Chapter 27: Wedding Bells
"This cannot be done Abhay beta and you know it" Shashi Gupta's voice boomed in the drawing room of Gupta House and Garima nodded in approval of what Shashi said.
"I don't understand why, Uncle? You and Papa are good friends. You helped Papa financially when he was in his early days of career making, you convinced Papa to allow me to move to Mumbai to make my own career when he wasn't ready for it. I mean you helped us at every point we had a difficulty, so now why can't you let me help you?" Abhay posed the question with an undertone of persuasion and hurt.
"We just can't, son and you have to understand that. I did not help you back then so I can accept your help today. Although I am very touched by your intentions, I cannot take your help" Shashi reasoned with him for the tenth time ever since the conversation had begun.
"I get it, Uncle. I get it now. You don't want my help because although you call me your son, you don't really consider me as your own" Abhay declared, to himself and everyone in the room.
"Arey nahi, Babua! This isn't what Shashi meant" Buaji quickly came to her brother's rescue but before anyone else could speak up, Abhay continued further.
"Uncle, I still remember the day Papa and you had come to see me off at the station when I was leaving for Mumbai. While Papa had told me to be careful in the big city and make wise decisions, you simply told me to do what my heart wanted me to do. You told me I can write to you anytime and you'll always be there to help me through. You told me I was equally important to you as Payal and Khushi. So, why the difference now?" Abhay asked, shifting his gaze from Shashi to everyone in the room and then back to Shashi Gupta.
This was surely going to work. It had to. There was no chance Abhay Singh was going to let this opportunity slip from his hands. Two days back, Arnav had contacted Abhay and asked him to meet him up in Delhi. Abhay had been quizzical and all his questions were answered by Arnav when he met him in the Raizada Mansion. Arnav had patiently explained Abhay how he thought the wedding expenses were going to be a financial crisis for the Gupta family, as the family doesn't have a source of steady income apart from the meagre pension Buaji receives. Arnav had further explained how this was going to stress Khushi and her family and if he knew them any better, they will try to mortgage some of the family property or jewellery which would only worsen the situation. Abhay, at that point, had realised the sole purpose of his visit to the city and had assured Arnav that he was going to take matters in his hand, both of them already being aware of the fact that the Gupta's will never accept a help from Arnav.
Arnav, in return of Abhay's favours to the family had offered a money-making deal for his company which Abhay had politely refused to accept. There was no chance he was going to accept the deal in return for helping the family he already loved as his own. Arnav, after a small debate had finally accepted Abhay's sentiment and the two of them had shaken hands before calling off the discourse. Thus, here was Abhay, trying to talk Shashi Gupta into allowing him to shoulder the financial responsibilities of the wedding and in order to make his Shashi Uncle agree to him, Abhay Singh was willing to put all the emotional tricks up his sleeve to use.
"There is still no difference, Abhay Beta, but how can we accept money from you for Khushi's wedding?" Garima's voice interrupted Abhay's line of thought and he braced himself for the final strike. There was no chance in hell he was going to let Shashi and Garima mortgage the house and plan the wedding. He had to help this family like the numerous times they had helped him back in Lucknow.
"Fine! Completely fine, Aunty. But if you and Uncle aren't going to allow me to put my share in making Khushi's wedding possible I won't be attending the wedding altogether. I mean what's the purpose of attending a wedding where the family considers you an outsider? I am sorry Uncle, Aunty, Buaji. I thought this family was equally mine" Abhay delivered the words with such emotion which could melt a statue's heart and he turned away to leave, leaving the other occupants of the room with a struggling conscience.
"Okay" came Shashi's resigned voice just as Abhay started walking towards the doorway.
"If we accepting your help is all you want, be it that way son and just for the future reference, we have always considered you as a member of our family. Never doubt that" Shashi continued, finishing his words on a strict note and Abhay flashed a hundred watt smile in return.
"Thank you, Uncle. Now that we have addressed the bigger issue, we should get started with the preparations" Abhay replied, in a softer and excited manner.
"Garima ji, please get us the list we discussed previous night. I would re-discuss it with Abhay Bitwa and you should call the caterer to place the order for all the upcoming occasions"
"Ji" Garima replied and hurried out of the room with Buaji closely following her.
"Garima, I was thinking if Khushi could wear my wedding lehanga? Don't you think it would suit her?" Buaji mused out loud and Garima huffed out a sigh.
"Nahi jiji, Khushi already made clear she won't wear that. We will buy her a new one" Garima replied and Buaji made a disconcerting face.
"Where is Sankadevi by the way?" inquired Buaji and Garima looked around to see they didn't have an audience.
"She went out with Arnav Bitwa"
"What? With Arnav Babua? Today? This isn't good Garima. How could you allow it? This is so out of tradition. They aren't supposed to.."
"That is after the Haldi ceremony, jiji. They cannot see each other after the Haldi, and it's not like I wanted Khushi to go but Damadji had sent for a car and we can't refuse now, can we? But don't you worry Jiji, I have asked Khushi to be back in a few hours" Garima answered and grabbing the list from under the pillow, she dashed out of the room, saving herself from the rants Buaji continued in the background, reciting how this was not a good thing.
~~***~~
"Wow" Khushi praised out loud as she and Arnav stepped down the SUV and stood facing a well-maintained cottage on the outskirts of the city.
"This belongs to.."
"Soon to be Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada" Arnav finished her statement in a careful tone, and waited for her to bolt. He knew she never appreciated material goods as gifts but he had to gift the cottage to her.
"You are not serious, Arnavji" she told him though she knew he was as serious as he could get in the moment.
"You know I don't...I can't have it, Arnavji. I just don't want it" she started talking too fast, shaking her head.
"I want you to have it, Khushi" He replied in return, holding her gaze.
"Arnavji.." She uttered the word, her mind still in conflict.
"Let's get in first. You can say yes later" He told her with and she rolled her eyes at his words but followed him nonetheless.
Khushi stepped inside the cottage through the main door and found herself standing in a dining cum living room. On the left side of the room was a moderate sized dining table with six chairs around it and the right portion of the room had modern sitting furniture.
She could see a door at the end of the room and just next to the door was a staircase leading to the first storey.
In short, the cottage was modest yet elegant. Just the kind of place one would prefer to spend the weekend at.
The house was surprisingly warm and welcoming provided it looked unlived in.
After scanning the limited space the cottage had to offer, what caught Khushi's eye was a huge portrait hanging down the wall on the side of the staircase.
The portrait was of a lady in her late forties who had an amiable face and a gentle look in her eyes. The lady was dressed in a deep red coloured sari with heavy matching jewellery yet there wasn't an iota of pride visible on her face.
"Arnavji.." Khushi whispered as she found her eyes moving back to the most prominent feature of the portrait.
The pair of caramel brown eyes.
That pair of eyes were exactly the same pair of eyes she had fallen in love with.
"Yeah, she's my mother. I have her eyes" Arnav answered the question which was still framing in her mind.
She turned back to look at her soon to be husband and her heart skipped a beat.
Still leaning against the doorframe, he had his hands pocketed in his trousers and there was conscious look in his eyes as if he had just revealed his innermost secret to her.
He looked almost boyish, insecure and self-conscious.
"She's beautiful" she couldn't help but mutter the words to him with a smile.
"She was" He replied and tried to smile back at her.
"This cottage was hers. She'd inherited it from Nani. Technically, this should have gone to Di but Di could never bring herself to come here and visit the place. She has more memories of this place with Ma, you see. So, it was more difficult for her to come here and look after the place. She gifted this to me on my 18th b'day. And now I want you to have it."
Khushi felt guilt pooling in the pit of her stomach as she recalled how she right away refused to accept the cottage.
"Arnavji" she called out his name as an apology and bridging the distance between them, placed her hands around his waist, hugging him.
"Thank you, Arnavji. I can see how much this place means to you and it's very beautiful, like your mother but how can I have it? This is yours. It's your connection to your mother" She whispered the words to him while her head rested against his chest.
"Khushi, my mother always wanted me to grow into the type of person you have made me now. So, apart from my mother, if there's anyone I love most in the world, it's you. I want you to own this cottage, as you own me" He told her, pulling her closer to him and placing a palm against her cheek.
She leaned into his touch and looked into his eyes. This was one of the handful numbers of time when she could read his heart in his eyes without even making an effort. He had let his guards down, even the ones she didn't know existed.
He was letting her into his past, into the part of his life he never liked to talk about.
This was a joyous moment for Khushi.
"If you want me to own it, I will" she replied to him.
"I love you" came his reply and like every time, her heartbeats quickened just by hearing those words from him.
"I love you too, Arnavji" she replied and feeling daring enough, she leaned and planted a soft, lingering kiss on his left cheek.
She felt him smile, and gasped when in a single flash he pulled her further in the room and before she could realise what was on his mind, her back was already pressed up against a wall.
"What are you doing, Arnavji?" she asked him in an admonishing tone.
"Something tells me you already know that, Khushi" He replied suggestively, the famous smirk back in its place while she was left blushing hard.
"What do you want, Arnavji?" she asked him, shying away and trying not to look in his bottomless eyes.
"That's a pretty delicious question, Khushi" He replied, leaning closer to her, their chests almost brushing against each other now.
Khushi could feel her heart picking up speed and her mind starting to feel fuzzy.
"Kiss me" her eyes were semi-closed when she heard his husky voice next to her ears.
"W..what?" she stuttered, her eyes wide open now and staring into his darkened gaze.
"You heard me" He replied with an undertone of desire and passion in his voice, his hands now resting on her waist and caressing it.
Her gaze instinctively fell upon his lips as she heard his words and she felt her own lips drying up.
"I am waiting, Khushi" He added, as his own gaze darting towards her lips and just then she brought out her tongue and licked her lips in nervousness.
He almost groaned at the sight and pressed his lower body further against her.
"Arnavji.." She chanted his name like a prayer.
"Kiss me now, Khushi" He demanded of her and she knew she cannot deprive him of what she too wanted badly in the moment.
Sucking in a large volume of air, she fixed her gaze upon his and leaned in slowly.
Her eyes started drooping and her vision dimmed as she placed her lips upon his, not moving them, just keeping them on his lips and enjoying the feel.
She heard him murmur in pleasure and she deepened the kiss by applying more pressure on his lips, working her lips upon them.
"I love you, Arnavji" She whispered against his mouth and in return Arnav fervently kissed her back, trying to communicate his feelings to her through the kiss.
The kiss was getting passionate and Khushi could feel the warmth spreading through her body. Her fingers were in his hair, playing with the soft strands and his hands were measuring each accessible part of her body when Khushi's cell phone started to ring.
"It's Amma" Khushi pulled back from the kiss and checked her phone.
"Perfect timing" Arnav muttered in discontentment, running a hand through his hair which made Khushi blush and smile at the same time.
"Yes Amma, We're heading back." She answered the phone and it was their cue to get moving.
~~***~~
Arnav had dropped Khushi at her place and was on his way back to his office when Abhay's message beeped into his cell phone.
"Task accomplished!"
"Seems like you aren't totally out of use. Good work" Arnav texted back with a smirk.
~~***~~
The next day was the Mehandi ceremony which was even a happier occasion for Khushi when she learned how Abhay was helping her parents with the marriage expenses. She couldn't have asked for a better helping hand at the occasion, and since this was Abhay helping the family, she could pay him back anytime.
With this agenda of repaying Abhay's money, Khushi was once again back to being happier like never before.
This phase of her life was everything she had dreamt about. To fall in love with her prince charming who would sweep her off her feet, have a grand wedding where her family will bless her with smiling faces and now she had the added bonus of being able to live with her Jeeji too.
With all the wishes granted and happiness surging in her life, she could only pray it to last longer.
As the day dragged on and new one arrived, Khushi was radiating exuberance.
She had had a long chat with Arnav the previous night where she had explained each wedding function to him in detail. She had been surprised how little Arnav knew of them provided he had been actively participating in Akash's wedding. But then hadn't he been too busy making her life more acidic back then? She and Arnav had spent the night recounting those memories which were some of the best memories she held. He making her heartbeats erratic, their poolside moments, their little rows, even the big ones. They also talked about the moments when their love had just begun, the times when none of them were ready to acknowledge the feelings, the times when he was desperately trying to hide his feelings for her by being with Lavanya and she, by telling herself that he was only meant for Lavanyaji.
The conversation had left the two of them wanting to be with each other right at that moment but knowing well it wasn't possible Khushi had said good night to him and disconnected.
Ever since then, her mood had been cranky and all she wanted was to get married as soon as possible. Spending another day without her Arnavji was proving to be taxing for her.
This morning it was the Mehandi ceremony and Khushi's excitement cum eagerness was toppling over the brim. While Abhay was finding it amusing, Buaji and Garima thought it was disconcerting. Payal, who had decided to be on the bride's side for the rest of the ceremonies (after a good argument with Akash), was having a hard time asking Khushi to dial down her enthusiasm.
The Mehandi ceremony went amidst loads of laughter and merry-making and so did the Haldi ceremony.
Since the ceremonies were held at the respective houses, Arnav and Khushi had to find solace in their late night conversations.
But as they woke up the next day, the gravity of the day dawned upon them.
It was their wedding day.
_____________
Since I am not good with describing wedding rituals, I evaded them and here we are. To the wedding day. 😛
The next update will be by Monday. 😳
Edited by Pearl_Oyster - 5 years ago
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