Chapter 175
[MEMBERSONLY]
[NOCOPY]
(Thanx a million, Naughtymallu!)
FINDING KHUSHI
Part 44
Section 2
The ladies watched in awe as NK, Akash, Gaurav, & Scooby led Ganesh & Arnav down the stairs for the wedding.
Ganesh was in a dark blue sherwani and Arnav in a cream one, both of them simply but elegantly dressed in Anamika's creations.
As the ladies continued to look at them, speechless with wonder, Ganesh & Arnav looked at each other, bashful at the being the focus of attention of so many people.
NK was in red, Gaurav in pale green, & Akash in yellow. Mamaji was in brown, and all the men looked very handsome.
Anjali whispered, "Nani, just look at them!"
Nani nodded, tears of joy in her eyes. Her daughter's wish was finally coming true. Chotey would get the bride who had stolen his heart without his knowledge. The bride who would keep him on his toes. Who matched him in fury and fun. The bride who loved him as madly as he loved her. Nani heaved a sigh of relief. What more could she ask for from life?
Nani looked at Ganesh. He must have been alone all his life. Lonely. Living on the fringes of Anamika Bitiyaa's life. Now he could be Gaurav's father and her husband. Who was more lucky? Anamika Bitiyaa or Ganesh Bitwaa? It was hard to tell. Nani smiled fondly at a flushed Ganesh who was straightening his sherwani uncomfortably.
The ladies gathered around the men, paying them fulsome compliments.
"Arnav Bitwaa, you looks good enough to eat!" Mami declared. Arnav took a step back in horror. Mami was unpredictable at the best of times.
"Hai re Nandkisore! I almost didn't recognise you both!" Buaji exclaimed.
Arnav & Ganesh flushed.
"Now take Naniji's blessings." Buaji instructed the grooms.
Both Ganesh & Arnav bent to touch Nani's feet. She blessed them, and hugged and kissed them on their foreheads.
Anjali hugged her Chotey, and wished Ganesh a happy married life. He nodded awkwardly.
The ladies flitted around them, laughing at their nervousness.
The guests started pouring in. The ladies & Mamaji greeted them and welcomed them in. Akash, Gaurav, & NK ushered them to their seats.
The grooms stood waiting for their brides to appear.
Ganesh whispered in Arnav's ear, "This is like waiting outside the dentist's."
Arnav smiled slightly, glad that he had company. Did all grooms feel this way, as though it was difficult to breathe? He pulled at the neck of his cream sherwani, & adjusted his turban nervously. Where was Khushi?
Anjali & Payal went up to the room in which the brides were getting ready. Ganesh & Arnav looked hopefully in that direction.
"Don't worry, Nandkisore!" Buaji comforted them. "Your brides are still here. They haven't run away. They will come down now, Nandkisore!"
Ganesh & Arnav smiled, shy at being caught out.
Bujai took kajal from her eyes and applied it behind Arnav & Ganesh's ears. "Kissi ki buri nazar na lage!" she said.
"Thank you, Buaji." Arnav said softly, putting his arms around her round body & hugging her. Buaji's eyes widened in shock & pleasure.
Ganesh followed suit, hugging Buaji gently, careful not to crush her with his hefty arms. "Thank you." he whispered.
Buaji nodded, tears of joy in her eyes.
Then she said, "You can hug me tightly, Bitwaa. Hum kaanch se nahi bane! And the man hasn't been born who can crush my bones, Nandkisore!"
Arnav & Ganesh laughed, & Ganesh hugged Buaji freely.
As he freed her, he asked, "Aap theek he?"
Buaji gasped for air. "Hum... hum... theek he, Nandkisore!" She pulled Arnav & Ganesh's cheeks and left laughing.
The grooms watched the seats being filled by laughing, brightly-dressed guests, all chattering nineteen to the dozen, dressed to the nines, diamonds & other precious stones glinting around their necks & arms.
Ganesh looked hopefully towards the stairs. Wasn't it time for Anamika to come down? Was she nervous? Maybe he could go up...
Arnav could not take his eyes away from the stairs. If only Khushi would come!
"Chotey, Ganeshji, this is Mrs.Kripalani." Nani introduced a matronly lady to the grooms. Both grooms greeted her and accepted her congratulations, their eyes still on the stairs.
Nani hid her smile behind her hand.
The chatter suddenly came to an abrupt stop.
Anamika came down the steps, dressed in a gorgeous golden lehenga with elaborate stone work and a thin red line on the hem. Around her neck was the necklace that Nani had given her. Her earrings, her bangles, her armlets, her waistband, her maangtikka, her payal... all belonged to the same set. Nani felt her eyes fill up.
Payal led Anamika down the steps to stand by Ganeshji who was staring at his bride as though he had never seen her before.
Mami teased him, "Kaa hua, Ganesh Bitwaa. Ijj thijj not your bridewaa? Kono exchange offer to naahi hui na?"
Ganesh flushed.
All laughed. Anamika blushed. Gaurav hugged both of them fervently, thrilled to see his childhood dream come true.
Arnav looked impatiently at the stairs. Where was Khushi? He hadn't seen her all evening...
"Khabar karo, Nannav, khabar karo." NK advised, laughing away to glory.
"Kisko khabar karoon?" Arnav asked, frowning. "And what?"
"Sabar, NK bhai!" Akash corrected him. NK pulled his ear. "Sabar, sabar! Sorry, Nannav, mere Bhai!"
Arnav turned his head towards the stairs and stood electrified.
Khushi was wearing a gift by Anamika. The lehenga was rich red, with golden designs on it. The short choli too was red, the neck and the arms embellished with exquisite work. The dupatta draped over her head was bright red & gold, the colour of roses & marigold flowers.
She was wearing Nani's gift, the jewellery that Nanaji had given her years ago. And on her arms were his mother's bangles, the ones with the peacocks in enamel, the bangles that his mother had set aside for her bahu years ago...
He swallowed hard.
His Khushi. His life. His wife. Wearing his favourite colour. A silk lehenga with a short choli that let him glimpse the sweet curves of her creamy waist' His incendiary eyes ran up & down her full figure, lingering on interesting points with great pleasure.
Khushi looked up, feeling his hot eyes on her. And felt a shiver run down her tingling spine. She tripped slightly, to be caught firmly by Anjali.
"Kya hua, Khushiji?" Anjali asked.
How could she tell his Di that her Chotey was devouring her with his chocolate eyes? Khushi swallowed with great difficulty, her eyes still trapped by his.
"Are you feeling cold?" Anjali asked anxiously.
Khushi sighed inwardly. How could she tell Anjaliji that her skin was burning at the look in her brother's eyes, that it felt as though he had touched her?
"Are you alright?" Anjali asked.
Khushi smiled with great difficulty, her cheeks as rosy as her lehenga. "I am fine, Di."
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