Valley of Flowers Chapter 15

Valley of Flowers – Chapter 15

KHUSHI woke up with a start, her heart pounding wildly even as her brain registered the loud noise. Someone was at the door!As her eyes accustomed itself to the darkness, her heart skipped a beat when she realized she was in Arnav’s bed. She looked on her right to see that the other side of the bed was unoccupied. The beside clock showed 5’o clock. As the knocking got urgent she got swung herself off the bed.

Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and on an impulse she quickly took off her jewellery, before she went up to the door and opened it.

‘Khushi!’ Anjali said in a rush, ‘wake Arnav. We have to get to the hospital right away. It’s dad. He is in ICU.’

She wasn’t sure if Arnav had returned home last night. She would have to stall for time.‘What happened Di?’ she said her tone laced with concern.

‘Dr Manav tells me that his blood pressure has shot up really high all of a sudden. Is Arnav ----?’

‘Rani Sahiba,’ Shyam interrupted her. ‘I saw saale saab leaving late in the night yesterday. I don’t think he is back. I don’t see his car.’

Khushi felt a sudden urge to defend him. ‘He…. He has gone to the office.’

‘At that time of the night?’ Shyam raised his eyebrows.

‘He needed some … some important documents that he kept there.’

Anjali immediately dialled his number only to hear it ringing from somewhere in the room. ‘He hasn’t taken his phone with him!’ Anjali said anxiously.‘I will try the office number.’

‘Rani Sahiba,’ Shyam said holding her arm, ‘Have you thought that saale saab might not want to come?’

‘He has to come Shyam!’ tears began to flow down her cheeks. ‘He is our father.’

‘Don’t you remember how he behaved when you tried to speak to him last time?’ Shyam reminded her. ‘We have been taking care of babuji till now and will continue to do so. Why do you want to force him?’

‘Di,’ Khushi intervened, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. ‘Why don’t you go ahead with Shyamji? I will call the office.’

‘I don’t think he will come Khushi.’ Anjali said in a low voice.

‘He will, Di,’ Khushi said taking Anjali in her arms, ‘I promise.’

As Shyam went ahead toward the car, he smirked thinking how naïve Khushi was in thinking she can get that arrogant b@#$%^ to the hospital. God he hated him for landing up at the last moment and spoiling his best laid plans for Khushi.

When the courier had arrived at the Raizada House from The Oberoi, he had called the hotel back impersonating Arnav and thanked them for the package. The manager had immediately told him that they had safely kept the jacket that his lady friend had left behind, apologizing for the delay in sending it. He had requested them to patronize their hotel the next time they were in town.

Luckily he had also been aware of Khushi’s dance programme in Agra and that she hadn’t returned that night because of fog. He had put two and two to together. He knew that Khushi had not slept with Arnav. She was purity personified. But it was important to malign her character in order to protect her. There was no other way.He had immediately called NK’s mother in Australia and given her that information.

 How could he let Khushi marry NK? He didn’t deserve someone as exquisite a Khushi in his life.

But he had never imagined that Arnav would land up just in time and act as a knight in shining armour. Khushi had rightly refused to marry him. But her obnoxious parents had probably emotionally blackmailed her into this marriage, hoping to wash their hands off their foster daughter.

Nothing was lost though. He could still save Khushi. But before that this new crisis had to be dealt withhe thought smiling reassuringly at Anjali as he took the wheel.

Khushi paced about the room restlessly. She had bravely given her word to Anjali that she would bring Arnav to the hospital and she didn’t even know where he was. How was she supposed to contact him when he had left his phone behind in the room? Would he be at Lavanya’s, she wondered in dread. It was way too early in the morning. What would she tell her if she picked up the phone? Excuse me Lavanya, would you mind letting me know if my husband is with you on which is supposedly our wedding night?

Suddenly she had an epiphany of where she might find Arnav.She quickly showered and changed into a simple blue suit and went down stairs. Luckily, she found the keys to the Honda City automatic kept in the small ornate wooden box on the console table in the foyer.

There were few people on the streets at this hour and Khushi stepped down on the accelerator hoping her hunch was right.

As she pulled up at the gates of the farm house an hour later, she was relieved to findArnav’s car parked there. As she walked up the driveway her eyes inevitably were drawn toward the lovely gardensand she thought of the first time Arnav had shown them to her on the night of the bachelor party…….

She had just seen Akash and Payal in bed with each other, oblivious of their spectators. Before Khushi could let out a squeak Arnav covered her mouth with his hand, closing the door with his free hand.

‘I want to show you something,’ he had whispered into her ears, ‘come with me.’ He took her hand in his and took her downstairs and out into the garden.

 They walked in silence for several minutes,along a path lined by tall and dense trees, until they had reached a clearing with a beautiful fountain in the centre. There were beautiful flowering plants, in various colours and hues all around and her heart leapt with joy at the sheer beauty of nature.

‘Oh my God, Arnav this is just beautiful!’ she exclaimed, looking around her in awe.

‘My mom, Di and I planted these,’ he said his voice low. ‘It was my tenth birthday and I was feeling very low as I didn’t have any friends to invite for my birthday. Mom brought me and Di here and we planted some of these. After that, we came back here every year until I was sixteen.

Khushi’s heart went out the lonely lost boy and wished she was there to hug him and tell him everything would be alright.

‘This is the place I come to when I am restless or when I need to think. It gives me peace.’

She went up to the house and knocked on the door. How had Arnav managed to get in? Hadn’t Nanheji told her that Naniji had sold the farm house?

‘Who is it?’ Arnav opened the door, his mouth opened in a yawn, his eyes still closed.

‘It’s me.’ Her voice came out in a squeak when she saw he was bare chested, his jeans riding low on his hips.

‘What the f@#$!’ His eyes popped open, his sleep vanishing in seconds. ‘Khushi! What are doing here?’

‘I ….I’ She was trying to keep her eyes from wandering down to the waist band of his Calvin Kleins visible just above his jeans. ‘I have ….to talk to you.’

His eyebrows twisted suspiciously. ‘How the hell did you know I would be here?’

‘Lucky guess.’ She squeaked tucking a strand of hair behind her ears.

‘Khushi, about last night ----’

‘That’s not what I came here for Arnav,’ Khushi intervened quickly, ‘we have to go the hospital right away ---’

‘What is it?’ he said urgently. ‘Is Nani alright?’ Lines of concern creased his forehead.

‘She is fine,’ she said quickly, ‘it’s your dad. He has been admitted to the hospital.’

‘Oh,’ Arnav’s face hardened. ‘Di is there isn’t she?’

‘Yes she is. She has sent me the hospital address. I told her we will be there soon.’

‘I am not going.’

‘Arnav,’ Khushi implored to him as she touched his shoulder, ‘you have to go and see him. He is your father.’

He walked away from her, the muscles of his body rigid with tension. ‘A father in name only. Where the hell was he all these years?’

‘You heard what Di told about him Arnav,’ Khushi reminded him, ‘he has been mentally sick for a long time. You can’t hold that against him.’

‘I just can’t forget the fact that he hurt mom.’

‘I understand that Arnav, but you have to be the bigger man here. Di messaged that his condition is very critical. He has been asking to meet you.’

‘F@#$!’ he hit his hand against the wall in anger.

‘Please Arnav,’ she implored. ‘See him just once. Otherwise you might regret it for the rest of your life.’

An hour later, they stood just outside the ICU, within the pristine walls of Life Care hospital, enveloped in strong hospital odour.

‘He is out of danger now,’ Dr Manav said looking grim in his white coat. ‘But I would recommend that he remain here for observation for a few more days.’

‘What happened?’ Arnav’s voice was gruff.

‘His blood pressure was much beyond the normal levels when he was brought here. That triggered a heart attack. He is currently stable but any stress is only going to be dangerous for his health.’

‘Was his BP a pre-existing condition?’ Arnav looked toward Anjali. ‘He should have been on medication, if it was.’

 ‘Yes it is,’ Dr Manav replied. ‘In fact, the last time I visited him at the home, I changed his medication. The previous one clashed with the psychiatric drugs he was taking.’

‘The problem was he didn’t take his medications regularly. ’ Shyam said with a shake of his head.

‘But I told the boy who takes care of him to make sure he took all his medication.’ Anjali said anxiously.

‘Rani Sahiba,’ Shyam said slowly, ‘You know babuji was not in the best of mental health. You know how difficult it was for Raju to administer his medications.’

‘Don’t worry Anjali we will make sure he is okay,’ Dr Manav said in an assuring tone. ‘You can see him after we move him to the private room but you should avoid talking today and let him rest.Please excuse me.’ Dr Manav moved away as he got called away for another emergency.

When Anjali, Shyam, Arnav and Khushi stepped into the room, Anjali went up her dad and held his hand. Arnav was shocked to see his once handsome father look frail, his hair completely grey. His father was not yet sixty but looked seventy. He turned away fisting his hand in frustration when Khushi held his shoulder.

‘Go to him,’ she whispered.

Arnav slowly walked toward his estranged father, his heart pounding.

It was four days since Arnav’s dad was admitted to the hospital and Khushi stood in the kitchen making lunch. While Anjali spent the mornings at the hospital, Khushi made lunch and took it with her so she could relieve her in the afternoons. Her father-in-law’s face lit up every time she entered his room. He had begun to call her laali for some reason but she didn’t have the heart to correct him. Each day, as was the routine he spoke about the same thing. His speech was very incoherent and she had difficulty comprehending him, but she managed to decipher that he seemed to be repeatedly talking about a trip to the fair.Arnav joined her in the evenings and Khushi subtly left them alone for a little while until Anjali came in to take over once again.

As she finished packing the lunch, Shyam came up to her asking her if she was ready to leave much to her consternation. He had come in the previous day as well, and taken her to the hospital. His superfluous friendliness was off-putting and she requested him to go on his own, quickly making an excuse of having to run an errand before she came to the hospital.

In the evening Khushi and Anjali saw Arnav entering the premises same time as them.

‘The hospital sent me a message to come in urgently but I was in a meeting and couldn’t see it.’ Arnav said urgently.

‘Oh God!’ Anjali exclaimed. ‘I couldn’t find my phone. I think I left it behind in the hospital.’

As they hurried up to the room, Dr Manav stood with Shyam looking very grave.

‘What happened?’ Anjali’s voice was a whisper.

Shyam merely shook his head.

‘Anjali, Dr Manav said slowly. ‘He suddenly developed wheezing and that triggered a massive heart attack. We couldn’t revive him. I am sorry.’

Tears streaming down her cheeks, Anjali walked into the room but one look at her father’s lifeless form she turned toward Arnav and he took her in his arms before her knees buckled.Anjali held on her brother, her entire body racked with sobs.

Just as Shyam stepped inside the room and was about to go up to Anjali,Khushishook her head indicating to him that he should just let the siblings comfort each other and not disturb them. Tears were streaming down her own cheeks when she thought of how they had lost both the parents in the span of a year. She could see that Arnav had not shed a tear even though his eyes were moist, but one look at his stoic face told her that he was holding it all in.

**

Khushi stepped into their bedroom to find Arnav lying on the bed in the dark, with his hand across his eyes. The last thirteen days had been gruelling for him. He had already looked like he had lost weight at their wedding but after his dad’s death he gotten worse having thrown himself at work leaving very early in the morning and coming back very late at night. Khushi knew he had been trying to avoid the relatives who came more out of curiosity than to offer their condolences. Today, on the thirteenth day believed to be the day the soul finally reaches its final destination, she hoped that her father-in-law’s troubled soul had finally found its peace.

Not having the heart to wake him up, she put the tray away and decided to change her saree, taking off the safety pin from the pallu. Just as she was about to put the pin on the dresser, she caught a glimpse of Arnav’s face in the mirror, as the light from pool side sliced through the gap in the curtains. She froze. Was it tears she saw on his face?

She slowly stepped up to him, her heart constricting further her own eyes welling up with tears as she sat on the bed. Her heart pounding erratically she bent her head and took the glistening drop on his cheek between her lips.

As Arnav jerked awake she stood up nervously and turned away. She was about to move away when she felt a tug at her pallu. She closed her eyes for a brief moment before she turned around to see Arnav holding the end of her saree, a woebegone look on his face.

She rushed back to him as he wrapped his arms around her waist, his face burrowing into her stomach as sobs racked his muscular frame. She stood mutely, tears streaming down her cheeks as she stroked his hair gently, relieved that her husband was finally grieving for his father.

In the wee hours of the morning, Arnav stood at the pool side looking at his wife looking enchantingly beautiful as she slept on his bed. Her long black lustrous hair lay on the pillow,contrasting starkly with the milky white skin of her shoulders. The comforter dipped dangerously low on the swell of her breasts as she moved in her sleep and Arnav’s body hardened at the sensuous vision. He admonished himself for wanting her again when he knew she needed to rest. But he had no control over his body’s needs, forit was only Khushi who could give him the ultimate peace preceded by the uncontrollable rapture. His thoughts went back to the night of Akash’s bachelor party when he taken her to see the garden and told her that it was only place he came back to find peace.

‘This is the place I come to when I am restless or when I need to think. It gives me peace.’

 ‘But it is a little too far isn’t it?’

‘Maybe ….’ He paused. ‘I may not have to go too far to find peace.’

‘Uh?’ Khushi snapped her eyebrow unable to comprehend his enigmatic words. Then something else caught her eye. ‘Oh my God. This tree is glowing!’ She ran toward it.

Arnav followed her. ‘That banyan tree has been here like forever,’ he explained as Khushi stepped over its numerous roots. ‘There are focus lights fitted to the ground to give it that glowing effect.’

‘Where is the actual tree?’ she said her eyes wide with awe as she walked deeper. ‘I have never seen a banyan tree like this. How old is it?’

When she didn’t get a reply Khushi turned around to find herself all alone. Then the entire place plunged into pitch darkness.

 ‘Arnavji!’ she called out in fear, as a tremor went through her body. When she still didn’t get a response she began to hyperventilate. She froze in shock, until something whizzed past her head forcing her to make a run for it. When she crashed into something causing her to trip and fall, she began to struggle with all her might screaming hysterically. Suddenly a hand clamped on her lips silencing her screams while the other pinned her hand to the ground.

‘Khushi!’ Arnav yelled desperately.‘It’s me!’

‘Arnavji…’ Khushi opened her eyes, tears welling up in them instantly as she released her hand from his and snaked her hands around his neck, holding him to herself as she trembled violently. ‘Something …flew past …’ she mumbled into his neck.

 ‘F@#$!’ he swore. ‘Bats.

‘I am an idiot! You told me you were afraid of the dark and I left you all alone to go meddling with the lights. I am so sorry Khushi. I was trying to show you how the lights change to a different colour but I think I only managed to damage it.

‘It’s okay.’ He whispered in her ear as held her to him until her tremors subsided. Luckily their fall had been cushioned by a thick bed of dried leaves, saving them from being bruised badly.Slowly, he raised his torso away using his elbows to support himself.

Khushi dug her finger into his shoulder. ‘I am not going to leave you Khushi,’ he said. ‘I am just going to switch on the torch on my cell phone.’

As the dim light enveloped them, Arnav’s heart beat stopped for a moment when he looked at Khushi.Her saree was almost undone, having been caught in the roots during her run. She lay there, her small roundedbreasts heaving up and down in her short and snug red blouse, her rib bone jutting out above the flat planes of her quivering stomach.His eyes were draw to her delectable navel just above the waistband of her inskirt.

They both realized the exact moment when his molten caramel eyes changed from concern to desire and a different sort of tremor began deep inside her.

Slowly, not taking his eyes off her, he placed his own shaky hand on her creamy stomach and spanned it across her tiny waist.Khushi closed her eyes as an electric jolt went through her and her body arched sensuously.

Her abandoned response to his touch was his undoing. He bent his head and took her soft velvety lower lip between his own.As he began to drink from her lips, Khushi felt liquid heat pooling in the pit of her stomach andshe dug her fingernails into his shoulder.He nipped on her lips causing her to gasp and he quicklydarted his tongue into her mouth to explore its darkened caverns.

His hands moved up her ribs to cup her breasts, his thumb drawing circles around her nipples arousing them into hard buds and pinched one hardened peak between his fingers. Khushi grabbed the crisp hair at the back of his head, and raised her hips high as she felt another jolt sizzling right down to her core. With no warning whatsoever, Arnav zipped his hand down her stomach and slid his palm to the V of her legs and began to stroke right through her clothes.

As he lifted his mouth from hers, her lips twisted in a protest but when he closed his mouth over an erect nippleand sucked, she bit her lower lip and began topush against his hand, demanding an unknown satisfaction as bewildering sensations of pleasure bordering on pain assailed her.

Suddenly she felt Arnav’s weight shift as he pushed her legs apart with his thigh, to nestle himself between them.As she felt his hardness pressing into the softness of her core, even through the thin material of her in skirt, the tumult of emotions she has been experiencing till now had doubled and she began to undulate her hips to match the rhythm started by his. Her hands moved all over the muscled planes of his back and shoulders and Arnav urgently worked his way up her throat to capture her lips once again.

Pinning both her hands on the leafy bed, he dipped his tongue into her mouth, mimicking the action of his hips. As the frenzy increased Khushi felt herself teetering on the edge of precipice, a kaleidoscope of colours forming within her closed eyes as a multitude of mind-numbing sensations assailed her. And then all a sudden she fell, spiralling down into the deep abyss as she splintered into a million pieces.

I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU

Khushi’s confession of her love echoed in Arnav’s head as he once again held her while her tremor subsided.

Her words of love had brought him back to his senses. In spite of his best intentions he hadn’t been able to stay away from her in the past few months. He had kissed her on Diwali night without giving a thought about the consequences. Khushi was not like the girls he had dated before. She was beautiful, sweet, innocent, funny and a lot of other things.Today, she had put her complete trust in him and would give in to him with total abandonment.

That is exactly why he had stopped. He would court her in the way she deserved. He wanted her first time to be beautiful.

‘Khushi,’ he said softly, ‘I think we should get back. Akash and Payal are probably looking for us.’

When her eye brows creased with worry, he took her lips in a kiss that wiped away all doubts.

‘Do you trust me?’ he said huskily lifting his head.

 She nodded her head wordlessly.

But she had been the one to break his trust the very next day, thought Arnav as the first rays of sunlight touched his face. But why, hadn’t he been able to move  on? Why hadn’t he found joy or pleasure with anyone else? What was it that drew him to Khushi inevitably like a moth to a flame? Was he destined to be a masochist where she was concerned?

Then he heard her wince slightly as she turned in her sleep and remorse suffused him, for,unlike what he had thought five years ago, he had neither courted her nor made her first time beautiful, his raw need for her taking over him uncontrollably last night.

Valley of Flowers Chapter 14

KHUSHI & ARNAV stepped into the mantap together. They looked at each other for countless seconds.

Arnav stood in his jeans and T-shirt,a day old growth of stubble on his cheek, his overgrown hair falling over his forehead and his brown eyes sparkling in spite of the lines of fatigue under it. He never looked better, thought Khushi. Images of her dream flashed before her and she felt like bursting out into peals of laughter. Sometimes dreams really came true and how!

Seeing the twinkle in Khushi’s eyes, Arnav’s heart skipped a beat. She had lost a lot of weight, making her look like her thirteen year old self. But she looked breathtakingly beautiful, much more than when she had first worn this lehenga for the first time five years ago.

Then they heard someone calling out to them. It was the panditji asking them to take their seats. He asked Khushi to sit on Arnav’s right. He created a sacred fire with ghee and wooden sticks, in order to evoke Agni the fire god, which would serve as a witness to the rituals binding them together.

Amidst the blazing fire of the havankund and the chanting of the mantras, Arnav tied the mangalsutra around Khushi’s neck, his hands shaking a little as he fastened the hook. As he picked up a pinch of sindoor between his fingers, and placed it on her forehead, Khushi closed her eyes, the beat of her heart loud in her ears.

She opened her luminous teary eyes to see him looking at her with awe. As they continued to look into each other’s eyes, they heard Anjali whisper to them that it was time for their pheras around the fire. She tied their chunris together.

As the pheras began – the seven rounds around the fire, each symbolizing a vow, Khushi and Arnav pledged their commitment to each other for a lifetime.

‘You were right Nani,’ Anjali gushed as she showered the couple with flower petals during the phera.  ‘Whatever happened here today was nothing less than a divine intervention.’

‘Didn’t I tell you to have faith in Devi Maiyya?’ Naniji smiled with tears of joy in her eyes.

Shyam who was standing next to them couldn't believe that what was going on. Why Khushiji, why did you agree?

The newly married couple took blessings from all the elders present and wishes from the younger ones.

Akash had discreetly explained the situation to the guests and had requested everyone to stay back for the dinner.

Later that night, Arnav told Akash to take everyone go home as Ashu was tired and cranky. He told him that he would come in a little later with Khushi. Half an hour later, Arnav drove Khushi home in his own car while Khushi dozed in the backseat. When they reached the house, he opened the backdoor, gently raised her and picked her up in his arms. Khushi woke up from her slumber and protested but he silenced her pleas and carried her to the front door where Anjali, Akash, Payal and Nani were waiting for them. Manorama and her husband were conspicuous with their absence.

‘Arnav, how did you know the custom of carrying the bride over the threshold?’ Anjali teased her brother holding the pooja thaali in her hand.

‘Well, I don’t know about any custom but this bride is too exhausted.’ He said looking down at her wan face.

‘Put me down.’ She whispered into his ear.

‘No.’

Payal came forward and placed a pot of rice on the threshold. ‘Khushi is supposed to kick this pot of rice Arnavji.’

‘Can’t I just do that for her?’ he said, raising his eyebrows.

As the Raizada family began chuckling, Naniji said, ‘Chotte, there will be a lot of things you will be doing for her in the future. But this is one thing she has to do herself. Put her down for a minute.’

Arnav put Khushi down but Khushi held on to his shirt sleeve. She looked at the house and a chill went up her spine. Was it the spirit of Mrs Raizada she wondered. Then Arnav placed his hand on the small of her back, his warmth seeping into her giving her strength.

Anjali stepped forward a warm smile playing on her lips as she adorned their foreheads with tilak and performed the aarti. Then, Khushi kicked the pot of rice trepidatiously with her right leg. But just as she was going to take a step, Arnav swept her up in his arms again and strode in, carrying her straight up the stairs into his bedroom.

 He walked up to his bed and laid her on it to see Khushi drowsy with sleep. He went into the bathroom. When he stepped out, he saw Anjali come into the room, followed by Naniji. They had brought them some food.

‘I think Khushi hasn’t eaten since morning,’ Anjali said looking at Khushi worriedly. ‘Make sure she eats something before she sleeps.’

‘You too Chotte,’ Naniji stepped forward to touch his cheek. ‘We can talk in the morning.’ They left the room, closing the door behind them.

Arnav woke Khushi so she could eat her dinner. At first Khushi, refused to eat but Arnav browbeat her into acceding.

‘Good.’ Arnav said after she had eaten couple of rotis and some rasedar aloo.

‘What choice did I have?’ she shot back, ‘you always do whatever you want.’ She took a sip of the water he gave her.

‘Not always.’ He said laconically. ‘I had to wait. At least until you lost those braids.’

Khushi’s stomach did a flip when she realized he was talking about ten years ago. ‘Now you don’t have to anymore.’

‘F@#$!’ He swore getting up from the bed. ‘Is this what you think this is all about?’

She looked up at him, ‘Don’t tell me you married me because you wanted to save my honour.’

‘Is that so hard to believe?’

‘It must be too much of a sacrifice for a person who believes that marriage is highly overrated.’ Khushi said her eyes flashing angrily.

‘In spite of that, I came here didn’t I?’

Khushi looked at him her eyebrow twisted with suspicion. ‘Why did you?’

‘To stop you from marrying that moron.’

Khushi’s heart skipped a beat. ‘What?’

‘All this drama could have been avoided if the wedding was on schedule.’

‘But---’

‘I was supposed to go to an off-site meeting near Mount Rainer in Utah. At the airport, I decided to come to Delhi instead,’ he said raking his hair with his hand. ‘My phone was dead and I had left my charger at home. I couldn’t even inform my office. Then my flight got delayed in Europe due to staff strike. Then next morning they me put on a flight to Bangalore. From there I took the next available flight to Delhi. I came to the house in the evening and found out that the wedding was today.’

Khushi’s head was reeling with all the details. She was only interested in one thing. ‘You wanted to stop my wedding. Why?’

‘Why do you think?’ He looked at her with his simmering brown eyes. ‘In Agra I told you not to marry NK. But you wouldn’t listen. You got so upset you burnt your fingers. On the night of the engagement I couldn’t stand by and watch him put a ring on your finger. I might have killed him if I had stayed. That is why I left.

‘I figured that if marriage was the only way to have you in my life, then so be it. I made up my mind to come back and propose marriage.’

‘Oh God!’ Khushi held a hand to her head.

‘What’s your problem now?’ Arnav said looking at her.

‘My problem is you!’ Khushi shouted.

‘What the f@#$?’ His eyes widened in disbelief. ‘The man who claimed he loved you, doesn’t turn up at the wedding. Dammit! I can’t even remember the number of times you defended him – He is a good man…. Don’t hurt him…. He is a thorough gentleman….

‘I saw how your family was panicking when they heard NK was not coming. This marriage was obviously very important to them – if they somehow managed to convince you to say yes. And you say I am the problem!’

‘You didn’t need to save me!’ she shot out in anger. ‘I never wanted to get married in the first place! I only agreed because babuji asked me to---because they had given their word to Mamiji.

‘Two weeks ago I told NK everything.’

‘Come again?’

‘I told NK that you were the man in my past. I also told him about --- Agra. I told him I would understand if he wanted to back out of the wedding. But he refused. He said he believed me and wanted to go ahead with the wedding.’

‘So what happened today?’ Arnav said his tone laced with sarcasm. ‘Did he think it would be a greater punishment to leave you on the wedding day?’

‘So what?’ Khushi shot back angrily. ‘I probably deserved it.’

‘Shut up Khushi!’ Arnav grated. ‘I can’t believe you are still supporting that b@#$%^&!’

‘Why not? Someone called his mother and told her about me. Mothers are highly protective about their sons. They would never let their sons marry the wrong girl.’

Arnav didn’t seem to have heard what she was saying as he asked her suddenly. ‘What were you planning to do if NK had agreed to call off the wedding?’

Khushi was silent for several seconds before she answered, ‘I was going to come to you.’

He went very still.

She continued. ‘Do you think you are the only one who could change his mind about marriage?’

‘Why?’ His voice was low.

‘You said I owed you,’ she said reminding him of their argument in Agra. ‘I figured it was time to make amends. So you see Arnav, you could have had me without the obligation of marriage.’

He walked up to his study table and leaned on it, the muscles on his back bunched up as his entire body quivered with rage. He took a crystal clock in his hand and flung it the floor with all his might, splintering it to smithereens. He strode across the room and yanked open the door. Then he turned back.

‘You told me that I never told you that I loved you.’ He grated, his caramel eyes dark. ‘That was because I didn’t know at the time.’

When Khushi looked up in surprise, he said, ‘On Akash and Payal’s wedding day, after we --- fought I came back home really angry. Mom came up to my room, and asked me if there was something going on between us. She warned me about you-- telling me all you care about is money. I disagreed and we argued. Then she asked me why you mattered to me so much.

‘I told her that I loved you.’

He continued. ‘She hugged me and told me everything would be alright. But everything was not alright. She was the one who turned out to be right finally.’

Arnav stepped out of the room shutting the door with a resounding bang.

Khushi sat numbed by what Arnav had just told her. Her heart began to pound. He had loved her!

Arnav had told his mom? No wonder Sharada Raizada had made the negotiation tougher.

On the morning of Payal’s wedding she went about her work with a skip in her step. She felt euphoric as she hummed her favourite tune. Buaji had sent her to the wedding hall to make sure their guests were served lunch in the afternoon. When she had gone into the kitchen to talk to the cooks, Mrs Raizada had come up to her and asked to speak with her in private. Khushi’s heart had begun to beat with trepidation.

‘How dare you come near my son?’ Sharada Raizada had lashed as soon as they had entered one of the empty rooms and shut the door.

‘Excuse me?’ Khushi had been astounded at the directness of the question.

‘Don’t pretend like you don’t know what I asking you,’ she said her eyes shooting daggers. ‘My mother brought you into this house because she felt sorry for your plight. Is this how you repay her?’

‘What are you saying Auntyji?’

She continued. ‘Is this what your parents have taught you? To trap rich boys? The older sister traps one Raizada boy with her viles and the younger one follows in her footsteps to trap the other one.’

‘Please auntyji!’ Khushi’s eyes welled up with tears. ‘Payal loves Akash and he loves her. She did not trap him.’

‘It is only you then.’

‘No!’

‘What were you both doing at the farm house yesterday night?’

Khushi’s face turned crimson and she began to stutter.‘I …I’

‘Don’t even think of denying it,’ she said with derision. ‘Jayprakash, the caretaker called me this morning regarding a wallet that Akash left there at the party he had with his friends. He also told me two girls were there at the party. One in a lehenga and one in a red saree.’

‘I …. I am sorry auntyjji.’ Khushi apologized tears flowing down her cheeks.

‘My friend Sumi has been warning me since Diwali,’ she said. ‘It was I who ignored all the signs.And the way you danced with Arnav yesterday. It was disgusting.’

Arnav was the one who wanted to dance with her. Didn’t she see him come and practically drag to the stage? Of course a mother would think that it was all her fault, wouldn’t she?

‘I could come talk to your parents about it, but I am not sure they will take any action. Maybe this is what they want.’

‘No no no….’ Khushi was horrified. How had her world turned upside down in less than twelve hours? How could she let herself dream about him when she knew what Mrs Raizada thought of her? “My son would never go for a low-class girl like her….”After New Year she had fallen prey to her own desires and forgotten the reality where she and Arnav belonged in two different worlds. Her amma and babuji would be devastated if Mrs Raizada went up to them and complained.

‘Please don’t talk to them auntyji. I will keep away from Arnav. I promise.’

‘I am pretty sure my son will not be interested in a girl like you, nevertheless I will hold you on to your promise.’Sharada Raizada strode up to the door, opened it and left.

A little later, she had busied herself, serving lunch to the wedding guests along with Buaji who had come up to meet some of the relatives. Arnav had turned up to bring Payal’s wedding lehenga which she would be wearing later in the evening for the wedding. He had also brought some gifts for the Guptas sent over by Mamiji.He had tried to help Khushi in serving the guests but Khushi had completely ignored him and went about her work like he was not there.

Confused by her behaviour, he had walked away to receive a phone call. She had immediately rushed into one of the empty rooms and cried her heart out. Finally, no more tears left, she went into the bathroom and washed her face. She looked into the mirror and found her khol had been rubbed away, her eyes red with all the crying. She would have to go home to fix herself. Just as she was about to step out she heard familiar voices and stepped back in the room. She couldn’t let them see her like this.

‘What’s happening there Arnav?’ Lavanya seemed a little concerned. ‘Why is Buaji creating such a scene?’

‘She apparently did not like the jewellery mamiji sent for her,’ Arnav seemed very angry.

Khushi opened the window a little curious about what had happened.

‘Really?’ Lavanya said her eyebrows raised mockingly. ‘How cheap is that?’

‘Unbelievable.’ Arnav shook his head in the familiar way she knew.

‘Thank your lucky stars she is not your mother-in-law.’ Lavanya teased.

‘Never!’ he said emphatically.

‘Now that Akash has got himself hitched, you are next in line.’

‘Akash is a big fool to be getting married into a low class family like that,’ he said, ‘I am no fool.’

‘But Arnav ---’ Lavanya said a little desperately.

Arnav turned around his eyes simmering when he said. ‘I am just not interested in marriage. Period.’ He walked away, leaving Lavanya staring after him.

A little later, Khushi hurried out but she got called away by Buaji who had wanted her to meet someone.

‘Khushi,’ Arnav came up to her when he saw her talking to a kurta-clad young man who looked a few years older than Khushi. ‘Can I talk to you for a minute?’

‘Can’t you see I am talking to my friend?’ She replied, her tone nonchalant.

‘I need to talk to you now.’ His tone had dropped one level, which meant he was irritated.

‘This is Suraj,’ she said introducing the boy who greeted him with his hands joined together. ‘We used to be childhood friends in Lucknow. We have a lot of catching up to do as we haven’t seen each other in a long time. Could you come back later?’

Arnav walked away from her his whole body quaking with rage. A little later, she managed to disengage herself from Suraj and tried to make her escape from the back door. Just as she passed the stairs, two familiar hands grabbed her and pushed her into the alcove under the stairs.

‘What the hell was all that Khushi?’ he grated as he pushed her against the wall, his hands crushing the delicate flesh of her upper arms.

‘Let me go Arnav!’ she hissed.

‘Who the f@#% is this Suraj?’

‘That’s none of your business.’ She replied, the pain in heart feeling like a knife was stuck in it.

‘Don’t you think you gave me some rights yesterday night?’ The knife was being twisted.

‘No!’ She twisted in his grip and he bent lower even as he grabbed her waist and brought her into him.

‘Maybe this might help.’ He captured her lips in a bruising kiss, his tongue darting in to claim her mouth as his. When she tried to push his chest with her hands, he grabbed them both and pinned them against the wall. As his hardness pressed into her softness, liquid heat pooled in her core, spreading heat through her veins until it reached every nerve ending.When he lifted his mouth from her she stood quietly, her eyes closed, her breasts heaving up and down.

She opened her eyes and looked him straight in the eye, and with all the strength she could muster she said, ‘If you are done, can I go now?’

He let go off her hand suddenly looking at her like she had grown two horns. ‘I should have known not to engage with -- ’

‘A low class girl like me!’ She finished for him when he hesitated. ‘Is that what your mom taught you?’

‘Don’t you dare bring her up!’ He raged. ‘You don’t even know her.’ He walked away from her without a word.

Khushi stood there shivering violently and then she slid down the wall and sat on the floor, tears flowing down her eyes unchecked.

Later that evening, an hour before Akash and Payal’s wedding, Khushi once again stood in front Mrs Sharada Raizada, having been summoned by her urgently.

‘How much do you love dance, Khushi?’ she said, staring at her making her squirm uncomfortably.

‘A …a lot.’ She stuttered surprised at her question.

‘Who do you love more? Your dance or my son?’

Khushi was stunned by the question. She had though this topic was out of the way. She had acted according to her wishes. Why was she bringing this up again? ‘I….I  did what you asked me. I have kept away from him and I assure you ---’

‘You assurance is not good enough,’ she said, ‘You will need to go away from here.’

‘What?’

‘I am willing to sponsor your higher studies in dance.’

‘Thank you but ---’

‘I found this college for you where you will be able to finish your basic degree and then pursue your studies in dance as well.’ She said waving a booklet that looked like a college brochure.

When Khushi continued to stare at her in confusion, she said, ‘It is in Mumbai.’

‘No!’ Khushi said in reflex. ‘I mean no thank you auntyji.’

‘I am not asking you Khushi,’ she said her tone sounding dangerous.

‘I can’t leave my home and go away so far on my own.’

‘Maybe looking at this will help you make your decision.’ She handed Khushi printouts of something that looked like accounts.

When Khushi looked at her blankly she said, ‘These are proof of the fraud your babuji hasbeen doing in our company. He has pilfered money from the company account.’

‘No! My babuji is not like that.’

‘I know that Khushi,’ she said calmly. ‘But it is not easy for a father to get his daughter married into a rich household. Even if my sister-in-law agreed not to ask for dowry, she had asked him to conduct the marriage grandly. Do you know how many guests she invited for this wedding? Almost a thousand! She insisted on this wedding hall. Do you know how much a one day rental costs?’

‘No, no, no…’ Tears streamed down her cheeks. She knew her amma and babuji had been under tremendous stress in the last one month. She had heard muffled discussions late into the night in the past few days. She knew they were struggling to get the money to get all the arrangements done. Had her babuji succumbed and compromised his integrity?

‘If my brother finds this fraud, your father will be going to jail Khushi. Your sister’s wedding will stop right now.’

‘No please no.’

‘I am willing to save your babuji’s life for a price.’ She said calmly. ‘If you go away to Mumbai and never meet Arnav again.’

‘Okay,’ she said even as her heart was splintering into a million pieces.‘ But I don’t need your money.’

‘That is part of the bargain. You will have to take the money as well.’

Khushi understood. She wanted to prove to her son that it was all because of money.

‘As you wish.’

Payal and Akash’s wedding was completely ruined for her. When Payal’s friends had hidden Akash’s slippers and asked for some money in fun, Arnav had taken out a wad of Rs 10,000 grabbed her hand and placed the money on it, his brown eyes shooting daggers at her the whole time.

The next day Mrs Raizada came home with the check. She did not mince any words when she told the Guptas about their daughter’s indiscretions.

‘I am not a fool like my brother. He got his son married below his status.’ She told the Guptas.

‘My son will marry Lavanya Kashyap, a girl from a respectable family worthy of our status.’ She announced proudly. ‘In fact, he has gone on a date with her today.’ She rubbed it in.

Arnav was still angry with her after her behaviour yesterday. She had kept looking at her phone hoping it would ring and she could hear his voice just once. But she knew he was too proud and he would expect her to make the call and explain herself. But she couldn’t do that, could she?

‘And one more thing.’ Mrs Raizada said at the door. ‘You have to promise me you will never tell Arnav about any of this.’

‘I promise.’

Today she understood the reason why Sharada Raizada had upped the ante and resorted to blackmail. Her son had told her that he was in love with the low-class girl she despised. She knew that even if Khushi had stayed away from him, her hot headed son would have come after her. And there was only one way to stop that from happening. She had to make it look like Khushi had betrayed his trust. So after hearing his confession, she had told him that she fully supported his decision, becoming great in his eyes and played a game behind his back. She had probably given him that made up letter a little later to completely seal the deal.

The conversation she had with Anjali during Diwali had given her an insight into their mother’s psyche. The woman had been entrapped in a web of her own insecurities. Caught in that web, Mrs Raizada had unwittingly dragged her own children into it, without a care for their own happiness. Khushi had no more tears left in her eyes as she her eyes began to droop. The past was best buried. Mrs Raizada had kept her side of the bargain about her babuji. And she would keep hers.

Valley of Flowers Chapter 13

She wore a bright red and gold lehenga choli, maangteeka, jhumka and a bright gold necklace. As they took their pheras around the tree, her groom pulled at her braids.

 ‘Stop it Laad Governor!’ She turned around in anger.

‘The seventh phera is done silly.’ Her groom smirked, standing in his grey hooded sweat shirt, black cargos and sneakers, his long hair fluttering above his mesmerizing brown eyes. ‘Have you forgotten to count? You are thirteen years old.’

‘Why are you wearing these clothes on our wedding day?’ she said her luminous eyes sweeping him from head to toe.

‘The same reason we are taking our pheras around the match making tree KhushiKumari Gupta.’ Khushi looked about her to see they were standing under the match making tree in the midst of the Valley of Flowers, as three little girls stood clapping their hands with joy.

Khushi woke up, her heart clamouring wildly in her breast. No! She had no right to be dreaming about him anymore. Not after today. She had never imagined it would be like this. The dreams that had begun ten years ago when she was girl of thirteen were going to be shattered today.

The last one month had been the most tumultuous rollercoaster of emotions for her. After returning from Agra,Arnav had thrown himself into work,staying up nights working with his US office,sleeping only for about five hours, and then working the rest of the day for AR. He had extended his stay till the end of the week, so he could prepare the presentation which Lavanya had botched up.He had maintained a polite distancewith her since the trip but it was she who had been having a tough time reigning in her feelings.

 Her thoughts kept going back to the Agra trip when he had come and watched her dance performance and complimented her……I find your dancing unbearably beautiful. The rapturous moments they had spent together at the TajMahal, the dinner at the grand hotel, Oberoi Amarvilaas  albeit in the company of Mr Sheik, and then finally the night they spent in each other’s arms at the Gulistan tourist complex. When he had wrapped her up in his arms in the darkness, she had felt safer than ever. The memories of that one day would have to be enough to last a lifetime she thought sadly.

 But just when she had thought he was being docile, he had slid that damn ring on her left finger,without a care,flummoxing her completely. She had been in the seventh heaven, that night at dinner, admiring how beautiful the ring looked on her finger when Mamiji had announced her engagement date. When Naniji had asked her the reason for such a short notice, she told everyone that since Arnav was leaving two days later, she had kept the engagement early to accommodate his departure.

Though she had been expecting this ever since Akash had begun to recover, the colour had drained out of her face. Though Arnav’s face remained impassive, she knew he was angry from the tight clenching of his jaw and the barely controlled temper simmering in his eyes. He had left his dinner half way through, telling everyone he had a headache.

On the day of the engagement, he had come into the kitchen while she was frying jalebis and asked her to make him a cup of coffee.She had stopped her frying and switched off the stove.Grinding the coffee beans in the coffee grinder,she had emptied the contents into the coffee maker and then after adding the required amount of water, she had switched it on to brew.

‘I never asked you before,’ he began, ‘how you trapped NK into proposing to you.’ He said cruelly.

Tears welling up in her eyes, she had wrapped her fingers around the steel handle of the pan in which she was making jalebis, uncaring of the searing heat.

‘Khushi!’ he had yelled as she dropped the pan on the counter spilling the hot oil. He had grabbed her hand and put it under running water. ‘‘What the f@#$ do you think you were doing?’

‘I was thinking of an answer to your question,’ she had whispered back her almond eyes reflecting the pain in her heart.

His eyes had moistened and his lips had quivered. ‘Khushi, I ---’

Anjali had come in with an ointment and he had looked at her, his brown eyes reflecting his remorse even as his lips, straightened into a thin line, remained sealed. He had placed her hand on Anjali’s and left the kitchen silently. She hadn’t seen him since.

She had moved back into her parent’s house after that continuing her work at the office, bringing Akash up to speed regarding the current projects. She was the point of contact for Mr Sheik as he had made it clear he did not want to work with anyone else. Lavanya had taken offence and told her she would come back only after Arnav returned to AR.But that wasn’t going to happen, was it? With Akash back in office there would be no need for Arnav to return. Had he just left her without so much as a goodbye? The pain in her heart kept increasing by the second.

That evening Khushi sat at the dressing table in all her bridal finery, looking at her refection in the mirror. Her dark circles were visible in spite of the makeup she had applied to conceal them. She had lost some weight making it easier for her to fit into her bridal lehenga which happened to be five years old --- the wine and red lehenga which Arnav had bought for her during Payal’s wedding. She hadn’t been able to wear it at the time as there was no way she could have explained such an expensive gift from Arnav. She had kept it hidden all these years, looking at it lovingly whenever she thought of him.

She hadn’t been able to resist wearing it for the first and last time. She knew it was wrong. But she couldn’t help the way she felt and it wasn’t like she hadn’t tried to correct it. Hey Devi Maiyya, why?she thought silently.

Manorama walked into the dressing room where the Guptas were busy preparing the thaali for the baraat.

‘Stop everything,’ she said ominously, her voice booming in the small room. The rest of the Raizada family came into the room followed by Anjali.They looked as surprised as the Guptas.

‘What happened, Manoramaji?’ Garima said, a worried look on her face. ‘Has the baraat arrived early?’

‘You may take your daughter and leave as there is not going to be a wedding.’

Khushi stood up from her stool resignedly, as Garima’s pooja plate crashed to the floor with a clang.

‘Please Manoramji,’ Garima pleaded with her, ‘tell us what happened.’

‘Ask you daughter.’ Manorama said tersely.

‘Ma!’ Akash exclaimed, ‘stop talking in riddles and tell us.’

‘I just got a call from your maasiji. They haven’t left Australia. They are not coming.’

‘What do you mean, they are not coming?’ Naniji said.

‘She doesn’t want to get her son married to a slut!’

‘Manorama!Manoramaji!’Nani and Garima exclaimed in unison. Khushi sat down on her stool feeling faint.

Anjali came up to Manorama angrily. ‘Mamiji, do you have any idea what you are saying?’

‘I know exactly what I am saying. Ask her what happened in Agra,’ she said, her face scornful. ‘She told Payal she got delayed because of the program, and had to stay back because of fog. We assumed she had stayed back with the rest of the participants at a hotel arranged by the organizer of her program.’

‘So?’ Akash said

‘She was lying!’ Manorama exclaimed. ‘She was at The Oberoi Amarvilas—a five star luxury hotel.’

‘Khusi?’Garima walked up to her daughter.‘What is all this? Is it true?’

When Khushi remained silent Buaji put her hand on her head. ‘Hai re Nandakisore!’ She lamented loudly. ‘Speak up girl!’

‘Why did she lie about it?’Mamiji asked, her voice rising an octave.

Even as everyone’s eyes focussed on her, Khushi’sdhak-dhak began and she raised her head and looked toward the door. What was he doing here?

‘Because it is nobody’s goddamn business!’Arnav’s voice boomed from the door.

‘Arnav!’ Both Nani and Anjali exclaimed in surprise.

‘Arnav!’ Manorama said derisively. ‘I didn’t think you would be able to make it to the wedding. Looks like you can’t stay away from your --- girlfriend ha? Now that you are here, why don’t you tell everyone about your “date” with Khushi?’

As an awkward silence filled that room for a few seconds and Arnav’s eyes took in Khushi’s tear streaked face and he fisted his hands, his knuckles showing white.

‘Manorama!’ Naniji said finally, ‘Enough of all your innuendos. Tell us clearly….now!’

‘My sister got a call from someone yesterday who told her that Khushi was seen having dinner with Arnav at The Oberoi,’ she said, ‘and that they spent the night there. She called them ----’

‘Then she probably also knows that we were there for a dinner meeting with a client -- Mr Sheik and that we left right after dinner,’ Arnav said, his anger rising with every word.

‘The hotel confirmed you were there but they said they cannot divulge details if you had a room booked in your name or not.’ Mamiji said without flinching. ‘But the fact remains that you both didn’t come back home that night.’

‘As I said earlier, it is nobody’s business what we did or did not do. We are both adults perfectly capable of taking our own decisions. But for Khushi’s sake I will tell you what happened.

‘We did set out for Delhi but I lost my way in the fog and went toward Jaipur. When it became impossible to drive further we stayed back in a tourist complex in Fatehpur Sikhri. Next morning we drove back.Nothing of the sort you are accusing us of –happened.’

‘You can say anything you want now.’ Manorama said scathingly. ‘As there are no witnesses.’

‘This is unbelievable!’ Arnav was livid. ‘No witnesses? What does your sister have? A sex tape?’

Audible gasps went through the entire room. ‘There is no need for any tape to see what’s going on between the two of you. The way you carried her up the stairs at the temple, like you had some right over her and the way she falls all over herself to make sugarless sweets for you. The hours you spent together at the office working together. God knows what has been going on behind our backs. That is exactly why I advanced the wedding – before something untoward incident occurred.

Suddenly, Khushi felt a stinging pain as Buaji’s palm connected with her cheek. When Buaji raised her hand once again, Arnav reached Khushi in an instant and held the older woman’s hand in a firm gripinterposing himself between them.

‘THAT’S ENOUGH!’ Khushi had never heard such anger in Arnav’s voice. He had always used words to cut people to bits, rather than change the tenor. But today she heard pure menace. ‘Don’t you dare – not ever.’

‘How dare you?’ Buaji released her hand angrily. She walked up to her brother who sat in his wheel chair, his eyes sadly looking at the plight of his daughter. ‘I told you the day you brought this child into our house that you were making a mistake. Today she has really proved that she comes from bad blood.’

‘Buaji you can’t be serious!’ Arnav said trying to control his temper. ‘It doesn’t matter what blood a child has. It is the bring-up that matters.’

‘Don’t talk about things you know nothing of!’ Buaji spat, he eyes widening in anger. ‘There was nothing wrong in our bring up.’

She turned around and looked at Khushi, ‘You could have at least learnt from your sister Payal. She would never do anything like this.’

An awkward silence filled the room. Looked like Buaji had been kept out of the loop that Payal and Akash had been caught hugging in Akash’s room.

As Akash and Payal exchanged uncomfortable glances,Arnav thought back to the night of the Sangeet.

He sat on the hard cast iron chair on the front lawn at the farm house, a glass of vodka martini in his hand. He had no interest in the decadent spectacle that was going on inside. Akash’s friends had arranged for an exotic dancer as a part of the entertainment for his bachelor’s party. The skimpily clad girl,gyrating to the latest Bollywood number had absolutely no grace, making the entire dance look vulgar and cheap. He could imagine a certain doe eyed beauty doing the same raunchy number with grace and sensuality all rolled into one. Khushi could never look vulgar even if she tried her best, he thought remembering her grooves on New Year’s eve.

He hadn’t been able to get her out of his thoughts since he had seen her in the red saree this evening. Who was he kidding? He hadn’t been able to get her out of his thoughts since he had seen her on that Dandia night four months back. He had tried to keep away from her but he had failed. He had been constantly looking for ways to engage with her even if it meant yelling at her for her idiosyncrasies. But she had broken down all this defences with her sheer goodness. His feelings had just been building up until he had provoked into kissing her on Diwali. After that he had been lost. And then he hadn’t been able to resist kissing her again on New Year’s eve, driven by an insane jealousy. And the last one month, his feelings were getting stronger and stronger. She was sweet, innocent, sexy – a heady combination. But the reason why he had tried to keep away from her in the first place came back nagging.

Just after the Sangeet ceremony, his mom had come into his room and told him that by dancing with Khushi he had embarrassed her in front of her friend.Then she told him then she and her childhood friend Sumitra Kashyap were hoping that he and Lavanya would marry, shocking him beyond his wits. He had told his mother right away that he was not interested in the so called arranged marriage and walked away. But he knew he hadn’t seen the end of it.

He put the glass down on the table. He didn’t want to think negative tonight. He only wanted to think about the beautiful vision in red. It had taken super human strength not to kiss her at the end of the dance as she looked up at him with luminous almond eyes, her red lips tremulous. Once the lights had been shut off on the stage, he had dragged to the side of the stage, but Payal had come and whisked her away. He wished he could hold her in his arms just once more.

Then, he saw that enchanting vision walking toward him and he thought he was hallucinating. He shook his head a couple of times to make sure what he was seeing was not a manifestation of his subconscious mind. Then he saw Payal walking a few steps behind her.Khushi was still wearing her red saree he noticed with satisfaction. F@#$! There weren’t supposed to be here.

‘What the f@#$ are you two doing here?’ Arnav stood up from his chair livid.

‘What do you think?’ Khushi asked equally angry. ‘Lavanyaji told me that there were going to be girls at the bachelor’s party. How can jeejaji do this?’

‘Wasn’t that the whole point?’ Arnav muttered under his breath exasperatedly.

‘Jeeji wants to meet jeejaji,’ Khushi said making a move toward the front door.

‘Khushi!’ Arnav held her arm and dragged her back, ‘there are a bunch of extremely drunk guys inside. Do you want to go there and get pawed?’

‘Oh my God!’ cried Payal, ‘is that what Akashji is doing right now?’

F@#$! There was no way he could handle a crying woman right now. ‘No Payal. I was talking about Akash’s friends. He is just watching the dance.’

‘What? There really is a girl inside then?’ Payal lamented as Khushi held her shoulder comfortingly.

He raked his fingers through his hair as he looked at his watch. It was time to put an end to the party. ‘You both sit here at this table and I will go in and talk to Akash, alright?’

In ten minutes he managed to break up the party and asked the really drunk Akash to wash his face before meeting his outraged fiancée. Akash then requested him to give him some time alone with Payal so he could placate her.

He decided to take Khushi out for a drive in his car. When they had driven for five minutes, Khushi asked him if he could take her to see a house she had seen a year ago in the same area. That house happened to be inside a gated community whose security guard refused to allow them in unless they were visitors to one of the residents.

‘One year ago, this was still under construction,’ Khushi explained to Arnav, ‘my friend and I were able to easily go in and see the house without a hassle.’

Just then, a resident drove by and Arnav spoke to him, requesting him that Khushi wanted to see the houses. The old gentleman immediately obliged winking at Arnav “Ah reminds me of the time I was young and in love …...’

He had walked next to Khushi, the old man’s words reverberating in his mind. ‘Khushi,’ he said pushing away his thoughts, ‘what’s course have you taken in college?’ He couldn’t believe he didn’t even know what course she studied.

‘Arts.’

‘Does that ….boy study in your college?’ He asked her hesitatingly. At her questioning look he added, ‘the one you were dancing with on New Year’s eve.’

‘Oh Rahul?’ she said chuckling, ‘how can he study in my college? Mine is a women’s college.’

‘Right.’ He didn’t know why that gave him a slight satisfaction. Damn! He felt like a chauvinist. He had dated girls who were in relationships before. What was wrong with him?

Then she went on to tell him her dreams and aspirations, about how she wanted to do further studies in dance. She was hoping to get a scholarship in one of the good institutions. She told him that it was her mother’s dream. Then she fell silent.

He looked at her woebegone face and pulled her under the branches of a tree and took her in his arms. ‘It’s okay to cry, you know.’ He knew that her foster family didn’t give her the love she deserved. He knew what it felt like to be lonely.

‘I was with them in that accident Arnavji,’ Khushi tears soaked through his shirt. ‘We were coming back on my dad’s scooter after watching a movie. It began to rain and my dad lost control and hit the median. I escaped without a scratch while they both died. I lay all night in the pitch darkness crying for my amma, until someone found me in the morning.

She must have been so scared. Damn! He stroked her hair gently as he listened. ‘I still get nightmares of that night and cannot sleep in the dark.’

‘You must miss them so much.’

‘I do. A lot. But I feel better whenever I talk to them.’

‘What?’

‘Yes, whenever I feel like talking to them I go up to the terrace, and look for them among the stars. Then I talk to them.’

Damn! He wasn’t talking to parents who were alive and well. Even with his mother it was she who did the talking most of the time. And Khushi was talking to dead parents. She was unbelievable!

She moved away from him making him feel bereft. ‘Thanks Arnavji, I am okay now.’

As they continued to walk in silence, his thoughtseven more disturbed than before, Khushi clutched at his hand in excitement.

‘Arnavji! This is the house I was talking about.’

The two storied white house had white Georgian windows, white pillars and a white picket fence around it. The house had a lovely sloping roof and a beautiful garden. He didn’t see anything extra ordinary in the house as most of the houses in the US were built that way. But seeing Khushi’s exuberance, he realized that Khushi, like most girls dreamed of the perfect life with the perfect mate.

They drove back to the farm house to find the living room empty. Khushi went upstairs while he tried Akash’s phone. He realized a few seconds too late and rushed up the stairs to see Khushi standing shell shocked at the door of the bedroom. She had just seen Akash and Payal in bed with each other, oblivious of their spectators. Before Khushi could let out a squeak Arnav covered her mouth with his hand, closing the door with his free hand.

Just then Hariprakash came in and informed them that the panditji were calling the bride and bridegroom for the Jaymala and that many guests had already arrived.

‘Oh God!’ Garima lamented looking at Khushi. ‘What are we going to do? What are we going to tell everyone?’

‘You don’t have to tell anyone anything.’ Arnav’s voice rang out loud and clear. ‘A marriage will take place tonight.’

As Khushi looked at him in surprise he looked back at her, his brown eyes clear as he said, ‘Khushi and I will marry.’

Naniji and Anjali exchanged joyful glances.

‘This is preposterous!’ Manorama exclaimed. ‘You think you both can just behave without respect and we will stand by and watch?’

‘No mami, you don’t have to.’ Arnav was curt.

‘What do you have to say to this insolence saasuma?’ Manorama said looking her mother-in-law.

Naniji walked up to Khushi followed by Anjali. She touched Khushi’s cheek gently. ‘I would love it if Khushi bitiya becomes my bahu.’ She took Khushi in her arms.

Next, Anjali embraced Khushi and said, ‘I agree with Nani.’ She smiled at her happily.

‘I am not going to stand here and watch this farce,’ Manorama said walking up to the door followed bv her husband. ‘Come on Akash.’

‘I will stay Ma.’ Akash said defiantly.

‘Akash! NK is your brother!’

‘Then he should least have had the courtesy to call me or Khushi and clarify the matter. Not turning up at the wedding was just cowardly.’

Just as Manorama made a move to argue, her husband stopped her. ‘Come Manorama, let’s go. We will talk about this later.’ He led his wife away from the room.

Out of the blue, Shyam spoke up. ‘But Anjali, you can’t just replace one groom with another just like that.’

‘Shyam!’ Anjali couldn’t believe her husband was being a spoke in the wheel.

‘All I am saying is that we should ask Khushiji what she wants.’

‘There is nothing to ask. She has to marry.’ Buaji said imperiously.

‘NO.’ Khushi said loudly and clearly.

‘What do you mean no?’ Buaji thundered.

‘Khushi ---’ Arnav tried to talk to her when Garima stopped him raising her hand.

Whatever happened was for the best, thought Shyam. NK didn’t deserve her. But Arnav had landed up to spoil everything. Anjali had always told him that Arnav was not interested in marriage. Then why the hell was he saying he wanted to marry her? Luckily, Khushiji had said no to this farce. She knew what was best for her. Shyam tried to control his smirk as he looked at Arnav’s shocked face.

Garima continued. ‘I request everyone to leave us for a few minutes,’ she said looking everyone. ‘Khushi’s dad and I would like to talk to her for a few minutes. Jiji … you too.’ She added firmly.

Finally, Arnav, the last to leave the room,looked at Khushi, his caramel brown eyes imploringto her own tear filled ones, before Garima shut the door on him.