Chapter 164

rulama

@rulama

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

Smita,😊

Here is the interpretation to Section 5 of Part 43.

Arnav listening to Khushi's take on the stag party was ready to jump down NK's throat. He wished to get his hands around NK's neck... He gritted his teeth thinking if only he could get his hands around NK's neck... Though his blood boiled and hands itched to get around NK, Arnav fumed helplessly staring at Khushi's happy face. He thought of the difficult path he had to tread to make Khushi reconcile to accept him! Only he knew how hard it had been to get Khushi to agree to his proposal. He had fought against all odds to lay claim to her heart, and now, at the eleventh hour, NK was all set to upset the apple cart... He was ready to tear a strip off NK. Anamika, taking one look at Arnav's pale face, with a silent signal hinted to leave them alone. Arnav hesitated to leave, his chest hurt feeling how hurt Khushi would be if she knew what exactly NK's party entailed. He knew the open face now radiating with joy would wither away.

Anamika, pulled Khushi close to her and and enveloped her with her arms. Khushi, hugging her back said, that she would make her eat a basketful of golgappes and she will not let her off without eating that much. Hugging Khushi, Anamika conveyed with her eyes to Arnav to leave Khushi in her care. When Arnav mumbled, that he had some work to take care off and needed to attend to it, Khushi laughed out and told him, that his lieutenant Aman must have missed him the whole day! Giving a feeble smile though he turned to go, kept looking back at Khushi till he went out.

Anamika taking Khushi by her hand, asked her to sit for a while with her. Locking the door, led Khushi to the bed. Khushi, glowing with happiness with her legs curled under her, propping herself on her elbows on a pillow resting on her lap, was all ears to hear what Anamika had to say. Anamika with a hint of a smile, asked her, whether she knew why men have bachelor party? Khushi with her smile intact told her, that it was due to the fact they are happy for the groom as he would be getting married the next day! Anamika corrected her saying that it was because they think that the groom was about to loose his freedom the next day and it is their way of consoling him. Khushi laughed out saying, how strange! Is wedding a prison for the groom to loose his freedom when he marries? She told Anamika, that she had thought only she was one heck of a queer person but, it looks like there were many who would beat her hollow with their craziness. Anamika gave her a smile that showed how genuinely she was fond of her. Khushi continued to ask her, why should they console the groom? Nobody is dragging him to the mandap hog tied. He is marrying because he wants to, isn't he, Anamikaji? Anamika just nodded and said that, it was merely a party given by the groom's friends for him. They have fun, crack jokes at groom's expense, making Khushi smile. Anamika enlightening her in a subtle way, dropping a hint saying, when men get together, they don't drink lassi, you know, Khushi. The beverage they prefer may beer or wine or whisky..., making Khushi ask, liquor? Anamika smiled and nodded. When she asked, your family and the Raizadas are all vegetarians is it not? When Khushi nodded and said, Yes, she asked, does ASR take non-veg? Khushi replied that, he does, but not in the house. Anamika told her softly, then may be he has it at the party. At Khushi's, oh, Anamika questioned, what is a party without music and dance? It made Khushi smile away happily and say that, she was thinking that the ladies could play, Balam and Lazy Lad and dance to them. Listening to Khushi's talk, Anamika dropped yet another hint that, the men too may have music and dance... NK might invite some of his friends and acquaintances, other men and women to the party... Khushi face suddenly lost its glow and turned ashen with anxiety. Anamika hugging her consoled saying, that ASR, Akash, Ganesh, Gaurav, and NK will be together. They won't get into any trouble. Khushi jumping from her bed telling, that she would soon be back, rushed out of the room. Anamika looked at the rushing Khushi with a soft smile playing on her lips.

Khushi barged inside his room and looked daggers at NK. Her eyes were spitting fire, making NK drop the T-shirt he was holding. He realized to his dismay, that somebody had taken pains to let Khushiji know the exact meaning of bachelor party. With his heart sinking, he noted that she had come ready to haul him over the coals. Nannav had just left, after he had jumped at his throat like a red flag to the bull for giving the bachelor party idea, while subjecting him to tongue lashing and he was still feeling the sting of Arnav's fury. She stood in front of NK with her arm crossed, waiting. NK swallowed hard wondering, would she slay him? She chastised him saying, that she never thought he would do this sort of thing to her! NK's wavering cry, Khushiji, was cut in with, and she had thought him to be her friend! Seeing the tears pooling in her eyes, NK called out, Khushiji, in a shaky voice and was ready to kick himself. She told him, that she would not talk to him again. How could he..? She could not continue overcome by distress. A tear made its way down her cheek. NK holding his throat, swore that, Khushiji, promise, he had not invited any girls. Nannav would bite his head off if he did that. He swore to Khushi that all he had arranged was some wine and food. NK was literally begging her for mercy! Khushi with a suspicious look asked him, was it for sure and there were no two ways about it? NK in desperation swore, that there were no girls but only shabab and kebab.., making Khushi correct, sharab, unconsciously. NK pulling his ears repeated yes, yes, only sharab and kebab. Khushi probed further stressing the question to ascertain for herself, whether he had not invited any girls. When he swore, no one, no girl and not even a single girl, Khushi let out a sigh of relief and exclaimed, that's why! She had been sad wondering why he had not invited her, being his friend. It was because she was a girl, wasn't it, when the party was exclusively for men! NK concurred with her, shaking his head slowly. She told him that Anamikaji had said, that men drink and eat non-veg at parties. And they invite their men and women friends for music and dance. She had been wondering as to why he had not invited her! Khushi with a happy smile donning her face, told him that if he was not inviting any lady, then it is OK for her not being invited, making him stare at her unblinkingly and wonder, had he been apologizing for the wrong crime all along? He was stupefied and scratched his head. Khushi told him, to have fun,and make his Nannav dance at the party. And she added that, before she forgot, to take hajmola with him. It will help his stomach after having the non-veg. Khushi Kumari Gupta, proudly holding her head high sashayed away, with a wide smile adorning her face.

This update is about anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment. In a word it is INDIGNATION.

It begins with Arnav's fury at NK after hearing from Khushi that he had arranged a surprise stag party. Khushi who was unaware of what a stag party entailed, was happy for Arnav to have one. He was all steamed up and ready to tell a thing or two for messing up with things when the boat was now going on steady waters after passing through the turbulence. It had taken him tremendous effort to reconcile Khushi to consider him and another set of Herculean efforts to get her to agree to their marriage. He had to use all his wits and fight against odds just to to be able to gain her trust and ensconce her with his love and be ensconced in her love. And now he was piqued with NK for his party, that had liquor and women if it was a traditional one, would not only bring in rift but also the relation might become irrepairable. That had him exasperated but unable to express right then in front of Khushi and burst her bubble of happiness.

"I'd like to go out in the front yard and shout something. "None of this is worth it!" That's what I'd like people to hear"

~ Raymond Carver, Elephant And Other Stories

Anamika realizing Arnav's dilemma, signaled him to leave the room. She too was piqued that Khushi had to come across such revelry unnecessarily. Knowing that Khushi needed to be briefed as to what a stag party entailed, she took it upon herself to enlighten her in a subtle way with correct information. When Khushi realized that it was a party given thinking that the groom would loose his freedom, she felt it was a strange train of thought as to think that marriage as a gaol and the the necessity to console the groom. She also realized that there were people who were weird with such thoughts crazier than she could ever think herself to be! What would they be consoling the groom of, not that it was as though he was taken to the mandap hog-tied, was her musing. Coming to know that the party was all about fun and jokes at the groom's expense and not lassi as beverage but it was a liquor flow, non-veg and revelry with men and women invited for that party along with music and dance, Khushi was miffed. Though Anamika tried to console her and comfort her saying ASR, Akash, Ganesh, Gaurav, and NK will be together and would not be getting into any trouble, Khushi strode out telling her that she would be back soon.

"When a match has equal partners, then I fear not"

~ Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound

Khushi barged into NK's room with resentment and slow burn with her eyes showing her displeasure. NK was taken aback by her demeanour and was all set to take flak from Khushi after Arnav. Nannav had just left him after venting his spleen having taken umbrage at organizing a stag party. Arnav had come down on him like a ton of bricks and he was yet to recover from it. Now Khushiji had come and had a bone to pick! She calmly stood in front of him with her arms crossed and waiting, making NK nervous as to what was to follow. Her complaint that as a friend she had not expected him to do such a gesture had him in remorse. Her tears made him feel like kick himself and swear that he had not invited any girls for the party. The party consisted of just some food and wine only. His assurance by reiterating that no girls were invited made him aware that she was miffed at not being invited to the party. And his assurance no girls were invited had set her mind at rest that Nanheji, her friend had not forgotten her. Once again NK felt like kicking himself for not realizing how Khushiji's mind worked and apologizing for wrong reasons! He was expecting a rap on his knuckles but was being just chastised for not being a good friend.

"Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark"

~ Rabindranath Tagore

Even after being tutored by Anamika, not once had it entered Khushi's mind that in such parties men would be seduced by girls present and her Arnavji could be one such target. Such was her faith in him. In her innocence, whatever Anamika implied she took it in a straight forward manner, as to having fun by her sense of fun. She huffed out her irritation at NK, her friend, only for not sparing a thought to invite her!

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky"

~ Rabindranath Tagore, Stray Birds

That is why this update is about anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment, by Arnav, Khushi and Nand Kisore. INDIGNATION was the predominant feeling!

That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it.