CHAPTER-6
"Wake up Girls! Go and get ready. It's already 6" Payal's mom woke up all the girls as it was getting late for the haldi rasam which is going to start by 8 A.M.
All the girls felt very lazy to wake up because of the previous night, they shook Khushi to wake her up. Khushi also slowly sat on the bed, stretching her hands. Her tear stained eyes clearly showed that she cried whole night.
"Goood morninggg!" she said lazily and got from the bed and walked towards her bag to get her clothes.
"Good morning Chamkili. How are you now?" Lavanya asked.
"What happened to me in one night? I'm good" she answered with a smile covering all her sorrows.
They smiled looking into each other's faces and soon Payal's mom gave another warning regarding the time and all the three rushed to get ready.
"Dude, this Kurta is really cool. Feels like home. Totally Desi" NK suggested earning another praise from Akash's mom.
"Very Good, NK Beta! And Arnav Beta, you too change to this Kurta which I got for you. I have seen you only in this three piece suit. Take this and get ready, I want all my three sons to look like Prince today.
Arnav couldn't deny her, as she called him her son. He quickly went and changed to that white Kurta which she gave.
"Mom, why no one is there in the hall?" Akash asked his mom seeing it empty without any people.
"Go to the terrace, Akash. I'll join you in few minutes" she informed and the trio climbed to the terrace and saw all guests hustling here and there. And to their surprise, Payal was already there in their terrace and haldi is going to start there. Akash smiled looking at Payal, who was looking gorgeous in her sandalwood colored lehenga and the flower jewelry she wore added more elegance.
Arnav noticed Khushi standing next to Payal. She was wearing a sky blue colored saree, holding one end of the dupatta above Payal's head whilst Lavanya was holding the other end.
Seeing Lavanya, NK got excited and waved his hands and soon dropped seeing Akash's mom approaching them.
"That's the reason why arranged Haldi on the terrace. I know what you both exactly did on mehendi day. Can't be without seeing your girls huh?" saying that, she held both NK's and Arnav's ear.
Everyone sitting around them started to laugh looking at the boys and Akash looked here and there, not looking into his mother's eyes.
"Okay, let's start now" and the both the families started their rasam. The guests and relatives started applying to both bride and groom at their respective places. Both Payal and Akash looked each other every now and then, despite being teased by their cousins and friends.
"Once the haldi is applied, the bride and groom should not see each other and bride is forbidden to leave the house until the wedding. So you both see each other as much as you want." Payal's mom suggested and giggled looking at her daughter.
"Yes Poonam, I can't wait to see our children getting married. They are going to start a new life through this marriage and it makes their relationship still more beautiful. After the seven pheras, you will be officially announced as Man and Wife'." As Akash's mom was talking about the importance and significance of marriage, Khushi's face lost her color and she looked Arnav with a worried face.
*flashback*
"Arnav, it's time to call your Di and Jeeju and ask them to fix dates for our wedding"
"What is the need for wedding now, Khush?
"Arnav, I'm staying at your home from the last six months without getting married to you. At least someday we should get married, right?"
"Khush, I don't believe in the institution of marriage at all. It's not that only marriage unites people"
"But marriage is a sacred relationship Arnav."
"Damn the sacredness! Look at my mom and Dad, they got married but did they live together? They used to fight for every small issue and finally they got separated. We suffered a lot because of them. They both got another one in their life leaving me and Di alone. If Di hadn't worked at the little age, we would have been doomed. She brought the dead A.R Designs back to the limelight"
"Yours parents' case is different Arnav. They didn't love each other, that is why they got separated. Marriages make the relationship stronger. My parents got married and Di got married to Shyam Jeejaji."
"Khushi, I don't believe in marriage and I don't want to discuss on this matter anymore."
"But Arnav.."
"Please Khushi. Don't you trust me? We can live together, happily"
"I completely trust you Arnav, more than myself. That's why I came with you, the day you called me. But think about the marriage, once again Arnav"
Arnav's anger reached its peak again because of the word "marriage" and he was about to walk away when Khushi stopped him. "Okay Arnav. I won't talk about it hereafter. Don't be angry. I can't bear it" she said and hugged him tightly.
**end**
Arnav looked Khushi's sad face and understood the reason behind it. Soon after all the process in the haldi, Lavanya and Khushi assisted Payal to the holy haldi bath and boys returned back to their home.
Later in the evening
"Surpriseee" Khushi shouted taking two dresses in her hand.
"Though, I came in a hurry and didn't have any time to pack my own clothes. I got these two for you both." Khushi said showing them two beautiful lehengas'.
"This golden one is for you, Payal and La, this is for you. I designed them few days ago for you both. But when Payal called, asking me to come to the Shimla, I could only think of these two dresses than packing mine."
Both Lavanya and Payal were dumbfounded seeing Khushi standing with two beautiful creations in her both hands.
"These are so beautiful, I love them" Payal said admiring the heavy work on her lehenga.
"Yes Chamkili, this is gorgeous" and all the three friends hugged together.
"Why are you looking very dull, Payal? What happened?" Khushi asked seeing Payal's worried face.
"Nothing Khushi, Akash wants to meet me but how can I?"
"It's okay, you can meet him. Ask him to come to our terrace and we will wait there and no one will get to know" Khushi reassured her.
**
"When will Akash come, Payal?" Lavanya asked for the 15th time while waiting for him. Finally Akash came and jumped to this side and NK waved his hands to both Khushi and Lavanya.
"You both stand near the door and inform us, if anyone is coming around" Akash said looking at the girls.
"This is too rude, Akash. I too want to talk with NK, It's been very long. Because of your strict families we are not at all getting enough time"
"If so, go and meet him in the.." Before Akash could reply to Lavanya, he saw her jumping the wall and walking towards his house.
"La.." Khushi tried to stop her but she already reached there and to her surprise she saw Arnav walking towards her.
"Arnav, just stand near the doorway with Khushi. We will be back in five minutes" with that Akash dragged Payal to the other end leaving Khushi and Arnav alone.
They both stood next to each other for a long time avoiding their eyes to meet. Hearing some noise in the staircases, Khushi suddenly pulled Arnav down and they ducked down hiding behind the door. When Khushi was about to turn, Arnav placed his palm over Khushi's head as she was going to get hit by the window. They both realized their present situation and kept calm but thinking about their college days in mind where Khushi used to escape from hostel in the midnight to reach Arnav.
Lavanya cleared her throat and soon they got up from their places. Akash hugged Payal before leaving and waited for Arnav to come along with him. As they walked in opposite directions, they looked each other exactly while walking back and had a long eye-lock before returning to their rooms.
All the girls felt very lazy to wake up because of the previous night, they shook Khushi to wake her up. Khushi also slowly sat on the bed, stretching her hands. Her tear stained eyes clearly showed that she cried whole night.
"Goood morninggg!" she said lazily and got from the bed and walked towards her bag to get her clothes.
"Good morning Chamkili. How are you now?" Lavanya asked.
"What happened to me in one night? I'm good" she answered with a smile covering all her sorrows.
They smiled looking into each other's faces and soon Payal's mom gave another warning regarding the time and all the three rushed to get ready.
~~~~~~
"Mom, this kurta's sleeves.. I really hate it and I don't want any haldi to be applied!" Akash told his mom making an irritation face."Dude, this Kurta is really cool. Feels like home. Totally Desi" NK suggested earning another praise from Akash's mom.
"Very Good, NK Beta! And Arnav Beta, you too change to this Kurta which I got for you. I have seen you only in this three piece suit. Take this and get ready, I want all my three sons to look like Prince today.
Arnav couldn't deny her, as she called him her son. He quickly went and changed to that white Kurta which she gave.
"Mom, why no one is there in the hall?" Akash asked his mom seeing it empty without any people.
"Go to the terrace, Akash. I'll join you in few minutes" she informed and the trio climbed to the terrace and saw all guests hustling here and there. And to their surprise, Payal was already there in their terrace and haldi is going to start there. Akash smiled looking at Payal, who was looking gorgeous in her sandalwood colored lehenga and the flower jewelry she wore added more elegance.
Arnav noticed Khushi standing next to Payal. She was wearing a sky blue colored saree, holding one end of the dupatta above Payal's head whilst Lavanya was holding the other end.
Seeing Lavanya, NK got excited and waved his hands and soon dropped seeing Akash's mom approaching them.
"That's the reason why arranged Haldi on the terrace. I know what you both exactly did on mehendi day. Can't be without seeing your girls huh?" saying that, she held both NK's and Arnav's ear.
Everyone sitting around them started to laugh looking at the boys and Akash looked here and there, not looking into his mother's eyes.
"Okay, let's start now" and the both the families started their rasam. The guests and relatives started applying to both bride and groom at their respective places. Both Payal and Akash looked each other every now and then, despite being teased by their cousins and friends.
"Once the haldi is applied, the bride and groom should not see each other and bride is forbidden to leave the house until the wedding. So you both see each other as much as you want." Payal's mom suggested and giggled looking at her daughter.
"Yes Poonam, I can't wait to see our children getting married. They are going to start a new life through this marriage and it makes their relationship still more beautiful. After the seven pheras, you will be officially announced as Man and Wife'." As Akash's mom was talking about the importance and significance of marriage, Khushi's face lost her color and she looked Arnav with a worried face.
*flashback*
"Arnav, it's time to call your Di and Jeeju and ask them to fix dates for our wedding"
"What is the need for wedding now, Khush?
"Arnav, I'm staying at your home from the last six months without getting married to you. At least someday we should get married, right?"
"Khush, I don't believe in the institution of marriage at all. It's not that only marriage unites people"
"But marriage is a sacred relationship Arnav."
"Damn the sacredness! Look at my mom and Dad, they got married but did they live together? They used to fight for every small issue and finally they got separated. We suffered a lot because of them. They both got another one in their life leaving me and Di alone. If Di hadn't worked at the little age, we would have been doomed. She brought the dead A.R Designs back to the limelight"
"Yours parents' case is different Arnav. They didn't love each other, that is why they got separated. Marriages make the relationship stronger. My parents got married and Di got married to Shyam Jeejaji."
"Khushi, I don't believe in marriage and I don't want to discuss on this matter anymore."
"But Arnav.."
"Please Khushi. Don't you trust me? We can live together, happily"
"I completely trust you Arnav, more than myself. That's why I came with you, the day you called me. But think about the marriage, once again Arnav"
Arnav's anger reached its peak again because of the word "marriage" and he was about to walk away when Khushi stopped him. "Okay Arnav. I won't talk about it hereafter. Don't be angry. I can't bear it" she said and hugged him tightly.
**end**
Arnav looked Khushi's sad face and understood the reason behind it. Soon after all the process in the haldi, Lavanya and Khushi assisted Payal to the holy haldi bath and boys returned back to their home.
Later in the evening
"Surpriseee" Khushi shouted taking two dresses in her hand.
"Though, I came in a hurry and didn't have any time to pack my own clothes. I got these two for you both." Khushi said showing them two beautiful lehengas'.
"This golden one is for you, Payal and La, this is for you. I designed them few days ago for you both. But when Payal called, asking me to come to the Shimla, I could only think of these two dresses than packing mine."
Both Lavanya and Payal were dumbfounded seeing Khushi standing with two beautiful creations in her both hands.
"These are so beautiful, I love them" Payal said admiring the heavy work on her lehenga.
"Yes Chamkili, this is gorgeous" and all the three friends hugged together.
"Why are you looking very dull, Payal? What happened?" Khushi asked seeing Payal's worried face.
"Nothing Khushi, Akash wants to meet me but how can I?"
"It's okay, you can meet him. Ask him to come to our terrace and we will wait there and no one will get to know" Khushi reassured her.
**
"When will Akash come, Payal?" Lavanya asked for the 15th time while waiting for him. Finally Akash came and jumped to this side and NK waved his hands to both Khushi and Lavanya.
"You both stand near the door and inform us, if anyone is coming around" Akash said looking at the girls.
"This is too rude, Akash. I too want to talk with NK, It's been very long. Because of your strict families we are not at all getting enough time"
"If so, go and meet him in the.." Before Akash could reply to Lavanya, he saw her jumping the wall and walking towards his house.
"La.." Khushi tried to stop her but she already reached there and to her surprise she saw Arnav walking towards her.
"Arnav, just stand near the doorway with Khushi. We will be back in five minutes" with that Akash dragged Payal to the other end leaving Khushi and Arnav alone.
They both stood next to each other for a long time avoiding their eyes to meet. Hearing some noise in the staircases, Khushi suddenly pulled Arnav down and they ducked down hiding behind the door. When Khushi was about to turn, Arnav placed his palm over Khushi's head as she was going to get hit by the window. They both realized their present situation and kept calm but thinking about their college days in mind where Khushi used to escape from hostel in the midnight to reach Arnav.
Lavanya cleared her throat and soon they got up from their places. Akash hugged Payal before leaving and waited for Arnav to come along with him. As they walked in opposite directions, they looked each other exactly while walking back and had a long eye-lock before returning to their rooms.
No comments:
Post a Comment