Part 39:

"Don't worry Khushi... everything will be fine"

"Do you trust me Khushi?"

"Why can't you leave this fear behind you?"

"Why can't you enjoy your wedding?"

"Why can't you just let it go?"

Khushi heard Arnav saying

"Because I'm scared of losing you Arnav ji... and I don't want to lose you. I can't live without you. Please don't leave me" Khushi muttered in her sleep

"Shh... I'm not going anywhere. I won't leave you... relax... sleep" Arnav wiped the tear from the corner of her eye and pulled her towards him. He felt bad seeing Khushi in this state.

"Arnav ji..." Khushi called him in low voice

"I'm here... relax..." Arnav whispered in her ear, kissing her temple

Khushi felt his breath on her ear, turning her face to her side, she looked at him and smiled in her sleepy state. When the reality dawned on her, she sprang in her place and sat on the bed and looked at Arnav with wide eyes.

"Arnav ji...??? What are you doing here? We shouldn't meet now?" Khushi said and about to go to lock the door Arnav stopped Khushi pulling her towards him

"I already locked the door, relax. No one is going to see me. Come, sleep now"

"But... how... why?" She couldn't believe

"You said you miss me right? That's why" he said with a small smile

Khushi hugged him with full force making him fell on the bed. Arnav closed his arms around her not letting her fall from him. He hugged her tight and kept his face in crook of her neck.

"Never ever think that I will leave you and go. Keep this in your pea sized brain that I can't live without you. If anyone try to stop this wedding, I will elope with you and marry you. No matter what others think. I want you and I need you that's all. You are mine, Khushi. No one can change that, not even you. What should I do to make you believe my words, make you trust me in this?" He asked helplessly

Khushi hugged him tight and pushed her face into his chest and breathed his scent deep into her lungs.

Understanding her unsaid request, Arnav stayed silent and let her feel his warmth. He lied on bed comfortably and took her in his arms. Khushi adjusted herself in his arms and wounded her arms around his chest. After some minutes, she slowly raised her head to see him in his deep sleep. She slowly unbuttoned his shirt top buttons and kissed him lightly and kept her cheek on his skin. She closed her eyes and drifted to peaceful sleep feeling him skin to skin. She felt close and secured feeling him skin to skin.

After few hours, Arnav woke up from his sleep to see Khushi all over him. He looked at his mobile and it showing 3.45 AM. He looked around and again looked at their position, which surprised him. Khushi's face is on his bare chest, and her hand is around his waist and her one leg is in between his legs. He slowly caressed her cheek and called her in low whisper. Khushi hummed nuzzling into his chest more. He felt goosebumps seeing Khushi in that position and hearing her sleepy response. He controlled his feelings and slowly made her lie on her back. He again patted her cheek to wake her up.

Khushi slowly opened her eyes and gave a lazy smile to him.

"Khushi it's going to be morning in few hours. I should leave now..." Arnav said after confirming she woke up completely.

Khushi nodded her head in little disappointment.

"Don't worry, just three days more. I can't wait more to make you as mine. I will leave now. You lock the window and sleep. I will call you in the morning, okay?"

Khushi nodded and asked "You will call me, right? You won't forget, right?"

"Promise... I will call. Now close the window and sleep" Arnav kissed her forehead and left from there.

Khushi locked the window and slept again feeling Arnav's warmth on the pillow.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Next day, Saturday - all the ladies from Raizada family came to Khushi's house to complete the Mehendi ritual. Anjali arranged everything which is needed. Few ladies from Arnav's relatives came along with his family and few ladies from Khushi's neighbourhood also came.

When the ritual about to start, Khushi is mobile rang as promised with the name of the man of Khushi's thoughts.

"Good Morning" she wished

"Good Morning... how are the preparations going on?" He asked

"The function is about to start in few minutes. Everyone came... I'm just waiting for amma to take me out"

"Hmm..."

After few moments of pause, Khushi said "I miss you..."

These three words overwhelmed arnav to such extent. He is understanding her insecurities and feelings about him and her relation with him.

"Do you want me to come there?" Arnav asked

"No... it's okay, i will be fine" Khushi said. She was stopped by Garima from saying further calling Khushi's name "Arnav ji... Amma is here. I need to go"

"Okay... take care... don't worry. Remember I'm just a phone call away. Love you..." he confessed one more time before dropping the call.

Meanwhile,

"..."

"Who are you? Why are you telling all these?" Manorama asked

"..."

"No... I can't let this happen. I know about her"

"..."

Manorama dropped the call and stood at the corner thinking deeply 'I can't let this happen. I can't let Arnav spoil his life with this so called girl. I can't understand why everyone is unable to see what I'm able to see? Look now, an outsider also able to see how cheap this girl is. That stranger called me and said everything I already know through Latha. But if this girl is good, then how can an outsider know well?' Manorama's thoughts disturbed by loud voices of the ladies who started singing by Khushi's appearance.

Everyone settled in living room. Akshaya came front and applied a small dot of mehendi on Khushi's right hand as starting the ritual. Then all the ladies sat in the room. Khushi noticed Anjali sitting beside her Dadi, looking around the ladies who are applying the mehendi. Khushi can see the longing in her eyes for these things. She called one Mehendi girl and asked her to sit beside her and then called Anjali. At the same moment, Anjali's phone rang showing her brother's name.

"What chote?"

"I just called you to know... you know... I mean... Di..."

"I'm fine Chote. Don't worry"

"I'm sorry Di... because of me..." Arnav's words stopped by hearing his lady love voice through the phone.

"Anjali ji... can you sit beside me please?" Khushi asked

Anjali looked at her brother's girl once and around them to see other ladies. Understanding her unsaid fears, Khushi said "I want you beside me Anjali ji and it is my wedding. I won't allow anyone to say any words to you. Come, please..."

With tears in her eyes, Anjali sat beside Khushi. The call was long forgotten. Both Anjali and Arnav, who is still on phone, felt shocked when Khushi asked mehendi girl to apply mehendi on Anjali along with her. Arnav sat in his place worrying about his sister.

"Khushi What are you doing? This is not good... I mean I'm not... You know... I can't..."

"Exactly Khushi beti. She can't apply mehendi on her hands, in fact she shouldn't be here as her hus..." one of the ladies in the hall, who is a widow herself said it out loud, making Anjali go weak at her position.

"If she can't apply mehendi, then what are you doing here? I don't think your husband is alive" Khushi stopped her asking very clearly shocking everyone in the room

"Titaliya..." Buaji tried to lighten the situation.

"I know what I'm talking buaji. Tell me madam, if Anjali ji can't apply her mehendi and can't stay, then what are you doing here?"

"How rude??? I don't know Arnav accepted this arrogant girl as his future wife. Here I'm saying things for her good she is insulting me?" The lady got angered.

"Khushi please... leave it" Anjali tried

Khushi with straight face, said it clear and loud "She is free from Evil. She has every right to do what she wants to do. I agree she is a divorcee but that doesn't mean she is equal to widow or she has to leave every good thing behind. She has every right to attend and do all these so called auspicious things in her life. From now on, I won't allow anyone to stop her from all these rituals. If you can't support her in her life, then get out, don't dare to interfere in our lives. Till now, may be everyone respected you because you are their relatives. But I don't give damn to any relatives if they ill talks about MY family. Keep that in your minds before you show your finger towards MY family"

Everyone in the room and someone on the phone rooted to their places after hearing blunt words by Khushi.

"And you... didn't I say to apply mehendi on Anjali ji's hands? What are you looking at my face? Do you want me to write on paper and give it you?" Khushi was in completely different state. Her heart ached when the lady pointed out Anjali's married life. She being Khushi, habit of not able to hear a word about her family, stood beside Anjali and blurted out her anger.

Khushi turned to Anjali and said in a soft tone "Ayiye (please come) Anjali ji... you have every right to live your life. Please... don't let others to rule our life or spoil our happiness. I trust you and believe that it's not your mistake or loss. It's completely that person's. I don't want you to think about that useless person and waste your life when that person doing god know what. Live your life Anjali ji. Look at your family, they are waiting for their Anjali not this lost one. It's time to leave all useless bad memories behind and step forward to happy life. Please... this is the gift you can give your brother on his wedding. Please for your Chote, for your family and most importantly for you and your heart"

Khushi was stopped by a bear hug from Anjali. Anjali cried her heart out hugging Khushi tightly. Khushi caressed her back trying to sooth the pain she is going through with all these rituals.

"Khushi... mein..." Anjali tried to talk

"Shh... we can talk in the evening. Now it's time for mehendi. Ayiye..." Khushi made Anjali sit beside her and sighed girl to apply mehendi on Anjali's hands. When she is looking at Anjali's happy tears, her look halted on Dadi who is looking at her with so much love in her tear filled eyes. Khushi nodded her head understanding the elderly lady's pain. And shook her head as asking not to cry.

Manorama, who watched this stood at her place noticing the angry Khushi. For the first time, a positive thought came in her mind about Khushi. She looked at Anjali who is letting the girl to apply mehendi happily. She saw Anjali looking at Khushi with so much respect with tearful eyes for which Khushi shook her head. But still she couldn't accept Khushi as Arnav's future wife

Arnav, who is on the phone all this while, gulped hard guessing his sister's condition. But he is happy with what Khushi said. He is happy thinking two things. One, khushi supporting his sister and second, Khushi back answering someone, who tried to mess with her family. He is happy hearing this strong Khushi. He silently disconnected the call and closing his eyes leaning the couch.

::::::::::::::::::::::::

"Sir... there is a news about Pankaj" said Rajesh - security incharge of Raizada-s, after wishing Arnav in RM

Arnav looked at him and nodded his head as telling him to continue

"He talked with Manorama ma'am few minutes back"

"WHAT!!!" Arnav was shocked to hear this "Mami? How can she do this?"

"But the interesting thing is, he didn't disclose his name to her. He just said he is wellwisher of Raizada family"

"Well wisher? What a crap?!!! What did mami said?"

"She didn't deny his words nor accepted him. She sounded neutral" said Rajesh

"Damn it Mami..." cursed Arnav

"Sir, please alert Khushi ma'am about this. After hearing their conversation, I'm not sure about Manorama ma'am would be in her cool. Sorry for intruding, but this is what I can say, sir" With that Rajesh took his leave and left from there.

After thinking for few more minutes, Arnav called Khushi to inform about Pankaj's call to mami. But Khushi didn't answer the phone much to his restlessness.

::::::::::::::::::::

In Khushi's house

"By the way, where is your elder daughter Garima ji?" Manorama asked pretended to be unaware of the situation, leaving all the raizada ladies in shock. Manorama clearly ignored Arnav and Aran's warning

"Ji?!" Garima stood shocked after hearing Manorama's question.

"Yes, Garima I also didn't see Latha anywhere, where is she and where is damad ji?" Asked one neighbour.

"Jijaji has some work in his office regarding his and his family health insurances. For that their company needs signature of both jiji and jija ji. So they left to Mumbai yesterday morning. I don't know they can make it before marriage" Khushi immediately said whatever came into her mind. She doesn't want her family to face insults from others. Garima and Buaji nodded their heads in worry

"Huh? That's not good... here your younger daughter is getting married and your elder one left just like that? This is not good Madhumathi" another one said

"But is that really a reason? as much I know, the signatures can wait a week time" Manorama asked not leaving the chance to make khushi wrong in front of everyone.

"As that is also important they had to leave. We couldn't do anything" buaji said and managed their neighbours to calm down and divert the topic from Latha and her husband.

Before Manorama says anything more, Akshaya sighed her not to talk. Manorama sat there in anger, looking at Khushi who is smiling

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Next day, Sunday

Pandit ji came to RM to perform the ritual. As he instructed, Arnav became ready with light colored shirt and pants. Pandit ji made him sit on a stool, and asked the ladies to start the ritual.

Firstly, Akshaya took little amount of oil in her right palm then rounded it around Arnav's head from left to right, then sprinkled it on his right side. Then in same manner from right to left then sprinkled on his left side. Then, applied oil on Arnav's hair, face, hands and legs giving him blessing for his upcoming wedding. After Akshaya then Manorama, Anjali and remaining ladies did the same. Later panditji asked Akshaya to apply the mix of gram flour, turmeric powder and Sandalwood powder on Arnav's face, hands and legs. Then Akshaya along with others took the aarti for Arnav. Then Pandit asked Arnav to take bath and wear full white dress. When Arnav came after taking bath, Pandit again made Arnav sit on the stool asked ladies to put the Kalyan Tilak (Image below) on his forehead - between the eyebrows and do arati one more time. After completion of this, he announced Arnav as a bridegroom. He also warned Arnav to not to go out of the house as it is not good for the groom and bride.

He instructed ladies to take the aarti for Arnav morning and evening everyday till the wedding. He strictly said Arnav to wear only white color till the wedding. He also said, they should perform this ritual before leaving to wedding hall. Then Pandit went to Khushi's house to perform the ritual and take Anjali and Akash to Khushi's house to attend the ritual from groom's side.

Before Anjali leaves the house, Arnav handed a gift pack to her and requested to give that to Khushi, which Anjali agreed happily. After they reached Khushi's house they performed the ritual in same way as they performed to Arnav. After that, Pandit announced Khushi as bride and asked her not to go out till wedding. Then he gave same instruction to Gupta-s about doing daily aarti to Khushi. Then he took their leave and left.

Anjali, gave the gift pack to Khushi with a teasing smile on her face, which made Khushi blush hard. After teasing Khushi some more time, she along with Akash left to their home.

Khushi rushed to her room and closed the doors. She opened the gift pack very carefully not tearing it. She gasped seeing the dark green color sari when she opened the box. She caressed the material with utmost care and love. After admiring the sari for some more minutes, she is about to keep that sari in wardrobe, then she noticed a paper in the gift pack. She kept the sari aside and took out the paper to see it's a letter from her arnav ji. Feeling overwhelmed, she read it

-----------------

MY Khushi...

I never wrote letter. This is the first time. I miss you. I can say this through the phone too. But I felt leaving this letter. I can't wait more to get you all for myself. Thanks for coming into my life sweetheart. I can't imagine my life without you. I couldn't remember how I lived my life before you enter into it. I can never thank you enough for giving me this immense happiness. Love you Khushi...

Hope you like the sari, I want you to wear this when you come to wedding hall. See you soon.

Just three days more... get ready to become Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada

P.S : Check below the sari, hope you will smile

Only yours

Arnav.

---------------

Khushi kept the letter aside carefully and took out the sari from the box to see neatly folded shirt of Arnav. She smiled broadly seeing that. She take out the shirt and smelled it for his fragrance. She hugged the shirt closely to her heart and closed her eyes feeling him with her. A lone tear escaped from her eye. Her special moments got disturbed by Bua Ji's voice. With a smile, Khushi kept the shirt and sari inside her wardrobe securely.

"I Love You..." that's all she typed on her mobile and send the message to Arnav before she went out of the room.

::::::::::::::::::::::::

"I Love You more..." Arnav replied to her message, clearly guessing her state of emotions after seeing his gift. He closed his eyes and leaned on to the couch in satisfaction. He couldn't wait this Sunday to turn into Wednesday

'Three more days...' he thought before involving the conversation with his family.

...to be continued

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