Chapter 10

A new sun rise, a day full of hope, happiness, love.

Geet looked out of her room and then tried to get up. But no, she could not. There was a weight that was pressing her down to the mattress. She just smiled. With his head on her chest and his big arm one on her waist hugging her and the other above her head, his leg between hers was Maan. Geet loved it when she woke up in this position. She just lifted her head and kissed Maan. Maan got up as he felt a soft body move beneath him. He lifted his head to look at the most beautiful women in the world.

Geet caressed his checks and asked him to move. Maan nodded in negative and pressed her down again. Geet sighed and ran her fingers through his hair. Suddenly, she felt her shirt being unbuttoned from below. Geet gasped and jerked. Maan was unbuttoning the last few buttons and pushed his chin on to her stomach. He then saw her eyes were closed in esctacy and a small smile adoring her lush lips. He then placed his head on her stomach and spoke to her.

Maan : Geet, why should we go to Jalebi’s house today evening?

Geet: Today is her sister in laws Godh Barai ceremony and she said she would like to have people whom she felt like family to be by her side.

Maan: Y? what about her parents?

Geet: Her parents disowned her because she married suddenly without their permission.

Maan : They disowned her?? How could anyone disown such a lovely girl? And why did she marry like that? Where they so in love?

Geet : I don’t know Maan. She just said that since she married her jiji’s brother in law on the same night as her jiji without telling anyone, they disowned her. Since then, she has no contact with them. Though they come regularly to visit her sister, they do not talk to her. She feels very lonely you know. Sometimes I feel all is not well in her married life as well. She has that look of disappointment and hurt whenever I ask about her husband. I think she is in a big problem.

Maan lifted his head and came close to Geet. He lowered his head and kissed her on her lips. There was so much pain and passion in that kiss. Geet flipped him on the bed such that she was on top and continued.

Geet: U know Maan, I see myself in her. The same desperation, loss, disappointment and hurt that fate had shattered one’s dreams and hope. But then I was lucky to get the love of my life and so should she.

Maan flipped her again and said “ She will, I will make sure she does”

Raizada Mansion was hustling and buzz ling. It was already 4 pm and the function should start at 6.00. Khushi and Payal finished all the arrangements and went back to the room to get ready. Khushi had’nt yet picked up her dress and other things and was annoyed at her stupidity to not finish it last night.

When she entered her room, she saw that the room was dark. She switched on the light, and there on the bed was a gift pack.

Khushi went towards it and saw that it was a big parcel and wondered what was in it. She opened the package and was dumbfounded looking at the contents. It was a beautiful saree netted in red and green with gold sequences. It was so beautiful and gorgeous. She smiled at it and kept it aside and looked more into the package. There were matching jwelery and all other accessories along with it. She then saw a note.

“ Khushi,”

Looking at the handwriting she wanted to tear the note. Not after all the humiliation that she underwent. But the next line caught her attention.

“U better don’t tear the note, seeing my handwriting. This one is a gift from me.”

She was irritated. Probably his sister would have instructed him.

“No!!! I know what you would think once you realize it is from me but the truth is my sister did not advise me to get it for you. It is my gift to you as I said earlier. I would like you to wear it tonite for me Please. I hope you like it”

Look at his arrogance. He thought that I would wear it after all that he did last night. No way. She squeezed the letter and walked to her wardrobe. There to her utter horror, her wardrobe was empty.

Khushi’s eyes popped out of her sockets and her mouth hung open. She was shocked to see her wardrobe empty and there on the shelf lay a single note addressed to her.

“Khushi,

Don’t waste your time searching for your dresses. You wont find them. And , han, remember to close your mouth.

 I have taken the liberty to clean your wardrobe so that you are left with nothing but this to wear.

REMEMBER,

Arnav Singh Raizada, gets what he wants.

See u soon clad in this Mrs. Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada.

Khushi gritted her teath and mouthed. “Laad Governor Khaikae” and then, a small smile crept to her lips as she looked at the sari. She went away to wear the only saree she had now.

Unknown to her, Arnav had witnessed all this hiding behind the curtains. He was so happy and went down to help in any last minute preparations.

Khushi was thoroughly surprised. He had gifted her saree and that too by himself. She could not help but feel happy. Finally, she walked down the stairs to the living room and went away to help Di and jiji with any other preparations. As the time neared and all the guests started to arrive, she came out of the kitchen to the living room. She wanted to see him from the moment she came down but, he was no where in site. She then scanned the room for his presense but no.

She then felt a breeze caressing her hair and knew immediately that he was here. She turned her gaze to the stairs, and what greeted her was a site that took her breath away. Surely, Arnav Singh Raizada was a master piece of God. There, he descended the stairs in his sherwani, that matched the colour and texture of her saree.

He saw her eyes, checking him out. He marched towards her steadily and whispered in her ears.  Like what you see Jaan?” She was brought out of her day dream. Khushi strutered “ Yeh, Aap……” and before she could finish her sentence, she heard Mami shouting “ Are!!!!! Arnav Bitwa… U aur Sharwani…. Unbelievable” This was followed by all the family members telling him how long it was to see him like that. All the while, Arnav had eyes only for Khushi. She was truly happy. Khushi was very happy at what the family members were saying. She was smiling looking at him admiringly. She then turned her head and looked around if she could find any signs of her jiji, when she noticed some girls opening gaping at her Arnav.

She did not realize what she did or why she did. The moment the family members left him, she grabbed his arm and pulled him towards her. She glared at the girl and then turned to him and muttered “How dare she gape. OMG!!!! All evil eyes”

She was feeling very protective of  Arnav. She immediately, took some kajal from her eyes and placed it behind his ears and muttered “Now its ok” and smiled at him over her own antics.

Arnav looked down at her, his eyes having an unreadable emotion. The moment she pulled him he was surprised and what she did next, made him forget his world. No one, No one except his mother had done that. He remembered how his mother used to say the same way about evil eyes and place the black dot behind his ear. He felt like he was seeing his mother in Khushi. He felt so protected, for the first time after so many years.

Khushi was shocked at the way he was looking at her with an expression of a kid lost and found his mother. There was so much longing in that look. What did she do???Just then she heard a loud voice calling JALEBI, JALEBI, ARE JALEBI BAI WHERE ARE YOU??? Khushi jumped in delight at the sound of the voice. She very well knew who it was and she rushed to the door to see her bhai for the first time leaving behind a confused and curious Arnav following her.