Part 40 The Wedding

"I love you Arnavji..." Khushi kissed the phone.

Arnav became a statue for a few seconds. She not only uttered the three magic words but also sent a kiss through a phone. That was the least expected. His face wore a lovely smile.

"Thank you so much Arnavji"

"Khushi, there is nothing to get emotional. It's my responsibility to protect my people. Being a collector, I have been doing that. if it is so, would I be careless in your matter?"

"Anyways, thank you so much"

"Keep the stock of your thankyous... you need it on our wedding day when people wishes you" He said teasingly.

Khushi smiled.

"Are you ready?"

"Mmm"

"For?"

"For everything" came from Khushi without hesitation.

Arnav raised his brows.

"Being a wise woman, you should not give words without thinking. I may take it differently and may become demanding"

"I know you won't demand anything that I can't afford" She replied making him wonder.

"Of course, I won't demand anything that's not up to your strength...but my demand may make you weaker" a naughtiness sparkled in his tone.

"I know how to make my weakness into strength" she sounded confident.

Arnav chuckled softly.

"What happened to you, Khushi, you are talking like a warrior...?" he teased.

"Every woman would become a warrior if she gets a husband like you"

"Relax, ok..." Arnav smiled.

"I'm...! So relaxed..."

"Ok... I think my in-laws came... we will talk later..."

"Mmm"

Arnav disconnected the call and came to the living room. There, Raizadas welcomed Guptas.

"Good morning, Sir" Shashi wished Arnav.

Arnav nodded his head.

"Namaste, Damadji" Garima smiled.

"Namaste, aunty... please take your seat," Said Arnav.

Taking a plate, Garima arranged sweets, fruits, and flowers with an invitation. Guptas extended the plate to Raizadas. They took it from them smilingly.

Arvind took the invitation and gave it to Arnav. He went through it and smiled, seeing the wordings, AVOID GIFTS.

He was thinking about how to avoid gifts from people because people would take them in their favor. He knew no one would do anything without expectations. It was all that would come under give-and-take police. If he got something from them, they would expect him to do something in return. He didn't know how to stop people from gifting him for his wedding. Thank God, his father-in-law was so wise. He lessened his burden.

"Why did you especially mention this?" he asked.

"We are government officers. People know us very well that we never got anything from anyone. Somebody may think they can get our attention by gifting expensive things. To avoid such embarrassment only I mentioned not to bring gifts, sir" Shashi said.

Arnav nodded his head and said,

"It's so helpful for me to get a loyal government worker as my father-in-law"

Shashi smiled proudly.

After having coffee, Gupta's stood up.

"We have to go... marriage assembler will come to GH. We should be there to talk to him" Garima said.

"Marriage assembler?" Arvind frowned.

"Yes, as Damadji agreed to share the wedding expenses, he is coming to GH to get our share," Garima said.

Arvind and Ratna looked at Arnav wondering.

"Did you agree to share the expenses?" Questioned Arvind.

Arnav nodded yes.

"When did it happen?" Ratna was surprised.

"Yesterday night..." Garima said smiling.

Arvind and Ratna looked at him unbelievably.

"Is it? What made you change your mind?" Asked Ratna.

Shashi and Garima stayed silent even though they knew the reason. They wanted to see what would Arnav tell them about changing the decision.

"I changed my mind for Khushi..." Arnav didn't hesitate to tell the truth.

Ratna raised her brows amazed.

"She didn't want her parents to be embarrassed in inviting their friends and relatives for our wedding. So, I agreed to it because I don't want them to feel awkward"

Ratna nodded ok smilingly.

Guptas took leave from them.

"It seems someone started obeying to his wife even before his wedding...?" Ratna teased.

"I will obey to anyone if it is justified, Mom. I tried to lock them emotionally and Khushi did the same with me"

"Wow... really?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"Finally, someone is there, who knows the trick to handle you" Arvind smiled.

"She won't force me for anything I don't like. She will expect me to change only if it is necessary" Arnav smiled making them dumb founded.

"From when are you going to take a leave?"

"From after two days"

"Ok, but make sure, you will not bring any files to home"

Arnav nodded no smiling.

.............

The wedding arrangements were in full swing. As Guptas shared the expenses, they freely invited people and added events to the wedding program. Shashi took the food arrangement responsibility completely in his hands.

Arnav took four days' leave for his wedding. A few friends and relatives of him came from Delhi to attend his wedding without caring about the distance. Cybercrime inspector Prince was one among them.

Wedding

Raizadas and Guptas arrived at the wedding hall. Arnav rolled his eyes, seeing the banner with his and Khushi's photos. It was arranged by the Revenue staff. He was stunned to see the people gathered in the wedding hall. He doubted whether it was his wedding hall or the Collector's office because all the Government staff were presented in the hall. Shashi who belonged to the same district could not avoid anyone from inviting them.

Arnav was called to the stage. He went to the stage and started following the Pandit's instructions. He tried not to show his excitement when the pandit called the bride. Khushi was brought to the stage by Payal. Neither Khushi looked at Arnav nor did she see the crowd. She was bowing down with nervousness, whereas Arnav casually looked at her and saw her shivering.

The Pandit forwarded the mangal sutra to Arnav. Taking it from him, Arnav tied it around her neck and filled her partition with a pinch of vermillion. Taking seven Phares circling the holy fire, they became a couple authentically.

The couples received wishes and blessings from the guests. Even though Shashi mentioned in the invitation, a few close relatives and friends came with gifts and they were adamant in giving them to the couple... especially, Khushi's friends.

Arnav frowned to see the man who came to the office for a Cracker shop license the other day... Ramkishan. He smiled brightly, joining his hands. Arnav smiled mildly. Arnav strictly denied taking the gift he gave. Arnav could see disappointment in his face but he didn't mind. Aranv didn't invite him and he knew Shashi would not have invited Ramkishan. Then how did he come to the wedding? Arnav became thoughtful.

.........

Send off

Undoubtedly, Khushi cried to leave her parents. Even though she had the liberty to visit her mother's place anytime, she could not stand the permanent separation. After all, from here on, she was not Gupta but Raizada.

Ratna welcomed her daughter-in-law by circling the thali. Khushi entered into her in-laws, kicking the rice kalash.

Raizadas could see Khushi's nervousness. They glanced at each other and smiled. Arnav blinked his eyes and gestured them like, I WILL TAKE CARE OF HER.

Khushi was taken to Arnav's room. She sat on his bed with a shiver. Though she said on the phone that she was ready for everything, she was scared to face him in person. She jerked to hear the door opening sound. Her hands started shivering.

Arnav came to the bed and sat next to her, looking at her face. Khushi was looking down all tensed. He clutched her hand softly and said,

"Relax... why are you shivering?"

Khushi fisted her fingers.

"We are not going to hurry anything... understand?"

Khushi looked at him blinking her eyes slowly.

"Think you are here for an awareness program..." he smiled.

Khushi smiled with her nervousness.

"Change your dress and come..."

She nodded ok.

"No. Wait, I will change first" he went to the washroom, taking his clothes.

Khushi closed her eyes and huffed in relief. She knew why she was nervous. After all, her husband was a district Collector...! Though she managed to marry him, it didn't seem easy to fit into the role of Mrs. Collector.

Arnav came out of the washroom, changing. He waited until Khushi came changing. He didn't know whether he should take the bed or not. Suddenly, he felt dizzy. He pressed his head. Khushi who came out of the washroom saw that and rushed to him.

"Arnavji, what happened?" She asked and he squeezed his eyes.

She cupped his face and asked,

"What happened to you?"

He nodded his head from left to right. She rubbed his palm. Arnav smiled at her. Khushi looked at him and was dumbfounded.

"That's all... There is nothing to be nervous... sit..." he pulled her next to him, clutching her hand.

To be continued...