights shed light on the empty road.

Undeterred, Arnav marched up the steps to buaji's house and banged on the door.

There was perfect silence.

He rang the bell multiple times.

A sleepy buaji opened the door, her hair sticking out in places.

"Kaun he, Nandkisore?" she grumbled, peering in the dark to identify the beast who had pulled her out of a warm bed at an ungodly hour.

"It is me, Arnav," he replied, trying to sound calm even though his heart was galloping.

Buaji's sleep fled. "Arnav bitwa? Hai re Nandkisore! Kaa hua, babua?" buaji asked, petrified. "Payaliya and damadji are fine, aren't they?" She clutched her heart.

Arnav mumbled, "Yes, they..they must be." People were usually fine on their suhaag raat, weren't they? He hadn't met them that morning and so couldn't answer with conviction.

"Your naniji? She is fine?" buaji asked, wondering what had made Payaliya's jetji knock down her door at dawn.

"Yes," Arnav said impatiently. "Buaji, where is Khushi?"

"Hein?" buaji exclaimed. "Khussi?" she asked, her eyes wide. "In her bed. Matlab, she has to be in her bed, Nandkisore." She turned her head to look in the direction of Khushi's bedroom.

Arnav barged into the house.

Buaji stepped back.

"I want to talk to her," Arnav declared.

Buaji eyed him warily. "Sab theek he, Nandkisore?" she asked weakly. Had Khushi gotten into a scrape at the wedding last evening?

"Yes, yes," he answered, before marching to her bedroom and banging on the door.

Buaji stood still, alarmed. Khushi had definitely angered a Raizada last evening and Arnav bitwaa was here to shout at her.

"Khushi," he called.

"Oo kaa he, bitwaa, Parmeswari won't wake up even if a bomb falls on her head," buaji admitted weakly. "Tanik tehro, hum bulaawat he, Nandkisore."

"I will wake her up," he declared, pushing the door open and marching to the bed.

 Buaji followed.

He looked down at the angel in pink, curled up in her blanket, sleeping the sleep of the innocent. Her cheeks were as pink as her dupatta.

He took hold of her shoulder and shook hard. "Khushi," he called.

Khushi opened one bleary eye. Her mouth fell open. Rakshas was in her bedroom?

Her other eye too flew open. She sat up in bed, panting.

"Khussi, Arnav bitwaa wants to talk to you," buaji said, her voice low and worried. "Kaa kiye rahe tum, Nandkisore?"

"Kuch nahi, buaji," she muttered, a wary eye on the Laad Governor.

"Khushi, I want to marry you," he declared.

Both Khushi and buaji clutched their hearts.

"Buaji, my family will visit you today to discuss the details," Arnav informed her.

Buaji sat down heavily on a chair, her hand on her forehead.

"I..I just wanted you to know," Arnav explained. "That's why I came over." He stood looking at Khushi for a long moment. Then he said, "I will see you later."

He turned and walked away.

Buaji ran after him.

At the door, he turned to inform buaji, "Fix the dates of all the rituals, buaji. And the wedding date. I want everything settled at the earliest."

Buaji stared at him. Did Arnav bitwaa love Akass bitwaa so much that his shaadi had turned him mad with grief? She could think of no other reason why a suljhe hue Arnav bitwaa would want to marry Sanka Devi! Poor boy!

He nodded farewell and jogged away, his mission accomplished.

Buaji could only mutter, "Hai Re Nandksore!"

25. OS 18. Too Tempting to Resist (Part 25)

Part 25

"Did you ask for me, Anjaliji?" Khushi asked.

Anjali stared at her.

"Is there something you would like me to do?" Khushi asked again.

"No," Anjali replied slowly.

Khushi frowned. "Your brother said you were looking for me," she admitted.

Anjali's mouth fell open. "He did? Chotey did?" she asked in wonder.

"Yes," Khushi complained. "I was talking to our neighbour's nephew and your Chotey came to me, breathing fire. He said you were looking for me and dragged me away from there."

Anjali's eyes widened to their maximum dimension.

Buaji called Khushi and she left, muttering, "That Laad Governor is totally and completely pagal."



                                                                       ***



Anjali rushed to nani and mami and told them everything that Khushi had told her.

"Hein?" mami asked, the whites of her eyes visible. "Eee kaa ho raha he? Hello hi bye bye, hamre Arnav bitwaa ko kaa hua?"

"Laagat he, Anjali bitiya, Chotey is melting," nani said with a smile.

"Melting?" mami asked. "Ijj he an ice cream to meltwaa?" She turned her head to look at an Arnav bitwaa who was standing as solid as a wall in the middle of the room.

Nani smiled. "All men are ice creams when it comes to the girl who matters," she said cryptically.

"Saasumma, are you saying that Khussi matters to hamre Arnav bitwaa?" mami asked, shocked. "Khussi? And our Arnav bitwaa?"

"Looks like it, Manorama," nani said with a happy sigh. "Finally, Anjali bitiya, finally a girl who can make him feel something."

Anjali nodded, blinking away happy tears.

"Oo sab theek he, Saasumma," mami said. "Lekin I have a doubts. Oo pheelings kaa he? If it ijj angerwaa, how bill we phace the Guptas?"

The priest called nani and she left the group.



                                                                 ***


The Guptas minus Payal and the Raizadas minus Akash sat in the living room, exhausted after the wedding.

"It is time we left, Nandkisore," buaji said.

"Yes, jiji, it is very late," Garima added.

"Late? Is this late? And how can our samdhan run abay so early?" mami asked.

Nani smiled and said, "Please stay a while longer."

Anjali looked at Arnav. He was sitting a few feet away from the rest of the family, his chair positioned to give him a clear view of Khushi.

Anjali nudged mami and nani.

Mami began the attack. "Hum sochat rahe, Madhumatiji, you hab given us your Payaliya. Now only Khussi ijj lepht."

The Guptas smiled.

The Raizada ladies quivered in excitement to see Arnav sit up, alert.

"We don't want to marry her off now, Manoramaji, lekin kya karein, Nandkisore?" buaji lamented.

Arnav almost hyperventilated.

Khushi sat up, bewildered.

"Kaa hua, Madhumatiji?" nani asked.

That was exactly what Khushi wanted to ask buaji. What was the majboori to get her married off?

"Once our neighbours and relations found out that Payaliya's wedding had been fixed, they started bringing proposals for Khushi," Garima explained with a smile.

"We can't hurt them by not considering the boys," Sasi said with a slight smile.

Nani nodded, stealing a glance at Arnav's pale face.

"Aur kya, Devyaniji?" buaji added. "Today there was a boy at the wedding. Our neighbour's nephew. He came here just to meet Khushi, Nandkisore."

Khushi gulped.

Arnav clenched his fists. His intuition had been spot on.

"I hope you get a very good husband for Khussi bitiya," nani commented easily.

"Yes, buaji. It will be a very happy day when we get to celebrate Khushiji's wedding," Anjali turned the knife stuck somewhere in Arnav's ribs.

"Saasumma, ask them to holds the shaadi here," mami added. "We bill arrange eberything, Sasiji. What do you say, Arnav bitwaa?"

Arnav was too busy having an apoplectic fit to make a coherent answer.

"We should leave now, Devyaniji," Sasi said.

The Guptas got up and moved towards the door, followed by the Raizadas.

The families said their good nights.

Khushi made it a point not to look at pagal Laad Governor after one hazardous glance.

24. OS 18. Too Tempting to Resist (Part 24)

Part 24




It was the day of the wedding.

Akash and Payal looked as nervous as any couple about to tie the knot. Arnav stood away from the crowd, his molten chocolate eyes on the Raizadas and Guptas, especially one Gupta with hazel eyes.

As he watched, a handsome man strolled up to Khushi and greeted her with folded hands.

Arnav frowned. Who was he and how dare he greet Khushi? The audacity of it! And that too in his house!

Khushi smiled at the man and folded her hands to greet him.

Arnav saw red. The next thing he knew, he was standing by Khushi. Or rather, between Khushi and the man to be specific.

Khushi blinked at the Rakshas glaring at her. But before she could say anything, he lit into her.

"What are you doing here, wasting time?" Arnav threw a heated look at the hapless man standing behind him. "Di is looking for you," he bit out, turning his eyes on Khushi.

Khushi looked at him, all flustered, uncertain what he was about. Why was jiji's jetji angry with her?

"Come with me," he ordered.

Khushi looked at his clenched jaw and hesitated.

Arnav grabbed her arm and literally dragged her away to a corner.

"Kya kar rahe ho aap?" Khushi asked, bewildered.

He held himself together with the greatest of effort, stopping himself from uttering a word.

Khushi frowned at him. What was wrong with him? She turned away. Anjaliji was asking for her, wasn't she? Maybe she should find her.

How dare she leave him to stew in his own juices?

Arnav caught her by the arm and turned her to face him. He was so not done with her. "What were you doing with that man? he thundered.

"Kaun man?" Khushi asked, perplexed.

"The man you were smiling at," he clarified, his eyes burning with anger and hurt.

Khushi grimaced. "That man?" she asked. "He is our neighbour's nephew. He came to visit her today and joined her here. He came to introduce himself, that's all."

"Why did you have to smile at him?" Arnav asked the question that was pricking him like a thousand thorns.

Khushi frowned and looked him up and down. What was wrong with this Laad Governor?

"Pagal he aap," she concluded before walking away.