Part 25 *A* class Mehandi

All the men were sent to the office by Ratna as Mehandi is a ladies-only function. Ratna welcomed Garima and Khushi.

*Namaste Garimaji...* Ratna said joining her hands.

*Welcome, Khushi beta...* Manorama came there and Khushi smiled at her.

*The beauticians are waiting for you. Come...* Manorama hurried them.

Khushi and Garima followed them. Manorama made her sit in front of a beautician.

*Show her the best designs and ask her to select one* Manorama said to the beautician.

She nodded ok and gave a Mehandi book to Khushi.

*Draw this design...* Khushi extended a paper towards her.

The beautician looked at the design and then at Khushi.

*Are you sure...?*

Khushi nodded yes. The beautician sighed and drew the design on her palm. Khushi smiled seeing the design.

Khushi saw Raveena entering RM with her sister-in-law Seema. Manorama came to Khushi and sat with her.

*Finished?*

*Jee...* Khushi said hiding her palms.

Manorama noticed it.

*What design have you selected? Show me...*

*Actually... oh... I will show you later...* she hesitated.

*Why...? Now the time is not good?* she mocked.

Khushi gulped, lifting her eyebrows, and making face. Manorama looked here and there and saw Ratna talking with a guest. Manorama called her.

*Jeeji...*

Ratna looked at her, turning her head towards her.

*One minute...* Ratna came to them, excusing herself from the guest.

*Tell me...*

*Your Bahu is hiding her Mehandi from me...I think she will show only to you*

Ratna looked at Khushi with a smile who was pouting.

*What's your design that you are hiding from her?*

*Khushi looked at her with a pleading expression*

Now, Ratna also was curious.

*Mano, you hold her left hand and I will hold her right hand. Ok...?*

*Ok ok...I will show you* Khushi said pouting.

They stood folding their hands. Khushi showed her palms, closing her eyes. Ratna and Manorama glanced at each other, dropping their jaws. Ratna held her palms and looked at them awfully. Her palms had been filled with *A*s.

*Why did you hide this from us?*

*What else Jeeeji...? Shyness...* Manorama said smilingly.

Khushi blushed.

*By the way, our dear Bahu, what's the special reason for this design?* Ratna asked her.

*Oh... my friend told me that the groom should find his name from the bride's Mehandi...*

*Hanna...* both the sisters said.

*I don't think Arnavji will do that. Now he doesn't need to find it as it's visible* she said closing her eyes tightly.

The sisters got stuck for a while. Khushi slowly opened her eyes and saw Ratna and Manorama smiling at her. In no time, Ratna hugged her pleasantly.

*My Chotte is very lucky to have you in his life* she broke the hug and kissed her forehead.

Raveena was observing them from afar. These ladies are mad. What they had seen in Khushi, that they are falling on her shamelessly. Her mother was a brainless lady. She was not fit into the mother-in-law's role. Raveena was annoyed.

* Let's go... I will feed you lunch...* Ratna said.

Khushi nodded ok. They were about to go, and Manorama held Ratna's hand.

*What? Do you want me to feed you too?*

Manorama nodded NO and gestured for her to see Raveena.

*She is fuming...*

*I know but what to do?*

As Ratna said, she fed Khushi. Raveena got maddened whereas Garima was delighted. She admired the bonding between Khushi and Ratna. After finishing the Mehendi ritual, Gupta women left RM.

Raveena came to Ratna who was having lunch.

*Come, Ravi. Have lunch...*

*No thanks... my stomach is already filled with your behavior* she said sarcastically.

Ratna stopped eating and looked at Manorama.

*Eat first. We will talk later* Ratna said calmly.

*I don't want anything...*

*Ok wait. I will come...*

*I'm going...*

*Ravi wait...* Ratna said strictly.

Ratna stood, leaving the food unfinished. Clutching her hand, she dragged her to the kitchen. Manorama followed them.

*What's your problem?* Ratna asked.

*That's what I'm asking you. What the bloody problem with you that you are dancing with that Khushi?*

*What if we dance with her? You also join us...*

*I don't like that low-class girl*

*Arnav bituwa likes her...* Manorama said.

*He liked that Yasodha also. What that B**** did?*

*I warn you, Ravi... stop comparing Khushi with her* Ratna warned her.

*I knew very well why Shashi was sticking with Dad. He eyed our property and he is going to get it through his daughter.*

*Not only Khushi... whoever Arnav bituwa marries will get the share from our property.*

*She marries Chotte only for money. You guys do not understand the fact. You don't know the low-class mentality*

*You understood wrongly... whatever... this marriage will happen. That's it*

Ratna came out and Manorama followed her. They were dumbfounded, seeing Arnav with tightened jaws. Raveena who came out also shocked, seeing his wrathful brother. She composed herself and left the place hurriedly. Her sister-in-law ran behind her.

*Chotte... go to your room. I will bring coffee...*

Arnav gulped hard. Ratna pressed his shoulder.

*Chotte... calm down. You know her...*

Arnav left the place and said nothing. Ratna sighed painfully. She called Arvind and said what happened in RM. He came to RM immediately.

*Where is Chotte?* He asked while walking towards her.

*In his room*

Arvind galloped to Arnav's room. Arnav was standing near the French door, looking at the pool water. He heard the footstep and understood who is coming. Arvind touched his shoulder.

*I'm alright Dad...* Arnav said, without looking at him before Arvind said anything.

*Chotte, you are going to enter into a new phase of life. Don't stuff such trash in your mind and get a refresh.*

Arnav looked at him.

*Please Chotte... you have to be happy... That's what we need*

Arnav nodded yes.

*Did you have coffee?*

Arnav nodded no.

*Let's go...*

Without giving chance for him to deny, he dragged Arnav, gripping his hand. Arnav followed him don't want to disappoint his father.

Ratna rushed to the kitchen to bring them coffee. That's when Manorama came with a coffee tray.

*I know Jeejaji would console Arnav bituwa*

Ratna smiled at her. Manorama served them coffee. Arnav and Arvind took the coffee.

*How was the Mehandi function?* Arvind asked.

*A class...* Ratna and Manorama chuckled.

*That's great...show your hands...*

Ratna and Manorama showed their palms.

*Nice... Khushi would also have drawn a good design, right?*

Ratna and Manorama glanced at each other and smiled. Arnav was observing them while sipping the coffee. Why they are reacting this way? He remembered what Khushi said.

*I decided to do you a favor*

What did she do?

*No one could predict what she drew on her hands* Ratna said proudly.

*At first, she didn't even show her palm to us, you know?* Manorama said.

*Really? But why?* Arvind asked.

*Suspense....* both of them said in the same tone.

Arnav rolled his eyes. The word SUSPENSE irritated him. Arnav kept the cup finishing the coffee. At the same time, his mobile rang. Taking it out of his pocket, he saw the number and pressed the volume button immediately to cut the sound as the call was from Khushi.

*Excuse me...* he left the place swiftly. Attending the call, he climbed the stairs.

*Hi, Arnav...*

*Hi...*

*When will you go home?*

*At home only*

*Ohh...

*What's the matter?*

*Nothing... Just a usual call...*

*How was the Mehandi ritual held?*

*It was awesome... only one disappointment...*

Arnav gulped. Did Raveena say anything to Khushi?

*What?*

*You were not there...* She chuckled.

Arnav sighed in relief.

*What design have to draw on your palm?*

*Hello, Mr... it's you who should find that*

*I don't like customs...*

*Don't you like me?*

By the fireball question, Arnav's mouth automatically opened. What the hell he could answer?

*We are talking about rituals... I suppose* he tried to manage.

*you have to perform all the rituals as you agreed to get married.*

*That's why I was not at home today as per the Mehandi custom*

*Oh... would you have stayed home if you were excused?*

*Not like that... I just...*

*Ok, Arnav... I think I'm disturbing you, calling you every day...*

Arnav was horrified.

*I'm giving you space until our marriage... enjoy it. Bye...* She disconnected the call before he said anything.

Arnav looked at the phone and threw it on the bed. He was annoyed all of a sudden. We know WHY. It was four days to marriage. She won't talk to him for four days...which irritated him.

He sat on the bed and ran his fingers through his hair. Suddenly, his face brightened. The day after tomorrow is Sangeet. She will come to RM for it. He smiled in relief.

To be continued...