PART 2. THE PRELUDE TO DHOOM DHADAKKA!

From the day of the sangeet, Arnav had only one wish and that was to talk to angel who changed his life with one glimpse of her face. Her beauty entranced him, her smile stole his breath and her innocence made a place in his heart unknown to him. Yes; unknown to him! Arnav did not know why he was stupefied the moment she was in front of him, but all he knew was that he had to see her, talk to her once atleast! Arnav did not know that he was falling for her; all he knew was that he wanted to know more about the angel who had entered his life and turned it upside down.

So the very next day after Sangeet, Arnav got up with only one wish; talk to his angel once! By the time he got dressed and ready for the day, the haldi function had started. He entered the hall and watched as his brother was put haldi. He was amused at how funny his brother was looking but refused to show any expression on his face. Afterall, he had an image to maintain. At first he searched the hall for a glimpse of Khushi but after a while it struck him that Khushi would be attending the bride's haldi! He sighed as he realized that the girl side haldi was going on in another room and hence, he won't be able to see Khushi right away! As he turned to walk back to his room disappointed, someone called for him. He turned around to see his Naaniji standing there with a smile on her face, "Arnav Bitwa! Humaara ek kaam kardijiye!" Arnav looked at her curiously and she handed him a bowl filled with haldi, "Aapanke yahaan riwaaz hai ki wahi haldi ladki ko lagegi jo ladke ko lagi hai! Toh kya aapan jaake ladki waalon ko yeh shubh haldi de aayenge?"

Arnav felt happiness burst in his chest as he realized that his Naaniji was unknowingly fulfilling his wish to see Khushi! He would have hugged his Naani and kissed her cheeks if it hadn't been for his image! He looked at his Naani sternly. Even though inside his heart firecrackers were bursting, outside he refrained from showing his happiness. He had to give a token protest to maintain his image, right? So Arnav folded his arms against his chest and looked away with stern expression on his face, "Aur kisi ko bhej dijiye Naani! Main nahi jaaunga!" Naaniji pouted, "Arnav bitwa! Ee shagun ka saamaan hai! Parivaar waale ke haath hi jaana chaahiye!" Arnav frowned and pointed at his sister who was prancing around her brother teasing him by applying haldi all over him, "Di ko bhejiye phir! Main hi kyun?" Naaniji huffed, "Theek hai! Hum uu ko hi bhej dete hain! Lekin yaad rakhiye Chote aapan humaar dil dukha rahe hain!"

Naaniji turned to walk away and Arnav's eyes widened. Oh no! Yeh kya hogaya Arnav! She was supposed to force him more, not walk away. He grabbed the bowl from Naani's hands and mumbled, "Aap bura kyun maan rahi hai Naani? Main jaata hoon na!" Naaniji smiled at him proudly and Arnav walked away with the bowl of haldi in his hands.

As Arnav entered the room the first person he saw was Khushi who was just coming towards the door, smiling at someone nearby, not noticing him. Arnav stood still as he stared at her. Dressed in a yellow salwar kameez to match with the haldi theme, she looked as beautiful as sunbeams lightening the room. His eyes widened as he realized that he was thinking like a poet. As she neared the place where he was standing, her eyes took notice of him and she stilled; her eyes, her smile, her expression froze as if in shock. She looked away from him, her eyes darting around rapidly as if she was nervous. Nervous? But why would she be nervous? Arnav dismissed the thought and spoke up, "Woh... Naani ne haldi bheja hai!"

Arnav's voice jerked her out of her thoughts violently and her wide eyes stared at him with fear. Yes! Arnav was sure now. It was fear and nervousness he saw not only in her expression but also in her body language. But why is she scared of me? Before he could think anymore, she grabbed the bowl from his hand and scrambled off in hurry. Definitely scared of me, but why? Arnav had no answer.

Arnav did not see Khushi again the whole afternoon but not for the want of trying. He had sneaked around, eavesdropped conversations, snooped the whole place but she was either not in the place itself or was actively hiding from him. And remembering the fear and nervousness in her eyes, Arnav had his bets on latter.

Finally in the evening, Arnav had a glimpse of Khushi again when he went with his Daadima, Di and rest of the family except the groom as Ladkewaale for the Paayal's mehendi ceremony. He was again mesmerized as Khushi danced on various hindi bollywood songs related to mehendi. But he also noticed her hesitation as she came near him to serve juices and snacks. He had to do something. This was getting ridiculous. How was he supposed to speak to her if she was kept on scrambling away the moment she saw him?

As the mehendi function ended and his family mingled amongst the crowd, Arnav sat beside Paayal who gave him a smile. Having known him from the time she dated Aakash, she knew that behind his hard exterior there was a soft hearted man. Of course, Khushi refuse to believe it when Paayal told her that! But Paayal could not fault her. Arnav had that commanding and intimidating presence that put everyone around him immediately on guard and scared for their life.

After a while, Arnav could not stop himself from talking to Paayal about Khushi.

"Yeh tumhaari behen thodi ajeeb hai!"

"Arnavji! Aapka matlab?"

"Matlab... Pata nahi kyun mujhe dekhke door bhaag jaati hai!"

"Woh... Arnavji! Anjaan logon se humaari Khushi bahut darti hai! Sab se choti haina toh hum sabne use bahut sahej kar paala!"

Arnav wanted to shout; he was not anjaan was he? He was her family through her sister. Ab main kya karun? Paayal smiled softly, "Par hum aapko ek ajeeb baat bataayein?" Arnav was not interested in idle gossip but he could not tell his sister-in-law to shut up, right?

"Khushi ki ek badi ajeeb aadat hai!"

Arnav's ears perked up at any information on Khushi.

"Woh na ghusse mein kisise bhi lad padti hai! Jis insaan se use darr lagta hai usi se bhi ladegi agar uss insaan ne use ghussa dilaaya toh! Ek baar use ghussa dilaao sab darr varr gaayab!"

Soon, Paayal's attention was diverted by her friends and Arnav was left with his own thoughts. And think he did! So Madam tum ghusse mein kisise bhi lad padti ho? Toh kya tum mujhse bhi ladogi? Ya darke bhaagogi? Kal pata karna padega ki kya yeh Angel jhagadti bhi hai?

Buddy me if you want PMs!

Thanks, take care and have fun,

Kalpana

P.S. As usual, I read your reviews daily, but they will be liked or liked and replied slowly!