Part 31

Eyes stayed locked. Blinking not causing a break. Time, reality and realm forgotten. Feelings trying to break out. Brains shut down. Hearts beating in unison… DHAK DHAK…

The World fading away… leaving just the two of them… just Khushi and Arnav.

An old couple who were being directed to their table passed by and smiled knowingly at the two lost in each other... love like the wind, you can't see it but you can feel it. The head waiter felt it too when he stepped away from the table to give them some privacy.

Just then an over enthusiastic junior waiter walked up to the table from another side to fill ASR’s half empty glass and in his eagerness bumped into the table and bought Khushi and Arnav out of their…..mmmm something.

Khushi jerked back to her senses and as soon as she realized what she had been up to blushed and her cheeks picked up a slight pink tinge. Arnav glared at the young waiter ready to chew of his head, when the head waiter who was waiting on the side lines stepped in and said “Sir, your order is ready shall I server?”

ASR looked away and nodded. He watched irritated as the waiter started putting dishes in front of Khushi he put one, then another and then another till half the table filled up with her order and his irritation turned amusement as her watched her outrageous order materialize in front of him. He could not keep the smirk out of his face no matter how much he tried.

He looked at her, she looked adorable gawking at the amount of food she had ordered, little did ASR know that his adorable companion was not gawking at the food but drooling over it and wondering how she is going to be modest in eating in front of him when the food looks soooooo delicious.

Just then the waiter brought one dish, Picoline pasta cooked in white sauce and placed in front of ASR and before leaving said “Sir, if you need anything else just hit this button under the table and enjoy your lunch, sir”

ASR hadn’t heard anything the waiter had said was watching Khushi look at her order and then look at his order and then look at her order and then his order and then hers again and he watched her his amusement growing by the minute and the size of his smirk growing with each passing second. Until she looked up all embarrassed at him, he quickly bit his cheek to keep himself from showing his amusement from her.

Then she started talking…”I don’t eat like a pig.. I mean… I … I .. usually… don’t…eat…I mean order this much food. I just thought I could …. take it home… yaa… take it home and eat it later…no.. no I mean I could take it home and everybody could eat later.” She finally finished, slightly satisfied that her final explanation seemed convincing.

Arnav was watching her and enjoying her flustered crazy explanation, mirth was bubbling inside him and he had to really bite his cheek to keep himself from laughing out loud. Just then two waiters walked up to the table one with a couple of puri’s and the second with Rasgulla’s. And Arnav’s eyebrows shot up.

The first waiter said “Mam the madam in at that table said that you had forgotten to order puri’s your favorite to go with your chole.” Pointing towards Payal’s table. By now Khushi was shaking her head vigorously whispering a “Noooo…”

The second waiter placed his dish on the table and said “Mam that Madam said you can’t finish a meal without dessert.” Showing in Lavanya’s direction. Khushi had given up by now and was holding her head in her hands.

Then she sighed and looked up at him and shrugged her shoulders and smiled awkwardly… that’s it…ASR burst out laughing….and laughed till his eye’s got moist.

And Khushi looked on…mesmerized by this new side of Arnav… mesmerized at the happy feeling that was filling her looking at him laugh at her… her embarrassment and awkwardness forgotten…just his happy face filling her heart and her memory.

As his laugh died down…he caught her looking at him with some heartwarming expression on her face and he tried to decode what she was trying to say. Whatever it was pure, simple, genuine, wholesome and it tugged at him like nothing had ever before and he opened his mouth to voice the one word that had changed his world..”Khu…”

He was cut short when a beautifully manicured had fell on his shoulder and intimately squeezed it and said a cool venom filled voice said “Soo ASR, this is the reason that took you away from me…”

ASR stiffened as he knew who it was and how bit**y that person could be. He looked at Khushi who was looking at the new entry with a slight frown trying to understand what she was saying.

Sanaa bent from behind him and kissed him loudly and lavishly on his cheek and said “ASR baby.. you know I am not the jealous type you could have just told me that you found something new to keep you occupied..”

ASR’s hand fisted and fury was rising at a very dangerous speed, he noticed that Khushi had caught on to what Sanaa was saying and she had stiffened and looked away with a slight frown on her face. He left something when she did that… pain. His fists clenched tighter.

Sanaa had pulled out a chair for herself and had sat down by now. And looked at Khushi and back at ASR and was going to say something when ASR said in a dangerously low tone “Sanaa, I told you it was over between us…”

Sanaa smiled and said “Yes you did right after making out with me…but it’s ok ASR.. I understand like all other men you want a little freshness too…”when both ASR and Khushi looked at her questioningly..

She said “You know, little young inexperienced girls…” Khushi stood up and looked at Sanaa with complete loath and was ready to go away when Sanaa said “Don’t need to act so innocent in front of me.. I know you were trying to attract some rich guy’s attention with your innocent looks and I should have known you have achieved your goal by the ASR was looking at you that day in the restaurant.”

Khushi just looked at her with something more than disgust and when Sanaa finished she looked at him and it was a mixture of disappointment and…   pain. Then she turned and walked away towards Lavanya’s and NK’s table.

He felt rage blinding him, if Sanaa was not a member of the fairer sex he would have pounded her head into the wall for making Khushi look at him like that. More than that his ego was dented…”How dare she look at me like she is disgusted with me…who the hell is she to judge me…”.

“See I told you these feelings are no good.” butted in his brain.

“Did you not notice the pain in her eyes?” questioned his heart.

ASR’s stubbornness always took front seat especially if he was being driven by his anger and so he concluded “How dare she walk away like that….”

But before that he knew he had to take care of something else first so he turned and focused all his wrath on his target

“Sanaa.. I told you when we met that I promise nothing in our relationship, if we can call it that and that it has no future at all and it will be open ended depending on whoever wants to end it first. And you agreed … if I remember correctly almost instantly. So what the hell are you doing now??”

“ASR I know I did but somewhere in being with you, I fell in love with you. I can’t live without you…” said a teary eyed Sanaa

“No.. not me Sanaa… you fell in love with my money and my power. You cannot live without them too and that is why you are trying all these cheap tricks to get back into my life.”

He stood up threw a bunch of currency on the table which would probably be twice the amount of all their orders combined and looked at Sanaa and said

“Don’t ever try something like that again or else you will be sorry…” turned and started walking away stopped and added “And you of all people should know…I don’t believe in LOVE.”

Part 30

Word spreads fast and word about celebrities spreads even faster. It was less than a couple of minutes that THE ASR had entered the Purple Orchid premises that all the staff had come to attention and the floor manager rushed to receive him and told him to call the Manager and inform him about the arrival of a VIP.

The company had just settled into the beautifully arranged waiting area sofas with ASR standing around and on the verge of a fit of anger, it had been long too long since he had been asked to wait to be seated. He did not remember when the last time it happened actually, he glared at the host who had asked the party to wait. His ego gave a satisfied purr when he noticed that the host was literally shivering in his boots. He started walking towards his prey to yell at him to get his manager right now!! When the floor manager stumbled into the waiting area followed by the head waiter and smiled widely and said extra politely

“Good Afternoon Sir…”

ASR acknowledged the managers wishes with only his eyes he did not even move his head. He did that to make sure the manager got the message that he was highly displeased with being asked to wait.

The manager faltered at the reply but recovered fast and said “It is a pleasure to serve you this afternoon sir.. this way Sir to your table..”

The waiter led and the guests followed. They were seated at one of the best locations in the restaurant which on one side gave a view of the entire restaurant and on the other side gave a view of the beautiful back gardens of the restaurant. On the third side they had a view of the dance floor and on the fourth it was a gorgeous ravi varma painting on the wall.

This table could cater to anybody’s needs privacy/nature/people/entertainment. People could chose a side depending on their interests. But ASR chose his seat based on his….hmmm he didn’t know what to name it… opposite HER.. this way she was locked in his eyes if not in his arms.

“Sir here are the menus and Subhash here will be your waiter for this afternoon” the manager said.

ASR nodded and said “Give us a minute.”

The manager and the waiter moved away but the waiter hung around at a polite distance waiting to be called upon. As soon as the waiter moved away chatter burst out.

“Nannav!! OMG…are you famous or something or have you been here before and yelled at them for something and now they are terrified of you and are treating you like a king…”

Lavanya hit him lightly on the hand and said “ASR is a celebrity.. he is pretty famous not only for his money and power but and mostly for his good looks…”

Payal and Aakash stared at her for saying something like that to NK, ASR looked up from the menu and his eyebrows raised in amusement and a small smirk playing on his lips. Khushi was too busy reading the menu to care for anything else. NK was shocked and said “LAVANYA!! How could you…say..”

Lavanya frowned and said “Ooh Come on NK, I didn’t say I was into his looks … but NK you have to agree he is handsome….”

NK thought about it for a second and said “hmm.. ya I would marry him if I were a girl.. or.. if both of us were gay….”

Lavanya and NK smiled at each other and went back to looking at their menus holding hands. Aakash and Payal could not believe the two and ASR was trying to decide how he felt about being discussed as if he were not there. Khushi was not in this world.

Just then the waiter came up and asked if they were ready to order and Khushi immediately said “Yes, I will have gobi manchurian, palak paneer, aloo parathas, paneer rice and…hmmm mango lassi” she concluded and put the menu aside and said “Please bring the Manchurian first”

Aakash, NK and Arnav stared at her as they were listening to her order. But NK and Aakash noticed Payal and Lavanya were not surprised the least bit and hence stopped staring so they would not embarrass Khushi and continued to get ready to order. But when Khushi finished her order and looked up and she was looking at HIM looking at her as if she were crazy.

“hmmmph Khushi Kumari Gupta… you can’t keep away from being crazy can you.. you and your big mouth.. now he thinks you are a mental case and after he sees you eat all that food he is going to think you are some rakshas in human form.. good going…” the chain of her thoughts were broken by Lavanya saying “Khushi you didn’t order dessert did you see, they don’t have jelabi’s but they have rasgulla..”

This time Aakash and NK joined ASR again and stared at Khushi for her answer she awkwardly replied “I don’t want any dessert”  and kicked Lavanya under the table before Lavanya could say anything else.

Lavanya glared at her but gave up she had earned long back to not question Khushi’s craziness, it was not good for anybodies health.

When the waiter moved to NK and Lavanya and then finished taking orders around the table and left. Before the waiter left NK said  “hey dude… please take these two’s orders to a different table, a table for two with some privacy.”

Aakash thanked his stars for bringing his cousin along. Payal was about to say something when Lavanya cut her off saying “We are here so you two can talk and what can you two share in front of all of us? But if you think you want to talk in front of us we would love to listen to everything..” which shut up Payal immediately.

The Manager came and brought an appetizer tray with him and said sir the table for two is ready and ASR looked at Aakash. Aakash nodded and stood up and helped Payal out of her chair and walked away behind the manager.

Meanwhile Lavanya and NK had turned towards each other and had started discussing about something and intermittently giggling about something. They started holding hands and talking about their wedding stuff even more excitedly.

The waiter came with the drinks that the party had ordered and served them and before the waiter left, NK said “Hang on one sec…” to the waiter and then turned to Arnav and said “Nannav me and Lavanya want to talk about somethings and spend some quality time together, would you mind keeping Khushi company for lunch, we want to get a table for two..”

Khushi who was enjoying her Mango Lassi almost chocked the drink as it went down the wrong pipe when she heard NK’s words. Lavanya got up from her seat and thumped Khushi on her back till she settled down and then said “Khushi we will be right over there…ok NK lets go..” she finished.

Khushi was silently begging Lavanya with her eyes to stay but Lavanya mercilessly ignored her plea though she understood completely that Khushi didn’t want her to go. Lavanya had decided that if there is a chance that ASR was interested in Khushi it will be very good. He is capable of taking care of Khushi… yes Lavanya knew ASR had a reputation with the ladies… but she also knew from how he looked at Khushi that it was not just lust that he felt for her…she wanted to give this a chance to develop into something…but she also decided that she would be there behind Khushi every step of the way in case it was going to be a disaster.

 

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Khushi watched Lavanya and NK follow the waiter to be seated and then looked everywhere but at him for some time and then decided she cann’t ignore him forever and looked in his direction… and their eyes met as he was patiently waiting for her to look at him… and when she did ….Time stood still for both of them…

 

Part 29

Amidst the laughter Khushi looked at Payal and then suddenly realized that Payal’s opinion was not taken. Though she could guess from the slight blush that was shining on her Jiji’s cheeks that it was a definite yes but no she had to hear it from her sister. She was deciding how to ask the question when all the older people were around her. She decided no matter what it had to be donefor her Jiji’s sake and she would do anything for her Jiji.

Just as she cleared her throat to say something she heard Naniji say “Garima, you did not ask Payal bitiya what she thinks about all this…” and Khushi’s mouth hung open. She knew if not in front of the Raizada’s her parents would have asked her Jiji’s opinion after they left. But the head of the groom’s side to suggest to ask the girls opinion was just …. AWESOME!!

Her Jiji was going to be soo happy at her in-laws places… Khushi was feeling so light hearted she felt like jumping with all the joy she was feeling. While Khushi was basking in all the happiness the room had gone silent and everyone was eagerly looking at Payal for an answer. And Payal was looking uncomfortable and trying to speak but not knowing how to say anything and hence fidgeting.

Khushi turned to her Jiji and looked in her eyes and wriggled her eyebrows at Payal as if to say “What’s going on??” Payal widened her eyes at Khushi’s audacity and then giving up to her sister’s craziness lowered her eyes so as to avoid her sister’s eye lock.

Khushi who was not one to give up bent all the way and looked into Payal’s lowered lashes and repeated her eyebrows wriggling gesture and Payal’s eye’s widened at her sister’s action but she noticed Khushi was not going to give up until she answered. So she laughed a low laugh and closed her eyes and nodded her head in the positive and even before the nod was done she was crushed to an inch of suffocation by her highly hyper sister. Happy chatter broke out in the room by most of the people talking at the same time nobody understood what the other was saying.

Payal turned to the room and said in a “but I need…” no one was listening to her not even her sister who was busy hugging Lavanya and saying that now they are related. Payal tried to catch the room’s attention again “I want to….” But again no one was listening.

Suddenly “WAIT everyone…” came a loud and a clear voice but no one was able to recognize the voice as it was never heard in a raised tone. The Raizada’s practically stared at Aakash, they didn’t even know Aakash possessed such a loud tone. But one Raizada was relieved to hear his brother use that tone, his brother could stand up for himself when in need. Knowing this would reduce his worries about his brother’s future.

“Yes… Aakash…??” asked an uncertain Anjali.

“I… I just wanted… hmmm…Payal wants to say something…” he finished. ASR sighed his brother was back to himself… well something is better than nothing..he told himself.

While everyone else looked in Payal’s direction and Payal took a deep breath and said “I need to talk to Aakashji… before we.. I mean… before anything else is decided.” Payal finished uncertain about the reactions to her proposal but certain that this had to happen.

Nobody knew what would have happened when Aakash butted in and said “I was going to ask the same thing Payalji…” then he turned to his Dadi and said “Dadi can we go out for lunch…?”

Buaji said “No Babua we don’t allow all those things… I don’t know Payal bitiya was thinking asking like that.”

Naniji was in deep thought but Sashi spoke “Jiji times have changed and it’s only lunch and Payal bitiya goes with her friends all the time….if you want Khushi bitiya will go with them.” Finalizing that Payal will go to lunch with Aakash and Khushi will chaperone the event.

When NK said “Me and Lavanya will go too….” Excitedly.

After some more planning, it was decided that Manorama will go back to her cousin’s house to attend some event. Nani, Mamaji and Anjali will go back home in their car and Aakash, Payal, NK, Lavanya and Khushi will be dropped at a restaurant of their choice by ASR on his way to work.

*********************

ASR waited in the driver’s seat as Aakash, NK said their send offs to Manorama and the Gupta’s and then started making their way towards his car. Nani, Anjali and Mamaji had left already with a promise to call in the evening and talk further.

He watched as NK settled into the back seat and saw Aakash slide into the front passenger seat. But as soon as NK settled he started hitting Aakash on the head with a newspaper he had found on the back seat and started saying “Dumbo.. dumbo..nayak..dumbo.. nayak..”

Aakash was busy covering his head and trying to get away from this unexpected attack from his mentally unstable cousin… ASR was stunned to for a split second but reacted soon after and quickly leaned over and held NK’s hand tight stopping the merciless attack on his brother and said “What the NK!!”

“Why are you asking me Nannav… ask Aakash he is such a dumbass…”

“What did I do?” said a now recovered Aakash.

“First you ask for lunch… who asks for lunch out with your sweetheart!!... you should ask for dinner a romantic dinner… you stupid, dumbo..Nayak!!” finished an agitated NK

“NALAYAK!!” corrected the Raizada brothers

“OK whatever, said a distracted NK… and even now you go and sit in the front seat… don’t you want to sit beside her!!” yelled NK,

ASR watched a small smile crept up on his brother’s face as Aakash realized what NK was trying to say and in a split second he was out of the car and beside NK in the back seat. ASR couldn’t believe the speed at which it happened “Unbelievable!!” he shook his head and turned back to face the road and clear his mind.

“Here they come…” he heard NK say and turned towards the Gupta house and saw Payal and Lavanya walking towards the car. He saw slight hesitation in Payal’s eyes when she understood the seating arrangement, but it was only a moment before it went away and a composed Payal sat beside Aakash. Lavanya was making her way around the car to sit beside NK but stopped and yelled “Khushi Kumari Gupta… if you don’t stop pushing Jelabi’s down your throat and get out here right now… I will make sure you won’t get to order any dessert in the restaurant.”

An amused ASR looked on as Khushi rushed out of the house and as sure as Lavanya had said her cheeks were puffy stuffed with Jelabi’s as a piece of it was sticking out of her mouth and her free hand had a another Jelabi ready. As she rushed to the SUV she screeched to a halt and he realized she was making sense of the seating in the SUV and then it struck him she would be sitting beside him and it pleasured his heart, he so wanted to watch her walk to him and sit beside him. But he did not want to make her uncomfortable…or lose control of his sense so he forced his eyes to look away from her and look straight ahead.

*************************

Khushi sighed when she realized she was to sit upfront with HIM….“Devi maiyya why do you test me like this…”  But her resolve changed when he looked away “See Sanka Devi… he doesn’t give a damn about who sits beside him…then why should it effect you!!” she decided and threw her chin up to show her determination to the outside world and walked to the SUV and sat in her passenger seat, though her insides were a complete mush and her heart was going DHAK –DHAK like it was about to have a massive attack.

***************************

As soon as Khushi settled in ASR put the car in to gear and moved out of the crowded narrow Lakshmi Nagar Street towards the Purple Orchid Restaurant, which was highly recommended by NK and Lavanya.

As ASR drove the car, the conversation in the car was mainly led by NK, Lavanya and Khushi. Khushi had turned slightly in her seat to look back diagonally and talk to them and was chattering of happily and teasing the new blushing couple mercilessly. He realized once Khushi got started it was hard to stop her chatter or rather nobody would feel like putting a stop to it.

ASR didn’t dare turn and look at her, he was so aware of her even without turning God only knew what would happen if he did turn and look into her eyes. So he concentrated on the road and traffic as if he was a teenager learning to drive for the first time.

When he heard NK say something to him “Hey Nannav it’s lunch time anyway and you haven’t had lunch, why don’t you eat with us and then go to work??”

Before Arnav could reply that he couldn’t stay he heard Aakash “yes Bhai, please eat with us.”

He looked in the rear view mirror to find an anxious Aakash pleading with his eyes. He knew Aakash was nervous and he knew NK would be no help incase Aakash required any. He gave a curt nod and a reassuring look to Aakash in the mirror.

To which Aakash responded with a smile. By now they had reached the restaurant and ASR drove up to the entrance and hit the break and he reached to put the gear in park.

Just as his hand reached out to change the gear that was sitting between him and her he saw her turn away from him towards the door. As all the others were getting out of the SUV. His hands fell on something that was soft and silky. Before he could fully comprehend what was going on he changed the gear as a reflex without much thought.

By the time he realized what he had done he saw her turn back sharply and her hand shot up to hold her dupatta in place, but she was too late. He already had a firm grip on it and her turning around didn’t help either and her dupatta slithered off her shoulder drawing his attention to her exposed neck and his hormones flew out of control… “Boy… would he enjoy making a mark on the crook on her neck and feel her pulse at the base of it… and..” before his eyes could travel further down the gentleman  in him woke up and he averted his eyes and looked up to see her face.

She was not looking at him she was staring at the dupatta end he held in his hand. She looked nervous… he felt her feel uncomfortable and even without thought he let go of her dupatta and she turned away from him simultaneously adjusting her dupatta in place and went on to join the group that had almost reached the front doors by now and were talking about whats good to eat at that place.

As the valet opened his door he cursed himself that he didn’t have the right on her to pull her to himself using the very same dupatta he had let go of few minutes ago. (Please imagine the scene at Payal’s mehendi, when Khushi goes to his room to get the bangles, he pulls her to himself using the dupatta before he kisses her ofcourse!!)

He cursed the place it happened he knew he would not let her feel uncomfortable in the presence of others but if it was just him and her…he knew in the heart of hearts he would have loved to make her feel nervous in his arms.

ASR shook his head to clear it’s outrageous thoughts and watched her from where he was standing. She stopped walking held Lavanya’s hand and said something in her ear and Lavanya turned and looked at him sharply smiled and turned to NK and said something to which NK, Aakash, Lavanya and Payal turned towards him and NK said “Come On Nannav… faster lets go in and eat…”

He nodded in reply and picked up his pace to his usual ASR style. But he didn’t fail to notice she had turned too ever so slightly but didn’t look at him and kept looking at the ground.

He realized what she had told Lavanya and his heart warmed at the simple gesture. And he walked up to the group his eyes fixed on her. Which went unnoticed by the other two men in the group who were blind to everything else but their lovely companions but however it did not go unnoticed by the their lovely companions.

Payal and Lavanya watched as the mighty ASR walked towards Khushi with his eyes fixed on her, it was like he was drawn to her like a moth to the flame. But they wondered who the flame was and who the moth was…whichever it was there was certainly a fire there they concluded as they saw Khushi involuntarily moved to make space for him to stand…

Part 28

Khushi walked into the living room, a room that was full of happy laughing people. She looked around first for her Jiji, who she found standing next to the kitchen entrance, she wanted to reach her Jiji unnoticed by the others.

But she was Khushi Kumari Gupta after all… when she started moving towards her Jiji she was so preoccupied with the desire to be unnoticed that she tripped on her own dupatta which was slipping of her shoulder and knocked the side stand over, her eyes squeezed shut afraid of the fall, but luckily her Jiji was quick enough….sorry experienced enough…. to save her.

“Why Devi Maiyya !! Why me???...” she whined to her guardian angel and after she took a deep breath opened her eyes to look into her Jiji’s which were twinkling with mischief which pretty much said “Why do you do this to yourself Khushi??”

Khushi gave her a pathetic smile in reply which meant “Manufacturing defect... Jiji..”

Payal smiled back and jestured with her eyes to Khushi to turn around and say hello to the now quite living room full of people. Khushi sighed and turned around and joined her palms together and greeted the eldest of the Raizadas.

“Na.. Namaste.. Naniji…”

“Namaste Bitiya.. how are you?”

“I am fine Naniji… How is your heath?”

“Everything is good now Bitiya…” Khushi smiled truly happy to know that the wonderful old lady was doing good.

Khushi now turned to Mamaji and exchanged pleasantries with him and then she turned to Anjali and asked “Anjaliji how are you?”

“Fine Khushiji…How are you?.. You look tired..” said Anjali noticing that Khushi was feeling very embarrassed and though she didn’t look tired Anjali said that to make her feel comfortable.

That’s when his head shot up from looking at his smart phone and looked directly in her direction… completely involuntarily…He had kept his head down from the moment she had walked back into the room “I don’t want her to feel embarrassed…” was his explanation to himself but… he knew it was a just a cover for justifying his decision to ignore her for the rest of their visit to keep his crazy thoughts in control.

But his muscles moved of their own accord when he heard that she looked tired… he had to check for himself that she was ok…”Why Dammit!! Why are you so concerned??” cried his frustrated brain.  

His eyes searched her face for signs of tiredness. He studied her face to the minutest detail…”Lack of sleep!!” came the verdict from his assessment.  When his unease about her health was put to rest, then he noticed the rest of her.

 

She was wearing an everyday chudidhar suit with pink flowers printed on it and a white bottom and a white scarf/dupatta. The dress didn’t look new, it was just plain cotton, and it was not stitched to perfection. Yet no other dress had looked so exquisite to the eyes of the owner of a top designer house.

She wore no jewelry except a silver bracelet/watch on her left hand and wore no makeup but a flimsy layer of lip gloss on her rosy lips and a thin outline of eyeliner. He had been around woman who were pretty, intelligent, beautiful, goddesses on earth but nobody had taken his breath away like she did standing there in her simple beauty.

He was trying to regain his breath when her eyes met his for a split second and then she looked away and his heart skipped a beat. Then he heard his sister calling him and he realized everybody else in the room was looking at him too and he immediately shot back to attention.

“Haan Di” he said shifting slightly in his seat and turning completely towards his Di, acting as if his Di held his complete attention, but in realty his entirety was tuned in to her every moment.

“Chotey, I was asking you to call Mami and find out where she is and when she will reach.” Said a slightly frowning Anjali… wondering why her brother seemed so distracted.

ASR merely nodded at his sister and getting up from the living room made his way out on to the veranda, dialing Mami on his way out.

Mami who had thrown a tantrum about not wanting a poor bahu had left to her cousin’s house the previous day not heading to anybody in the house. After ASR had got to know about the situation the previous night he had called up Mami and had had a very brief and to the point talk with her, the gist of which is a mystery to the rest of the Raizada’s.

The call had resulted in Mami calling Mamaji back and telling him that she is OK with the wedding but everything at the wedding and pre-wedding ceremonies have to be done according to her wishes, to which the family had agreed to happily. Mami had said she would reach the Gupta residence on her own in the morning, and the Raizada’s knew she was late on purpose but none of them were ready to talk to her scared she will throw another tantrum. But if ASR called Mami it would be ok.

As ASR stepped out on to the veranda, he noticed Mami stepping out of her black BMW in her full on goddess attire and looking around the locality with distaste clearly written on her face. ASR smirked his Mami is an intelligent woman, he knew she would understand her losses if she said no to the wedding and act in the manner that benefits her the most.

He went down the front steps and reached his Mami and said “Come Mami, everybody is waiting.”

She nodded followed him as he led the way into the house. She was welcomed warmly by Garima and buaji and she settled on the sofa beside Nani. Arnav stayed back by the door frame leaning slightly on it and crossing his arms. Nani looked around at her family and signaled that she was going to start the discussion that they had come to discuss. A smiling nodded encouragingly.

“Garima, Sashi beta we came to your house today to ask you something…” she paused so her next words could be nice and clear…” We have come to ask Payal bitiya’s hand for my grandson…”

As soon as the sisters heard her last words their heartbeats changed to a higher rate… one because of nervousness and the other because of a sharp pain that had pierced her heart. Both sisters immediately turned to look at the people who had caused the change in their cardiac rhythm.

Payal looked directly at Aakash a slight question in her eyes and Aakash gave a heartfelt smile back. Khushi’s head shot in Arnav’s direction and he looked in her direction too and their eyes met and held.

He saw some unknown pain radiate in her eyes and it made his heart flutter like a fish caught on a sinker. He pushed himself of the door frame and stood straight ready to go to her if she needed him.

Khushi was not able to control her feelings “Devi maiyya, why am I so aware of him… I had decided to remove these feelings but they come back with double the intensity when he is around. How can I bare it if he becomes my Jijaji…Devi maiyya… I have to be happy for my Jiji but …. But…”

Their eye lock stayed fixed one trying to figure out the reason for the pain he saw in her eyes and the other trying to get one last look at him before she cleaned her heart out of any feelings for him for her Jiji’s sake.

Garima who inferred that ASR was the proposed groom like the rest of the Gupta clan, except for Payal, voiced her thoughts.

“Chotey??” asked Garima which brought their eye lock to an end and caused Arnav to look at Garima in confusion.

But before ASR could understand what was going on Nani and Anjali caught on faster and quickly stepped in to clear the misunderstanding…”Nahi Garima bitiya, I am asking Payal bitiya’s Hand for my younger grandson Aakash..”

Garima looked at Aakash and smiled and still in shock did not say much then she looked to her husband and her sister-in-law to assess their thoughts. Sashi seemed to be in deep thought too but her sister-in-law was nodding encouragingly in her direction. Then she looked at Payal who looked back at her for a split second and lowered her eyes.

Garima started to smile if she knew her daughter even a little she knew Payal was not going to say no. Then her eyes travelled back to her husband who was looking at her a lot of questions going on in his eyes and she understood that what he was thinking he was thinking how he was going to manage the financial burden for this wedding as the groom’s side were extremely wealthy.

“Bitiya…” they heard Nani break into their thoughts and the Gupta’s realized that one of them needed to say something..

Garima spoke “Maaji… I can’t tell you how happy I am but I am afraid you have made this proposal out of love, it won’t be a good match we won’t be able to afford the luxuries and other things expected from a family of your stature and influence… We won’t be…”

Garima was cut off sharply by a loud voice from the door way “Garima … it will be a wedding that every guest will leave in awe and it will be talked about for weeks to after…” And everybody turned to see the person who spoke.

Gaurav Singhania stood at the door way and behind him stood his beautiful wife Shobha and behind her stood an exited looking Lavanya. The Gupta’s and Raizada’s smiled at the people who had just come in.

Sashi was frowning at what his friend had said and was about to say something in the negative but Mr.Singhania cut in again raising his finger at Shashi and saying “Shashi you promised that when time comes for their wedding you will not say no to me to whatever I want to do.”

Shashi was going to say something and now he was cut off by Nani “Shashi beta, we don’t want anything from you except Payal bitiya. Everything else is not important at all, we are happy with anything that you arrange for the wedding.”

Shashi gave up and smiled but the discussion was not done or rather Mr.Singhania was not done “No Mrs.Raizada, like I said it will be a wedding that will be talked about and written about…afterall …” he said walking over to where Payal and Khushi were standing and putting his arms around their shoulders “.. it is my older daughter’s wedding…”

The girls fondly cuddle into him just like they have been doing all their life. Shobha had gone over to Garima and hugged her and said “Remember I told you good eligible boys will come looking to our house for our girls….” Garima sighed a happy sigh and smiled at Shobha… some friendships become more than family.

Mr.Singhania was still not done he had already started planning the wedding “There will be dancers from Rajasthan, food stalls from all the states in India, there will be top designers working on the decorations, there will be….” And he went on…

Khushi’s heart was bursting with joy and she was eagerly nodding at whatever her beloved uncle was planning but she suddenly turned her head to see her mom and dad and her Jiji looking very uncomfortable with all the things that were being said… then it struck her no matter what her family will never be comfortable with extravagance.

Hence she turned back to her uncle and put a hand over his mouth and lovingly said “Gaurav Uncle!!... That’s enough if you become bankrupt with Jiji’s wedding how will you afford my wedding??”

And the whole room burst into laughter… loudest ofcourse was Gaurav’s.. he took his arm that was around Payal held Khushi by both her shoulders and looked into her eyes with fatherly love filled in own eyes and said

“For you … my butterfly… I will find a prince who will transfer his entire fortune in your name and become your slave for the rest of his life and I will work in your palace as the gardener as I will have no money….”

To which Khushi giggled and said rather sincerely “No Uncle not the gardener you will kill all the plants…” to which again the whole room burst into fits of laughter.

ASR smiled too …thinking how aptly she was named Khushi and even her nick name was perfect Titaliya…. “a butterfly she was…. a beautiful one…”