Chapter 12

Khushi stands there amazed at what just happened. She was trying not to cry out loud. She had been waiting for this day forever, and now it happened. And the man who proposed to her was the man she truly loved to her core. She smiled as she cried silently, hoping that this wasn't a dream. Happy that the man standing in front of her was the man she had ever wanted to marry to only.

She smiles as he gets up and looks at her as if she actually nodded her head or not. So Khushi nods her again and he takes a deep breath and smiles at her.

"YES! YES! YES!" voices scream behind her. Khushi turns around and sees everybody standing there jumping up and down behind the glass window. She smiles and puts a hand on her mouth to control herself from crying and jump up and down. She looks at her parents, who are hugging each other and smiling at her. She turns around to look at her man, her fianc, her Arnav who smiles at her and steps forward. He takes something out of his pocket. She sees something golden flashing out his hand. He takes one of her hand each time and slips a golden Kangan into her hands.

Everybody congratulates them and ask when they want to get married. Arnav looks at her and says, "Now." Khushi blushes from shyness and looks away as Muskaan nudges her. Everybody laughs at Arnav response and start talking about the wedding. Arnav stares at Khushi as she stares back at him while smiling. He looks at her while pointing at her and giving the "okay" sign for telling her she looks beautiful and runs his hands through his hair fast so nobody saw. Khushi leers and shakes her head.

Somehow for Khushi, she thought this was a dream. If it weren't for the people sitting here, she would be shaking her head constantly to see if it was for real. The way they were sitting in the family room was like it was their roka and not her birthday. He was sitting on the opposite sofa from her and surrounded by Raj, Atul, Armaan, Rahul, and her dad who were telling him that he was successful, while she was surrounded by the female gathering. As they talk and smile with their family, they communicate with each other while admiring each other. Somehow, Khushi for the first time wanted to be alone with him. She wanted everybody to disappear and be just with him. She was confused, she wanted a traditional week long wedding and while she just wanted to get married fast and be with him forever.

After a few minutes, everybody gets up to cut the cake. As Khushi cuts the cake, they tell her to make a wish. She looks at Arnav who's standing across from her table and accidently blurts out, "It already came true." While everyday awes she sees Arnav smiling at her. Khushi blushes after realizing what she said and fumbles with feeding the cake to Armaan, which both of them always did on each other's birthday.

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While everybody dances in the basement, Khushi cleans up the small mess that the men made. As she bends down to pick up the plastic cup on the table, somebody else snatches it before her. She looks up and sees that it was Arnav. She smiles at him as he does back. He leans into her while looking ahead at their family and friends dancing, "I told you I'll ask your dad for your hand without a problem."

Khuhi leans forward, "Was that what you were talking with Papa yesterday when I came?" He nods while smiling at the smirking Muskaan.

"Does a wedding have to be a week long? I mean all these rituals...argh. Can't we just get married, like just do those Saat Phere and nothing else?" he asks her. Khushi shakes her head for his eagerness and for a no. He groans, "Khushi, I swear, you're going to have to pay me back for all this. Three weeks! Three weeks until we get married, insane. Don't you want to get married early? We love each other, not like we're getting arranged or something."

First week: Friday

It was Friday evening and today was their engagement party. Khushi stood outside of the banquet hall, waiting with her Muskaan, Anjali, and Avinash to be called in. Her parents and Massi were with her too. She was wearing an elegant white lehenga white-gold jewelry. She did her hair in an updo and had cream flowers placed on the side http://www.deemasfashion.com/wp-content/uploads/Elegent-white-Lehnga.jpg . She was the wearing the lehenga that Arnav sent her a picture of two days ago. She woke up early in the morning and drove to San Francisco to pick up the lehenga. When she got there, they told her the lehenga was reserved making her panic. But later, she found out it was Arnav who reserved it for her.

She was really nervous. Not because of her getting engaged and giving the pre-commitment to Arnav, but because she was going to be the center of the attention. But she hoped it would be calm now. Armaan twittered everyone and put his status on Facebook about Arnav proposing to her, and the very next day came calls from all over the place. Luckily, however, people congratulated her than taunting her. Maybe they realized now that she was going to be Mrs. Raizada soon meaning Arnav would listen to her, so they probably got scared. However, Khushi didn't think like that. She was still scared of them. Just as she was about turn to Muskaan wondering when they were going to walk, her dad told them it was time.

Khushi took a deep breath in and out three times before going in. Luckily, Raj, Armaan, Atul, and her other male cousins were in front of her carrying decorative ceremonial baskets, making her walk in the center. As she walked down the stairs, the song O Re Piya http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDaPBs8KMb8 (okay, I know, for every Khushi engagement I play this song...but I love it too much. When I play this song I see a guy sitting on the bench looking at his love whose walking in front of him...i just have to put it in.) Khushi fidgets with her hands as she sees people turning and trying to look at her. As her brothers and Atul jija separate on both sides causing her to be in the center of attention, she starts turning red and fidgets more with her hands.

Suddenly, she feels an intense gaze on her that's also calling her. She slowly raises her gaze and follows the direction from where the gaze was coming from. Her heart leaps and her body goes numb as she sees it's him. He was looking utterly handsome and delicate by wearing a black suit, black shirt, and champagne color tie. He was looking at only her as if nobody else existed. Khushi stares at him she walks forward to reach him, where he was sitting on a golden bench with Rahul behind it. She stares at him as he stares back, and slowly by slowly she starts feeling less nervous. Suddenly, everything around her becomes invisible except him. To Khushi, she only saw him. She lifts her mouth and slowly starting smiling as he smiles back at her. She slowly makes her way up the small stairs to where he sat. He gets up and reaches for her hand. She grabs his hand as he squeezes back. After a few seconds, they slowly turnaround to face their guest and seat just as the song comes to an end.

Khushi looks down and plays with her lehenga while her other hand is being held by Arnav. Arnav chuckles beside her, causing her to look up at him. She finds him looking ahead and smiling, "Stop being nervous, Khushi. You're not giving a speech. Just calm down. I'm here na?" Arnav whispers to her as he waves at somebody. Khushi nods her head and looks at their guest too. She tries to smile but when she sees people staring at her she looks down again. Arnav chuckles again, but doesn't say anything.

After a few minutes, Khushi's massi does the ceremony that is supposed to be done from the groom's side to Khushi. She places a red phulkari over Khushi's head and does the ceremonial traditions. After few minutes, her parents do the same to him but just putting a small tilak and feeding him unsweetened laddo. After a few seconds, Khushi looks at Arnav who's cussing silently to himself. Khushi leans in, "What's wrong? Why are you so angry all of a sudden?" Arnav looks at her with wide eyes and sighs.

"I gave your engagement ring to Rahul, but don't where he f***ing put it. I'm going to kill him right after we're done with this." Arnav says icily to her. Khushi looks at Rahul and tries to give him a supporting smile. Rahul smiles weakly back and stands behind Raj and Armaan checking all of his pockets. Khushi sees Arnav turn toward him and guesses he's probably glaring at him. However, Rahul glares back at him. Arnav and Rahul are the same. Khushi says to herself. Raj turns toward Arnav and shrugs his shoulders. Khushi leans toward Arnav just as Rahul jumps a little and grins at them. Arnav sighs heavily and cusses at Rahul to hurry up. While on the other side, Massi finishes the ceremonial traditions.

The hall turns dark and illuminant light hits on both of them. Khushi startles a little as Arnav just sits there as if knowing this was coming. Khushi's mom takes her hand and forwards it toward Arnav, who grabs the ring from Rahul and turns toward her. He takes her fingers and smoothly places the ring into her left finger. It was beautiful white gold ring with a floral cut in which a stone was placed in http://www.elizabetajewelry.com/assets/products/625/large/beverley-k-engagement-ring-167.jpg?1294802643 . Khushi looks up at him as he closes his eyes for a millisecond and smiles at her. Trying to send his love to her. Khushi smiles and looks back at her mom to get his white and gray ring that Armaan had picked out for him http://topweddingring.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Wedding-Ring-Male1.png . He extends left hand forward. She tries to put the ring on his finger, but it doesn't pass through. She giggles nervously as she tries, but she couldn't. She giggles and looks at Arnav who leans forward and helps her. With his force, the ring goes through. Khushi looks at him and asks him with her eyes if they should change the ring, he shakes his head in response.

They look up as everybody claps their hands. Arnav gets up and Khushi follows behind him. They stand on the stage smiling at each other while flashing goes around them. Arnav was waving and grinning at people, while Khushi just stared at him. The man whom she was now to be committed to. She smiled to herself, as she realizes one thing in her life cam true. Her dream came true. The dream where she was going to marry Arnav Singh Raizada, whom she fell deeply in love with. Whom she met four years ago. Whom she ran away to London. Whom she had to hear taunts for. Whom she was not going to give her soul to. She smiled, accepting him, thanking god for giving someone so beautiful inside and outside. Someone who could understand her without words, someone who cared for her, someone who made her dreams come true, and someone who truly loved her. She smiled at him her eyes became watery.

As Arnav turns toward he stills. He frowns and leans into her, "What's wrong? Are you okay? Does your arm hurt? Whhy-why are you crying?"

Khushi shakes her head and indicates everything okay. She leans into him, closing the gap and whispers, "I love you." Arnav smiles.

"Say that again, I can't hear you." He says, however, Khushi knows he's teasing her.

"I love you Arnav."

"I still can't hear you." He says as he pulls his ear,

Khushi sits on the table with her Buaji as people on the dance floor are dancing. Arnav was busy greeting his clients who came to the engagement party. She sits as people drop by and congratulate her. Even some of her former colleagues who taunted her come and congratulate with false smiles. She smiles back, not caring who they were. She was just happy. Happy that she is his now. As Khushi sits and admires her parents who are smiling and laughing at each other. She was happy for them too. She could tell that they weren't laughing and smiling because they were dancing, but because both of their children were and were going to be settled. Settled with beautiful partners and people who could nurture each other. She smiled back, not caring if anybody thought she was stupid. As she sits there and admires them, she feels a light tapping on her shoulder. She turns around and sees Payal standing there.

Khushi jumps from her suit and stands up to greet Payal; however she doesn't have the courage too. She smiles at her as Payal smiles back at her. Payal opens her mouth but no words come out too. Khushi smiles and leans into her, "Jiji, how about we go out?" she says to her. She always called Payal Jjii because Payal always took care of her when they were high school. Payal was Khushi's only friend. She was the only one who spoke out loud and said that Khushi was not what is not to be said. She stood up for her, but Khushi never had the heart to talk to Payal again. Payal always told her to stay away from Arnav. Always told her that Arnav will leave her or is playing around with her. Khushi fought with Payal, and still Payal stood up for her. However, Khushi never had the heart to talk to Payal again.

They walk out of the hotel and step in the back, where there was a lawn. They walk silently on the grass. Khushi fidgets with her hands, wondering what to say to her. She turns to Payal and they both say, "Sorry," at the same time. They laugh and keep on walking. Khushi gestures for Payal to go first. Payal smiles and takes a deep breath, "I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I shouldn't have talked about Arnav like that. You were right he's actually a nice person, I just judged him by his behavior with girls. I'm sorry."

Payal and Khushi stroll around the grass, filling in their year gaps. They talk about everything. As Khushi talks about her job, they hear someone coughing behind them. Khushi turns around and sees Arnav standing there. By the look on his face, she can tell he's mad and happy. He looks at Payal as if telling her to leave. Payal nods her head and smiles at Khushi, and walks back into the hotel.

Khushi smiles at her and turns to look at the small pond. She hears Arnav taking steps toward her; however she just stares at the pond. She feels him as he wraps his hands around her from the back and places his chin on her right shoulder. She turns her head slightly to the right; he leans up a little and kisses her cheek. She looks back at the pond and whispers to him, "Beautiful isn't it."

"Yes, that's what I keep telling everybody." He mutters back. Khushi looks at him and gives him a weird look. What is he talking about?

"there was nothing like this in London." She says to him as he hugs her tighter.

"That's what I told them too." He mutters again. She turns around and stares at him.

"Arnav, what are you talking about?" she asks him.

"You; of course. I was telling people that you're beautiful and that there is nothing like you in this world." He says as he gives her lopsided smile. Khushi smiles at him and hugs him. They turn and look at the pond as Khushi leans against his chest, hearing his heartbeat. "Khushi, I'm asking you again, can we have our wedding next week than the week after that. Khushi, it's too long." He groans as Khushi laughs, "Before, I thought it was hard to sleep when we weren't together and now I find it hard to sleep because you're not married to me yet. "

"Arnav, it's only two weeks." She says to him as she massages his left arm.

"Everything okay with Payal?" he asks her. Khushi nods her head and turns around to face him. "You look so beautiful today. Like a fairy and mostly you're Arnav Singh Raizada's pari." He says to her as he grabs her waist and pushes her toward him, closing the gap between them. Khushi smiles at him as she plays with his collar. He lifts her chin up and looks into her eyes. Khushi stands still and stares into those beautiful magnificent dark brown eyes that she always falls under, however, she doesn't notice Arnav leaning into her. She stares in his eyes as he bends down and closes his mouth on hers. They kiss softly as they stare at each other. Khushi, sees fireworks exploding around her only in her vision. She kisses his cold warm lips, and he pushes her more toward him and starts kissing her more passionately. They kiss each other forever, as if there was no tomorrow, as if they were going to be separated. As if this was the last they meet before God would spread them apart.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"For every minute your are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness"

"I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it."