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'...