Part 105

He could not sleep.

“Damn these people... Why do they have to arrange such a pompous wedding?... Why can’t I just be with her... “ He turned on his bed, frustrated...!

“Why did I agree to this?  And Khushi? Why can’t she understand...? I just want to be with her... !” he sulked.  “She wouldn’t even miss me.... Must be busy opening the gifts...!..Gifts?” He remembered the packet given by Sham to Khushi.

 "Did she open it? What is there in it?" he could not stop  himself and came out of his room looking around. He saw Payal going somewhere. "Payal!" he called out.
"Yes Arnavji?" she came back.
"Um.. Where is Aakash? And where are you going?" he asked eagerly.
"Going to Naniji's room to help her!" she said.
"Oh! Ok!" said Arnav disappointed. "Arnav ji? waht is the time?" she asked.
"Its almost midnight!" he said turning to go.
"Oh God! already 12? I have to go to Khushi's room too!" She blurted turning to leave.
Arnav came forward blocking her! "Khushi? Khushi is staying in this hotel?" he asked with no inhibitions.

"Yes! Why? Did you not know?" she asked surprised.
"Um.." He couldn't say no. "Um.. Payal, are you going to her room? I mean its late now! I mean... is she awake? I.. I"
Payal looked at him suspiciously. "Is he alright? What has happened to him?" she thought to herself and turned to leave without answering.
Arnav followed! "Payal, wait! I mean.. Um.." He fumbled. She again looked at him raising her eyebrows.
"What?" she stopped and asked. By that time, they had reached Nani's room.

Arnav turned back muttering.
"Couldn't she tell me where Khushi is staying? Stupid girl! The whole evening she was with me!" he was furious but forgot that he too had not asked her.

"Damn it!" he got frustrated with himself. He had no other option to turn back to avoid Nani's interrogations.
He lingered outside for a long time keeping an eye on Nani's room for Payal to come out.
"Bhai, what are you doing here?" Aakash came from behind. Arnav turned suddenly bumping on him.

"What?" he asked. "What are you doing here? You should go and sleep!" Aakash was looking at him inquisitively.
"Um Ok!" he said. Aakash turned to leave. 'Aakash!" he called out.
"What?"
"Do you know which Khushi’s room is?" he asked.
"What? Bhai, are you planning go to her room now? “he asked raising his voice in surprise.
"Shh! Aakash, shut up!"Arnav snapped. "Our JIJAJI had given her a packet. I am worried Aakash!" he said.
"Oh! Ok. I will ask Payal to get it!" said Aakash smirking. Arnav muttered furiously under his breath.
"This is not done Arnav, do something!" he reprimanded himself and then turning to Aakash said
"I can't wait till that, Aakash. Its important! Tell me which her room is?" he sounded determined.

"Ok. its in the opposite wing top floor VIP suite!" he said turning around Arnav had already vanished.

*** ****

Khushi was tired and wanted to go to bed immediately after coming from Sheesh Mahel. But Elsa had loads of work and Khushi had to help her. There was knock on the door. She got up thinking it was Payal and opened the door. She saw Arnav at the door. A muffled scream left her as he clutched his hand on her mouth.  She struggled.  He left her.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed.
"Shh... come out!" he ordered her.
"No! I am not supposed to go out!" she whispered looking around. Then pointing inside said "Elsa bhabhi!"

Arnav didn’t know what to do! He came closer and said "Khushi... that packet, he gave you.."
"Oh! That! I think I kept it somewhere!" she said. "Wait! I will get it" She went inside and he sat on the sofa waiting for her in her suite.

"Who was that, Khushi?" Elsa asked.
"Bhabhi, Arnav ji!" she whispered. "Its about that packet I kept somewhere!"
"Oh! Ok..! What?..... Arnav? He is here? What is he doing in your room?... Khushi, papaji will kill me!" Elsa screamed.
"You are not supposed to meet before the wedding!" she went on.
Arnav dashed in. "Shh! Its urgent, about the packet Jijaji gave her!" Elsa gaped at him. Then pulling the packet from under the pile of things handed it over to Arnav and said
"Look, you two! I wait outside and you open it! I will signal if someone comes!" she said moving out of the room.

Khushi tore it open and was shocked to see the photos!
"What?" She screamed.
"Shh! Arnav clasped his hand on her mouth and his mouth fell open seeing those photos! He slowly removed his hand and looked at Khushi's aghast face.

"Khu.." he opened his mouth to defend. She kept flipping the photos and looking at each one of them making Arnav more nervous! He kept gawping at her and the photos.

"Arnav ji?" Khushi looked at his gaping stare and slowly her expressions changed from shock to surprise to pain, to rage, to blank, to surprise again and to smile and a grinn..." Arnav's throat went dry, his mouth fell open.

"Arnav ji!" she started laughing. He looked ghostly. She could not control her laughter.
"Khushi!" he hissed angrily grabbing her.
Her laughter stopped at once. She looked at him frightened. He gazed at her and released her.
"Arnav ji, I don't give it a damn about these photos! I have seen you and Lavanya ji like this several times!" she said grinning.

He pulled her in his arms. "Khushi..!"
"What the... Expression!" She started laughing remembering his ghostly face.
"Stop it Khushi!" his grip tightened. She did not stop. "Stop laughing, Khushi else I will..!" his grip became rib crushing... she screamed... "Ooouch!!!"
There was a knock on the door and he hurriedly went out when Elsa told him that someone was coming.
He came back to his room and fell on his bed gazing at the ceiling. “Why can’t I be with her...?”

*********** ***

Next day in the morning everyone was whiling away time as the Sangeet was scheduled in the evening. But they were to go to Khushi's old house for lunch. Papaji had already left to help them. Khushi and other family member were getting ready.

Nani went to Manorama's room! Mamaji was with Anjali discussing the Sangeet program. "Manorama!" Nani called out! There was no response. Nani went inside. Manorama was nowhere to be seen. Nani pushed the balcony door and saw Mami there. She put her hand on mami's shoulder. Mami turned in a jerk before wiping off her tears! Nani looked in the direction of the river.
On the other side of the river there were small houses hidden under the thick green tree canopy. Nani kept gazing at Mami.

"Manorama! Want to meet your family?" she asked gazing at mami. Mami shook her head and come back to present she said "Hello Hi bye bye, Sasuma kahe ki family? jub ke hum kab ki chod aye unki gali! Kaahe Ki jab bhii yaad aaye ki padi.. hum hu to phutawa dekhei aur chale ki padi! What family? I have left them behind long back. Whenever I miss them I see the photo and move on! “

"Manorama, come here!" Nani called out to the back of Manorama. She turned.
"You miss them!" Nani said. "Yes" Said mami.

"Mnorama, still there is time. Take a car and go and meet your brother! He will be happy to see you!" she said in a firm voice.

"Do...Do you think so? Will he welcome me? Will he forgive me? I have not seen him since I eloped with Aakash's father!" She asked Nani hopefully.
"Yes, Manorama! Go and Meet him!" said Nani assuring.
"Will you come with me Sasumaa?" asked Mami. Nani thought for a while and said "Yes I will come with you! I will invite your brother for this wedding! And Let us leave now!" Mami looked happy. She and Nani left hurriedly to come back after two hours.

Anjali got ready and came out in the lounge. Sham was yet to appear. She saw Shondeep and Lavanya deep in conversation. She moved away smiling. "Hello Mrs. Anjali!" greeted Shondeep getting up. She smiled at him "Hello!" she said.
"We were talking about the perfect wedding arrangements done by you!" he said. She came and sat apposite them.

"Oh! No! We have done nothing. Its all Khushi parents arrangements! And what an arrangement!" she appreciated smiling. Sham came out and looking at Shondeep hurriedly came forward and greeted him. Anjali got up and turned to leave.

"Where are you going Raani Saaheba? Still there is time!" he said to Anjali and turning to Shondeep said "We are invited to Khushi ji's house here for lunch!"

"Oh! yes and he with his parents is coming to Khushi ji's place" said Anjali smiling at Shondeep.
"He is Khushi ji's Boss!" She said giving Sham another blow on the face, virtually.

"What? What a surprise! Khushi ji works with you?" Sham asked mentally calculating her maximum salary and the repayments she did in these months and Arnav declaring her as his partner in buying anjali's share. Shondeep stared at him.

"Oh! No! She assisted me in this acquisition. But she is a owner of our fashion division!" Said Shondeep. Sham looked sordid and avarice. Shondeep saw Khushi coming to the lounge area with his parents. He got up. Khushi was having fun talking to his parents and trying out her Bengali. His parents were laughing their hearts out at her animated conversation. He smiled at them. Lavanya was sitting there listening to all this. Shondeep introduced Sham as his subordinate and Anjali as Arnav's elder sister. Anjali touched their feet and got blessings from them. They got engrossed in the conversation, forgetting Sham and Lavanya. Khushi looked at Lavanya and introduced her to Shondeep's parents.

Khushi got up to leave seeing Raj coming out from his room. "Khushi ji!" Sham came after her. She did not stop. He looked around and stretched his hand to put it on her shoulder and was caught in the mid air. He turned back with a jerk. Shondeep had held his hand.

"Mr. Sham can we have a talk? I need to discuss something important though not urgent!" said Shondeep mildly. Sham wanted to thrash his hand. He was looking at Khushi and she turned hiding her smile leaving Shondeep smiling and Sham furious! Both of them came back. Shondeep found Anjali talking to his parents and Lavanya was waiting for him. He talked to sham on some business matter for a few minutes and came back to Lavanya.

Khushi was walking towards Raj and stopped! She went out of breath, Arnav and papaji were coming. Arnav could not stop staring at her. She felt nervous. Papaji stopped looking at her.

"Puttar, what are you doing here? Don't move around like this alone. Go and take some rest. There is still time! I just came in." he ordered her. She glanced at Arnav and turned to leave. Papaji continued his talks with Arnav moving away.

Arnav had lost interest in the subject and just pretending to be listening. Papaji had placed his hand on Arnav's shoulder reading his mind and his urge to go after her. He had a naughty smile on his face.

They came to the lounge area and saw the gathering. Shondeep got up looking at papaji and Arnav. Papaji came and sat with Shondeep's parents. Sham was sitting there sulkily alone. No one had time to talk to him. Arnav came and sat beside Sham. "JIJAJI, you have a good photography sense. You should seriously think about changing your profession!" Sham was furious! He left leaving Arnav smirking.

They all came from Lunch at Gupta's house. Khushi and payal stayed back with Aakash. No one asked Arnave what he wanted to do. He came back to the hotel sulking.

Papaji was all set for Snageet program. It was his favorite program in the entire wedding ceremony. He was excited and never stopped talking about it. He had not allowed anyone to interfere in his planning for Sangeet. Not even Raj and Elsa. He kept on talking about it to Arnav who had no interest in that so called loud, desi music. He just kept his cool and patience to listen to Papaji's senseless talks about Sangeet! "How  a person like Balwindar Singh, with a net worth of more than 2500 crores, can be so exuberant in such programs!" wondered Arnav bemused to see another facet of Papaji's personality. "How could these people enjoy such pompous programs?" Looking at Raj's excitement.

"I don't know whats coming on this evening" He just wanted to stay at the hotel room and allow others to enjoy the so called Sangeet! He reluctantly got ready with his jacket and white shirt with a pair of black trousers. He came out with apprehension that someone will ask him to change. But no one paid any attention to him. He was never been ignored like this! “What the!” he looked around suspiciously....!

When they entered the Sheesh Mahel Hall, the hall was unrecognizable. Yesterday's pious, peaceful serene, decorations were all gone. The entire hall was surrounded by pink and red drapes with tiny silver stars on them glittering. The walls wore dim LED flickering fairy llighting lines. The ceiling was covered with hay and bamboo, the lamps hung upside down emitting mild light. The stage was brightened with floor lights. The backdrop was filled with huge cut outs of dholak and manjhiras. The DJ's were waiting at the corner of the stage with their electronic gadgets. Arnav reluctantly entered the hall. Papaji was in his full swing running around and yelling at people for not doing the work properly. Arnav felt hopeless.

"Khushi is going to enjoy this! This is her type!" a smile appeared on Arnav's face thinking about Khushi.

He looked around for her. No one from Gupta's was seen. He could hear and see only papaji. "What the..!" he thought to himself. He was relieved to see Shondeep entering the hall. He sat next to Arnav smiling at him.

"All set for the program, right?" He asked grinning pleasantly. Arnav could only nod. Shondeep seemed to be enjoying, though he was not of flashy type. He was looking around appreciating the decorations. He knew papaji well and his passion for folk music. He put his hand gently on Arnav's shoulder and said "Just relax and enjoy! A bride groom needn't dance!" he grinned at Arnav. Arnav looked away.

Arnav saw Papaji dressed as traditionally with Khushi looking perfect Sardaran with red short kurta , yellow jacket and balloon Patiyala salwar tying her hair in two plaits with red goties tied at the end. She was wearing Golden  dupatta. The crowd held its breath, so did Arnav. He was mesmerized at the flashy look.
Now she looks real Chamakili!" exclaimed Lavanya!

Khushi was looking around, eyes searching for him, and when they found his, their heart strings tuned as one jumping in joy!. He smiled at her and she blushed, her cheeks competing with her red Kurta.

The specially invited Bhangara group colourfully dressed which matched the ambience entered with a roar of Dholak and Manjhiras.

The folk song tunes with "Kali Teri Choti Hai, Paranda Tera laal..." played and the tussle between boys and girls started. Raj and Elsa stole everybody's hearts. She had taken special lessons in dancing and Raj had it natural. Papaji was at his best dancing his heart out! Wearing a white shervani, with white turban and a red stone studded shirpech, he made everyone dance around him. Khushi was enjoying the dancing but whenever she found Arnav glaring at her, she tried to hide herself in the background. Arnav was seeing only Khushi and the world around him was nonexistent for him.
"How did I fall for this girl?" he wondered but his heart gave him the answer!

The program had started with a bang. The waiters were moving among the crowd with snacks and drinks. Shondeep had helped himself with a glass of wine. During the time out, Arnav got up pretending to get a drink for himself and moved backstage. He had seen Khushi and Meera descending from the stage. Khushi was helping Meera change her dress. Meera went with a new look onstage and Khushi lingered there finding herself out of breath after the fast track dance. It was dark behind the stage and he grabbed her.

"Khushi!" he whispered. She felt weak in his arms. "Hmm!" she said panting and resting her head on his shoulders. There was a huge cry and applaud from the crowd behind the curtain. Khushi tried to break away with a jerk but Arnav did not leave her. Tightening his grip he kissed her and releasing her said. "Be careful Khushi! You have your wedding coming up!" He smirked thrusting a cold drink bottle in her hand, and left. Khushi lost interest in dancing dreaming about her wedding..

The DJs were playing remix and upbeat music. Arnav came back to join Shondeep to find Sham sitting next to him. Arnav took a place nearby and got engrossed talking to Shondeep's father. Anjali was sitting with Shondeep's mother and Lavanya was looking at all of them sitting in the row behind. Mami and Nani were busy meeting their old acquaintances. Khushi's Amma and Buwaji were taking care of the guests and her babuji.

Sham got up and asked Anjali to join him for a dance. She shook her head smiling at him. "Oh! you cannot dance!" he muttered looking at her braces. She was nervous and tried to hide her tears.

Shondeep was furious but he never wanted to show that he had heard Sham. He picked up the glass of cold drinks and offered it to Anjali changing the subject as if nothing had happened. He talked to her About Arnav and his success in business at an young age. She felt better. Sham was approaching the stage to find his partner, rather to find Khushi! She was nowhere on stage to his disappointment.

Aakash and Payal were together all the time on the stage dancing in each other’s arms. Papaji teased them and poked them a couple of times. The dancing reached its peak. Papaji held Khushi’s hand and they walked in the crowd picking up their friends to dance with them still dancing energetically on a punjabi folk tune. Arnav wondered at papaji's enthusiasm and energy.

Papaji with the picked up dancers from the crowd were approaching Arnav and others who were only watchers. Suddenly papaji pushed Khushi sending her off balance and she landed on Arnav's laps. He was taken aback and held on to her. There was uproar from the crowd. She hurriedly tried to get up only to be pushed by Papaji once again under the pretext of dancing. Arnav had wrapped his arms around Khushi tightly so as not to let her fall down. They both tried to hide their faces on each other's shoulders and the crowd erupted with deafening laughter and whistling.
"DAD!!" Raj came to Khushi's rescue. Helping her get up from Arnav's laps he looked at his Dad with a mock anger!

"What ?" Asked papaji grinning. "You were the one to tell me I was very strict on them, Right?" he yelled at his son. "And now, I am giving them a chance!" he said laughing loudly.

Raj shook his head hopelessly. "You are impossible Dad!" he said laughing and echoing Arnav's feelings.

Arnav was trying to keep his breath under control, looking straight, his face reddening. Khushi ran backstage. anjali was giggling. Shondeep was grinning at Arnav and Anjali. Sham's face had blackened. Everybody else was clapping and laughing. Lavanya had tears in her eyes. She had taken the seat behind Arnav.

The music started changing tracks and the old melodious hindi songs were presented by the live orchestra. That was papaji's favorite. He started singing with the accompaniment looking passionately at Mummiji who nodded and played dholak for him.

"Ai meri johara jabi, Tuze Maalum nahi, Tu abhi Tak hain Hasin aur mein Jawan.. Tuzape kurabaan meri jaan...." Mummiji blushed and the entire crowd uproared, wooing and whistling. Papaji sung offering his heart to his wife with renewed love for her..

*** ***  ***
They were gathered in the lounge of the hotel at midnight still discussing the Sangeet program, though tired to the core.

Raj said "It was only Dad's program. He did not allow us to do anything. Actually Arnav and I could have played Guitar and mouth organ. But this chaotic music put us down!" sulking. He looked at Arnav for support.

But Arnav refrained from reacting sensing what was coming next. He got up and said "I better go to my room! I need rest!"
"Oh! No no no...! Not so soon Arnav!" said Elsa pulling him back and getting Raj's Guitar and Tej's mouth organ.

Khushi had her ears and eyes only for Arnav bringing her heart in her expressive eyes she looked at him passionately, making his heart take a somersault, thudding against his chest. Raj and Arnav's captivating tunes on guitar and Mouth Organ sealed completeness to the Sangeet program in its true sense.