Chapter 173

The family woke up to a bright day. Not a single cloud appeared on the horizon to darken the wedding of Sanka Devi with Sanka Dev and Anamika with Ganesh.

Large groups of workers descended on the house to complete the lighting, to set up a temporary kitchen, to shift the furniture in the main hall and build a mandap fit for the gods there, decorate the hall with sweet-smelling chains of roses and rajnigandha... There was noise and bustle in the house, loud laughter, lots of teasing, shared looks and secret smiles between the couples, oohing & aawwing at the bridal lehengas that Anamika had brought for herself & Khushi, trying out of the boxes and boxes of jewellery, Mami strutting around scaring everyone with green eye shadow on one eyelid and blue on the other asking which suited her better, Mamaji folding his hands in prayer to be spared the torture of selecting his wife's look for the function, NK, Akash, Arnav, & Ganesh helping the workers, Payal & Anjali running around checking the last minute details, Buaji boasting of how slim she had been at the time of her marriage, Nani recollecting entertaining moments of her own wedding...

Anamika & Khushi smiled at each other, very, very glad to be where they were, surrounded by men & women who showered love on them with an open hand.

Nani handed over two jewellery boxes to the brides.

Khushi opened hers to see a diamond, ruby, & emerald set that took her breath away.

"It... it is so beautiful, Naniji." Khushi whispered, overcome by the elderly lady's love for her. She threw her arms around her and hugged her tight.

"It will look beautiful on you, Khussi Bitiyaa." Nani said smiling. "Now let go of me." she teased. "I am not your Arnavji who can bear the strength of your arms. My bones are too frail."

All laughed as Khushi went rosy, her cheeks flushed with pleasure and bashfulness at the mention of her groom.

"Dekho ab kaisen sharma rahi he!" Nani teased her further. "Yesterday she was clinging on to him during the haldi saying that she wanted to be with him day & night, and now when it is time to spend her life with him, she is blushing?"

All laughed at Khushi.

Anamika opened her gift. Inside the ornate box was an antique set of jewels in pearls, jade, diamonds, and rubies. Anamika gently touched the jewellery with a light hand, trying to blink her eyes to prevent her tears from showing.

"Do you like it, Anamika Bitiyaa?" Nani asked, slightly anxious that her old jewellery might not be to Anamika's taste.

"It is beautiful." Anamika managed to say. "But it looks like a heirloom..."

Khushi nodded. The same was true of her gift too.

"Haan." Nani smiled. "Your Nanaji was very fond of buying me jewellery. And I was very fond of wearing them. Both these gifts were given to me by him."

"Naniji..." Khushi & Anamika protested.

"You should keep it with you. Not give it away to us." Khushi said.

Anamika nodded. "Especially not to me. Such heirlooms should remain in your family."

Buaji hit her head with her hand. "Ee lo! They will remain in the family. What are you both but family, Nandkisore?"

Nani nodded. "Now you both belong to our family. It is your right to wear these and do your Nanaji proud!"

Khushi and Anamika looked at each other, touched beyond words.

"Woh pyaar se hamein diye rahe..." Nani said softly. "You wear it with love. He will be happy."

Both Khushi & Anamika hugged Nani till she laughed that she had no intention of joining her husband in the other world till she had witnessed both weddings.

All laughed.

"HP!" Arnav called.

"Ji Bhaiyya!" Poor HP came running, a stool in his hand.

"I need a glass of orange juice." ASR said.

"I will bring it immediately." HP offered.

"Err... no... You are busy..." ASR said.

HP stared at him. Why was Arnav Bhaiyya so considerate of him, all of a sudden?

"Ask Khushi to bring it." the lion purred like a pussy cat.

"Ji Bhaiyya!" HP hid his smile as he left the room.

HP looked around. Khushiji was surrounded by the ladies from both families. If he asked her to take juice to Arnav Bhaiyya in their hearing, they wouldn't let her. And Arnav Bhaiyya would shout at him. He sighed. It was so difficult to work at RM, with Arnav Bhaiyya's shouting, Anjali Didi's crying, Mamiji's catwalk and English, and Laxmi's love for him...

As he stood ruminating over his fate at the hands of one Arnav Singh Raizada when he took the juice to him, he felt a presence by his side.

"Bhat are yous doing here, HP? Looking at the ladiejj, Hello Hi Bye Bye!" Mami asked.

HP turned his head to look at her and felt a chill run through his spine. Mamiji had her hair in curlers and she looked like something out of a bhoot kahani.

"Come on, tells me! Bhat are yous doing?" Mami was in no mood to let go of him.

HP sighed. "Arnav Bhaiyya wants a glass of unsweetened orange juice."

"To isme mushkil kaa he?" Mami asked. "Kitchen maa se orange gayab hui kaa?"

HP said, "Bhaiyya wants Khushiji to give him the juice. Mamiji, how can I call her out from such a crowd? What excuse can I give? And if I don't call her..." he shuddered.

Mami nodded. "Hhmmm... Manorama Baand at yours serbice, HP! Humein hi kuch karega padi." She thought long & hard.

HP looked nervously towards Arnav Bhaiyya's room.

Mami clicked her fingers. "Mill gayi. I bill bring her out. You waits here."

HP nodded.

Mami catwalked into the room.

"Khushi bitiyya, your phace looks pale!" she exclaimed.

All looked at Khushi's face, which looked its normal self.

"I have kept my gifat for you in you roomwaa." Mami told Anamika. "Khussi, you come with me. I will give you your gifat. And show you how to lagao the bluuush and the shadow."

"Mamiji..." Khushi tried to protest.

"Come with me. When bade calljj, chote obey." Mami declared as she prepared to march off.

Buaji & Amma prodded Khushi, asking her to obey Payal's mother-in-law.

Khushi trailed after Mami.

"Operation success!" Mami declared to HP.

"Whose operation?" Khushi asked. "Who is in the hospital?"

Mami sighed. "You are not fit to be Manorama Baand's assistant. Tum to circuswaa me hi theek ho! You go with HP and tame your growling lion!" She walked away, swinging her hips.

Khushi stared at HP in confusion.

Soon Arnav heard the sound he had been waiting for, the sweet knock on his door. He rushed to open it.

Khushi stood before him, a tray in her hand. It had a mug of black coffee, a glass of orange juice, and a pitcher of lime tea.

As he stood staring at the tray, she walked in and deposited it on his laptop table.

"Khushi... yeh sab kyaa he?" he asked, puzzled.

"Everything you drink." Khushi smiled. "Otherwise Mamiji will have to help HPji to call me out of our bedroom again & again."

Arnav looked at her, a smile blooming on his lips. "I wanted to see you." he confessed softly.

"That is too bad." Khsuhi said, frowning.

"Too bad?" Arnav asked, a frown on his forehead.

"Hhmm..." Khushi nodded. "I thought I would get atleast a pappi for taking so much risk." she sighed. "Chalo, koi baat nahi..."

Khushi did not have to complete her lament.

Arnav dragged her into his arms, and dropped kisses all over her face. Khushi stood still, enjoying the burst of his passion, loving the feel of his hard lips on her soft face, thrilled beyond words at the force of his love...

"I won't give you cause for complaint tonight, Khushi." the devil whispered. "I promise to meet all your demands, like a good husband should."