Come dance with me tonight

We are talking of Arnav and Khushi and the dream of teri meri.. 

For more riveting discussions you can come visit the Blast From the Past thread on IndaiForums..
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4128480&PID=112637054&#p112637054

So he closed his eyes and let his heart weave the most beautiful dream he has ever seen.. 

Winds swished by.. His eyes rest on a vision.. His girl gazing at him with an equal craving in her eyes that look mysterious enticing tonight.. He sees himself in white.. Simple and carefree.. She looks bewitching, in a combination of midnight blue and ivory.. The winds caress her dupatta..  She smiles..

He sucks in air and feels himself ignite.. How not to desire her when she waits for him this way? A timeless look on longing on her alluring face.. Like magnets they are drawn closer.. his fantasy bursts into a song..

So he sings in a lilting voice of his and her tale of love where mere words are not enough.. She watches in wonder and understanding.. She feels the same way..

So he places his hand on her bare back and pulls her flush against him. She collides against him.. their eyes riveted to their dangerously close lips.. It is a dance of desire.. Her hand journeys from his shoulder to heart, the heart that beats only for her, while her eyes remain on his.. 

A pout on his lips as he serenades her with the song.. For they have been apart when they are meant to be together.. And back comes his hand to encircle her from behind into his willing waiting arms.. Her face angles towards his own thrusting face.. She gets lost in the dance..

 The hand continues to rest on her slender waist as she turns towards him to cup his face.. No hesitation, not even coy.. The woman longs for her man then why does she walk away?

He waits.. A look of longing as she turns.. His deliberate swallow confesses silently.. she is the world to him.. A world he never dared to hope for.. She comes back to him.. Wanting the dance of passion to continue.. 

He holds her face between his palms.. Adoring.. worshiping.. A long moment of utter emptiness when she is no longer here.. 

But she is running towards him and slams against his back. Her hands winding him close, he face on his shoulders.. He savours the sensation..  A nightingale croons.. She knows too.. They are meant for each other..  

He lowers her hand and places it where is needs to be for him to bring her back close to his heart.. As she sings of their love story.. His hand grasps her free flowing soft tresses.. A tenderness in the stance.. while another hand of a male possessively keeps his mate close..   

He is rugged.. she is graceful.. Perfectly matched partners.. Mature and grown up tonight.. No giggles, an unblinking stare tonight.. No resistance, a heated smirk tonight.. 

But tonight is not the night.. For she has to walk away.. Even though his longing eyes plead for her to stay..

Celebrating 100 days of happines

In a post, 100 days ago, I mentioned that I started with #100happydays.. post a picture of anything that made you happy..and do it everyday for 100 days..

I completed 100 days. And it feels nice. Not just because of a sense of accomplishment, but something hopefully much more everlasting. The realization that on the worst of day, absolute abysmal lows, there was always 1 moment that did bring a smile to my face, if only I let it.

On the last day I selected some of the pivotal themes in my life, from the pics that capture what in essence made my last 3 months happy.

Touch wood.. how humble I feel.. to realize how happy I am..

In our forum (IndiaForums where I talk about my favourite TV show, Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon, if you didn't already know that..) we talk of something called loop closure.. reinforcing of an idea.. my blog.. my writing.. is because I am happy.. and I hope as you read, this happiness spreads and brightens your life too..

Celebrating happiness! 

Devo ke dev

She didn't know why a rudraksha called to her.. She didn't know why it felt exactly right to call out to a name she had not heard before.. A sound, a presence drew her towards him and through a crowd of rishis, magna in bhakti, celebrating his arrival, she made her way to get the first glimpse of whom she had always been a part of.. a single drop of tear glazed her cheek as she saw who stood before her..

Maybe I want to write more.. maybe I will not have words..
Till  and if I do find them..leaving you with this..

Dhak dhak

A wonderful gift by that roommate of mine I keep mentioning in my posts.. only problem.. why does she have to be so good at everything she does!

Hey Devi Maiya she said, trying to hold her dupatta from flying away. A little farther away he stood, watching intently, her every move. Even he did not know how and when he stopped writing that email of his and got caught in this reverie. She had that effect on him and it made him angry. How could this crazy girl have this hold over him. He was Arnav Singh Raizada, the man of steel or "Arnabji" as she called him. And there she stood, Khushi Kumari Gupta, the reason for his torn soul, completely oblivious to what she was doing to him. He felt envious of the wind that caressed her hair, her dupatta that stubbornly kept touching her face. The girl who had kept falling in his arms a countless times, who took his breath.. No, that was a dangerous line of thought. He tried to get a grip over himself, tried to think about things he did not like about her. Yes, that would work. How she chattered endlessly, how she messed things up, how she would talk with her lips quivering. That perfect asymmetry lit up his world as they formed a familiar curve. He once again longed to tuck that hair strand behind her ears. Unwittingly, he put his hands in his pocket. It wasn't there. He panicked. Checked his other pocket. Ah! there it was, her jhumki. He stole a look at it, a souvenir of their first meeting.

 

Amidst the flowing dupatta she felt her heart go dhak dhak. She was puzzled. He was not supposed to be here, could it be him? She sheepishly looked up and then relaxed. He wasn't around. May be the dhak dhak had nothing to do with him. May be it was just a coincidence. Oh no! spoke too soon. He suddenly materialized out of the thin air, or so it seemed to her. There she was caught between the stubborn dupatta and her dil that was all ready to give her away. She was sure he had heard it too. "Ab kya hoga, humein dekh ke Arnabji phir se naraj ho jaenge. Kya karein? ek kaam karte hain dupatte ke piche chup jate hain". She felt the gust. There was complete silence. "Chale gaye lagta hai". She peeked above the chiffon shield.

Dhakdhak-dhakdhak-dhak-dhak------. She stared back into the depths of his eyes. He watched her shy, hesitant demeanor in a trance-like state. He came closer and she shut her eyes.

His hand lifted up to her face,

to pull the twig out of the luscious maze;

His fingers slightly brushed her cheeks,

pagal she then bit her lips,

That was the lethal blow,

No way would his feelings now slow;

The moment came to a halt,

It was hardly his fault;

He traced her neck,

He had gone too far but what the heck,

She was worth taking risk for,

Fearlessly he went for the silk dor;

It was not any childish whim,

He could in this moment forever swim;

No longer could she stand his blaze,

She stood melting under the unnerving gaze,

Celebrating the triumph, his lip,

drank her in sip by sip,

she was too waiting and eager,

She was in him, he was in her,

Forever and ever.

He felt her push and the spell was broken. He was taken aback for the dream felt so real. Ghabrake she ran away leaving him on his own. With the dream still lingering on his mind, waiting for may be some other time, he wrote:

i can remember you in a clouded haze... 

your lips and that lingering gaze..

those winter nights with passionate blaze...

You and me.. we are meant to be..

Aarwen (standing at her hostel steps) - No.. don't keep the phone.
Lazywiz (sitting on his bed)- shh.. fine.. listen to the cd I bought today..

Aarwen kept her eyes closed.. felt the world whirl around her.. dizzy.. exhilarated.. what played.. a song.. Hum kis galli ja rahe hai apna koi thikana nahi..

One of my most favourite parts of a love story is when the hero or heroine watches the other from far. How the world ceases to exist as all the focus of one pair of eyes is on another. She may be laughing, quiet, beautiful, asleep. He maybe tired, angry, busy, playing. There is no place else you would rather look. Your look as you watch could be a blank stare, could be a tender gaze, could be a second's flicker, but in it... an infinite feeling.

Lazywiz (standing in the middle of a crowd. smirking.) - preet ki lat tohe aisi lagi..
Aarwen (standing in the same crowd. lost in her own world) - ho gayi main.. deewani?

Kailash kher sang .. his signature sufi song.. mar gayi main mit gayi main.. ho gayi main.. teri deewani..

Silence.. Sometimes when we sit quietly for hours, the only sound the tapping of the keys on our laptops, why do I feel like it is a never ending conversation I am having with you
? Sometimes when you are fast asleep and I am as usual awake when I turn off the light why do I feel I have been talking to you all this while? Sometimes when I wake up on the car seat next to you, during a long quiet drive, why I do feel you have been telling me all sorts of things?

Aarwen (On the phone) - I heard a song.. it is for you..
Lazywiz (On the other end of the phone) - Am listening.. sing it..

Another Kailash Kher song she sang.. main na jaanu tu hi jaane main hun teri tu hai mera.. saiyaan..

Talking.. why do I feel like laughing when am with you? Why do I feel garrulous and young and carefree when am with you? Why does everything in my day feel like it is worth telling you? Why everything you say sparks off interest? Why does it thrill me when you are impressed with some word I used? Why do I feel proud when you tell me what you think? And when we talk about thoughts, books, movies, idea, technology, why so few people are reading my story on IF, what is my happy pic for the day, what did my friends on whats app say, why is there always a smile on my face?

Aarwen (putting aside her laptop sits next to him) - So I don't throw a birthday party for you, don't write poetry for you, but you know..
Lazywiz (Still with his laptop, starts to type furiously) - Can I work?

He smiles. She smiles. To pick up her laptop, she walks away. There is not really anything left to say.

With you there is a song, there is poetry. Oh how I feel like dancing! Though I know you don't like it at all.. You are here .. you are with me.. we belong.. you are me..

arshi SS: Hamesha ~ A heartbeat Away, Chapter 3

Hamesha ~ A heartbeat Away 

This chapter is dedicated to Horizon. I love the way she owns ASR in her thoughts. Writing this story I get to own an ASR in my thoughts as well. Make him smirk, make him angry and let him do whatever he feels like.

Chapter 3

"Ha..Lakshmiji aur us laad governor ki... sab unki galati hai. Everything is their fault. Na toh Lakshmiji aap beech mein aati na toh hum takrate aur na toh.. What does he think of himself?"

Khushi Kumari Gupta put down Lakshmiji, who had been busy with leaves and Khushi's hair, and sat down on the stairway. Her bright blue kurti with it silver and gold trimmings was the color of the ocean on a bright sunny day. With it she wore a darker blue dupatta, the color of the deepest unexplored crevices of that ocean. Lakshmiji had managed to loosen Khushi's prudish braid, so a few strands had escaped their confines and flowed gaily framing her beautiful face.

Her cheeks still supported a blush. She still could hear her heart beating fast.. dhak dhak .. She pressed her palm where she knew her heart thudded, and willed it to slow down.. dhak dhak dhak.. 

hey devi maiyya.. why did he have to stand so close? Why did it feel like she was breaking some unwritten rule? Then why did it feel so right still? dhak dhak dhak.. She remembered every detail of his face. The way his eyes pierced as if looking into her most secret thoughts. Wanting an answer from her. How his lip dragged down towards the right, a telltale sign he was worried. How his strong fingers had rested on her arm.

She raised her hand, in a trance, and lightly let it curl around the same spot on her hand where moments ago his fingers had rested. Her skin tingled of a touch it sorely seemed to miss.

"Maee", unaware of Khushi's state of heart, Lakshmiji was trying to continue a conversation with her playmate. But Khushi was not in the mood. "All because of you Lakshmiji.. hmphh.. I fall all the time. pata nai why such things keep happening only to me? But, they do. unhe kya faraq padta hai?", she thought a little subdued, but slowly regaining back her usual chirpiness.

"lakshmiji I will not talk to you and Arnavji.. Ha yehi thik rahega. I shouldn't have agreed to what Anjaliji was saying. Devi maiyya aap toh janti hain only because jiji and Aakashji would be so happy it is okay to let Arnavji pretend he lov. mmm.. mera matlab.. To let him tell mamiji".

Khushi pursed her lips in irritation. "Really if it was such a crazy idea then why couldn't he say no to Anjaliji? jab zarurat thi why had he not used his scary face? If he had not said no, why should I? humein koi farak nai padta" Khushi reasoned with herself.

She remembered how Aakashji had stopped her before she went home the previous night. He had looked worried so she hadn't teased him, but she could not resist teasing her jiji when she handed her his letter. How pretty jiji looked blushing while reading Aakashji's letter.

Khushi sat grinning, lost in her world. She wondered what was in that letter. An audible sigh escaped her. Would someone ever write her a letter, she longingly wondered.

Smack went her palm and hit her forehead. "Khushi tu bilkul paagal hai, no wonder buaji calls you sankadevi. You did not ask Arnavji what happened with mamiji. devi maiya I even shouted at him. humara gussa he should not take out on poor mamiji. Please raksha karna." Quickly her hands went up and down in prayer.


*****


Manorma Raizada was all business like, deep in thought, eating peanuts off a plate, when her mother-in-law came and sat down next to her. Visibly glad to see her sasuma for once, Manorma perked up. "Sasuma happy newj.. humaar Arnav bitwa.. oo phati saree.. matlab Khoosie Kumari Gupta ke..  Kumari Gupta se married Raizada banane ka pilanning karat hai".

(Sasuma good news. Our Arnav bitwa wants to marry Khushi Kumari Gupta. He is planning to make her Mrs Raizada from Ms Gupta).

She was most surprised by Deviyani Raizada's reaction. "jinko jo marzi so karat hai. This cannot happen here. Khushi bitiya is very dear to me, but as a buhuriya? ee humne socha naahi hain. ka aap jaanat hai ki oo humare ghar ka, chote ka khayal rakh payengi? To come and teach, Khushi bitiya did it perfectly, but to stay here? humka ee thik naahi laagat hai. aur chote.. kabhi kahat hai shaadi nahi nani.. kabhi Miss Kasyap.. And today Khushi bitiya? He does whatever he wants. I need time to know she will indeed be suitable for him."

(Everyone is doing as they please. I have not thought about making her a daughter-in-law of this house. Do you know if she can take care of the house, of chote? I do not like it. Sometimes he says no to marriage, sometimes it is Ms kasyap and today khushi?)

"aur Manorma .. You don't go helping Khushi bitiya, jaisan aapne Miss Kasyap ke help ki." Having said what she had to Deviyani Raizada did not stay behind to hear anything else. She determinedly walked away.

"ee saasuma bhi na saara happy momentwa ke sad karne ma mahir hain. hum kahe naat helpingj ? hum jarure helpingj phatee saree ke. phir saasuma ke eyej openingj phor phatee saree. Ikdum bestwa bahuriya material howat hai. ka ka karike pari is ghar ma humka.. " Manorma also left the hall with a wide smile on her face. She had a brilliant plan. All she needed to do was find phatee saree.

(Sasuma has a habit of turning all happy moments into sad ones. Why won't I help. I will definitely help phatee saree. And then saasuma will knoe she is the best daughter-in-law material. What all I have to do in this household!)

*****

ASR sat immersed in the documents Aman had mailed him this morning. The poolside provided a welcome respite from the heat outside. The tress cast a cool shade near the edge of the pool, while the shallow water within it glimmered from the sun rays falling on it.

He looked up when he heard the familiar sound of her approaching. Her numerous bangles, tassels on her kurti, dupatta, hair, right down to the elegant silver payals, he knew she must be wearing, all signaled her arrival. She was carrying a tray with a coffee mug on it.

Using her chirpiest voice Khushi started, "Coffee for you Arnavji". His face gave away his disbelief. Eyes narrowed, he frowned,"Coffee.. For me? tumne kuch milaya hai isme? What are you doing Khushi?". 

"Haw", she exclaimed, her mouth wide open into a perfect round 'O'. How dare that laad governor insinuate she had mixed something in his coffee. Perhaps that is what she should have done. Poisoned him. She glared at him.

Then just as suddenly her face softened. She could not get angry with Arnavji right now. Focus Khushi, she berated herself.  "I brought you coffee Arnavji. No sugar. Lijiye na."

"waise now that you are distracted from work hum soch rahe the, what happened with mamiji? Did you talk to her?" She tried her best to give her most innocent look while asking. She hoped he would directly tell her what she wanted to know even though she had walked away leaving him angry after their collision.

He, however, seemed to have other plans. Pushing aside the table he stood up. "So you remembered to be nice to me. subah jab tum bina sorry boli chali gayi then what happened? bhool gayi thi tum.. hmm?".

His eyes were not scary. But, they had a tenderness that made it difficult for her to look towards him. It made her feel all sort of things she had no name for. It was also the only place she wanted to look into.  She seemed to forget why she would want to look away. He kept moving forward. 

"dekhiye aa.. aap na.." She raised her finger in a failed attempt to keep him away.

"ha m.. main na.. what?" he moved closer. An intoxicating mirth clearly reflecting in his dark captivating eyes. A hint of suppressed laughter in him.

She took a step backward. Breath refusing to leave her. He seemed to glide forward. With each faltering step that she took back, she seemed to draw him closer. She moved back till there was no back left to go. His gaze lingered on her face, caressing and scorching at the same time. "aa.. Arnavji?", she bravely breathlessly whispered. Part of her was still unsure why she needed to object when this closeness felt absolutely scarily wonderful.

"hmm? ".. His eyes had now travelled downwards and were fixed upon her trembling lips. Unhurried, confident, with full right he raised his hand to touch her.."aap.. What are you doing?". She was in panic. Hypnotized by the searing sensation of his finger stroking her temple. Involuntarily her eyes fluttered, as she lost herself in his touch, but immediately opened at the loss of contact from him.

His fingers had moved to her hair. She watched mesmerized as his hand moved behind her ear and slowly a sinuous curving of those lips. His hand came down. In it.. a single leaf!

"Your friend left this for you Ms Khushi Kumari Gupta. Both of you are absolutely alike". He was clearly smirking now as he took her hand in his and left the leaf in it. Then he placed his finger on her slightly gaping lips. "dono ka muh band hi nahin hota."

She felt her heart flip. He took a step back. 

The rebellious part in her cried out at the distance. He gave her one long look. Then he turned and took a few steps away from her. She brought up her shivering hand, placed it on her thumping, stuttering, hyperventilating heart in an attempt to calm down. hey devi maiyya raksha karna.

ASR stopped. Without completely turning, with just his head angled towards her and a cool smile he stated calmly, "Relax Khushi. Everything went well. I told mamiji..". 

Still disorientated by the effect he had on her, she heard herself ask, "kya?"

This time he turned around and faced her. Then holding her gaze, with a tender thoughtful look, purposefully he walked towards her. She held her breath. Expectant. Nervous of what he had to say. No idea why it felt exciting.

"I want to marry you."

She could not bring herself to say anything. Her astonished eyes, remained unblinking, dazed. He turned and left, leaving Khushi clutching her frantically beating heart.. dhak dhak dhak..


*****


While two hearts beat furiously near the poolside, in the passage outside a slightly lost forlorn lover was interrupted in his reverie. "Aakash aap bhi na... Why are you sad. Become happy now. Everything is falling into place." Before Anjali's words could sink in an even stranger sight greeted Aakash.

"bhai you are smiling? Is everything okay?"

ASR had just left the clearly shaken Khushi who looked lovely with her nose all red. He had not stopped his stray smile in time and Aakash had spotted it.

"ha chote you are smiling?". Anjali's question had a teasing tone which ASR immediately caught on. "di don't start again. It is nothing like that". Anjali's laughter rang out. "Like what chote? I did not say anything about this mysterious that".

He rolled his eyes and gave up. ASR walked away concealing his smile as best he could. There was lightness in the winds of Shantivan and he found himself flying with it, carefree.

*****

"devi maiyya aap kya kar rahi hain?" Khushi rushed away from the pool talking to herself, "It is all Lakshmiji's fault.. wo.. Why stand so close.. That leaf.. My heart.. kyu? .. His smile.."

Out of nowhere a woman bedecked with heavy gold jewelry descended upon her. 

"Lakshmi.. phatee saree.. tumko oo miss call ke take caring karike pari".

(You need to take care of Lakshmi.)

"huh.. kyu mamiji?", asked a clueless Khushi.

"sasuma ke heart par kabja ka idea by Manorma mami." In her excitement mami had raced ahead with her plan to make Khushi win the old lady's heart. Of course, she did not stop to actually explain what and why of her plan to Khushi.

(Manorma mami has an idea to win saasuma's heart.)

"lekin naniji has always liked me... par.. why are you worried whether naniji ko hum pasand hai ya nahi?"

"becoj I caringj phor Arnav bitwa underistandingj phatee saree? Now only hearing no isspeaking."

(Because I care for Arnav bitwa. Do you understand? Now only listen and don't talk.)

Khushi's bewilderment was replacement with irritation as soon as she heard the name of the man who was doing all sorts of things to her heart. "Arnavji.. humein unki koi baat nahi karni.. Aakashji kitne achche hai.. He cares for everyone not like that .. that rakshas."

"Hello hi bye bye..oo rakhsas.. eej mom inside ma".

"mom?", Khushi was getting more and more confounded by the conversation.

"arre phatee saree, mother India wala mom naahi.. mom batti wala mom.. candlej.."

"huh?". The conversation was making no sense to the already very distracted girl.

"oh ho phatee saree oo Arnav bitwa ke heart..jor se dhak dhakaying. baat samajh mein ayi ki naahi?"

(Arnav bitwa's heart beats. Understood?)

Huh? Khushi only heard one thing.. His heart.. dhak dhak too.. He never told her.. And what did any of this have to do with Lakshmiji.. Her head was spinning.

"mamiji I think hum paagal ho re hain.. I should go home.. and eat.. nai sleep.. no no he will be back in my dreams..". She scurried towards the door, the leaf safely held in her hand, with mami close behind. "hey devi maiyya what will I do?"  Ignoring all the confusion, her heart continued joyously.. dhak dhak.. dhak dhak..


*****


Close by, two delighted woman fi fived each other.

"This is going exactly as planned nani".  Anjali was all smiles.

"Haan Anjali bitiya, I will get not one, but two bahuriyas. A little 'no' from me and even your mami is now helping bring Khushi bitiya and chote together. ab Aakash aur chote ko kono baat ki takleef naahi satayegi".  

She could almost see her smiling daughter in front of her carrying her small smiling boy in her arms. Deviyani Raizada's first grandson. She had tried her best to shield chote from the unpleasantness, but very soon she had realized that he would be the one taking care of her and the family, not the other way round. Ratna bitiya would have been so proud of the man her little boy had grown up to be. 

Deviyani Raizada did not believe in living in the past. She gave a gentle smile. "I have always wanted to see Khushi bitiya become a part of chote's life. She will be able to handle his anger and keep him safe. Your ma, chote's ma, my dear bitya would have liked her bahuriya a lot. Khushi bitiya hai hi aisan. She wins everyones hearts."

Anjali rushed to hug the old lady, her nani, who had been there for her and chote.  The two women let the hug last longer than usual, drawing comfort  from each other, still mending the hollow parts of having tragically lost someone extremely dear.

Finally, Anjali looked at deviyani raizada with sparkling eyes, "par nani, ab kya? what will be do next?". 


With a bright smile that reached upto her aged wise eyes nani prophesied confidently, "chote and Khushi bitya will do everything. Love has the power to move mountains. And for any small stones in their way aapki Manorma mami hai na."

And then they danced.. was it just a dance?

Wrote this on my forum today.. do visit for the most breathtaking descriptions of the most gorgeous dance..
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4056429&TPN=132

And they danced..

He stepped on the stage.. Did he know he would make her his today? No conscious thought perhaps, but he was conscious of each atom, each molecule, each fibre in her being. She danced along. For this was where she was meant to be. In his arms. Twirling ..dipping.. whirling.. gliding..

He had surrendered his soul to this feeling.. and she was swept right along reeling..

A lean brown hand gliding along her thin bare waist, the color of ivory in the dark light.

She found herself flying, safe in his sure hands. His eyes left her face his head turned away, only to jerk back.. a demanding hand extending out. She could, but not refuse his call. She placed her hand in his. All was right with the world. Right then the world had ceased to exist. Memories came flying past. Catching.. walking away.. falling.. drawing close.

His hands remained on her back, holding on to her, as she leant backwards and he was drawn forward with her.. in a dance one usually leads.. directs the steps.. and the partner follows.. was he leading.. or was he simply following?

They stood.. bodies in contact.. souls fused.. Immersed in a heady feeling. She raised her hand in a graceful swanlike movement. Face raised. His hand followed her in its trajectory. Scorching was its path as it moved stroking, igniting. She rested on his frame. He was meant to hold her this way. Would they ever move away?

No question anymore. All the answers ever needed in this tango. Unrehearsed, instinctive.. Written by the stars themselves.. You forgot to blink because if you blinked you would miss out on a lifetime and more of love..