Part 112

They landed on Delhi Airport. Babuji, Amma and Buwaji had decided to stay in Lucknow! The cars were waiting for them. "We are going to the Mandir first and then home!" declared papaji. They went to the Mandir to take blessings. Panditji blessed the newlywed couple. Then the cars were moved the company guest house. Elsa helped Khushi change in Shaadi Ka joda and raj forced Arnav to wear the Indian attire.

They all went to Raizada house. The family members were waiting for the welcome. Nani asked Khushi to spill the rice filled in the copper pot with the toe of her right foot. Arnav lifted Khushi to bring her into the house. He kept her down and she was asked to soak her feet into the kumkum(vermilion) mixed water kept in a large shallow plate and then enter the house with her right foot. She did and walked up to the Mandir in the house. Both of them took blessings from Devi Mayya and all the elders.

Khushi did chouka pooja where she prepared kheer for everyone. Everyone presented her gifts. They felt relaxed. All the men were busy talking except Sham. He was made to sit there but no one was talking to him.

"During the reception, there will be a press conference!" Said papaji. Arnav looked little nervous. He glanced at Khushi who was busy talking to Anjali.

"Arnav, puttar, you know what kind of questions will be thrown. We have to take care of her. She is touchy about this.!" Said papaji gravely. He wanted the last formal event to get over without any untoward incidence. Arnav nodded.

"And I am going to make an important announcement in the press conference!" declared papaji. Raj and Shondeep were shocked. "Sir, you? Are you attending the press?" asked Shondeep knowing full well that Papaji was a  media shy person and never came before the media. He always sent his CEO's to make the announcements.

"Yes! " said papaji seriously. Sham got up and went to his room. Two of the bodyguards stood at the door. Everyone exchanged looks. Lavanya was sitting next to Shondeep and was trying to attract his attention.

"Lavanya ji!" Khushi called out! She looked up. Khushi glanced at papaji. He had a stern look on his face. Khushi changed the track. "Lavanya ji wil you help me getting ready for the evening?" she asked with an innocent face. "Yeah Sure!" said Lavanya smiling and getting up. Both of them went inside leaving the men to discuss the plans. Arnav suddenly remembered something. He excused himself and went to his room. He searched for something in his bag. Took out an envelope and came down again. He went into the kitchen. The maid was helping Payal and Khushi. He looked at her and went to the back yard door. She followed.

"um...! Thank you.! " he whispered holding out the envelope.
"No sir! I cannot accept this. You have already given me so much!" Said the maid. Khushi came to them , she took it from Arnav's hand and thrust it in the Maid's hand saying.. "This is not for you, but for your kid!" The maid accepted it smiling at both of them. Arnav went out.

They got ready for the reception and went to Roshan Aaraa Club. This was typically a high profile formal wedding reception. A mild music was played. People greeted the couple. Arnav was very comfortable with this kind of environment but Khushi felt nervous. She kept on looking for some familiar faces. She could see only Anjali and Lavanya moving around talking to people. Elsa stood by her side supporting her. Khushi looked at Elsa and gave her a faint smile. Arnav was busy shaking hands with the guests and talking to them smiling. He kept on introducing her to the unknown faces. She only had to join her hands and shake hands and greet people. Papaji and Raj were at the entrance welcoming people. Nani and Mummiji were sitting at the corner table discussing something. Mamaji and Aakash were busy greeting the guests. Mamiji was constantly in search of a gullible person to start with her boastful monologues.

Khushi saw them... her office gang... ! But they didn’t seem to have seen her or they purposefully ignored her!  She grew restless.  She wanted to run down to them and have a blast.  But she couldn’t.  Her gang ... her office... her friends ignored her completely.  They were laughing and eating at the far end and Khushi had to see them helplessly.  Regi was at the centre of her gang and Aman and Rekha were giggling with his animated talks. 

Khushi could feel the contrast between the wedding atmosphere and the reception! Late in the evening  the specially invited select media persons arrived. Raj and Shondeep did not leave any stone unturned in hospitality. They were taken care of very well. The food and drinks did the magic. They seemed to be contented. Papaji was nowhere to be seen. Some politicians and Ministers had  arrived to bless the couple with their Z-security. Sham at once came in the picture. He took them to the stage to introduce to the couple. Khushi fidgeted at the presence of Sham on the stage. Arnav greeted the politicians. Arnav did not see Ratan Singh Thakur in that group. He looked around. Shondeep had hurriedly climbed the stage looking at Sham. The group descended from the stage and Arnav could see them mixing up with other hi profile industrialists. Sham had again gone back to his front seat.

Khushi was feeling uneasy and tired. Payal asked her whether she wanted something to eat. She glanced at Arnav and said No! Elsa gave her a dark chocolate. "Eat this. You will feel energetic!" she said smiling at Khushi. Khushi smiled back with gratitude. Khushi touched Arnav's palm. Arnav looked at her. There was no one else on the stage. She inserted a piece of chocolate in his hand and said. "Eat it! No one is looking at us!" Arnav looked at her face. He stared at the chocolate traces at the corner of her lips. He could not take his eyes off. He smacked his lips. "What?" she asked him in a whisper blushing. He kept staring at her. Khushi looked around. Elsa had come back. She looked at Khushi and adjusted her lipstick with the tissue, grinning at her.

The crowd was thinning. People had started returning. Raj and Shondeep were taking care of media people. They both saw papaji coming from behind the stage with his confident stride. At once he was surrounded by media. It was a piece of cake to get the interview of a formidable but media shy person. On a very few occasions Mr. Balwindar Singh had come in limelight. He greeted the media among the camera flashes and the mikes. He asked Raj and Shondeep to join him. Raj went and called Arnav and Khushi. Khushi looked nervous and angry. She did not want to face the media. Arnav held her hand and whispered. "Don’t talk anything or react. Just be there with me!" She looked at him.

“I need you, Khushi!” he needed her support....!

Their eyes blinded with the flashes of cameras. Khushi stood a step behind Arnav who held her hand tightly.

 "Mr. Arnav how do you feel marrying your heart throb?" "Top of the world!" replied Arnav smiling.

"We know you were in relationship with one Ms. Kashyap! What happened to that?" asked an arrogant voice. "It did not work!" replied Arnav gripping her hand tightly.

 "Is it true that your wife is an orphan and grew up in a low class family?" came another disdainful voice. "Yes. She is an orphan and so am I" Arnav tried to keep his voice steady. Tears brimming up in Khushi's eyes.

"Gentlemen. I have to make an important announcement. And the wedding of Arnav and Khushi is only an occasion to make it." Papaji came to their rescue. Media focus shifted to Mr. Balwindar Singh.

"Sir, it is true that she is your foster daughter?" asked a contemptuous voice. "Yes, she is!" said papaji.

"What is your relationship with her dead parents?" asked a curious voice. "They were my foster daughter's parents!" said papaji plainly.

"Sir, we heard, your son returned after ten years. What was the reason for his return?" asked a poking voice. "I have returned to my family!" said Raj sternly. The things were taking a different turn.

"Is it that, you walked out of his life 10 years back and now returned due to financial problems?" another scornful voice asked. "He has a business of his own and doing very well!" said papaji placing his hand on Raj's shoulder.

"Is it true that you transferred the ownership of your fashion division to her and this is the reason for this wedding?" "It is true that it's a business politics than a love affair?" asked rude voice. Khushi was taken aback. She shuddered and looked at Arnav and Papaji. "They had decided to get married before the transfer!" said papaji firmly.

"Is it true that a case is pending about the tutelage of Mr. Arnav and Mr. Rattan Singh Thakur is involved in it" asked another discourteous voice. "I think, you should ask this to Mr. Thakur!" said Arnav firmly.

"Is it true that his parents were never married? Does his newlywed wife know about it?" came a supercilious voice from behind. Everyone was taken aback by this direct question. Arnav flinched. He could feel her sweating. He opened his mouth to retort back angrily. But...

"Yes! I know everything about him!" said a steady and calm voice of Khushi. She had moved a step ahead levelling with Arnav, holding his hand tightly. Arnav turned his face and looked at her. She looked at him and smiled back assuring him that she would always be there with him. Papaji smiled.

"I think we need to come back to the point!" said papaji loudly.
"The purpose of this press conference is that I have decided to retire in next couple of years!" declared papaji, sending shock waves everywhere. It was a news to even Raj. Everyone gaped at him.

"What?" Khushi blurted. "Of course I will always be there as mentor but not a decision maker!" papaji made another statement.

"Who will be your successor? Now that your son has returned! Or is this the reason for his return?" asked the sniffy voice louder than others.

"I have been thinking on this for a long time. And not one, but four of them together will run BTR group of Industries.!" Said papaji.

"Who? And How?" asked a female voice.
"My son, Raj, my daughter Khushi, her husband Arnav and my right hand man, who is already shouldering my responsibilities, Mr. Shondeep Banerjee!" Papaji declared to everybody's surprise. All four gaped at Mr. Balwindar Singh!

"And the modalities will be decided by the end of next year!" Declared papaji.

There was a sudden rush of questions from all over the press conference. Everyone wanted to ask the last question.

"I think, that's it!" papaji raised his hand discouraging further questions and turned to leave.
They dispersed. Arnav and Khushi took their places. They both were shocked. Arnav was musing on papaji's sudden decision. He looked lost.

Shondeep saw Anjali moving around with a worried face.
"Are you ok?" he came and asked her. "Um yes! But where is he?" she asked.
"My husband!" she said looking around. Sham had disappeared.

"Shondeep, where were you?' Lavanya came and wrapped her arm around his. He smiled at her and pulling his arm from her grip said "Please excuse me! I need to talk to her!" He looked at Anjali. She had already turned and was going away. Patting on Lavanya's hand he said "Lavanya, I need to talk to her. Its urgent. I will catch up with you later!" He went after Anjali.

"Anjali!" he called her out softly from behind. She stopped dead. He looked around. He saw Raj and Aakash approaching them.

 "Anjali, we need to talk" He guided her to the nearby table and pulling the chair requested her to sit. She looked confused. He waited for Raj to join him.

"Its time, we should talk to you about your husband, Sham!" said Shondeep in a grave tone sitting next to her. Aakash sat on the other side. Raj had taken the opposite chair! Shondeep felt a pain in his heart!!

"How can I break her heart by telling about her husband, whom she loved so much?" he thought looking at her confused face. He looked at Aakash. He nodded and took charge.

"Di, it’s about Jijaji. Di, he is cheating on you" He started off gauging his Di's reactions and feelings. Raj and Shondeep were looking at them intently. Aakash talked for a long time giving the full account of Shams deeds and showing her the mobile clippings. She did not react for any of the statements. She just sat there listening. He waited for her reaction or outburst for a long time. Then touching his di's shoulder

 "Di... please... say something!" he pleaded looking at her blank face. She did not react just stared unfocused. "Di, please.!" Aakash was panic and so were Raj and Shondeep.

"Was this a good time to talk to her?" wondered Shondeep. He felt that he made a mistake in taking a decision to tell her everything. Aakash looked around in panic. "Di... Please!! He shook her vigorously. She remained like a lifeless person, expressionless. Raj hurriedly got up and vanished. He jumped on the stage where Arnav, Khushi and Elsa were talking. "Arnav,.." he whispered in Arnav's ears.

"Ok! I will handle!" said Arnav descending the stage leaving Khushi and Elsa musing. He came to his Di in few strides..

"Di..!" called out holding her. Shondeep could see some recognition in her blank eyes.
"Chote...!" she spoke for the first time. Shondeep and Aakash felt relieved. "Arnav wrapped his arms around his Di, holding her tightly.

"Chote... these people say..."She looked at him hopelessly. He just held her and nodded. "Di, what you heard is true!" he said feeling her pain and anguish. She closed her eyes. A droplet of tear rolled down. Arnav and Aakash were holding her bending on her as if telling her that they both could feel her plight.

"Why did I trust him so much?" she muttered after a while sounding defeated.

"Di, you did not know about him! We all trusted him, Di" Arnav consoled her. She kept gazing unfocused. Arnav and Aakash straitened up. They saw Khushi and Payal approaching them. Anjali looked at them and said,
"Chote please don't tell this to anyone...Not now at least!" Arnav nodded. She forcibly brought a smile on her face looking at Khushi and Payal. Shondeep admired her love for her family!! Khushi came forward "Anjali ji, are you ok?" she asked concerned.

"Yes," said Anjali avoiding her gaze. Arnav turned and placing his hand on Khushi's shoulder said
"She will be ok, Khushi! Let us go!" Aakash with Payal and Arnav with Khushi left. Raj kept gazing somewhere not knowing what to do.

Shondeep kept his hand on her hand and said "Please... collect yourself Anjali. You are a very strong person!" She did not withdraw her hand from his.

*** ****
By the time they came home, it was eleven in the night. The entire city was illuminated on the eve of New Year. Parties were arranged! People were on the road wishing each other.

Papaji and his family with Shondeep had stayed in a Hotel. They were to leave for Kolkata next day evening. Raizadas came home. Anjali was all lost. Nani asked her several times. But she did not answer. Sham tried to talk to her. She refused even to look at him. He understood, understood that she knew!! He had to do something. His Anticipatory bail would not work. He knew the noose was tightening. He knew he would be handcuffed any time from now!!

Anjali went to Arnav and said "Chote .. its your Suhag Raat!" I need to prepare your bed.
"Hello.. hi bye bye! No need Anjali bitiya. I have done it already! And Arnav bete, what have you done to your room? Closed three side walls with wooden panelling and drawn all the curtains...It looks bigger too!" she asked looking at him suspiciously.

"Oh! I renovated the entire block shifting the library and study!" Arnav said looking away. Khushi was looking tired and uncomfortable with her heavy saree and equally heavy jewelry.

Anjali smiled and said "You two go and have some rest." The maid brought in glasses of milk. Sham went to his room burning in rage. He couldn't stand Arnav and Khushi together. He wished he killed them both. Revenge had taken over his lust and desire. He shut his room with a bang. Arnav was still talking to Aakash. Anjali took Khushi to her room. The room indeed looked very big. Partition between library and bedroom was removed. The bed was decorated with rose petals. The curtains on the three side walls were drawn tightly. Only the wall with the entrance door was visible. The room looked like a cellar vault. Anjali looked curious

"This Chote..!  One will never know what goes on in his mind!" she muttered smiling. Khushi felt nervous and frightful.

"Khushi, this is gift from my mom and this is the note!" Anjali handed over the box to her. She kept it on the dressing table.

"Khushi, I will go and send him" she said placing her hand on Khushi's shoulder. She turned and left the room shutting the door behind. Khushi did not know what to do. She had come to the room innumerable times but had never felt so nervous and apprehensive. Her heart thumping frantically, she sat on the bed. But suddenly got up remembering Arnav's outburst and rage when anyone touched his bed without his permission!

 "what should I do?" She left the bed and sat on the swivel stool in front of the mirror. The door opened. Arnav in his black suit was at the door leaning against it.

He too felt nervous opening his bedroom door. He saw her sitting in front of the mirror in her bridal wear laden with jewellery. She had entered his room several times before, but this was different. He did not know what to do. Whether to tell her to change and then enter or to enter first and then tell her to change into comfortable attire!!. Khushi's breath became uneven and heavy sensing Arnav at the door. She kept looking at the carpet. He came in and closed the door behind him. She quivered. He came nearer. She held her breath. He turned his back and went away from her.

Puff! The lights went off leaving the room in pitch black darkness. She shuddered and got up with a jerk. A frightened, muffled scream could not leave her throat. She was scared to the core. Arnav was nowhere around.

She heard a grumbling and grinding sound getting louder and louder. She could not scream. A hand on her shoulder made her weak and stunned her. She froze!

Slowly the room started illuminating with the moon light. She looked up and forgot to breathe. The ceiling was splitting and a huge glass dome appeared!!. The starlit sky was peeping in. The glowed romantically in their room. She kept gazing at the sky mesmerized, hypnotized forgetting the unknown hand on her shoulder!

"Khushi!" he whispered in her ears looking at her from behind. She turned and looked at her husband. She looked into his eyes. He closed the gap and locking his eyes with hers asked her "And what did you call me? Most unromantic person..Huh?" she looked down blushing. Her moonlit face brightened. She looked like a marble statue waiting for her lover!

He made her sit on the swivel stool and went away again. He started pushing the curtains from the three walls. Slowly the walls lit up with aqua lights. The water screens from the three walls flowed down the translucent  pebble stuffed skirting of the wall. She looked around. She felt like she is in the pool with flowing water from all the sides, like she is behind the water fall, like she is the queen in her submerged Paani mahel.

He was looking at her passionately. She forgot his presence. She was looking around and above in the sky. He did not want to break her trance. He stood there waiting for her leaning against one of the water screens. He had panelled  the three walls with wooden planks from outside.  The nozzles and the water jets splashed water between the double glass at the top and the bottom of each pair of the glass walls were stuffed with colour pebbles.

The illumination in the walls gradually changed colours from aqua green to yellow halogen lights.. It  look like a solarium bringing in the sunlight from all sides.

She looked at him. He was gazing at her. His eyes too changed colours!!  The lights were changing to blue. He steadied them to remain blue and went to her. She was looking at him mesmerized. He kept his hands on her shoulder and made him sit on the stool again. He turned her to face the mirror. She kept gazing at his reflection in the mirror.

Her Pallu was long gone from her head,  when she looked up at the starlit sky, her husband had brought into their room!  He gazed at her hairstyle removing pins, golden flowers, beads from her hair. She closed her eyes feeling his fingers in her silky hair. Finally he removed the pin letting the hair sprawl on the back and neck. He nuzzled contentedly brushing his lips under her ear. A surge of passionate wave ran down her spine. She moaned. He removed her maang tika, kissing her sindoor. He turned her to face him. Leaning forward, he removed her Nose ring/ nathani kissing her on her cheeks. He kissed her kajal (Eye liner) kissing her eyelids, gently,  torturing her with a surge of sweet pain, everytime!  He removed her earrings delicately and kissed her ear lobes.

“Arnav ji!” She couldn’t bear it! He knelt down on his knees and putting his hands around her neck, started removing her numerous necklaces without taking his eyes off her face.. He slid down his hands from her shoulders removing her arm bands Baju bhadh. He looked at her palms and removed her rings and hath fulora the ornament attached to the bangles.

He kissed her mehendi! He took out his mom's Kangan from the box and inserted in her hands. He looked up at her. She was looking at the Kangan around her wrists hypnotized. He smiled and she closed her eyes again. He wrapped his arms around her waist removing her waist band. He could not take his hands off and bending forward he kissed around her navel gripping her tightly. She held her breath. He slid his hands down to her feet keeping them on his knees. He ran his fingers on her payal and looked at her. She tried to remove her feet from his hands. He did not remove her payal. He slowly got up and putting his hands on her shoulder helped her to rise. She had done her Solaa Shringar for this moment!! She opened her eyes looking at him passionately. He smiled staring at her lips.

"You did all this? ...., for us?" she asked in a bear whisper.
"Khushi! You are Arnav Singh Raizada's wife!" He replied cupping her face. She smiled closing her eyes again. He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed, water screens illuminating all over and a starlit sky peeping in through the glass dome.

"Khushi! Are you tired?" He asked her whispering in her lips bringing his face down. She shook her head garlanding her arms around his neck. The clock chimed twelve and the fireworks lit up the entire sky emitting joyous and colourful lights everywhere in celebration!! .

"Happy new year Khushi!!" He wished huskily.
"Happy new year!" her voice could only be heard by him.
She buried her face on his shoulder. Both of them had nothing to worry about in life. They wanted to live this moment not bothering about what was in store for them the next day!!!

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

Wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year....!

May All Your Dreams Come True This Year...!

Enjoy.....

Love

Khushifan

Waiting for your comments...!!