arshi SS: Hamesha ~ a heartbeat away, chapter 7

Arnav and Khushi dancing together . Can't tell you how happy that makes me. Thank you so much for reading.

This chapter is dedicated to a girl whose comments always make me laugh.. my blaster friend Sohara..





Chapter 7


Unending strings of twinkling fairy lights were draped on the trees lining the garden. There was no fixed pattern on how the lights were wound on the branches. The effect was more whimsical this way.

A mixture of traditional and modern was apparent everywhere. Pastel apple green lace drapes fluttered in the breeze. The gazebos that had been set up had wines and creepers with violet flowers growing along the pillars.

Even the food had the appearance of a heady cocktail from Italy and Delhi. Counters were spread with waiters from the best five star hotel standing in attendance. Live counters where you could get the spiciest pani puri to the most subtle flavoured pasta, if that is what you chose. Neatly tucked away in a corner was a mountain full of crispy, dripping with sugar, mouthwatering jilebis.

Anjali Manohar Jha had wanted everything to be absolutely perfect. She stood surveying the final preparations, with her husband, Shyam Manohar Jha. She was pleased with how the decorations had turned out.

Guests would arrive any minute and Anjali was far from ready. Her soon to be sister-in-laws had arrived with their mother and buaji. All the ladies, young and old, were busy getting dressed. It was chaotic with mamiji, buaji, naniji all trying to get dresses at the same time. But, then it was a house where two weddings were about to take place sometime soon. There had to be confusion.

"Hum tayyar hoke aate hain Shyamji. And this sherwani is looking very good on you". Shyam heard his wife compliment him and immediately plastered a sugary sweet smile on his face.

He fingered the carefully folded parchment in his sherwani pocket. It was there.. As he saw his wife leave a delirious expression settled on his face. The crowd would work as a perfect foil for what he had in mind. Yes, he had not been idle while Arnav and Anjali had been busy organizing the sangeet function.


****


Aakash anb NK stood at the entrance of the lawn. Both dressed in expensive bright sherwanis in red and blue. Both were clearly searching for someone in particular because they were ignoring the stream of guests that had started to pour in.

"Akash, NK don't stand there like a pair of idiots. Why aren't you making yourselves useful?"

ASR in his black immaculate perfectly fitting suit had walked upto them. He curtly nodded, acknowledging a group of overdressed ladies, who looked quite dazed as they walked by.

Akash suddenly spotted the vision his eyes had sorely been missing. Payal was walking down the dimly lit pathway with Akash's dadi by her side. He distractedly muttered something to ASR and dashed towards the girl he longed to dance with the whole night. ASR let him go. Obviously the man would not be of any use in his current state.

ASR turned his attention towards NK, who was doing a pretty good imitation of a giraffe trying to look over everyones shoulder. ASR had a suspicion about who NK was trying to spot in the crowd. For NK's sake he hoped his guess was wrong. ASR was pretty certain he was not wrong.

"NK go tell the orchestra to start playing", he ordered his cousin.

NK became more agitated. "par nannav, main Khushiji ka intekal kar ra hoon." In his excitement, he failed to notice the quite violent turn ASR's thoughts had taken.

"when Khushiji comes I am going to bow down, aur apna hath age kar I will ask her.. Do you want to dance with me?". NK swirled around with an exaggerated mock bow and found himself staring at two highly delighted eyes, that belonged to a large happy woman.

"Hum ho do babua", buaji patted the scented rajnigandha garland hanging from her long plait. She took hold of Nk's sweaty hand and walked away with him stuttering behind.

ASR was a little relieved to see NK go. Though Khushi's amma, Garima aunty, looked anxious as her eyes trailed her sister-in-law walk away with NK. ASR noticed Khushi's babuji was as usual with a benevolent smile as he sat looking at everything around.

ASR sensed a deep feeling of affection wash over him. Uncle and aunty always had genuine smiles and behind their simple unassuming air were twinkling intelligent eyes. He took the wheelchair handle from Garima aunty and moved them to a well lit table near the edge of the garden,away from most of the hustle bustle. A deft hand movement resulted in a waiter rushing with small cups of the finest bon china filled with steaming hot soup.

"Aunty do you want anything else for now?", he politely inquired, taking a seat next to them.

Garima, who was secretly in awe of this particular future son-in-law, found herself warming towards him. Bitwa does look aloof and speak less, but his manners are impeccable. She looked at him talking to Khushi bitiya's babuji and explaining something which Garima had not caught on.

Tears threatened to come pouring as she saw her husband nod his head, listening earnestly, unable to say anything to his damadji, so making do with smiles and nods as much as he could. Garima knew him enough to understand he liked Arnav bitwa too. He had always wanted an intelligent caring husband for Khushi.

Arnav bitwa was still saying something. She thought about Khushi... Her old eyes had seen her bitiya when she was around this young man. Her little daughter who could not stop talking endlessly talking about movie heroes and raj kumars. Garima could feel the emotions come chocking.. She had always felt doubly responsible for Khushi. Her jiji's last memory.. She never wanted Khushi to miss her real mother.

While Khushi had learnt maths from her babuji, Payal had always preferred to help Garima around the house. But every morning during breakfast both sisters would sit and hear their father read aloud the newspaper. He had insisted they know what is happening around the world. And while they learnt all this from their babuji, Garima had tried to teach them both the one thing she herself knew. To love unconditionally.

She could glimpse the same unconditional love in Arnav bitwa's eyes, even though they were guarded and often sad.Her mother's heart could see his concern for everyone and her heart warmed upto him. Her daughter would be happy with him. He would take care of her.

"wo.. bitwa.. Khoosi bitiya was getting Lakshmiji ready. Aap toh jante hain how she gets carried away. Then she sent us all out here fearing we would be late if we waited for her to get ready. Hum thik hai bitwa. Aap jaake baki meheman ko dekhiye".

So that is why she was not here yet. Getting Lakshimji ready.. ASR assured them he would be back to check on them and got up to go. His eyes desperately searching for her. Impatient.. Insistent for one glimpse of her..

Someone, ASR was sure he should know by name, was shaking his hand as felt her walk in. Unerring his eyes turned to where she had halted. Her hands were fidgeting. A telltale sign she was nervous.

ASR had to swallow hard. She looked ravishing. Creamy white skin in contrast to the dark luscious silky green. The saree hugged her curves. Her arms were bare. Lithe and flowing. Even from this far her earrings shone. So did her bindi.

Her hair swayed in the gentle evening breeze. She raised her hand and brushed it away. ASR was suddenly jealous of her hand. A fierce possessive instinct overwhelmed him. He wanted to be the one brushing away that stray lock of hair.

With a start ASR managed to bring himself back to the conversation with the man in front of him. Part of ASR was impatient. Who was this man anyway?ASR had no idea and did not even care really. Right now, all he cared about was getting away from him. Towards her.


****


Khushi wasn't sure why she felt shy. Maybe it was related to the fact that she had caught her reflection in the mirror and she looked beautiful tonight.

Before this she had never given her looks this much thought, but tonight was different. She had dabbed a little of the expensive lip gloss..it had a beautiful name.. rose petal.. And she had lined her eyes with a kohl pencil..

It was not all this that made her look different. This green saree made her feel alive. The ripples in the pleat, the smoothness of the aanchal as it brushed her back, the million sequins on the borders that glittered whenever she moved. She had remained transfixed in front of the mirror.

His saree.. She swallowed hard and squeezed her eyes shut... chup kar Khushi kumari gupta.. It was time for some prayers.. Hey devi maiyya Arnavji did not even tell me unhone humare liye ye saree kyu kharidi.. And here I am.. So nervous.. Raksha karna devi maiyya.. I don't know mujhe kya ho raha hai..

Exactly on cue, as always, her heartbeat decided to speed up...dhak dhak dhak dhak.. By now Khushi knew what that meant. He was close by. She dare not open her eyes. Maybe he would not see her and just go away, she thought wishfully.

"Khushi"... Her eyes flew open. He was all in black. She could not take her eyes of him. Focus Khushi.. She scolded herself mentally.

He was not saying anything wrong. Still she felt her face heat up as she heard her name on his lips. "Aa..aap aise humara naam mat lijiye".

It was the wrong thing to have said, because the laad governor was smirking and Khushi didn't know where to look to hide from his unwavering gaze.

"You have worn my saree Khushi", said the rakshas without breaking his stare.

Khushi found herself get hopelessly muddled. What was she supposed to be saying right now?.. Umm.."saree?"..

"ha toh? I wanted to wear a lehenga. No one dances in a saree"..

He almost snarled at her response. Good.. She knew how to handle an angry laad governor, it was when he stopped being a laad governor that Khushi's problems started. Just the thought of a non-angry Arnavji was enough to send her heart in overdrive again.

"Arnie ..daarrling.. You look so good.." Khushi ended up rubbing her eyes in disbelief as whoever this girl was brushed her lips across ASR's cheeks.

Khushi's blood was boiling. Shameless rakshas has no sense of sahi and galat. He could have said namaste decently or if he had to be friendly then he could have shaken the girl's hand.

"You look lovely too. Excuse me." ASR was about to leave when he noticed Khushi's murderous expression. A light headed recklessness spread through him. He was ready to see what happens.

"Actually, are you enjoying the party?", he asked the elegantly dressed girl. He did not know the girls name so conveniently did not address her in any way. He seemed to have forgotten a lot of names tonight, he wryly thought to himself. At the same time, part of him responded back, reminding him, there was one name he had no intention of forgetting. And one face that was imprinted in his thoughts.

Khushi looked sullen. The moonlight and fairylights all reflecting of her already glowing face. All it needed was a shade of red, and ASR knew just the thing that would get her to blush.

"It is beautiful. Fantabulous. You do everything in style Arnie", the girl gushed. ASR bit back a grimace. People actually thought he might like the name Arnie. He hated nicknames as a principal. Yes, laad governor included.. he sternly reprimanded himself.

His attention went back to Khushi, who was busy glaring at the girl.

The girl, whose name would most probably never be known, had caught him staring at Khushi and had directed her attention there. "You must be the future Mrs Arnav Singh Raizada. Hi..I am Sohara.. What an exquisite saaree!"

Khushi looked slightly mollified by the compliment and even managed a tiny smile as she joined her hands in namaste.

"Why are you both not dancing?", Sohara asked. Khushi had just opened her mouth when ASR cut in, "khushi does not like to dance in a saree".

"oh.. that's too bad. Such an inviting dance floor, underneath the stars, will go waste. Would you like to dance Arnie?" .. ASR would have refused immediately, except for the look of indignation on Khushi's face.

"wo.. hum...", Khushi stuttered desperately. A lopsided deliciously wicked grin appeared on ASR's face. "tum.. kya khushi? Tell me.."..


"Khushiji main appka waha rahat dekh raha tha and aap yahan hain? Chaliye let us dance Khushiji." NK had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.

This time, it was Khushi's turn to want to refuse. Then one look at Sohara, and finally at ASR. The smile was wiped off his face.. Good.. She decided.. It served him right..achcha hua..

A mischievous grin lit up her eyes and with exaggerated sweetness, batting her eyelash, she said, "Aap kitne achche hai nanheji".

NK, smiled happily, little knowing the effects of his simple words on a certain man in denial.



****


Khushi did not want to dance with nanheji, but she was going to say yes. She tried to inconspicuously look at the person whose eyes she could feel on herself. She thought wistfully.. it was not like he wanted to dance with her..

She turned towards NK and the next thing she knew a warm insistent hand had pulled her close.

He was staring right into her eyes. "Sorry NK, Sohara, this dance is Khushi and mine", and she found herself being led to the open garden area, as the piano notes chimed in.

His hand lay on her bear back. A shiver ran down her spine. She squirmed and noticed a satisfied expression appear on his face. He had brought up her hand and placed it on his shoulder. His other hand was firmly entwined with hers as he raised it.

Khushi forgot time and space. She vaguely heard a lilting tune. Guitar and piano grew to a creschendo as an earthy voice crooned.

"rabbaaa veyyy"..

For a second she found herself listening to the beautiful song. The next second she forgot even that as she twirled. And slammed back onto his chest. She could feel his heartbeat under her fingertips. In wonder her eyes found his. His eyes were twinkling, a whirlpool of emotions glimmered in them, that she found herself willingly drowning in.

She had moved away. Her hand stretched outwards still joined to him. He jerked her back and dipped her, supporting her in his strong arms. On his face was a kind of ..desire.. She gulped as she gave the look this name.. She was melting at his touch.

Her body sang to his tune. She found herself loving the song. Was this how people danced? Why didn't one simply keep dancing their whole life, the rebellious bit of her asked.

She could feel her back mold against his front. His fingers were brushing aside her open hair. His breath on her nape tingled. It made her shudder with a feeling too new to fathom.

She was whirling away again. From this distance he looked even more breath taking. Strong. Lissome. She wanted to go right back into his arms.

Anticipating her move, he held out his hand. His eyes beseeching. She flowed back, her body on fire with each touch.

The wind had picked up speed, in perfect harmony with the rising beats. Flutes were chiming in..rabba ve simmered in the air..

Khushi's anchal had blown over, covering his face. He used his hands to push it away. Even that simple gesture left her breathless. It felt like a caress, scorching her from inside.

They were now swaying slowly. An intimate whisper,"tum is saree mein..." She desperately longed to hear what he had to say, but he had lead her into another move. A barely concealed laughter, as she came whirling back to him..."Khushi were you jealous?"

"hum.. nai toh.. why should I.. aur waise bhi humein toh lagta hai aap jal rahei.." Her voice and breath had left her.

Her back was towards him, his hands resting on the curve of her hips holding her steady. Slowly she felt his hand trace a path across her bare back. Light fingers came in contact with her extremely aware skin. She forgot to breathe.

devi maiyya.. she closed her eyes, her knees were weak. She sensed him reach the thin dori.

It dawned on her then. He was tying her dori..devi maiya.. She wanted to tell davi maiyya so much.. Instead she turned to look at her Arnavji. He pulled her against himself. A sinful curving of the lip as he brushed his cheek against hers in a slow deliberate dance, and whispered in her ear, "I am not done yet".

She could hear her heartbeat resonate in her ears just as the first drops of rain started to fall... dhak dhak dhak..


******

Main aur Mr Riight

Its no longer a leaked video.. but an actual official trailer. A catchy song, a crazy hero.. cute, refreshing Main aur Mr Riight.

Sometimes when you wait for too long for something.. wishing hard for it to be perfect.. a sense of anti climax might issue.. or expectations break..

That DID NOT happen! on the contrary these 2 minutes have made me break into repeatedly smiles that am having a hard time to control.. my feet are tapping and my heart soars..

Wishing you all the luck..

Munda desi desi daru..

Physics and creativity

Aarwen has been wallowing in misery and self pity. Work has descended into her life and kept her away from here and everywhere else she would rather be.

Today morning however, LazyWiz has reminded her she is not like this. She can take life and remain cheerful. No wonder Aarwen loves lazyWiz.

So now onto writing and feeling good and stop cribbing.

I have always felt creativity is all about the unique edge in thought. And wonder when and if I will get it?

If you are remotely interested in Physics or in getting awestruck at creativity, then these videos you will love. 

Maybe in some parallel universe am happily writing and watching my TV show and reading books. So in this one I will continue with renewed vigour and zeal to write code. 

 There was a time not too far back I loved coding. Maybe I still do. And in this flow of time if writing code means unable to write a story, then there is a branch of time flow where writing still means a story.

A dash of spice and everything that is nice Part 2

A thrilled Aarwen has strictly instructed me to write here how happy and proud she is of a certain lazywiz. 

So, since my last post, I have been on a trip to Las Vegas. Played on a roulette table all by myself. I have moved to a different team in office and for the record I loved my old team. Also the list that I have on the top right of this blog has proven lucky.

I completed reading Bourne Identity. That most definitely needs a post of its own. And I started watching Vampire Diaries. And Damon alone might need atleast a couple of posts to touch on the level of attraction the character holds. Do you think its possible a wild vampire is able to hypnotize innocent blog writers from within the TV screen?

So what scares and saddens me about this change in office? 

Reason for sadness.. is relatively straightforward. I loved my team, even though there were only 3 of my old team members remaining, one of the prime reasons why my team did disintegrate. 

What frightens me is that in the new team I might actually have to get involved in work that needs longer durations of being focused. Which in itself would have been an exciting challenging prospect, but given my current state of mind that wishes to be left blank and alone in order for it to find words as and when needed, the move can hardly be beneficial for my writing.

Well one adapts. One learns. One face challenges. One finds reasons to be happy.

My current reason. The sound of raindrops falling outside.
As I sit all alone in my house I concentrate on the sound of falling rain. Its soothing and a precious feeling of grateful calm that I want to gather close.

By the way, today is the day I was deliciously rude to someone(still in my head,but still its quite a start). Felt liberating. And thrilling.

And a special thank you to ASR (my show IPK's hero), to House (he is a brilliant doctor, I have to write about this show soon), to a famous detective (Sherlock Homes to be precise), to a certain vampire(and no its not Edward, but a blood sucking remorseless wicked kind) and lazywiz. 

All teach me an extremely valuable, actually priceless, lesson in being myself. That it is absolutely acceptable to be intelligent and not please everyone every time.  That rules can be broken. That one liners are a preferred form of communication, and you need not be apologetic about it. Wit, humour, even impatience, arrogance, compulsive hard-to-get-along-behaviour is better than normal if you can carry it off. And behind all this can still exist the most purest of heart (and I whisper this last fact, because if you have paid any heed to all that I noted before this, the kind heart is hardly needed and definitely changes nothing at all)

Here's to freedom! To be genuine.. and to be able to define what you consider genuine.

A dash of spice and everything that is nice Part 1

Doesn't the title of this post sound lovely? I am pretty sure I am stealing this from the title song of powerpuff girls.

Is that allowed? One never really knows in this time and age. You try and make a video (calling VM in more knowledgable circles) of scenes from your favourite TV show (and mine just happens to be Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon), and if you end up using a song from a music company that keeps its eyes open or rather ears, your video most likely will get blocked from youtube on grounds of copyright infringement.

Did I want to benefit from the video? Of course yes, but not the kind copyright infringement seems to imply. The benefit I would have got would be to enjoy a video I made and be able to share with other fans, perhaps as crazy as me. So why did youtube have to ban my video? Does anyone know?

Then there are TV serials from my far away motherland (and yes I do mean to sound exactly as dramatic as it probably does sound) that I want to watch. But star player with it super clear HD print refuses to play for 'my region'. Why would I want to watch a show years after it has aired? It isn't as crazy as it sounds. I am simply a fan. And I want to take a good quality picture of certain moments in the episode. but I can't because there is no way to get a good quality video to play in 'my region'.

 So apparently am in a region that star player doesn't want to play for. Then where do I go to get good quality video of shows I want to watch?

The technology buzz word for quite a while has been 'open source', which basically means everyone has access to how a certain software is written, but if you buy a google chromecast device.. okay I will pause and explain the benefit of a google chromecast device.. its a small device quite similar to a pen drive. Connect it to a television and see the magic spell that is cast. From your laptop, phone or tablet you could start any video or video photos which would project on the TV screen.

Awesome isn't it? What would i want to use it for? No prize for guessing..I would like to watch my TV show. I could open it on Youtube on my laptop and then cast and watch it on my TV. simple! Only it isn't.

Youtube has blocked the episode I want to watch. Well, dailymotion has the video. So I should be able to cast that, right? perfectly logical. Except logic doesn't exactly work in a logical way. Because google chromecast does not support sharing from dailymotion. Most probably because google wants to promote youtube and has no interest to promote something it does not own, in this case Dailymotion. And so what if the video i want to watch is not blocked on dailymotion? It can not still play on my television using the device I brought.

Have you heard about 50 shades of gray? well given than am digressing as usual, but am not even sure what I was going to be writing about, I do not think this qualifies as digressing. Anyway you would have to be as ignorant about news as I am if you haven't heard about what seems to have become quite a sensation, god knows why. The movie hero doesn't even look nice.. and this is purely my opinion.

That is a fan fiction. And since the writer uploaded it on a fanfiction site apparently the script material is free to be used by all. there was quite a hue and cry on it, if I am to believe the wikipedia article.

So my point being... you must be wondering? Well my point being we ourselves don't really know what is and isn't part of the so called free world.

Here is an apt illustration of the problem I have just been trying very hard to elucidate. it is uncanny how this comic strip manages to capture our state exactly.

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/game_of_thrones

I probably should make a seprate post about Game of Thrones. The HBO TV series which is an adaptation  of the popular fantasy series (of books) called A song of Fire and Ice. And even that rhymes with nice. how perfect is this ending. I should leave this post here if I am even a bit wise.

arshi SS: Hamesha ~ a heartbeat away, chapter 6

I have realized this phase of Arnav and Khushi's story during Payash's wedding was perfect in the show. Khushi looked beautiful with her dhak dhak and Arnav was at his flirtatious best... wish they were back on our screens..






Chapter 6


"Ye toh kamaal hai! Aap mera naam janti hain.. But I like NK.. you know short and sweet". NK's arms were hurting, this old lady was too heavy. And instead of getting to her feet, she looked a bit too pleased, sitting on the floor squashing helpful NK.

NK had rushed inside Khushi Kumari Gupta's house while Arnav Singh Raizada found a place to park his SUV. Akash had mysteriously disappeared as soon as the car had stopped in front of the quaint traditional looking gupta house. NK was not happy with the way things had turned out. Instead of having a pleasant conversation with Khushiji, he was literally stuck between cold floor and a very heavy arm refusing to budge. He heaved again to disentangle himself.

"Aree issweet babu, you are extremely helpful, but I will stand on my own. Humka uthane ki kono jarurat nahin". NK was quite alarmed. The crazy woman was making some fancy hand gestures next to his face. "Sakshat humare nand kisore", she said in a sing song tone. NK wondered how the woman knew who he was. With a determined burst of energy he leapt to his feet, finally managing to free himself.

His effort was rewarded as he saw a smiling vivacious girl approach him. Khushiji was looking lovely in the white and yellow Indian dress. Yellow was NK's favourite colour. It was such a bright color and made NK feel happy.

"Buaji inka naam Nand kishore hai. He is Aakashji's cousin. Ye aapke nan kisore nahi hai, but if you want he can be your nand kisore too buaji." Khushi wriggled her eyebrows and giggled while buaji continued to croon and swoon over the man.



****


ASR parked his SUV and smartly stepped out. He was wearing a steel blue shirt and a glazed gray waistcoat over it. Black shades rested over on his eyes. Unknown to him, in Lakshminagar today a few young girls, and unknown to the girls, even their mothers, would spend the day dreaming of the mysterious dashing stranger, whom they had been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of.

Asr made his way to the front door of Gupta house. On his way, noticing Aakash peeping in through what ASR could only assume to be Payal's window. The expression on ASR's face softened. He was about to enter when he heard the voice of the girl who was a continuous presence in his head.

"Aa..achoo.. Nanheji I had told the tailor, but I didn't actually tell him.. Mera matlab I had actually told Arnavji.. achooo.. And now my lehenga is not fitting." Her voice floated towards him. He let his muscles relax some more.. "Paagal", he murmured to himself.

The next instant his face hardened. The smile was gone as his lips came together. His eyes flashing fire as he heard NK say, "I will get you a new lehenga Khushiji.. Don't be sad.. Phir aap bilkul pari dikhengi.. Par Khushiji aapko toh bahut dukaan ho gaya hai". Her tinkling laughter wafted through. "Dukaan nahi zukaam nanheji". ASR abruptly turned and walked away.

This time the site of Akash still peering into the window was not as entertaining to ASR, as it had been a minute earlier.



****



Unaware of the turmoil in another agitated heart walking by, Aakash was happily contemplating about how wonderful the day was.

Yesterday's storm had cleared up and the morning was bright and sunny. Tufts of shining silver clouds peppered the vivid blue sky. Birds were chirping and the newly washed leaves shone like emeralds from far off seas.

Aakash felt like bursting into a song. Would payalji sing along, he wondered. "payalji..payalji", he called out into the open window.

Freshly showered, in a light cotton pink kurta with light blue flowers of lucknowi chikankari, Payal looked cautiously out through the window. She gasped. It was an unusual sight in lakshminagar to see a welldressed man stepping on innocent looking blossoming gladioli and standing on tip toe trying to look inside a half open window, And it would certainly seem more unusual if you happened to know that the man in question was Aakash Singh Raizada.

With a burst of recklessness, Akash clasped Payal's hand. "Payalji did you hear it? We are going to get married. Right this minute everyone is inside talking to you family. I could not wait to see you Payalji."

He was greeted with the prettiest most content smile, he was convinced, that could exist in the whole wide world.

"oh Aakashji lekin how did your mother agree?".

Suddenly, Aakash remembered another source of delight. "Payalji bhai aur Khushiji are also getting married. Can you believe it? Di says they love each other.."

Payal was about to vehemently deny such an atrocious possibility when her sharp perceptive mind remembered all of Khushi's obsession with Aakashji's elder brother. It was love! It always had been. Payal could see it quite clearly now. Her dear little sister was in love and had not even told her. She needed her ears pulled and then needed to be tickled and teased.. Payal laughed delightedly.

She looked at the man she was about to marry with adoring eyes. He was the bearer of such lovely tidings. In her quiet calm voice she asked him for more details which he more than readily gave her.

On the windowsill, his hand still remained in hers. Payal sighed and exclaimed at all the right place and Aakash was hit by a sudden daring idea. One only a man in love could get struck with.

He would jump inside through that window.. Yes! In broad daylight.. And take sweet laughing Payalji in his arms. He moved a bit too enthusiastically.

The next thing he knew a swarm of bees had risen in air, disturbed from their usual spot in the flowers where Aakash was standing. An eerie buzzing started and Payal yelled out to him to run. He did not need to be told twice. He wanted to look good in the wedding photographs, not be remembered as the bridegroom with a face spotted by bees.

Moreover he could vividly recollect the sting of the bees when bhai, one summer long back, had shot his catapult and dislodged the bee hive in that farthest corner of Sheesh Mahal. The hug would have to wait.. he sadly thought as he ran down the street, a few angry bees still in hot pursuit behind him.

Payal was leaning out of the window, but hardly worried. She was too happy to worry. Who would have known that Aakashji would come meet her in secret when his family was in the room next to them. She was getting married to this man she loved so much. And adding to her sense of bliss was another terribly exciting thought... Khushi and Arnavji .. Could life get any better? It might have been better.. If only Aakashji had managed to jump in... giggling merrily and blushing profusely at her runaway thoughts she closed the window.



****


The raizada family were saying their goodbyes outside, as Khushi pulled out a big packet of flour, cut the edges diagonally and dumped it into a big mixing bowl.

"achooo", she went, causing a cloud of flour to tickle her nose further. She was very tired and the kitchen was starting to whirl full circle in slow motion before her eyes, but she was going nowhere. There was mouth watering food that buaji and amma had prepared for naniji and the rest, but that food would not work for Khushi. Jilebis had to be made.. Abhi..

Devi maiya.. The rakshas hadn't even come today. And naniji had gone on talking about Khushi's marriage to.. To that laad governor.. All by herself, she couldn't say know, could she? How could Khushi say this was all a plan when it obviously had worked a little too perfectly. Jiji had looked happy, but .. Oh where is Arnavji, devi maiyya?

"Khushi".. She whirled around almost falling over him.. He was again standing too close.. Could it be a dream, khushi desperately wondered. He seemed real enough. There was a lot of urgent things she had wanted to tell Arnavji a second ago, maybe even yell at him a little, but now, seeing him before her she forgot what had been so important.

Right.. Important.. For now it was very important to suck in air and then exhale.. Breathe.. Had Arnavji gotten a haircut? He .. err.. umm.. Looked nice.. this shirt.. Khushi herself liked lots of color, but on Arnavji anything looked good.

Hey devi maiyya..what nonsense was she thinking.. At this thought her eyes grrew wide and mouth opened in a characteristic 'o'. Arnavji moved closer.

"Apna muh band karo. Aur ye lo". Arnavji coolly placed a black bag in her hand. A satin ribbon went around the breadth of it and ended in a delicate bow. A pale periwinkle translucent paper with tiny sparkles peeped out. Khushi carefully pushed aside the paper and her hand touched the softest of cloth. It was an exquisite shade of emerald green.

She could feel his eyes on her. Slowly she raised her eyes towards him, struggling to understand.

"tum ye saree pehenogi. Wear this.". He looked straight at her.

Saree? For her? Arnavji had brought her a saree.. he wanted her to.. wear it..

Her air supply was dwindling. The slowly spinning kitchen started to spin as if in fast forward motion.. before her eyes closed they hazily focused on a concerned packed face.. He most definitely had got a hair cut..



When he saw khushi sway and her eyes start to lose focus ASR was quite alarmed. This was definitely not the reaction he was expecting when he gave her the saree he had brought for her. As she fainted, he forgot everything. His arm short out to break her fall.

"Khushi? khushi.. can you hear me? tum thik ho?". It almost hurt to hear the agony in his insistent call.

Buaji entered the kitchen a second later. "hai re nandkisore.. ee ka hui gaya.. parmeswari...", she called out in alarm.

"She was making jalebi, I think buaji. she.. she fainted. I will make sure nothing happens to khushi". Asr's gaze was still on the girl resting in his arms.

Buaji understood what must have happened."babua khushi had not eaten properly, uske upar se jukaam. She had a cold, but will she listen to me and rest? nai sankadevi will do whatever she feels like.. nand kisore ab ka kari.."

Then before her disbelieving eyes she saw Arnav bitwa, in one clean fluid motion, sweep unconscious Khushi in his arms. Buaji turned a shade of crimson. Nand kisore.. . How unpredictable this boy was.. Maybe not.. Since he was always picking up her titliya.. That day when she had not picked her phone all day also he had brought her home in his arms..

"buaji I will call for a docto..aachchoo"

Somehow this made buaji very happy. Arnav bitwa was sneezing. He had a cold just like her sankadevi. She patted him fondly on the head and declared, "Dui badan ekahi jaan hui gaye ho babua. Humari ee prameswari and you, both have a cold."

(You have already become two bodies, but one soul)

She no longer felt even the slightest bit worried for her niece. Aranv bitwa would take of her Khoosie. She spotted a worried looking Garima outside the kitchen, who had just witnessed her future son-in-law carry her daughter towards her room.

"Ruko Garima, let him go. Chinta ki kono baat naahin hain. Samjhe hu? ..nand kisore sab thik kari hain.. Babua bohot issaq karat hai apni sankadevi se."

Then in her happy state she noticed NK still lingering about. Nand kisore.. This beautiful looking boy with such a wonderful name had brought such good luck with him. She couldn't stop herself from pulling his cheeks vigourously.." babua bahute issaq karat hai..".. Arnav bitwa was not as scary as he looked, buaji thought to herself and walked away to instruct Payaliya to take some food for Khoosie. Arnav bitwa could feed her with his own hands. Buaji patted her own shoulder liking her idea.



****



ASR tried to pull away after laying Khushi gently on her bed. A dainty hand stopped him.

The rest of her petite body was limp, but one hand held firmly onto his shirt lapel with endearing firmness. He felt an extreme tenderness threaten to overwhelm him. Why did she have to look so completely untouched and lovely while trusting him enough to not let him go.

Damn he would not even think of going anywhere. He was staying right here. I am right here, samjhi tum? Khushi.. Aakhen kholo.. Please..

Perfectly on cure, she stirred. Relief washed over ASR. Every sinew in his body had been on edge with worry. He could feel the muscles nerves and tendons to relax. Breathing just became way easier.

"Khushi tum thik ho?", he asked in the most caring hushed whisper, as she blinked her eyes, still clutching onto his shirt. The sparkle returned in her eyes as she let go of her hold and moved slightly afar.

"Dammit Khushi.. Buaji said tumne khana nahi khaya hai?" he was back to being crazy with worry. Who knew what this paagal would get herself into next? It was almost a 24 hour job keeping her out of trouble. keeping her safe and sound.. Ensuring that her laughter and chatter never stopped..

Instead of answering him, she looked a little loopy as she asked, "you brought a saree for me.. Kyu Arnavji?"

Why.. He had not really thought of why.. NK had offered to buy her a dress. ASR could feel his blood boil even now at the thought.. That was entirely unacceptable. Anyway, there was no telling what NK would choose. And ASR definitely did not like the thought of khushi wearing something brought by anyone else. So he had called Aman and instructed him to keep aside the green chiffon saree from their latest collection. 

Like a painter who instinctively senses the shade that is meant for the picture, ASR knew in his gut that there was this certain saree that was made for Khushi. The saree was to be worn by the show stopper in AR's "green and gorgeous" collection. But ASR, with disconcerting intensity, wanted to see the saree on someone else. Why? He had not had time to think.. Not yet..

"Boliye na Arnavji?" Khushi was sitting up slowly. He quickly slid a pillow behind her and was getting its angle correct when payal walked in. A plate with poories and a bowl of aaloo sabzi in her hand.

Payal placed the steel plate in Asr's hand, still a little troubled. Then she saw Khushi staring at Arnavji, quite oblivious. Love.. Payal beamed. Pulling her sister's ears and demanding to know why she hadn't shared her feelings with her jeeji could way. These two needed to be left alone. Her sister was coming with her, marrying into the same house. Payal would have all the time in the world with her sister. She left the room.

"Arnavji you can't keep quiet aise.. tell me na.. aap saree kyu?"

Arnavji had pushed a bite of puri and aaloo sabzzi into her mouth. "tum baat bahut karti ho". She found herself melting..dhak dhak dhak.. Even though her acidity was back in full force Khushi had no thought in her head of refusing the food.

Her lips had come down upon two lean fingers. ASR could not tear his eyes away from her. "crap why had buaji not sent rice and a spoon?" ..did he just say that aloud?..

"Kyu? Humein puri aaloo ki sabji bahut pasand hai. And if there was jilebi with.."

His crazy foodie..paagal.. He tore a bigger portion of the puri, took some aloo ki along with it, dipped it into the curry and held it close to her mouth. He smirked.. So Miss Khushi Kumari Gupta was not as unaffected as she was pretending to be. Her fingers were crumpling her dupatta and her eyes were darting everywhere.

"I don't have the whole day, you know", almost lazily, he drawled.

"hum khud kha lenge. Give me the plate". Her eyes were still not meeting his.. her breath rapid.. ASR felt a thrill in his bones. Gorgeous long eyelashes cast a shadow on her red cheeks.. Even her nose had turned the most perfect shade of red, he observed. She was shy.. For some inexplicable reason that felt absolutely wonderful to ASR.

"mujhe khilane do Khushi", he stated, with his inherent right on her, willing her to look up, and match his intense gaze.

She seemed to hear his call as she haltingly, almost demure, raised her eyes and met his. Slowly her lips parted and she moved forward to take the bit of puri, again brushing his fingers.

"Do you even know what you do to me?", his voice sounded thick to his ears, thick with an undercurrent hard to ignore.

Her dreamy expression immediately turned feisty...he loved this expression as much as the one just a second before.. Wait.. What had he just admitted in his thoughts?

"hum? Do you know what you do to me Arnavji?", she was demanding to know. Something inside him wanted to roar in joy and pull her close, never letting her go. Ever.. Instead he settled for leaning forward to wipe off with him thumb the crumbs close to her lips.

Her lips quivered.. She was clearly completely in panic..."I think I do know what I do to you Miss Khushi Kumari Gupta", he said in triumph and let himself laugh.

That was the only way to deal with this maddening enticing minx, unaware of her own potent spell.

"Chote tum has rahe ho? Khushiji made you laugh for the 2nd time. Tum haste hue kitne achche lagte ho."

Caught laughing by di again... ASR averted his eyes, discomfited, quite uncharacteristically shy suddenly. Since he ended up looking not at di but elsewhere, a big bright poster caught his attention.

Quite a few expletives threatened to come out of his mouth as he took in the man in white. He looked handsome and had an elan the way he held himself. The man has strong forearms, AsR found himself admit grudgingly. With an heroic effort he stopped himself at, "What the?!!".

He noticed Khushi almost beside herself in excitement. "aapko achche lage ye? He is my most favourtiest actor after Salman khanji...inki aakhen..anka accent.. His intensity.. ye hain barun Sobtiji."


*****


As he fiddled with his blackberry back in his room, ASR was still quite irritated at the thought of a certain poster on a certain girl's wall. In his opinion, the girl was completely crazy, and was driving him crazy too. He threw is phone on the bed and tried to concentrate on NK and Akash.

"Kamaal hai! Main gaal gaal bacha aaj toh.. No no actually mera gaal hi nahi bacha". Nk was as usual busy with some nonsense ASR surmised.

"NK bhai what are you saying?" Aakash was actually looking quite interested. ASR noticed Akash had a big blob of, what looked suspiciously like toothpaste, on his right cheek. They used to put toothpaste to soothe bees sting as kids. Had a bee bitten Akash?

"That buaji..kitni scary hai.. She pinched my cheek so hard."

"NK bhai now stop obsessing over buaji and help me with a plan. I want to do something for Payalji."

ASR was cursing himself. Why was he sitting with these pair of idiots? He reached out moodily for his phone again.

"Isme kya gari baat hai? NK has the perfect plan. Romance and no dance.. how boring Akash. Tum Payalji ke sath dance karo." This was going to be interesting, ASR thought he heard NK.

"NK bhai this is a useless plan. I cannot just walk into Payalji's room and play a song and start dancing. Your favourite buaji will come". Aakash atleast has some sense left in him. ASR's inner voice continued its commentary.

"Oh no no no Akash! kya ke re ho? This is a very scary plan. Cancel. But I have another. Nk bilkul kamaal hai. You call Payalji outside, it will rain and bheenge hue you both can dance".

"And rain is just waiitng for a phone call from NK!". ASR couldn't help himself join the conversation. He kept his phone aside.

NK looked sufficiently affronted. "Don't just sit there like a spoil sport and find faults in my brilliant plans nannav", he complained.

"Ha bhai aap kuch suggest kijiye", Akash was quite expectant.

ASR did not even need time to think to come to a solution. the pragmatic resourceful man had a perfectly logical solution. "Akash stop complicating things. Keep a party. It is the logical place to dance with your future wife".

"nannv kamaal ka idea hai. Hum sangeet karenge. I have seen it in all bollywood films.. And even you can dance with Khushiji. After all idhar do do bulhe hai". NK was already excited. His eye brows moving up and down.

"NK bulhe nahi dulhe. And not two. There is only one groom. Main nai shadi kar raha hun. And neither am I dancing". ASR again picked up his phone and started to randomly type in some numbers.

"Tab toh aur bhi achcha hai nannav. Khushiji told me she loves dancing. Main unke sath dance kar lunga".


******

Coz I feel good

There is something oneirical (which means dreamy.. thanks to indi di teaching me this word) about a disney movie, that makes you smile widely, that makes your heart soar and that makes you happy.

I have read articles how parents worry that too much disney movies can make a child expect too much from life. For me, a 26 year old woman, the chance seems worth taking, forever and always.

Here is a glimpse of the movie that inspired this post.

Wishing you a never ending supply of floating lights to light up your life!