Chapter 9

                                        The Rendezvous!

     Khushi  was hesitatingly  stepping  towards Arnav's  room. Her pink duppatta  could have eventually transformed into shades of dark pink, orange, red, blood red, blue n finally deep blue by now, If it could feel the pain with all the twists and twirls it was enduring caused by those long yet delicate fingers of Khushi Kumari Gupta. 

'Hey Devi maiyya, Why has  he called me here alone when the wedding ceremony is going on in the garden? Ab unke haddse  jyada istemal kiye huye shatir dimag mein konsi jalebi jal rahi hogi ye to bas wohi jane..(Only he knows which poor  jilebi might be burning to coal in his overused brain)..'

  

    And as if to answer her turmoil, her bangles tinkled with soft sounds.

  

       

             Khushi suddenly remembered her and Payal's conversation .As an anticipation sprawled in her mind, a red blush crept over her rosy cheeks. Before she could imagine what would be his exact words if he was up to proposing her today, her brain and heart alarmed in unison that she had reached  her Arnavji's  room..Dhak.. Dhak..Dhak..Dhak! She clutched her choli to control her outrageously drumming heart. Before entering the Den, she thought of calling her Devi maiyaa  for her safety..

       

           

            

              Arnav was pacing in his room as if practicing for Marathon 2013..even those lifeless object unfortunately adoring his room might have felt utter dizziness witnessing this, every other day...His poor heart was putting all its best efforts to deliver blood to His highness' nervous limbs at that faster rate. To succeed in its purpose it had to cut short the supply of brain temporarily, as it was doing since a couple of days  and that was making Arnav more crazy.

      

      'What is wrong with Khushi? Can't she count the minutes in 5? Why is she taking so long to show up? I just need to check her out' 

  

            As he came near the door, he saw the subject of his interest standing there with her hands joined together and  eyes closed ,what looked like praying for something.

      "What the?"  His mouth efficiently passed on  his own set of pleasantries that usually greeted people while his eyes  took the opportunity  to look at her leisurely. He had been so lost in admiring the innocent beauty when she opened her eyes and widened them  into size of saucers  initially due to shock and later hesitance by seeing him in front of her, suddenly.To avoid further embarrassment because of all ogling business he was doing,  he asked her  not leaving his ASR attitude,

"What were  you praying for by standing here? Was it that I would come and hold the door for you? See I don't follow such stupid chivalry , got  it? Now come in and sit."

       

                    Khushi could have turned to window to check the direction of sunrise today if it were daytime. It was the first  in her memory  that Laad Governor had offered her a seat (..except sprawling in his arms every now n then..). She looked at him with curiosity. He was so damn nervous .She sensed it...By looking at his restlessness , she chose to sit on his king size bed awkwardly instead of  asking the reason for calling her there and irritating him more. As soon as she entered inside,Arnav jolted the door behind her and switched off the lights allowing only moonlight enter through open French windows. Her heart missed a beat and to overcome her palpitation she tried to act brave by teasing him.

     "Hey Devi maiyya! Arnavji , did your brain suffer  from child attack anytime soon? That's why you are behaving like a child. Are you trying to lock me inside a dark room and run? But  why? What did I do this time?"

  " Shut up Khushi!"  Her blabbering was making his already crashing confidence system fail. His every extreme attempt to remind himself that it was just another mere deal which he could easily handle was proving futile.

   

   He sat on the recliner and pressed remote button. The wall near the door turned into a projector screen,  projecting a beautiful picture of Khushi  Kumari Gupta.

     

    Khushi gaped at it for few seconds and then turned to Arnav uncertainly. 

 "Arnavji, what is all this? Are you now going to tell what is wrong with me, as you keep telling all the time with presentation?" she asked earnestly.

 "Could you just try and stop your ohh-I-am-so intelligent brain from thinking as well as your see-I-can-talk-nonstop mouth from talking some time and concentrate on important things I am going to present here?" Arnav galled.

    Khushi's lips turned into her favorite jalebi shape 'O' but she kept mum and nodded in agreement.

        

        Arnav got up from recliner buttoning his jacket which was unbuttoned while waiting for her and spoke with business like tone,

  "So Ms. Khushi  Kumari Gupta, here I am presenting you the most important deal of my life... I say so because I  have compromised with many terms of mine to make it more suitable for you. Shall I?"

       

          Khushi's  brain was knocked out with all the  proceedings. She decided not to react until he finishes whatever 'ohh-so-important-DEAL' he had on his mind. So again she nodded positively.

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

     

                   The presentation started with the brief introduction of the deal with first slide which said 'Proposal from Mr. Arnav Singh Riazada to Ms. Khushi  Kumari Gupta to start a mutual venture of life'. It proceeded with different slides showing terms and conditions of the deal, benefits and sort of adjustments  she needed to do if both of them decide to marry  along with Arnav's explanation on every point. Arnav elaborated  Khushi how it would be more beneficial for her to marry him as she is already knowing his family and she likes his home as well as his family. It will be upgrading her status as Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada. If she was thinking of working after marriage then it would be easy for her to carry out any plan she was having as Mrs. ASR. The most important issue was seeking the permission of both the families and that was as if already sorted out because of Payal and Akash's marriage. Even this will reduce all the search work her ill babuji needs to do for seeking a suitable groom for her. To strengthen his point, he also presented various articles published in newspapers and magazines saying  Arnav Singh Raizada was the most eligible bachelor in the country.With all these many benefits the only small adjustments she had to make were leaving all the efforts to bring him to different poojas and temples, her attempts to feed him any kind of sweets and her acts to harm his garden like taking mud out of his plants. The only loss she could suffer was to tolerate his temper sometimes as that was very rare case with him as he thought.

 " So, as per my exigently studied deal, It's the most beneficial  one for you. So with all this, you can postulate  now," He concluded the presentation releasing his long held breath finally.

   

    

        If anyone  would have wondered how a frozen glacier at Antarctica looks like then our Khushi Kumari Gupta was the bang on site to watch...

      

Chapter 8

  

                                
            'The Wedding Spell'

             
                  There could  not be any other befitting  venue for such a high-profile marriage than lavish garden of Raizada mansion. As the sun traveled to another half of the  globe, guests started arriving at RM in their best decorum  to match up with extravagantly  beautiful  premises.

          

               All the arrangements were of course paradigmatically made under strict guidance of Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada. The designer within Arnav had very well  played aesthetically  with palettes while decorating the place. Entire garden was emblazoned  in sober shades of lemonish  silky drapes. A platform had been  raised above  ground level as a provenance  for performing wedding rituals at such a place which could be in sight for every individual  at the ceremony.  The platform  was enveloped in a pandal  of white silky sheets. The entire arrangement  was graced with a lemon zest colored  canopy with its different patterns  of overlapping.  The varied colored water was emanating  from a delicately carved marble fountain at the centre in the sync with soft musical notes. Lily, Daisy, Carnation, Orchid,roses.. name a flower and you would find it adorning the place with all its glory in one corner or another pouring out  their heavenly scents. Aromas of the numerous delicacies that were tastefully picked from worldwide cuisines  were poking every stomach to force their masters to acquaint their every sense with  preparations of the day.

   

    

        As the evening proceeded towards remaining few minutes before the nuptials, THE man himself, dressed dapperly  in one of the impeccably designed suits of him, entered  the garden. As his appearance  adopted  gleaming glances of almost every pair of eyes present  immediately, it confirmed the entry of Arnav Singh Raizada. The man like him having sharp features ,was enough to stand  out as the most handsome personality  even when he dressed up cavalierly... then one's imagination only could take whole the liberty to raise its standard to god knows what level at describing the man when he purposely dresses  up for something. For that very affair, Arnav had ordered  one of his  favorite designers Adwait  from AR to tailor his suit. Adwait  had very well showcased his merit  while designing  this exclusive piece in Mohair. His skills were prominent  from appropriately  chosen  distinguished shade of the suit between vivid burgundy and a darker shade of maroon , precision cuts  which were bold across the shoulders and gentle  around the waist, formal appearance yet suitable three piece for the occasion of marriage(As he thought).  Arnav emphasized Single breasted , single buttoned jacket  which was dispensing  bib front of his milky white tuxedo shirt  through its broad V neck. Peaked  lapels of the jacket had flared out in sharp points demonstrating  his broad shoulders  and height. His tux was exquisitely cut and a perfect match for his sophisticate manners. Jetted pockets of the jacket being nearly invisible contributed to a very contour, polished aura of his. A classic expanded trouser was fitting  him snugly. A Fullback Vest detailed with one shade lighter piping around hem accentuated his chiseled chest. His sleek nape was embraced in a woven silky ascot tied in a ruche knot of same colored  as that of  the vest. It was perfectly fastened with a fork motif stickpin of white gemstones encased in a platinum frame. The usual pairs of shoes were replaced by patent leather shoes shined to a high gloss.  Today he was the man well set on a mission of killing someone  by his looks..or rather particular one.

               

                     The invitees  had not failed to take an advantage of this once in a lifetime invitation . They had brought their young  unmarried daughters/nieces/ relatives/neighbors along with them as their lassos to corner the most eligible bachelor of the country. The stylishly clothed, bathed in colors of cosmetics women clad was trying very hard to cash their bearer cheque . But their subject of interest seemed interested in another subject as his impatient pair of eyes was fixed at the entrance.  His mind was losing its remaining tranquility with every passing minute as there were no any signs of HIS Khushi showing up.  So he decided to go by himself to bring her. Before he could act on his decision , meandering winds signaled him of her arrival. He waited with bated breath. And then the entrance door ejaculated the most serene scene which instantly soothed every anxious nerve of him.

              

                      

                        There  she entered  like a stunning  majestic swan, dressed in a beige net lehenga choli. The lehenga was broidered with  jari  at the end of the cloak. The limited sequined bead work at irregular cut of the robe was making the whole attire enticing. The delicate semi transparent patch work of resham and jardosi over bodice was manifesting her lean curves.  Vibrant colored sequence at her bosoms was exhibiting her colorful  persona. She chose to tie her long silky locks into a loose bun. The light reflecting from her chandelier ear tops and rivets added the glow to milky white  complexion of  hers.

           Khushi  moved towards mandap accompanying  Payal though  her eyes were scouting something.  And as the hazel once met to caramel, her heart raced with triumph   'Dhak ..Dhak..Dhak!  His  debonair presence hooked her. The Love Cherubs had just started playing the background score of 'Rabba Vey' on violin ...when Buaji shook her to the core which motioned her rooted feet away from him.

                  As soon as Arnav lost the sight he was thrusting from so long, his lungs struggled  to fill with air  and he heavily sighed a breath  he had  been holding... He had waited...waited enough controlling his urge to free her from the crowd and keep  with himself..shielding her  from eye of this world..But now he felt his waiting was worth enough  to be fortunate to have glimpse of such heavenly beauty. How he was supposed to hold himself back till his decided time to meet her alone?

      

        

            

        Khushi  was very well aware of the two restless eyes on her . The one stare at them had warned her. They were something different today..as if..they are set on some mission. Her sixth sense poked her..The day is going to be different than any other day in her life. Before she could hover over her intuition , she was dragged  into the mandap.

        

     

             Anjali  dragged her Chote  to mandap who was standing middle in the garden lost in himself unknown to the surprising  glances thrown at him. As he stepped on the platform, naturally his eyes were drawn to the couple of the day...

       

    

            Akash and Payal  were sitting performing the rituals. Akash was wearing an aristocratical golden colored Rajput sherwani embroidered with brown and cream reshim. The coat having opening in front with button-fastenings, fitted close to the body. His  flaring kurta was ankle length long and stitched from pure Unakkupaav  fibers used to  weave 'Mundu' in Kerala specially ordered from  'Balaramapuram'. The chudidar was raiment  with authentic 'Kara' border as that of Kurta. Payal's attire was designed soberly and elegantly as she had opted for. Her A line lehenga could be considered as  one of the masterpieces in fashion industry as it was compiling  two of the famous traditional handicrafts...patch work of pink organdy hand woven lace and gold threaded jari border. The red dupatta with golden butta and lace was accomplishing her bridal look.

              

       

       A look at Payal caught Arnav's breath. Arnav had always considered  Payal as a calm, matured and suitable girl for his cousin but had never imagined her as a breathtaking beauty . What was it that had transformed her into such a magnificent pulchritude? He thought. Then he remembered his Di saying once that every girl looks most beautiful on her day of wedding.  It's  a bridal charisma. At that time a guilt nudged his mind. Though he was convinced himself to get married, had decided to cut these all meaningless, long, tiring ceremonies of marriage and go for a short  register marriage. But seeing at Payal's lambent face who was sitting beside Akash and excitingly executing  those ceremonies , he realized that he was grabbing the alone chance from Khushi of being  most beautiful bride in the world. How felicitous payal felt, when Akash was feeling  her maang.  And his glance was instantly thrown at Khushi at that exact moment ,where she stood behind Payal with moist eyes . She seemed to be lost in her own dreams while observing both Akash and Payal taking phere. She must be dreaming of her own wedding. And those dreams must be of similar grand wedding. Of course they will, after all it is every girl's dream to have a fairy-tale wedding with her prince charming. How unfair he was being with his Khushi by thinking about only his comfort and wishes, he agonized.  He cannot let be unfulfilled any of Khushi's wishes. What if he has to sit long there in an irritating cloth playacting those customs? He could take that pain just to bring that blissful grin on her adorable face. He could suffer with that very misery through which Akash was going now but he will bring Khushi's every dream into reality .Yes his marriage would be a most grand affair in Delhi, he decided.

                 His train of thoughts came to an end when  Khushi  went out of his vision talking to some of her relatives. He tried every position, different angles to get her distraction less peeks but someone or other felt adamant on hiding her from his diligent eyes. He cursed himself for not having a third eye like his Di's  'Shivji' to burn whoever meddling with his niche.

  

           'Damn  them! ...I must be persuading her with my deal now.'

       

         He snatched  a tissue paper and scribbled  something in his ohh-so-beautiful handwriting carved in similar patterns of flying paths of butterflies ...and thrust the note into hands of OP warning him to pass it on to Khushi only and no one else.  Satisfied with his action, he directly strode to his room careless to his surroundings.

            

             OP delivered the note to Khushi safely with sender's name. Khushi  opened the note curiously. She could have guessed sender's name perfectly from its so copyrighted un-readable handwriting without OP's confirmation. It took her almost 5 minutes to deduce those horizontal and verticals lines into meaningful letters. Once she did the skillful task, read the note saying,

                

                'Come to my room alone. Strictly within 5 minutes'

               

                  Khushi could not fathom her emotions.  A bit hesitant , a lot excited , quite shy and much overwhelmed Khushi glanced at the whole surrounding. Everyone was busy with their own tasks... gossiping, feasting on dinner or fishing about other's accessories...No one would find her missing for some time, she confirmed.  

      

    

           She clutched her swaying lehenga in both hands and stepped towards his room muttering , 'Laad Governor'...