30. OS 18. Too Tempting to Resist (Part 30)

Part 30

“Arnav bitwaa, don’t you have a gifat for your Khussi?” mami asked archly. “I thought tumhre pocketswaa will be phull of gifats, Hello hi bye bye!”

Arnav floundered. What did he know about giving gifts? This was his first shagun and shaadi!

“Please stay for dinner, Devyaniji,” Sasi requested, relieved that everything had concluded so well, especially for them.

“Yes, let’s, saasuma,” mami begged. “It ijj so much phun bhen all of are togethers.”

“I’ll be back,” Arnav muttered, leaving the house.

                                          ***

Khushi quickly slipped away to her room and started to remove her earrings.

“Khushi,” Payal came to her with a sweet smile on her lips.

Khushi tried hard to smile.

“Aren’t you thrilled?” Payal asked her the rhetorical question, hugging Khushi. “We will be together always as jethani and devrani, living in one house with our husbands.”

Khushi’s throat ached with unshed tears. She nodded.

Buaji entered the room. “What are you doing, Sanka Devi?” she asked. “Why are you removing the jewels? Arnav bitwaa will be back. This girl, Nandkisore!”

Khushi quietly pushed the stem of the earring into the piercing on her earlobe. What was the use of arguing? Arnav bitwaa had successfully destroyed life as she knew it by proposing to her.

                                              ***

Arnav returned in time for dinner and the two families laughed and chatted as they dined on Lucknavi delicacies. Only Arnav was perturbed by Khushi’s silence and impassive face. The rest attributed it happily to bashfulness.

Mami teased the new pair. Arnav looked at Khushi. She looked as though it were all happening to someone else.

He swallowed hard, confused and not a little disturbed.

As the families said their good nights, Arnav walked up to Khushi. She looked away and tried to pretend she hadn’t seen him.

“Khushi,” he called.

All looked at them expectantly.

Khushi swallowed her pain and her ire and turned her face towards him.

“For you,” he said, holding out a beautifully wrapped box.

“Bhat ijj it?” mami asked eagerly. “Khussi, open it and show mami.”

The Guptas couldn’t contain their delight at the special attention given to Khushi by Arnav bitwaa.

Nani and Anjali looked at each other, their eyes twinkling with happiness.

Khushi extended her hands and received the gift from him. He made sure to touch her fingers with his. She jerked at the touch but made sure to keep her head lowered so that he couldn’t read anything there.

“Unwrap it, Khushiji. Let’s see what our Chotey has given you,” Anjali encouraged.

Khushi pulled away the expensive covering to see a jewellery box inside. She opened the box.

There was a beautiful diamond necklace in the box, so gorgeous that even Anjali, the owner of hundreds of diamond necklaces gave an awe-filled gasp.

Khushi blinked at the fire of the stones. “Sh..shukriya,” she managed to mutter.

                                              ***

Payal went into the kitchen to get a glass of warm milk. The rest of the family, except for Arnav, went to their own rooms.

Arnav entered the kitchen, calling, “Err...Payal?”

“Ji?” she asked with a smile, walking up to him, leaving the milk. “Do you want something, jetji? Shall I get you a glass of milk or a mug of black tea?”

“No...err..Payal, I was thinking...your family doesn’t mind my proposal, do they?” he asked.

Payal smiled. “Mind? They are delighted.”

Arnav nodded slowly, making no move to leave.

Payal, encouraged to speak, said softly, “We were all so worried about Khushi. Woh kya he, Khushi and I, we slept together in one room from the day she joined us. So buaji and amma were worried how she would manage without me. She is scared of the dark.” She spoke through a throat choked with tears. “Because of you, jetji, we will always be together.”

Arnav blinked. This was info overload. He asked slowly, “Joined you? Why should she join you?”

Payal smiled sadly. “Her mother was my amma’s sister. Her parents died in an accident when she was eight. That’s when my parents adopted her and she came to stay with us.”

Arnav almost hyperventilated. “Adopted?” he asked softly when he could.

Payal frowned. “You didn’t know, jetji? Amma and babuji told your family.”

“No, I...I didn’t know. I...she was happy with you?” he managed to ask.

Payal smiled. “Very. She is very naughty and fun-loving. She brought life to our house.”

Arnav smiled slightly. “She..she is very close to you,” he stated.

Payal smiled and said, “Closer than sisters. She would do anything for me, anything.”

Arnav felt weak. Thankfully Payal had turned away to check on the milk.

“Good night, Payal,” he muttered before leaving the kitchen.

29. OS 18. Too Tempting to Resist (Part 29)

Part 29

“Khushi,” he began.

She looked away, miffed at him for putting her in a fix.

He threw a glance at his family that had joined the rest of the Guptas at the dining table. Good. He was alone with her and could talk without being overheard.

He opened his mouth to make a presentation highlighting the advantages being married to him would give her, but she gave him no chance.

“Are you mad?” she hissed. She rolled her eyes at Devi Maiyya in heaven. “Why am I asking this stupid question? Of course you are mad.  And I am paying for your madness.” Her eyes pierced holes in his face.

He was taken aback for a second by her hot glare, but he was ASR for nothing. He ploughed on.

“I have decided I need to marry,” he began pompously.

She pricked his balloon. “Couldn’t you have found someone else? Why did you have to choose me?” she asked angrily.

He glared right back at her. How dare she belittle the honour of being ASR’s wife?

“Delhi is full of girls,” she continued. “If no one here wanted you, you could have tried other states. There are many girls in Uttar Pradesh,” she informed him.

He clenched his jaw in anger.

“I was happy here, minding my own business. And then you had to come and propose,” she complained.

How dare she? he fumed.

He soon found out that she dared much more.

“You are pagal. You are a Laad Governor. You are a pukka Rakshas. You are always angry. And you want me to marry you,” she grumbled.

He drew in a deep breath to control his ire. “I am not angry, not always,” he claimed.

“You are too,” she stated.

“Only when people irritate me,” he qualified.

“I do. Always. You are either ghooring at me with your ajeeb aankhein or gritting your teeth or clenching your fists or screaming at me,” she said with a grimace.

He had to look away.

“Why do you want to marry me?” she asked bluntly.

He swallowed hard before giving her an answer. It was a make or break situation here, he knew. He also knew that words came to him with difficulty, especially sweet ones. He was severely diabetic in that regard.

“It is time for me to marry,” he started.

She frowned at him.

“You know I am rich,” he continued.

Her frown became fiercer.

“I—it is difficult to find a good bride,” he muttered.

She stared at him. How were his options limited because he had money? He was truly Agra pagalkhana material.

“I mean, someone who will respect my family and—and have sanskaar,” he managed to say, stealing a look at her perplexed face.

Before she could say anything, he continued, “I want a girl who will get along with Payal.”

Khushi sagged.

Her family wanted her to marry him so that jiji could have a comfortable life. And he wanted to marry her so that jiji would be happy. Her fate was sealed.

Yes, she had caved in. Elation filled every pore of his body and mind. The Payal reference had sealed the deal for him. She loved Payal and couldn’t refuse her anything.

But then something happened that blew his mind and shook the foundation of his success.

A single tear made its slow way down her cheek.

He opened his mouth to ask her what was wrong, but the sight of that tear was so overwhelming that he couldn’t get a word out except, “Khushi.”

She quickly dried her cheek and stood up, without looking at him.

He stood up, bewildered.

Making sure not to look at him, she quickly moved towards the dining table.

The Guptas and the Raizadas looked at her expectantly.

“I will marry Arnavji,” she said softly.

Her pale face and woebegone look were lost in the hugs and cries of congratulations that filed the air.

Only one pair of molten chocolate eyes saw her distress.

“Let’s have the shagun right now,” nani suggested, thrilled that her grandson was marrying her Khussi bitiya.

Before Khushi knew it, she was seated and her lap was filled with gifts.

She swallowed her tears as the ladies hugged her. An orphan, beholden to the family that had taken her in and fed her, had no voice or right to an opinion, she reminded herself.

Arnav watched the muscles of her throat move as she tried to quell the tears and the panic welling up in her heart.

28. OS 18. Too Tempting to Resist (Part 28)

Part 28



The Raizadas turned up in full force to request the Guptas to give their sanki daughter, Khushi to Arnav Singh Raizada, their papad ka tukda.

"So, what do you think, Sasiji?" nani asked, beaming away.

Sasi swallowed hard, throwing a glance at his wife and sister who looked scared at the way things were turning out.

"Woh..., that is, don't you think Khushi is too young for Arnav bitwaa?" he managed to ask.

Nani's smile faded.

"Bhat ijj age?" Manorama asked. "Can you tells my agewaa phrom looking at me?"

Buaji sagged in her chair. Garima drew in a deep breath.

"And our Khussi is childish, gets into scrapes all the time. She will make Arnav bitwaa a bad wife," Sasi tried again.

Garima and buaji nodded furiously, in full agreement.

"Theek keh rahe ho, babua," buaji added.

"Our Chotey is too serious for his age, babuji," Anjali said with a smile. "He needs someone who will help him lighten up."

Sasi gasped.

"Let us have Arnav talk to Khussi bitiya," nani suggested.

All faces cleared.

"Yes, yes," Garima said.

"Yes, that is a good idea," Sasi said thankfully for the respite.

"I will ask him to come over now," Anjali said, quickly taking her phone and leaving the room.

The Guptas, who had expected at least a day's time to persuade Khushi, sat stunned at the fast pace of events.


                                                                    ***

Arnav Singh Raizada walked into buaji's house in Laxmi Nagar in fifteen minutes flat, breaking speed records.

"Chotey, Sasiji thinks you should talk to Khussi bitiya yourself," nani explained.

He nodded.

Sasi cleared his throat. "Jiji, Garima, call Khussi," he croaked.

"Ji," Garima said, getting up to summon the heroine and the source of all their problems.

Buaji just gave up and sat back, chanting, "Hai Re Nandkisore, Hai Re Nandkisore!"

Garima and Payal led Khushi into the living room.

Khushi lifted her eyes and saw the Rakshas in his black suit and lavender shirt, sitting comfortably in her buaji's chair. She stumbled, catching her foot in the hem of her pink lehenga.

"Khushi, careful," Payal whispered.

What was the use of being careful now that the milk was already spilt? Her refusal to marry him had brought him to her house. She drew in a deep breath trying to still the butterflies and buffaloes doing bhangra in her tummy.

Arnav looked his fill.

Pink lehenga, golden choli and dupatta, long golden earrings caressing the fine lines of her neck, her hair coiled up in a fancy knot, an antique necklace enclosing her beautiful and creamy neck, slim gold bangles on her arms....Somewhere in his chest, a volcano of feelings erupted.

"Let's leave them to talk, Sasiji," nani suggested.

"Yes," Sasi said, looking uncertainly at Khushi.

The Guptas and the Raizadas moved to the dining room to have tea.

Buaji murmured in Khushi's ear as she passed by, "Don't be foolish. Think of Payaliya's future, Nandkisore."

Garima whispered, "Saavdhan, Khussi."

Khushi drew in a deep breath tinged with a feeling of hurt. Were her desires of so little value that they had to be sacrificed at every altar? She looked at the Rakshas with angry eyes. He was the source of all her problems.

"Sit down, Khushi," he invited in his husky voice.

She pursed her lips. He was inviting her to sit down in her own buaji's living room? The audacity of it!

She sat down as far as possible from him.

He got up and took the seat by her.

Khushi looked upwards. Devi Maiyya would get an earful tonight, she decided.

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.