Chapter 2

rulama

@rulama

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

MARRYING KHUSHI

(Thank you nishu_shorna for the lovely Banner)

Part 2

Arnav Singh Raizada threw away the photos with a flick of his hand, his lips curling in a sneer. The models selected for the major fashion show to be held at Sheesh Mahal next month were all too... too model-like... He wanted something extraordinary, something that would jump off the ramp and hit the audience between their collective brows...

The image of the laughing, dancing girl flashed through his mind as it had been doing continuously for the past three days since he had returned from Lucknow to Delhi... He shut his eyes to savour her picture, to hold it close to him like a secret, like his own private treasure...

Anjali picked up the discarded photos one by one.

"Chotey, kya hua?" her dulcet tone did little to lower his irritation.

He frowned. "The girls... they are boring. Ordinary."

Last night he had dreamed of the dancing girl. Again. She had sat by him as he had slept, softly running her fingers through his hair...

Anjali hesitated. Then finally, she asked, "Chotey, they are for the fashion show in Sheesh Mahal?"

"Yes."" His tone discouraged her from speaking her mind.

But she was Arnav Singh Raizada's sister.

"Chotey, I was thinking... Sheesh Mahal is an ancient building..."she began.

Arnav turned his head to look at her, his eyes expressionless.

"Instead of western apparel, why don't you display your Indian collection? It will suit the ambience, the decor..." Anjali said, excited at the prospect. "Just imagine, Chotey, models wearing elaborate lehengas and heavy sarees against the backdrop of the haveli..."

The image of the girl in the pink and violet lehenga, dancing without a care, enjoying the moment to the fullest, again filled his head and heart. Not that it had ever vanished from them, coming between his work and sleep, turning his days and nights colourful... He saw her walking down the ramp towards him... only towards him.

The red sari flowing behind her, her hair dancing in the wind, the heavy jewellery enhancing her fragile form... She was smiling, her eyes lustrous with anticipation, her breathing heavy... the very air was still, throbbing as his heart was, waiting to see what would transpire in that momentous moment of their meeting... She would be perfect. Perfect... for the show... for him...

"Yes." He acceded, to Anjali's shock. "Let's stage our wedding collection there." He wanted to see his girl dressed in a bridal lehenga designed by him, wanted to see her eyes lowered in shyness, wanted to touch the mehendi on her arms, kiss the design on her palms, hear the payal on her feet as she walked towards him, his bride...